Class five, spring temps and sunshine and our first foray into play outside of the classroom or the house.....

Hello Fellow Travelers......

Another Wednesday in the books, another class finished.....

Here we go....

So tonight in class we learned a variation on two-handed. Instead of using the third or "dummy" hand as a random card generator. Deal the cards into three hands of twelve each. Letting the other player go first, you each pick a card, one at a time from the dummy hand and incorporate it into your own hand to attempt to make either a strong meld hand or a strong playing hand. Discard one card from your hand for each card you keep, keeping only twelve cards in your hand. Then play two handed without the third hand. It makes you concentrate on what is played and what is left, counting aces, kings, etc.... it's fun I promise.


We've been playing a ton of pinochle at home and much to our delight we found out that some of our very best friends also play! This past Saturday we were invited to our friends' home for dinner. As I had some trouble posting the links in my last blog, I asked my friend (who happens to be an expert in computers and computer troubleshooting) to lend me a hand. He looked at the blog and said, "Hey, I love pinochle!" The four of us exchanged pinochle stories over cocktails and snacks (hey snacks!) and decided that after dinner we would forgo the traditional board game and play four-handed pinochle. Lucky for us, we had just learned that in last weeks class (re-visit blog number four if you need a refresher).

Well, the one axiom that is true regarding 99 percent of life was true that night. Even though our friends were better players, we were able to hold our own. Practice, practice, practice, the only way to get better. I personally played so well, this is pretty much how I felt http://www.pacdv.com/sounds/people_sound_effects/applause-1.wav Yep, gave myself a round of applause. I've been paying attention and have been learning and so has my lovely wife. So one for her as well http://www.pacdv.com/sounds/people_sound_effects/applause-3.wav

But, let me caution you. Playing well against people with more skill can lead you to getting in over your head and getting lost as your opponents starting using strategy they have learned over the years, causing your applause to quickly turn into http://www.pacdv.com/sounds/voices/damn-it.wav

Yep, I played over my head for a round or two and paid the price, so I guess the moral here is stick to what you know and don't get cocky. But in the end, it was fun! A lot of fun! Our friends were very forgiving over the mistakes we (well, actually me) made. This brings me to another point. Tell your opponents right up front that you are learning and may make some mistakes. This admission will save a lot of grief later (it can also let you know who your true friends are).

TIP FIVE: When playing two handed with a dummy hand, switch the hand to different sides of the table so it plays differently each time. It changes the outcome, you'd be surprised. Also, make it a standard rule that the dealer plays the dummy hand out, it saves confusion over the hand being played.

RECIPE FIVE: This recipe is so simple it's funny, but it's surprising how many people do not know this exists. At your grocery, usually with the fresh baked bread will be a bottle containing four dipping spices. Buy a large fresh French baguette, slice it into 1/4 in thick (at most) slices and place them into a decorative serving bowl. Shake a generous amount of each spice into a small bowl or small deep dish and coat with about 1/2 to 2/3 cup of good quality olive oil and serve with the sliced bread. Dip the end of a slice into the oil/spice mixture and enjoy. It's really simple and really, really good. This goes great with gin or vodka and tonic or bourbon. http://www.pacdv.com/sounds/voices/yummy.wav

NEXT WEEK: Class six and a salty, sweet, onion-e snack!