Archive for January, 2024

Bridge basics: points

There are total 40 points in a deck: A K Q J, the high card point.

  • HCP:
    • Ace = 4 points
    • King = 3
    • Queen = 2
    • Jack = 1
  • long suit:
    1.  = 5-card suit
    2. = 6-card suit
    3. = 7-card suit
  • short suit:
    1. = doubleton
    2. = singleton
    3. = void

Just so you know, the maximum points a hand can have – mathematically proven – is 37 HCP because each hand has only 13 cards.

♠️ A K Q J
♥️ A K Q
♦️ A K Q
♣️ A K Q

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Slam bidding 满贯叫牌

Bidding starts bridge game. It communicates between two partners, as  what kind of hand you’ve. It often needs various conventions to nail down the contract, but it’s NOT convention.

A few slams that are bid & won

  1. 6N, 32 total hcp
  2. 2025 21 hcp, 32 total
  3. my first small slam bid & made, 2023

A few unbid slams 

  1. grand slam, 34 total hcp, bid 4♥️
  2. grand slam fm 5D, 30 hcp & void
  3. bid 3NT won a grand slam
  4. won my 2nd slam on the first hand
  5. won my 2nd grand slam bid 2NT asking for aces
  6. won my 1st grand slam bid 4♥️
  7. Won my first slam
  8. my first slam

Blackwood convention: at 4NT bid, you’re asking your partner for Aces; the response of:

  • 5 ♣️ = none of all 4 aces
  • 5♦️ = 1 ace
  • 5 ♥️ = 2 aces
  • 5 ♠️ = 3 aces

At 5N, P response with the following:

  • 6 ♣️ = none of all 4 aces
  • 6♦️ = 1 ace
  • 6 ♥️ = 2 aces
  • 6 ♠️ = 3 aces

HCP needed in a slams and the bonus when it comes to scoring:

  hcp needed   not vulnerable   vulnerable     
 6 level   33   500   750
 7 level   37   1000   1500

… the hcp needed to win a slam, really depends. The following hand, we’ve 30 hcp but our hands fit perfectly, and won a grand slam.

Bidding slam with a void:

My hand: 19 hcp, with a void.
My partner: 11 hcp, 6 diamonds

I opened it with 1N, which is wrong. (Control bid or cue bid?)

~ p, 1N, p, 2♦️
~ p, 3♦️, p, 4♦️
~ p, 5♦️, ppp

I didn’t ask for A or K … because I wanted to be the dummy to watch the Australian Open … unfortunately, Coco Gauff didn’t do well, defeat by Paula Badosa (7-5, 6-4), out of Aussie Open in the quarter final.

 

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Pool at Sofitel


The swimming pool at Sofitel is bit small and can certainly use some cleaning. The moldy tiles or the grout is pretty disgusting.

There is a full time staff watching over the gym, sauna room, and the pool. They/he bring drinks to the pool side.

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CABJ @ La Bombonera


Brandsen 805
C1161, Buenos Aires

Club Atlético Boca Juniors is their top pro soccer club, founded in 1905. It’s based in La Boca, a neighborhood of Buenos Aires. La Bombonera (chocolate box) is the name of the stadium which was built in 1938-40. It has a museum and used as event venue: Elton John and James Blunt had performed there. CABJ plays at their new home

… more pix & video on Google Maps

We went there twice, happened to be in the neighborhood. The narrow street Brandsen @ Dr. del Valle Iberlucea is filled with fans and shops that rent the trophy, sell memorabilia or trinkets.

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Gabriela Sabatini played here

Sabatini (1970-; 1985-96; $8,785,850) was born in Buenos Aires. She played two finals, won US Open in 1990, and lost Wimbledon (1991), both against Steffi Graf. Her highest ranking was #3, reached 1989.

On the bus tour we saw two red clay tennis camps. She lost 5 French Open doubles SF (1985, 1987, 1988, 1991, 1992) and 3 final (1986, 1987, 1989) at Paris’ Roland Garros.

The youngsters play well

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6-1 w/ Golfer

I’m a little deflated on getting rid of my waiter’s tray when serving. I know all the theory and tried to do the right thing. BUT unable!

Tell me, why do I want to get rid of the waiter’s tray?

The iffy weather ruined our regular lineup. I ended up practiced for an hour then played doubles with Golfer, vs Matt and Sally. We won 6-1 without a double – the third time in a row. But I’m not too happy. I’d rather lose, with doubles but with correctly motion/form!

  1. 6-4
  2. 3-6, 3-6

In the video, I’ve

  • hammer grip
  • holding up the racket – salute/birthday hat position
  • swing … why do I change back to waiter’s tray?

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… is there a game, and where?

Waking up not knowing if I’ve a game and where to play. Senior moment. But glad I clear all that up and how up on time.

🎾 6-0, 6-2, no double (w/ Hope & Al; Kurt) – my second game in a row without a double fault; and my first serve % is high [跳跳][玫瑰]… but but but … the waiter’s tray may still be there

老年痴呆 醒来不知咂回事儿 不记得有没有🎾打 在哪儿打

🏊 气温50多度 水温 77 爽

那天下雨也在游的男生今天也在
他说每次游一小时 [强]

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Windy; no double

A very windy day due to tornado, one other tennis group canceled but we soldiered on. 5-0, 5-4, 2-5. No double fault, which I’m very happy. I thought I did good with hammer BUT the waiter’s tray is still there!!!

On one of my down the T serve in the second set, even I thought was about to go out but it landed inside – most likely due to the strong wind. Both opponents called it out. Although I protested but I proceeded to take the 2nd serve. One lesson, never call a line before the ball actually landed.

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Lazy susan do over; kiln

I’ve done a turntable (rotating tray) mix and match but don’t like what I made. I was being lazy and curved the edges upward … with a little shrinkage, they’re bit smaller than the lazy susan turntable.

So today I’m making it again … the 2nd set of lazy susan, with Potter’s Choice Dark Green PC-45 glaze.

This time, I make the edges separately and use them ti circle the pieces. This way, they should come out nicer!

 

… and lay the pieces into the kiln:

… my first lazy susan pieces, Potter’s Choice Seaweed PC-42 glaze:

 

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Fishing on the Tampa Bay

I’m no expert on fishing, but among the few fishermen by the Tampa Bay in Saint Pete, as we walk toward Mahaffey, only one is using light-tackle spinning/rod and reel, which I consider fishing, the rest are using cast nets on the Tampa Bay. Is this even legal? One throw, they come up with multiple fishes. Gosh … the fun is gone or even more fun this way?

The fish in the video is mullet.

 

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