Bob Brussel and Terry Coe
Bob Brussel is one of MountainView’s better bridge players. His Bridge story, in his words, is also one of our club’s better stories! And here’s Bob:
My parents taught me to play Bridge when I was eight years old and I would play with my sister as my partner against them. This partnership continued until I joined the army in 1964 where I found a new regular partner. I left the army in 1966 and entered the workforce. I no longer played Bridge except for the train rides on the Long Island Railroad to and from New York City.
When Laurie and I moved to SaddleBrooke in 2002, I resumed my partnership with my sister Blanche which lasted until two months ago when she passed away.
When I think back over the years of all the hands I played, the most memorable hand occurred in 1965 when I was stationed in the army at Fort Monmouth, New Jersey. I was playing at the local bridge club and my partner didn’t show up, so I was teamed up with another late arrival who turned out to be an excellent bridge player. We were doing quite well when we came to the last table and I was dealt the following hand:
(S) Q, J, 10 XXXXX
(H) None
(D) XX
(C) XXX
My right hand opponent, vulnerable (we were not) bid two clubs. Now I don’t believe in psychic bidding, not because it doesn’t work well when you do it, but it ruins your partnership trust when you have a legitimate bid; however, this was the perfect moment for my first psychic bid. I ventured two hearts. My left hand opponent went into a funk (she had six hearts). Eventually, she passed as did everyone else. She led a heart and I could see a smile on my partner’s face when I showed out and he said, “No hearts partner?” We, of course, went down eight — 400 points. The other opponents bid six or seven hearts making seven. It was a top board for us and a 76% game.
It was 50 years later when I made my second psychic bid here at SaddleBrooke. We had a similar result, keeping our opponents out of a makeable four heart contract. One of my opponents was very angry accusing me of an unethical bid. She may have been right, I don’t know. In any event, I probably wouldn’t make my third psych bid for another 50 years. Depending on where I am then, it may not matter.
Bob’s story is one for the ages. Come meet Bob and experience your own adventures in wonderful games and brave bids. We play Tuesdays and Friday afternoons at 1:00 p.m. in the DesertView Mariposa Room. If you need a partner call Jean Reitan at 520-445-8225, email [email protected]. Please give her enough time to find a good partner for you.