Mission Possible

July 2nd, 2010  ~  Michael Yuen  ~  3 Comments 

Am in Prague, Czech Republic to cheer on my son Jeff, in his Ultimate advanture. He and his team Chaos from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada are playing in the Ultimate World Championsip.

Much like bridge world championships, there are four divisions in these events. 48 teams in the Open. 32 teams in Women. 40 teams in the Mixed and 16 teams in the Master. With some 28 players on each team, there will be more then 3000 players throwing and catching Frisbees in the coming week!

Like bridge, teams from all over the world will be there.  Canada, USA, Japan, Australia, Finland, UK, Germany, Netherlands, France, Veneezuela, Belarus, Luxemburg, Eastonia, Mexico, Croatia, Slovenia, Brazil, Belgium, Singapore, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Poland, New Zealand, Spain, Austria, Italy, Colombia, China, Ireland, Russia, Denmark, Sweden, Latvia, Ukraine, Hungary, Slovakia, Dominican Republic and Ireland. Some 37 countries will participate in these championships.

Like bridge, teams are seeded in this tournament based on past performances at world events. Chaos was second in the Worlds in Findland and current Canadian Mixed Champions are seeded 4th in the Mixed Division. I know they will be competitive and looking forward to the games.

Like bridge, these games will be covered on the internet everyday.

Most of Ultimate games are play in the great outdoors durning day light hours. Maybe, just maybe I will have time one of these evenings to check out the local bridge club.

Redemption

June 26th, 2010  ~  Michael Yuen  ~  No Comments 

My friends Dave Smith and Maurice De le salle were in Penticton-The Wine Country for some sun and fun. Oh yes, some bridge also from time to time.

Last night at the semifinal of the “Chardonnay” Knockout Teams, they played very well. We were down 12vp when they came in for the second half.

Board 25. Dealer North. E-W vulerable.

Maurice held ♠ A76 ♥ K109 ♦ AKJ97 ♣ 73

Heard this auction,

 

 

 

Maurice knew he needed imps made a great double! Dave was on the same wave length, passed! 

 

 

Dealer: North Vul: E-W		North		Â
		â™	KQ
		♥	AJ84
		♦	1086
		♣	KQ64
West Maurice				East Dave
â™	A76			â™	9832
♥	K109			♥	Q72
♦	AKJ97			♦	Q2
♣	73			♣	10952
Â		South		Â
		â™	J1054
		♥	653
		♦	543
		♣	AJ8

 

 

Dave found the excellent lead of heart two. There after Declarer could only make five trick for down two, -300.

 

Hendrik, Gerry, Michael, Dave, Mauirce

 

At the other table, our team-mates, Hendrik Sharples and Gerry Marshall  were allowed to play one no-trump undouble. The lead was a spade, South won the ace, cashed his five diamond tricks but Hendrik was able to claim seven tricks and the contract for +90. We won 9 Imps.

This hand started our team’s come back and we won the match by 2 imps. We went on to win the event. This was sweet recovery for the disappointment we experienced few weeks ago.

To pass or not to pass?

June 18th, 2010  ~  Michael Yuen  ~  No Comments 

At the CSTC after first quarter of a sixty-four boards semi final our lead was 27 VP.  

In the second quarter, we had played fifteen boards and got all plus scores. Board 24 was the last board of the sixteen board set.

Board 24. Dealer West. None vulnerable.

As South, I held  ♠ 52 ♥ AQ ♦ A10962 ♣ K762

The auction was three passes to me.

Should I pass or open the hand one diamond? I knew we had a monster set going so the match result was not in question. Pass would preserve all plus scores and a pass out board? Open the bidding and try for the 16th plus while risking a minus score?

It was a close decision to start with. On one hand I didn’t have the majors, on the other hand I had good opening bid. In the end I chose to open one diamond.

This was the auction.

 

 

The hands were.

