2009/2010



The Power of the One
During History lesson, the teacher briefly went through the Kings and Queens who rule countries. “But” the teacher continued, “There is a higher category of power. Can anybody tell me what it is?'
One child blurted out, 'Aces!'
 
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Complementary not Harmony
A great partnership is not when a perfect match comes along. More often it is when they learn to appreciate and leverage off their differences.

End of the Rope
I always knew that if all else failed I could teach bridge – yup, all else did fail.

Expanding Horizons
Sheryl: Why not learn to play Bridge? It is gaining popularity everywhere.
Wayne: So what! So is AIDS.

Uplifting Spirits
I never drink alcohol while playing bridge. It interferes with my suffering.

How’s That Again?
Winning does not really matter, as long as you win.

No one around
I was matched up with another player when I showed up without a partner. All through the match, whenever I made a mistake, he would say "No Man is perfect"
Later I found out that his name was Norman.

Bottoms Up
I've always believed no matter how many games I win, I'm going to lose the next one.

Cart before the Horse
Some people are so busy learning the various conventions and gadgets of the game; they never fully enjoy the game.

Differing Views
Put 4 bridge players on the table and you’ll get 4 different opinions.

Road to Success
A champion Bridge player is an amateur who did not quit.

Double of Nothing
Joe knows absolutely nothing about the game; his wife plays twice as well.

How’s That Again?
Don't let worries get you down - play Bridge instead

Place of Honour
The Bridge club secretary was very apologetic, "I'm terribly sorry sir, but our registration for the match is full"
"Wait just a minute," the member argued, "If I told you that Zia Mahmood and Bob Hamman want to play, wouldn’t you register them?"
"Most definitely," she answered.
"Well,” said the member “since I happen to know that they both cannot make it, we’ll just take their slot"

Rubbing it In
A Notice at a Bridge Club:
Those who failed the bridge course and are depressed with low self esteem, please attend the special extra class on Thursday at 7pm. Please use the back door.

Trumped
A bridge player accidentally got a girl pregnant. When he visited her and saw her condition, he offered to marry her. She said she will consult her family and get back to him. When he showed up the next day she said “Well after some discussion, we decided it was better to have a bastard than a bridge player in the family”

Between the Lines
Bridge is like a hot bath. It feels good while you’re in it, but the longer you stay in, the more wrinkles you get.





Hideous Hog: Probability, playing rules, conventions and systems take the place of thinking. That is why they are so popular.

Hideous Hog: (He) is so bad that he admits to mistakes before he makes them

Hideous Hog: If you award Masterpoints for very good results then, logically, you should deduct them for very bad results.

Papa: I don’t understand why you couldn’t see my signal, partner. Everyone knows that a singleton is the top of nothing.

Papa: I am so good I can false card with a singleton.

Rueful Rabbit: Do you want to play Lavinthal or Odd-Even or natural discards?
T Toucan: Let’s play them all.

Papa: People shouldn’t be allowed to use conventions they don’t understand. It’s not fair to the opponents.

T Toucan: I know we agreed to lead A from AK. Sorry my fault. I promise to have the King next time.

Rueful Rabbit: Shall we play McKenney or Lavinthal discards.
( the same… ed)

Rueful Rabbit: At Grandslam, it was a little difficult to rectify the count.

Charlie Chimp: I can concentrate at will on all the hands except the one I am currently playing.

Rueful Rabbit: Some declarers have difficulty counting the opponent’s distribution. I have the same problem with Dummy’s distribution.

T Toucan: If I work very hard at it, I may be able to achieve mediocrity.

Karapet: Did I tell you about ….
Corgi: Yes

Karapet: I expect the worst in bridge and am rarely disappointed.

Karapet: I am so unlucky that in all my life, no one has ever revoked against me.

Karapet: Through constant practice, I have become an expert loser.

Hideous Hog: Nature is so unfair that I have to be the dummy over ten percent of the time. What a waste of my talent.

Hideous Hog: You made your Ace of trumps. What else can you possibly want?

Papa: Only at Duplicate you get a bottom for using safety plays.

O Owl: Better to play very badly than very good. If things go wrong you are in good company.

Hideous Hog: I am so good I only need a partner who can tell one suit from another.

Hideous Hog: Your bidding and card play are not on the same high level as the rest of your game.

Hideous Hog: I know no one whom I would rather see in charge of the dummy.

Hideous Hog:  I will bid natural and you bid “Big Minor”. When you have a NT opening, you call 1C and I will bid your NT. If you have a major, bid 1D and I will bid your major. This way you will not get the stress of being declarer.

Papa: I am the better side and we know it.

Hideous Hog: My partner plus 12 sure tricks equals 11.

Hideous Hog: I am such a fine player, no one can deny my right to be rude.

Hideous Hog: It is blatant insubordination. How dare you bid NT and becomes declarer.

Hideous Hog: I do not doubt your luck and I know no one who needs it more than you.

Hideous Hog: Of course I always hold much better cards than you do. Being declarer is part of my system.

Hideous Hog: My point count system? Extra for long suit, extra for short suit and 3 points for my superb play.

Hideous Hog: The opening lead should always run up to the stronger player.


Fowl Play (Thanksgiving Special Joke)
The national Bridge team was practicing when a large turkey came strutting onto the room and sat down at the table. “Do you mind if I play?”
The players initially humored the bird but pretty soon they were awestruck as the turkey bid perfectly and pulled off amazing plays.
This caught the team captain’s attention “You're terrific!!! Sign up for the team and we will play in the National League, I'll see to it that you get a huge bonus if we win."
"Forget the bonus," the turkey said, "All I want to know is this. Does the season go past Thanksgiving Day?"

Never Mind
The doctor was checking up on three elderly bridge players who had head injuries from a car accident.
Serene inquired "Doctor, Will I still be able to play bridge?"
The Doctor asked "How many high card points in a deck of cards?"
"60!" the lady replied.
Worried, the doctor turned to Wayne "How about you? How many high card points in a deck of cards? “
"Uh, Wednesday!" he shouted.
Even more concerned, the doctor motioned to the other lady. "Well, what do you say, madam? How many high card points in a deck of cards?"
"Forty!"  Sheryl replied.
"Excellent!" the doctor exclaimed. "How did you get that?"
"Oh, it's pretty simple," she explained. "You just subtract the 60 from Wednesday!"


Never Mind - A new twist

Sheryl subtracted 60 from Wednesday to get 40. The numerical equivalent of Wednesday is 23+5+4+14+5+4+1+25=100. So there!

Gene Splicing
What do you get when you cross my partner with an ape?
No change occurs.                   

(My sincerest apologies to the ape)

I Walk the Line

“There is a fine line between wanting to play bridge every day and mental illness.”

