The club house Turn

May 24th, 2011  ~  Mike Yuen  ~  1 Comment 

 It is day 3 of the round robin and the half way point of the event.

We won another evening match to-night!! If only all our matches starts at 7pm.

Here is a well played hand by Waldemar.

The key play was at trick 2 when he led the seven of hearts and not the ten. That kept communications between the two hands.

This deal generated lots of discussion. How would you and your partner bid this hand?

Round 7. Board 5. Dealer North. N-S Vul.

As North you hold  ♠  ♥ KQ9632 ♦ AKQJ103 ♣ Q

You partner  ♠ Q9732 ♥ A4 ♦ 94 ♣ AJ83 

At the end of the third day. The leaders are in the CNTC: Nader-196. Rayner-190. Janicki-181. Hughes-178.

After two day. The leaders are in the CWTC: MacNab-78. Eaton-73. Cimon-71. Smith-65.

The leaders are in the CNTC B: Walsh-145. Larrivee-117. Mcleod-117. Raywood-113.

The hospitality has been great. $2 drinks at the bar and evening snacks. Breakfast in the morning for those that needed a coffeine fix before heading into battle.

For those that are looking for more table action after the game. The hotel can arrange a limo ride to Casino Regina.

Moving day.

May 23rd, 2011  ~  Mike Yuen  ~  3 Comments 

It is moving day for most of the teams as they are widening the gap between top 8 and bottom 8.

Just one small problem, our team is still struggling and we are moving backwards! We did win our last match so at least we can sleep better 🙂

Full marks to Waldemar Frukacz for making this slam.

Match 4. Board 26. Dealer East. All vul.

The lead was the two of clubs, ace, seven, five. Waldemar played the nine of spades from dummy, two, ace, jack. Ten of diamonds, two, jack, three. Five of spades, when East followed with the three, finesse the eight, three of hearts. Picked up the rest of the trumps. When the diamond suit came in for five tricks, claimed 12 tricks for +1430.

At the other table, declarer did not play for the 4-1 trump break. Cashed his trumps from the top, went down one for -100.

After round 7. The leaders in CNTC:  Nader-130. Zambonini-129. Hughes-125. Rayner-124.  

CWTC. Billett-37. Cimon-37. Pearlman-35. MacNab-34.

Aidan Ballantyne

Doug Fraser

Overheard on Skype. A person with strong Polish accent telling his sweetheart.  “Bridge is not like dating, you don’t have to be nice to your partner!”

There is a waterslide in the hotel, clothing is optional.

Day 1.

May 22nd, 2011  ~  Mike Yuen  ~  No Comments 

It is day 1 of the round robin, the horses are in the gate and then we were off.

It didn’t take long for the fireworks to start on the first match, the very first board. 

Board 9. Dealer North. E-W Vul.

Playing with Maurice-east, I was west and held.  ♠ AJ3 ♥ Q7532 ♦ J95 ♣ 84

Down 2 for +300.

At the other table North pass and East open four clubs. South made a takeout double, North got to play in four spades. Made ten tricks for +420.

+720 won us 12 imps. 

After 3 matches the leaders are. Janick-65. Silver-64. Zambonini-61. Huhes-60.

Brad Bart-Vince Lambert

Overheard at the bar last night-

David Willis ” You only need one bed when you room with Waldemar, he gets back after you wake up in the morning, is a waste of money to book a room with two beds!”

Our waitress “The water is so hard here in Regina, you need to shower at least 30 mintues just to wash off your skin?!”

Bridge Week

May 20th, 2011  ~  Mike Yuen  ~  3 Comments 

The Canadian National Team Championships is being held in Regina, Saskatchewan. From 21st-28th of May 2011.

Besides the Open Team-CNTC, there are the Women Team Championship-CWTC. Senior Team Championship-CSTC. The final of these team events will be live on BBO. from the 26th-27th.

Winners of these team events will represent Canada and play off against Mexico. Winner of that contest will then represent Zone 2 in the upcoming world championships in Veldhoven, Netherlands in October.