 

 

Dealer: West Vul: None		North Maurice		Â
		â™	10874
		♥	J1075
		♦	Q4
		♣	AJ5
West				East
â™	AKQ6			â™	J93
♥	9863			♥	K42
♦	J53			♦	K87
♣	94			♣	Q1083
Â		South		Â
		â™	52
		♥	AQ
		♦	A10962
		♣	K762

 

The lead was spade ace, four, three, two. Spade king, seven, nine, five. Spade six, eight, jack and I ruff with club two. Diamond two, six, queen and won by the king. Heart two, queen, three, five. Heart ace, three, seven and four. Diamond ace, five, four, seven. Diamond ten, jack, ruff with club five, eight. Heart jack, king, ruff with club six, eight.

So far I had won six trick and can not be prevented from winning two more tricks with the ace and king of trumps. Making two clubs for +90.

A the other table. The auction when this way. 

 

 

Doran made a great one spade overcall and when Dave raised to two spades, pushed our opponents one level higher. Declarer dropped a trick in the play and went down two for -100. That gave our side 5 imp.

For Maurice and I, it is first time ever that we have all plus scores in a sixteen board match!

Toys

June 11th, 2010  ~  Michael Yuen  ~  2 Comments 

At the recent Canadian Seniors’ Team Championship. In the last round of the round robin match, bidding and making this grand slam, helped our side win the round robin by 2VPs, with it the rights to chose our semi final opponent.

Round 9. Board 17. Dealer North. None vulnerable.

Playing with Maurice, I was East  ♠ AQ ♥ A432 ♦ A53 ♣ AQ75

This was the auction.

 

 

 

*3â™  -Minor suit slam try, 3â™  forces 3NT.

*3NT -Relay.

*4♣ -Five clubs and four diamonds.

*4♥ -Mini key cards for clubs.

*4NT -One key card in clubs.

*5♥ -We have all the key cards, grand slam try, ask for outside kings.

 

These were the hands.

 

Dealer: North Vul: None		North		Â
		â™	K106542
		♥	875
		♦	6
		♣	J96
West Maurice				East Michael
â™	98			â™	AQ
♥	KQ			♥	A432
♦	KQJ10			♦	A53
♣	K10432			♣	AQ75
Â		South		Â
		â™	J73
		♥	J1096
		♦	98742
		♣	8

 

 

The lead was the five of spade. Maurice won the ace, tested trumps and claimed thirteen tricks, making seven clubs.

We won 9 imps as our opponents were in six no-trump making seven.

Bridge Week 2010

June 9th, 2010  ~  Michael Yuen  ~  7 Comments 

Just returned from Bridge Week Markham Toronto where I played The Canadian Seniors Team Championship.

I like to thank Maurice De La Salle for being a good partner, Dave Smith and Doran Flock for being supporting teammates. Congratulations to our opponents and the gold medal winners-Eric Murray, John Gowdy, Michael Schoenborn, Boris Baran, Joey Silver and John Carruthers for giving us a good match.

A Big Thank You to Nader Hanna and his committee for doing a great job hosting such a wonderful Championship. The playing site and hotel rooms were excellent, hospitality was terrific, and result reporting was good and a big improvement over previous years.

The vugraph operators for bringing the matches to BBO, enabling a world-wide audience to enjoy.

It was an exciting final. At the start of the fourth quarter, we were behind by 10 VP.

Many have asked about board 18. So here it is.

Dealer East. N-S vulnerable.

As East, I held ♠ 108 ♥ Q942 ♦ AK2 ♣ 10532

This was the auction.

Maurice, Doran, Dave and Michael

*2C-Strong. 2D-Kokish waiting. 2H-either Hearts or stonger NT. 2S-re-lay. 3H-Hearts. 4D-something in Diamond. 4S-kickback key card ask in hearts. 4NT-1 or 4 keycards in hearts.

As I didn’t notice BIT, I bid seven hearts.

Reasons I bid on-

For Maurice to open 2C he should have AK in three suites. That is only twenty-one points. If he had a queen there were 13 tricks. Six heart tricks plus AK, AK AKQ.

If he had 7H, there were also 13 tricks.

If he had 2 jacks then was no worse then 50% for a finesse plus squeezes chances.

