Thursday:  I had one of those leisurely two-hour ladies’ lunches with two bridge-playing girlfriends.  Such funny stories to tell.  Judy had the best.

Her mom lives in a retirement village where they play bridge day and night, but perhaps not as most of us know it.  Some of the girls don’t even play five-card majors.  Judy joined them for a game on her past visit.  It was party bridge where you exchange partners every round, and mom was at a table where voices were raised.  “Call Judy over.  She’s the expert,” mom said.

Judy went over and found that mom and her partner missed a 38-point slam.  They wanted to know who was to blame.  Poor Judy.  How was she going to get out of this gracefully!  She looked at the hands, praying for an inspiration - and it came.  “Well I see the problem,” she said.  “There’s no way you could find this slam unless you play Roman Key Card 1430.  Do either of you play it?”  Jaws dropped.  “Well, then, you just can’t bid it.  No one is to blame.”  Back to the game, all feeling better.

A month later, Judy’s phone rang.  It was mom.  “We missed another slam today.  I’ve got you on the speaker phone and we want you to teach us Roman Key Card 1430.”  So Judy did, following up with written material.

“So there they are,” said Judy.  “Not one plays Stayman, they never heard of weak twos, limit raises, Gerber, preempts, or anything in modern bridge.  But everyone in the building plays Roman Key Card 1430.”