Denver

[pclayton]

Hi gang:

 

Got back from Denver on Tuesday. Played in the LM final (missed the overalls), but entered the Mitchell BAM with my ragtag group. We gave ourselves a 10% of qualifying but ended up making the final and even scratching (32nd) in the overalls. This is the 1st time I've ever scratched in a national open event, and to do it in the BAM (which many consider to the toughest event) was pretty unreal.

 

Took two boards off Meckstroth (they DIDNT Q) on the 1st day too, who missed qualifying with a 23.5 (it took 26.5; we had 28.5).

 

Gotta run; But there's a ton of great hands to tell you about.

 

OK - Just one; one of my favorites. You are playing in the 1st session of the LM final. You sit down against Jacobs / Versace and pick up red / red: ♠xx ♥x ♦AKTxxxx ♣Axx. Pard opens 1♣ and Jacobs overcalls 2♦ (majors). You bid 2♠ (showing ♦'s). Versace bids 4♠ and Brian bids 5♣.

 

Right or wrong you bid 6♣. and catch pard with: x, AQx, xx, KQJxxxx. As you put down dummy you say, "Today we are not STAYING FIXED".

 

You catch pard with: x, AQx, xx, KQJxxxx. +1370 was a 65+ on a 77.

 

On the next board, Jacobs misplays 6♠. The trump suit was AQ opposite KJ9xxxx and was reported on in the daily bulletin on Monday. That was a 70.

[cherdano]

Well done Phil.

[luke warm]

wtg phil!!

[dogsbreath]

well done

I hope you get to keep the overalls, will come in handy when you redecorate the lounge

Rgds Dog :(

[Echognome]

Congrats PC. Will be looking forward to hearing about more of the hands.

[joker_gib]

Congratulations Phil !

[Finch]

This is the 1st time I've ever scratched in a national open event..

What does it mean? I assume this is good, not that you got a few mosquito bites?

(two nations, common language etc)

[awm]

Congratulations Phil! Good showing, hopefully it's a sign of even bigger things in future nationals.

[Fluffy]

WD phil!, althou I am not sure what you actually achieved I'm afraid. I shoudl travel to US to play one of those tourneis one of this years.

[pclayton]

Scratched = slang for placed in the overalls.

 

Sorry if that wasn't clear. :)

[keylime]

Sswweeeett.

[Guest Jlall]

gj Phil, I enjoyed heckeling you while you played random rubber bridge late at night next to our barbu game :lol:

[pclayton]

Yeah it was good to finally meet Justin and see a few others who I haven't seen in ages.

 

It must have been a funny scene watching my middle-aged team being obnoxious while we played Chicago until 2 in the morning as the youngsters were stoically playing Barbu.

 

When I was growing up in Montana, sectionals were all the rage. Everyone would be from out of town and we would go over the hands until the wee hours of the morning.

 

I play a lot of regionals, but nearly everyone is asleep (or home) after the 2nd session. Even the hospitality suite is boring.

 

If you want to have a good time, and improve your bridge, you must attend nationals.

[barmar]

On the next board, Jacobs misplays 6♠. The trump suit was AQ opposite KJ9xxxx and was reported on in the daily bulletin on Monday. That was a 70.

Sounds like Jacobs was having a bad couple of weekends. I was operating the Vugraph during the Reisinger finals, and on the first two boards he and Katz had bidding misunderstandings, landing in 4♠ and 5♠ on 3-3 fits.

 

A couple of rounds later they arrived back at the Vugraph table, and George joked "We're throwing out our system, and playing Yellow Card."

[chicken]

what is barbu?

[Guest Jlall]

what is barbu?

The best card game ever :ph34r: Google it.

[mikeh]

I had a friend try to teach my wife and I to play, but it took so long that we did not even finish a game, and the tactics did not appeal to my wife. However, Mille, is a fun game: easier to play, and much faster: sort of like a cross between gin rummy and hearts: a hoot when played for fun and a surprisingly tough game when played for money.