The first day of NABC events has begun at the Fall Nationals in Seattle. Two of our Minnesota pairs are excelling!
In the Smith Life Master Womens, a well known Minnesota partnership currently stands in fourth. Will this pair event be the charm for Cindy Balderson and Carole Miner?
Also competing are Sharon Anderson and Peg Waller. Sharon is still beaming about the recent election that names her ACBL president-elect. Peg carefully studies her cards.
Best of luck to all our Minnesota ladies in the final two sessions!
This week, John Koch presents us with a hand with lessons and card reading from all angles. We must analyze who might have what from the bidding and defensive clues. Then, armed with that data, we must figure out how we can make a tough hand. As so often is the case, John is able to do it!
Sometimes when we perform such a feat, we look forward to accolades and a nice pick-up. Alas; sometimes, achieving well must be its own reward.
Sue Jackson, President of Unit 178, recently read bridge player and author Louis Sachar's book, The Cardturner. Below are some thoughts from Sue about the book - and from others, too!
By the way; I had the pleasure and honor of interviewing Mr. Sachar during the Houston 2009 NABC. This photo is from that interview.
Before we get stuffed full of turkey, sweet potatoes and pumpkin pie, before we get too wrapped up in presents that will need to be festooned for the holidays - a bridge reminder. The Holiday Sectional Tournament at the Bridge Center of St. Paul is coming up soon!
Finding the best opening lead can mean success or defeat at trick one. This week, John Koch instructs how to reason while selecting that all important choice.
"Fourth from longest and strongest" - although an old saw because often it works well - is not always a winner.
Thanks again to our stupendous tournament co-chairmen, Verda Gould and Kathy Beckman. All their hard work and tireless efforts - along with many volunteers, our great directing staff, caddies and YOU made MN State Sectional 2011 super!
Terry Lijewski and Kory Solarz earned a most impressive 42.43 masterpoints! Just a hair behind was Paolo Ranaldi, with 42.23. Very well done!
My teammates for the Friday afternoon BAM were pretty excited about our result in that event. I must admit that I never had a game quite like that. Out of a possible 24 score, we earned 22! That's over a 91.6% game.
We couldn't have achieved perfect. I cost a half a board when I misdefended against a game, turning our minus 420 into minus 450. And, I could have passed out a hand for plus 200 against 140 at the other table. Instead, I chose to double, and partner didn't judge to leave it in. Still - I and Kerry Holloway, Joe Rice and Tim Wernz were rather amazed as we compared, and the "win's" kept on coming.
We survived the "fall back" time change and finished the MN State Sectional on time!
Our thanks to co-chairmen Kathy Beckman and Verda Gould for all their hard work. Appreciation, too, to Mike Flader and his directing staff. They had to contend with a great turnout and find spots for all of us to play!
Great hospitality every day - and loads of fun!
Results are below. Official ACBL results will be posted as soon as they are available - along with some photos from the weekend, too.
Wonderful to see everyone's smiling face this weekend!
Bridgewinners has a feature called "In the Well." People very well known in the bridge world are put "in the well" - and then answer all sorts of questions that are put to them.
Currently, our own Joe Grue is "in the well." If you'd like to read the questions put to Joe - and his answers - then check out this link!
As some of you may have noted, last week we had no "Koch's Korner." A glitch between John Koch and me - along with John being at Central States Regional in Lake Geneva all week - left us bereft of our favorite Minnesota bridge writer.
We do, however, have double good news. First - John's efforts in Lake Geneva were well rewarded. Along with partner Paolo Ranaldi, John headed up the list of masterpoint winners! Second - we have a new and excellent column to read this Wednesday.
Bridge is a game of continual choices. Some are straightforward; many are educated guesses and less than appetizing. In this column, John wisely analyzes all.
Thanks, John, and kudos on your fine Lake Geneva showing!
