Singapore

September 17th, 2008  ~  Mike Yuen  ~  No Comments 

“Don’t listen to what they say. Go see.” Chinese proverb

We left Vancouver on Monday 15th September at 2 pm.

After a nice flight, some 12,837 Km and countless hours. We had two dinners, breakfast and lunch, we are finally here on the island country Republic of Singapore.

Singapore is located at the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula. It is just north of the equator. It has high humidity and average temperature of 30 C. The whole island is only 707 square Km. (273.square miles). Due to land reclaim projects, the island may grow by another 100 square Km. by 2030. The population is about 4.5 millions. Highly cosmopolitan and diverse. The four official languages are English, Malay, Mandarin and Tamil. It is a parliamentary republic. The People’s Action Party has ruled this country in every election since self-government in 1959.

It is interesting to note that Singapore is the 6th wealthiest country in the world in terms of GDP per capita. It has a very modern economy. The currency is the Singapore dollar, worth about 70 cents Canadian.

Downtown Singapore

We will be staying with Mark (brother) and Linda (sister-in-law). Their two daughters Melissa (9) and Megan (5). It is so nice to see them again.

Is now Tuesday 16th September 11.30 pm local time. Vancouver is 15 hours behind Singapore, I am looking forward to a good night sleep.

What is your agreement?

September 15th, 2008  ~  Mike Yuen  ~  No Comments 

What do you bid with the North-South hand? 

South dealer. All Vul.

Playing with my regular partner I would open the South hand one no trump (15-17), partner would bid three spade (singleton spade and at least four-four in the minors, with slam interest) I would bid four diamond (agreeing diamond as trump) Partner can then use key card ask and settle in the slam.

Bridge Poem

September 14th, 2008  ~  Mike Yuen  ~  No Comments 

Dusk to Dawn

The stars alight

All is quiet now

at the peaceful lake

Our boat heads out for uncharted waters

but a ray of hope

shimmers on the dark horizon

As The Championship in Beijing nears, we can go forth with much optimism for Canada’s teams.

Slow Boat to China

September 13th, 2008  ~  Mike Yuen  ~  No Comments 

“To travel hopefully is better than to arrive, and the true success is to labour.”  Robert Louis Stevenson.

Jeff (32), my son and I are on our way to China. Actually we are flying Air Canada to Hong Kong, then a connecting flight to our first stop Singapore. Eventually to Beijing. It will be a very exciting trip for both of us, as Jeff lives in Winnipeg and I in Vancouver. Just because of geography, we do not have as many chances to do things together as we both would like. I call this our bonding trip.                                                                                   

Jade Boat at Vancouver International Airport

Jeff goes all over the place to play Ultimate. His Team Chaos from Winnipeg has won Canadian National Championship and has represented Canada at World Ultimate Championship in Turku Finland. Winning Silver medal.

Ultimate is a non contact team game played with a flying disc (frisbee). It is based on the principles of fair play, sportsmanship and the joy of play, much like Bridge.

I don’t think I be playing Ultimate any time soon but there is still hope for Jeff in Bridge.

Our bags are packed and we are ready to go!

Nice people.

September 12th, 2008  ~  Mike Yuen  ~  No Comments 

Linda and Ray Lee of Master Point Press are two of the nicest people I know. They and Becky Young have gone out of their way to help me with blogging.

For the 1st World Sport Mind Games in Beijing. Linda and Ray have kindly sponsor team jackets and hats for the Youth Team (Under 28). They also provided bridge books to the Youth Team. 

On behalf of Canadian Bridge Federation and all the players on The Team, David, Erin,Matt, Kai, David and Roy, I would like to say a big Thank You to them for their support and generosity.

Canada’s teams for the 1st World Mind Sports Game in Beijing.

September 11th, 2008  ~  Mike Yuen  ~  No Comments 

World Junior Championship for the Damiani Cup (Under 21)

NPC: Bryan Maksymetz

Hershel Macaulay, Ethan Macaulay, Aled Laboni,

Gondon Zind, Malcolm McColl, Tristan Wood.

World Junior Championship for the Ortiz Patino Trophy (Under 26)

NPC: Nader Hanna

Daniel Lavee, Samantha Nystrom, Charles Halasi,

Anton Blagov, Scott Rosom, James Dulmage.

