Story by Steve Moore (BBO: Stevenator)
It was my first big regional tournament, the 2019 Atlanta Regional, and I had played every session from start to finish. By the final day, my brain had completely turned to mush. I was fairly certain a few brain cells were leaking out of my left ear, so I made a conscious effort not to tilt my head too much, just in case they escaped entirely.
In one of the later sessions, I sat down at the table already feeling the effects of fatigue. My right hand opponent opened the bidding with 1♠. I looked carefully at my hand, trying to stay focused, and noticed I had a singleton spade. “Oh, I have one of those,” I thought. Without a second thought and clearly without enough brain power, I calmly took out my spade and placed it on the table, as if we were already in the play phase.
The opener immediately burst out laughing. For a brief moment, I had no idea why. Then my partner looked at me, half amused and half horrified, and it finally clicked. I had just followed suit during the bidding.
You might think that would have been enough excitement for one tournament, but apparently not.
Later, near the end of another long day, things had not improved much. My left hand opponent became declarer, my partner made the opening lead, and I confidently tabled my entire hand as if I were the dummy. No hesitation, no doubt, just complete commitment to the mistake.
As I like to say, bridge is a game of mistakes, especially at my level. When someone at the table apologizes for an error, I reassure them by saying, “Do not worry, you cannot make any mistakes that I have not already perfected.”
Très drôle, c'est bien raconté ! Je suis une spécialiste des erreurs particulièrement sur les réponses au partenaire (le malheureux !).
Par exemple :
1K - passe - 1 pique - passe
2SA - (je passe, oh la la...)
Grosse fatigue aussi ce jour-là, mais idem pour d'autres réponses et d'autres jours, hélas, mais je compte bien me rattraper avant de perdre mon partenaire...
Il pleut. Il pleut a verse. Je suis
moullie jusqua os.
that's nothing! hold my beer...
Learning to accept mistakes is one of the most valuable lesson's. Worrying about mistakes will often cause you to make more mistakes. Landing at your mistakes is better than crying lol
☺️
I recently played with a new partner, a player whose game I respected. We both agreed at the beginning that there would be mistakes and that we would not get upset by them. It was a most pleasant experience. There were mistakes, on both sides. We finished with about 53%, not what we had hoped for, but we both agreed that we would enjoy playing together again. Mistakes happen. Berating your partner achieves nothing. A mature discussion after the game can be very helpful.
Thanks Steve for sharing, I couldn’t stop laughing with you putting your spade on the table. Can so totally relate to the fatigue feeling on the brain, I laugh at myself frequently:-)
The ability to laugh at your own mistakes is sadly missing amongst bridge players. The fact you can, and be public about it and a sign of your own maturity and would make you a great addition to any table.
Happy birthday and enjoy your day.
Excellent mistakes, Steve!! LOL
Mistakes don’t bother me what bothers me is when people get angry when you make a mistake. I learned the first rule a bridge is have fun and it makes it hard when people take it so seriously that they get angry.
The first long tournament I played in I also suffered from fatigue. My partner opened 2♣️and I evaluated my hand. He obviously had 6♣️and I had 3 of his suit so I passed. Of course it was a disaster…
I once opened 2♣️ And my partner, not liking his hand!, passed. All the other tables also opened 2♣️ but got too high and we flunked a top🤓
LMFAO … just the other day, Partner opened 2C (Forcing). I looked at my hand … 7 Clubs with the 10! leading the way!! Jx Diamonds, xx hearts and spades … I passed. Everyone gasped. LHO said, you know 2C is forcing, right? Partner just rolled his eyes. At the end of the day, we had the top board on that hand. Everyone else bid into 3C or 3 NT … Director said in a tournament, they might have called the Director claiming I had special information (Bridge people can be a bit paranoid, yes?). Was chatting with a 6k+ Life master and his comments: 1 - I might be tempted to do the same 2) I got lucky (well, duh) and 3) you don’t know what Partner has … the odds favor the 2D waiting bid. I probably will not do the same in the future but I will savor that high board.
I once made a the same bid (PASS) in similar circumstances. For the same reasons. Don't expect it to ever happen again, but there is no always in bridge IMHO.
Been there done that! I also once opened 2c as a weak 2. My partner was elated and the opponents caught on, kept bidding along with my partner. Complete disaster and a good laugh later.
Thanks Steve, your story gave me a smile - much needed after I made several mistakes in a tournament this morning!
Thank you Steve for sharing your interesting story.
One of my mistakes in a recent game I opened a 1 NT with not a single H in my hand!
Thanks for sharing Steve - I enjoyed this one! (Good to know I am not alone!!)
Nice stormes and learning. Eks. Rule of 7. Thank you ! I love this site!
Was playing on line and at the end of the evening wondered how we could have done so badly. My declarer play is normally up to scratch but there were a few bottoms and my defence could also have been better.
I then realised to my horror that I had been wearing my driving glasses instead of my reading glasses! I quickly phoned my partner to aplogise!!
I have not made that mistake again.
Thanks Steve - that is a very reassuring story
Mary
Great story Steve. Such hilarious experiences. With your obvious humility you already have a leg up on many people who play this game.