Another bridge post

[chickenfeet]

I spent some time this morning trying to teach lemur_catta the basic elements of bridge. Now, folks who read the lemur's LJ will know that she is one pretty bright cookie so it's not an especially difficult task. What is hard though is for me to stay in the headspace of a beginner playing with beginners when my own mindset, despite not having played for a long time, is that of a fairly aggressive tournament player used to playing against equally aggressive opponents. So, I can look at a hand and explain what the text book bid is and why but I'm thinking "I'm damned if I'd do that". Or, more so, we'll look at all four hands and how an auction might go and half the time I'm saying that the opposition will likely not intervene while thinking that I would 100% sure. I can deal with it but it just feels odd!

Comments

[forthright.livejournal.com]

I've been trying to convince curtana to let me teach her bridge almost since we first met eight or nine years ago. It's been years since I played actively, but I like to think that I was once pretty decent (and aggressive).

[lemur-catta.livejournal.com]

Well I thought it was a good lesson. You didn't bring in too much information and you seemed able to simulate the kind of game I might consider venturing into at first. You answered all my questions really well without answering them so thoroughly that you'd just confuse me further.
Looking forward to learning more!

[parisbaby-2003.livejournal.com]

Does your philanthropy extend to hosting a bridge night one of these days for enthusiastic beginners? I haven't played regularly since about 1999, but I fell in love with the game, and have been jones'ing for three more to play with since our last team broke up.

*her eyelashes flutter coquettishly*

Erm, Pleeze?

(Don't make me squee...I'll do it!...)

[chickenfeet2003.livejournal.com]

I think that's a great idea. We just need a fourth. Any ideas? Or I could ask Steve.