I am down 52 dollars to the casino so far this trip. Unlucky.

At the other tables, we finished off the knockout with as little style as possible, winning the finals by seven to complete the six-person win. It's funny -- I should have been happy, right, winning is everything, but I played really awful basically the entire time.

We started a new knockout the next day, and I felt great. The first session, I played very well, and we won by a lot, and then in the next session we had a grindy first half, losing the half by 3. I chose to sit out -- I haven't been playing much bridge (accompanied by the break in blogging) and I didn't think I had the stamina for a 4th good 12 just yet. We couldn't pull it out, which meant a day of fun, which was good; we played board games all day, and then, in the evening, I got to play with McKenzie, which was awesome because we had been meaning to play together for some time. Even if it was just a side game.

Lights of some variety from the evening: On one hand, partner called for the beer from the board, and the lady gave me this weird look. Then, after the hand, she talked to the director and thought it was "inappropriate!" for us to have nicknames for cards... some people just don't like fun, I guess.

I picked up T8xxxx 9xxx void xxx, first seat, favorable. So it was time for a 1NT opening, my first psych in ages. Unfortunately for him, partner had the misfortune to hold the excellent void KQx AKJ98x AKxx, and had an excellent plan: 3C transfer to diamonds, then Exclusion Blackwood. He bid 3C, and I calmly alerted, explained, and put the green card on the table. 3C was the final contract.

The absolutely remarkable thing is that this was a very real normal spot! On a normal day, I pass, lefty passes, partner opens a diamond. Some people would scrounge up a 1S response on my hand, in which case he would certainly rebid a game-forcing 3C, which I personally would certainly pass. So I psyched a 1NT opening, and we played the hand, and it was a totally reasonable spot; how often does that happen?!

On another hand, I held AKT96 Jxxx Qxxx void, unfavorable. Partner opened 1C in first seat, and a 1S overcall ensued. I passed -- I mean, unfavorable, sure, but this is an easy one -- and partner was back in there with 2D. What's your plan? Mine was to start with 2S revealing a penalty pass monster, whereupon partner rebid 3D. Now what?

Anyway, it was a fun one-session day, and tomorrow we're playing a bracket 1 knockout, fun fun stuff, who knows what the outcome will be. Not much to lose, we have.

New job, haven't been playing bridge, but at last the end of the month arrived, when several of us were trekking up to the Reno regional, a few hours away, crashing at gracious Argenta's house, bridge bridge bridge and maybe some gambling and snowboarding. These first two days I'm on a 6-person team, which is fantastic, because I get to sit out occasionally. Today we played all of the first match and the second half of the second match; the first half of the first match was close (thanks largely to the fact that our opponents bid a slam on two hooks); in the second match we came in up 32 and managed to lose only twenty, to win by twelve.

The funny thing was last night: we were practicing a bit (by which I mean... playing a few hands) and twice in fourth chair Eric had huge hands. We, of course, play a weak 2C. He opened his balanced 25-count 3NT and ... everything worked out. On the other one, he held AKTx AKQJxxx A x and he opened 6H. But would this really be better in standard? How would you find out if partner holds the spade queen? Who knows.

Anyway, I was glad to get the good hands out of our system (honestly, I think that the reason some people play the strong 2C gadget -- well, it's "standard," so that's actually why, but anyway -- is because they like getting good hands, and they want to root for getting good hands (not that these are necessarily handled better anyway with a 2C opening), whereas we have to root against getting good hands.)

Unfortunately, today, we almost had another one. I held AQ KQxx Ax AKJxx; I could have opened 3NT showing 22+-24 balanced (on my 23), but my hand looked suity to me, so I put the 1C card on the table. Two passes ensued and I tried to look as nonchalant as possible, but righty was in there with double. I now rebid 2H and when partner bid 3C, decided to wing 3NT. Partner tabled xx xx T98xxx Qxx and 3NT was cold with the spade hook on. A sort-of disaster averted...

Anyway, it's on to the semis tomorrow. I haven't had a weak 2C opener in ages and am feeling sort of antsy, but I'm sure they'll come.