Tales of the Giant Crab – 10
by Mark Blumenthal on
February 18th, 2009
The best of these is not appropriate for this venue so this is the last of this series, but who knows? Somebody else or I may remember another one.
Some time in nineties Walvick played against the Ira Rubin, aka, the Beast in a national pairs event. Walt was not vulnerarable in fourth seat. Rubin opened two no trump in first position which was passed to Walt sitting in fourth seat. As Walvick thought the Beast asked him, “”Do you know who I am?” . Reasoning his partner had to have something, Walvick balanced with three hearts which was passed around to The Beast who thought for a while and doubled. That became the contract. As he chalked up +530 Walvick asked the Beast, “Do you know who I am?”
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Bridge-related
Something along the lines of poetic justice! Great story.
The funny thing is away from the bridge table Ira was pretty nice. Being so involved with one’s ego proficiency in bridge is hard to separate from a good player’s personality. There are not too many Normans around. Even in that case I know some top players regarded Norman and Edgar as soft.
How about the Walvick Transfer/Asking bids?
Unfortunately, by the time he got to six diamonds doubled ( and redoubled, because Crab would just as soon be hanged for a sheep as a lamb ) he realized he was ice cold for two spades.
And lets not leave out the second worst card game ever invented: Smolvick
I vaguely remember Walvick Asking Bids and had a cogent criticism of them, but it’s been hard to keep up with and remember all the output of such a creative genius.
Losing Smolvick was mentioned , but it’s not really on topic. I actually invented a board game based on it which a game manufacturer I knew was at one time going to publish.
In the sixties, we used to play cutaround IMPs at the Mayfair. I was the kid on the block and I remember one hand where Ira Rubin was playing with a favorite partner, Phil Feldesman. The auction started 2nt by Ira and 3c by his partner. This was doubled and eventually they played 3c doubled and redoubled, down one with 3nt cold. They were congratulating each other on this auction and you would have thought it was a triumph for them.