December 2005 - 7

Letters to the Editor

years. We occasionally have difficult
moments, but we make it a practice
never to let it affect our manner at
the bridge table. All problems are
discussed in the car on the way
home or after we get home.
Bud was an ACBL member when
I met him in college, and I was a
beginner with little understanding of
the game. Fortunately, he was and
is a patient and mature adult who
took on the challenge of helping me
become a better player.
We are now Silver Life Masters,
have directed on cruises and subbed
for local directors in Colorado and
Florida. I am an ACBL-accredited
teacher. Bud is still my favorite
partner. We are still learning and
still growing in our ability to play.
Over the years we have met many
couples who play well and kindly
together. I am sure there are many
more. I particularly remember Jerry
and Mirli Graham, whom we played
against at a Callaway Gardens regional many years ago. They were
the top-ranked Senior pair in the
country at that time. We know many
couples who are good players who
conduct themselves with grace at
the table. All players should realize
that playing with your spouse is
not only possible but also can be
rewarding and pleasant.
RUTH JOHNSON
Longmont CO

Pressure's off
To the Editor:
When my wife, Sunshine, and I
started playing duplicate, we found
ourselves not only not winning, but
regularly coming in last. After two
tournaments of disappointing results,
we attended one held on the Queen
Mary in Long Beach harbor.
As we sat down at our first table,
I looked at my wife and said, simply, "Dead last." She looked right at
me and replied, "Dead last."
Our opponents were bewildered
by the exchange, so we explained
that every time we approached play
with the intent to win, we suffered
horrible defeats, so the only way
we could see of fixing the problem
was by removing the pressure to
December 2005

perform. We sat back and played an
enjoyable session.
While we did not take first, we
placed in the points, and a tradition
was born. The will to win is one
thing, but the pressure to win, especially from within, is quite another.
We still make mistakes in spades
(and every other denomination), but
now we leave our errors behind.
ANDREW PURVIS
Los Angeles CA

Legal bid?
To the Editor:
I note in the June issue in the
Bidding Box (page 29) that Steve
and Kitty Cooper use Drury in all
seats. This was a tactic popularized
by the late Barry Crane, to check
on control of his ultra-light opening
bids in first and second seat. At the
Chicago NABC in 1981, I was playing in a pairs event against Crane
and Ron Andersen, and the bid
came up. My partner, Robb Gordon,
and I called the director to inquire
about its legality. John Hamilton
pronounced it illegal and warned the
pair against using it in the future. Is
this treatment now legal?
HENRY A. SHEVITZ
Bloomfield Hills MI
The convention referred to is on
the Mid-Chart and is permitted in
NABC+ events.

20-20 vision
To the Editor:
The October issue shows a 6NT
contract bid and made by Mike Passell (page 21). Beautifully played.
The bidding implies that North
has a 4-4-1-4 distribution. Sitting
East, I would assume Mike's bid
was predicated on a long diamond
suit. North probably has the Q or
the A. I would have doubled for
a club lead (assuring defeat of the
contract).
True, North could have had four
spades to the Q-J. You win some,
you lose some. Bridge is a game
of perception and opinion. What is
needed is table presence, table presence, table presence.
JOE NOVAK
Mentor OH

Mimi's moment
To the Editor:
I (South) found myself in 6
A K J 10 7 4 3 8 A J Q 6 3.
Dummy held
Q 9 2 A J 6 K Q 5 4 7 5 2.
West led the A. East played
the jack. I dropped the Q, risking
down two. West then switched to
the K - and I made it! What a
moment!
MIMI DAVID
Los Angeles CA

Knows his ethics
To the Editor:
Here is a wonderful example of
active ethics. At the regional in
Springfield MA, my partner, Bob
Valenti of Albany NY, picked up
seven spades headed by the A-Q
and the J four times. He immediately left the table to seek a
tournament director. Finding one,
he told her the following: "While
standing you know where and doing
you know what I heard a person at a
nearby station say that he preempted
3 while holding four hearts and
got a great result."
The director came to our table and
gave both sides average plus.
MORT FRIEDMAN
Longboat Key FL

Lessons learned
To the Editor:
The letter from Jerry Prisyon
(August, page 6) made me smile.
I learned bridge at home nearly 50
years ago but had always disdained
duplicate. A number of years ago a
gentleman with whom I had played
in my hometown was transferred
near where I now live. He persuaded
me to try duplicate. We met at the 
Letters to the editor are welcome
by regular mail, e-mail editor@acbl.
org or fax 901-398-7754. Brevity is
considered a virtue, as is subject
matter with relevance to a majority
of ACBL members. Unsigned letters
are not considered for publication,
so please include your name and
hometown. Letters may be edited.
All letters will receive a response.

7
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of December 2005
