V N Ramamoorthy
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Is Eleven an enigmatic number in Bridge?
There is a connection ( unfathomable) between numbers and sports, including bridge. As also directions! Some players are particular about sitting in N-S seats and more particular on sitting North, I don't know why.
It is, perhaps akin to choosing jersey numbers in soccer or cricket 🙃.
For sometime now, I have been enamoured by No. 11 in Bridge.
There is an unwritten belief that you can open a hand with 11 high card points (especially in the precision system).
But excuse me, does any 11 qualify? Hardly so, my dear Watsons, unfortunately😔
There are many kinds of eleven counts. For example, if you hold AKxxxx Axxxx x x this is a power house. But if you are dealt QJxx, Qxxx, QJ, Kxx, that is also a 11 count but hardly worth your money to bet on.
One of my Gurus in my early days of bridge days used to quote an adage "An Aceless hand is a useless hand!". Till today it has held true ( at least for me).
If your partner opens (with a count of Eleven), followed by a pass from RHO. Now if you hold a balanced 11 counts, what do you do? It is certainly enigmatic 😢, The advancer is in a dilemma, especially if he has no 4 card Major!
Do you boldly bid a 2/1 or be docile and bid 1N ?
Inverted minor yes but it could land your partnership in untold misery, quite often.
It is a Hobson's choice, alright. If you do you are doomed, if you don't you are damned 😭
And worse is to hold a 11 count including a singleton honour in a suit ( not an Ace but a K or Q)! It makes matters worse 😅
Bridge teachers must teach the learners about hand assessment. And keep reassessing your own hand as the bidding proceeds. It is said easily but difficult to practice.
Half the battle of bridge is won if you bid right. Of course, matching hand play or defense is of equal importance too.
So when you hold a eleven counter next, beware! Better to consult your trusted astrologer about your day's luck before you venture?
With a 11, you could either be on a 11th cloud or you could land in sixes and elevens 😂
Unit vectors are a challenge, both in arithmetic and Bridge!
Bash on, regardless 🙂
Happy bridging
Cheers
VNR
Disclaimer : All opinions are entirely those of the author and are no reflection of the views of the BridgeFromHome Team.