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jackThe Carlton was jolly. And we slotted in some rounds of bridge at the end.
Making bridge gossip interesting to people who weren't there is harder than using a metaphor without it sounding like an innuendo. But I will try.
Opening hand, n. A hand of cards better average (average being about 1/4 of the pack), which is the point where you say "Something" instead of "Nothing, I hope my partner does something." It's also under the heading of "what I didn't have all night."
Cowardice, n. Where you have the chance to bid an ok hand with a crazy layout that could be good or bad depending the way things break, or other hands on the wrong side of margin, or wading into deep water in the teeth of opponents and don't.
Bidding convention, n. A trade off between conveying information accurately or precisely. As heavily compressed data, the more complicated, the more potential you have to do what you want, but the more chance that a minor error will turn an economics report on chillis from mexico into a load of wingdings. Yes, we tried too much, and made a mistake. I nearly survived it.
Two-thousand, five hundred, and something, n. Congratulations, Naath and Matthew. Your natural bidding system and procession of slam-worthy hands worked nearly perfectly. This was just above myu estimate for a reasonable maximum swing in one evening, translating to "Two rubbers, a slam, and a lot of solid games" or "£25 between two people at penny a spot" or "Naked and second-degree burns on torso at strip"
Faith in self, n. Recognising the level of experience in this situation where your estimation of your actual hand is more reliable than other people's better judgement of your likley hand. And sticking to it even if they glare at you until they see it. I am reminded of atreic describing talking to supervisor, and reminding herself that she actually knows about this, so her convictions carry more weight than his assumptions, even though she may be in the habit of not thinking so.
(Not a big deal, brief explanation: N&M were bidding to a big slam contract. Ian interrupted bidding three spades, estimating the sacrifice may cost less than losing. I, obviously, have nothing I can possibly bid. Except I have silly spades too, so against ALL the odds, us in spades is good. In the end, even though we could have undeservedly made most of the tricks, it doesn't matter I pass, because even if I bid, M wants to bid more. And when he bids slam, I don't know he's going to succeed, so wouldn't sacrifice then either. But it was one of two hands where I had the chance to do much at all, so of course I wonder what might have happened. )
BTW, does anyone else I haven't seen playing bridge with people playing bridge with SGO people play bridge at all at the moment?
Making bridge gossip interesting to people who weren't there is harder than using a metaphor without it sounding like an innuendo. But I will try.
Opening hand, n. A hand of cards better average (average being about 1/4 of the pack), which is the point where you say "Something" instead of "Nothing, I hope my partner does something." It's also under the heading of "what I didn't have all night."
Cowardice, n. Where you have the chance to bid an ok hand with a crazy layout that could be good or bad depending the way things break, or other hands on the wrong side of margin, or wading into deep water in the teeth of opponents and don't.
Bidding convention, n. A trade off between conveying information accurately or precisely. As heavily compressed data, the more complicated, the more potential you have to do what you want, but the more chance that a minor error will turn an economics report on chillis from mexico into a load of wingdings. Yes, we tried too much, and made a mistake. I nearly survived it.
Two-thousand, five hundred, and something, n. Congratulations, Naath and Matthew. Your natural bidding system and procession of slam-worthy hands worked nearly perfectly. This was just above myu estimate for a reasonable maximum swing in one evening, translating to "Two rubbers, a slam, and a lot of solid games" or "£25 between two people at penny a spot" or "Naked and second-degree burns on torso at strip"
Faith in self, n. Recognising the level of experience in this situation where your estimation of your actual hand is more reliable than other people's better judgement of your likley hand. And sticking to it even if they glare at you until they see it. I am reminded of atreic describing talking to supervisor, and reminding herself that she actually knows about this, so her convictions carry more weight than his assumptions, even though she may be in the habit of not thinking so.
(Not a big deal, brief explanation: N&M were bidding to a big slam contract. Ian interrupted bidding three spades, estimating the sacrifice may cost less than losing. I, obviously, have nothing I can possibly bid. Except I have silly spades too, so against ALL the odds, us in spades is good. In the end, even though we could have undeservedly made most of the tricks, it doesn't matter I pass, because even if I bid, M wants to bid more. And when he bids slam, I don't know he's going to succeed, so wouldn't sacrifice then either. But it was one of two hands where I had the chance to do much at all, so of course I wonder what might have happened. )
BTW, does anyone else I haven't seen playing bridge with people playing bridge with SGO people play bridge at all at the moment?
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Date: 2006-11-03 05:35 pm (UTC)It worked, see? :) I prefer Pippa, she swoons when I do painful things to grammar :) OK, I think it should have an extra " seen playing bridge with people playing" but I don't think that would have made it much penetrabler :)
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Date: 2006-11-03 11:48 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-11-03 05:41 pm (UTC)By the way, I'm sorry, I can't remember from where I met you, I think I added you as a friend because you were commenting on a friend's journal, and I liked your paint cartoons :) May I ask if you know if I know you? :)
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Date: 2006-11-03 08:57 pm (UTC)It's definitely worth trying duplicate once you've basically got the hang of the game. I find the scoring makes it a much more interesting game than rubber bridge. There's also more opportunity to learn.
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Date: 2006-11-03 02:18 pm (UTC)my great aunt was interesting - she wasn't especially bright, nor did she have a brilliant memory - but when we post-mortemed a bridge game she seemed to be able to remember every card! And she played very well.
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Date: 2006-11-03 05:45 pm (UTC)People who practice can be very good, it is impressive :) (And I do see that happening -- the more you plan, the more you abstract things you have to remember (eg. "3-0 split, 2 rounds" rather than "1,2,3,4,5,6,7 gone, X here, x in dummy, west discarded on the ???th round") and so the easier it is, and the more you remember the better you plan :) )
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