- Bob Hamman
- Zia
- Mike Lawrence
- John Swanson
Wednesday, 30 July 2008
No more heroes any more
The Stranglers were wrong and Sam was out to prove it in Vegas. She played against many of her heroes, including:
Monday, 28 July 2008
What happens in Vegas ...
... apparently gets put on the web.
So our sojourn is over and we are flying home tomorrow. Well, all apart from Sam and Stephen who will be sight-seeing for a few days - given they have not left the hotel yet I think they should suffer the heat as the rest of us have.
Next year the Summer NABC will be in Washington, DC. Alex and I played the last Summer Nationals there and expect to be back, hopefully with the others in tow.
Meanwhile, it will be back to normal life again ... in a normal place.
So our sojourn is over and we are flying home tomorrow. Well, all apart from Sam and Stephen who will be sight-seeing for a few days - given they have not left the hotel yet I think they should suffer the heat as the rest of us have.
Next year the Summer NABC will be in Washington, DC. Alex and I played the last Summer Nationals there and expect to be back, hopefully with the others in tow.
Meanwhile, it will be back to normal life again ... in a normal place.
Sunday, 27 July 2008
By the skin of our teeth
The basketball was fun but seemed a little unfair - it seemed that the Americans were allowed underneath the basket and not the Canadians.
While we were watching, Sam and Stephen played with their mixed BAM team mates in the "Thank God It's Friday" compact bracket knockout. They won all four matches to take the (bracket IV) title! Well done, and another mug and, apparently more importantly, more chocolate.
Yesterday we played in the qualifying round of the Open Swiss Teams. We won our first three matches but suffered heavy defeats in the next three (which, annoyingly were against easier teams). However a 20-0 blitz got us back into contention and just needed 6 VPs from our last round to qualify.
Two (admittedly) poor doubles of making game contracts led to a 5-15 VP loss, leaving us on 80 VPs ... average for the event. We then had a 30 minute wait and discovered that there were five teams on 80, two of which would qualify. The first tie breaker was win/loss record, but all five were 4/4. Then it was total VPs of the teams you played in the evening - our early good record paid off here, as we played better teams, so qualified for the final today.
In our first two matches we have scored 21/40 VPs. Natch we had zero carryover!
While we were watching, Sam and Stephen played with their mixed BAM team mates in the "Thank God It's Friday" compact bracket knockout. They won all four matches to take the (bracket IV) title! Well done, and another mug and, apparently more importantly, more chocolate.
Yesterday we played in the qualifying round of the Open Swiss Teams. We won our first three matches but suffered heavy defeats in the next three (which, annoyingly were against easier teams). However a 20-0 blitz got us back into contention and just needed 6 VPs from our last round to qualify.
Two (admittedly) poor doubles of making game contracts led to a 5-15 VP loss, leaving us on 80 VPs ... average for the event. We then had a 30 minute wait and discovered that there were five teams on 80, two of which would qualify. The first tie breaker was win/loss record, but all five were 4/4. Then it was total VPs of the teams you played in the evening - our early good record paid off here, as we played better teams, so qualified for the final today.
In our first two matches we have scored 21/40 VPs. Natch we had zero carryover!
Friday, 25 July 2008
Poker update
As Sam and Stephen narrowly failed to qualify for the Mixed BAM final, and there was nothing noteworthy of my play with Alan, here is the poker update.
Alex and Dee both played a no-limit hold'em tournament. There were about 50 players. Apparently they were level in chips every time they checked (as they had a $5 side bet).
In the end Alex went out in 20th position. He went all-in with three 10s but lost to a flush.
Dee went out in 17th. His disaster was going all-in with AQ suited against a pair of 9s - a 'coin flip' hand but unfortunately the pair stood up.
Alex and Dee both played a no-limit hold'em tournament. There were about 50 players. Apparently they were level in chips every time they checked (as they had a $5 side bet).
In the end Alex went out in 20th position. He went all-in with three 10s but lost to a flush.
Dee went out in 17th. His disaster was going all-in with AQ suited against a pair of 9s - a 'coin flip' hand but unfortunately the pair stood up.
Thursday, 24 July 2008
Another day in Vegas - eat, play bridge, drink
We all felt a little tired on Tuesday. Presumably we would not have stayed up at the bar so late if we actually had to play the second round of the Spingold.
