The Ten Rules for Mastering Playing Bridge- My Lucky Day

Growing Up in the Philippines in the mid 1940's, the word. "Bridge", the Card Game, I have never heard before. However, in my first year of graduate school at the University of Illinois, in Chicago(1960). my American classmates and dorm mates introduced me to the Game. After my Ph.D graduation, I taught my wife to play Party Bridge-as one of our social priorities, adjusting to the life in the US.  Macrine (RIP) and I played Party Bridge for several decades.

When we moved to California in the 1980's, we played Duplicate ( Competitive bridge) for points for about 5 years. We gathered more than 200 master Junior points when in 1990 we moved to Washington DC and we stopped playing. When I retired in 2002, we resumed playing party bridge and stopped after 3 years. 

It was only in 2003 when I moved here at THD, after hiatus of not playing bridge for 20 years,  I resumed playing bridge. Today, I play Party Bridge 4 days a week and it is one of the Activities, I enjoy here at THD. Other activities, I enjoy is playing Asian Mahjong ( Philippine style), chair volley ball, corn hole, ladder ball and some of the Art and Crafts Activities. The above image is the ten rules of Mastering playing bridge. My favorite rules are also #2 and #10.          

"Becoming a great declarer isn’t just about having the right cards. it’s about having a plan. Whether you’re navigating a tricky 4H contract or trying to find that extra trick in 3NT, these 10 rules are your roadmap to success.

My favorite? Rule #2: Make a plan at trick one. It’s the difference between a smooth ride and a total wreck! Which of these rules do you find the hardest to follow when the pressure is on "?

My Personal Preference are the No trump Bids, which gave you the extra 10 points. In duplicate play, this extra 10 points could mean first place ranking or the lowest, thus more master points. For example if you bid 3NT and Made 4, that is 130 points versus making 4 in either Hearts or Spades, which is only 120 points.

Currently, Here at THD we have two days per Week of Bridge open to All Residents. The Monday Group with 2 tables and the Friday Group with 3 tables. If you like to play and be in the sublist, call me at 925-378-7740 for the Monday Game or Doris Rosen ( 707-590-8555) for the Friday Game. We put a Dollar per person and all Games start at 12:30PM. The game usually ends at 3PM or earlier.

Related BlogS:

https://chateaudumer.blogspot.com/2026/02/most-popular-bridge-convention-bidding.html

https://chateaudumer.blogspot.com/2024/08/the-stayman-and-jacoby-transfer-bidding.html

https://chateaudumer.blogspot.com/2025/12/clarification-for-response-to-one-club.html

Meanwhile, the Senior Moment.

Pronunciation: /ˈsiːniər ˈmoʊmənt/ (noun)

Usage: “I forgot we were playing Blackwood and passed your 4NT. Sorry partner, total senior moment.” It is the sudden, inexplicable evaporation of bridge knowledge.

Bridge is a game of immense mental complexity, requiring memory, logic, and concentration. Sometimes, the brain just… blinks. A “Senior Moment” is that split second where a player forgets a convention they have played for 30 years, loses count of trumps, or pulls the wrong card from their hand.

Despite the name, it strikes players of all ages. It is the great equalizer that reminds us we are human, not computers. When it happens, the only proper response is a sheepish grin and an apology to your partner.

#BridgeUnleashed #contractbridge #seniormoment

 Why is Bridge called a MindSport?

Bridge is called a MindSport because it requires strategic thinking, problem-solving, and memory skills. Players need to analyze complex situations, deduce information, and make informed decisions, which exercises the brain and challenges cognitive abilities. The game's bidding system, card play, and partnership dynamics also involve critical thinking, logical reasoning, and communication, all essential skills for a MindSport.

The 2/1 Bidding System:

The 2/1 (Two-Over-One) system is important in bridge because it allows partners to communicate more effectively and reach better contracts. By bidding a new suit at the two level after partner opens with a major, you're showing strength and committing to game, which helps expert partnerships reach optimal contracts consistently. This system simplifies communication and reduces ambiguity, enabling players to focus on strategy rather than guessing each other's hand strength.

