The Tao of Gaming

Quick bidding question -- what's your plan with

Ax KJxx AKJxx Kx

Answer -- Learn to count to 19. Yes, your humble narrator stopped counting at 16 points, which was not the correct answer. I saw the King of Clubs, but declined to assign it any value. I specifically thought "AKJ twice is sixteen." Needless to say that cost me a cold (vul) game. Minus 10.

Despite this disaster, I managed a second overall (out of 30 pairs) when none of my other decisions were particularly bad (I gave away an overtrick here and there -- me likey IMPs), and several were good. Several gifts were donated, of course, but generally a solid game. I believe this ranks as my best tournament finish.

Which is just a roundabout way of gloating and way of mentioning why I'm not discussing other games. So ... no new content for you!

Just watching the Vugraph for the USBF and saw the following amazing disaster.

Howard Weinstein opens 1 with

Axxxx xx J9x AJ9

Partner wheels out a 5 bid.

After careful consideration, Weinstein passes. Apparently he thought he was being asked to bid 6 hearts with a top heart.

Gartner held

KQJTxx -- AKx Kxxx

As it turns out, the grand slam makes when clubs behave nicely.

One day I hope to be good enough to have my bridge lessers make snarky comments about my bidding disasters. To be fair to Weinstein, I've never heard that auction and "Super Splinter" wouldn't be the first thing to pop into my head.

Update: Michael points out this page, positing the Law of Total Trumps ("You should have more trumps than they do") and showing numerous violations at high levels.

There's someone running a team RftG game over at BGG via Geeklist.

David Fair posted his "Pimp my Agricola" show.

Played two more games of Kutschfahrt. The second game was interesting in that both teams quickly discovered identities quickly, but then had to jockey for position and time attacks to best use the items and identities. Probably half the game was spent with known teams, which meant attacks were quick (all people instantly declare support). There were a few trades to share information or get items into the correct position. I'm still enjoying this, and its now got ~10 plays from our group.

And a few more games of Race. Perhaps I'll write up another card review at some point. Not right now, though.