We split up the team with four of us playing a KO bracket and Sam/Stephen played the Werner Open Pairs. I did not have high hopes as we were in the top bracket but we drew Malcolm Harris' team (a UK tournament pair) that we would expect to do, and duly did.
In the evening quarter final we played a reasonable team and beat them comfortably. So, despite the general feeling of anti-climax, we did get the job done.
The same was true for Sam and Stephen, whose 56% in the first session was the basis for a mid-table qualification spot for the final of the pairs on the following day.
Yesterday we played a top team in the semi-final of the bracket. We did not play well in the first half but were still leading just six boards from the end - they then bid three very poor games, two of which were doubled, but they all made and we were out. We took the evening off.
Sam and Stephen had a poor first session in the pairs final, but 62% got them a section top in the evening and back to some degree of respectability. They will be getting the section top prize of a mug and chocolate!
Most of us are relaxing for a couple of days before the Open Swiss at the weekend. Dee and Alex are playing in a no-limit texas hold'em poker tournament this afternoon, Sam and Stephen are hoping to play in the Mixed BAM and Alan and I will probably play some pairs.
Tomorrow four of us are going to watch the USA Olympic Basketball team have its first practice match against Canada. ESPN, the sports channel, was saying that they have the best basketball players in the world, but that does not make a team. Expectations are high (stratospheric) and the team is really expected to deliver after not getting the gold in the last two (?) games.
We split up the team with four of us playing a KO bracket and Sam/Stephen played the Werner Open Pairs. I did not have high hopes as we were in the top bracket but we drew Malcolm Harris' team (a UK tournament pair) that we would expect to do, and duly did.
In the evening quarter final we played a reasonable team and beat them comfortably. So, despite the general feeling of anti-climax, we did get the job done.
The same was true for Sam and Stephen, whose 56% in the first session was the basis for a mid-table qualification spot for the final of the pairs on the following day.
Yesterday we played a top team in the semi-final of the bracket. We did not play well in the first half but were still leading just six boards from the end - they then bid three very poor games, two of which were doubled, but they all made and we were out. We took the evening off.
Sam and Stephen had a poor first session in the pairs final, but 62% got them a section top in the evening and back to some degree of respectability. They will be getting the section top prize of a mug and chocolate!
Most of us are relaxing for a couple of days before the Open Swiss at the weekend. Dee and Alex are playing in a no-limit texas hold'em poker tournament this afternoon, Sam and Stephen are hoping to play in the Mixed BAM and Alan and I will probably play some pairs.
Tomorrow four of us are going to watch the USA Olympic Basketball team have its first practice match against Canada. ESPN, the sports channel, was saying that they have the best basketball players in the world, but that does not make a team. Expectations are high (stratospheric) and the team is really expected to deliver after not getting the gold in the last two (?) games.
Tuesday, 22 July 2008
Second half
The big four sat down for the third set. They would play against Meckwell and Zia/Hamman.
Sam and Stephen continued against Zia and they had a huge card. Stephen's minor suit pre-empts really put them under pressure, especially as they always seemed to have a 4-card major side suit and once it was a 5-card major on the side! As these continued to work Zia leaned over to Sam and said, "Please ask your partner to stop pre-empting!".
Dee and Alan continued their excellent form against Meckwell and we won the set by 14 IMPs to be trailing by 19 IMPs (83-102) going into the last set.
Alex and I came back in to play Zia and Hamman, leaving Dee and Alan to finish off against Meckwell. We continued to play well and tied the final set 40-40.
The final result was 123-142 IMPs.
As the Daily Bulletin says, we gave them a real scare. The Nickell team was very gracious in victory but they had this air of disbelief that it was so close. As you get no seeding points for losing we may be in the same position next time!
For our team, I thought the superstars were Alan and Dee. They played all their 48 boards against the toughest pair in the world and came out even. They put them under constant pressure right to the very last board. A tremendous performance.
Sam and Stephen are our newest partnership. They were disappointed by a couple of mistakes in the second set but bounced back terrifically to give us a real chance. Other pairs could easily have folded against such a team and it is an experience that will stand them in good stead.
Alex and I played fine. We made a couple of defensive mistakes but generally played aggressively throughout and made them make errors too.
Overall I was pleased at how the entire team consistently put Nickell under pressure. They won't forget us in a hurry.
