| The Live Tournament Experience
"Live" card tournaments have been around for many years. Whist parties originated in England during the 1700s, and became a part of colonial American life. Poker was a favorite in the Old West, and on the Mississippi riverboats. Euchre was the #1 card game in the United States until the creation of Bridge in the early 1900s. Then came Gin Rummy, Spades, and Canasta. Hearts was also quite popular in the mid 1800s, and really became a national favorite after rules modifications such as the Club Deuce opening lead, "Shooting the Moon," and passing three cards were incorporated after World War II.
The arrival of the Internet and sites such as Zone.com for classic card games rekindled interest in card-playing on an international scale. Hearts was one of the games included in the Windows package of most PCs. As Internet play broadened, the popularity of clubs, leagues, ladders, and online tournaments grew. It was only a matter of time before players wanted to get together for live competition.
In March of 1999, Zone.com sponsored the first "National" Spades and Hearts Tournaments at Harrah's Casino in Las Vegas, NV. Three hundred players competed for a cash prize fund of more than $12,000! Another Las Vegas Hearts event was held in April of 2000 at the Tropicana Hotel. In March of 2001, there was a fifty-player Hearts Convention & Tournament in New Orleans, LA. Two more Hearts Tournaments are planned for the fall of this year (see listing at the end of this article).
Players love the live events, and the opportunity for good competition, camaraderie, and a fun time. I suppose there is a natural curiosity to want to meet an online friend. Finally, a tournament can be the perfect weekend getaway!
Hearts Hand of the Month
This really neat hand was submitted by Carol Johnson, of Minneapolis, MN. It occurred in a Zone.com Spotlight Tournament. Carol (who was sitting South) commented that it was most unusual to pick up a "hold" (or "keeper") hand featuring such a wild distribution. The score after three hands was:
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| Carol was not thrilled about her prospects. The Spade void was useless, and the minor suits offered limited hope. The "Moon" was very speculative, as the Diamond King, and three Club honors were missing. If she tried to park a Heart on the first Spade lead, any return but a Spade would be very ticklish. Surely, the Clubs on the first trick had to be carefully observed.
The Deuce of Clubs drew a cautious 8 spot from East, South's Jack, and West's Ace. The Jack of Spades was a natural lead, as North smoothly ducked with the 7, and East dropped the 8 spot. South calmly discarded the 6 of Clubs! The 10 of Spades was now covered by the Ace, as East played the 6, and South let go of the 7 of Clubs. North persisted with the King of Spades. East and West tossed their lowest spots, and South continued to unload the Club suit with the 9. North's 9 of Spades cleared the suit, and South heaved her last Club. Now the 9 of Diamonds was tabled. East hopped up with the 10, as South played the Jack. West was in with the King. The Deuce of Diamonds was the natural "exit," and South was "ice cold" for the "Moon"!
There is some "post-mortem" analysis. Firstly, let us assume that North chooses to exit with the 4 of Clubs instead of trying the 9 of Diamonds. East can win the King (South will toss a small Diamond), and West's Queen will drop. Now, if East tries any Club, he gets blasted with the Spade Queen! (He is the "low" man.) If, instead, East plays the Club 3 under the 4, South still drops a low Diamond, and West wins the Queen. Now he is forced to give South a "free" finesse. Yes, South will be lucky to find the Diamond King as Doubleton!
Going back to the actual play, if West cashes the Club Queen after winning the King of Diamonds, East should duck (as his Clubs are winners), and once again, West is forced to lead a Diamond to South. A slightly stronger defense for West is to play the Deuce of Diamonds on the first round, thus "blanking" his King. South now will be forced to guess the Diamonds and play for the drop of the King by leading his Ace. This is pretty "heady" play, which would not occur in most games!
Carol deserves a lot of credit for a well-planned and executed "Moon." She made it look so easy! Yes, Carol was lucky; however, there are times that we create our breaks! | |
