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The end of organized international bridge, unless WBF and the zonal organizations are dissolved and replaced by something completely different, Thank You mr Godfather Rona.
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Dennis Hastert served 13 months for being a serial child molester as a teacher and then embezzling funds to cover it up. Jeffrey Epstein provided child prostitutes for celebrities apart from using them himself. His prosecutor Alexander Acosta (head of the labor department in the current US Government) cut a deal and Epstein served 1 year. He was allowed to work from home and only sleep at the minimum security prison. Note: this is not in any way a political statement.
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“ … Including 5431s …” The cc says NV: 9-12 (13-15 in 3rd sometimes less). I shudder to think what would happen to pairs from many other nations doing this.
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Are you saying NZ and Bulgaria got lucky? IMHO they outplayed their more famous opponents. Luckily a skewed Swiss did not stop the better team from winning and advancing!
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Some of the pairs being very accurate on defence are no longer playing. Other pairs have seen a significant decline in defensive capability the last 2 years or so.
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Regarding behaviour. It is possible that the more experencied pair having played a lot in the US have a more cynical view towards stuff as player memos, tempo breaks and information to opponents. The less experienced one coming also from a more protective bridge surrounding might interpret that a bit too harshly.
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The battle in the BB is 3 teams for 8th. Egypt, Monaco or Australia. I root for the “Down Under”-squad. Italy not likely unless Bulgaria decides it is in their best interest to drop out of 4th. Neither US team will fight hard for 4th place.
In the VC a key round is 20 with USA1-Sweden and Poland-France. Sweden may already have secured a win in the RR and have nothing to play for against a desperate USA1. Motivation always beats class they say.
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Excellent. Another point is the potential of making more nations competitive since they get to play a hard round robin against top teams. In a few years I hope Bangladesh will fight their way to the finals!
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Rona is unfit for many reasons. The most glaring is how he handled cheating within the Italian Federation, european bridge and world bridge for decades. Attacking Boye Brogeland publicly for cleaning out the most famous cheating pairs was for me the final straw that broke the camel's back.
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Nonwithstanding the horrible rebid after 1♠-2♥ I would still open. The hand has many pluses but only that particular minus, maybe also a bad lead director in 3rd position. Good question.
Lars Andersson
Lars Andersson
Lars Andersson
Lars Andersson
Lars Andersson
Lars Andersson
Lars Andersson
Lars Andersson
Lars Andersson
Lars Andersson
Lars Andersson
Lars Andersson
In the VC a key round is 20 with USA1-Sweden and Poland-France. Sweden may already have secured a win in the RR and have nothing to play for against a desperate USA1. Motivation always beats class they say.
The seniors will be interesting for me in 10 years or so, hence I refuse to speculate. Noticing the WBF is full of 60-plus decision makers (see page 3 here: http://championships.worldbridge.org/lyonwt17-files/bulletins/Bul_07.pdf )
Lars Andersson
Lars Andersson
Lars Andersson
Lars Andersson
Lars Andersson
Lars Andersson
Lars Andersson
Lars Andersson