Seattle Bridge Nights
Story by Gary Haldane (BBO: xfisher) My parents taught me how to play bridge in ...
Story by Don Marikovics (BBO: Dcmarik1)
Early in my experience playing bridge (1971 to be precise) while serving in the Army in Germany, I attended my very first regional tournament in Garmisch-Partenkirchen.
It took place at an elegant hotel in a large ballroom in a very formal setting. It was the first session of the day, and after signing in we could enjoy a European breakfast buffet before play. The director then announced that everyone should go to their assigned tables and begin.
During the second or third round, the almost church-like atmosphere of the ballroom was shattered by a voice yelling "You passed?" followed a few moments later by an even louder "You WHAT?" Soon a table in the middle of the hall was surrounded by officials, and one of the couples was quietly escorted from the room.
Needless to say, everyone was anxious for the game to end to learn precisely what had caused the disturbance. The reason for the first outburst was a passed out hand. The opponent had loudly expressed his astonishment that a player had passed with 29 points. The second outburst was the result of the player's explanation for passing: "I didn't really know what to bid as I have never played bridge before this morning." As it turned out, the couple were guests at the hotel and had walked into the ballroom, saw the buffet, and signed up for breakfast.
Once they found out that a card game was included (apparently knowing how to play hearts or spades), they decided to stay and play. They successfully navigated the first few boards by passing and would have gotten further were it not for a powerhouse hand.
Share Your Best Bridge Memories
Share your bridge stories here and we'll publish one every week in the Bridge Lovers Weekly News. If your story is selected to be published we'll give you BB$ as a token of our appreciation.
I had a 28 point hand once which included 4A and 3K? I’m pretty much a rookie, but figured we were going to play for big slam if he had the missing King, or at small slam without the King. I’m sure there were better ways to do this, but I went through Blackwood even though I knew we had all the aces. I then continued with 5NT to ask about Kings and my partner responded 7D. I think I said “WHAT”, and my partner just said he was responding to Blackwood??? I also had long hearts so I bid 7H. Small duplicate group, where everyone else bid 6H. We were the only pair to bid and make 7.
Several years ago, as declarer, I picked up a 32-point hand during club play. I could count 11 tricks. Ju.st to see how people around the table would react I opened 6NT, and got suitable responses. I took 11 tricks opposite a destitute dummy. With more experience I might have squeezed out 12. It was fun.
He was going to dbl whenever the biding concluded if the opps bid and got the contract
I would have disliked being the director; and have to reconfigure the tables etc.,after the dismissal of the couple!LOL
It might be better than going down in an unmakeable slam that you had to bid because the 29 point hand’s partner had lots of points.
I love the picture of you and your cat!!!
First of all, you’ve misspelled your name. It should have been “Anonymous”. Secondly, the answer to your question is every time, since passing means that you don’t know anything about bridge.
Reminds me of whn I opened 2C and my partner of 1yr passed. I managed to restrain myself to a raised eyebrow !
I had a partner, dead now and I didn’t murder him, who passed 2♣️. Got a top for staying out of a failing game the rest of the room reached 🤓
Max possible points in a hand is 37
would you pass or open 7NT ??
I had that hand!
I opened 7NT and my trusted partner that day made the contract.
7nt. You're not missing an ace and have all the other honour cards
I would open 2clubs, expecting to then bid 7nt after partner replies with a negative, this leaves the opponents space to possibly double.
I would bid 7NT. The only way you could have 37 hcp in your hand is if you were missing 3 jacks. That means you have ace, king, queen every suit and one jack. No other combination will work, because you would have to exceed 13 cards in hand.
They were escorted out because they did not know how to play the game. It could be considered an intentional disruption.
You assume that the pass was the offense, rather than the screaming. One is legal, the other is not. The author does not specify which pair got escorted out.
Since when is passing a 29HCP hand a reason to be escorted out of a tournament?
I concur.
Honestly, I would have been more likely to expel the ones shouting in the middle of the bridge game.
Since 1979z