Source: 79th Fall North American Bridge Championships
Denver last hosted an NABC in the fall of 1978 where the final table count was 9467.
Some things have changed in 27 years but many things have stayed the same. Two things that never change are that bridge players appreciate well-played hands and funny bridge stories.
Here are some of the stories from 1978.
All of a sudden, in the middle of the Ballroom area where all the Life Masters were playing, a baby let out a big wail. A player muttered, “Somebody just saw the dummy.”
As the elevator door opened on the fifth floor, the waiting mob could see that only one of them would be able to get on board. Somebody on the elevator hollered, “The place goes to the high bidder.” Whereupon John Jones called out “Seven notrump” and climbed aboard.
It was a non-smoking section, so what was that man doing with a cigar in his mouth? Cliff Bishop kept the stogie between his lips, but it was unlighted. He threatened from time to time to light up. Finally somebody told him he shouldn’t be smoking in a non-smoking section. “You don’t undersand,” said Bishop. “This is a psychic cigar. I never light it.”
Jerry Machlin told a story about a hand getting into play with two aces of the same suit. The declarer said,” It’s the first time I’ve ever had a two-way finesse for the king of trumps.”