World Youth Team (Under 28)

NPC: Michael Yuen

David Grainger,David Sabourin, Matthew Mason,

Erin Anderson, Kai Zhou, (Roy) Yang Li.

Open Team

NPC: David Willis

Vincent Demuy, Kamel Fergani, Marc-Andre Fourcaudot,

Dan Jacob, Robert Lebi, Nicolas L ‘Ecuyer.

Women’s Team

NPC: John Rayner

Susan Culham, Karen Cumpstone, Kismet Fung,

Pascale Gaudreault, Martine Lacroix, Pamela Nisbet.

Senior Team

NPC: Sandra Fraser

John Bowman, William Bowman, Stephen Brown,

Jurek Czyzowicz, Douglas Fraser, Edward Zaluski.

Coach for all the Canadian teams Eric Kokish and Beverly Kraft.

Canadian Women’s Team

September 10th, 2008  ~  Mike Yuen  ~  No Comments 

This photo was taking at Rayner’s Bridge Club in Toronto. Courtesy of Kismet Fung.

Martine Lacroix, Pascale Gaudreault, (NPC) John Rayner, Susan Culham,Kismet Fung. Missing are Karen Cumpstone and Pamela Nisbet.

We wish them excellent bridge and a wonderful time in Beijing.

Get well soon!

September 9th, 2008  ~  Mike Yuen  ~  No Comments 

Samantha Nystrom, member of Canada’s Junior Team (under 26) is recovering from surgery. On behalf of The Youth Team, we would like to wish her a speedy recovery. The Great Wall awaits.

Thinking outside the box.

September 8th, 2008  ~  Mike Yuen  ~  No Comments 

In the 80s and 90s for some, the box is the penalty box, that may explain why sometimes hockey games break out during bridge.

There are now 71 teams in the Youth Championship and as it will be Swiss qualifier for the KO stage. I am reading most of the convention/system cards other countries have posted. Unlike the other events where limited number of countries are put into groups, you need only to prepare for those opponents that are in your group. 

Well what do you know, only a few teams play Standard American. Everybody else play something else!

Many play toys like 2 club either weak diamond preempt or any strong hand. Multi 2 diamond both weak or strong. Others play 2 diamond 7 card major suit. Still others play 2 diamond majors weak. 2 diamond 18-19 strong no trump. 2 heart is heart and another suit. 2 spade is spade and a minor. 2NT minors or any 2 suites. We have defenses against these and other 2 suited openings. Yet others play transfer responses, transfer preempt. Some play very weak NT. we can also prepare for Suction, Gazzilli (invented by Leo Gazzilli of Milan. artificial bid of 2C by opener limited or GF), Drury, Bergen, big club, Polish club, comic no trump, special 3NT and higher preempts.

What if you do not have Google at your disposal at the table? What are your agreements when you have to play against conventions/names that are foreign to you. Like checkback Woolsey (2 way check back). 1 major-2NT Scannian way. Inverted key card Josephine. Muiderberg (Dutch Two suited opening) Absolute doubles ( I would have thought it is played by a Swedish pair but  Belgian.) EHAA (every hand an adventure!) Still others play Ekrens 2 diamond (originally invented Norwegian Bard Olav Ekren – weak hand with majors). Keri over NT (2 club stayman or diamonds, transfers, 2 spade invite to 3NT or slam hand and so on). Principle of slow arrival. Some play relay systems (the days of calling a spade a spade is numbered)

When I first played bridge psychics was unheard of. In this event, few checked rare, most checked seldom, many checked often (in third position and in responses to partner’s opening bid). A pair from Japan play fake suit and fake controls!

My advise to our team “Best defense is to trust your partner”

Maybe Meckwell got it right. Bid game now and let them defend later.

Richard Boyd and Emmett David from Ireland said it best on their system card. “Enjoy the Tournament”

This Man Can Play.

September 5th, 2008  ~  Mike Yuen  ~  No Comments 

Dealer East. All Vul.

Robert Lebi and Dan Jacob are on the Canadian Open Team going to Beijing this October, playing in the World Mind Sports Games. This was the pair in action on BBO. Robert was South and Dan was North. Hands rotated

West led the heart 10, Robert won with the ace, played the spade J. East winning, played the heart K, heart Q came next. Some may have ruffed this trick, not Robert. He discarded the diamond Q! Scissors coup and the trump 10 uppercut danger is averted.