Complimentary Issue of Better Bridge Magazine March / April 2020 | Page 15

How can East know whether to play the ♣10 or ♣K at trick one? If West can envision the actual layout – partner with five or six clubs headed by the ♣A and a sure entry – the ♣K is the right play. However, it is hard to undo a lifetime of playing the ♣10 in this situation. Whenever declarer has the ♣A – picture ♣A-9 or ♣A- 9-2, for example, putting in the ♣10 saves a trick since playing the ♣K ends up making dummy’s ♣J a second winner for declarer. I presented this exact deal and the defensive problem to several of my peers and I got some votes for the ♣10 and some for the ♣K. None of them were sure what to do! So, there are two ways you can think about this: 1. If even the game’s best players don’t know what to do, what hope is there for me? 2. This game is difficult. If even the best don’t always know what to do, I shouldn’t be hard on myself when I get something wrong. • F URI EAT NG LARRY COH EN • C ruise with L arry on the luxurious Regent Seven Seas Mariner 18-NIGHT PANAMA CANAL CRUISE MIAMI TO SAN FRANCISCO MAY 17 – JUNE 4, 2020 Call Go Away Travel: 1-800-721-5927 [email protected] REGIONAL AT SEA 10-NIGHT MEXICAN MYSTIQUE ROUNDTRIP LOS ANGELES OCTOBER 12 – 22, 2020 Call Alice Travel: 1-888-816-2457 www.AliceTravel.com For information on Larry’s books, CDs, articles and upcoming seminars, visit: WWW.LARRYCO.COM Lesson Points 1. Opener rebids in a four-card major suit whenever unbalanced. 2. If opener jump shifts, it shows approximately 19-21 points in playing strength and is game-forcing. 3. Responder’s jump rebid to the three level in a previ- ously bid suit is only invitational. 4. With an honor in dummy which third hand can beat, third hand usually withholds the honor. 5. Some bridge problems in bidding or play have no easy or “right” answer. In my opinion, that is what makes it a beautiful game. “Bridge keeps my brain going and being an athlete keeps me heathy,” said Betsy Thumann. Betsy learned to swim at an early age. In her teens, she and her friends were part of a local synchronized swim team, training at the YMCA two nights a week and traveling to performances on the weekends. When she went to college, there was no pool so she learned to ski. For 25 years, Betsy was a Ski Host at Mammoth Mountain in California. Her job was to enhance the guest experience and provide help. For example, she would recommend the best ski trails, recover lost equipment, and get assistance for injury. In the summer months, Betsy gave guided mountain tours on native plants, animals, and geology. Shortly after joining the Ski Host program, Betsy discovered a bridge class, conducted by fellow Ski Hosts and avid bridge players, Art and Jackie Bergman. “We had a group of 30 people. Art and Jackie gave us bridge lessons and took us to local tournaments. We learned the same conventions so traveling and playing together was fun,” explained Betsy. These days, Betsy continues to exercise her mind, body, and soul. She divides her time between her homes in Reno and Mammoth Mountain. She is a Forest Service Host for a local ski mountain in Nevada and plays bridge weekly, when she is in town, at the Mathewson Bridge Center. Read about the Mathewson Bridge Center in this issue's Come To The Party on pages 10 and 11. B etter B ridge . com 13