Bridge Blog 1032: The Birthday Bump

Would the bridge gods smile upon my birthday celebration this year? Both installments of it? Like everything in life, maybe yes, maybe no.

       Still, the run-up to the big day on the 18th wasn’t all that promising. Monday the 16th with Marilyn Sultz yielded a mere 46.06%, the equivalent of a gentleman’s C on the report card. Tuesday with Dotty May felt much better, but our 53.01% failed to earn us any rewards.

       The daytime game with June Feuerstein on my actual birthday on Wednesday was an abject disappointment – 42.36%. We thought we did better, but we wound up settling for not being last.

       Selina Volpatti came over from Canada to be my partner in the Wednesday night game, where I treated everyone to free play. It was the smallest turnout since I began it when I turned 70 in 2012 – just seven tables – with cupcakes for the cake. And since Selina and I had just turned in 35% and 40% games in St. Catharines on the two previous Friday, our game could have been equally diminished. But no, we came through with 56.55%, second North-South, first in the B stratification, 1.40 points.

       The bump got bigger Thursday with Art Matthies, even though the score was lower. 53.85%, fifth overall, second in B, but since it was a slightly bigger game, our payoff was 1.58 points.

       Friday brought the Canadian version of the birthday treat. The club provided a cake just as wonderful as the one a year ago and everyone was pleased at the gift of the free game. Here the turnout was 12½ tables, also down from last year. Selina and I weren’t quite as brilliant, but still pulled through with 52.84%, third North-South, second in B, 0.65 of a point.

       The biggest gift, however, didn’t arrive until Saturday. In a four-table Howell at the Airport Bridge Club, the usual Howell effect (always getting the low cards) was reversed. Denise Slattery and I enjoyed an almost unbroken string of great hands. We took almost all of the bids. We bid slams and made them. If we had been a little more astute, it would have been one for the record books. Still, it was my best game of the year – 64.88% – first overall, 2.63 points. Thank you, bridge gods.