Overloaded Bridge

While a physician was examining a new patient's ruddy complexion and blood pressure, the patient said, "I already know I have very high blood pressure, Doc."
"Does it come from your mother's side or your father's?" the doctor asked.
"Neither," Wayne replied. "It's from my bridge partner’

End Play
Sheryl accompanied Wayne, her bridge partner, to the doctor's office.
After his checkup, the doctor called Sheryl into his office alone. ”Wayne is suffering from a very severe stress disorder. If you don't follow my instructions carefully, he will surely die. Never point out any mistake he makes. Be pleasant at all times. Don't burden him with conventions and bidding systems. Always give him a hug when he feels down. And never discuss the hands. If you can do this for the next few months, I think Wayne will regain his health completely."
On the way home, Wayne asked Sheryl, "What did the doctor say?"
"He said you're going to die," she replied

Deafening Silence

Wayne was talking to a doctor about his bridge partner "Doctor, I think my bridge partner is deaf because she never hears my bid and I always have to repeat things."
"Well," the doctor replied, "The next time you play bridge, bid normally. If she doesn't reply, say it louder and louder. Keep doing this so that we'll get an idea about the severity of her deafness."
Sure enough, the next time they played Rubber Bridge, he does exactly as instructed. He starts off saying “One Spade”.  He hears no response. He says it louder “ONE SPADE”. Still no reply. And again “ONE SPADE”! He gets fed up and screams at the top of his voice “SHERYL! I’M BIDDING ONE SPADE”! 
Sheryl picks up a pen and writes down "For the fourth time, One No Trump" 

Running Hot & Cold

Sheryl: Can't play bridge tonight. I have a really bad cold"
Wayne: Try drinking a big glass of fresh orange juice after a hot bath.
Sheryl: uh ... Ok ... I'll try anything
…..the next day…
Wayne: Hi Sheryl … Well, did it help?
Sheryl: How should I know? I haven't even finished drinking the bath yet!"

Running Wild

Wayne “Doctor, my memory is failing and I cannot remember the cards when I play Bridge.”
Doctor “If you want to improve your memory and your concentration, you need to get some exercise. A healthy body leads to a healthy mind. Run 10 kilometers a day.”
Two weeks later, Wayne calls the doctor.
Doctor "Have you done what I told you?”
Wayne “Yes doc, I’ve followed your instruction exactly.”
Doctor “So has your memory and concentration improved since 2 week ago?"
Wayne “I don't know, I'm 140 kilometers away from my Bridge Club"

Daffy-nit-shuns: Amnesia Double

Amnesia Double: When you make a lead directing double when you are going to be on the opening lead

Home Sweet Home

Wayne “I get a really bad headache after a long bridge tournament”.
Joe “Do what I do. I put my head on my wife's bosom, and the headache goes away."
… The next day …
Joe "Did you do what I told you to do?"
Wayne "Sure did and it works! By the way, you have a nice house!"

Car-Toons
Bridge partners are like parking spots, the good ones are taken and the available ones are handicapped.


Therefore I Am … not
Many people would sooner die than think -- and usually they do," lamented British
Philosopher Bertrand Russell,

Better than Nothing
All Bridge Players should have at least a murderer in their family, so they will have someone to look up to.

Bitter Half
I play bridge to be entertained. If I wanted to be stressed and abused, I might as well stay home with my wife.

Blown Bulb
How many Bridge players do you need to change a light bulb?
Four. One to change the bulb and 3 to tell him how he could have done it better.

Saving Grace
Partners are extremely important. Who else to blame when you lose?

Heads He Win, Tails I Lose
A happy partnership is a matter of give and take. You give in and your partner takes credit.

Why Women Love Bridge Players? (original)
They sometimes do a Double before they Pass out.

That Certain Smile
How can you tell if someone is a lousy bridge player?
He has 5 smiling Kibitzers watching him play.

Daffy-nit-shuns - Hand Hog
Hand Hog : A player who thinks he is best qualified to be declarer.
A standard tactic is to avoid showing minor suits and 4-card majors in order to quickly bid NT -- even outside the agreed range and shape.

How Bridge Laws Relate to Real Life (modified from Bridge Magazine)
You telephoned me when my husband was on the other line (Simultaneous Calls) but did not tell me what you wanted (Incomplete Call).

I said I would call back but before I could (Hesitation), you called me again (Call out of Rotation).

Of course I slam down the phone (Call out of Rotation – Rejected).

Then you sent me a letter (Play of Card Accepted) but I was shocked that you asked me out for just a Big Mac (Insufficient Bid).

Of course I refused (Insufficient Bid Rejected).

You then tried to offer me 2 Big Macs (Attempt to Correct with a Double).
Luckily you realised your mistake (Illegal Bid) and offered me an expensive dinner. (Corrected by Sufficient Bid)

During dinner you told me you were single (Deliberate Deception) but luckily I found out the truth from a mutual friend (Unauthorized Information).

Later you dared to ask me to go to your home (Inappropriate Communications) for some action (Illegal Play) and cheat on my husband (Violation of Partnership Agreement).

When I refused you (Claim Rejected) you asked me again (Requirement to Repeat Claim Statement).

You saw that I was hesitating (Extraneous Information from Partner).

You knew I was vulnerable (Scoring) and would give in (Acquiescence Occurs) and follow you (Wrong Lead Accepted).

However I changed my mind in time (Acquiescence in Claim Withdrawn).

Now you did not want to pay for the meal (Retraction of Card Played) and so I left (Play Ceases).

Bridge Over Troubled Waters (original)
My wife finally snapped last month and committed suicide.
For years she has claimed that I'm a Bridge fanatic. She said all I ever read about is Bridge. All I ever talk about is Bridge. All I ever think about is Bridge. So why did she have to jump off a Bridge?

Almost Perfect
Isn't it a shame how 99% of bridge players give the whole game a bad name.

Mental Work-out
After learning bridge, the only exercise I get is letting my imagination run wild!

How’s That Again?
Another Beginner Bridge Course is starting next month. If you missed it the last time, this is your golden opportunity to miss it again.

Tee not Pee
Bridge Success is more attitude than aptitude.

End Play
Doctor: "If you play bridge, the stress will kill you by the time you are 60”
Bridge Player: "But I am 60!"
"Doctor: Have you paid my bill yet?"

Prone Position
There was an old man named Bill who played bridge every week with his partner Fred. His wife always commented on how unhappy he looked after the game. But one day he came home looking really happy.


His wife asked, "What's the matter Bill? You always seem so miserable after bridge and today you are smiling"

Bill said, "Well actually, something terrible happened. Fred had a heart attack and died halfway through the match"

"Oh Dear “said his wife, rushing to comfort him, "but why are you smiling? That must have been terrible!"

"Not too bad" he said, "I still came in 3rd

No Kidding
How many bridge partner jokes are there?


Just two, all the rest are true.

Contract not Contact Bridge
Bridge has proved that you can sit for hours in front of somebody without once making eye contact.

Unique Quality
One good partner is better than ten average ones.

Sticky Problem
They have invented this skin patch that will immediately cure depression. I tested it out during my Bridge session and it worked perfectly. All you need to do is to peel away the backing and stick it across your partner's mouth.


Deafening Silence
When a wise partner holds his tongue, he says more than then when he speaks.

Leapin’ Lizards
What's the difference between my partner and a trampoline?I have to take off my shoes before 1 jump on a trampoline.


Daffy-nit-shuns : Mixed Emotions
Mixed Emotions: Winning a Tournament with your Partner

SOS Redouble
Joe: “HELP, HELP MY BRIDGE PARTNER IS DROWNING”
Passer-by: “Is there something I can do?”
Joe: “Can you swim?”
Passer-by: “Sure”
Joe: “Uh… no thanks … HELP, HELP MY BRIDGE PARTNER IS DROWNING”

Right on Track
“I can’t believe they arrested me. It was an accident. I wasn’t driving fast. I did not see my partner crossing the road until it was too late. Of course everybody knows that not all accidents have skid marks”.

That Sinking Feeling
Joe: I hate my Partner
Sam: Why don’t you find another one?
Joe: No use. Changing partners is like changing cabins on the Titanic.

Nutting at All
What is the difference between my partner and an idiot in an asylum?
The asylum.

No Deal
What's the difference between my partner and a terrorist?
You can sometimes reason with a terrorist.

