JeffHand

There is a Calcutta (money) tournament at the Honors Bridge Club in Manhattan on Saturday evening October 25. The dinner starts at 5:30PM. Call 212-230-1230 for details or reservations.

How can I look at hand records from last November's Reisinger (ACBL BAM tournament at November National tournament)? Thank you, Jeff Hand hand_jeff@hotmail.com www.realbridgehands.com

Please see my website (www.realbridgehands.com) for details. I typically work live teaching bridge and playing professional at major USA tournaments and at clubs in the New York City area. I live in Florida and play there a lot too. Best Regards, Jeff Hand www.realbridgehands.com hand_jeff@hotmail.com 407-375-2053

Jeff Hand (www.realbridgehands.com) is looking for an appealing arrangement either as 1) a coach, 2) a playing pro for the Verona tournament, or 3) as a member of a winning multinational team. Please review my website to see my credentials. I am keenly interested in building a highly qualified partnership and team to win world championships. Thank you for your interest, Jeff Hand hand_jeff@hotmail.com 407-375-2053 (USA)

ORLANDO-BASED BRIDGE PRO AVAILABLE FOR REGIONAL TOURNAMENTS THIS FALL. I don't have many bookings yet for regionals this fall. I am booked for the Nationals in Orlando. I have won over 400 master points so far this year, mostly with one client. I prefer to work on serious partnerships with talented students. Please contact Jeff Hand, 407-375-2053, hand_jeff@hotmail.com. Thank you.

The Marriott Cypress Harbor timeshare is available for rent for one week during the fall nationals. It is about 10 minutes from the playing hotel, and is very close to Sea World. Rental for the week is $1500. It has loads of activities for family, is close to golf courses, and close to Disney, Universal Studios, Sea World, etc. The time share is elegant with a master bedroom with a jacuzzi, a second bedroom, and a pull-out couch. It has a fully equipped kitchen, washer-dryer, LR,DR, screen room. There are numerous nice swimming pools on the grounds, along with a game room, gym, etc. They arrange trips to Hard Rock cafe for teenagers, and have loads of activities for kids. The first time I stayed there with my family, I had to extend and keep it for a second week. It is a beautiful place to stay and recuperate from excursions to the theme parks. I heartily recommend it as a place to stay during the bridge tournament, for any family that wants a complete vacation. Contact Jeff Hand, hand_jeff@hotmail.com, tel. 407-375-2053.

Jeff Hand and Dave Kent have formed a bridge partnership and need teammates for Reno. Jeff was a pro for many years in the 1970s, played in 5 Olympiads and 1 Bermuda Bowl, came in 2nd in the Cavendish in 1975, won Central American and Caribbean Bridge Federation championships, and re-became a bridge pro about a year ago. Back in the 1970s, Jeff "knew" he would win some world titles, but then he got married and raised a family. He lived in Panama for 26 years. Now he is pursuing his passion again. He has recently formed a partnership with Dave Kent, who played in several Canadian national team championships and a few Rosenblooms. Dave has limited his competition in the last 10 years, but keeps up with the latest systems of top players. This will be their first major tournament. They will be needing teammates in the Vanderbilt in Reno and in upcoming nationals. The teammates could either be future Vanderbilt winners, or sponsors-clients. Only pleasant top world level serious players or clients need reply. If you know some partnerships who might be good teammates, I would appreciate the leads. Thank you, Jeff Hand hand_jeff@hotmail.com

Back in the 1970s Drew Cannell and I (Jeff Hand) co-developed Panama Relay. I then played it very effectively in a number of tournaments, including the 1979 Bermuda Bowl. Unfortunately, we never wrote up a book on the system, I got married and had a family and played less bridge, and Panama Relay never developed a following. My circumstances have changed, and I am planning on making some modifications to the system, based in part on principles like Bergen, Law of Total Tricks and 4-card majors in 3rd and 4th suit for lead directing and auction space-stealing values. I plan on finding a partner and/or sponsor who is interested in winning world championships with me playing the system. I have spoken with Drew about Panama Relay, and he has commented that many top partnerships have very complicated systems, and that Panama Relay is a much simpler system that accomplishes most everything more complicated systems accomplish, and sometimes accomplishes more. I like a simpler system, because it allows me to flexibility to use the system effectively, and to concentrate on what is happening at the table. While I don't know the quirks of many top systems, as well as Drew Cannell currently knows them, I have a lot of faith in the basic principles of Panama Relay, and my ability to modify and play the system. If anyone wants to live and breathe bridge, with the goal of winning world championships, and needs someone in a coaching or teaching or playing capacity, to fully analyze and discuss and develop abilities and techniques, I am interested in pursuing such discussions. The world of bridge has changed impressively since the 1970s -- the level of play at the top levels is much much more competitive. I want to win in today's world, and I have a lot of ideas and thoughts and dedication that will help achieve that goal. Respectfully, Jeff Hand

I think that if East was dealt the spade 8 and not the 7, and if the defenders found the spade 9 unblock at trick 4 to defeat the hand, then the defenders should be highly praised -- they are alert and thinking clearly. It is the type of hand that, with a more reasonable auction, would be great to see in top events. My comments are about the bidding. I think a negative double is way off the mark, and that the actual 2Spade bid is correct. If West has a hand that can raise the preempt, it is clearly right for South to show strength and 5 Spades urgently. The Diamond suit is not as important to show at this point. Given the 2Spade bid, North now has an unenviable rebid. Raising to 3Spades on Jx in spades is unattractive. I think a 3Club rebid is more normal, hoping that partner might be able to bid 3NT or repeat the spade suit. Most 2-over-1 players play that 2Spades in competition is not game forcing, and that if the opener or the responder rebid their suits, then the partnership can pass short of game. Each serious partnership needs to have clear-cut agreements on when 2-over-1 bids in competition are not game-forcing. Over a 3Club rebid, South would now show his Diamond suit, which would be a forcing bid. Now, a 3Spade preference by North would be best. I think passing here is the last chance for the partnership to stop short of game. So with that auction, we end up at the same contract, but I think it is bid a lot better.

Jeff Hand is offering classes, group or private, in the Orlando Florida area, or online. Jeff Hand became a life master at his 18th birthday, won the US NCAA College Championship in 1968, became a certified director in 1969, worked on the staff of the Miami Olympiad in 1972, moved from the Washington DC area to Panama and became a full time teacher and pro until 1978, competed in 4 Olympiads and 1 Bermuda Bowl, won CAC (Central American and Caribbean) championships, won events at the US Nationals, came in 2nd in the 1975 Cavendish Invitational, was written up twice by Truscott in the 1970s in the NY Times, worked as manager of the Bridge Centre of Washington from July 1976 until February 1977, and then got married and had kids. Now he is widowed and his kids have moved away, and he wants to share his expertise, love and enthusiasm for the game with interested students and one serious bridge partner. You can contact me directly at hand_jeff@hotmail.com. Back in the 1970s I "knew" it was only a matter of time before I would win at least one World Championship. Now I would love to be back in the game at that level again. Favorite Bridge Statement: "You are only as good a player as you played your last session of bridge".