It's All In Your Head
 
GS Jade Barrett
 
After a few boards you may find that your partnership is in rhythm. Every bid seems to work, every play feels correct. You are playing in the zone. This is the time when you are at your strongest - it does not matter who the opponents are; for the moment your pair is the best in the world.
 
 In the duplicate bridge arena, anyone can be the very best at any time. To my mind that is the single greatest attribute of the game. Every time we sit down we have the chance to beat everyone. At one of the stronger club games that I play in we recently had a Flight C Pair beat all comers to win first overall. Barb Miller and Ilo Kronberger won by playing their game. No more, no less. They played consistently and confidently and they were rewarded for their efforts.
 
 Every opportunity is taken advantage of when you are in the zone. You double effectively, you compete accurately, and you know what you are supposed to do innately. You just have to let it happen. Now is the time to let your instincts drive your decisions. Games like this are often lost when we start thinking. Second-guessing ourselves will typically lead us into making choices that fail.
 
 Blair Seidler, my longtime junior partner and I were in the midst of a tremendous session when I suddenly broke our tempo by taking four minutes to make a losing decision. After the hand he calmly stated:
 
"Don't just sit there, do nothing".
 
 He was right. I had spent three minutes and fifty-five seconds talking myself into taking a bad save when my five-second action was to pass. I committed the cardinal sin of failing to believe in our bidding methods and myself. This sin, as well as those of starting to doubt my partner or having a public disagreement about methods become a personality dispute are sure zone killers. His gentle handling of our only zero of the session kept us in the zone together and we were rewarded with a 78.86% game.
 
 Finding the zone generally comes more easily when you are comfortable in your surroundings. The playing room feels right, the light is good, and you are rested and happy. You are prepared to play well. And your partner is right there with you. Even the bad boards feel good, because you did what you were supposed to do (remember that playing well is its own reward, too). No matter what happens, this game is yours.

Your opponents will feel your confidence, too. They will not be as comfortable as they normally are, for while you are gracious and welcoming, you are in charge of your game today. And your strength will build. The good scores will pile up and just like that, the game you will remember for a long time is suddenly over.

Great days are like that.