Starman and I played Wednesday night in a Round Robin event at our home bridge club. Very interesting, and actually a lot of fun. We hadn't been able to make it for January, and our team mates (Sharon and Scott -- lovely, friendly people who immediately made us feel completely comfortable despite the fact that we're relative newcomers) had played with some subs.
This, then, was our first time in this particular format: first time as Swiss Teams, first time in the Round Robin, etc. Someone said that there were two really good teams, and then everyone else. Well, I'm not sure if we were playing against one of the really good teams, but the score might suggest that. We were ahead in the first half, but way down at the end of the night. No worries. We had fun, got some of the rust off our playing, and met some more of the club regulars.
One funny thing: Sharon and Scott hadn't known who we were (well -- c'mon, that makes sense: we were mostly playing in class for much of 2007) when it was suggested they partner us. So they asked around. "New but not bad," was the gist of what they were told. Then they remembered us from that end-of-year tournament in December. (The one where I got really sick, right?) It seems we had done well against them that day, despite not doing that well overall. So, okay, they decided we were worthy partners.
We were thrilled with them as well, mostly because they had a happy, lighthearted approach to the entire process. I really don't care if we come in dead last (obviously I hope not) because I know it's all good: good teammates, good experience, my lovely partner -- and it's bridge. How bad can that be?
Saturday, February 9, 2008
Monday, February 4, 2008
Getting Back to Bridge
Sorry for the gap in posting. Starman (my partner in bridge, as in life) and I haven't played "real" bridge -- meaning bridge with people -- for two months. The last time we were out in public was also the last time I got really really sick with some gallbladder-related problem. I've been fine for two months, though, so I really can't be phobic about it.
Bridge doesn't actually make me ill. Just cranky!
Over the holidays, I didn't play a lot online. Recently we've gotten back to partnership practice. This entails Starman and me in the same room (more on that in a bit), each with our own computers, playing the same hand as partners. We play against robot opponents, and our scores are assessed against other players. Most of those people are humans playing with a robot partner and against robot opponents, so it's pretty fair. I assume it's also a reasonable assessment of our abilities. We're still not strong players, and the gap in our making bridge a regular part of our lives hasn't helped.
In particular, I've been having trouble with frustration. When I play by myself (with three robots at my online table), it's hard to live with my own mistakes. (There's a way on BBO to see what other people did -- their bidding and the play of the hand -- so you can see how they did better than you did. Sometimes it's better defense by the robot opponents, and I have to shrug that off. Sometimes, it's not them, it's me.) I get angry at myself, and that opens some old wounds.
I made a resolve not to yell at Starman when it's just the two of us together in the room. (We don't cheat {much} and I wouldn't mind playing in different rooms but it's good to be able to discuss bidding and play of the hand.) I know it doesn't help anyone. So far, the only method I've found that is foolproof for not yelling is not caring. Hmmm... Not perhaps the best way to maximize my bridge results. So my challenge is to care, to work hard, to keep learning, and to be completely Zen and at peace with my partner.
I'm glad I'm not being scored on that Zen thing!
Bridge doesn't actually make me ill. Just cranky!
Over the holidays, I didn't play a lot online. Recently we've gotten back to partnership practice. This entails Starman and me in the same room (more on that in a bit), each with our own computers, playing the same hand as partners. We play against robot opponents, and our scores are assessed against other players. Most of those people are humans playing with a robot partner and against robot opponents, so it's pretty fair. I assume it's also a reasonable assessment of our abilities. We're still not strong players, and the gap in our making bridge a regular part of our lives hasn't helped.
In particular, I've been having trouble with frustration. When I play by myself (with three robots at my online table), it's hard to live with my own mistakes. (There's a way on BBO to see what other people did -- their bidding and the play of the hand -- so you can see how they did better than you did. Sometimes it's better defense by the robot opponents, and I have to shrug that off. Sometimes, it's not them, it's me.) I get angry at myself, and that opens some old wounds.
I made a resolve not to yell at Starman when it's just the two of us together in the room. (We don't cheat {much} and I wouldn't mind playing in different rooms but it's good to be able to discuss bidding and play of the hand.) I know it doesn't help anyone. So far, the only method I've found that is foolproof for not yelling is not caring. Hmmm... Not perhaps the best way to maximize my bridge results. So my challenge is to care, to work hard, to keep learning, and to be completely Zen and at peace with my partner.
I'm glad I'm not being scored on that Zen thing!
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