We can picture ourselves traveling and sitting at a cafe after playing bridge.
Ann Kuperberg
Mother’s Day was more subdued this year, since many of us chose not to have large gatherings. Instead, we might look forward to traveling this summer, hoping more people will be vaccinated and sightseeing will resume.
Luckily, we have online bridge games to occupy us every day. They stimulate those brain cells and give us challenges. We can socialize with partners and opponents briefly through the chat line and not have to deal with facial expressions or body language.
The American Contract Bridge League (ACBL) offers special games each month, so players can accumulate more master points. Our local clubs also provide Swiss Team events.
The Bridge Bulletin always gives advice on various topics. Lynn Berg recently discussed the Stayman convention. She gave an example of bidding Stayman when a partner opens one NT and you have five spades, four hearts, and less than eight HCPs. Whatever partner bids, you then pass. Another example is when you have no clubs, or even one club, four of each major, and five diamonds. It’s called Garbage Stayman. Again, pass with less than eight points.
She goes on to give examples when opponents interfere. They bid two clubs, you double to say they stole your bid. If they bid higher than two clubs, you can cue bid three clubs to show a Stayman bid. However, you should have more than eight points, since a partner has to bid at the three level.
Dr. James Marsh Sternberg wrote about modern changes to the weak two bid. He said the old rule of requiring two of the top three honors should not be held fast. His example was when a hand has six spades headed by the Queen, an outside Ace and Queen, but a singleton, that hand has more value than a hand with six spades headed by Ace and Queen.
It’s something to discuss with your partner, so each of you knows what to expect.
Three-level preempts depend on vulnerability. There, you can be more frisky.
The MountainView Bridge Club will have in-person games when SaddleBrooke opens the club rooms and the club president, JoAnn Aiken, thinks it’s wise.