Trump squeeze. diamonds
In contract bridge, the trump squeeze is a variant of the simple squeeze. (Squeezes are techniques in this game to gain extra tricks.)
In a trump squeeze, declarer has a suit that can be established by ruffing, but the defender being squeezed is guarding that suit. However, if he happens to also guard another suit, the squeeze card will force him to unguard one. This end position below shows a trump squeeze in action:
Hearts are trumps, and the lead is in the North hand. Declarer plays the A, discarding the 3 from hand, and East has no good discard. If East plays a spade, declarer cashes the A to set up the spade suit. If East plays a club, declarer cashes the K ruffs a club, and has the Ace of spades as an entry to dummy.
The key elements are:
- A suit that declarer can ruff to set up extra tricks
- An entry in another suit which can also yield extra tricks
- One defender that guards both suits
A very rare example is the double trump squeeze, where both opponents suffer the same fate. Here is an example from the quarterfinals of the 2004 Olympiad, in the match between Italy and the USA. Declarer, Norberto Bocchi of Italy, declared 4 and achieved the following end position with the lead in dummy:
Declarer led the Ace of Hearts from dummy, discarding the 8, and the defence had no answer. If both pitched spades, declarer could play the Ace and King of spades, establishing the ten. If both pitched diamonds, a spade to the Ace and a diamond ruff would establish the Queen. Declarer’s play depended on who released the diamond guard. If it were West, a spade to the Ace and the Ten of diamonds would set up the Queen. If it was East, a spade to the Ace and the Queen of diamonds would smother the Jack and create a ruffing finesse position.
Note that the squeeze was not automatic, but Bocchi read the situation accurately when West discarded the seven of diamonds.
Steinmetz Pink Diamond. gia diamonds
The Steinmetz Pink is a diamond weighing 59.60 carats (11.92 g), rated in color as Fancy Vivid Pink by the Gemological Institute of America. The Steinmetz Pink is the largest known diamond having been rated Vivid Pink. As a result of this exceptional rarity, the Steinmetz Group took a cautious 20 months to cut the Pink. It was unveiled in Monaco on May 29 2003, in a public ceremony.
The Steinmetz Pink was displayed as part of the Smithsonian’s “The Splendor of Diamonds” exhibit, alongside the De Beers Millennium Star, the world’s second largest (the Centenary Diamond is the largest) top colour (D) internally and externally flawless pear-shaped diamond at 203.04 carat (40.608 g), the Heart of Eternity Diamond, a 27.64 carat (5.582 g) heart-cut blue diamond and the Moussaieff Red Diamond, the world’s largest known Fancy Red diamond at 5.11 carats (1.102 g).
Marcel Tolkowsky. gia diamonds
Marcel Tolkowsky (1899-1991) was a member of a Belgian family of diamond cutters and an engineer by education. He is generally acknowledged as the father of the modern round brilliant diamond cut. Developed by Marcel Tolkowsky in 1919, the American Standard (also known as the American Ideal Cut, Tolkowsky cut, and Tolkowsky Brilliant) is the benchmark in North America. It was derived from mathematical calculations that considered both brilliance and fire of diamonds. Later modifications of round brilliants differ in minor ways.
The design was published in 1919 by Tolkowsky in his book Diamond Design.
Limitation of Tolkowsky Proportions
It has been indicated that Tolkowsky’s “ideal” model has been overused contemporarily. The original model was intended to be a set of general guidelines; several aspects of a diamond’s cut had not been accounted for or explored. Following are excerpts from a GIA article, “What did Marcel Tolkowsky really say?”[1]:
- “Because every facet has the potential to change a light ray’s plane of travel, every facet must be considered in any complete calculation of light paths. Just as a two-dimensional slice of a diamond provides incomplete information about the three-dimensional nature of light behavior inside a diamond, this two-dimensional slice also provides incomplete information about light behavior outside the diamond. A diamond’s panorama is three-dimensional. Although diamonds are highly symmetrical, light can enter a diamond from many directions and many angles. This factor further highlights the need to reevaluate Tolkowsky’s results, and to recalculate the effects of a diamond’s proportions on its appearance aspects.
