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The Daily Deal
Each day we "seed" one lesson deal somewhere into our otherwise randomly dealt set of boards. The board number is different each day. You never know which board it is. The daily deal is a free mini-lesson. You can take home a handout of the daily deal every day. We hope you find it educational as well as entertaining. To see past Daily Deals, click here. |
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Sitouts Banned! 
We have done away with sit-outs, for once and for all. When we have a half-table in the game, we enter the computer as a participant in the game, in order to make a full table.
When it would otherwise be your turn to sit out, instead you play against the computer. Your score vs. the computer counts in the game. The computer is always disqualified, so it doesn't take away your masterpoints - in fact, the awards actually increase because the game is larger.
You can learn more about this here. |
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Replay At Home  You can now replay the boards you've played at the club - in the comfort of your own home.
Replay the exact same hands with any of several commercial bridge programs such as GIB or Bridge Baron if you own one. If you have not purchased one, we have a free program for you to download. Click here for instructions. | |
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Free Bridge Lessons
Rich answers your questions every Tuesday prior to the game. |
Thursdays, we have a vugraph presentation. Rich reviews interesting deals of the past week. Each board in question is projected onto our large video screen for all to see as we discuss it. |
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My Partner's a Fool!
It was our regular Friday game at Bridge Ace,
I had not an inkling what was about take place.
We started the day against Carol and Jay,
And on two out of three, things didn't go our way. Our opponents, round two, were Michael and Jean,
The last time we played them, I'd gone down thirteen!
I was hoping against hope for more than one good board,
But here, once again, two bottoms we scored. We moved on to three, where we found Ron and Carol,
They said playing us was, "Like shooting fish in a barrel."
On the fourth round, we played Gwen and Jackie.
Things didn't get better - they got even more whacky. After twelve boards, our game was mediocre,
I had played a few hands just like a joker.
My partner had not taken one winning finesse,
And neither had I, I'm ashamed to confess.
My partner's poor bidding was giving me troubles,
And don't get me started on some of his doubles.
He'd even forgotten two notrump is Jacoby.
I wanted to throw him into Lake Okeechobee! On round number five, we faced Billy and Larry.
If we couldn't beat them, I'd commit hara-kiri!
I was hopeful that now our fortunes would reverse.
I knew, at any rate, things couldn't get any worse. |
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As I sorted my cards to play board thirteen,
I was feeling the need for a jolt of caffeine.
I knew, for this session, we had a lot to make up,
A fresh cup of coffee just might help me wake up.
North was the dealer and he quietly passed.
"Think about this hand, don't fret over the last."
I counseled myself. I remembered those words,
From a bridge lesson I'd taken with three other nerds.
My hand was worth just ten in high cards,
But the eight solid diamonds I could not disregard.
I pondered my opening. What should it be?
Should I bid five, four or three?
Continued below
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 The Wednesday Game |
The game features preduplicated boards that are played at clubs across the country. Free expert hand analyses after the game. |
New Interclub Challenge |
 We have an agreement with Eastlake Bridge Club in Chula Vista, California to run a monthly interclub match. We will run this game on the second Wednesday of each month, starting April 13 (that's next week).
Unlike our previous interclub matches, this one will pay overall masterpoints across both sections. As an extra incentive, we are making the first two, club championships! |
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My Partner's a Fool! (continued)
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And then I remembered an obscure convention,
(Or had I dreamed up my own bridge invention?)
My three notrump bid was a bit of a gamble,
But I hoped for nine tricks that I could unscramble.
My stupid old partner could not take a joke,
And out of his stupor, he abruptly awoke.
As he bid seven diamonds, his affection was vehement.
Could it be he'd forgot our three notrump agreement?
When he bid the grand slam, I'm the first to admit,
I was sure as could be we had a very good fit.
With my eight card suit, if partner had four,
We had diamonds and diamonds and diamonds galore!
Without hesitation, North led the spade jack.
Partner won with the ace and a spade came right back.
He ruffed with the nine, then led the trump ace.
When he discarded a heart, I was a charity case.
Did I see what I saw? Was partner a chump?
He'd just bid a grand slam without any trump!
I'd figured someone might have started with none,
But not my own partner, the son of a gun.
When I saw him show out, I gave up all hope,
I mumbled some comment like, "Partner's a dope."
To bid a grand with no trumps, you know I was thinking,
That my partner must have been covertly drinking!
He played out the hand with theatrical flair.
He pulled all their trumps and didn't stop there,
He ran all my diamonds, right down to the deuce.
I couldn't believe he could be so obtuse.
On the last of the diamonds, he threw off an ace!
Then proceeded to laugh at the look on my face.
He took all the tricks and that was a thrill,
But this deal was queerer than a three dollar bill.
When the board was complete and the dust had all settled,
I apologized to partner for acting so nettled.
I asked how he knew to bid grand slam with a void.
He answered politely, but was clearly annoyed.
Partner explained, as he tallied the score,
"You promised seven tricks and I had six more.
Seven notrump was no good, if I can be candid,
For all of your diamond tricks would have been stranded."
The moral of this deal is not so fantastic,
If I may offer advice, without sounding bombastic:
Don't lose your temper; you should always stay cool,
And trust that your partner is not an April Fool!
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As always, you can follow the play of this deal with our Bridge Movie on our website. |
Note: |
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East's opening 3NT was the "Gambling Three Notrump," promising a running seven- or eight-card suit. Diamonds is the only denomination in which you can make any slam. |
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