Minnesota Bridge

Mentors

If you're looking to improve your game, a wide variety of options are available to you.  Read books.  Subscribe to good bridge magazines.  Take lessons.  Kibitz top players.  Study system and judgment with your regular partners.  Play.  Play.  Play, and play some more!

Another option is to play with someone who is clearly a better player than you are.  How do you do this, you may well ask?  Some of our more experienced players are generously willing to donate their time on occasion to "pay it forward" to those who are learning. 

At the Twin City Bridge Center on September 10th, a mentorship game was held.  Each pair consisted of  a player with under 300 points and a Life Master.  This fun and educational evening produced twenty-two tables!  The unflappable and irreplaceable Larry Oakey did a super job of directing.

Three pairs earned 60% games or higher:  Marylou Doerrie and Irwin Boris, Garry Holden and Dave Hellwig, and John Schlundt with Matthew Bribitzer-Stull.

Thanks to everyone who participated in the mentorship game!  Be you mentor or up and comer - consider this fine choice in the future!

Almost Autumn

And almost the start of the Minneapolis Grand Slam Club!

This year's first game will be on September 11th.  You can see the calendar for the 2009-2010 season here.

Andy Caranicas, President of the MGSC, has requested that his welcome letter be posted.  You can read it below.

If you are serious about improving your game, if you wish to play against the best players in Minnesota, if you like being in an atmosphere that is competitive yet friendly, if you desire a schedule filled with a variety of fun events - then you definitely should consider the MGSC on Friday nights! 

By the way; you need not be a member to play at the Club.  But, the benefits are many.  So, if you are going to play, a membership is a wise investment!

Look what it did for Andy:  a national championship!

Novice-Expert Mentorship

Are you a newer player who would love the opportunity to play with a more experienced partner?  Well; do we have a deal for you!

The Twin Cities Bridge Center has a novice/experienced partnership night on Thursday, September 10, 7PM.  Players with masterpoint holdings under 300 may request an experienced partner.  The cost of this event is $10 for the novice players.  Players with more than 300 masterpoints are requested to volunteer for this fun event.

Please either sign up at the Bridge Center, or contact Teri Blu at 612.861.4487.

 

Around the Corner

Fall colors.  Cooler temps.  Kids back to school.

Yes, I know it's still mid-July, but autumn is not that far away!  And, as always, with autumn comes the start of the Minneapolis Grand Slam Club.  President Andy Caranicas requested that I alert everyone that the MGSC will begin its 2009-2010 season on September 11th.  As has been the case for some years now, the Club will continue to meet at the Richfield Community Center at 70th and Nicollet.

Enjoy those days at the lake and long days!  Soon they will be gone - but - great bridge times are ahead!

Bridge Anywhere!

ACBL has a new tool for bridge players on the go.  No matter where you are in ACBL territory, you can now easily find bridge clubs to get your fix - be you in part of District 14, or far, far away in Boise, Boston or Birmingham.  Even directions are available!

If you're returning to Minneapolis from the very fun Des Moines Regional that ended yesterday, here's what you might have seen ....

Mentoring

Counting the various ways that people learn bridge surely would be a number greater than 13.  I remember when I first began.  I read everything that I could.  I kibitzed expert players.  Playing and trying as much as possible was always on the schedule.

In addition, however, I was fortunate.  More than one excellent player took me under their wing, playing with me, explaining, teaching.  As wonderful as all the other methods are, somehow, little seems to compare to having a top notch player tell you why your bid wasn't the wisest choice, or how you should have figured out what best to lead.

Last night at the Twin City Bridge Center, an entire room full of Life Masters signed up for an evening with non-Life Masters.  They then battled away for the evening, with some pairs earning fine scores.

Mike Cassel has kindly written up a report about the night.  Thanks to Mike for writing this, to all the experts who donated their services for an evening - and to all those players everywhere, who give to others simply because they are Nice Guys and love the game so much.

Minneapolis Grand Slam Club

It's over thirty years now, but I still well remember my partner Chris Patrias introducing me to the MGSC.  (Yes, that Chris Patrias - the fellow who is now a national director!)  Chris said to me:  "The MGSC is the toughest game in the Twin Cities.  All the best players are there.  Winning is far more difficult here than at any other club game."

With trepidation, we entered - and together, we managed to win my first MGSC game! 

Yet, Chris was right.  Whether "beginner's luck" or not, many more sessions passed before I won another game at the elite MGSC.  Chris was also correct that the "best of the best" played there.  If you wanted to learn and compete against those who would deliver the hardest punches - the MGSC was the place to be.  Current super-stars like Steve Garner, Howie Weinstein and Joe Grue honed their games at the Club.  Many other top players, like the late Jim Hall and many from the more distant past, were MGSC members.

What is the MGSC like today?  Our finest competitors are still there.  On any given night, you can find folks like Larry Oakey, Cindy & Bob Balderson, Carole Miner, Kurt Schaeffer, Kerry Holloway, Sharon & Roger Anderson, Phil & Judy Schwarz - and many others.  This abbreviated list is just a taste.

The MGSC has changed over the years.  Though one of the first clubs to adopt then innovative bidding boxes, Director Tony Ames has added duplicated boards and hand records each week. 

The Club has also "mellowed" with time.  It's still a most competitive place, but more intermediate players now attend.  These players realize that to ramp up their games, knocking heads with the "big guys" is a superb way to do it.  Thus, today's MGSC is a pleasant mixture of seasoned competitors, along with those who yearn to learn and improve.    

Tomorrow, the MGSC schedule heralds its two session Board-A-Match team game.  One of the few places outside of a NABC tournament to offer this event, players can compete in what many believe to be the most pure form of bridge. 

The MGSC does have a paid membership, which includes a weekly bulletin, ably produced by Richard Lawson, four "free plays" and an excellent season-end party, subsidized by the Club.  Anne Schaeffer coordinates yummy treats each game.  If you've never been to the MGSC and you would like to stop to check it out, the MGSC meets every Friday at the Richfield Community Center at 70th and Nicollet.  The games begin at 7:15.  There, you will find a great director, stiff competition - and a warm and friendly group of bridge players!