h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Most literature on bridge concerns how to get better. But the late English author Victor Mollo wrote hilarious stories about "Bridge in the Menagerie", in which characters such as Hideous Hog and Rueful Rabbit thrash their way through deals in a manner that would make Goren weep. In a typical hand, the Machiavellian Hog is undone by the guileless Rabbit, for all the wrong reasons. After such a fiasco, the kibitzer might suggest, "People should not be allowed to use bidding systems they don't understand. It's not fair to their opponents."

Dear Steve thank you for the reccommendation of the book by Victor Mollo. I had not heard of it but shall try and get it on the Internet. I have always been in hysterics when opponents have gravely informed you that they follow a certain system and then get into a complete mess trying it out. Particularly a strange one called the Roman Club. Your comment brought back many happy memories. Regards. AR1 aka as DD (Upright alias Pinetree.)

You're quite welcome. I myself have been involved in more than a few bidding fiascos, some at duplicate tournaments - and not all by my team, thankfully.

I recall a story about a team stopping at two diamonds, then seeing it was a cold six. The dummy commented after the play, "Nicely done. Besides the 40 below, we've got honors for 100 above. Two more slams and we'll have a game." You might want to avoid this type of comment if your wife is your partner

You may have trouble finding the Mollo books, here are some titiles: "Bridge in the Fourth Dimension", 1974; "Victor Mollo's Bridge Club", 1979; "Bridge in the Menagerie", ??. Good hunting.

Dear Steve Thank you for the titles of the books. I somehow lost you in my space. I am now writing to you on the space of my friend Lurcher Hope that he does not mind. I absolutely loved duplicate - still do. But sadly my BP goes up so alarmingly since my by pass that the cardiologist felt it was better that I did not play any more. But I often read the bridge columns and play on the computer. Greetings. AR1

I understand, bridge can be pretty intense. About the only game more intense is chess, which can be intense even against a computer. Ex-World Champ Garry Kasparov, infamous for his intensity and intimidation, was just as intense when he played Deep Blue, IBM's super computer chess machine. He reportedly even tried some intimidating scowls at the ... uhhh ... monitor, which I find amusing.