March Madness
The phrase “March Madness” is everywhere. What is it referring to? Is it the 18” of snow I’m looking at on the third day of Spring? (I live in the Northeast.) What’s THAT all about?
Can it be some of the more bizarre events on our calendar? It’s “Pick up After Your Dog” Month. I live in a condo community, and you can be shot for not picking up after pups, but who knew there’s an entire month devoted to Poop Awareness.
We’ve survived St. Paddy’s Day (barely) with the green beer, dyed rivers, and general hysteria, then we find out that in March, there’s the Worldwide Where’s Waldo Festival in Dublin. Thousands of people, dressed like Waldo, roam the streets. What a terrifying image! Talk about “Madness…”
No. “March Madness” is all about – college basketball. Since basketball is not on my radar, it was fascinating to find out about the office pools, fantasy teams, regular TV program re-arranged to make room for games and more games. There is even a marvelous nun in her 90s who is involved with one of the teams. Guess who’s going to win?
For bridge players, March Madness is the feelings we have when we can’t get to our games because of the snow. It’s the upset when we fail to make our (makeable) contracts. Its our confusion over our Pard’s bids.
And that, Faithful Readers, is where we here at Vu-Bridge come in. Here’s what we’ve got for you this issue.
MATTHIAS HUBERSCHWILLER’s series centers on identifying the only plan that leads to victory. Will it involve counting a suit? Knowing when to halt the bidding right on the edge of the cliff? Being able to manage with an entryless dummy? All of the above!
BEN NORTON wants us to place cards “without peeking.” He guides us to constructing the opponents’ hands by counting and logical inference. He shows us how to project ourselves into enemy hand and figure out WHY they took each action. Ben says we will appear to be magicians!
I’ve got a series highlighting two of my very favorite concepts. First, making the opponents do the work with a Strip and End Play. Next, “No Five Card Suit in Dummy Should Ever Be Ignored.” These are simple and fun.
We close the issue with two intriguing quizzes from MATTHIAS HUBERSCHWILLER. One is on Strong 2 Club openers, the other is a Bid-a-Hand based on 2 Clubs.
Enjoy!