- “Another important point to consider is that Tolkowsky did not follow the path of a ray that was reflected more than twice in the diamond. However, we now know that a diamond’s appearance is composed of many light paths that reflect considerably more than two times within that diamond. Once again, we can see that Tolkowsky’s predictions are helpful in explaining optimal diamond performance, but they are incomplete by today’s technological standards.”
The Three Aces. diamonds
The Three Aces is a card trick where the magician places the Ace of Diamonds in the middle of the deck, and the two black Aces (Spades and Clubs) on the top and bottom of the deck. The deck is cut, and all three aces are found together in the middle of the deck.
The magician starts with the Ace of Diamonds on top of the deck, and the other three aces in his hands. When the three cards are shown to the audience, they are arranged so that the center pip on the Ace of Hearts is up side down, and the two black Aces in front of it make a V that makes the bottom of the heart look like the bottom of a diamond. The three cards are set on top of the deck with the Ace of Hearts on top and black Aces below them. The top card pushed into the middle and the next one placed on the bottom, the deck is cut, and the trick is done.
Ocean Dream Diamond. diamonds
The Ocean Dream is a diamond measuring 5.51 carats (1.102 g), rated in color as Fancy Deep Blue-Green by the Gemological Institute of America. The Ocean Dream is the only natural diamond known to the GIA to possess a blue-green hue, making it one of the rarest diamonds in the world. (A blue-green colour is commonly seen in artificially enhanced diamonds, whose colour is imparted by various irradiation methods.) After careful study, the GIA concluded that its distinct hue is a result of millions of years of exposure to natural radiation. The Ocean Dream originated in Central Africa, and is currently owned by the Cora Diamond Corporation.
The Ocean Dream was displayed as part of the Smithsonian’s “The Splendor of Diamonds” exhibit, alongside the De Beers Millennium Star, The Heart of Eternity and the Moussaieff Red.
Chris Hope (footballer). diamonds
Christopher Jonathan “Chris” Hope (born 14 November 1972 in Sheffield) is an English professional footballer who currently plays for Rushden & Diamonds.
Chris Hope began his career as a trainee with Darlington. However, before he had even made a first team appearance, he joined Nottingham Forest at the beginning of the 1990/91 season and spent two seasons at the City Ground. Again, Hope did not make a first team for Nottingham Forest, and so a move away from the City Ground beckoned and he joined Scunthorpe for £50,000 at the beginning of the 1993/94 season.
Hope was an integral part of the side at Glanford Park and notched up 333 appearances (288 in the league) in seven seasons. A steady influence at the back, Hope managed an impressive 177 successive appearances without missing a game. A move from Lincolnshire to Kent soon beckoned, however, and Hope swapped Scunthorpe for Gillingham who paid £250,000 for his services. Hope made his debut in the club’s first ever game in the First Division (a 3-1 home defeat to Stockport County) and went on to play in more than 200 appearances for the Gills. Following on from his time at Scunthorpe, Hope managed to play in 176 successive games, before finally missing a game through suspension.
Following the departure of ex-club captain Paul Smith, Hope was appointed the club captain for the Gills for their first season back in League One in the 2005/06 season.
Hope signed an extension to his contract keeping him at Priestfield until the summer of 2006, however, he missed much of the 2005/2006 season due to injury and was released on 9 May 2006.
On 7 July it was announced that he had signed a 2 year deal with Rushden & Diamonds F.C.[1]
Hope is predominantly a central defender, although he has operated on both the right and the left side of defence as well as in midfield during his career. Hope’s height and strength mean he is a fomidable force at the back where he is rarely beaten in the air.
Eva Almos. diamonds
Eva Almos is a Canadian voice actress, who voiced Friend Bear and Swift Heart Rabbit in Nelvana’s Care Bears films and TV series, and also appeared in AlfTales.
Almos was also a writer of USA Network’s animated sitcom, Duckman, and as of 2006 has continued this job with An American in Canada and several animated series. In her heyday, she guest-starred in the Canadian television series, Diamonds.
In the 1980s Eva freelanced as a voice performer at the Toronto Radio Station, CKFM ( now CFMX), for in house radio commercials.
For a time in the mid 1980s she was romantically linked to Canadian Actor Jeff Wincott.
Blue Diamond. gia diamonds
Blue Diamond may refer to:
- A blue diamond, the most famous example being the Hope Diamond
- The Blue Diamond, the name assigned in 1954 to the air demonstration unit of the Philippine Air Force. In 1960, this was changed to The Blue Diamonds.
