A Look Back at 2008
What happened in the bridge world in 2008? Well, thanks for asking, it was quite an interesting year all round.
In this country, the administrators and bridge politicians were restructuring the English Bridge Union. The EBU devised a plan to move from a subscription base - players pay an annual fee to be a member and play in national events, receive a magazine etc. - to a club membership model. The chosen mechanism for this (you pay a small amount each time you play a club duplicate) gave rise to the "Pay to Play" debate. Comparisons with taxation and other unfortunate synonyms made the process an uncomfortable one. Nevertheless, perhaps by virtue, perhaps trusting the authorities that "something had to be done", the measures were passed in June, ending a consultation and decision period that seemed to have lasted years. They take effect in 2010.
The international law makers were also active - with a procedure that really did take years. The decade long revision of the Laws of Contract Bridge made some headline changes - they removed 'Contract' for start. 'Bridge' is a funny game - no seriously, you would hardly recognise it. Then came 'Auction' which you might get to grips with but fortunately they both were overtaken by Contract which we all know and love. Now, after seventy-odd years, no-one thinks we'll be confused and we have plain 'Bridge' again. The 2007 laws (that's when they finished them to be implemented in 2008) left things pretty much alone. However, it did get all duplicate players to shuffle our cards after we'd played them, and that, I'm told, has resulted in more representative deals at clubs.
Locally the good news was the resurgent Felixstowe Congress. In an environment of falling and stagnant numbers at bridge events, participation was up by a quarter. Whatever it was in the mix, the introduction of Green Points, better advertising or something else, they'll be a concerted effort next year to prove it was no 'blip'.
Bridge briefly rippled the surface of the mainstream media when English teams were successful at the World Mind Sports Games in Beijing. This event which replaced the separate Bridge Olympiad saw the English Women win Gold and the English Open team take Silver behind the Italians. The English Juniors also gained a Silver.
Hand of the year? Well, now you mention it, I have two, one needs a full diagram so that can wait until next week, so this, which appeared during the year, is all I have room for. In fourth seat, at favourable vulnerability, you hold:
| ♠ J76 | |||
| ♥ AQJ9874 | |||
| ♦ 10 | |||
| ♣ A7 | |||
| West | North | East | South | |
| 1♦ | 2NT1 | 3♥2 | ?? |
1. Hearts and clubs, at least 5-5, either weak or strong
2. Game forcing with spades
How high dare you bid? Better questions might be, if the opponents bid four spades would you bid five hearts? Of course you would. If the opponents bid six spades, would you bid seven hearts? Why not? The penalty will likely be cheaper than game, let alone slam, and you'd be happy to hear them go to seven spades as the club ace is surely a trick.
If you are going to sacrifice you should do it early; the opponents may misjudge. And on this deal from the Schapiro Spring Foursomes, the boost all the way to seven hearts set east an impossible problem. He eventually 'played safe' with seven spades and was one down for -100, doubling seven hearts would have netted +500.
Published Saturday 27.Dec.2008