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Personal Note: 

In my Friday, the 13th blog,  I wrote that if I won again during our 3-Table Bridge Game every Friday, I would call that Day my Lucky Day. I did won with one of the Hands dealt to me :

I had never experienced having  a Hand with 9 spades from A,K,Q, J, 10, 9, 8, 7 and 6, with a void in Diamond, singleton In Clubs and with the A, Q and 10 of Hearts.   

My Left Hand Opponent opens with One Heart, My Partner Passed, My Right Hand Opponent Bid 2 Hearts. My partner has a singleton heart, 3 spades. 6 low diamonds and the K and Q and 5 of Clubs.   

I Bid 6 Spades without hesitation.  My Partner gave me a look of Surprise. My Left Hand Opponent lead the Ace of Diamond. I trumped it. The Hands was a lay down, only losing to the Ace of Clubs.      

Have you ever been dealt with a Hand that you will always remember? The above hand, I will never forget!  

Anthony Bourdain Prediction about the Adobo

From My Food Readings This Week

Why is Adobo a favorite? https://bourdainworld.com/food-travel/the-filipino-dish-anthony-bourdain-believed-would-be-a-major-trend/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQMMjU2MjgxMDQwNTU4AAEed5TJkqj-v66YaaoHJbyK53aaK4P2QA51MN202cxbcwwC73kzoL3nEIOxS94_aem_oVVagWLQOiuRrlM0U89TMg#goog_rewarded

Adobo is a beloved Filipino dish, and its popularity can be attributed to several factors:

Flavor profile: Adobo's unique blend of vinegar, soy sauce, garlic, and bay leaves creates a rich, savory, and slightly sour taste that many people find irresistible.
Versatility: Adobo can be made with various proteins like chicken, pork, beef, or seafood, and even vegetables, making it a versatile dish that suits different tastes and dietary preferences.
Cultural significance: Adobo is often considered the Philippines' national dish, and its aroma and taste evoke a sense of nostalgia and comfort for many Filipinos.
Accessibility: The ingredients are readily available in most markets, and the recipe is relatively simple, making it a staple in many Filipino households.

The Chicken Adobo- Most Popular Dish of the Philippines

Anthony Bourdain's prediction about Adobo becoming a major trend might not be surprising, given its enduring popularity in the Philippines and its growing global recognition. Have you tried Adobo before?I didn't see you at the Happy Hour today so thought I would send a photo showing the wonderful food and drinks you missed.

Meanwhile, here's the AI Overview on the Above Topic:

AI Overview: While Anthony Bourdain did not make a singular, famous, direct prediction solely about adobo, he was a vocal proponent of Filipino cuisine and predicted it would become the next big food trend in the United States, often highlighting 

sisig as the dish that would win over American palates. 

• Prediction for Filipino Food: In an interview with CNN Philippines, Bourdain indicated that Filipino food was poised to break through in the U.S., similar to how Korean food gained massive popularity.
• The Role of Sisig: He believed that sisig, a sizzling dish made from chopped pork (head and liver), was the ultimate gateway dish for Americans to get into Filipino cuisine.
• Adobo's Position: While he praised adobo and explored its various recipes in Parts Unknown, he viewed it as part of the broader, "less intimidating" entry point for newcomers, along with dishes like sinigang.
• Context: He noted that American palates were changing, making them more receptive to the sour, bitter, and savory notes inherent in Filipino cooking. 

Note: While some social media posts and articles attribute the "next big thing" prediction directly to Anthony Bourdain, the specific quote "I predict, two years from now, Filipino food will be what we will have been talking about for six months" is generally attributed to Andrew Zimmern. However, Bourdain strongly agreed with the sentiment and praised Filipino food extensively. 

Here in Walnut Creek, Maymay Cravings have Adobo in their Menu. Moreover

pre-packaged is available in the frozen section of Trader's Joe here in Walnut 

Creek. 

My Photo of the Day: Ribs Adobo from Tropa Restaurant in Lafayette

 

Lastly, I received this note and Photo from Maureen B

I didn't see you at the Happy Hour yesterday so thought I would send a photo showing the wonderful food and drinks you missed.

