Those Were the Days
Story by Markham Ahn (BBO: Genghisx) Many years ago, in a different life, I wa...
Story by Michael Schneider (BBO: mjs1888)
Like many bridge players, I learned the game from my father, who thought it would be a nice family activity. We started family games after dinner around the time that I was 12 years old and my sister, Ellen, was 8, My mother also learned the game at the same time. Our game was very simple back then: no transfer bids, basic Blackwood, and nothing "fancy" like Stayman.
Fast forward about 30 years, and I was introduced to the wonderful world of duplicate bridge. I joined the ACBL and started moving up the ranks. My parents never played duplicate, but Ellen joined the fold about 15 years after I did. By that time, I lived in Denver, and she lived in Northern Virginia, so we really never had the opportunity to play together.
One year, Ellen visited me in Denver when the Rocky Mountain Regional tournament was going on, so we decided to play one day in a double-session pairs game. I had about 1700 points at the time, and she had less than 20.
The most memorable hand of the day was one with a competitive auction against a well-known expert player. The auction progressed to the point where I bid 4 hearts, which the expert doubled. To my shock and horror, Ellen pulled out the redouble card, which she confidently placed on the table. (I was quite sure that she didn't know what the XX meant.).
Amazingly, I maintained my composure as I tabled the dummy, and awaited what I was sure would be a humiliating defeat. I should have saved the hand record for illustrative purposes because Ellen more than rose to the occasion and made the contract with an overtrick. We did well enough to earn her first gold points!
Ellen continued to excel at bridge and a few years later, we had the opportunity to play online in an event that paid partial gold points. Ellen was just on the verge of becoming a life master, and needed only some fractional gold points to get there! Sure enough, there were no redoubled contracts, but we did well enough to get her the gold dust she needed!
We still play online most Sunday afternoons, with our 92-yeard old mother kibitzing. After the game, Ellen will occasionally call me and start the conversation with "Mom enjoyed watching us, but she can't understand why you … (insert something silly that I did that cost us the contract).
Isn't it wonderful how a card game can keep families together across the generations and the miles !!
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Sounds just like Ellen! I’m often surprised by a bid Ellen makes during our Monday night game. She has a talent for thinking “outside the box” and figuring out a strategy to ensure the contract. Nice story, Michael.
Ellen is a wonderful partner.
My mom introduced me to Bridge when I was in my early 20s. I found it so addictive and challenging that I've been playing it ever since with anyone who says, "yes!" when I ask if they play bridge. 🙂
Ellen has been a regular in our Unit Game,and someone it is a joy to see every week. I haven't seen her use the redouble card, but I'll be on the lookout for it. Sounds like the rest of her family is as delightful as she is.
Nice story Michael !
Michael,
Thank you for the wonderful story about you, Ellen and your family.
What a lovely story
loved the redouble bid. WTG, Ellen
There is nothing like a united family and the game of bridge is great also for that reason! Congratulations to both Ellen and Michael.
Wonderful family story which is the most important.
congratulation brother and sister and also to your mother..very nice history..
Thank you for your kind thoughts !
What a super story!! Thank you for sharing
Thank you for your kind thoughts !
nice
Thank you !
Michael, thank you for letting me know you had written this. I enjoyed it very much.
Lindy Tino (from Saturday bridge).
At my first duplicate game at a private club, I announced this is my first duplicate game and made it plain when I promptly doubled my partners bid.
Sweet
Years ago I visited a senior center to play bridge. My parter was a much older than myself. I thought to myself, I better sharpen my skills. After a couple of hands I realized this was more of a social game and not the duplicate that I had been playing. On one hand, I had 23 points, I opened with 2 clubs, waiting for a response she passed it. I replied you have to reply, that’s an artificial bid. . Her answer to me was I can bid what I want. I soon realized this game was not duplicate as advertised but kitchen bridge. So I joined in, not knowing what her bids meant, decided to enjoy their company and wing it as best I could. Made friends, enjoyed casual bridge. Enjoyed the delicious pastries, an experience I will never forget, even invited back. I went on to run a SANCTIONED duplicate ACBL game for 20 years, over 5000 players a year. Many of those players I met joined THE CLASSY SENIORS BRIDGE CLUB, IN Lakeville, MASS.. I gave up the game when Covid started
now play 3 days a week on line. Still keep in touch and play bridge with many of the players
The pass of partner's 2C opening is a known two-way conventional bid. It shows either a zero-count with long clubs, or a strong desire not to play with this partner again.
Very funny! The very first time I used this convention, I was unaware my partner didn’t know it, and she passed. I played a 2C contract holding 2 clubs and pard had 2 points.
tippazza