How’s That Again?
If you cannot annoy your partner, there is little point in playing Bridge.

Moo-dy Blues
I could play bridge with you until the cows come home. On second thought, I’d rather play bridge with the cows until you come home. (Groucho Marx … sort of)

Tongue-Tied
The doctor says to the patient, "Please stick your tongue out and let me see”
The patient complies.
The doctor inspects the throat and says “Now do the same at the man who is waiting outside on your right”
"What will that do?" asks the patient.
The doctor says, "I'm mad at my bridge partner"

Carrying On
Playing Bridge with my partner is as much fun as moving a piano.

Problem Solving
What should you do when your partner is buried up to his neck in sand?
Get more sand. (ok ...ok... stolen from the lawyer jokes)


Bridging the World
In a recent public survey, it was found that …
In Italy, all Bridge Players are important.
In the US, only the successful Bridge Players are important.
In China, all Bridge Players are equally unimportant.
In Singapore, the survey was cancelled because nobody knew what a Bridge Player was.

Splish Splash
Declarers are like ducks. They look cool, calm and unruffled on the surface, but are paddling like crazy underneath.



Why Women Love Bridge Players? (original)
Bridge Players use a strong Club with Precision.

Bridge to Eternity
The devil appeared before a Bridge player and made him an offer. "I can arrange some things for you,” the devil said. "I'll make sure you win every tournament you enter. Your partners will love and worship you. Your opponents will fear and respect you and you will live to be a hundred. All I want in return is your wife's soul which will burn in hell for eternity.
The Bridge player thought for a moment. "Ok, I give up …What's the catch?"

Best of the Worst
Think of how bad your partner is.
Now for the scary part. As your partner was chosen at random, we can rate him as average. Now just imagine half of the partners in the world are worse than that!

Last Step
After all the hard work, confidence is final step to victory.

View from the Top

Bridge is “just a game” unless of course when you win.

Self Confidence

”Of course I talk to myself during bridge. I’m the only one whose answers I accept.”

Circle of Life

”Bridge players are NOT out of shape. I’m in shape. Look! Round is a shape.”

Waking Sleeping Dogs
There is nothing wrong with giving advice to your Bridge partner that calm, logical reasoning won't aggravate.

Painful Entertainment
“Why should I learn bridge? It is against my philosophy. My philosophy is no pain, no pain.”

Sacker or Sucker?
The difference between a champ and a chump is u.

The Impossible Dream
A Partner who only gives advice when asked.

No Uno
The element of luck ensures that even the best bridge players do not always win. For example, under-bidders gain when the distribution is bad and over-bidders score on those hands where finesses always work.

How’s That Again?
“My idea of an agreeable partner is someone who always agrees with me.”

Just Desserts
“The only reason I play bridge is to punish my partner.”

No Kidding

A bridge player who talks about his bridge hands is more boring than a mother who talks about her children.

Pass the Dice
A bridge player is trained in the art of inexactitude.

Yum Yum
Bridge and potato chips are alike. You can never have enough of either.

Daffy-nit-shuns - Bridge
Bridge is a Contract Sport



Ahhhhh……
The only reason I prefer Bridge to the movies is that the toilets are usually much closer.

A Hell of a Time
A Singaporean bridge player dies and goes to hell. While down there the Devil notices that he is not suffering like the rest. He checks the gauges and sees that it's 40 degrees Celsius and about 80% humidity. So the Devil goes over and asks why he's so happy.
He says, "I like it here, the temperature is just like Singapore."
The Devil isn't happy with the answer. He goes over and turns up the temperature to 45 degrees and the humidity to 90 percent.But the Devil again finds him standing around just as happy as can be. The Devil quizzes him again.
"This is even better; it's like a sunny day at the beach in Singapore."
The Devil, now upset, decides to really make the Singaporean suffer, so he turns the heat up to 55 degrees and the humidity to 100 percent.Once again, he goes looking for the guy, and finds him even happier than before!
He turns to the Devil and says, "This is great, I am getting a free sauna."
The Devil goes back to the thermostat and says, "I have been using the wrong strategy. I'll get this guy this time" He turns the temperature down to minus 10 degrees and sets the weather control to SNOW. "Let’s see what he has to say about THIS."
A little while later, the Devil finds the guy -- only NOW he's jumping up and down for joy and yelling, "Hell has frozen over! Singapore has won the Bermuda Bowl"

Heading Up
Sam: Notice any improvement since last year?
Partner: You combed your hair, didn't you?

Goldwater Rule
A suggestion from Tournament Director Harry Goldwater that barring obvious consequences, a lead out of turn should generally be accepted. The rationale being that if a player does not know whose lead it is probably does not know the right lead either!

Mind over Madder
Bridge is the last refuge of brain damaged intellectuals.

How’s That Again?
I tried to learn Bridge but it was too difficult, so I grew underarm hair instead.

7-Up
I am taking a beginner Bridge class. Today’s lesson was on bidding. I have no idea what the instructor was saying but he praised me for being able to count to seven.

Modern Times
I gave my young nephew a pack of cards;
He spent 5 minutes looking for the battery slot.

Alternate Strategy
I have bought a couple of Bridge Books but I find them impossible to understand. The only useful thing I did with them is when I killed an irritating fly.

Long and Winding Bridge
A champion Bridge player is an amateur who did not quit.

How’s That Again?
If you cannot annoy somebody, there is little point in playing Bridge.

Wake-up Call
What is hard and pink in the morning?
The Financial Times Bridge column.

Insufficient Bid
The biggest problem with buying a pack of bridge cards is that brains are not included.

Two Singletons
You should try everything once, except bridge and suicide.

How’s That Again?
There is only one thing worse than playing bridge -- and that is not playing bridge.

No I to Eye
Bridge has proved that you can sit for hours in front of somebody without once making eye contact.

Second Opinion
Sam: My doctor says I shouldn't play Bridge
Partner: Oh? So he has partnered you too, huh?


Half-Baked
“Bridge is about making mistakes and learning from them.
My Partner got half of it right.”

How’s That Again
“Every morning I check the Internet to see if I am on the Forbes 100 Richest List. If I don't see my name, I go and play Bridge.”

A Bridge Story - Et tu, Partner?
Weak Response – When your partner passes your Forcing Bid … followed by …
Double – When the opponents double up with laughter … followed by …
Dummy – What you call your Partner … followed by …
Call – What your partner thinks of you … followed by …
Overcall – What you think of your partner … followed by …
Point Count – When he Points out and Counts all your past mistakes … followed by …
Small Slam – When you slam your cards on the table … followed by …
Grand Slam – When he slams his fist into your face … followed by …
Splinter – When you poke him with the pencil tip ... followed by …
Short Club – When he hits you with a cane … followed by …
Vulnerable – When you start to cry … followed by …
End Play – Bye-bye partnership

Pass me just one Peanut
Does there exist a person who can stop after playing just one hand of Bridge?

Ungrounded
With old age taking its toll, 4 bridge players were complaining."The lettering on the cards seems to be getting smaller every year." moaned the first senior."Yes, that makes it even more difficult to remember them" complained the second."What about the poor printing – the Club and Spades almost look alike." groaned the third.Having heard enough from his three buddies, the oldest and wisest of the group said, "Just be thankful we're still on the right side of the Spades!"

Shining Example
A Bridge expert is like a diamond. A chunk of coal that made good under pressure.

Just Like Superman
If you play bridge without ever having to explain your decision or make an apology, then you obviously don’t exist.

