simplicity.

October 20th, 2010  ~  Mike Yuen  ~  No Comments 

I had a nice evening with Judith Arbus and Robert Lebi at Knock-on 12th. The food delicious and the company most enjoyable.

Robert and Judith

Irving Litvack-West played with Bill Tucker-East, bid this hand rather well against Maurice and I. 

Imp Pairs Final. Session 3. Board 8. Dealer West. None vulnerable.

He held.  ♠ Void ♥ 6 ♦ AKQJ8432 ♣ AKJ5

Decide what you would bid before reading on.

Irving made a simple yet fantastic six diamond opening bid, got doubled and played there!

We were lucky to have led a heart, rather then a trump or a club, so held it to twelve tricks. We paid out -1090 and lost 274 cross imps.

Out of thirty-six pairs, only six pairs took the six heart save.

Like most partnerships, our three pages of notes did not cover double at the six level.   

Oh well, back to the drawing board.

Driving on fumes!

October 19th, 2010  ~  Mike Yuen  ~  2 Comments 

It is the last day of the two week long Championship, Maurice and I are both very tired. We have been playing bridge since we got here on the 1st of October.

The Imp Pairs final had four sessions of twenty-eight boards. The fifth session had thirty boards. Seventy-two pairs in the field and everyone played everyone.

Bridge was no longer just a mind game, it had become an endurance test. Most of the partnerships around the room were showing signs of stress.

As we moved to our next opponent’s table. Mrs. C. T. was over heard asking Mr. G.T. ” What were you doing on the first hand, playing with yourself?” He muttered something under his breath. 

We sat down and exchanged greetings.

5th session. Board 7. Dealer South. All vulnerable.

As East I held. ♠ KJ103 ♥ A874 ♦ 42 ♣ 1095

The auction went.

3♥ *- Bid three no trumps with a heart stopper.

These were the hands.

Dealer: South Vul: All	Mrs. C.T. ♠  A97642 ♥  92 ♦  6 ♣  KJ62
West ♠  85 ♥  Q10  ♦  AKQJ953 ♣  73		East ♠  KJ103 ♥  A874 ♦  42 ♣  1095
	Mr. G.T. ♠  Q ♥  KJ653 ♦  1087 ♣  AQ84

Mrs. C.T. made a very good lead-directing bid of three spades. Mr. G.T. followed order and led the spade queen, five, ace and three. They soon cashed their four tricks in clubs for down one.

After we scored it up. Mr. G.T. stuck his head under the opening in the screen, with a smile on his face “You think you are playing with kids?’

“No” I retorted “I was playing with myself!” That made everyone at the table howl.

How I felt after two weeks of bridge.

More Medals for Canada

October 16th, 2010  ~  Mike Yuen  ~  1 Comment 

Wonderful news-Lynn Deas and Beth Palmer won the Women’s Pairs.

Ice cream treat for Beth.

Kiz Fung and Susan Culham

Our own Canadian Pair of Kiz Fung and Susan Culham won Silver.

In the Mixed Teams, Canadian junior Daniel Lavee playing on the Hinze team-Greg Hinze, Jo Ann Sprung, Connie Goldberg, Dale and Lynn Johannesen won Gold.

Lynn, Dale, Connie, Daniel, JoAnn and Greg.

This win was bitter-sweet for Daniel, he came to Philly with high hopes for the Junior Team Championship. He, Sam and the rest of the team had worked very hard over the last years but it all fell apart when one of their player could not get a visa to enter the US. 

Congratulations.

Priorities

October 15th, 2010  ~  Mike Yuen  ~  No Comments 

Congrations to the Diamond Team-Eric Greco, John Diamond, Fred Gitelman, Geoff Hampson, Brian Platnick and Brad Moss on winning the Rosenblem.

They beated us up in the qualifying Swiss, so I can tell you first hand that they are great players and true gentlemen.

I happened to had a drink with John in the lobby bar on the eve of the final.  John was just a proud father so happy to share pictures of his new baby girl.  Now that is priceless.

Team Bonding

October 11th, 2010  ~  Mike Yuen  ~  No Comments 

Back at The Hampton Inn, Canada’s World Youngsters Championship Team enjoying each other’s company.

Andy Stark, Shan Huang, Malcolm McColl, Aled Iaboni, Geoff Webb, Ethan Macaulay.

Missing M. Luo.

Wishing you good bridge the rest of the Championship.

Generali Open Pair

October 10th, 2010  ~  Mike Yuen  ~  1 Comment 

Jonathan Steinberg

After one day of play, Canada’s Mike Kenny and Jonathan Steinberg are leading the pack.

Well done and keep it going guys.

Mike Kenny

Party!!!

October 9th, 2010  ~  Mike Yuen  ~  2 Comments 

Last evening Michael Roche organized a dinner party at Spasso, a Italian restaurant. Some were there to celebrate their qualification to the knockout phase. Other were there to commiserate. A good time was had by all.