Sam and Stephen continued against Zia and they had a huge card. Stephen's minor suit pre-empts really put them under pressure, especially as they always seemed to have a 4-card major side suit and once it was a 5-card major on the side! As these continued to work Zia leaned over to Sam and said, "Please ask your partner to stop pre-empting!".
Dee and Alan continued their excellent form against Meckwell and we won the set by 14 IMPs to be trailing by 19 IMPs (83-102) going into the last set.
Alex and I came back in to play Zia and Hamman, leaving Dee and Alan to finish off against Meckwell. We continued to play well and tied the final set 40-40.
The final result was 123-142 IMPs.
As the Daily Bulletin says, we gave them a real scare. The Nickell team was very gracious in victory but they had this air of disbelief that it was so close. As you get no seeding points for losing we may be in the same position next time!
For our team, I thought the superstars were Alan and Dee. They played all their 48 boards against the toughest pair in the world and came out even. They put them under constant pressure right to the very last board. A tremendous performance.
Sam and Stephen are our newest partnership. They were disappointed by a couple of mistakes in the second set but bounced back terrifically to give us a real chance. Other pairs could easily have folded against such a team and it is an experience that will stand them in good stead.
Alex and I played fine. We made a couple of defensive mistakes but generally played aggressively throughout and made them make errors too.
Overall I was pleased at how the entire team consistently put Nickell under pressure. They won't forget us in a hurry.
We should not have to play you in the round of 106
We lost by 19 IMPs. The big guns were in for the last two sets.
There was a lead (against a slam) to beat the Nickell team (that would have swung 21 IMPs), so we are disappointed not to win but still pretty hyper at putting up such a good show. Has a Scottish (Anglo-Scottish says Alex) team played better this year?
More later today after some sleep, but Rodwell paid us the biggest compliment, "We should not have to play you in this round!"
Goodnight.
There was a lead (against a slam) to beat the Nickell team (that would have swung 21 IMPs), so we are disappointed not to win but still pretty hyper at putting up such a good show. Has a Scottish (Anglo-Scottish says Alex) team played better this year?
More later today after some sleep, but Rodwell paid us the biggest compliment, "We should not have to play you in this round!"
Goodnight.
Half-time update
Just a brief update as I'm supposed to be resting.
Nickell waived his seating rights (as the higher seed) and let us choose for sets 1 and 4. I put Alan and Dee against Meckwell while Alex and I took on Nickell and Freeman.
Alex and I lost -500 in 3NT doubled to lose 7 IMPs when the double was a lot less clear in the other room (Alan opened a hand that Nickell passed, so he could make a double with his maximum whereas Alan was minimum for his actions) - essentially normal actions happened to work out poorly. We gained two game swings (one where Alex may have 'outplayed' Rodwell) but we lost two part score swings and we bid a failing game (on a simple finesse) missed by Meckwell to finish down by 5 IMPs after the first set 23-28 IMPs.
For the second set, Alex and I stayed against Nickell and Freeman with Sam and Stephen coming in against Hamman and Zia. Small errors in defence proved expensive as we lost a couple of game swings, and poor slams by both teams swung IMPs in both directions, but we ended up losing the set by 28 IMPs.
So we are down by 33 IMPs (42-75 IMPs) at the half.
Alex and I sit out the next set.
More later, perhap in the morning!
Nickell waived his seating rights (as the higher seed) and let us choose for sets 1 and 4. I put Alan and Dee against Meckwell while Alex and I took on Nickell and Freeman.
Alex and I lost -500 in 3NT doubled to lose 7 IMPs when the double was a lot less clear in the other room (Alan opened a hand that Nickell passed, so he could make a double with his maximum whereas Alan was minimum for his actions) - essentially normal actions happened to work out poorly. We gained two game swings (one where Alex may have 'outplayed' Rodwell) but we lost two part score swings and we bid a failing game (on a simple finesse) missed by Meckwell to finish down by 5 IMPs after the first set 23-28 IMPs.
For the second set, Alex and I stayed against Nickell and Freeman with Sam and Stephen coming in against Hamman and Zia. Small errors in defence proved expensive as we lost a couple of game swings, and poor slams by both teams swung IMPs in both directions, but we ended up losing the set by 28 IMPs.
So we are down by 33 IMPs (42-75 IMPs) at the half.
Alex and I sit out the next set.
More later, perhap in the morning!
Monday, 21 July 2008
Acclimatisation
Actually I don’t think that I will ever get used to Las Vegas, but I’ve only been here a couple of days and have yet to leave the hotel!
