Success at Youth NABC

Kai Chang and Pico Gilman attended their second successive Youth NABC in Las Vegas last July. They demonstrated their improved skills by winning three different Cardrook Pairs events. Cardrook Pairs are for newer players.

Both Kai and Pico are students at CAIS and have been taught by Eric Groves. Pico is 9 years old and Kai is 11.

They found two hand particularly interesting. The first captured their attention because east had a Yarbrough and E-W was in 3NT and went down 3 for a total of 150 points. That board was a 70% board. In that session they had a 77% game and got 1.62 R. They now have 6 MP.

The second hand is shown at the right. How many of us even knew what a squeeze is at age 9? Pico does. While the hand isn’t really a squeeze, the mere fact that he would attempt one is amazing.

While this was not the perfect sequence, the slam does have play. And, in fact, as the cards lie, the slam will make as both the diamond and club finesses are on. But Pico did not know that. He won the club king lead and then played the ace of spades. The king did not fall. Now, not realizing that the slam was doomed, he tired for a club heart squeeze. So he played the A of hearts, but they divided 6-0 and he went down 1.

Both boys enjoyed their time at the youth NABC and continue to practice their bridge. They particularly like receiving copies of The Cardturner and Bridge Baron software. Both Kai and his young brother Lucas have been practicing playing on Bridge Baron.