Wonders never cease!

It all began after we boarded our SW flight to San Francisco when a young lady asked me if the window seat next to me was taken.   As I looked up, to my shock and pleasure, there was a Philadelphia bridge friend of mine, Elaine Landow, whose sister, Gloria, and family I had been friendly with for forty years back home (including both of her parents).   She had spent the first week in SF, then flew to LV for a few days of fun and games and happened to catch her return flight on the same plane we were on.

It was a delightful hour and forty-minute trip as we reminisced about people and incidents of days gone by and then journeyed to the Marriott Marquis together.  I am not much on travel but the time just flew by!  Elaine, whose S. O. is Craig Robinson, popular District 4 Representative to the ACBL BOD. invited us up to the Hospitality Suite after the game last night but we were so exhausted, we were in la-la land by 9 p.m.  I must add that for a hotel this size, the choice of eating facilities was under par – settling after scavenging the hotel for an eatery for the 4th St. Bar and Grille which was freezing as the door kept opening from the outside and it is much chillier here than I anticipated.

Before retiring for the night,  I set up my computer at the hotel (god forbid I shouldn’t check my mail or blogs); then Bobby replied to some comments on his Aces on Bridge site.  And, before I leave that subject, I want to share with you his quote to someone (certainly an honorable and respectable individual).  It concerns asking partner for aces, learning you aren’t “off two of them” – then studying and signing off at the five level and partner overruling your hitch and bidding the slam.

“……  it becomes imperative for a Blackwood (BW) bidder to bid in tempo if he or she decides to sign off after hearing the answer to her ace ask. When she doesn’t and a break occurs (BIT), partner then is barred from using his or her judgment simply because of the possibility of UI. Such a thing is sometimes called sarcastically “Hesitation Blackwood” and is a reminder of this rule which is followed universally the world over.

BTW, a BW bidder should never sign off at the 5 level, after hearing that their partnership is missing one, or, of course, fewer aces. BW is never used to get to a slam but only used to keep from getting there off two key cards, therefore it should only be used to always bid a slam (with a possible grand also possible) unless the partnership may be off two immediately cashable aces (or in key card BW), an ace and the king of trumps.

The above lesson is one worth knowing and is basically inviolate when it occurs. There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that in this case cited there was absolutely no intention of violating any rule, bridge playing or morality, but nevertheless what is stated here is strictly a bridge law ruled the same in all corners of the planet.”

I loved the above explicit explanation and wanted to share it with you.  It is now almost 7 a.m. and we are going to scrounge around as to where we can have some goodies for breakfast (inside the hotel ….brrrrrrr….)!