The Magazine for Social and Duplicate Bridge Players | September-October 2021
IN THIS ISSUE
1 EDITORIAL by Audrey Grant
2 PLAY OF THE HAND by David Lindop
4 MASTER SOLVERS ’ CLUB A Feature from The Bridge World
5 LOOK-ALIKES
6 POINT OF VIEW
8 DEFENDERS ’ CORNER by Audrey Grant
10 COME TO THE PARTY
12 THE REAL DEAL by Larry Cohen
14 BRIDGE MAXIMS : TRUTH OR FANTASY ? by David Lindop
16 MODERN BIDDING by Audrey Grant
18 THE PLAY ' S THE THING
19 QUIZZICAL PURSUITS
& BIDDING QUIZ
20 QUIZZICAL PURSUITS
& BIDDING QUIZ ANSWERS
EDITOR Audrey Grant | TECHNICAL EDITOR David Lindop CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Larry Cohen , Shawn Quinn , Andrew Robson , Robert Todd , Rhoda Walsh , and Gudmunder Pall Arnarson . AUDREY GRANT ’ S BETTER BRIDGE IS PUBLISHED SIX TIMES A YEAR BY BARON BARCLAY BRIDGE SUPPLY , 3600 CHAMBERLAIN LANE SUITE 206 , LOUISVILLE , KY 40241 USA . NO PART OF THIS MAGAZINE MAY BE COPIED OR REPRINTED WITHOUT WRITTEN CONSENT OF BARON BARCLAY . TO SUBSCRIBE : CALL 1-800-274-2221 OR EMAIL : SUPPORT @ BARONBARCLAY . COM . SUBSCRIPTION IS $ 35 USD PER YEAR OR $ 60 FOR TWO YEARS . COPYRIGHT © 09 2021 . PRINTED IN THE USA . ISSUE 158 .
In Flow : The Psychology of Optimal Experience , author and psychologist Mihaly Csikszemtmihaly reveals what makes an experience genuinely satisfying is a state of consciousness called flow . During flow , people typically experience deep enjoyment , creativity , and a total involvement with life . In the book , he demonstrates this positive state can be controlled , not just left to chance , by ordering the information that enters our consciousness . We can greatly improve the quality of our lives . His insight is well known , but frequently denied : it ’ s not what happens to us that determines our happiness , but the manner in which we make sense of what ’ s happening .
How we think about a game , like bridge , gives an opportunity to provide an attitude that fits in with the philosophy of having an optimal experience . The author shares : A game can provide a separate reality in a world of its own where one can perform actions that are permitted to occur in that world , but that would not make any sense anywhere else . It ’ s usually restricted to mental manipulation of concepts .
There have to be rules , a goal , a way of obtaining feedback . To be successful and keep one ’ s attention , one must be able to concentrate and interact with the opportunities at a level commensurate with one ’ s skills . In reality , to achieve such an ordered mental condition is not as easy as it sounds .
A good idea , Mihaly suggests , is not to expect more of the game than it ’ s able to produce . For example , in a competitive game , the main focus could be satisfied with the philosophy that how many people we defeat isn ’ t the main objective .
Here ' s an approach we might try , as suggested by Jerry Howarth , our Dealer for this issue ’ s The Real Deal : “ When we do our best , always striving to improve the game for ourselves and our partners , we are right where we should be – with smiles on our faces .”
Also in this issue , David Lindop has useful tips for declarer play . In Play of the Hand , he takes a look at using the crossruff to score extra tricks using trumps from both declarer ’ s hand and dummy , but cautions care has to be taken to play the cards in the right order . In Bridge Maxims , David considers a popular maxim : aces are meant to take kings . Even though it sounds logical , the example deals show the importance of making a plan before deciding if we should win an opponent ’ s king with our ace .
Some of us may already be using the Unusual Notrump overcall to show a two-suited hand , specifically the two lower-ranking unbid suits . There are also extended uses of this convention . In Modern Bidding , find out when a notrump bid is “ unusual ” to become more effective in competitive auctions .
This year is the 30th anniversary of Iceland ’ s Bermuda Bowl Championship victory . The team of seven trained together – not just at the bridge table , but in mind , body , and spirit – to win this event on the world stage . We remember them in Come To The Party .
All the best , Audrey Grant and the Better Bridge Team
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