Drive - A Memoir 20th Installment
extreme
ruthlessness would begin to build. All too often, a pleasant Bridge
game would escalate into harsh words about mistakes and losing, and
one time nearly to blows between father and sons.
“Doesn't
matter, I’ll play for both of us; you just hold the cards and,
please, try to learn.” Phil challenged. Phil was smart man, and I
knew he was very smart at any card game and deadly smart playing
bridge. Bridge is the most difficult card game in the world when
played at a high level. Edith even told us there were a gazillion
ways to bid and play each hand. She believed bridge was even more
difficult than chess because you were playing with a partner and had
to know each other’s skill set. You either need ESP or you have to
bid smart enough that your partner knows what cards you hold. The two
partners (four players) are dealt 13 cards from a regular deck of
cards. Then the bidding starts around the table until three of the
four players pass and the ‘declarer’ plays the hand. The partner
or ‘dummy’ lays down his hand face up on the table and the bid
winner plays out both hands against the opposing partners to try to
win his ‘contract’ by taking the number of tricks he declared in
the auction or bidding.
“Contract
Bridge is a tactical game,” Phil explained.
“But
it has built in randomness, because of the luck of the deal,”
Vernon corrected.
“’Balderdash’”
I can win with whatever I'm dealt,” Phil stated bluntly, and I
believed he could.
“Well
imperfect knowledge is where I come in – I know nothing,” I
added.
“And
restricted communication, Edith,” Phil commented. “When you float
around behind the players 'tut, tutting.' I just have to listen to
you to know how to win.”
Edith
ended the sparring telling me, “sit down and shut up.” I sat
down.
I
was wondering why they didn’t pick
on Russell
when I heard Edith say, “Russell, you partner with Vernon; Casey,
you’re with Phil and I'll kibitz.” Edith liked to play cards but
loved to kibitz,
floating around behind the players, reaching over our shoulders to
arrange cards and making a tut, tut, tut, sound when we would lead
out with a stupid card.
“All
right, let’s play! I'll be the starting dealer,” Phil said as his
fingers flew. Berip
berap
he completed three perfect shuffles, flip, flip, flip, flip, flip,
the cards slid into piles in front of us so quickly and accurately he
was done in a flash, and we barely had to straighten our stacks.
Vernon
was next and bid one diamond. It was my turn. “Wait,” I muttered,
“I haven't even straightened and arranged my cards.”
Edith
appeared behind my back quickly putting things in order and
whispered, “One club.”
“One
club!” I whispered. “Why?”
Edith
quietly explained, “You can
500 more words tomorrow
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