Minnesota Bridge

Four Days Away!

Two great events are now only four days away!

Patty Tucker's seminar, "Learn Bridge in A Day" is scheduled for Monday, May 20th.  If you are interested in teaching bridge, having friends learn - or if you are someone who currently doesn't play but would love to do so - then be sure to attend Patty's seminar.

Then, Monday evening is the kick-off for the Gopher Regional. Co-chairmen Patti Stuhlman and Sue Jackson have a marvelous week of bridge, lectures, hospitality and more scheduled for us.  If you need assistance finding partners or teammates, then Rebecca Connolly and her partnership desk can be of service.

The full week of events and activities can be found here.  Be sure to attend the crown jewel tournament on Minnesota's calendar!

Education from Two Champs

Technology continues to alter the way in which we work, play - and learn.  With the advent of online bridge, we have the opportunity to play bridge with a partner in Duluth or Dubai, play at 10AM or midnight, enjoy a tournament or match play.  And - we have the opportunity to learn bridge from the best.

Ralph Katz, one of our nation's most successful bridge professionals, has teamed with Turkish star Melih Ozdil to offer the Ozdil-Katz Online School of Bridge.  No matter where you live, if you'd like to improve your game and learn the secrets of a bridge star - now you can.

Next month's lessons begin on May 6th.  Information on Katz' and Ozdil's biographies, the Ozdil-Katz school and how to sign up for classes are all below!

Learn Bridge in a Day!

Do you have a friend who doesn't know how to play bridge - but who wishes they could enjoy it as you do?  Here is a marvelous opportunity for them!

On May 20th, at the Thunderbird Hotel, nationally known educator and top level player Patty Tucker will be presenting her "Learn Bridge in a Day" seminar.  Five hours - and the tools to start playing!

Please check out the flyer below.  Let all your friends know you can learn bridge rapidly and begin to have as much fun as we do!

Learn Bridge in A Day!

The Nebraska Regional is offering a wonderful opportunity to learn how to play bridge and how to teach bridge in one day!  Check out this post at District 14 Bridge to learn all about Patty Tucker and her superb seminar!

Of course, all who can should plan to attend this super-fun regional, too!

Fun AND Good!

How much in life is fun and good for you?  Not much, but...

Bridge is!

Bridge is a challenging game even for adults, requiring strategy and the memorization of complex rules. Yet evidence of its academic benefits is still largely anecdotal. A 2005 study by Christopher C. Shaw, a retired business professor and bridge player, found that a group of bridge-playing fifth-grade students in Carlinville, Ill., made larger gains on standardized tests than their classmates, but academic scholars have called these findings limited and preliminary. Mr. Shaw is conducting a similar bridge study with students in Mount Pleasant, Iowa.

“My intuition says bridge is a really good tool to develop critical thinking and inferential reasoning, plus it gives them a lifetime recreational skill,” Dr. Shaw said.

Master Solvers Club

At one point or another, all serious bridge players either subscribe to or read The Bridge World.  Founded in 1929, The Bridge World is written by and for the expert competitor.

One of it's most popular features is the "Master Solver's Club."  A variety of ultra-difficult problems are given to both experts and readers.  Awards are given for various answers, and, you can see how you stack up against the experts at the end of each session.

Steve Gaynor avidly reads The Bridge World; one problem in particular recently caught his eye.  He wrote a thoughtful article about it, which you can read below.

For what it's worth, I'm a 2 diamond bidder.  Just part of what makes this game so fascinating; there are always varied opinions!

How to Read a Bridge Column

Long time successful Twin Cities bridge competitor and bridge writer, Murray Appelbaum graces us today with a column about reading columns!

He Who Hesitates - Part I

Bridge is a fascinating game for a multitude of reasons.  One of those reasons is that we are constrained in how we communicate with our partners.  As we all know, when we bid, legal communication is quite limited.  We have the various suits from 1 to 7 plus no trump, double, redouble - and the almighty pass.  When we raise partner's 1 spade opener to two, our bidding box doesn't offer us a choice of:  "mediocre raise to two," "middle of the road raise," and "right on the cusp of a limit raise" selections.  No, we just have to evaluate each hand as best we can, then go with what we think is the best.

Needless to say, good bridge demands some thinking - and often, thinking versus not thinking takes time.  The more time we take to make our bids and plays, however, the greater the odds that we have communicated information to our partner that is outside the bounds of what is "legal" than when we bid in tempo.  Nothing whatsoever is wrong with taking time to think; we all do it.  Yet, when we do so, we must appreciate that our partner is under a greater burden to not take any inferences from our extraneous actions.

Last week, Paul Gutterman wrote a nice article about some crossover between poker and bridge.  This week, Paul shares with us the first of what we hope will be many columns on the important and perplexing issue of communication at the table.

Thank you, Paul - and - enjoy, everyone!

Two Over One

Are "2/1" systems a mystery to you?  Would you like to understand how they work - perhaps even be able to play 2/1?

Then Tom Hammond's lessons at the Bridge Center of St. Paul are perfect for you!

