Not a bridge post really

For someone who doesn't like bridge books, I'm sure reading a lot more of them. This is due in large part to commuting by bus. The truth is, I still do not read at home very much. But I read during my lunch hour and on the bus. I'm enjoying it. I'd like to think I'm learning something.

The problem is I'm not learning/retaining as much as I'd like. There's an awful lot of to take in. I'm under the impression that there are techniques you can employ to boost the efficacy of your study time. Anyone know of anything I can read on the subject?

"I Love This Game"

I'm reading on the bus, again. I was reading Hardy - 2/1, and then last night I played with Dano. Dan's my favorite partner. I thought about this some today. I get to play with some incredible people. Many of them are so much better than I that I always feel as though it's a special treat when I get to play with them. And it's great fun, but there isn't always the ease that comes with playing with someone who's in step with you. Dan's a stronger player than I, in many ways, maybe chiefly in that he's more consistent. But he's also still learning many of the same things I am. It's hard to explain why that's so nice. It just is. Of course, there are many people learning things, so it's not just that. I play some of my best bridge with Dan. And we have a meeting of the minds, where we can a feel for what might be going on with our CHO. Also, I think our outlook and approach to the game is very similar. I like that we don't do much discussing at the table, and that we review after.

Anyway, before I digressed I was about to say that I have been reading Hardy, with Dan. And I think we've agreed that we are going to read through, then think about where we're going to make changes. Because at this point, we're thinking we'll use everything, and really, I think we'll just end up confused. There's too much candy in the store to try it all in one day. So, we'll read through then decide what to incorporate and reread there. We might read Lawrence before doing that to see what else is out there, before settling on anything.

Well, we played in the 299er last night. We had some bad boards. Dan pointed out (very gently and tactfully) that I made some mistakes that were not things I'd usually do - he forgets how unfocused I can be, and he thinks I might need a brain rest. He finds that sometimes when we try to read and practice and read, practice there’s a dip in performance at the table, and we can use a little time to rest our brains.

So, with Dan's blessing I took a break from Hardy, which is nice because I've been trying to find time to read Sabine Auken's I Love This Game.

I have such hero worship for Sabine. You know, it's easy to explain why you think something, but much harder to explain why you feel something. What is my fascination with great women players? I cannot define it in a way that makes sense. But maybe it's not so unusual, really.

On Sunday, I went to the museum with my family. My father, who is getting older, I suppose, was very fascinated by the fact that there were two paintings by Miro that were done in his seventies and eighties. Maybe we like to see proof that greatness is possible, regardless of our age or gender or whatever. Maybe I just want to be Sabine when I grow up. Of course, it's too late for that, and I'm far more likely to turn out to be Mrs. Guggenheim than Ms. Auken at the table. But I can dream.

I'm surprised at how accessible the book is. I can follow it, I can understand it, and I'm excited by the exciting parts. She's a wonderful writer, and storyteller. If you haven't read this book, you might take a look.

Automatic trump lead

1x-p-1y-p-2z-p-4z.

They probably need ruffs to set up their side suits. We need to cut down on them.

The Master List of Things Everyone Knows, but no one told me!

I keep stumbling across little normalities that I had no idea existed. So, I'm making a list. - So I don't forget them. You all feel free to chime right in.

1. In this auction 2c-2d-3nt... 4c can be stayman, and that's fairly standard. (Is it standard enough to be the default?)
2 If you make a take out x and then bid 1nt on your next turn you're not showing shortness in openers suit, you're showing a balanced 16-18ish nt hand.
3 Make that 18-19ish.
4 Don't signal with your high cards if it means setting up the suit for the opps. (Ok, maybe that's a bit obvious for this list, but I sometimes need reminders)

I Have A Theory

I have a theory, which is great cause for celebration around my house. Most days I don't just not have a theory, I barely have opinions and have to borrow some from other people. But I have a theory. It's this: I think whatever the relative merits of discard systems or lack or merits, it's got to be more profitable to just learn to discard wisely and signal well, before adopting one.

Recently I was talking with a friend about UDCA and she was shocked that I don't use O/E or Lav. And I didn't go into all this because I like her, and I didn't want to bore her, but I was thinking it all. I was thinking about when someone, about a year ago, pointed out to me that my discard was giving away a trick. I was so busy trying to signal what was in my hand that I didn't bother to think about what I was looking at in the dummy, what declarer might be planning or anything but the fact that I had an honor and p could lead that suit to me and I could take a trick.

Now, clearly, O/E as a device is in no way to blame for my shortcomings as a defender. But I find that not having to worry if my card is odd or even frees me up to think about what I should be discarding. It's one less distraction. Once I can be distracted by bright shiny things and still throw the right card I can revisit the issue.

On The Short List Of Things To Do

I made a list of what I need to do to become good at bridge

#1 Develop good habits (always count. Always make a plan. Don't be lazy. Think.)
#2 Learn what hands are really worth, ( and accurately adjust with each new piece of information as valuation is a fluid thing that changes every time anyone bids.)
#3 Learn to be a better partner. Get a better grasp on when to ask p develop your hand, and when you want to help partner set up hers.
#4 Concentrate. Maintain focus.

Speaking of That

Two of my favorite partners really like weak nt. I've promised to learn it. (Partnership is a reciprocal thing, isn't it? I try what they like, they try what I like, in the end you play what works for everyone, but you try it. - I went to culinary school. It's the same thing. You try it before you say you don't like it.)

I posted on the BB Forums asking about the benefits and risks of Weak NT. My favorite response came from JDONN, who made the explanation clear enough that I felt like I knew what was going on. I don't know that I'm going to like weak nt. But I do know that I want a good defense to it.

This or That?

Something that comes up fairly often is the question of whether to learn something new, or try to master the basics. For a year, I tried not to add a single new convention, a decision that came on the heels of realizing that I had no idea what many basic bids meant. Sadly this still comes up. Sometimes in a perfectly normal auction I'll draw a blank. Its scary.

Many of my friends who are much better players than I tell me, "Don't worry about that now, Deb. First get a better grasp on standard." And I acknowledge that they've got a very valid point.

On the other hand, much of what I encounter at the table is not standard. It's nice to know what's going on. It's nice to feel that you're clued in. And of course knowing how the super-sonic forcing pass of death work, doesn't mean you have to play it. Sometimes it's just nice to know what it is.

What was standard yesterday becomes less standard tomorrow. Just today someone said. "No one plays Bergen anymore." Which is an exaggeration, but there's something there.

Is the examination of various options just a distraction at this point, or does it give a beginning player a better handle on what's going on? Can it hurt to think about new ideas?