We did not arrive together. Alan and Dee got here on Thursday with a largely trouble-free journey. Sam and Stephen were due to get here on Thursday too, but a 5-hour delay meant that it was 2am on Friday before they got to the hotel. Alex arrived on schedule on Friday afternoon but it was 11pm before I got here after weather delays closed Chicago O’Hare airport.
The late arrival was worst for Sam and Stephen as they were playing in the Life Master Pairs on Friday. A poor first session left them a little too much to do but infuriatingly a good evening performance left them only 13 matchpoints off qualifying for the semi-final.
Han, who we played with on previous trips, and Arend (cherdano on BBO) also had a 40% game in the first LM Pairs sessions, but 67% got them into the semi-final. They had another huge game in the first semi-final session and eventually qualified in 25th position for the final. A sound performance saw them finish in an extremely creditable 30th place.
Alan and Dee played the Open Pairs on Friday, their first exposure to US bridge. They had a reasonable game without showing in the places.
Update: Apologies to Alan and Dee as they actually came second with 59.6% in the evening session, although they did not place in the overalls.
Sam and Stephen’s failure to qualify meant that we were a team of six for the weekend. Rather than have a pair sitting out, Alex and I found Judi and Sharon, who’d we’d played with on previous trips, so that we would have two teams in the knockout bracket teams. Unfortunately after the first match we then had no teams in the (same) bracket, so we all played in the single session Swiss in the evening.
Sunday should be the finals of the KO brackets, but otherwise there is a two session Swiss teams. We changed the teams around, Sam and Stephen now playing with ‘our girls’, but no-one was particularly successful. With Alan and Dee we climbed to just above average in the evening but the bridge was unspectacular.
So this afternoon the Spingold starts. In the past we’ve failed to get past the first day even though Alex and I have played reasonably well. Our previous performances, plus having three unknown aliens in the team, lets us be the #106 seeds!
This year we are up against a team with a new partnership, as it is the first major test for Zia and Hamman. We’ll see whether they need Meckwell and Nickell/Freeman to pull them through or perhaps we can cause the biggest upset in the history of the tournament. At least we know them better than they know us!
Result tomorrow.
We did not arrive together. Alan and Dee got here on Thursday with a largely trouble-free journey. Sam and Stephen were due to get here on Thursday too, but a 5-hour delay meant that it was 2am on Friday before they got to the hotel. Alex arrived on schedule on Friday afternoon but it was 11pm before I got here after weather delays closed Chicago O’Hare airport.
The late arrival was worst for Sam and Stephen as they were playing in the Life Master Pairs on Friday. A poor first session left them a little too much to do but infuriatingly a good evening performance left them only 13 matchpoints off qualifying for the semi-final.
Han, who we played with on previous trips, and Arend (cherdano on BBO) also had a 40% game in the first LM Pairs sessions, but 67% got them into the semi-final. They had another huge game in the first semi-final session and eventually qualified in 25th position for the final. A sound performance saw them finish in an extremely creditable 30th place.
Alan and Dee played the Open Pairs on Friday, their first exposure to US bridge. They had a reasonable game without showing in the places.
Update: Apologies to Alan and Dee as they actually came second with 59.6% in the evening session, although they did not place in the overalls.
Sam and Stephen’s failure to qualify meant that we were a team of six for the weekend. Rather than have a pair sitting out, Alex and I found Judi and Sharon, who’d we’d played with on previous trips, so that we would have two teams in the knockout bracket teams. Unfortunately after the first match we then had no teams in the (same) bracket, so we all played in the single session Swiss in the evening.
Sunday should be the finals of the KO brackets, but otherwise there is a two session Swiss teams. We changed the teams around, Sam and Stephen now playing with ‘our girls’, but no-one was particularly successful. With Alan and Dee we climbed to just above average in the evening but the bridge was unspectacular.
So this afternoon the Spingold starts. In the past we’ve failed to get past the first day even though Alex and I have played reasonably well. Our previous performances, plus having three unknown aliens in the team, lets us be the #106 seeds!
This year we are up against a team with a new partnership, as it is the first major test for Zia and Hamman. We’ll see whether they need Meckwell and Nickell/Freeman to pull them through or perhaps we can cause the biggest upset in the history of the tournament. At least we know them better than they know us!
Result tomorrow.
