SUCCUMBING TO CHANGE …

All bridge players can probably look back (usually with grinning faces) to what (when first introduced to the game) they thought was ‘BRIDGE.”  I am not poking fun at our initiation (heavens, no!) but rather demonstrating how both the game and our reflections upon it have changed over the years. 

We all had varying opening exposures – through our grandparents, parents, school buddies, college friends – a myriad of people who were fascinated by the concept of the game and resultantly caused us to turn our heads.

Today, the catch phrase is CONVENTIONS.  They are only as good as the players employing them, using them when appropriate and not forgetting either the nuances or recognizing them when they arise.  I can speak from personal experience, tracing my heritage over many decades.   Most of us started out as starry-eyed beginners completely captivated by this new attraction.   As most, I progressed from home games to duplicates and then through the cycle.   By 1965 I was a dyed-in-the wool disciple of Kaplan-Sheinwold because of Norman’s alliance with Edgar Kaplan, its co-designer.

As most bridge players, I loved what is sarcastically referred to by Bobby as “comfort zones.”   They are methods which cause people to be secure in their auctions, knowing exactly what each bid means   It did not necessarily guarantee to be the most advantageous method of handling certain situations, but it gave solace to its users that they were secure in their understanding.  One of my favorites was the popular Forcing No Trump without which I felt I could not survive (and I did put up some mild resistance at the beginning – but soon faltered because of the success we enjoyed adapting the NF treatment). 

As the old adage goes, all good things must come to an end – and so did my beloved Forcing No Trump.  I never thought the day would arrive when I would not have my security blanket (by an unpassed hand) of being able to respond with 1NT (5 to a bad 12) and then make an invitational jump to the three level with three card support.   However, over the last six years sitting across the table from Bobby, I have witnessed (with unyielding conviction) how important it is to not go beyond 1NT which so often is the best contract in a matchpoint venue.  Of course, as a passed hand, we use three and four card Drury, but how, pray tell, do you show a limit raise by a NPH with only three trumps if you fear that 1NT might be your first and last call?   Easy!   You muster up all the moxy with which your years of experience have blessed you and unperturbed, boldly jump to three of the major.  Partner assumes it is four but would not have a seizure if only three appeared as dummy was tabled.

The reason we employ 1NT as a non-forcing tactic is that it allows partner who opened with a balanced modicum of points (11+ to a bad 14) to be able to pass with some humdrum 5-3-3-2 or 3-5-2-3 distribution.  No guarantees – but it has served us well. 

To select a topic such as this departs from my normal blogging repertoire, but I was reading a commentary on other treatments of support (such as Bergen Raises, etc.) and the spirit moved me to share this with you.  It is frightfully out of character for me, I confess, as I am still very much a humble student of the game and  preaching about system modifications is hardly my long suit or area of expertise!!  Forgive my fall from grace.