Mike Yuen — Mike talks about bridge

DAY 3 in Philly

It is another beautiful sunny day in Philly. We had a fun game to end the 3rd qualifying session. Sadly we qualified only for the Mixed Pair Plate.

Here is an interesting hand.

3rd Session in the Mixed Pair. Board 8. Dealer West. None Vul.  

As East You hold 1032 K98654 K5 A9

This was the auction.

 

West North East South
Pass 1 1 2
Pass 2NT Pass 3NT
Pass  Pass Pass   

What is your lead? Did you listen to the auction? Who has the Spade suit? If you lead 4th best from your hearts you give up most the match points as they made ten tricks in 3NT.

However if you found the spade lead, you earn most of the match points.

 

Dealer: West

Vul: None 

North

♠ J96  

♥ AJ102  

 Q74

KJ6 

 
West

AK854 

 

1092 

♣ 105432  

East

 1032

 K98654

 K5

A9 

  South

Q7 

 Q73

 AJ863

Q87 

 

 

The talk around here is that many bridge players from other countries are having problems coming to the World Championship in the US. Seems the Department Of Homeland Security is making it impossilbe for them to get the required visa for entry.

David Sabourin member of Canadian Youth Team is also having a hard time with his visa.

Another hot topic is that in the McConnell Cup there are only 31 teams entered. Making it impossible to start the event with round of 32.

Sad news for those of us that knew Jim “Flash” Gordon. He died suddenly of a heart attack in Philly.

Double sad news for us that knew Don Campbell of Saskstoon, he passed away last week of a heart attack while on vaction in Italy.

I will miss them both.

Day two in Philly

The day started with so much promise for Angela Fenton and I. Then things started to go sideways in the Mixed Pair. We got punished for all the little mistakes.

This was one of those rare bright spots.

2nd session. Board 5. Dealer North. N-S Vul.

As South you held 972 932 AK6 A1082

Parter open 1 Club, Pass to you, what would you bid? 

West North East South
  1 Pass 2NT
 Pass  Pass  Pass  

Angela found the good bid of 2NT even without stoppers in the majors.

The hands were.

 

Dealer:North

Vul: N-S

North

♠ K1054  

 K5

 102

KQ763 

 
West

 Q63

AJ107 

J54 

 J95

East

♠ AJ8  

Q864 

 Q9873

  South

972 

932 

AK6 

A1082 

 

 

West led Jack of Hearts, with the Ace onside there were 8 tricks for the taking and most of the match points.

Oh well to-morrow is another day.

2010 World Bridge Series Championship

Am in Philly for some fun and games. The 13th World Bridge Series Championship that runs from 1st to 16th October is under way at the Marriott Hotel downtown on Market street.

The opening ceremony this evening as usual was filled with boring speeches, good entertainment-band and great food-Salad, Pasta bar with famous Philly steaks, also a open bar.

 It was also a great place to renew old friendships and make new ones. Met up with Mojo and his delightful partner amount others.

Next up for me is The World Mixed Pair which at press time has 433 pairs entered from 49 countries. There will be three qualifying sessions at the end of which 156 pairs would qualify for the three-session final. 

Game time is at a reasonable 11am and 4pm for the first day then 10am on the second. Everybody will play duplicated boards and with screen. Scoring is done by Bridgemates.

Looking forward to a fun event

Fun Time In Winnerpeg

Last week I had a great time at the Winnipeg Red River Regional The playing site was the Club Regent Casino Hotel. Good for those that made early exits from their KO matches, just a short walk to the gaming table.

The tournament co-chair Marlene Pontifex and Sue Treble with the help of their committee, once again did a wonderful job with hospitality. Free coffee and lunches daily, also a delicious buffet dinner on Thursday for all the players. 

When I go to a tournament, all I expect is clean playing cards and good lighting. So all the extras were well appeciated.

Another unique feature there was the card fee, play all week-sixteen sessions for a package deal of $175.00. 

Now a little humour.

I was playing with local lawyer turned comic-Brian Pauls in the Swiss when our opponent, a married couple came to the table. Brian asked them “play anything special?”

“Yes we play Precision with weak 12-14 no trumps.” was the reply.

Brian looked up at me and said “Michael, if they ever open one club, don’t even look at your cards, just bid one Spade.” 

First board out of the gate, while I was still counting my cards, the auction went Pass, Pass, One Club to me. Without looking at my hand and in tempo “one Spade.”

Right away my left hand opponent started bouncing in his chair, he looked at us then asked “what is that?” Brain answered “Spades-natural.” The lady looked at her hand again. 

I counted my cards out loud, placing them one at a time on the table “one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve!”

While the gentleman questioned “Natural?”

Brian piped up “I have fourteen.”

By now our opponents were dead serious, both said in unison “I want to see your hand” I turned over my cards  J73 Q32 963 653

The gentleman exploded “You can’t play control psychic!!”

Mission Possible

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

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,

 

West North East South
  1NT Pass Pass
DBL Pass Pass Pass

 

 

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

 

 

Dealer: North

Vul: E-W

North  
KQ
AJ84
1086
KQ64
West Maurice East Dave
A76 9832
K109 Q72
AKJ97 Q2
73 10952
  South  
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

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?

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.

 

West North East South
Pass Pass Pass 1
Pass 1 Pass 2
Pass Pass Pass  

 

The hands were.

 

 

Dealer: West

Vul: None

North Maurice  
10874
J1075
Q4
AJ5
West East
AKQ6 J93
9863 K42
J53 K87
94 Q1083
  South  
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. 

 

West North East South
Pass Pass Pass 1
1 DBL 2 3
Pass 3 Pass Pass
Pass      

 

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

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.

 

 

West North East South
  Pass 2 NT Pass
3 * Pass 3 NT* Pass
4 ♣* Pass 4 * Pass
4 NT* Pass 5 * Pass
7 Pass Pass Pass

 

*3 -Minor suit slam try, 3 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  
K106542
875
6
J96
West Maurice East Michael
98 AQ
KQ A432
KQJ10 A53
K10432 AQ75
  South  
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

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

Maurice, Doran, Dave and Michael

West North East South
Pass Pass
2 Pass 2 Pass
2 Pass 2 Pass
3 Pass 4 Pass
4 Pass 4 NT Pass
6 Pass 7 Pass
Pass Pass

*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
K943
QJ10864
974
West Maurice East Michael
A2 108
AK87653 Q942
3 AK2
AKJ 10532
South JC
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

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

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  
KQ7
K92
432
9863
West East
J9853 4
10 J54
Q8 AKJ1097
AKQJ10 542
  South  
A1062
AQ8763
65
7

 

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

 

 

West North East South
    2 2
3 3 Pass Pass
3 Pass 5 Pass
Pass Pass    

 

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 North East South
    2 2
3 3 Pass 4
Pass Pass Pass  

 

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  
KQ7
 
4
9
West East
J985 4
   
  AJ109
J  
  South  
A1062
8
 
 

 

 

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.