To Canadians, these Championships are also known as Bridge Week. It is a lot of fun, besides seven days of competitive bridge, one also gets to make new acquaintances and renew old friendships.

There is something for everyone, there is the B team event for future stars. There are also the Open Pairs, Imp Pairs and a Swiss. All the events except the Swiss carry cash prizes.

To top it off, tournament chair Dick Anderson and his organizing committee has promised great hospitality. 

This year there are 16 teams in the CNTC. There will be a complete round robin with 16 board matches. Qualifying the top 8 teams for the 64 boards KO quarter-finals. The semi-final will be 72 boards KO and the final will be played over 2 days with 128 boards. 

I am playing with Brad Bart, Cam Doner, Doug Fraser, Aidan Ballantyne and Maurice de la Salle. 

Have packed my bag and on my way. Looking forward to a great week.

On the house ~/

April 18th, 2011  ~  Mike Yuen  ~  1 Comment 

In the hospitality industry when the establishment you dine at offers you a complimentary meal, you should accept it. However at the bridge table there is no free lunch.

At the Victoria Regional, during the Friday-Saturday KO. This situation occurred at Aidan Ballantyne (West) and Doug Fraser (East)’s table.

Board 3. Dealer South. East-West vulnerable.

South open the bidding with 2♦  Flannery, four-five in the majors. North set the trumps suit in hearts with 3♦,   next explored for slam via four no-trump key card ask in hearts. Discovered they were missing two key cards, settled in the reasonable contract of 5♥.

West’s lead of the nine of clubs did not scare declarer till East ruffed away dummy’s queen. East returned the three of spades, queen, ace and eight. West played the Jack of clubs, king, East ruffed with six of hearts, ten. Declarer was down one before he even started!

Trick 4, East exited with the jack of spades, king, five and nine. Now eight of diamonds, nine, dummy won with the king, six.

At trick 6, Declarer called for the ace of clubs and offered our Grand Life Master a ruff. Doug discarded a diamond.

Eventually declarer with no help from the defence took the losing heart finesse and went down two for -100.

At the other table. I (South) and Maurice De La Salle (North) stopped at 4♥

I open the bidding with 1♥, Maurice invited slam via Jacoby 2NT-forcing heart raise with four trumps, and I declined.

The play for the first five tricks went the same way as at Doug’s table. I was booked and had to find the trump king.

At trick 6, I called for the ace of clubs and offered East a ruff on the house. He accepted, ruffed with the nine, over ruffed with the queen, jack. Next I played the ace of hearts dropped the lonesome king. Thank you very much.

Made ten tricks for +420 and +100 won us 11 imps.

Our team of Bard Bart, Aidan Ballantyne, Doug Fraser, Maurice De La Salle, Cam Doner and I, went on to win this event.

Snow birds.

April 16th, 2011  ~  Mike Yuen  ~  No Comments 

Over the years, many of my old friends have moved to Victoria in order to escape the harsh Eastern winters. Victoria is particularly agreeable in the Spring. With sunny, warm weather and beautiful flowers everywhere!

Last week at the Regional I was playing with Dr. Simon Kan, Toronto; Keith Dowdall, Winnipeg; Brian Fraser, Montreal; Guy Coutanche, Thunder Bay; and Cary Salmi, Thunder Bay. In the Monday-Tuesday KO. 

Keith, Brian, Cary, Michael and Guy. Missing Simon.

We had a good run and came in second. The powerhouse team of John Rayner, Michael Roche, Sandra and Doug Fraser beat us in the final.

In the semifinal, Keith and Cary got to a good slam.

Board 8. Dealer West. None vulnerable. 

At the other table, our opponents got to six hearts. That had no play, lost a club and the jack of trumps. We won 14 imps and were on our way to the final.

Spoof in Louisville

March 18th, 2011  ~  Mike Yuen  ~  3 Comments 

In the round of 16 of the Vanderbilt, Nickell was playing O’Rourke for a spot in the round of 8.

It was a thrilling match and was close all the way. The final score was 108-105, Nickell won by 3.

