On Wednesday, I experienced my first buddy session with my new buddy, Susan Jensen. I was fortunate in that Susan propagated the program.
The aim of the buddy program is to assist novice players who want to improve their bidding, playing and confidence by playing with a more experienced player over four normal bridge sessions. A novice player is defined for this program as having less than five masterpoints, and the experienced player has 30+ masterpoints.
At the end of each playing session (at a time mutual to both) the pair discuss the preceding session of play. This involves looking at specific boards and improving the bidding, seeing how to better play the cards as declarer and defender. Also, errors of bidding and play, and an assessment of weaknesses in the novice’s game overall.
So that the buddy and novice start the program on the same page, there is an introductory two-page guideline document that fleshes out the buddy program for both participants. It explains the aims, benefits, rules, and requirements for both buddy and novice.
The guidelines suggest the novice comes to the first session with a couple of objectives. In my case I selected two objectives: improving declarer play and slam bidding. So, prior to our first playing session, Susan and I met for half an hour before play commenced, and we discussed my two topics. As well, we went through Peninsula’s Basic System card – that Susan emailed me – as the basis of our bidding. I was comfortable with 95% of the system card, but was surprised it omitted Stayman and transfers. We agreed to include these in our play.
We played in the red section, not the novice section. This is not as daunting as it first appears.
The guidelines are specific that there is to be no discussion between hands because it is disruptive to others and slows the games down. (Discussion is for the post session meeting.)
I found it valuable during the playing session, to have a piece of paper and pen available to quickly jot down board numbers that I wanted to revise, and any other topic that arose during play. For example: "penalty double on board 7".
At the end of the session, Susan and I sat down for 45 minutes and went over the issues I had noted, as well as those that Susan observed and wanted to discuss. We used the printed hand sheets, but in future sessions we will use Pianola.
A interesting add-on came when we were discussing ways to improve my declarer play (which is one of my objectives), Susan recommended a good book for novices titled “Introduction to Declarer Play” By Edwin Kantar.
Susan was going to lend me her copy, when we thought that perhaps a copy might be present in the Club library. Lo and behold it was, and I was able to borrow the book immediately.
So here is another flow-on from the buddy program – utilising another excellent resource of the Club - the library.
I found the whole buddy program well worthwhile, and highly recommend it to all novices who want to benefit from the experience and knowledge of a willing and helpful experienced player.
I am looking forward to my next three sessions.