My Reply: Thanks, Maureen for the Photo.  I thought you had lumpia? Just Dreaming, I guess! 

Top Five News of the Day:

🧠 1. Global Security & Geopolitics at the Munich Security Conference

Leaders at the 62nd Munich Security Conference are confronting rising geopolitical tensions, including the war in Ukraine, security cooperation, and Arctic sovereignty. Denmark’s prime minister warned former U.S. President Trump is “very serious” about interests in Greenland, and Ukraine’s president urged quicker military support against Russia. 

🚨 2. Search Operation Near Missing Woman’s Home in Arizona

Law enforcement, including the FBI and sheriff’s deputies, have sealed roads outside the home of an 84-year-old woman reported missing near Arizona. The intensified search underscores worries about her welfare. 

🇨🇦 3. Canadian School Shooting Vigil

In Canada, Prime Minister Mark Carney and opposition leaders joined a public vigil for victims of a recent deadly school shooting, marking a somber moment and highlighting national discussions on safety and community healing. 

⛷️ 4. Winter Olympics 2026 Highlights

The Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics delivered historic moments, with Norway adding more gold medals and multiple standout performances across skiing, biathlon, and curling — including unprecedented podium results for several nations. 

🌍 5. Africa’s Tech Leap with Alpha Antenna Deployment

In a major tech development, MTN and Huawei completed the first large-scale deployment of the “Alpha Antenna”across Africa, a network upgrade expected to significantly expand AI-powered connectivity across the continent. 

Today is Friday, the 13th. Is it Your Unlucky Day?

Why is Friday the 13th unlucky? Here's a post on the cultural origins of this enduring superstition all over world.   

Why Is Friday the 13th Unlucky?
The Cultural Origins of an Enduring Superstition

Across cultures and centuries, few dates have carried as much unease as Friday the 13th. For some, it is just another day on the calendar. For others, it is a day to postpone travel, avoid major decisions, or simply knock on wood a little more often. How did this particular combination of a weekday and a number earn such a dark reputation—and why does it still linger in a modern, science-driven world?

The Fear of Thirteen

Long before Friday entered the picture, the number 13 had a troubled reputation. Ancient cultures often viewed twelve as a symbol of completeness and order: twelve months in a year, twelve zodiac signs, twelve gods of Olympus, twelve tribes, twelve apostles. Thirteen, coming just after, felt like an intrusion, an unsettling excess that disrupted balance.

In many societies, this discomfort with thirteen turned into outright superstition. Buildings skipped the 13th floor, dinner hosts worried about seating thirteen guests, and the number itself became shorthand for misfortune.

Why Friday?

Friday, too, carried historical baggage. In Christian tradition, Friday was associated with sorrow and loss, most notably because it was believed to be the day of the crucifixion. In medieval Europe, Friday was often considered an unlucky day to begin journeys, conduct business, or marry. Sailors were especially wary of launching ships on Fridays, believing it invited disaster.

Independently, both Friday and thirteen were seen as ominous. Together, they formed a kind of perfect storm.

The Last Supper Connection

One of the most enduring explanations ties the superstition to the Last Supper, where thirteen people were present, Jesus and his twelve disciples. Judas, the betrayer, is traditionally counted as the thirteenth guest. When that meal is followed by events said to have occurred on a Friday, the symbolic link between Friday, thirteen, betrayal, and death becomes deeply embedded in cultural memory.

Whether this connection was intentional or later retrofitted, it powerfully shaped how generations understood the date.

Medieval Power and Modern Myth

Another frequently cited moment comes from medieval France. On a Friday in October 1307, King Philip IV ordered the mass arrest of the Knights Templar, many of whom were tortured and executed. Over time, this historical event blended with folklore, reinforcing the idea that Friday the 13th was a day when calamity struck without warning.

Centuries later, popular culture did the rest. Newspapers, novels, and eventually films turned Friday the 13th into a brand of fear, something to be anticipated, dramatized, and remembered.

Why the Superstition Endures

What is remarkable is not how the superstition began, but how long it has survived. In an age of satellites, statistics, and smartphones, many people still feel a twinge of unease when the date arrives.