If he had AKx in spades then the spade ruff in dummy would make 13 tricks.

If he thought he had 12 tricks, then my Dk would be the 13th.

I also knew the match was going to be tight and this maybe the board we had a chance for a pick up as they say it was “a state of the match bid.”

At the end of the auction my screen mate Joey called the director. Said the bidding tray was slow coming back after the six heart call. Director asked if I agree? I said I didn’t notice, however I said as far as I knew, the whole auction was getting slower as the bids went higher to-wards seven hearts.

Director said play it out.

The lead was Queen of diamond. As I put my hand down, JC called the director and said Maurice took extra time to bid six hearts. JC said it was closer to two mintues.

Director asked Maurice if that was ture, Maurice said he didn’t take any more time then he normally would have.

Director said play out seven hearts.

Dealer: East Vul: N-S		North Joey
		â™	K943
		♥
		♦	QJ10864
		♣	974
West Maurice				East Michael
â™	A2			â™	108
♥	AK87653			♥	Q942
♦	3			♦	AK2
♣	AKJ			♣	10532
		South JC
		â™	QJ765
		♥	J10
		♦	975
		♣	Q86

Maurice, after drawing a few trumps, played the ace of club first, eventually took the club finesse and made seven hearts.

After the play, table director returned and ruled the contract to be six hearts making seven.

It was a pushed board at six hearts, our team lost the event by 4VP.

Seems to me it would have been easy for the director to find out the truth- if there was BIT. Rather than taking the word of one side or the other, all he had to do was ask the kibitzers at our table, and there were many.

Our captain didn’t want to appeal.

Blogging can be soothing to the soul.

Photo by Jonathan Steinberg.

Going the distance

May 11th, 2010  ~  Michael Yuen  ~  1 Comment 

I participated in the 26th annual Vancouver 10K Sun Run on Sunday. This year there were 51,419 runners, making this Canada’s largest ten kilometer run. Besides being a fun time for all, over the years the Sun Run also raised over $2.5 millions for charity.

The first runner to cross the finish line-kip Kangogo of Lethbridge, Alberta, took only 29.02 minutes. I on the other hand took over 2 hours! But then as all true bridge players know, “It’s not whether you win or lose, it is how you play the game”~Grantland Rice.

It was a test for my stamina, fitness and will. After hitting the wall at the 7k mark, it was reward enough just to finish the run.

 

 

I am the guy in the white T-shirt

 

 

After countless number of matches, with fifteen teams in the event. Our marathon IMP League which started in September last year, has reached the KO stage.

Last week with the finishing line in sight, Team Stock (Brad Bart, David Breton, Nick Stock, Les Fouks, Mike Strebinger and I) played our first KO match. 

The following hand contributed to our team’s success.   

Board 26. East dealer. All vulnerable.

 

Dealer: East Vul: All		North		Â
		â™	KQ7
		♥	K92
		♦	432
		♣	9863
West				East
â™	J9853			â™	4
♥	10			♥	J54
♦	Q8			♦	AKJ1097
♣	AKQJ10			♣	542
Â		South		Â
		â™	A1062
		♥	AQ8763
		♦	65
		♣	7

 

At table 1. David-East and Nick-West. This was the auction.

 

 

 

Both David and Nick won the board for us with their excellent auction. 

North led the spade king, South overtaking to cash the heart ace. Soon after Nick was able to draw trumps in four rounds and claimed eleven trick for +600.

 

At table 2. Brad-North and Michael- South. This was the auction.

 

 

West led the club ace, three, two and seven. Club king, six, five and ruffed with heart three. Heart ace, ten, two and four. I continued with heart six, West discarded the spade three, king and five.

At this point I paused to consider the hand, RHO had nine cards in hearts and diamonds, therefore LHO was long in clubs and spades. Unlikely the spade suit would break 3-3.

I played the diamond two from dummy, king, five and eight. East played the heart jack, queen, club ten, nine. Diamond six, queen, three and nine. West tried club queen, eight, five and I ruffed with heart seven.

