Years ago the YAR-BRO club closed its doors for the holidays and Sydney and his friends had to play at East Kumquat's other club: the JACKS-OR-BETTER club, where they did not play Swiss teams. Sydney went one night without a partner and was introduced

to August T. Bear of Woods, WI. He informed Sydney that if he just referred to him as the Bear, they would get along just fine.

Sydney got a pencil and a convention card and the Bear just grabbed it, took out a felt tip magic marker pen, and scribbled across the card: FREQUENT PSYCHES. "That is the only convention card I need", exclaimed the Bear.

It did not take Sydney very long to find out what he meant. The Bear psyched the first round and almost every round thereafter. But, he saved his most brilliant coup for the ultimate round.

On the last round Sydney and the Bear played against two of East Kumquat's leading women players: Nora Nevarong and Cordelia Coldbottom. Nora dealt and opened 1C. In a firm tone of voice the Bear bid 2C. Cordelia could not believe it

and asked Sydney what the bid meant. Sydney explained that it was a game forcing bid and the auction continued. Cordelia doubled and Sydney bid 2H. Nora passed and Bear bid 4H. "Double", said Cordelia, beside herself.

The opening lead was the HJ and after a very careful defense the ladies took all thirteen tricks. They thought their plus 1900 was a fine result until they saw all the +2140's and +2220's on the score ticket. Nora was angry. "I thought you guys said that that was a game forcing bid", she asked? "Well, I bid game" exclaimed the Bear, "noone says I have to make it!!!".