Spanning the Bridge
Our club has a long tradition of Bridge. Between the time when we won our first tournament and the second, there has been 4 Popes.

Stone Deaf
Pay no attention to what your partner tells you ... Remember, no statue has ever been set up in honor of any critic.

Daffy-nit-shuns - Bridge
Bridge is basically Poker on Valium.

Telling it Straight
Any fool can criticize, condemn, and complain - and most fools do.

Body Parts
3 sportsmen were lost and wandering through the desert, hungry and hallucinating, when they came upon a dead camel."I play soccer so I will eat the feet” "I play bridge so I'll eat the brain""I play billiards" said the third sportsman "but I seem to have lost my appetite."

Balancing Act (original)
There are times when I want to take out my wife and kids for an entertaining evening. Unfortunately there is no place that will make everyone happy. Someone should organize bridge games with free ice-cream in a massage parlor.

Daffy-nit-shun : Phantom Endplay
Declarer South holds the DA x with the DQ x in dummy. He carefully strips all the side suits and throws East in to lead away from his king of diamonds. Unfortunately West had it.
This is called phantom endplay.

2008

Back up Plan
“We can't all be full-time Bridge Players. There must be someone who has to work to support us.”

Sluffed
“Lucky we don’t have bridge players for neighbours, otherwise our street will become a dump site in no time. All they ever talk about is discard this, discard that...”

Bird Brain?
Bridge players are like woodpeckers. They succeed by using their head.

Living Dangerously
The Americans were desperate. They had 3 great players for the Bermuda Bowl World Bridge Championships but could not find a suitable 4th. Finally in the slums of Iraq they found an unknown bridge genius. They quickly made him a US citizen and a member of the team. True to expectations, the ex-Iraqi was the anchor man and showed amazing bid judgment and made many impossible contracts. After winning the tournament, he excitedly called his mother and told her the news.

"I don't want to talk to you," the old woman said. "You deserted us. You're not my son."

“But mother," the young man pleaded. "I just won the greatest Bridge event in the world. I'm in the middle of hundreds of adoring fans and a huge bonus is coming my way."
“No, let me tell you," the mother sobs. "At this very moment, there are gun shots all around us. The neighborhood is a pile of rubbish and rubble. Last week, your two brothers were beaten within an inch of their lives, and this week your sister was raped in broad daylight ... (sniff … sniff…) … I’ll never forgive you for making us move to New York."

Pandemic
Bridge is gaining popularity and it is now everywhere in the world … just like AIDS.

Splitting Honours
During a Bridge party there are those who want to play on and those that are totally fed up and want to go home. The trouble is that they are always a partnership.

As easy as zzz
“I have often won major tournaments and pulled off impossible slams.
Unfortunately it’s always in my dreams.”


Bottom Line
The difference between a fantastic bid and a stupid bid is largely a matter of result.

How’s That Again?
The inherent downside in looking for a new bridge partner is the possibility of that you might actually get one.

Over the Top
If you think the contract looks easy, be careful, you may be going downhill.


How’s That Again?
“I found out that my husband had been sneaking out to play bridge. When I confronted him with the evidence, he denied everything and said it would never happen again.”

Over the Hill
“Since my bridge partner turned 45, she not only forgets the cards but has been exceptionally short-tempered when I point it out. I think she is going through her mental pause.”

Bottom Feeders
“I always knew that if all else failed I could go back and play professional bridge -- as you can see, all else has failed.”


It Does Not Add Up
Joe : I am not such a bad bridge player. I can count all the partners I ever had in just one hand.

Sam : You must be holding a calculator.

Airing Your Frustration
You can always tell when a partnership is in trouble. Little things start getting in your nerves.

“Would you please stop that!! That breathing in and out. It’s so repetitious.”

Beating the Odds
Take care of your bridge partner; Make him feel important and smart. If you can do that, you will have a happy and wonderful partnership ... Just like 1 out of 100 partnerships.

Bridge Under Troubled Waters
I have often wanted to drown my troubles, but I can never get my partner to go swimming.

Long Rocky Road
My partner and I have been partnering for 40 years … out of spite.

Falling Uphill
"Do you think my game is improving?"

Of course. You only go down 2 nowadays.

That Sinking Feeling
Taking advice from my bridge partner is like taking sailing lessons from the captain of the Titanic

Alcatraz Coup
Consider this situation. A J 10 in Dummy and K x x in Declarer’s hand. How to guarantee 3 tricks? Think about it for a minute before reading on.
Declarer leads the J from dummy and on getting a low card from RHO, revokes by playing a side suit! LHO will either play a low a card or the Q. If the card is low, Declarer corrects his unestablished revoke with a low card. If the Q is played, he corrects it with the K. Of course, LHO is permitted to take back his Q without penalty, but now the marked finesse gives 3 tricks!
If something like this happens against you, call the director. Any qualified competent director will use Law 12 (Director’s Discretionary Powers) to rectify damage to ensure you at least get the Q trick or Average Plus. If the Director feels there are ethical issues involved, the penalty will be very severe on the declarer including suspension or debarment.


Divine Intervention
I just learned Bridge and I play really bad. Fortunately, there are many understanding and kind people at my church who don't mind partnering me and accepting me for what I am ... a punishment from God.

Daffy-nit-shuns : Politeness
Politeness is not saying bad things about your partner until you are at least 50 metres away.

Unlucky for Some
Not everyone hates my Partner ... Only those who have partnered him.

Losing Your Match
My Bridge partner ran off with my wife: and let me tell you, I really miss him.

Relatively Speaking
Bridge partners are like husbands -- they are fine as long as they are someone else's.

Putting into Perspective
The purpose of Bridge parties is to remind you that there are partners who are worse than yours.

Brain Drain
My partner has a brain like Einstein’s --- dead since 1955.

Going Green
If my partner's IQ gets any lower, I will have to water him.

Ejaculated
I call my partner “sperm”. They both have 1 chance in three million of becoming a human being.

Gift of the Gab?
My Partner has a very sharp tongue. I am hoping he cuts his own throat with it.

Semi-Grey Matter
When my Bridge partner goes to a mind-reader, he gets half price.


Points to Ponder
The late British expert Alan Hiron captained the Junior Team at the European Championships in Prague in 1968. For transport, he hired a Skoda and overloaded it with his whole team and also some press personnel and supporters. Needless to say, he was stopped by the police. One of the bridge correspondents in the car was Robert Sheehan. He calmly produced his Masterpoints Card and had a quiet private talk with the cop. They were let off with a warning.

This is the only recorded instance of Masterpoints being of any practical use.

Confusion Says …Secret of happy partnership is ....... still a secret.

Lost Cause
Losing a bridge partner can be hard. In my case, it was almost impossible

Shooting Blanks
Bridge is something like photography, if you don't focus; all you have is the negative.

How’s That Again?
I somehow get the feeling that bridge would be more enjoyable if it had been played with a soccer ball.

Confusion Says
…
Man without bridge is like neck without pain.

Butt Of Course
The only reason I prefer sex to bridge is because I get to smoke a cigarette afterwards.

New Deal
I told my wife that I don’t want to be there for the birth of our child.
I don’t see why my bridge game should also be ruined.

Bridging the Years

I never met anybody who said when they were a kid, "I wanna grow up and be a bridge player"

Bad Break

You must excuse my bridge partner. He suffered a stroke a few years ago which rendered him totally annoying.

Scotch and Water
Giving bridge advice to Zia Mahmood is like giving a fish a bath.

Shoveling Dirt
My new neighbor was helping me with some gardening. I knew immediately that he was a Bridge player when it took him almost 2 minutes to understand what I meant when I asked him to "Pass the Spade".

