♠ ♥ ♦ ♣ ♠ ♥ ♦ ♣

A pupil had been coming to me for 4 years, we were in the middle of a bidding lesson, "How many points have you got?" I asked. "13" came the reply (she had 15pts). "Oh come now, how many points have you got?" "I don't know, I think I'm numeric dyslexic, I just guess."...................................... It's not easy being a bridge teacher.

That incident occurred 13 years ago in 1995, she really is a lovely person who I now class as a friend. Lovely, lovely person....................................... and yes still coming to my classes.

Jimmy Power once asked me, "Douglas, how do you get them to take a finesse," That's not a question I could answer then and it's not a question I can answer now, if anyone knows the answer please tell me................please.

They say truth is stranger than fiction. The above was the diamond suit in 4 spades. My brighter than normal student crossed to dummy and lead the Q♦, East attempted to cover with the K♦, however accepted my advice, retracted it and instead played the 5♦, which was closest to his thumb. Declarer cheered by this success continued with the J♦, I once more foiled an attempt by East to play the K♦, East again retracted the K♦, and played the 4♦, which was also nearer his thumb. The next play was the 8♦, exhausted by my cover prevention duties I succombed and was unable to utter a word as East at last gleefully played his K♦. Of course it was now a thing of pure beauty to watch declarer cross in another suit and have the awareness to know her 3♦ was better than his 2♦. Funnily enough it was after this hand was played that I had my first breakdown, You can't argue with success, you can't.

Last modified Tue, May 16, 2006 17:03

All pictures copyright Douglas Piper, Barry Owen & Norma Bain (thanks to Alan Officer and Barry Owen)