July 2009 - 6

Viewpoint
By Brent Manley

Mental toughness is to physical as four
is to one.
- Bobby Knight

Imagination
I have received more than a few messages from readers about the May cover
- the one featuring the 5 contract played by Jeff Meckstroth in the Bermuda Bowl a few years ago. Most have complained that Meckstroth's play of
the 10 should not have won an award hand because his opponent - another
world-class player - blew the defense.
Just about anyone, they say, would have defeated the contract by just cashing
a couple of hearts - end of story.
Maybe at the local dupe, but not in the Bermuda Bowl.
In my capacity as a hired hand for the World Bridge Federation (working on
the Daily Bulletin), I have observed play at world championships for more than
a decade. On most occasions, I have had the advantage of seeing all the cards.
I have sat and listened to vugraph commentators describe, double-dummy,
the winning line of play in a difficult contract - and then watched the player
make the contract on the same line in real time.
An example that comes to mind immediately is a deal played by Howard
Weinstein in the Bermuda Bowl in Shanghai. Everyone could see that he
needed a backward finesse in a suit to make his contract, and it was impressive
to watch as he arrived at just that line of play.
Michael Rosenberg has wowed me more than once as I watched him go into
a long study and emerge with a line of play - the correct one - that would
elude many players even looking at all four hands.
It's a different world at that level.
At world championships, the vast majority are truly exceptional players who
know the odds and the correct card combinations. In a strictly technical sense,
they're similar. The really elite players have that something extra - imagination, daring, table feel. They aren't afraid to look silly, which sometimes
happens.
As for the case in point - the famous 5 - Meckstroth was asked about
the play of the 10, and he said he just wanted to "make it easier" for his
right-hand opponent to continue the suit.
The play of the 10, of course, was curious given the fact that Meckstroth
didn't win the trick. No doubt the player who won the trick was suspicious,
but it might have seemed that Meckstroth was somehow trying to get him to
switch, and if that was the case, a diamond continuation was called for.
A world championship is a pressure cooker, and the opponents are so good,
you can't relax for a second. If you do, your next activity could be watching
that coveted title flying out the window.
r
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Letters to
the Editor
Likes a tough game
To the Editor:
In your May editorial, you comment that " ... few are interested in
playing in events with the current
stars of the game." I wish to throw
my lot in with the few.
I played some tournament bridge
back in the Seventies, but not much.
When I had time, I had no money
and vice versa. But I would have said
"you were able to play against," not,
"you had to play against ..."
I returned to the game a few years
ago and now live in St. Louis. The
most enjoyable two sessions I've
ever played were in the IMP Pairs, a
national event, at the 2007 NABC in
my home town.
My partner and I were both C players, but the field didn't cook and eat
us. After the first session, we were
at minus 2 IMPs. After two, we just
failed to qualify. I hope to repeat the
experience, but qualify next time. I
have no delusions about winning, but
I want to compete and see how well I
can do. There is no better motivation
to play your best than going against
the best, and even Jove nods.
In the old days I got a top against
Paul Soloway when he misplayed
a contract. (How do I know that?
Because he said so.) Chances to do
things like that are hard to come by
these days.
Current regional schedules drive
me crazy. There are too many bracketed knockouts, few pairs games, few
chances to play the best players, few
Bridge Bulletin

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of July 2009