BGN
09-04-07, 05:18 PM
A while ago Sartaj wrote
I have maintained for a while in Ozone discussions that Australians are obsessed with the bidding. That we are often outclassed in aspects of card-play in international contests.
I dont think this view of mine has been shared by many. "Bidding is what counts, and its where we lose most of our imps" seems to be the widely prevalent doctrine.
It is the nature of bidding that our actions will "lose" a lot of imps over time, even though the person took a reasonable action at the time.
Its in the cardplay that errors stick out. For mistakes here are clearer to identify, and easier to tag.
Going mentally through the final that Ozone lost in a playoffs, there are
at least SEVEN 10+ IMP swings lost by our players. Purely in declarer play or defence.
(possibly more, as i havent gone through everything in analytical detail).
For one or two of these losses, the observer can have some sympathy.....If he tries.....
But here lie atleast 70+ IMPS , in a match score of 121-120, that can be accounted by card-play INCOMPETENCE just at the game level.
If you want to improve your thinking a great test is the monthly quiz by Richard Pavlicek, at http://www.rpbridge.net/ . He provides very good analyses the following month, too.
It would be nice to see OzOne entries dominating the leader board. Have a go!
... Bruce.
I have maintained for a while in Ozone discussions that Australians are obsessed with the bidding. That we are often outclassed in aspects of card-play in international contests.
I dont think this view of mine has been shared by many. "Bidding is what counts, and its where we lose most of our imps" seems to be the widely prevalent doctrine.
It is the nature of bidding that our actions will "lose" a lot of imps over time, even though the person took a reasonable action at the time.
Its in the cardplay that errors stick out. For mistakes here are clearer to identify, and easier to tag.
Going mentally through the final that Ozone lost in a playoffs, there are
at least SEVEN 10+ IMP swings lost by our players. Purely in declarer play or defence.
(possibly more, as i havent gone through everything in analytical detail).
For one or two of these losses, the observer can have some sympathy.....If he tries.....
But here lie atleast 70+ IMPS , in a match score of 121-120, that can be accounted by card-play INCOMPETENCE just at the game level.
If you want to improve your thinking a great test is the monthly quiz by Richard Pavlicek, at http://www.rpbridge.net/ . He provides very good analyses the following month, too.
It would be nice to see OzOne entries dominating the leader board. Have a go!
... Bruce.