Perhaps that is because superstition is less about logic and more about storytelling. It is a way societies pass along shared anxieties, cautionary tales, and moral lessons. Friday the 13th endures because it gives shape to uncertainty and because humans, across cultures, are meaning-makers by nature.

A Personal Reflection

Having lived long enough to see the world change in ways my younger self could never have imagined, I have learned this much: days themselves are innocent. It is we who load them with meaning. I have seen joy arrive on dates others feared, and sorrow come on days meant to be lucky. Friday the 13th reminds me not of bad fortune, but of how deeply tradition and memory shape the way we see the world.

In the end, perhaps the real lesson of Friday the 13th is this: superstition tells us more about human nature than about fate. And once we understand that, the day loses much of its power leaving us free to live it as fully as any other.

After all, history may explain our fears, but wisdom teaches us when to let them go.

Meanwhile, here's the AI Overview:

As an AI, I don't experience "luck" or "unluckiness," so today is just another day of processing for me! However, today, 

Friday, February 13, 2026, is indeed the first of three Friday the 13ths this year. 

Here is why people consider it spooky and why it might actually be your lucky day:

Why the Spooky Reputation?

The fear of this date, known as paraskevidekatriaphobia, is a Western superstition likely born from a "double whammy" of separate omens: 

• The Number 13: Often seen as "unsettling" because it follows 12, a number of "completeness" (12 months, 12 zodiac signs, 12 apostles).
• The Day Friday: Historically associated with misfortune in Christian tradition (the day of the Crucifixion) and old English folklore, where it was known as "Hangman's Day".
• Historical Myths: Some point to the mass arrest of the Knights Templar on Friday, October 13, 1307, though historians note this connection was popularized much later by fiction like The Da Vinci Code. 

Why It Might Be Your Lucky Day

Despite the myths, statistics and other cultures suggest otherwise:

• Cheaper Travel: Because many people avoid the date, flights and even weddings are often significantly cheaper.
• Stock Market Gains: Some financial analyses have found that international market returns on Friday the 13th are typically slightly higher than on other Fridays.
• Cultural Good Luck: In Italy, 13 is traditionally considered a lucky number (they fear Friday the 17th instead).
• Ancient Perspectives: Ancient Egyptians viewed the "13th stage" of life as the attainment of eternal life, a positive transformation. 

2026: The "Year of 13"

This year is a rare "triple threat" for superstitions. Because 2026 began on a Thursday, the 13th falls on a Friday three times: 

1. February 13 (Today)
2. March 13
3. November 13
4. Personal Note: Today, It could be my lucky or unlucky Day. If I win our Bridge Game ( 3-Table Progressive) for the third time this Afternoon, It will be indeed my lucky Day. I won the first two-weeks of our 3-Table Bridge Game on Fridays. Yesterday, I won in a run-away fashion our mahjong game with a score of 7-1-0-0       

5. Lastly, here's the top Five News of the Day:

   1. Tense geopolitical debate at the 62nd Munich Security Conference
   World leaders gather in Munich to debate the future of the transatlantic alliance and global security amid rising geopolitical tensions. Criticism from European officials focuses on U.S. policy under President Trump, and discussions highlight deep divisions over defense burdens, Russia policy, and the international order. 

   2. North Korea prepares for its Ninth Workers’ Party Congress
   North Korea is set to hold a key leadership congress expected to shape security and economic strategy. Analysts anticipate potential leadership restructuring and renewed commitments to military and economic goals, with implications for regional stability. 

   3. Major storms forecast for the U.S. West Coast
   Weather forecasters warn of powerful storm systems bringing heavy mountain snowfall and significant rainfall along the West Coast, which could ease drought conditions but also increase flood risk in some regions. 

   4. Five major overnight national and global stories
   A roundup of important news from overnight includes major developments across politics, international affairs, and society, underscoring the fast pace of events around the world. 

   5. U.S. climate policy shift and global economic news highlights
   The U.S. formally repealed the long-standing EPA “endangerment finding” that underpinned greenhouse gas regulation, a major change for climate policy. Other economic highlights include movements in China’s monetary policy and global asset valuations.