L to R. Isabelle, Pamela, David, Sondra and John.

L to R. John, Francine, Kiz, Brian, Susan, Maurice, Bob, Daniel, Sam and Isabelle.

L to R. Ron, David, John, Barbara and John.

L to R. Barbara, Michael, Doug and Nicolas.

L to R. Bill, Irving, David, Audrey and Steve.

L to R. Steve, Jim, Connie and Roy.

Another Day another event.

October 8th, 2010  ~  Mike Yuen  ~  2 Comments 

The round robin is over for us. Despite the poor result, we had a lot of fun. Thanks guys for playing.

The boys are playing in the Swiss Team Plate to-day.

In the 9th match.  Neil-South and Karl-North bid this hand nicely to the diamond slam.

Board 11. Dealer South. None Vul.

North ♠ AQ107 ♥ 43  ♦ K72 ♣ 9765

South ♠ J ♥ KQ865  ♦ AQJ9864  ♣

This was their auction.

The hands were.

Dealer: South	North ♠ AQ107 ♥ 43 ♦ K72 ♣ 9765
West ♠ K8652 ♥ J109 ♦ 3 ♣ KQJ3		East ♠ 943 ♥ A72  ♦ 105 ♣ A10842
	South ♠ J ♥ KQ865 ♦ AQJ9864 ♣

There was nothing to the play. Lost one trick to the ace of heart,  twelve tricks for +920.

At the other table our opponent stopped at five diamond, made the same tricks for +420. We won 11 imps.

The knockout phase of the Rosenblum starts to-day. There are eight teams with Canadian players in it, so I will be following the matches with much interest.

Wishing them good luck. Go Canada Go!

The Liberty Bell

My Kingdom for a seeing eye dog!

October 7th, 2010  ~  Mike Yuen  ~  1 Comment 

Love Park in Philadelphia

First day of the teams and I have sent for the seeing eye dog. It is for one of my teammates, who shall remain nameless.

In Match 1. Dealer West. All Vul. He as West held ♠ AJxx ♥ Kx ♦ QJxx ♣ AKx

At his side of the table this was the auction.

*1NT 15-18. 3♦ Natural 5-5 in the reds. 3♠ cue bid. 4♠ interpreted as Key card ask in Diamond. 5♥ two with the queen. 5♠ King ask. 5NT a king that is not easy to show. Over 6♦ he thought they have all the key cards so he bid 7 ♦.

However according to his partner, this was the auction.

* 1♠ 5 diamond and 4 spade. 3♦ Natural game force. the rest was more or less natural. 4♠ to play. 5 ♥ cue bid. 5 ♠ to play. 5NT pick a slam.

Eventurally they got to 7 ♦ doubled and went down one for -200. At the other table our opponents was in 6 ♦ making for 1370. We lost 17 imps.

In Match 3. Dealer South. All Vul.

This same teammate as West held. ♠ Jxxx ♥ xx ♦ xxxx ♣ Qxx

This was the auction at his side of the table.

The other three players at the table saw was this auction.

* 1♣ Precision-strong. 1♥ either ♠ or ♦ + ♣.  

The contract was cold for 10 tricks with chances for 11. Declearer played safe and made ten tricks for +950. Just a little unlucky for us they didn’t double the 3NT contract at the other table, we lost 8 imps.

For to-morrow, I have asked the director for a set of braille cards.

The Rosenblum

October 5th, 2010  ~  Mike Yuen  ~  1 Comment 

The World Open KO Teams starts to-morrow. There are at press time 147 teams, with 757 players from 48 countries.

I will be playing with Maurice De la Salle on the Todd Team, the other players are Doug Fisher, Bob Todd, Karl Gohl and Neil Kimelman. All friends from Winnipeg.

Teams will be seeded into 16 groups of 9 teams. Each group team will play a complete round robin in the next three days. 64 teams will qualify for the Knockout phase.  

This morning Apolinary Kowalski playing with Susie Miller, took the right view on this hand.

2nd Session Mixed Plate. Board 23. Dealer South. All Vul.

He was North held  ♠ 6 ♥ Q5 ♦ K532 ♣ J97642

This was the auction.

These were the hands.

Dealer:South Vul:All	North ♠ 6   ♥ Q5   ♦ K532  ♣ J97642
West ♠ J87  ♥ J104  ♦ 84  ♣ AKQ83		East ♠ AKQ10954  ♥ Ak98  ♦ 9  ♣ 10
	South ♠ 32 ♥ 7632  ♦ AQJ1076  ♣ 5

West led the Ace of club then switched to a trump in time, however in the play East didn’t let West in again to lead the much needed second trump. South went down four for -1100 and with it most of the match points.

The World Mixed Pair won by Donna Compton and Fulvio Fantoni, second went to Kismet Fung and Brian Glubok. Joan Lewis and Robert Hopkins was third.

Donna and Fulvio

Kismet and Brian