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Graduation Day
People sing the song of May – flowers, the full glory of Spring, the transition into Summer, pollen, sneezing, trees bursting into full leaf.
There’s another side to May. It is the month of Graduation Days. Have you yet received an invitation for someone graduating from Pre-School? If you are lucky enough to get one, go. It’s a hoot. The kids wander in different directions, cry for mommy, rip their little gowns, their caps are all a-tilt. Very cute.
BUT!! Does this seem a trifle excessive? Pre-School? Really?
What about us bridge players? Do we deserve to graduate to the next level? Are we ready for, say, bridge kindergarten? Maybe Middle-School? High School? A good way to evaluate might be to see how we do on the hands today. Can we set the contracts? Our teachers are here.
DAVID BIRD: What about when declarer misses a chance. Are we ready to take advantage? Then, early planning sets the contract. We see the need for planning as careful as the declarer’s planning. What can we do when we can count the declarer’s winning tricks and it’s enough? David also brings in Magical Thinking, where we need to place the cards where we need them to succeed.
BEN NORTON: Ben has six hands all about taking ruffs as defenders, all of which depend on sharp partnership skills. After finishing these hands, we’ll be better at drawing inferences from each card played, better at giving effective signals (not to mention interpreting them!). He puts a heavy emphasis on planning the defense as carefully as declarer play.
PAUL BOWYER: When we finish Paul’s eight hands, we should be doing graduate work in keeping communications between Pard’s open. When is it wrong to return Pard’s lead? How can we be better at pinpoint accuracy? How to avoid being intimidated by a glorious dummy? How can we take advantage of Pard’s great lead? Stay tuned…
MATTHIAS HUBERSCHWILLER: Matthias has two quizzes for us. One illuminates leads against No-trump and the other tackles tleads against Minor Suit Games.
Finally, I’ve got two little warm-up hands for you. After all this, we’ll all need Caps and Gowns, and will dance to the sounds of Pomp and Circumstances.
Don't forget: if you like Marti's style, have a go with her Bridge Boot Camps. Click here to ask Marti about the schedule...
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