- Blue Diamond, Nevada, a census-designated place (CDP) in Clark County, Nevada, United States
- Blue Diamond Growers, a California-based agricultural cooperative and marketing organization that specializes in almonds
- The Blue Diamond (comics), a 1940s superhero from Timely Comics, a forerunner of Marvel Comics
- Impatiens namchabarwensis or Blue Diamond Impatiens, a member of the Balsaminaceae family
- The Heart of the Ocean, an important element in the 1997 Titanic film.
- Blue Diamond (truck platform), a collaborative agreement between Ford Trucks and Navistar International (previously IHC)
- A Viagra tablet (informal)
Blue Diamonds may refer to:
- Blue Diamonds, a Dutch 1960s doo-wop duo best known for their chart-topping single “Ramona”
- “Blue Diamonds”, a song from Rusted Root’s 2002 album Welcome to My Party
- “Blue Diamonds”, No. 92 Squadron RAF aerobatic display team.
- “Blue Diamonds”, a song from The Long Winters’ 2003 album When I Pretend to Fall
Thunderbolt (band). diamonds
Thunderbolt is a Norwegian heavy metal band that combines the classical influence of bands like Iron Maiden, Helloween, and Black Sabbath with a more modern, powerful sound like that of Bad Brains and Entombed.
After releasing their demo Bandits at 6 O’Clock in 2001, the band received multiple offers for a record contract and subsequently signed in Scandinavia with Face Front / WME (and Massacre Records outside of Scandinavia) for the release of their 2003 debut album Demons and Diamonds. The album received acclaim in Norwegian and international music press and was even appreciated by the mainstream Norwegian press — rare for a band in this genre.
Following the success of Demons and diamonds, the band played several gigs and festivals in Norway, Germany, and Scandinavia from 2003 through 2005.
Recording and mixing of the follow up album Love and Destruction was finished in the summer of 2005. However, due to matters in the hands of the record label it took quite a while to make administrative arrangements and bring this album to the public, It was finally released Friday 19. May 2006 and followed up by a Norwegian tour together with Paul Di’Anno (although prior to the release) as well as a major European tour supporting King Diamond (May-June 2006).
Pens (game). diamonds
Pens is a card game for two or more players. The players sit around a table, and a number of pens (one less than the number of players) are laid with equal spacing in the center of the table, at an equal distance from each of the players. Cards are then removed from the pack such that only one group of four of a kind per player remains. For example, if there were four players, one possible pack would be:
|
Three of diamonds |
King of diamonds |
|
Jack of diamonds |
Eight of diamonds |
The pack is shuffled, and four cards are dealt to each player. No player may look at another player’s cards.
The game starts when one player says “1, 2, 3, pass.” On ‘pass,’ each player passes any one of their cards, face down, to the player to their left. This process repeats until somebody has a hand of four cards of the same value, at which point they grab one of the pens in the middle of the table. The other players then do the same. The person left without a pen drops out, and the whole game repeats without that player. This continues until there is only one player remaining. That player wins the game.
If a player grabs a pen despite not having four of a kind, they lose the round. However, feinting is allowed, and if by motioning as if to grab a pen (without actually touching one) they cause other players to grab for the pens, the first to touch one loses the round.
Winkle squeeze. diamonds
A winkle is a rare squeeze/endplay in contract bridge in which a trick is offered to the defenders but whichever wins the trick is then endplayed. Often one defender would be forced to offer a finesse or ruff and discard while the other could overtake and thereby promote a trick in that suit for declarer.
An example end-position, South needing 4 tricks:
On the play of the last spade, West and North let go clubs, and East is squeezed. Pitching a heart yields an immediate trick in that suit, but if a diamond is pitched declarer follows with Ace and 3 of diamonds. If East wins the trick, they must lead hearts conceding the last two tricks there. If West saves partner by playing the king of diamonds on the second diamond trick, they must then concede the last two tricks to dummy’s now high Ace of clubs and Jack of diamonds.
