Minnesota Bridge

St. Paul Winter Carnival 2012 Results

Results from the weekend tourney will be posted below as they are received.

Plenty of more action on Saturday and Sunday; be sure to attend and enjoy!

Grand National Teams

The time to focus on becoming District 14's GNT pick is swiftly approaching.

GNT coordinator Mike Cassel alerts us to many opportunities for this exciting event!

First - be sure to get qualified at your local club.  Mike can help you with questions as to how to do this.

Second - if you are able, do plan to compete in our Minnesota Joint Unit Finals.  This one day event is Saturday, March 10th at the Bridge Center of St. Paul.

Third - as long as you are qualified for this season's GNT event, head on down to the New Brighton Community Center on April 28-29 to battle against other teams.  If you end up at the top of the heap, your team could be the District 14 representative at the Summer NABC in Philadelphia!  Play at the Nationals along with a trip subsidy!

Mike has all the details about these events below the fold.  In addition, Mike explains why it is worth our while to compete in the Unit finals - although this is not a necessary condition to becoming a District winner.

Skinning A Cat

Some hands are straightfoward.  One line of play or one defense is clearly the best.  Nothing else would be considered.

Others, however, are more complex.  Should declarer play for a simple finesse - or the more exotic squeeze?  Set up a suit?  Or strip out a defender's exit cards?

In this week's Koch Korner, John ably takes on the task of weighing the best line of play.  Here's a hand that is of note both for bidding, offense and defense.  Enjoy!

Winter Carnival

The winter of 2011-2012 may not seem like much of a winter.  Nevertheless, the St. Paul Winter Carnival will assuredly be quite the tournament!

It's just a couple of days away.  Check out the schedule and be sure to attend one of Minnesota's winter highlights!

Destination: China

 

 

 

Ben Kristensen's USBF Junior team may be composed of all 13 and 14 year olds.  Do not, however, think that their young age means they cannot follow suit.  They do - and quite smartly!

Sunday, Ben and partner Burke Snowden, plus teammates Hakan Berk and David Soukup won a tightly contested match by five IMPS to earn the right to represent the US as USA2.  Over 64 boards, as the match swung back and forth, the Snowden team was on the plus side when it mattered.

My spies tell me that the boys will add Murphy Green and Arjun Dhir, two of the pairs they played against yesterday, to be their third pair.

We wish our wiz kid from Duluth the best as he gets ready for the 14th World Youth Bridge Team Championships and China this summer!  Hands and more detailed reports shall be forthcoming.

 

Top 100

Masterpoints are the coin of the realm for bridge players.  We earn them in club games.  Sectionals.  STACs.  Regionals.  NABCs.  Online.  There isn't a bridge player alive who doesn't like to add to their lifetime total.

So, here we are, starting out a new year - and looking at what the top 100 Minnesotans have earned for their lifetime masterpoint totals.

You might note that I, your webmaster, am at the top of the list.  I am honored to be there.  But please also note that no one gets their masterpoints without help.  If not for fine partners, tough teammates - and the occasional hapless opponent - we wouldn't have our masterpoints.  And - we would not be enjoying this great and complex game.

My thanks to Sue Jackson, Unit 178 president, for supplying us with the current top 100, along with the top 100 masterpoint winners for 2011.  Enjoy studying the stats.

Kudos to those who made the list - and - may everyone have a wonderful 2012 earning their new masterpoints!

Flair

Our spot cards are integral to bridge.  Sometimes having a five instead of a four can make all the difference.  Sometimes we have a touching series of spots, and the card played - at least in some respects - is irrelevant.  Once, while explaining how to lead to a beginner, I said, "If you have KQJ10x, lead your king and you will establish other tricks for yourself."  The student thought about this, then responded, "Why not lead the 10, and save the higher ones for later?"  Why not, indeed!?

In today's "Koch's Korner," John presents us with a hand where our spots matter.  Sometimes we play a spot card just to show off or for flair.  Other times - we do so because it's the only road to success!

North by Northwest

President Sharon Anderson continues her trek to clubs.  Thursday evening, she visited Tony Ames' game in Minnetonka.  Check out all the details and photos!

Doin' What Comes Naturally

Frequently, our natural instincts are exactly what is needed for success at the bridge table.  Just do what comes naturally; that's the ticket!

