Question from Wendy. 

Nil vulnerable. Right hand opponent opens 1H. What do you bid with this hand?

S: AK76

H: 5

D: K 

C:QJ109852 

This is me with Brian Mace, one of my team mates at the World Championships. And that's my partner Ian Berrington in the background acting the goat as usual.

Good guys and great team mates.

Every match at the Bermuda Bowl has been played in good spirits. Our opponents have all been pleasant, just the way it should be. 

But my favourite match so far has been against these guys from Tunisia. That's Wissem on the left and Anas on the right. 

Between matches at the Bermuda Bowl or when I'm 'benched' I like to walk down to the 'Aroma' cafe, near the playing venue. It's good to take a break from the bridge to recharge the batteries.

No rest today, though, because Tim Schumacher ( New Zealand mixed team captain ) and Daniel Puerto ( coach for Korea ) were there and after quick introductions the conversation turned to...

...bridge. Of course.

Me on the left, Daniel in the middle, Tim on the right.

I had a fight with my bridge partner. We were defending 5H doubled, Ian led a spade which I won. I returned a spade. If I had switched to a diamond we would have defeated the contract. 

We didn't say anything to each other at the table. The fight came later.

After the match I said 'sorry, Ian, I should have switched to a diamond.'

'No, no, it's my fault' he said, 'I should have led a diamond in the first place.'

'No, no, it's may fault' I said. 'There's no way you knew to lead a diamond, I definitely should have switched'.

That went on for a while.

That's a big deal. To have a partner who supports, encourages, doesn't try to make you feel bad when you make a mistake is a wonderful thing. 

Here's our team!

From the left: Me, Jonathon Westoby ( non playing captain ), Matt Brown, Malcolm Mayer, Michael Whibley, Brian Mace, Ian Berrington. 

On day 1 we played four matches, won two lost two. Great fun, pleasant opponents ( India, Korea, USA, Bangladesh ).

Let's face it, some days the cards just aren't that exciting. Today the cards were great! 

I've made a collection of hands which I'll keep adding to as the event progesses:

Bermuda Bowl Hands

This is one of the playing tables from the World Championships. Notice the screen across the middle of the table. It's there so that you can't see your partner! The little slot in the middle gets opened up after the bidding so that you can see dummy.

Notice, too, the screens underneath the table to stop foot tapping.

No hands to report yet but here's a quick video about a bidding technique that can save you from getting too high.

Arrived in Herning today and met up with some of the New Zealand contingent. From left to right: Me, Jonathon Westoby ( open team non playing captain ), Linda Cartner, Kris Wooles ( womens team non playing captain ), Tim Schumacher ( mixed team non playing captain ).

Bridge players from other countries are stating to arrive, too, but most won't show up until tomorrow.