Tolani Summer Nationals - Who will be National Champion
With two sets of the four set finals of the teams championships over, all matches bar one are poised very interestingly. The results are as below.
Tolani Gold Teams Finals Western Campaign - 78 v Aristos - 53
While the first session was keenly contested with Aristos overcoming a 12 imp carry over to lead by one, Western Campaign threatened to run away with the title in the second session itself leading by 43 imps at the end of the 10th board. However, Aristos pulled 18 imps in the last two boards to keep the contest more interesting.
The play off is far closer with Pradeep leading by just 9 imps (41-32) with one set to go. It could be anybody's match.
Tolani Silver Teams Spartans 46 versus Proyas 50
This has been the closest match of the event so far with the contestants rarely drifting too far apart from each other. The game promises to be as thrilling today so do make it a point to watch.
In the play off, Hyderabad Blues have taken a commanding lead of 42 imps (65 - 23) over their opponents, Abacus. With just 12 boards to go, the latter will be hard pushed to come back and win the 3rd place.
We wish the finalists all the best
Tolani Ladies Championships
The ladies championships gets under way tomorrow. As of now, 31 teams have registered for the event. We hope to see more participants yet. Entries close at 6 pm today.
An Ode to the teacher -
T J Alexander
Gurus
Everyone needs a Guru
Oh this is so true
But its rare to find one of value
As there are so many on the menu
But if you persevere you surely will find
The one that tangos in your mind
Some are very lucky in the run
To find that special someone
To help in crossing that Bridge
When you fall into that ditch
Under that bridge, is a game
That some play for money some fame
Some of it you wished you could claim
But you are not a beggar nor should you ride
Let your wish remain, don't put it aside
So to cut to the chase
Bidding and Card-play two pillars
Master them and you are killers
Just learn them and you can at least compete
With the best in any tourney heat
If you find your Guru
This surely will come true
So all the best my friends
You will find your guru in the end
For he's just around the bend
You have to search wide and far
For its truly a bazaar
I was lucky - just as many of you.
Note from editors
The advent of online bridge has triggered an entirely new class of bridge writers. While most columnists write about bridge hands featuring good bidding, play or defence or some combination of the three, we now have a budding wave of contributors who write about the game in prose and in verse and bring a lot more feeling into what used to be otherwise dry articles attracting the attention of just the bridge afficionados.
We present below a poem composed by T J Alexander who has been emboldened to share his composition following the featuring of several articles by new comers to the game.
We thanks him for his contribution and welcome more such articles from all of you.
What should declarer do... and why?
Picture yourself holding the east hand shown below. Your partner opens 1♠ and, over your 2♥, splinters with 4♣. After a couple of cue bids, you launch into blackwood with 4♠ and finding aces and the trump queen launch into the heart slam.
Your LHO leads the DQ and immediately calls for an undo. What do you do? And why?
The hands are displayed below for your information
It is fairly clear that the defender is in a misclick situation as, since he has doubled 6♦, he clearly has the Ace. But he can see the dummy now and so you have the right to say no.
At any rate, you call the director. But now, the South hand is offline thanks to the vagaries of the internet. And you are running late in the round. So what do you do?
The declarer facing this situation chose a very nice way to handle it. He simply refused to cover the queen and conceded the trick! Later on, he took the essential spade finesse and duly went one down and lost 10 imps on the board. Had he covered the king, he could have claimed the slam and gained 10 imps. In effect a swing of 20 imps!
I later messaged him to convey my admiration for his action. He very modestly replied "It is just a game.".
I am very happy to report that the declarer Pankaj Doshi, went on to win the event. Do take a bow.
It is always heartening to see this sort of behavior at the bridge table.