Some hands, however, are just the opposite.  To achieve the result we want, we must fight the tendency to take our "natural" course.  Today, John Koch presents us with such a hand - in spades!

Sharon at the TCBC

Check out her post and photos at her website!

Don't Forget!

Today (Wednesday, January 11th) is the day when the Twin City Bridge Center celebrates Sharon Anderson's new position as President of the ACBL!

Hope you can make the game at 11AM and celebrate with Sharon!

Andy's Cat

Andy Caranicas is one of our Twin Cities players who has had success at the national level.  In 2009, Andy won the 0-1500 Mini-Spingold.  That win was followed the next year with a Grand National Flight B victory.

Like many of our competitors, Andy sometimes plays at Bridgebase to hone his game.  In this speedball tournament, Andy analyses an interesting hand - and ...  Well, I will let Andy explain it in his own words below!

You might also wish to check out what Bridge Master is.  Andy references it in his article, and I was not familiar with it.  Looks like a super tool!

Thanks, Andy!

Sharon Anderson in Mexico

As she begins her term as President of the ACBL, Sharon will be traveling throughout ACBL territory.  You can read about Sharon's exploits in leading our organization at her website:  www.SharonRoeAnderson.com.  Here is the first installment; Sharon in Puerto Vallarta!

An Ode to the Bridge Center

Ingrid Stocking is one of our bridge players - and a poet, too.  Now, Ingrid has turned her talents to the game she loves.

Although no names are used, you may well recognize the competitors in Ingrid's poem below, "The Bridge Center."  If you are interested in learning more about Ingrid's poetry, feel free to contact her at istocking2000@gmail.com.  Thank you, Ingrid!

C-E-L-E-B-R-A-T-E!

Minnesotans could hardly be more proud that our own Sharon Anderson is the president of the ACBL for 2012! 

On Wednesday, January 11th, Unit 178 invites everyone to celebrate Sharon's new position.  At 11AM at the Twin City Bridge Center, we'll enjoy cake, day time duplicate - and have Sharon tell us all about her position and plans.

Be sure to come by to play and share the day with Madame President!

Every Step You Take

Those of us who love this game do so for many reasons.  One reason is, oddly enough, how difficult it is.  If the game were more facile, the intrigue would be far less.

Today, John Koch presents us with a hand that has many twists and turns.  At each step of the defense, lessons are to be learned and critical moves to make.  As always, John is most instructive in explaining how to find the steps to success!

Joe's #1!

Masterpoints.  They're what duplicate players earn for peformance.  The better the performance and the tougher the competition?  The more the masterpoints flow!

Every month, the Twin City Bridge Center posts a list of those who earned masterpoints that month, along with a cumulative total for the year.  In 2011, the person at the top of the list was Joe Rice.  Joe had an exceptional year, earning 211.75 at TCBC club games alone! 

The last 7 years, Sue Jackson and Don Priewert have topped the Club's annual masterpoint list.  But although the race was close going into December, Joe and his excellent partners played often and well.  Ultimately, Joe easily bested Sue and Don.

Well done, Joe!

 

Team-of-Two-Pairs

Although I've been playing bridge over 30 years, Friday night I experienced a new event!  The Minneapolis Grand Slam Club held the Team-of-Two-Pairs Mentoring game at the Twin City Bridge Center.  Two 9.5 table sections were organized.  One section had experienced players; the other newer competitors.  Team members were matched by sitting at the same table, same direction and playing the same hands; one pair from each section comprised a team.

A fun potluck prior to bridge allowed people to break bread, socialize and work on their convention cards.  Then, after the last hand was played, the two pairs who teamed together went over the hands, discussing triumphs and disasters.

Kudos to Peg Mitchell, MGSC president, for organizing and promoting the TOTP.  Thanks to Tony Ames for his able directing, with guidance from Mike Cassel.  And Teri and Chip Blu were wonderful with all their hospitality.

Two teams earned first and second with 60% games.  Congratulations to the victors, Judy Nassar, David Neiman, Shelly Husebo and Don Gray, and runners-up Steve Gaynor, Jean Boettcher, Andrew Yeckel and Keith Thompson.

An evening where the "old timers" could mix and match with our newer players was surely a treat!  Thanks to all who participated.  Here's hoping we can have an even larger game next time around!