Every Thursday night at the Post, seven o'clock, back room, past the bar. Fourteen regulars this fall and whoever else wanders in. It's open to members and Auxiliary both, which is why two of the best players on the list are ladies, and if you've got a problem with that, you can take it up with Barbara, and good luck to you.

Two-handed games. We draw for opponents each round, six rounds a night, and you don't play the same person twice in one night. A win is 2 points in the standings. Skunk somebody and you get 1 more. No muggins on Thursdays. Bring your own board if you want; there's a stack of mine on the shelf if you don't.

The fall season started Thursday, September 9, the week after Labor Day, and runs through the second Thursday in December. Three nights in, here's where we stand.

That's 126 games, and yes, the wins and losses come out even. Dorothy checks my arithmetic. Ties are listed by wins, then alphabetically. Joe T. would like it known that he's been having trouble with his new glasses. Your page editor would like it known that he is tenth, and that he is letting everybody get comfortable.

Last Saturday of every month, one o'clock, at the Post. Five dollars to get in. Single elimination, best two out of three, and muggins counts, so wear your glasses. First place gets half the pot and one of my long boards, second gets a quarter, and the two losing semifinalists split what's left.

September: Saturday, September 25, 1999. Sixteen players, $80 in the pot.

High hand of the day: 24, by Stan T., a double double run, 7-7-8-8 with a 9 cut. He counted it right the first time, which with muggins on is the real accomplishment.

Most painful moment: me, third game of the semifinal against Barbara, needing three holes to go out, holding a hand worth two. She pegged out. She was very gracious about it, which made it worse.

That's Vernon's fourth long board. He says he's using them for shelves.

Next tournament: Saturday, October 30. Thursday nights continue every week; next one is Thursday, September 30.