2nd in the Silver Ribbons in Memphis 2019. Many people have congratulated me for my finish, and then added that I should not be too disappointed that we didn't win. I play the game to learn about the game and improve my capacity to play it well. This result told me that I can play it well enough to win at that level, and the fact that I didn't actually win is totally irrelevant to me.
USBF Junior mentor (having a great time with a half-dozen [now 8] very eager youngsters from 12-16). Nearly made the top 500 in 2017, planning a stronger effort in 2019.
Occasionally play on BBO against Cayne and his pros, or Richard Pavlicek and partner. I enjoy the opportunity to play against that caliber of players. Win occasionally, too.
Read more »An interesting tactical deal, revolving around this hand: ♠AKQJ9xxxx ♥x ♦Ax ♣x after a 1♥ opening in 1st seat on your right with all vulnerable.
Jerry Clerkin chose to bid 3♥, asking partner to bid 3NT with a heart stopper. After 3rd hand bid 4♥, Dennis obediently bid 4NT, doubled by the opening bidder. Jerry failed to find the DD pass here; and played 5♠X-1. Of course, South would probably have pulled to 5♥ rather than risk disaster, since he had both minor suit kings and ♥QJ98.
At the other table in this match, Mike Passell overcalled 4♠; it went X on his left, 5♦ on his right, and he bid 5♠, doubled again on his left and passed out.
In the Kranyak-Warner match, Glenn Eisenstein overcalled 4♠, and after a long auction took the push to 6♠ over 6♥ and got doubled. At the other table here, David Grainger doubled, and after a 2NT inv+ raise on his left and 3♦ on his right bid 3♠, then later 4♠ over 4♥ and 5♠ over RHO's 5♣ cue bid. The opponents took the push to 6♥, and he let them play.
In the Robinson-Mahaffey match, both Bart Bramley and Pepsi doubled. Pepsi heard partner chirp 3♣ after the 2NT inv+ raise on his left, and eventually took the push to 6♠ over 6♥. Bramley heard 2NT on his left and an intrepid 4♣ from Kit Woolsey; he eventually bought the hand in 5♠X.
In the Hill-Donn match, Huub Bertens doubled, bid 4♠ over LHO's 4♥ (in a Precision context), competed to 5♠, and sold to 6♥. Justin Lall bid 4♠ directly, and competed to 5♠ when RHO balanced with 5♦ and 6♠ when LHO freely bid 6♥.
I just thought this was an interesting exercise in tactics. For the record, all declarers took 10 tricks, although NS had 11 tricks available.