Final Resting Place
Bridge is the last refuge of those who have nothing to do.

Three Reasons why Bridge is Better
The Ten Commandments does not say anything about not playing bridge

You can have a bridge calendar on your wall at the office, tell bridge jokes and invite co-workers home to play bridge without being sued for harassment.

If the partnership agrees on “forcing two over one”, it wouldn't be considered abnormal.

Wake-up Call
Retirement is one long sweet dream, and bridge is the damn alarm clock.

Yes … but
Bridge players are OK; I just wouldn't want my sister to marry one.

How’s That Again?
A finesse is the most boring way to make a contract. I rather go down on a squeeze play.

Flushed
Bridge is the Septic Tank of the intellectual.

Well Protected
“I played Bridge once when I was 12 years old. It was like an inoculation and made me immune from it for the rest of my life.”

Passing Fancy
No point flirting with a Bridge player -- they just pass you by.

Two Birds with One Stone
“My wife says if I go to a bridge game one more time she's going to leave me.
Gosh, I'm going to miss her.”

Daffy-nit-shuns : Bidding
Bidding is a rest period between arguments.

No Kidding
A measure of a person’s mental stability is the degree to which they can play bridge as though it is just a game.

Redeeming Feature
Anyone who hates bridge can’t be all bad.

Wrong Bridge
A maintenance engineer shouts in his cell phone: “There is no goddamn bridge here! Only a bunch of crazy people gathering around card tables”

Never-ending Story

“Every night when I go to bed I think about my mistakes at the bridge table.”
“Gee,” his partner said, “how do you get any sleep?”

Fallback Position
People are born to suffer. Even those that were initially free from suffering somehow end up playing bridge.

It Doesn’t Add up
If winning isn't important, why does everyone look at the score?

Bloody Good
Bridge is easy. You only need to concentrate until a drop of blood forms on your forehead.

Roger Rabbit
My boyfriend says he reads Playboy for the interesting articles. Right! Sure! And I play Bridge for the abuse.

Double Strip Squeeze
Coincidentally, I did my first Squeeze in a Bridge game in the afternoon and did a Squeeze on my first date that same night. I never had time for bridge ever since.

One Leg Up
Asking a bridge player what he thinks about being criticized is like asking a lamppost how it feels about dogs

Bridge of Steal
Did you know that Bridge is punishment for shoplifting in some countries?

How’s That Again?
I wouldn’t partner anyone who would have me as his partner.

Keeping it Straight
Teaching Bridge without mentioning the arguments is like sending someone to war without mentioning that people are going to get killed.

No Cue Bid
Playing Bridge when you are 80 is like playing Billiards with a rope.

End Play

The only difference between bridge and life-long suffering is, with life-long suffering, nobody is going to make fun of you.

Mental Problem

Half the game is mental; unfortunately the other half is mental too.

Fundays
“Some people ask the secret of our long and harmonious marriage as my wife and I both play bridge. Well, we take time to go to a restaurant. A little candlelight, dinner, soft music, dancing and later, of course, lots of bridge. … She goes Saturday, I go Sunday."

Better than Nothing
The invention of bridge was not an accident. It was developed to meet the important needs of a certain group of people in a particular intellectual bracket. Those people got tired of playing “Pin the tail on the Donkey”

Point of View
"If Bridge is only a game then the Grand Canyon is only a hole"

Bridge over Troubled Waters
Bridge has kept more people sane than psychiatrists have.


A Reason why Bridge is better
There is nothing embarrassing about playing a short club.

How’s That Again?
My Bidding may be bad but at least I make up for it with my atrocious play.

Daffy-nit-shun : Finesse
“Finesse” – a refined gesture or articulation incorporating a delicacy of manipulation.
If you don’t understand that, make no attempt to have it explained by a bridge player.

Who’s the Fool?
Behind every argument is someone's ignorance.

Wrong Partner
Being with a woman all night never hurt a bridge player’s ability to concentrate on his game the following day.
It's staying up all night looking for the woman that does him in.

Just One More Game Please
There are two things in my life which I really love: my family and bridge.
The only problem is once I start playing, I change the order around a bit.

De-stressing
Do you get mad and angry during the bridge game?
If so, then whenever you are the dummy, just go outside, take some deep breaths, stretch your arms, count to 10 and kick the cat.

Why marry a bridge player
1. They have great hands
2. They are used to scoring
3. They are good at squeezes
4. They are excellent at end plays

Cracked Bridge
I finally figured out that playing bridge almost everyday is same thing, more or less, as having a personality disorder.

Sweeter than sweet
Bridge is a chocolate substitute.

Bridge to Hell

“Damn it. You must learn to play bridge. You can’t always be living for pleasure.”

Penalty Double
I know the dying process begins the moment we are born, but somehow it accelerates when we play Bridge.

Limited Options
Cigarettes and bridge are the perfect type of pleasure. It gives you immediate gratification and leaves you unsatisfied. What more can one want?

Win-win Option
If you want to win at Bridge, play with children ... and if you fall behind, it is easy to cheat.

C’est La Vie

Since I started playing Bridge, I have more stress, weigh more, exercise less and care less.

Bridge to Paradise

If the doctor ever tells you that you have just a few months to live, don't get depressed. Learn to play Bridge. Quite soon, you will look forward to your death.

Seeing the Future
I you want to know what you will look like 10 years from now, just play 3 sessions of Bridge in a day for a week.

Weighing the Benefits
Of course a loving wife is better than winning a Bridge tournament. But I am not sure about 2 Bridge Tournaments.

As Eye See It
When you are doing well, you are a good player. When they are doing well, they are lucky.

Parental Guidance
Of course prostitutes sometimes get pregnant by mistake. Where do you think Bridge Players come from?

Screw it on Tighter
How many Bridge players do you need to change a light bulb?
Four. One to change the bulb and 3 to tell him how he could have done it better.

End Play
Bridge is an addiction only curable by death.

2004

A Question of Priority

A man was sent a ransom note saying that he was to bring $50,000 to the local park at 9pm that night if he ever wanted to see his wife alive again.
He didn't arrive until after 11pm. A masked man stepped out from behind some bushes and growled, "What took ya so long? You're over two hours late."
"Hey! Give me a break," whined the man. "They needed a fourth for bridge at the club."

Sick Six Sex

A bridge fanatic husband and his wife played bridge all afternoon at the club and adjourn for dinner. He goes over every hand with his wife, writing on every napkin, not to mention their tablecloth. They go back, play another session, and adjourn to the same restaurant for a late snack. Again he starts to go over the hands. Finally the wife says "Bill, I can't take it any more, can't we talk about something else, anything else like politics, the movies, sports, sex?
Bill says, "Sex? Yes, I remember, on board number sex, I had sex diamonds to the king queen..."

Joke Puzzle – Lonely King

Opposition has not bid and the declarer (who is from China) plays in a 6NT contract. He has a small doubleton club in his hand and a doubleton CK-C3 in dummy. He leads his low club and plays the C3 from dummy and incredibly dropping the singleton Ace and thus making his contract. What is this play called?


A Peeking Duck


Aggressive Modern Bidding
Thanks to modern bidding, many pairs have no difficulty reaching their 19-point game. The difficulty, of course, will come in the play.

Sympathy for the Devil
What is the difference between partnering the Devil and partnering your wife?
The Devil shuts up after you admit your mistake.


