May 2004

HOORAY ... HOT DOG ... ZIP-A-DEE-DO-DAH ... BELIEVE IT OR NOT

“Standard American 21 . . . The Rubber Bridge Player’s Guide for the Twenty-first Century” by yours truly is published. And y’all thought I was just kidding. You can preview it at the publisher’s internet book store -

http://www.trafford.com/robots/03-2642.html

The book retails for $23.95 plus about $5.00 shipping from Trafford. Alternatively, you can get it from the author for $17.50 plus $2.50 shipping unless hand delivered. To order direct from the author, email your request to:

StdAm21@AOL.com

Please include your home mailing address. Deliver takes a week courtesy of the US Postal Service.

FOR THE OFFENSE

When declarer, a little deceit can throw off the defense. Holding K-Q-J of a suit in your hand, when you play the jack it is obvious to at least one defender that you have the queen and probably the king. Playing the queen or king first may confuse them. Don’t be predictable - vary your selection.

ODDS AND ENDS

Rarely sacrifice. The famous Barry Crane used to say “only Jesus saves”. “Good judgment comes experience, and a lot of that comes from bad judgment” - Will Rogers

“When you contract for 10 tricks, it doesn’t matter which ten you take!” - Zeke Jabbour (who’s bridge jokes usually are better than this).

FOR THE HUMOR

In a bridge class, a lady was afraid to lead up to a K-J-x combination in the dummy. I tell her to lead low from her hand and play the J if she is hoping the Q is on her left and to play the K if she hopes the A is on her left. “How are you going to play the suit“ I ask her. She says “I’m hoping they make a mistake”. (Moral: a stupid question gets it’s just reward!).

BridgeSnaps newsletter is produced by John S. Thomas, author of Standard American 21.