Bridge Views and News

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A Hand I liked in a Duplicate - a Lockdown TD article

Posted by Maurizio Di Sacco on Wednesday, May 27, 2020, In : Lockdown Directing on BBO 

Wandering around the tables of the Firstclass Bridge Academy MidEssex duplicate, I came across this rare jewel.

Suppose you reach 7♥ after North opened 3♦ first in hand, and receive the lead of the ♥J: how do you think you can come to thirteen tricks?



You have twelve top tricks, and there are obviously no problems if spades split 4-3, or if the ♠Q falls in two rounds - you have plenty of entries to set them up and then enjoy your thirteenth winner. However, life is never that easy, espe...

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Brilliancies at the Italian IMP Open Pairs 2019

Posted by Maurizio Di Sacco on Sunday, December 1, 2019, In : Bridge People 

My regular partner Enrico Castellani and I did not shine at this year’s Italian Open IMP Pairs Championship, finishing in 15th place in a field of 208 competitors, but a couple of hands proved most brilliant. I’ll let the frequencies introduce my story - out of thirteen NS pairs, five rather embarrassingly went down in 3NT, with an excellent Six Club contract available. We reached it on this auction:

My partner bypassed 3NT giving full value to his pointed pictures cards and spade suit wit...

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Out in a blaze of glory (A Report on the Spingold 1/4 Final 2019)

Posted by Maurizio Di Sacco on Sunday, August 11, 2019, In : Bridge People 
What a game! Averaging five imps a board Spector and Lavazza gave us a wonderfully exciting match full of thrills and spills, coining my title from American songwriter Jon Bon Jovi. 

Click each link to download and follow the fortunes of these quarter finalists.
Stanza 1 Stanza 2 Stanza 3 Stanza 4


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The Spingold Final deal which sparkled with Dutch magic

Posted by Maurizio Di Sacco on Saturday, August 3, 2019, In : Bridge People 
Bridge is a fascinating game as we all know, but sometimes it surpasses fascinating... click here to download my article and read all about the kind of deal that we all dream of experiencing, but are delighted to watch being executed nonetheless!

Look at Board 15 to replay with declarer...
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Spingold Final 2019 - Stanza 4 Report

Posted by Maurizio Di Sacco on Friday, August 2, 2019, In : Bridge People 
Down by 35 IMPs, Zimmerman needed a fast start to the final stanza to keep their chances alive.........click here to download and read more

Click here for BBO IMP summary for Stanza 3
...
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Spingold Final 2019 - Stanza 3 Report

Posted by Maurizio Di Sacco on Friday, August 2, 2019, In : Bridge People 
Team Blass was leading 58-52, with both teams recording fewer than 2 IMPs per board - that fatidic symbol of excellence. But things were about to change, as the first board of Stanza 3 proved.....click here to download and read more

Click here for BBO IMP summary for Stanza 3

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Spingold Final 2019 - Stanza 2 Report

Posted by Maurizio Di Sacco on Wednesday, July 31, 2019,
The first stanza did not lack interest, but the second started with a dull hand. ..But the spectators didn't have to wait long to see blood spill....click here to download and read more

Click here for BBO IMP summary for Stanza 2...
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Spingold Final 2019 - Stanza 1 Report

Posted by Maurizio Di Sacco on Tuesday, July 30, 2019, In : Bridge People 
The two teams, Zimmerman and Team Blass, reached the final stage by rather different means: Zimmerman, the holders...click here to download and read my report.

Click here for the BBO IMP summary for Stanza 1

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Winning form in Genoa Teams

Posted by Maurizio Di Sacco on Wednesday, July 17, 2019,

The 2019 Genoa Teams tournament saw us finish in the top spot with little by way of technical news to report. However, three hands are noteworthy, two crucial from the final match, where a large victory allowed us to overtake the three teams who’d been ahead of us until then.


But let's proceed in order. Playing the third match against my dear friends Giulia Pozzi and Maurizio Cafiero: at all vul, third in hand, holding ♠ AJ32 ♥AK84 ♦5 ♣ KJ107 I opened 1♣(two or more clubs). A...


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A rare opportunity for a coup

Posted by Maurizio Di Sacco on Thursday, January 31, 2019,

Playing a club pairs event, I had the rare opportunity to execute a very nice coup, after an auction which led us to the top spot, the only pair to manage it.
Here are the cards:

                 ♠  A 6
                  ♥  9 6 2
                  ♦  A K Q 8 5
                  ♣  Q 6 5

 

♠  9 3
♥  8 4
♦  J 10 7 6
♣  K J 9 8 7

♠  5 4 2
♥  K J 10 7 5 3
♦  4
♣  10 4 3

 

♠  K Q J 10 8 7
♥  A Q
♦  9 3 2
♣  A ...


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No Feathers in carry-on please

Posted by Maurizio Di Sacco on Monday, December 17, 2018,
How are festive preparations going in your corner of the world? We are on track here in Pisa, despite a most enjoyable 24 hour flying visit to Budapest, Hungary last week. Thank you to my hosts and what a beautiful city! (image from wallpapers.best.com)


En route, I was catching up on emails and noticed a post asking for more information about what to do in Misinformation cases – here is a link to my lecture presentation on this area of bridge law.

Now to the shopping. Actually, it is...

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Expert thinking

Posted by on Monday, October 29, 2018,

Have you heard tell that a bridge expert thinks in a different way to a competent player? Do you like to challenge your everyday play? Then this hand is for you. It was dealt to me yesterday during the knockout stages of a competition I am playing in with my regular team from Pisa. The way I thought through this hand generated 10 IMPs for our side.
East-West are silent as you bid straightforwardly to 3 NT. First let us scrutinise what goes through your mind as you cogitate your dummy play. ...

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Rosenblum 2018 - the bridge continues

Posted by Maurizio Di Sacco on Monday, October 22, 2018,

Right now I am headed to a site visit - it's a promising spot for a future championship. But there’s still one stanza remaining in the Rosenblum final, so hopefully I will find some time today to report on the last 16 deals of this Zimmerman Lavazza showdown - so much blood has been spilled it’s a wonder anyone’s still standing. Fatigue, and the bridge gods have been playing havoc with minds and hearts – but for once the cards have not been bouncing us readers and commentators from p...

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Rosenblum 2018 Final - there's always time for great bridge!

Posted by Maurizio Di Sacco on Monday, October 15, 2018,
Professional duties kept me very busy during the 15th World Bridge Series which took place this September in Orlando USA, but it is a joy to watch great matches - and this year's final did not disappoint - we must always find time to witness great bridge played by the world's finest players.


Here is my report (click the grey arrow to read full sized) on the first session of this impressive match - and more to follow - I'll let you know when it's ready.



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Martin Hoffman 1929 -2018

Posted by on Tuesday, May 22, 2018, In : Bridge People 
Came across this in the course of translating Forquet's article this week. I thought I would post it as a wee tribute to Martin, a popular player from England who was buried yesterday. I wish condolences to his family.

Making a bridge name for himself since he took up the game at the age of 35, here's another couple of Martin articles from great bridge personalities - Zia in 2011 and Janet de Botton in 2016
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