Wednesday, 16 July 2008
It's going to be hot!
Sam, Stephen, Alan and Dee fly off to Las Vegas tomorrow. Alex and I will join them on Friday ... sometime ... for our annual trip to the Summer Nationals. It is expected to be the largest NABC on record (unless the credit crunch and the Freddie and Fannie situation keeps some folks at home).
Sam and Stephen are playing the Life Master Pairs starting on Friday. Hopefully they will qualify for the Saturday semi-final as that will leave the rest of us as a team of four for the first bracket ko. If they do not qualify then we'll try and find a fourth pair for the weekend.
On Monday we will play the first round of the Spingold and continue in this event until KO-ed. Our record in this event is not good. We will be in the bottom set of seeds but we'd like to get through the first couple of days.
After the Spingold we will probably play some more KO teams.
Alex and I will not play the NABC+ Fast Pairs on Thursday/Friday but there is a fair chance that the others will. It is one of the major events at the Summer Nationals. Sam (and Diana) played in it last year, so it is clearly not that fast!
On Saturday/Sunday we will play the North American Open Swiss Teams.
You can follow our progress here, when I get time, and also through the Daily Bulletins.
Sam and Stephen are playing the Life Master Pairs starting on Friday. Hopefully they will qualify for the Saturday semi-final as that will leave the rest of us as a team of four for the first bracket ko. If they do not qualify then we'll try and find a fourth pair for the weekend.
On Monday we will play the first round of the Spingold and continue in this event until KO-ed. Our record in this event is not good. We will be in the bottom set of seeds but we'd like to get through the first couple of days.
After the Spingold we will probably play some more KO teams.
Alex and I will not play the NABC+ Fast Pairs on Thursday/Friday but there is a fair chance that the others will. It is one of the major events at the Summer Nationals. Sam (and Diana) played in it last year, so it is clearly not that fast!
On Saturday/Sunday we will play the North American Open Swiss Teams.
You can follow our progress here, when I get time, and also through the Daily Bulletins.
Thursday, 10 July 2008
Defending while bidding (repeat viewing)
Last week, Linda Lee wrote about 'Defending while bidding' on her blog.
I had my own example on Tuesday.
The first three bids were fast but then North slowed to a snail's pace. When North eventually bid 2♠ it was pretty clear that he did not have a four-card suit, and so there was no ambiguity when he bid 4♥. North should really plan his bidding before making his first call to avoid the ethical problems that he created.
Anyhow, it seemed pretty clear to lead a spade, with the objective of winning the first trump and giving partner a spade ruff. Dummy hit with the expected ♠AQx and my plan worked, eventually beating the contract by a trick for a top score.
Careless talk costs tricks.
Update: Fiona is perhaps too modest to point out that she doubled the contract after the same auction to outscore us. Luckily Iain, her partner, has pointed it out.
I had my own example on Tuesday.
|
| West | North | East | South |
| Paul | Mike | ||
| 1♥ | |||
| p | 2♦ | p | 2♥ |
| p | 2♠ | p | 3♠ |
| p | 4♥ | p | p |
| p |
The first three bids were fast but then North slowed to a snail's pace. When North eventually bid 2♠ it was pretty clear that he did not have a four-card suit, and so there was no ambiguity when he bid 4♥. North should really plan his bidding before making his first call to avoid the ethical problems that he created.
Anyhow, it seemed pretty clear to lead a spade, with the objective of winning the first trump and giving partner a spade ruff. Dummy hit with the expected ♠AQx and my plan worked, eventually beating the contract by a trick for a top score.
Careless talk costs tricks.
Update: Fiona is perhaps too modest to point out that she doubled the contract after the same auction to outscore us. Luckily Iain, her partner, has pointed it out.
More transfers?
A problem hand in (our) 2/1 system is an invitational hand with six hearts after partner opens 1♠.
Last weekend we decided to invert the 2♦ and 2♥ responses to alleviate this problem. This means the 2♦ response show invitational values or better with hearts. Nick and Richard, our Brighton team mates, do this and use the Bocchi-Duboin methods, but we started with simpler continuations.
We then spent some time in the BBO Partnership Bidding area testing this all. What a disaster! We couldn't cope even with the hands that it was designed to solve, but the bigger issue was that we found that the method removed significant room from other auctions and we struggled to limit either hand (a typical 2/1 problem).
