[mike777]

With the upcoming local Regional starting Monday I had no plans to play the week long event. My new partner lives five hours away and teaches during the week and does research the rest of the time.
We have only met in person twice.
While I believe we have qualified for the District GNT, nothing in writing yet. I have let the team know ahead of time I probably will be out of town and feel free to qualify with others
We did qualify for the NAP in Dallas however he may not be able to fit it in his work schedule. That is ok I let him know

However a very good local player texted and asked me to play Monday in the pairs. He is much better than me. We will practice this Friday at the club. Virtually no system. Will separately post any interesting hands but thought I would use this thread to discuss the journey.


This morning confirmed playing in the pairs on Tuesday with another out of town player. Never met him, don't know him, never even talked on the phone. All texts and emails. From what I hear he is an excellent player, much much better than myself.
Sent him some 2/1 system notes and even some transfers over one club , unbalanced diamond notes. He at least wrote back he would read them. Smile.

I just don't want to embarrass myself.
I made very clear I am a low intermediate level player.

Will update..

[pescetom]

mike777, on 2026-October-21, 16:13, said:

With the upcoming local Regional starting Monday I had no plans to play the week long event. My new partner lives five hours away and teaches during the week and does research the rest of the time.
We have only met in person twice.
While I believe we have qualified for the District GNT, nothing in writing yet. I have let the team know ahead of time I probably will be out of town and feel free to qualify with others
We did qualify for the NAP in Dallas however he may not be able to fit it in his work schedule. That is ok I let him know

However a very good local player texted and asked me to play Monday in the pairs. He is much better than me. We will practice this Friday at the club. Virtually no system. Will separately post any interesting hands put thought I would use this thread to discuss the journey.


This morning confirmed playing in the pairs on Tuesday with another out of town player. Never met him, don't know him, never even talked on the phone. All texts and emails. From what I hear he is an excellent player, much much better than myself.
Sent him some 2/1 system notes and even some transfers over one club , unbalanced diamond notes. He at least wrote back he would read them. Smile.

I just don't want to embarrass myself.
I made very clear I am a low intermediate level player.

Will update..

My experience is that if they are much better than me then they can read my system notes in an embarassingly short time and make a few pointed questions to which I rarely have an answer
Just discuss openly, relax and enjoy.
Let us know how it goes.

[mike777]

pescetom, on 2026-October-21, 16:21, said:

My experience is that if they are much better than me then they can read my system notes in an embarassingly short time and make a few pointed questions to which I rarely have an answer
Just discuss openly, relax and enjoy.
Let us know how it goes.

I did send him my full 2/1 notes.
I don't think I actually have ever played the full notes with anyone so....
I should note most of the 2/1 notes is stuff my old bridge friends play and I copied what I like.


As for the transfer system stuff
I barely sent anything, on the assumption if he asked, I got notes and notes..
We may play the full rest of the week which is why I sent any notes. Besides he asked..
Again, I should note the debt I owe MikeH and DavidK and the rest of you for the input on the transfer stuff.

_------------
Btw1 I should add, 😊, since I may play on Wednesday I pushed back a week my scheduled CT scan. I wanted to demonstrate my priorities...my Doc understands 😊
I get these routinely..I am older than before..


_

[mike777]

Had some pairs respond to the partnership desk regarding teammates for the Wednesday knockouts. However they seem to have lost interest after asking how many MP do I have, apparently too few.
Dentist later in the morning.

[jillybean]

mike777, on 2026-October-22, 06:29, said:

Had some pairs respond to the partnership desk regarding teammates for the Wednesday knockouts. However they seem to have lost interest after asking how many MP do I have, apparently too few.
Dentist later in the morning.

I used to post my MP total as 200-300 on the little card at tournaments when I had only 20
Add a thousand points to your MP total. Players who are overly concerned about Masterpoints are likely not the right partners.

The opposite is true, too. I see players who have played in BCD for decades, perhaps adding online points, and who are about to eliminate themselves from BCD and will not fare well in the Open.

A low Masterpoint total can be a real hindrance to finding partners, and it stays one until a player has proven themselves.

[mike777]

 jillybean, on 2026-October-22, 06:46, said:

I used to post my MP total as 200-300 on the little card at tournaments when I had only 20
Add a thousand points to your MP total. Players who are overly concerned about Masterpoints are likely not the right partners.

