00:11 2 March 2014 by GS Jade Barrett, CsbNews correspondent
Nikola Tesla
«I do not think there is any thrill that can go through the human heart like that felt by the inventor as he sees some creation of the brain unfolding to success… such emotions make a man forget food, sleep, friends, love, everything» – Nikola Tesla
Many developing players take a stab at breaking new ground in regards to bidding theory, and their efforts are to be commended even when they develop something that has been thought of before. Since the thought is original to them personally, the activity is of great value, for it indicates a flexibility of mind that all bridge athletes require in order to fulfill their potential.
As with any endeavor undertaken by a collection of great minds, there is frequently duplication of effort, for logic often dictates the natural progression of bidding sequences and card play. Most systems and conventions share base theoretical similarities, and often these are named for the experts who developed them. For example, Jordan, Truscott, and Dormier are essentially the same, as are Cappelletti and Hamilton, common devices that have been reinvented by others time and again – and will continue to be for as long as the game is played. Tesla’s Wireless telephone demonstration 1902
With a vocabulary that is limited to the 38 words that bridge utilizes, the order in which bids and calls are made create the language of the game – context is simply everything. The sequence of these words varies their meaning, attempting to convey a unique picture of an individual hand in a near infinite universe of deals – all in roughly seven minutes or less. And some of us call this an easy game.
Considering the gigantic numbers we are working with in a «hostile», (meaning competitive) environment, it comes as no surprise that there is no perfect system, no perfect way to play.
From Richard Pavlicek’s website www.rpnet.net comes the following:
«The number of possible bridge auctions is almost beyond comprehension, a 48-digit number! The number of possible bridge deals is in the octillions, a 29-digit number. To put these into perspective, consider that the number of feet to the nearest star is only an 18-digit number.»
