Course material?

Hi all

A couple of months ago I started a casual bridge course in Games of Berkeley. Now there are nine enthusiastic students left. Every week they struggle with the problems I serve them. After we’re done, at 9.30 pm or so, we often go out to cool down with a beer. Those are the very good nights.

This weekend I was contacted about a (not so casual) bridge course at Cal, or to be precise: University of California, Berkeley. Starting Monday, February 9, starring me as teacher. Yikes! Twenty-two students showed up, I took a hard swallow and fainted. No, I’m just kidding, a couple of them were just interested in their iPhones and the credit my course is worth, but I had the vast attention of the majority. I think I was able to tell a pretty coherent story, but next week we’ll see how many students have dropped.

Maybe in a couple of weeks they can help me with this deal.

South
KT
AK843
AQ72
J3

West
North
East
South
pass
1
3
Double
pass
4
pass
… 6
pass
6
a.p.

Over 3 I could have bid a forcing 3, but I thought double was a tad more flexible. Partner surprised me with an undiscussed 4 bid, and after a while I just bid a "pick-a-slam" 6. Not enough, for this was the complete deal:

West Dealer
All Vul
North
AQJ9743
Q75
K94
West
65
T92
JT85
K762
East
82
J6
63
AQT9854
South
KT
AK843
AQ72
J3

 
Even if I start with 3 instead of double I don’t see a sensible road to the grand in .