Archive for December, 2023

Doubles in bridge

December 17, 2023 at 6:23 pm · Filed under Musing

My rho bid 1♣️ off the bet: I doubt that he’d make it. 

One of conventions in bridge is doubles: takeout or penalty. It’s being used so often, that can be taken as a natural call.

I use the penalty double (jericholibrary.org) often, especially when I don’t have a biddable suit. My aim at this stage, is to win under the line points toward game and rubber, and doubling a contract, however successful, wins no such points.

The following two hands were good candidates for penalty double, at my 2023 annual party (cue bid): my rho bid twice my suit and both times, were club.

This hand, I’ve 4 clubs: ♣️Q,J,10,7, with total 13 hcp, not counting the two doubletons.

Round 1 bid: p, p, 1C, 1S – me, who won the bid.

My lho led ♣️4, my partner has ♣️8,6,3,2, which meant my right opponent has ♣️A,K,9, 5. Also, my partner has 9 hcp.

We made 2 (8 tricks in total). If I just doubled him, we wouldn’t win the 20 under the line point.

Interestingly, the same opponent bid my suit the second time, also in club.

This hand, I’ve six clubs: ♣️KQJ432, 17 hcp with two doubletons. Clearly, club is my best suit.

There was only 1 round of bidding: 1♣️, 1♠️ – me, who won the bid. At this point, I didn’t know cue bid, and also wrongfully bid 1♠️ – I think the better bid should be 1N, to show my points.

The take out doubles, on the other hand, is a little complicated, with many factors …

  1. essentially, it’s asking your partner to bid the unbid suit
  2. you’ve 11+ pts, 3+ cards in each unbid suit
  3. …

 

 

 

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Annual party; cue bid

December 15, 2023 at 6:50 pm · Filed under Bridge ♠️♥️♦️♣️

I hosted the first annual bridge party. 8 players show up (one was unannounced; one couple rsvp’ed but didn’t show … oh well), played on two tables. Between serving foods and drinks, I played 28 hands; won 12 bids, winning 9 of them, 75%.

There are couple of hands that my rho (right hand side opponent) Mr. L bid my suit.

This hand, I’ve 4 clubs: ♣️Q,J,10,7, with total 13 hcp, not counting the two doubletons.

Round 1 bid: p, p, 1C, 1S – me, who won the bid.

My left opponent led ♣️4, my partner has ♣️8,6,3,2, which meant my right opponent has ♣️A,K,9, 5. Also, my partner has 9 hcp.

We made 2 (8 tricks in total).

Interestingly, the same opponent bid my suit twice, also in club.

This hand, I’ve six clubs: ♣️KQJ432, 17 hcp with two doubletons. Clearly, club is my best suit.

There was only 1 round of bidding: 1♣️, 1♠️ – me, who won the bid. At this point, I didn’t know cue bid, and also wrongfully bid 1♠️ – I think the better bid should be  1N, to show my points.

Another option is to penalty double. But I’d rather play, to have the chance winning under the line points, that toward a game or rubber. I’ve used double convention many times, for the simplest reason: I’ve better hand and dare the opponent to make his or her contract.

 

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To the driving range

December 14, 2023 at 3:40 am · Filed under Sports

Ok, golf – I’m continuing it, as of now, using borrowed club -:). This is the first driving range outing after the group lesson, which I feel was waste of time and money.

Watching the video, I think I need to rotate my shoulder more …

* first time to see YouTube video has red squiggly line to the lower right and they’re not listed on Channel content.

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Demi Moore: the pottery wheel

December 12, 2023 at 2:09 am · Filed under pottery 陶

Ghost (1990) was a supernatural romance movie, directed by Jerry Zucker, starring Demi Moore, Patrick Swayze, Whoopi Goldberg, etc.

This scene was very popular, and still is. When I heard a mate purchased a wheel machine, my first reaction was this scene and said to the couple, ‘oh you got yourself a Demi Moore,’ 🙂

Ghost was taken place at 102 Prince Street, lower Manhattan, New York, while ours in the couple’s garage.

