Free Hugs

Hi all

Last week I took a stroll through the center of Utrecht. It was far from a special day, dry but not sunny, cold but not too cold for January, really nothing special at all. Then something remarkable caught my eye. Half a dozen people were carrying signs that said: “Free Hugs”.

Huh?

Yes, you could get hugs for free there. Unknown people hugging random people on the street for fun.

Normally I avoid people carrying signs, either they want money from me, or something else that eventually leads to me giving money to someone else. This was so totally different it left me speechless. With a bright smile I approached one of the girls carrying the sign. Nice.

Kicking off in 2007

Hi all

These best wishes at Star yesterday really paid off, René and I ended up first with 58something%. I felt relieved.

Lots of jedi mind tricks, all in smooth ease we seduced our opponents into making fatal mistakes. With decent and polite smiles we accepted all gifts.

I almost dare not tell you about René’s (well timed) weak jump in . The opponents ended up in 3NT and missed their best spot in 4. It’s no typo, René blasted them out of their 6-3 fit. You do the math: his weak jump was based upon how many ?

Here’s a little gem:

South Dealer
– Vul
North
T983
AT965
KJ4
K
West
AKQJ
73
Q6
AT542
East
74
Q842
T9853
Q8
South
652
KJ
A72
J9763

I passed as a dealer, West opened 1, René introduced his suit and I bid 1NT, ending the auction. West started with four rounds of and Ace of and to the Queen. East wasn’t really happy to be on lead and decided to lead a , my Jack winning the trick. Current layout:

South Dealer
– Vul
North
AT9
KJ4
West
7
Q6
T54
East
Q84
T98
South
K
A72
J9

I cashed the King of and the Jack. Now I noticed East started with only four black cards. I played a to the King and the Ace, West showing out. I have complete count, West is 4-2-2-5 and East 2-4-5-2. Confident I play from top, the Queen would either be doubleton in West’s hand, or East had been squeezed out of it already. My 7 of was the 7th trick. I have heard this is worth beer in some places, so where can I collect?