This was the five card ending.

 

Dealer: East Vul: All		North		Â
		â™	KQ7
		♥	Â
		♦	4
		♣	9
West				East
â™	J985			â™	4
♥	Â			♥	Â
♦	Â			♦	AJ109
♣	J			♣	Â
Â		South		Â
		â™	A1062
		♥	8
		♦	Â
		♣	Â

 

 

As I played the heart eight, West was squeezed between spades and clubs. If he discarded a spade my long spade in hand would be good. If he discarded the club jack, then Dummy’s club nine would be good.

Made ten tricks for +620 added that to +600 at the other table for a rewarding 15 IMPs.

Leap of faith!

April 28th, 2010  ~  Michael Yuen  ~  9 Comments 

It was a beautiful day as the Cessna 180 that carried me and my tandem instructor-Jerry appoched ten thousand feet, the pilot gave the signal for us to get ready. I turned towards the front of the plane, Jerry moved up behind me and fasten our harnesses together. The pilot flung the door open. We inched towards this gaping hole on the side of our tiny plane where the door once was. I knelt on the edge of the doorway with my right knee, swung my left leg outside. Resting my foot on the foot rest for a moment. With butterflies in my stomach, all the while steadying myself at the exit with both of my hands. 

Before I knew it, Jerry and I leaped out of the plane. There was nothing but air to hold us up. My heart was in my throat. I scream but no noise came out. Time seems to stand still as I put my arms up to break the fall.  We must have free fall for about fifteen seconds as mother earth rushed up to meet us. Finally, much to my relief the parachute opened, slowing our descent.

The view was amazing and I began to enjoy the experience. Our landing was perfect, we landed on the drop zone just like a feather. “Thank you Jerry!”

 

 

On the way down, I remembered the similar adrenaline rush and the sense of trust, which I had experienced the day before at a bridge game.

Playing with Brad Bart at one of our IMP matches.  Dealer North. Both sides vulnerable.

As South, I held ♠ AK103 ♥ J32 ♦ J732 ♣ K10

The auction was fast and sweet.

 

 

 

*5NT- Grand slam force, trump quality asking bid. Asked me to bid seven spades with two of the top three honors, six otherwise.

My hand was not that great and without first round controls in three suits. However I do have ace, king of spade. If Brad thought we have a chance for the Grand then I must trust him. I held my breath as I leaped to seven spades.

It seems forever before my left hand opponent led the club five. My heart was racing, I watched anxiously as Brad put down this dummy.

♠ Q987 ♥ A ♦ AK6 ♣ AQ983

The sight of dummy was a relief as I said “Thank you partner!”

Some days are not even worth getting out of bed.

March 29th, 2010  ~  Michael Yuen  ~  1 Comment 

It has been tough going so far at the Reno tournament. I was hoping things would change for the better for Brad and I, in the last event of the week, the NABC Swiss.

We didn’t have to wait long to test the water. Match 1. against Mary Ann Berg and John Mohan.

Board 1. Dealer North. Non vulnerable.

As South I held. ♠762 ♥ A65 ♦ 875 ♣ A1062

 

 

 

It is time for one of my attacking leads. I led the two of clubs.

Dummy hit with, ♠ K1095 ♥ KQ1098 ♦ 3 ♣ 753 -Just the club holding I was hoping for-John played the 3 from dummy, Brad the jack and John won with the king. Now three of spade, six, king, Brad won with the ace. What a nice partner, returned the eight of club, Queen and I took that with my ace, five. 

No sooner had I put the ten of clubs on the table, John asked us if we ever lose our aces? Hmmm was he upset that I found the lead to beat him? Being unlucky this week, you know the answer.

He ruffed my ten of club and claimed making five. Drew three rounds of trump, discarded all five of dummy’s hearts on his good diamonds and ruff the last heart!

We did have a good laugh at the table. John and I “high fived”

These were the hands. 