The Easier Option
A bridge novice was polishing a lamp and… poof! Out popped a genie. “There is a recession on, I can grant you only one wish.”
The novice thought a while and said, “I wish for world peace.”
“You’ve got to be kidding! I’m only a genie.”
The novice thought again and then suggested, “OK, then make me the best bridge player.”
“Hmm… ” The genie pondered. “Now let me see … How many countries are there in the world again….”

Daffy-Nit-Shuns : Trump Coup
Triumph of Ivana’s attorneys in securing a huge alimony.

Daffy-Nit-Shuns : Law of Total Tricks
Recent Las Vegas ordinance to reduce prostitution.

Regal Problems
Smart bridge players don’t get married because they know that 5 Queens is one too many.

Why Bridge is Better
You can blame your partner for a poor performance.

As Eye See It
A Bridge match is a test of your skill against your opponent’s luck.

Murphy’s Law – Making Your Contract
If there is more than one way to play the hand, you will always choose the way that brings you down

Guaranteed Way to Play Better Bridge
If you really want to get better at Bridge, go back and take it up at a much earlier age.

Confusion Says …
Man who plays Bridge once a week is sociable. Man who plays 4 times a week is competitive. Man who plays every day has no life.

Conserving Space
Unlike most sports, you only need 15cm of space to play bridge -- the distance between your ears.

Endless Enigma
Bridge is for people who like to do puzzles without answers.


Bridge et al
There is more to life than Bridge, but not much more.

I, Chimp
A popular bar hired a genetically modified chimpanzee bartender. A fellow came in for a drink and the chimp asked him “What's your IQ?”
The man bluffed, “150”
So the chimp proceeded to make conversation about Quantum physics, string theory, relativity, and so on.
The man listened intently and thought, 'This is really cool.'
The man decided to test the chimp again. He walked out the bar, turned around, and came back in for another drink. Again, the chimp asked him, 'What's your IQ?'
The man responded, “100.”
So the chimp started talking about current events, politics, and so on.
The man thought to himself, “Wow, this is amazing.”
The man went out and came back in a third time. As before, the chimp asked him, 'What's your IQ?'
The man replied, “50.”
“So” the chimp said, “how was your bridge game last night?”

Divine Consequences
Tom was a Bridge fanatic and a religious man as well. He would play bridge everyday. Tom was getting on in years, and one day after feeling rather poorly, he remarked to his wife, "I sure hope there is Bridge in the after-life"
The moment he finished uttering those words, he heard a voice thunder, "Tom, this is God, I hear you and will answer your question. Do you want the good news or the bad news first?"
Tom was startled, "Well, give me the good news, O God".
God replied, "The good news is that we have over 1000 Bridge Clubs with players of all standards. Your finesses will always work and everybody is really nice and polite."
Tom was ecstatic, "That is wonderful! What possibly can be the bad news?"
God replied, "You start playing tomorrow at 9:00 am."

Why Bridge is Better
You are not likely to get into trouble if you play with someone else's partner.

Allies to Opponents
There's no game like Bridge. You start to play with three friends and finish with two.


The 12 Laws of Bridge

LAW 1: No matter how bad your last hand was, the worst is yet to come. This law does not expire on the last hand of the match, since it has the supernatural tendency to extend well over the course of a tournament … actually your lifetime.

LAW 2: Your best game of bridge will be followed almost immediately by your worst ever. The intensity of the latter increases with the number of people you tell about the former.

LAW 3: Finesses never work. If one does, the law of the universe has been broken and life as we know it will come to an end … and it is your fault.

LAW 4: As soon as you fail to make your contract, your partner will look to the ceiling and shake his head. It is totally irrelevant that your partner supported your suit with a void.

LAW 5: Incompetence has no correlation to years of experience. You will go downhill without ever reaching the top.

LAW 6: The more points or trumps you hold in your hand, the worse the distribution will be. This bridge law mocks the law of statistics. When you have an 8-card trump fit, not only will the split be (at least) 4-1, but the opponent with the singleton will get a ruff.

LAW 7: A smiling opponent is the most painful torture known to man. Pretending that you did not see the smile quadruples the pain.

LAW 8: You will always forget whether a critical card has been played when it matters the most. No matter how you decide, it will always be wrong. Law 7 will immediately follow this.

LAW 9: No matter how well you shuffle the cards, the Ace will sit behind your King. (see Law 3 and Elvis Presley Coup)

LAW 10: The person you would most hate to lose to will always be the one who beats you. Law 7 will immediately follow this.

LAW 11: No matter how well you are doing, the last three hands will automatically drop your score to what it really should be.

LAW 12: Bridge should be given up at least twice per month and whenever Law 7 occurs.

Daffy-nit-shuns : Losing at Bridge:
A continuous hangover without the Intoxication.

Daffy-nit-shuns – Bridge Mistake
A 'mistake' in bridge is any action, either in bidding or play, which is unsuccessful.

Sarcasm Overheard at the Bridge Table
Bridge Player: "You've got to be the worst partner in the world!"
Partner: "I doubt it, that would be too much of a coincidence"

Bridge Player: " Well, Partner, How do you like my play?"
Partner: "Very good! But personally I prefer Bridge."

Bridge Player: "Sorry Partner, I have never played this badly before!"
Partner: "I didn't realize you have played before."

Bridge Player: " Do you think my game is improving?"
Partner: "Oh yes! You only go down one nowadays"

Bridge Player: "Do you think it is a sin to play Bridge on Sunday?"
Partner: "The way you play, it's a crime any day of the week!"

Divine Punishment
Bridge is a game invented by God to punish people who retire early.

Still Short
He is an excellent declarer and can always make one trick more than others. Unfortunately, he bids two levels too high.


Tip of the Month --Escaping Problems
The real test of a bridge player isn't in keeping out of trouble, but how to escape once he is in it.

Goren Pisang
Helen Sobel is arguable one of the best woman players of all time. However there was a time when she was just starting out in her bridge career and had the rare opportunity to partner the legendary Charles Goren.

When asked by a journalist what it feels like to play with a really great player, she casually pointed to Goren and said “Ask him!”

Total Recall
Two great players, Robert Sheehan and Jonathan Cansino, had been having a terrible game. Of course each thinks it is the other's fault. Finally Sheehan hands Jonathan a tiny piece of blank paper and says:
"Here Jonathan, write down everything you know about bridge."
Jonathan replies: "Well, it's a bigger piece of paper than I would have given you."


Puzzle – Weakest Winning Trick
Can a hand holding four 2s, four 3s, four 4s and one 5 legally win a trick in No Trumps? Of course the answer is “yes” otherwise why would it be a puzzle. But you will have to wreck your brains to figure it out how it can happen. Knowledge of obscure laws of Bridge is definitely an asset.

Puzzle – Hand Patterns
How many hand patterns are there? (Disregard suit order)
29 (B) 39 (C) 49 (D) 59 )


I Say, Old Chap ….
A bridge game was going on in a bridge club in London. Old Mr. Jones memory isn’t what it used to be. After opening Hearts, he ended up playing 7NT but thought it was 7H. The opponents led the CA and the dummy went down with a void in Clubs.
“Ruff low please.” said Mr. Jones
“I would loved to” replied his partner.

Facing the Problem
A bridge teacher explaining duplicate bridge protocol tells this lady to make her opening leads face down. She promptly puts her head on the table and leads a card – face up!

