Expert play
I arrived at the ACBL Spring Championships in time to kibitz the Platinum Pairs, an event for top experts. With the influx of foreign pros, the competition was multinational. Today's...
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Beware the crocodile
In March, the American Contract Bridge League staged its Spring Championships in Memphis, home to ACBL's headquarters, in celebration of the League's 75th anniversary. In a knockout teams event, today's...
Matchpoint goals
Matchpoint duplicate demands a different approach from any total-point form of scoring. At, say, IMPs the goal is to win lots of points. Players bid pushy vulnerable games because the...
Do the odds change?
Most players know something about percentages. If dummy has AK32 opposite your Q54, the missing cards will break 3-3 about 36 percent of the time. But the odds can change....
Killing defense
"The man is a few clowns short of a three-ring circus," Cy the Cynic grumbled. "He costs me money." Cy was speaking about Millard Pringle, a quiet little man who...
Taking control
Rose, my club member whose courtesy and tact are so admirable, is willing to overlook her partners' errors. She is less tolerant of their excuses. "Excuses trap us into thinking...
To your good health
A study suggests that a pleasant demeanor is conducive to good health. So it's no surprise that Grapefruit, my club's acid-tongued member, always seems to be ailing. "The surly bird...
How’s that again?
I was in the club lounge with my friend the English professor when a player stalked in from a Chicago game. "My partner has elevated dummy play to a new...
Minnie’s double cross
"I finally had her where I wanted her," Cy the Cynic fumed, "and she and her glasses double-crossed me." Cy was talking about Minnie Bottoms, my club's senior member. Her...
Test your play
To start the week, test your technique. When West leads the king of hearts against your four spades, it seems you might win 12 tricks. For that reason, treat the...