STRAIGHT FROM THE HORSE’S MOUTH
Living in a high-rise next to the Sheraton Hotel in Center City Philadelphia in the mid-sixties presented many opportunities to socialize with visiting bridge friends as the adjacent hotel hosted most of our Sectionals and Regionals. On one occasion, I was kibitzing Norman playing with a New York luminary whose name was actually a household bridge word — if there ever was one! Norman’s partner had motored in for the tournament and the Philadelphia contingent was ecstatic by his presence. In fact, the amusing repartee during the auction served as fodder for the following poem:
The West hand bid a No Trump — very early in the day
Two passes put the onus — in the hands of Mr.Kay
He thought and then Two Clubs he bid — (His purpose needs no mention)
With that the lady questioned North –if that was some convention
The humor in this story — is really quite a dandy
As Mr.Kay was playing with — the famous Mr. Landy
In those days, there were no such obligations as ‘Alerts’ — so it was the responsibility of the person wanting an explanation to ask at his or her turn to call. With a straight face (repressing a smile), Alvin matter-of-factly responded to West’s inquiry, describing 2C as ‘Landy’ — asking partner to bid a major. By the nonchalance of her ‘Thank You,’ we don’t think she had a clue!
This reminds me of a Max Hardy story. Max was playing in a 2 session event at a National (sorry, NABC). He was playing with a client and playing a very standard system. The opponents were bickering about the meaning of some 2/1 auction and Max asked if they wanted advice. They looked at him, and his vanilla convention card with some scorn. Max, who of course wrote the definitive 2/1 book in the 1970s, pulled out his American Express card and said “Excuse me, do you know me?” just like the commercials. They listened to his advice
Thanks! Nice post.