Squeaky Clean
Sam: I don’t know what happened. My mind went blank like it has been brainwashed.
Joe: Your brain has not only been washed, it has been dry-cleaned

Dirty Low Down Spade
A weak player hires John to be his partner in a high stakes game. The weak player leads the SK and John has the S 10 9 8. John knows that if he plays the 8 his partner will think it is a high card and will continue the suit, which will be awful. So what to do?
He pulls out the S8, purposely drops it under the table and spends a long time trying to fish it out. Finally his partner asks him what he is looking for. John replies; Oh nothing, I just dropped a low spade."

Mumbo Jumbo
“As I was saying,” the Bridge Instructor continued, “the working ruffing finesse can be viewed as a simple Morton Coup which allows the declarer to trump or sluff if the opponent covers or else discard a loser if he doesn’t. There are also en passant possibilities.”
The instructor noticed that one student of his class was not taking notes. When asked why, he replied
“Well, I am waiting until you start speaking English”

Vile Reptile
After watching “Jurassic Park”, Jane asked Sue if she thought whether a T. Rex dinosaur could be cloned.
“What do you mean by “could be”. Have you seen my bridge partner?”

Equality
Ms. Bertha never partners men, as she firmly believes that all men were created equal. Equally incompetent, that is.

Invisible Clues
“There are no blind opening leads, only deaf bridge players”
– Old bridge adage.

How’s That Again?
After Sam led a Diamond 7, declarer asked his partner what kind of leads they play.
Joe answered “His lead could be a fourth best from the middle of a top of nothing.”

How’s That Again?
My Partner bid a “lead directing” Double to tell himself what to lead.

Daffy-nit-shuns -- Gerber Convention
Gerber Convention — annual meeting of baby-food manufacturers

Daffy-nit-shuns -- Short Club
Short Club — a private organization for midgets

Right or Wrong Rule?
Remember the guy who led the 8 from 98 doubleton because his teacher told him "eight ever, nine never."



Most Important Factor to Win a Tournament
It was unanimously agreed among all the top bridge players that the most important factor to win a tournament is to show up.


It's All Relative
While a bridge tournament was going on, Satan suddenly appears! Everyone starts screaming and running for the front entrance, trampling each other in their determined efforts to get away from Evil Incarnate.

Soon, everyone is evacuated from the bridge club except for one man, who sit calmly in his chair, seemingly oblivious to the fact that God's ultimate enemy is in his presence. This confuses Satan a bit.

Satan walks up to the man and says, "Hey, don't you know who I am?"
The man says, "Yep, sure do."
Satan says, "Well, aren't you afraid of me?"
The man says, "Nope, sure ain't."
Satan, perturbed, says, "And why aren't you afraid of me?"
"Well, I've been partnering to your sister for 25 years."


What a Downer!
My wife made me join a bridge club. I jump off next Tuesday.
- Rodney Dangerfield


Make It Easy
Regardless of what sadistic impulses we may harbor, winning bridge means helping partner avoid mistakes.
Frank Stewart


Bridge Dikshunairy " Bozone
Bozone (n.): The substance surrounding bridge players that stops bright ideas from penetrating. Unlike the Ozone layer, the Bozone layer shows no sign of weakening.


Better You than Me
Learn from the mistakes of others. You won't live long enough to make them all yourself.
- Alfred Sheinwold


Reaching Your Potential
The difference between genius and stupidity at bridge is that genius has its limits.


Spouse Grouse
If you play bridge with your wife as a partner you need at least 20 points to open the bidding and it wouldn't hurt to have 25.
- Joe James


Bitter Half
When arguing while partnering their spouse, most men view it as a matter of wife or deaf.

Daffy-nit-shuns
Takeout Double "the one that your partner passes.


Bridge Movies
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" Singapore's chance of winning the Bermuda Bowl World Championship.


Important Bridge Rules
Rule of Eleven

the inevitable trick total whenever you bid a slam.


Brain Pain
Bridge is a self-inflicted punishment for people with too much time and intelligence.


Sign that You are a Bridge Addict
Your idea of a good time on a beautiful weekend is to go indoors and play.


Why Bridge is Better
You can stop in the middle and have a burger and a couple of beers.


The Gum Wrapper Coup
Not many books will tell you the secret of the "Gum Wrapper Coup" but "THE GRANDSLAM" will enlighten you -- whether you like it or not.

This is how it works. The bidding is complete and it is your crucial opening lead. You look at your cards intently (for effect, of course) then look at the ceiling (for inspiration, of course), then you slowly unwrap the paper of your Wrigley's (to eat, of course) and delicately place it in your mouth (the gum, not the wrapper, stupid).

By now your opponents must be really annoyed at your time wasting tactics and the dummy is itching to put down his cards and go to the loo. When you feel that the opponents are ready to call in the director, you slam the flattened Gum Wrapper from under your palm on to the table.

If all goes according to plan, dummy will immediately lay down the cards. By the time he realizes his mistake, you have already glanced at the cards and are ready with the killing opening lead.

The "gum wrapper" coup was said to have been invented by David Burnstine in the 1930s and the first victim was none other than the great Ely Culbertson.

THE GRANDSLAM takes no responsibility for the accuracy of the story and is not responsible for any grievous bodily harm that might result from the execution of the coup.



Death Wish
I want to die before my wife. If she goes up there ahead of me and tells everybody about all my bridge mistakes, I will never get a decent partner.



I Just Don't Get No Respect
In the last issue of Grandslam, readers were told about the ability of P. Hal Sims to locate the Queen in a 2-way finesse. Well, aside from his body language reading ability, he was also a partner that appears in your worst nightmare.

According to legend, he once partnered B. Jay Becker, the world-renowned bridge master who represented the USA many times in his illustrious career. Nevertheless, that did not restrain Sims. For an alleged mistake during a tournament, he roared "Becker, you idiot, you nincompoop, you dunderhead…"

Becker took him aside and said "Mr. Sims, if we are going to have a successful partnership you'll have to treat me with more respect."

Sims cooled down after this. Later in the match Sims once again felt that Becker made a mistake. Remembering to treat Becker with more respect, he chose his words carefully, "MISTER Becker, you idiot, you nincompoop, you dunderhead…"

Ever since that incident, Becker has always been called Mr. Becker.



Murphy's Laws of Bridge Opponents –by inzane
1. No matter how badly your opponents bid, they will always end up in the correct contract.

2. No matter how badly your opponents play, you will hold the exact cards and distribution to allow them to make.


A Full Circle
A bridge expert smiles with approval as he watches others commit the same mistakes as he used to make in order to become an expert.

Eternity
Eternity is hard to conceive unless you are partnering a novice in a tournament.

As Tears Go By
A certain lady who plays bridge wears contact lenses that often requires lubrication. She asked her friend, who also wears contact lenses, how she handles it.

"As you know" her friend said, "there is no time to go to the ladies and apply eye-drops during the game. So I try to cry to lubricate my eyes."

"And how do you manage to do that?"

"Easy! I just think about my partner's mistakes."



Emergency Escape
A doctor answered the phone at his home and heard the familiar voice of a colleague on the other end of the line.

"We need a fourth for bridge," said the friend.

"I'll be right over," whispered the doctor.

As he was putting on his coat, his wife asked, "Is it serious?"

"Oh yes, quite serious," said the doctor gravely. "There are three doctors there already!"



Exterior Motives
There was a heavy snowfall that evening and the bridge club was not expecting many people to brave the storm to attend their weekly bridge game. Finally 2 unshaven guys with tattoos walk in.

"For you guys to show up in this weather, you must really love the game" the convenor said.

"Nah, I just wanted to try out my 4-wheel drive truck under extreme conditions" the guy replies.



Modern Bridge

My partner is 20 years behind the times. Nowadays you just need 13 cards to bid. My partner still thinks you need high cards to open bid.