Bocchi-Duboin play quite complex methods and it seems those are needed, but we decided that the benefits were not worth the amount of learning required.
So we've gone for a simpler solution. 1♠ - 3♥ will show 6 hearts and invitational values (9-11 HCP, no spade support).
Of course this impacts the rest of our major suit response structure and, to maintain consistency, we decided to junk the Jacoby 2NT response. We haven't used this since we introduced the artificial 2♣ response so it is no great loss. 2NT will now be used to show 10-12 HCP, 4-card support and a singleton somewhere.
Last weekend we decided to invert the 2♦ and 2♥ responses to alleviate this problem. This means the 2♦ response show invitational values or better with hearts. Nick and Richard, our Brighton team mates, do this and use the Bocchi-Duboin methods, but we started with simpler continuations.
We then spent some time in the BBO Partnership Bidding area testing this all. What a disaster! We couldn't cope even with the hands that it was designed to solve, but the bigger issue was that we found that the method removed significant room from other auctions and we struggled to limit either hand (a typical 2/1 problem).
Bocchi-Duboin play quite complex methods and it seems those are needed, but we decided that the benefits were not worth the amount of learning required.
So we've gone for a simpler solution. 1♠ - 3♥ will show 6 hearts and invitational values (9-11 HCP, no spade support).
Of course this impacts the rest of our major suit response structure and, to maintain consistency, we decided to junk the Jacoby 2NT response. We haven't used this since we introduced the artificial 2♣ response so it is no great loss. 2NT will now be used to show 10-12 HCP, 4-card support and a singleton somewhere.
Wednesday, 9 July 2008
Mash up
I played with Mike in the Russell Cup last night. We will be team mates next season but it was the first time we've played together and we had a reasonable session. I missed a couple of tight 'matchpoint' doubles, took an obscure line in a 3NT and we both probably overbid on the same, but we defended well and finished fourth.
We didn't bid the following slam:
Possibly I should bid 4♥ at my second turn but it is a perfect fit slam, needing either the ♣A onside or a 3-3 diamond break (and no 4-0 spades). Unsurprisingly we scored average for making twelve tricks.
The other auction that we discussed at the end was:
We bid in the context of a 5-card major, strong notrump system where 1NT is non-forcing. How would you play the 3♥ bid?
We didn't bid the following slam:
|
|
| West | North | East | South |
| Mike | Paul | ||
| 1♣ | p | 1♠ | p |
| 3♠ | p | 4♠ | p |
| p | p |
Possibly I should bid 4♥ at my second turn but it is a perfect fit slam, needing either the ♣A onside or a 3-3 diamond break (and no 4-0 spades). Unsurprisingly we scored average for making twelve tricks.
The other auction that we discussed at the end was:
| West | North | East | South |
| 1♥ | p | 1NT | p |
| 2NT | p | 3♥ |
We bid in the context of a 5-card major, strong notrump system where 1NT is non-forcing. How would you play the 3♥ bid?
Monday, 7 July 2008
Happier Times
As regular readers may recall, this time last year we took a couple of Scottish lasses to Nashville as part of their final "we're breaking up because she is going to Kazakhstan" tour.
Diana returned in May to get married. I missed the wedding due to a bridge match, naturally the only acceptable excuse, but Sam has sent out some photos from the day.
Diana and Ngumo are now back home presumably enjoying the hot summer months. And thinking about cleaning their generator.
Diana returned in May to get married. I missed the wedding due to a bridge match, naturally the only acceptable excuse, but Sam has sent out some photos from the day.
Diana and Ngumo are now back home presumably enjoying the hot summer months. And thinking about cleaning their generator.
Friday, 4 July 2008
Sad news
The EBU has reported the terribly sad news that John Armstrong has passed away suddenly. Tributes are already pouring in and some can be seen in this thread on the BBO Forums. There will be more on the EBU site later.
Roland Wald summed it up well for me, "That is indeed sad news. I first met John Armstrong when he started playing with Graham Kirby in the late 70's. He did not change one bit over the years. A great player, a dream partner, a loyal team-mate, and a wonderful opponent! A true English gentleman in all respects."
RIP
Roland Wald summed it up well for me, "That is indeed sad news. I first met John Armstrong when he started playing with Graham Kirby in the late 70's. He did not change one bit over the years. A great player, a dream partner, a loyal team-mate, and a wonderful opponent! A true English gentleman in all respects."
RIP
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