March 2009 - 6

Viewpoint
By Brent Manley

It ain't the heat, it's the humility.
- Yogi Berra

Personal touch
Paul Soloway has been gone for more than a year now, but I still have fond
memories of encounters with him. He was great to talk to and always ready
with advice or opinion if asked, sometimes even if he wasn't asked. He just
loved the game so much that he wanted to help everyone play it to the best of
their ability.
Years ago, I wrote in this column about playing against Alan Sontag at a
regional tournament. My partner and I were playing Precision, and we had an
auction that ended in a less‑than‑optimum spot. Without being asked, Alan
offered some advice for improving our methods. I was impressed that he cared
enough to help us.
The tournament scene is a lot different these days. Most newer players rarely,
if ever, find themselves at the same table with the likes of Soloway or Sontag.
That's not to say they aren't approachable, but it's a lot easier to pick their
brains while waiting for the next round.
This situation gave rise to a new feature, starting with this issue. At the Fall
NABC in Boston last year, I took some photos and asked some of the top play‑
ers the following question:
If you were asked to give one tip to aspiring players about how to improve
their games, what would it be?
We call it In My Humble Opinion. We start this month with Larry Cohen
(see page 21). I plan to keep this going for at least a couple of years.
Now, I'm not a top player but I do have lots of experience - translation: I
have made thousands of mistakes - to go with my opinions. Furthermore, I
have the luxury of space on this page each month, so my advice will take up a
bit more room than allotted for the bridge stars who will contribute to IMHO.
When I am asked to give a talk to new players, I always focus on counting.
When you learn to count - high‑card points, distributions, tricks - without
really straining, you are on your way to taking big steps as a player. Doors
open. Lights go on. You make plays you didn't think were possible for a player
like you.
I know that some of you are saying that only experts can count like that.
Baloney! It might be easier for someone with a natural gift for bridge, but you
can do it if you apply yourself.
The way to become an inveterate counter is to do it, then do it some more,
then do it some more after that. When you are a defender, always count dum‑
my's HCP, add them to yours and try to figure the other two hands from what
the bidding told you. Just keep at it. It will come to you.
That's my humble opinion. What's yours?
r
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Letters to
the Editor
Larry speaks up
To the Editor:
I'm writing regarding the January
letter (page 7) about always having
South as declarer. There is maybe
nothing in bridge that I feel stronger
about. South must be declarer in all
printed deals. This is normal in every
bridge publication (magazines, daily
bulletins, Internet articles, books,
newspapers). Why should the Bridge
Bulletin be different? Thank good‑
ness the editors now have the right
policy.
I can't imagine why anybody
would want to turn their head, and
play a deal sideways or upside down.
As long as the author/publisher is
willing to put in the effort to rotate,
why/how could a reader possibly ob‑
ject? As both a Bridge World writer
and editor, I know it takes some work
to rotate and it could create errors.
The only "anti" argument I can think
of is that it might be unsettling to see
Zia West on board 2, then South on
board 3. Is that it?
There is a reason that South
declares: It is much much easier to
follow the play and defense. Readers
are used to South declaring and West
making the opening lead. I suppose a
small minority of readers aren't both‑
ered by a non‑South declarer, but I
know that most are, myself included.
Why not make it easy on the reader?
My intelligence won't be insulted. In
the Victor Mollo stories, the Hideous
Hog always wanted to sit South so
Bridge Bulletin

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of March 2009