Playing Bridge

PLAYING BRIDGE Wedenesday evening at Ruth and Cliff’s Remembering suits and trumps, no trouble. Eyes watching cards, no buts or ifs When you’re vulnerable, double, redouble. Ah, at last it’s break - some tea And her home-made cakes, a little lunch. The baby upstairs Cliff checks to see. We check the score pad as we munch. Argue over previous card which hid Some missed chance to cross-trump it. Finesse that failed due to some strange bid….. Oh well, finish your tea and Ruth’s crumpet. Now, a one-club opener. No more error Again or partner won’t be forgiving. We’ve got to win this rubber or It’s a wipeout for the evening. No good. It’s just not working. Got no cards. Go for spoiling bid? Stop their smugness? Try for seven no trumps the hard Way - three passes and my long suit? Got to guess. In for a penny, in for… OK, it’s working , but who’s got the king? Three no bids…...got to guess. Is it west or ...….? Oops, east held it until the last playing. “King of spades wrecks rubber-hopes high” Headline in living-room newspaper commends. Leg-pulls, commiserations, laughs, bye bye. Wink-elbow language of friends.