22:24; 4 January 2014 by GS Jade Barrett CsbNews correspondent
Arthur Ashe
“Success is a journey, not a destination. The doing is often more important than the outcome” – Arthur Ashe
Over the last month, Dr Donna Wood has been in transition from General Manager of the Great American Bridge Tour Training Facility at the Esplanade Bridge Center in Solana Beach, California to Director of Operations for Tournament Bridge Services, LLC. This has included training in the field as a player and full fledged Bridge Road Warrior. Donna Wood
“The tournament environment is so incredibly different. For one thing, the level of play is so consistently high among the top players” Donna observes. “Mistakes that are commonplace at the club are rarely made here”.
Donna spent forty years working for Mitre Corporation as a programming engineer for the Department of Defense. “This job is much more challenging”, Donna reflected, “there is so much to think about, so much to consider”. Bridge Road Warrior
“The tournament players also maintain their concentration, ” she continued, “They do occasionally miss a card, but not often. They also have the stamina to play a lot more sessions. They have to survive the frequent travel, too”. In a space of five weeks, Donna competed at tournaments in Rancho Mirage, Phoenix, Kansas City and Monterey, logging over 7,000 miles and three weeks of hotel living. “I might need a bigger suitcase”.
Her first full time stretch on the road has been successful: a major KO victory, a second, three 3rds and other high finishes have supported her choice to take chance to compete.
It was a fascinating hand because at one point he discarded a winner rather than a loser and it turned out later that the discard was essential to the play of the hand.
This is a Bidding Test published in the last Italian Championship Bulletin. You will be able to compare your answer with some of the best italian and french players:
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An endplay (also throw-in), in bridge, is a tactical play where a defender is put on lead at a strategic moment, and then has to make a play that loses one or more tricks.
The Championship is open to all players born on or after 1st January 1992 (Juniors & Girls) or born on or after 1st January 1997 (Youngsters) or born on or after 1st January 2002 (Kids) in good standing with their own NBOs.