Centering is the center of the wheel. Getting it centered is the half the battle.

I thought it would be easy but it isn’t. Master pottery couldn’t wait to teach me, ended up I couldn’t get it right myself – totally my fault. Having a little room to maneuver (to learn) is crucial.

The following video is long … hope there are some practical tips for getting it right.

… the following morning, we went to trim our creations when the pieces are leather hard.

 

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The last of the five matches

December 12, 2023 at 12:35 am · Filed under Pickleball 匹克球

It’s a 50° day, perfect for a warm drink: my bean-milk

So, we played the last game of the five week long team tourney: we won 3 out of eight, failing to be the spoiler, unfortunately.

One match, our mates got cheated with bad line call, detail will follow.

Some mates played three matches while I played only two:

  1. w/ Dave, vs Beth n Melanie: 11-4
  2. w/ Bev, vs Beth n Melanie: 7-11

With Dave, at 6, we forgot to switch. I won the next point, at 7:3:2. After switching side, I said, “let’s start from 6 …” We played it out and won 11-4. After it done, my partner pulled me aside, said, “never again to give a point away.”

“What if they disagree?” I said.

“Let me deal with it.”

… I understand his point of view, totally. But this is a neighborly tourney .. oh well. I don’t have killer instinct. Silly me.

Both matches went well. However, Linda’s match was marred with bad line calls.

Afterward, I went to swim. The water temperature is 76°: couldn’t be better!

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My first butterfly video

December 10, 2023 at 6:22 pm · Filed under Swim

One of this year’s goals has met: swim the fly stroke. Although a lot of implements are needed but I can swim the length of the pool and back. So it’s an achievement for little old me.

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A really good match

December 9, 2023 at 9:28 pm · Filed under Tennis

Teaming up with my twin bro, we won 7-5 and 6-4. The first set we came back from 0-3 down. We usually do well when we aren’t wearing black

My serve is getting a little better, def needs more work: I had a double.

I videoed myself, to see how my other forms are doing … all need improvement, oh well.

… some hitting after the game

 

 

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Golf … the first time

December 7, 2023 at 4:17 pm · Filed under Sports

My first lesson with a pro, at Ace. It’s an hour long session, with five players in the group. The pro did little other than showing us how to swing. When my friend asked him about another how to, he replied, “for that, you’ll have to take a private lesson when I have more time.” But he has plenty time, that he checked his phone often…

Looking at this drive video, one take away is to keep your left arm straight.

I don’t have my own set, have to borrow his. Looking at numerous clubs, I’m  lost. Actually, there are perhaps only three that being used often according to this 2023.12.01 post:

  1. Putter at 53%
  2. Wedges at 19%
  3. Driver at 17%
  4. Iron 4%
  5. The rest 7%

… so why do weekend hackers buy so many?

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My serve, David and Edwin

December 6, 2023 at 9:10 pm · Filed under Tennis

Continuously, I’m working on my serve: keep left arm up, getting rid of the waiter’s tray. After posting my videos Senior Tennis Tips, many players provided good feedbacks, thank you all.

Last Saturday I teamed up with Tony played David and Jay: 1-6 and 7-5. It was an awesome game. Today, David and I lost 3-6, 4-6 to Edwin and Pu, also a very good match.

 

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Team tourney: the 4th

December 5, 2023 at 7:38 pm · Filed under Pickleball 匹克球

We played the second to the last team tournament. Due to the contractor’s change of schedule, I missed last week’s play when my mates won 5 out of 8 games: my team is better off without me -:).

Today’s games are flawless, everyone, us and opponents played well and no bad line calls at all.

My 3 games:

  1. w/ Bev, v. Matt / Bob: 1-11
  2. w/ Linda, v. Tia / Jeff, 11-9
  3. w/ Barb v. Matt / Tia, 1-11

Ultimately, we won 4 and lost 4 games from the #1 standing team the Kitchen Crew. Their cumulative total win is at 23 (us at 14). One more match to go, against the current #2 who had 18 wins.

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