The opposite is true, too. I see players who have played in BCD for decades, perhaps adding online points, and who are about to eliminate themselves from BCD and will not fare well in the Open.

A low Masterpoint total can be a real hindrance to finding partners, and it stays one until a player has proven themselves.

Add a thousand points? I probably won't get another thousand points in my life; I barely have one.

We have teammates for next Friday, nothing else yet.

[mike777]

Played at the club today, Friday is the big game of the week. Played with the fellow I am going to play with Monday. 2/1, nothing fancy.
55% to place.
Lots of Platinum players,
DLM, etc.

Will post one ordinary hand I found interesting.

[mike777]

Latest update
Will practice today with my Monday partner. Pretty vanilla 2/1.
Will post any disaster later.
Just saw the new Patricia Highsmith movie.
Recommended for any Ripley fans.

Have no idea what I am playing with my Tuesday partner. Never met or played with him.

[mike777]

Last night practice was ok
64% in a field of 52 got us fifth overall, felt I really didn't do anything.
Regional starts Monday
Partnership desk got us teammates for Wednesday and Saturday.
Have no idea who..
Pairs Monday and Tuesday

Plain vanilla 2/1 system on Monday

Will send some suggestions on system out today for my other brand new partner starting Tues. He has been playing in some sectional this weekend in Florida where he lives.

[jillybean]

Have fun, drink water and walk.
I have no idea what a plain vanilla 2/1 system would include.

[mike777]

 jillybean, on 2026-October-26, 07:54, said:

Have fun, drink water and walk.
I have no idea what a plain vanilla 2/1 system would include.

Thanks lunch break
Not much system really at all
As a result I am seeing my judgement errors rather glaring in morning session
But we were over average somehow

Loss of focus and a bit of lack of judgement my worst errors

[akwoo]

mike777, on 2026-October-26, 12:10, said:

Not much system really at all

I'm sure you in fact have quite a bit of system. Saying "not much system" does beginners a lot of disservice.

You're already doing well as a partnership if you're not finding yourself bidding for partner in competitive situations and you're believing your partner's leads and carding.

[mike777]

Partner played very well and we won the open pairs.

I just remember a bunch of mistakes by me from defense to opening leads.

Exhausted.

By far my mistakes I noticed are from lack of focus.

[jillybean]

mike777, on 2026-October-21, 16:27, said:

I did send him my full 2/1 notes.
I don't think I actually have ever played the full notes with anyone so....
I should note most of the 2/1 notes is stuff my old bridge friends play and I copied what I like.


As for the transfer system stuff
I barely sent anything, on the assumption if he asked, I got notes and notes..

I agree with Alex. If you're playing 2/1,+ gadgets you're well beyond low intermediate.
You've been playing for decades.

[mike777]

 jillybean, on 2026-October-26, 17:50, said:

I agree with Alex. If you're playing 2/1,+ gadgets you're well beyond low intermediate.
You've been playing for decades.

No I just came back to bridge in the last year. Did not play much at all after I was 16-17

I did read, and the forum members have been a wonderful tool in helping me. Ty.

Today was a local fellow whose regular partner is flying in tomorrow morning.

Tomorrow playing with brand new person, never met them or played bridge with them.

[jillybean]

Well, congratulations.
I think you could have dropped the low intermediate ranking after your finish in the 2025 NAP.

[akwoo]

mike777, on 2026-October-26, 17:32, said:

Partner played very well and we won the open pairs.

I hereby proclaim you at least Advanced.

I have one Regional Open Pair 1st, plus a 1st in District NAP (A flight, back when that was the top flight) qualifying. And a few firsts in limited event (including a 0-2500 NABC title).

Still only 3 for 12 in making second days in unlimited NABC events. The final weekend Swiss this past Spring was particularly demoralizing - practically every team that qualified was pro, and I couldn't see any way we could've been closer. None of the top Seattle players made the second day either.

[mike777]

A/X pairs today first time partner
We did ok in the morning, I lost focus on defense. Rats.

Afternoon was not our finest hour.

13'overall.

Many big name players, fun to play against them but very tired .

[mike777]

Today was roughest day yet, lots of issues. However, we did get through Bracket II and will play in the semifinals Thursday. Will post one hand from today.

Very tired

[mike777]

Am sick today, almost forfeited semi but played, however we won comfortably.

Final of bracket 2:in an hour. We will face excellent team.