Four Diamonds Fund. diamonds
The Four Diamonds Fund is a charitable organization based out of Penn State Hershey Medical Center. Its ultimate objective is to “conquer childhood cancer”. They take a three-pronged approach to this: medical care, financial and emotional support, and pediatric cancer research. Any child being treated for pediatric cancer at Penn State Hershey is eligible for support, and the Fund’s policy is to fully cover all medical costs not paid by insurance. Essentially, families never see a bill. They have helped nearly 2,000 families since 1972 and approximately 90 new families receive support each year. These efforts are partially funded by THON, an annual student-run philanthropy at Penn State.
The Four Diamonds Fund was established in 1972 by Charles and Irma Millard following the death of their son Chris from pediatric cancer. The name refers to a story written by Chris shortly before succumbing to the disease at the age of 14. After returning from summer vacation, his teacher told Chris’ class to write a story about what they did during their vacation. Chris had spent the summer being treated for his illness, and asked his teacher if he could write something else, to which she agreed. The Four Diamonds story relates the details of the quest of Sir Millard to retrieve the Four Diamonds of Courage, Wisdom, Honesty, and Strength. These were virtues Chris believed were necessary in the battle against cancer.
A Disney TV movie based on the Four Diamonds story was broadcast in 1995, starring Tom Guiry as Chris. Christine Lahti co-starred as his doctor (and the sorceress Raptenahad), Kevin Dunn as Charles Millard (and a mysterious wizard), and Jayne Brook as Irma Millard (and a beautiful hermit).
Los Lonely Boys (Los Lonely Boys Sofaking album). diamonds
Los Lonely Boys was released in 1997. The first track, “Diamonds”, has been updated and is the first single released from LLB’s 2006 album “Sacred”.
- “Diamonds” – 3:15
- “All Tied Up” – 2:00
- “My Little Angel” – 3:56
- “I Don’t Know (How To Say I. L. Y.)” – 2:32
- “Crazy Baby” – 2:45
- “Once Again” – 3:28
- “Losing You” – 4:03
- “Someday You’ll Realize” – 3:41
- “I’ll Make It Right” – 2:44
- “Are You Ready” – 3:57
- “Don’t You Cry No More (Hidden Track)” – 2:38
Ocean Dream Diamond. diamonds
The Ocean Dream is a diamond measuring 5.51 carats (1.102 g), rated in color as Fancy Deep Blue-Green by the Gemological Institute of America. The Ocean Dream is the only natural diamond known to the GIA to possess a blue-green hue, making it one of the rarest diamonds in the world. (A blue-green colour is commonly seen in artificially enhanced diamonds, whose colour is imparted by various irradiation methods.) After careful study, the GIA concluded that its distinct hue is a result of millions of years of exposure to natural radiation. The Ocean Dream originated in Central Africa, and is currently owned by the Cora Diamond Corporation.
The Ocean Dream was displayed as part of the Smithsonian’s “The Splendor of Diamonds” exhibit, alongside the De Beers Millennium Star, The Heart of Eternity and the Moussaieff Red.
Four Diamonds Fund. gia diamonds
The Four Diamonds Fund is a charitable organization based out of Penn State Hershey Medical Center. Its ultimate objective is to “conquer childhood cancer”. They take a three-pronged approach to this: medical care, financial and emotional support, and pediatric cancer research. Any child being treated for pediatric cancer at Penn State Hershey is eligible for support, and the Fund’s policy is to fully cover all medical costs not paid by insurance. Essentially, families never see a bill. They have helped nearly 2,000 families since 1972 and approximately 90 new families receive support each year. These efforts are partially funded by THON, an annual student-run philanthropy at Penn State.
The Four Diamonds Fund was established in 1972 by Charles and Irma Millard following the death of their son Chris from pediatric cancer. The name refers to a story written by Chris shortly before succumbing to the disease at the age of 14. After returning from summer vacation, his teacher told Chris’ class to write a story about what they did during their vacation. Chris had spent the summer being treated for his illness, and asked his teacher if he could write something else, to which she agreed. The Four Diamonds story relates the details of the quest of Sir Millard to retrieve the Four Diamonds of Courage, Wisdom, Honesty, and Strength. These were virtues Chris believed were necessary in the battle against cancer.
A Disney TV movie based on the Four Diamonds story was broadcast in 1995, starring Tom Guiry as Chris. Christine Lahti co-starred as his doctor (and the sorceress Raptenahad), Kevin Dunn as Charles Millard (and a mysterious wizard), and Jayne Brook as Irma Millard (and a beautiful hermit).
