Play Bridge and See The World

World Championships have taken place in many exotic locations all over the world. Kiz and I were very excited to be travelling to Brazil, our first time in South America.

Many of the bridge players have chosen from a variety of tours and taken advantage of the opportunity to see some of this beautiful country.
A group of us flew to Iguazou Falls located in the north on the border with Argentina. The falls are spectacular and our tour included a motorized raft which took us close to and through some of the falls. We were soaked! We also visited a bird sanctuary and a hike through the rainforest.

Another day we hired a tour guide to drive us to the rainforest which is still part of the city of Sao Paulo. We had a 2 hour hike past waterfalls and natural pools and viewed many species of plants, trees, birds and butterflies. None of the wildlife such as monkeys, sloths, and even panthers decided to show themselves while we were there. As we drove home we were able to enjoy the lush jungle which encompasses Brazil. We entered the city just at rush hour and with a population of over 20 million it took us several hours to finally reach our hotel.

The shopping here is an interesting experience. Brazil is an expensive country and everything, even small items such as shoes, are priced in this manner: 5x and the number of Reals. Everything is bought on time, the total price is never listed, just the number and amount of each installment.

The closing ceremonies take place tonight and Captain Michael has reserved a table for our team. Thanks so much to District 18 for their support. I hope we have been able to give you a sense of our journey to the world championships.

Highs and Lows

Playing at this level takes many skills. The players here are competitive, focused, intense, and for the large majority experienced at world championship competition. Our team was jubilant after defeating the USA1 women and we all retired in a joyous mood. Yesterday we had a small win against the Danish. In the afternoon we lost to the Germans playing against the number one women's partnership of Sabine Auken and Daniela von Armin. Our defeat to the last place team Venezuela in the evening was a crushing blow.

What has this week taught me? In order to be competitive at this level takes seasoning. Each time you have the great fortune to be a part of World Championship bridge your skills improve, you have a greater knowledge of what it takes to beat these teams.

Today we need to do what is necessary to put yesterday behind us and play to the best of our abilities. Not allowing a disaster result on a board, or round, affect the next hand or the next session is another crucial and necessary skill.

Day 5 of 7

Day 5 is over, we are a long ways away from 8th place, but there are still 6 matches to go, and so the strength must be there.

Bridge is funny. Those who play professionally must surely have the advantage. It's hard to get up to an intensity level necessary to work out every pattern on every hand at every trick. Unlike the first couple of days, Susan and I are getting slams right.


The setup at World Championships is different than Nationals or other bridge tournaments. There is a central foyer where all of the results of all matches are posted live (Results are entered electronically at each table upon the conclusion of the board). In addition, BBO Vugraph has teams playing live. During the China match, Susan and I sat poolside and watched helplessly as the Chinese ladies did fantastic things against our teammates. Joan made a couple of really tough 3NT hands in a losing cause. Sometimes, the bridge Gods are so mean.

Our real tough match tomorrow is against the German ladies.

Hello to everyone back home, especially Tommy (Gandalfo).......

Better Left Unsaid

At last something to feel good about. This evening we beat the mighty USA 2 team 44-21. And, as it happens, a life lesson learned as well. Declaring 4 spades in the end position I held K10x of diamonds opposite 982 and must score 1 trick holding my losers to 2. After a great deal of thought I led low, went up King, and when this held claimed making 4. My right hand opponent now informed the table this was the most boring hand of the day. I replied that it was not boring for me and she confirmed that I had no choice in the play of the hand. Later, comparing with teammates, we scored plus 10 on this hand. Apparently, my opponent at the other table led twice from dummy, losing to the Jack and Queen on her left in Karen's hand, and finally to the Ace which Pamela had smoothly ducked twice. Some things are probably better left unsaid or they might come back to haunt you!

Tough matches tomorrow: Australia, USA1 and China.

Thanks for all your good wishes, it really does lift our spirits...Susan

It's a rough event

Susan and I have the evening off. Am sitting by the pool... the match against Indonesia was brutal. Hands are so tough!!!

Thanks for all of the good wishes from Canada. Please keep them coming. We are in a hotel in an industrial area, and it is apparently quite dangerous "on the street". But the hotel is beautiful and the venue is spatious.

We are not yet half way through so we have to keep slugging. Yesterday was awful, so didn't manage to post the blog until today. The gamut of emotions during play is unbelievable. High highs and the lowest of lows. :(

Monday's blog

One full day completed with our team in 13th place. This leaves us with lots of work to achieve the top 8 to qualify out of the round robin.

In a 16 board team match against each country slams bid and made, and also staying out of slams with no hope can make all the difference. Board 1 of the evening session against Spain Kiz opened one heart and I held this beautiful array of high card points: Qx AQxxx AJ10 AJx. After a Jacoby 2NT Kiz replied 3H denying a singleton. My next bid was 3NT a convention known as "serious" 3NT. This tells partner I have slam interest please Qbid (1st &2nd round controls up the line). Kiz bid 4 clubs showing the King. I bid 4 diamonds followed by 4 hearts by Kiz. What to do next? If Kiz holds the spade King I want to be in slam. The bid here is 5 hearts asking for a control in the unbid suit. (If I wanted to know about her trump holding I could simply bid 4NT Keycard.). Partner responds 5 spades with first round control, 6 hearts with second round control ( King in this case as she has already denied a singleton) and pass with no control. Kiz passed, the opponents cashed the Ace and King of spades and Kiz claimed 5.

It is exciting to be here mingling with the famous names in bridge and meeting people from all over the world. Today we play Morocco, Jordan and France. Everyone is professional, friendly and courteous, and whether winning or losing, it is an honour to be here.