Story by Cindy Holden (BBO: scuffy510)
I was green. I had just finished my six weeks of beginners' lessons and had turned up for my first night playing with "real" bridge players. I was nervous. Although I had only played with beginners, there were experienced bridge players in the same room. We heard their conversations, felt their concentration, and were in awe of their no trump play. And I had heard a few post match dissections. Scary stuff!
All the "rules" were running through my head as I nervously picked up my first ever competitive hand and counted my cards. My heart felt like it was in my throat. I counted them... yep... 13, and sorted them into suits.
I was the dealer, first to bid. My heart was racing. Deep breath. "Fake it till you make it," went through my mind. I had two four card suits, a three card suit, and a two card suit. How many? Thirteen. So I opened 1NT.
The bidding went around. My partner bid Stayman... and now it was time for my second bid! I did a recalculation... four spades and... 7 POINTS!!! Thirteen cards... but only 7 points... Oh no, I'd opened 1NT! I bid 2♠ and tried to pretend nothing was wrong, although my face was now scarlet red. We ended up in 2♠.
I think my glowing face may have given away to my partner that something wasn't right, so she left me in 2♠. I played the hand, and we ended up one light! Not my most popular debut with the opponents! You could cut the air with a knife.
But the opponents sliced that air right open with a hand in the air and a loud, "Director!"
My first night, and the opponents called the director... We got a top board because they missed a 4♥ contract. Thanks to my 13 card, 7 point 1NT opening bid.
Now, whenever I play with a brand new player who looks nervous, I tell them that story and watch them relax. I say, "You'll feel better after playing your first hand, regardless of the outcome. After all, I've never yet met anyone who has bet their farm on it!"
Thirteen. Unlucky for some, but not for me. Not that day.
A bridge friend told me when she was a beginner, she got a huge hand in a casual game. She had no idea how to bid the monster hand, so after 3 passes, she tossed her cards in so no one would know she didn't know how to bid.
During my first few weeks, Whenever I had a monster hand I somehow caused the entire table to tremble as if by an earthquake. It was a dead giveaway 🙈
This actually happened. My partner, an elderly lady named Helen, sat down to play with the bidding boxes when they first came out. She said, "1 Heart". I told her she had to use the bidding box, so she leaned over the box and said, "1 Heart". She joined us in laughter once I explained the box to her.
You can't make up things like this!
I had short club explained as a bid. So when I opened saying “short clubs” (a friendly game no bidding box).
Thanks for the story!
I love this story ! How about X your partners opening bid that was my first time endeavor .
A wonderful story for someone who constantly thinks having 13 cards means BID.🤣🤣
Yes know feeling…. I counted my cards and then added my points to 13 and bid 2 clubs. My partner got very excited.
Thanks Cindy for your interesting story.
I remember in one of my first times in Duplicate I wanted to count the points in Honors.
I went for a game at Liverpool Bridge club in England. It would be the late 70sI didn't of course have the experience to mix it with the high level players that played there then. I was nervy and made a lot of errors I'm sure. But the game fascinated me and I stuck at it.
Dear Cindy,
we were all green and many of us, especially those over 80, are still unsure about what to do in some situations at the bridge table.
Hence empathy and patience from the experienced ones and an after game talk would be very much appreciated by those who are still a bit 'green'.
Best wishes,
Erich