THURSDAY MORNING IN BEIJING

Good morning from Beijing everyone,

I usually wake up at about 7:00 each morning.
The first thing I do is look out the window toward the
mountains in the distance. You can tell the smog level
by how clearly those mountains can be see. Some mornings
the mountains are easily seen and therefore the air is at
its cleanest. On other mornings the mountains can not be
seen at all due to the poor air quality. This morning is yet
another beautiful sunny warmish day, but the mountains
can hardly be seen at all so the smog level is relatively high.
Often there is a faintly unpleasing odour in the air. It is not
in any way terrible, but noticeable nonetheless.

Play is now finished for all Canadian players.
The Transnational Mixed Teams round robin phase finished
yesterday afternoon. There were 120 teams from around the
world entered in the event.
Canada had players on four different teams.
The Brown Team which included Stephen Brown, Pamela
Nisbet, Jurek Czyzowicz, Margaret (from Poland) and Sandra
and Doug Fraser were the highest placing of the four teams.
They finished 30th. Kismet Fung, Susan Culham, Howard
Weinstein, Michael Yuen and Bryan Maksymetz finished 36th.
Both of those teams had a chance to be amongst the 16 qualifiers,
but fell short in the final day. My team, which was composed of
Karen Cumpstone, John Rayner, three of Karen's New Zealand
friends and Dillop from India (now living in Kuala Lampur),
finished 62nd. Ours were a most enjoyable group of
teammates and it was a pleasure getting to spend some time
with them and get to know them a little. Our 4th Canadian
team Vincent, Marc Andre, Martine and Pascale withdrew
after two days of play in order to do some sightseeing. They
left for home yesterday. Susan is flying home today. Only
Pamela, Karen, Kiz and I remain from the Women's Team.

All that remains now are two days of play to decide the
winners in four events: the Open Teams where Italy faces
off against England - the Women's Teams where China takes
on England - the Senior Teams where the U. S. and Indonesia
meet - and the Transnational Teams which has eight teams
left to do battle.

The hand that follows is not instructional but you may find it
entertaining or amusing. It arose during the final match in the
Transnational Mixed. The names of the various participants
will be left out in order to protect the guilty. But is was kind
of fun what happened.

North
10 9, Q 10 9 8 6 5 3, J 6, J 9

East
Q 4, 2 , 5, A K Q 10 8 7 5 3 2

South
K 8 7 6 2, K 7, K Q 7 4 3, 4

West
A J 5 3, A J 4, A 10 9 8 2, 6

Board #29, North is dealer, both vulnerable

At one table
Pass 3NT* Pass 6D
Pass Pass Double Pass
Pass Pass
Result: down 3 for a team score of minus 800.

At the other table
3H 5C Double Redouble
Pass Pass Pass
Result: making 7 for a team score of minus 1800.

So the four protagonists combined to lose
2600 on the board for a loss of 21 IMPS, near
to the maximum of 24 that can be lost on any
one board.

What had happened at the first table was that
the East/West partnership had recently changed
the agreement about a 3NT opening. One player
forgot about that change and meant the 3NT
call as "Gambling" (showing a solid 7 or 8 card
minor with no outside Ace or King). In West's
mind the 3NT opening showed a good hand with
at least 5-5 in the minor suits. So what transpired
was entirely understandable. And notice East's
admirable faith and trust in partner, believing
that she had already described her hand.

Let he who is within sin cast the first stone. We
have all had stories of a similar kind. I promise
not to divulge the names of the players involved,
although I am sure in the fullness of time the
truth will be revealed and the legend will grow.

At Karen's and my table the auction proceeded
Pass 5C Pass 6C Pass Pass Pass
the opponents of course made 7.
the result was duplicated by our teammates.
(Karen, this was my chivalrous way of protecting
your bridge reputation, making it clear to my
millions of readers that you were not one of the
guilty parties. I most enjoyed playing with you.
Thanks).

Breakfast and Beijing beckon.

Bye Rebecca and all.

John