October 2015 - 62

Special Contributors

George's World
BY GEORGE JACOBS

There's some debate these days between convening a committee at tournaments to resolve irregularities that
occur during bridge play, or leaving
the final decision in the hands of the
tournament directors. In my opinion
(not sanctioned by the ACBL, the WBF
or the ASPCA), I think it is time for
committees to go the way of the IBM
Selectric. I know that the directors will
not always get it right, but so what?
Committees do not always get it right
either. Directors admit they are not
perfect and they always solicit help
(anonymously) from top or peer players. They even asked me once.
Committees, on the other hand,
always know the participants, and
almost always have relationships with
one another that are sometimes close.
Let committees become extinct. Directors, please!
I think you know that I am amused
by small things. Once, when Ralph and
I were at the Bears game, they had a
drawing. The winning ticket was section 18, row 18, seat 18. I was dumbfounded and said to Ralph, "What are
the odds of that!"
He answered at once, "About 66,000
to 1." I was so impressed until I realized that was the total capacity of the
stadium.
But now I think I found something
that will make Guinness (not the beer).
In the Saturday Swiss, we played seven
rounds at seven different tables. Admit
it, at this point you are expecting me to
say something like we had seven director calls with seven different directors,

62 Bridge Bulletin October 2015

NOBET8888@aol.com

or that I played against all seven of my
ex-wives, but it is better than that: In
every single round, we played boards
29 through 35. What are the odds of
that?
Stacy and I played a club game and I
opened 2NT on:
♠A 9 6 5 ♥A Q 8 ♦K ♣A K 4 3 2.
After she bid puppet Stayman and I
denied a five-card major, she opted for
the thin 3NT game with her 4-3-3-3
distribution.
The ♠7 was led. The full deal:

♠ Q 10 8 7
♥K65
♦A642
♣ 10 6

♠K432
♥942
♦J97
♣J87

♠J
♥ J 10 7 3
♦ Q 10 8 5 3
♣Q95

♠A965
♥AQ8
♦K
♣AK432

As you can see, this is pretty bleak.
However, one must persevere, n'estce pas? After East played the ♠J, the
spade suit was no mystery. I played
for the straightforward doubleton
♣Q, which wasn't. So I shrugged and
gave up a club, West pitching the ♥6
(not encouraging). Regardless, East
switched to a heart, which I ducked to
the king. West led the ♠Q and I had a
rare "aha!" moment. I ducked the ♠Q.
West innocently continued a heart, and

there we were. As long as West had the
♦A, I was going to make this. Watch:

♠ 10 8
♥-
♦A642
♣-

♠K4
♥9
♦J97
♣-

♠96
♥Q
♦K
♣43

♠-
♥ J 10
♦ Q 10 8 5
♣-

West has to make three pitches on
my heart and two clubs. What are they?
He can never pitch a spade. Two low
diamonds are easy. I lead the ♦K and
he is endplayed. He did the best he
could by jettisoning his ace, but now
my king was good.
With three days to go in the Chicago
NABC, Disa Eythorsdottir and I each
needed 14 points to go over 15,000. We
decided it would be fun to play on the
same national Swiss team and go over
together. I was playing with Claude,
and she with Magnus. How great it
would be to go over in my own hometown with Claude and two Icelandicerans!
With two days to go, we each needed
12 points and a new event.
With one day to go, we each needed 8
points and a new event, so I went to the
White Sox game. I hope she made it.
Ciao.
◾

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of October 2015