As the immortal Kenneth Williams said, "Infamy, infamy, they've all got it in for me!". That is what it felt like at the club last night, playing in the latest round of the Russell with Anne. Pairs would come to our table, bid a fairly normal contract missed by everyone else and depart with the matchpoints. But the frustrating part was that none of them went on to get a decent score, they seemed happy enough just hammering us.
Naturally there was also some poor decision making by us. Much of this was just down to understanding, or not, partner's style. Most people presume that I cannot bid, despite my runaway successes in the last couple of bidding challenges. Then they assume that I never have my bid, especially where there is competition and it is clear that the pack has at least fifty points in it.
While it is true that I am rarely maximum for my bid (as Zia said about Michael Courtney), like most 'experts' there are some situations where I can be completely trusted. For example, if I make a game-forcing jump rebid then I will have a huge hand. Others where you can fairly sure, so I will not be making random pre-empts second-in-hand when vulnerable very often.
The problem in the Russell, which for most is their single outing in a year with me, is deciding which rules I obey and which I am more flexible about. For that reason I always think of myself as a difficult person to partner.
Anne survived, although some way from a counting score. Next week I am playing with Harry. I think we are all frightened by the thought of this!