Beat That!
Two wives were discussing how badly their respective husbands play.

The first wife says, "Just let me tell you what happened last night. My husband was playing 7NT with 12 top tricks and he needed a spade finesse for 13. Dummy had the AQ of spades and the King was onside. So, what do you think the idiot did? He took the first 11 tricks and ended up in DUMMY. Now he played the Queen from the dummy at trick twelve!"

"So what's so bad about that?" says wife number two "My moron husband would have ducked his Queen!"



Following the Rules
Did you hear about the guy who led the 8 from 98 doubleton because his teacher told him "eight ever, nine never."



Final Bid?
When Oswald Jacoby was in his eighties, he bid every time it was his turn. When his partner asked why, he said: "At my age the bidding may not get back around to me again!"


Bridge Equipment

Asked why he does not play bridge with his wife anymore, the husband replied "I refuse to play in any game that requires earmuff and shin guards."



Daffy-nit-shuns
Doubleton — 4,000 pounds



Daffy-nit-shuns
Roman Key-Card Blackwood — an ingenious convention that allows you to get to a grand slam missing 3 Aces.

Losing Combination
A man was walking down the street when a particularly dirty, half-naked and shabby-looking homeless man asked him for a couple of dollars for dinner.
The man took out his wallet, extracted ten dollars and asked, "If I give you this money, will you buy some beer with it?"
"No, I stopped drinking years ago," the homeless man replied.
"Will you use it to buy cigarettes instead of buying food?" the man asked.
"No, I stopped smoking decades ago" the homeless man replied. "I need every cent I can get just to stay alive."
"Will you spend the money on a woman in the red light district instead
of food?" the man asked.
"Why should I risk getting a disease for a cheap thrill?" exclaimed the homeless man.
"Will you spend this on playing Bridge instead of food?" the man asked.
"Are you NUTS!" replied the homeless man. "I haven't played bridge in 20 years!"
"Well," said the man, "I'm not going to give you the money. Instead,
I'm going to take you home for a terrific dinner cooked by my wife."

The homeless man was astounded.
"Won't your wife be furious with you for doing that? I know I'm dirty,
and I probably smell pretty disgusting."
The man replied, "That's okay. I just want her to see what a man looks
like who's given up beer, smoking, sex and bridge."



Bridge Book for Losers
Now a Bridge book to end all Bridge books – "Zen and the art of Losing at Bridge". It contains some really good and useful advice and articles like :-

1. How to go Down with a Smile.
2. How to Duck the Left Hook from your Partner.
3. How to Accidentally Overturn the Bridge Table when the Contract is Doomed.
4. Proper Etiquette when you are partnering a complete Jerk.
5. Instant Meditation when your partner stars to cry or complain.
6. How to Rationalize Wasting 10 or more hours a week on Bridge.
7. Why so few Bridge Players have a Life.
8. Why your wife no longer cares how you made the Slam.
9. Why having a Thick Skin is better than trying to Improve.
10. How to relax when your partner asks what the Trump Suit is halfway through the Game.



How's that Again?
People who complain about bad luck in Bridge can be divided into 2 groups – men and women.



Reverse Logic
Her partner was furious when she was late for the bridge game.

"Can't you see the heavy rain and strong winds?" she explained "I take one step forward and I slip two steps backwards."

"Nonsense" her partner replied "then how did you ever get here?"

"I turned around and started walking home



How True
How is it possible that a person will play flawlessly when he is the opposition and senselessly when he is your partner?



Burns With Smoke
The late George Burns, the cigar smoking actor & comedian, often played Bridge at a club outside Los Angeles. One day when he was 95 and puffing away at the bridge table he saw a new "No Smoking" sign. As expected, he made his usual fuss. When he arrived the next day, he was pleased to see the sign modified to "No Smoking except those over 90"



Great Expectations
Just after his partner successfully bid and made 7NT, Sam commented "That was ok, but I would have made an overtrick"



Words to Regret
Of all the words spoken on the bridge table, the most frequent has to be "If only…"



Reverse Dummy
A middle-aged man has a bridge session every Saturday morning and comes home at about 2pm. One Saturday, he came home at 8pm and his wife was furious.

"I was on my way home" he explained "when I saw this young woman on the side of the road trying to repair a flat tire. I helped her to change it and one thing led to another and we ended up spending the afternoon in a motel. I am sorry and it won't happen again."


"Bullshit" she shouted, "You played bridge in the afternoon as well, didn't you?"



Handicap Pairs
Blind people have special Braille cards that have embossed numbers and pictures so that they can be identified by touch. Although the bridge game goes pretty slow, at a recent competition the totally blind pair of Stevie Wonder and Helen Keller beat all the world champions like Bob Hamman, Zia Mahmood and others. The winning pair was not given any handicap except one.

The game was played at night without lights!



Intellectual Levels?

Last week I took my son to the Science Center and I was fascinated by the on-line Quiz questions asked by the computer.

My son clicked on the "Genius Level" and out poured questions on quantum mechanics and relativity. We were dumbfounded and quickly clicked the "Average Level". We managed to answer a few of the questions that the computer threw at us on basic Science..

Before leaving, curiosity got the better of me and I decided to click the "Idiot Level".

I had to quickly dragged my son away from the computer. It was spewing out Bridge puzzles!



Daffy-nit-shuns – Splinter Bid
Splinter Bid — the only known way to become declarer in a slam contract with a singleton trump in your hand

Its All Relative

While a bridge tournament was going on, Satan suddenly appears! Everyone starts screaming and running for the front entrance, trampling each other in their determined efforts to get away from Evil Incarnate.

Soon, everyone is evacuated from the bridge club except for one man, who sit calmly in his chair, seemingly oblivious to the fact that God's ultimate enemy is in his presence. This confuses Satan a bit.


Satan walks up to the man and says, "Hey, don't you know who I am?"
The man says, "Yep, sure do."
Satan says, "Well, aren't you afraid of me?"
The man says, "Nope, sure ain't."
Satan, perturbed, says, "And why aren't you afraid of me?"
"Well, I've been partnering to your sister for 25 years."

What a Downer!
My wife made me join a bridge club. I jump off next Tuesday.
- Rodney Dangerfield


Make It Easy
Regardless of what sadistic impulses we may harbor, winning bridge means helping partner avoid mistakes.
Frank Stewart


Bridge Dikshunairy : Bozone

Bozone (n.): The substance surrounding bridge players that stops bright ideas from penetrating. Unlike the Ozone layer, the Bozone layer shows no sign of weakening.


Better You than Me

Learn from the mistakes of others. You won't live long enough to make them all yourself.
- Alfred Sheinwold

Reaching Your Potential
The difference between genius and stupidity at bridge is that genius has its limits.

Spouse Grouse
If you play bridge with your wife as a partner you need at least 20 points to open the bidding and it wouldn't hurt to have 25.

- Joe James

Bitter Half
When arguing while partnering their spouse, most men view it as a matter of wife or deaf.

Daffy-nit-shuns
Takeout Double
: the one that your partner passes.

Bridge Movies
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea " Singapore's chance of winning the Bermuda Bowl World Championship.

Important Bridge Rules
Rule of Eleven " the inevitable trick total whenever you bid a slam.

Brain Pain
Bridge is a self-inflicted punishment for people with too much time and intelligence.

Sign that You are a Bridge Addict
Your idea of a good time on a beautiful weekend is to go indoors and play.


Why Bridge is Better
You can stop in the middle and have a burger and a couple of beers.