Segment 4 of 4. Board 50. Dealer East. North-South vulnerable.

Open Room.

Zia-west playing with Hamman-east vs Brink-south with Drijver-north.

Against a seemingly ice cold six spade contract, Zia made a great play and induced declarer to take a losing line.

The lead was ace of hearts, two, Zia dropped the king, looking like a man with a singleton, four. At trick two Hamman played another heart, Drijver ruff with the ace of spades there by promoted Zia’s jack of spades into the setting trick!

Down one for +100 to the Nickell team.

Close Room.

Bates-west with Wold-east vs Meckstroth-north with Rodwell-south.

Here the contract was five spades. The lead was also the ace of hearts, two, six and four. At trick two East switched to the ace of clubs, two, six, North ruff with spade two. Declarer was not tested and soon after made an over trick for +680.

All these added up to 13 imps for the Nickell team.

Filling big shoes

March 10th, 2011  ~  Mike Yuen  ~  No Comments 

When Cary Salmi, Brian Fraser and Guy Coutanche-last years’ Swiss Team winners asked me to play with them in Duncan, Vancouver Island because their fourth, keith Dowdall was not available, I accepted gladly. 

Our team played well and finished second overall. The winners were Dick Grant, Tim Kennelly, Pete Marinus and Milos Hajsky.  

Board 33. Dealer North. None vulnerable. 

GUY   ♠ A  ♥ Q ♦ 10987532  ♣ AKJ10

Brian ♠ QJ10763 ♥ J93 ♦ AKQ ♣ 2

Brian and Guy had a good auction to the small diamond slam.

 * 4♣ splinter. ^5♠ 2 key cards with trump queen in diamonds.

These were the East-West hands.

Cary ♠ 9842  ♥ 108763 ♦ 64 ♣ Q3

Michael  ♠ K5  ♥ AK52  ♦ J  ♣ 987654

At the other table where Cary was west and I was east. This was the auction.

Cary and I jammed their auction with our heart bids and they lost their way.

Both four spades and six diamonds contracts were cold after the ace of hearts lead. We won the battle of the auctions, with it 11 imps.

Guy Coutanche-Brian Fraser

Congratulations to Brian and Guy for a terrific tournament. First in the Open Pairs and second in the Swiss Team!

Thanks guys for inviting me to play, it was a lot of fun. Now we know who carried the team last year 🙂

Face in the crowd

March 8th, 2011  ~  Mike Yuen  ~  No Comments 

It is always nice to see old friends after a long absence. So when my good friend keith Dowdall told me he was going to play at the Duncan Sectional on Vancouver Island over the weekend, I contacted Simon Kan, another good friend from our Winnipeg days and arranged a game. 

The winners in the Open Pair were Brian Fraser-Victoria and Guy Coutanche-Thunder Bay with a whopping 66.28%. Second were Karen Cumpstone and Peter Herold with 62.41%. Simon and I placed 4th with 60.45%.

In the evening session, this hand against us contributed to Karen-West and Peter-East’s success.

Board 22.  Dealer East. E-W vulnerable.

Simon led the spade eight to my ace. I fired back the diamond ten, Karen won her ace, soon after made the contract for plus 1370 and scored up 33 matchpoints on a 35 top.

Good to see you too, come back soon :)).

Simon, Peter and Michael.

Karen

Silver lining.

October 21st, 2010  ~  Mike Yuen  ~  1 Comment 

It has been a few days since we came home from Philly.

I asked kiz “So how does it feel to be the top ranking Canadian on the WBF list?” She smiled “My neck hurts from wearing the medals 24/7.”

Kiz and Susan at the closing ceremony.

Enjoy it sister 🙂 All the hard work you and Susan put in over the years came to fruition.

Maurice de la Salle-west played this hand well to earn us some much needed imps.

Imp Pairs Final. Session 5. Board 8.

Dealer. West. None vulnerable.

When Maurice played the last trump from dummy. South was squeezed in the black suits. 

Maurice and Susan

Thank you Maurice for being a good partner durning our difficult patch 🙂