 

Dealer: North Vul: Non		Brad		Â
		â™	A3
		♥	J743
		♦	964
		♣	J984
Mary Ann				John
â™	K1095			â™	QJ84
♥	KQ1098			♥	2
♦	3			♦	AKQJ102
♣	753			♣	KQ
Â		Michael		Â
		â™	762
		♥	A65
		♦	875
		♣	A1062

  

So much for my brilliancy, lost an ace and an imp! 

After this weekend, will take some time off bridge and go play Acquire.

Roll of the dice

March 26th, 2010  ~  Michael Yuen  ~  1 Comment 

Being from Green Vancouver BC, where smoking is not allowed in public places, I was sick right from day one. The dry air combined with the cigarette smoke got the better of me. For the rest of the week I played like a sick puppy with a stuffy nose and a very sore throat. 

Playing the Silodor Pair with my buddy, Brad Bart. We were rolling along on the first day, when we came upon the father and son pair of Robert and Shane Blanchard from New York NY.

2nd session. Board 24. Dealer West. Neither side vulnerable.

As East I held, ♠ KJ5 ♥ 1062 ♦ KJ74 ♣ Q42

This was the auction.

 

 

After three passes, Shane and Robert explained the auction.

*Three club was natural, four club was natural raise with five cards. Four diamond was cue bid, four heart cue bid but may not have first or second round control. Four no trump was key cards for clubs, five heart showed two key cards without the trump queen. Six clubs became the final contract.

Brad found the best lead of the diamond three to no avail.  

These were the hands. 

 

Dealer: West Vul: None		Shane		Â
		â™	974
		♥	Q83
		♦	85
		♣	AK753
Brad				Michael
â™	62			â™	KJ5
♥	J9754			♥	1062
♦	Q9632			♦	KJ74
♣	9			♣	Q42
Â		Robert		Â
		â™	AQ1083
		♥	AK
		♦	A10
		♣	J1086

 

Robert made 12 tricks for plus 920 and a top. Brad and I could only suffer in silence.

Despite the fact that we got a bottom from this board, I have to say this was a well bid hand. Six clubs was a good contract, needed only trumps to break 2-2. Otherwise needed something good to happen in the spade suit.

We played well the rest of evening and made the cut to the final.

Dare I hope to feel better in the morning?

Character Building.

March 25th, 2010  ~  Michael Yuen  ~  No Comments 

The Spring North American Bridge Championship was In Reno NV. USA. Reno is Vegas’s country cousin, “The Biggest Little City in The World” The mechanical bull in the Mustangs Saloon at the Grand Sierra Resort is this town’s main attraction.

This hand in the IMP Pairs was a good lesson in character building.

Dealer West. All Vulnerable.

As North you holding ♠ 7 ♥ J109 ♦ QJ109876 ♣ 64

This was the auction at one table.

 

  

South led the spade eight, Declarer played the ten, seven and two. Club ten, four, five, won by the king. South continued the spade attack, led the spade five-at the same time excuting a Suicide Squeeze on the partnership, jack from dummy, North discarded the diamond queen, three.  Declarer procceed to run clubs, two, six, ace, three. Club queen, diamond two, heart two, diamond six. Club jack, diamond three, heart five, diamond seven. Club nine, diamond king, spade four, diamond eight. Club eight, spade nine, spade six, diamond nine.

This was the five card ending.

 

Dealer: West Vul: All Vul.		North		Â
		â™	Â
		♥	J109
		♦	J10
		♣	Â
West				East
â™	K			â™	Â
♥	AK7			♥	84
♦	4			♦	A5
♣	Â			♣	7
Â		South		Â
		â™	AQ
		♥	Q63
		♦	Â
		♣	Â

 

At trick nine when declarer played the club seven, spade queen, diamond four, North was squeezed between hearts and diamonds, discarded the heart nine.

At trick ten, the diamond ace squeezed South in spades and hearts, South discarded the heart three, spade king, diamond 10. Dummy’s heart ace, king, seven took the last three tricks.

To see the movie’s play by play, click on “next”

   

After the hand was scored up, plus 690-a good score for the opponents, North asked South “Would you like some red wine?”