Bridge on crack

Bridge Base Online offers 12-board tournaments that they call Speedball games, but I call them bridge on crack. You play each board in four minutes --- three-board rounds are allowed 12 minutes to be completed (a club game or tournament gives you 15 minutes for two boards). If you don't finish the third deal when time expires, the board is cancelled and you are rudely moved to the next (virtual) table. This keeps you on the edge, for sure.

Even though the bridge is not high-quality, these mini-tournaments are fun. You have to play fast and the extra adrenaline charge adds to the excitement. I'm guessing this is what it feels like to be high on crack -- exhilarating and addictive.

Because you have to play quickly, maybe the fish lesser players don't have time to think and play worse than usual. I'm not sure about that, just sayin'.

Here's a deal Kate (South) and I (North) played last Saturday night (hands rotated).

                     ♠ 10 4 3 2
                     ♥ Q
                     ♦ Q 10 8 7 5 4 2
                     ♣ 9
♠ Q 9 6                           ♠ ---
♥ 6 5 2                           ♥ A K 10 8 4 2
♦ J 9                             ♦ K 6 3
♣ J 8 7 6 5                       ♣ A 10 4 2
                    ♠ A K J 8 7 5
                    ♥ J 9 7
                    ♦ A
                    ♣ K Q 3

   West   North   East   South
   Pass   Pass    1♥    Dbl
   Pass   2♦     2♥    2♠
   Pass   4♥(1) Pass    4♠
   All Pass

(1) Shortness with spade support.

Time pressure didn't matter in this case as there was nothing to the play. It was nice to see ♠Q 9 6 offside. That meant the pairs who bid to the five level were punished as they are off two aces and a trump trick. Making 4♠ scored 73.21%.

The results were all over the place. Two pairs bid 5♦, there were 5♠ and 6♠ contracts and several pairs who didn't get to game. One pair bid to 5♠ and made it. You can find out how and see all the other results by clicking here.