Tom's lessons will begin on Thursday, December 2nd, from 10AM to noon.  Cost for each of these four lessons is $5 per session.

All the details about how you can learn more about "Two Over One Game Forcing" are below.

Gopher Bridge Talks

Would you like to review some of the talks given at the Gopher Regional?  Were you unable to attend one or more of the talks during the tournament?  Were you (gasp!) unable to be at the Gopher?!?

Not to worry!  Stephen Jackson has kindly sent me three of the talks; two given by John Koch and one by Keith Connolly.  You can upload them below.

My thanks to Stephen for sending these, and to John and Keith for all their efforts and instruction.

Teachers for Life

What happens when you retire from being a teacher?  You go on teaching and teaching and teaching... at least, that is what has happened to Sue Greenberg and Judy Harris of Rochester!

Sue Greenberg and Judy Harris have retired from working in the classroom, but they haven't retired from teaching.

Greenberg and Harris have spent a combined 60-plus years teaching in Rochester public schools and will soon begin teaching a community education class about how to play bridge.

The pair played along with nearly 100 other local people Sunday, the last day of the annual Hiawatha Valley spring sectional tournament in Rochester.

Greenberg said she started playing after she retired, about a decade ago. Harris' parents played the game so she has played it socially for many years.

The problem solving and quick-thinking attracted Harris to the game.

"It's always different, and you're always learning," Harris said. "You're always studying, but you can't possibly master it."

Greenberg said the other members of Rochester's bridge community helped her learn the game. She hopes to allow others that same experience.

"At the beginning, they were really helpful to us," Greenberg said. "Now it's our time to give back."

Our thanks to Sue and Judy for all their efforts to promote our game!  Thanks, also, to Greg Caucutt, an integral part of the Rochester bridge community, and the person who alerted us to this excellent newspaper article.

Twin City Junior Bridge

Bridge is the greatest game there is - and now, the next generation can learn to enjoy it!

Teri Blu, owner and instructor at the Twin City Bridge Center, is having classes Sundays at 6:30PM for junior bridge players and their parents and grandparents.  After a short lesson, everyone can play!

Last night, 11 kids and 17 adults made up 7 tables of bridge, with all participating.

Teri says that the evening last about two hours.  The classes began last night, April 11th, and five more are scheduled.  Evan Sachs, who has been instrumental in teaching junior players in our local schools (pictured here), came with his grandchild!

Please consider bringing your favorite younger person to learn the joys of the finest mind game there is.  If demand continues for more lessons and games, Teri is happy to schedule them!  Contact the Twin City Bridge Center at 612.861.4487 if you would like further information.

Fun at the Bridge Table

A winter wonderland covering the landscape?  Not to worry.  You can always have fun at the bridge table!  Irrespective of the weather, time of year - or wherever you are, our game is the greatest.

Steve Gaynor instructs us today on how to get the most fun out of every game we play! Please see below.

A Teacher's Inspiration

Teachers and inspiration.  When we contemplate them, we think of students who were inspired by their teachers.

Sometimes, however, the tables are turned.  A student can inspire the teacher!

Paul Meerschaert shares such a story with us.  Somehow, though - my guess is this teacher inspired his students, too.

Thanks, Paul!

Education Wrap-Up

Stephen Jackson did a super job at the Gopher!  In between our morning and afternoon sessions, Steve organized local experts to give talks on a variety of topics.

For those who missed the segments, Steve has kindly organized copies of each speaker's notes.  Just click on the links below; you can get a feel for each day's lecture.

Thanks, Steve - and thanks to all our experts.  Enjoy!

Expert Night

A few years ago, Sharon and Roger Anderson built a beautiful new home.  They included a gorgeous kitchen, wonderful master suite, den with a view, and a bridge room.

Bridge room?

Yes!  For decades, bridge has been a major part of the Andersons' life.  In addition to being expert players themselves, Sharon and Roger have "given back" tremendously to the bridge community.  Both have served on Unit Boards.  Both have worked as tournament chairs, and Sharon has run Minneapolis tournaments, all the way up to our last NABC.  Now, Sharon is representing District 14 at the ACBL.

For the Andersons, however, this is not enough.  They built the "bridge room" with a plan.  Part of that plan is to help educate newer and intermediate bridge players.  Several times a year, local experts such as Kerry Holloway, Cindy and Bob Balderson, Mike Flader and others prepare a lecture on a topic of their choosing.  After a great pot luck dinner, participants listen keenly to the lecture, then play hands selected by their expert that relate to the evening's topic.  Larry Oakey donates expert directing services.  Afterwards, hands are discussed and the evening's expert answers questions.

Last week, Phil Schwarz was the able expert.  Phil's topic was "counting" - something that is critical to becoming a good player.  Though Phil's hands were tough, everyone enjoyed the evening - from the delicious dinner to all the bridge activities.

As a bonus, an international expert made a surprise entrance!  Richfield's own Steve Garner was in town, and Steve regaled us with tales of international bridge, elite competition and more.

Unit 178 President Marv Riedesel works with the Andersons to arrange these great evenings.  Our thanks to Marv, Larry, all the experts - and of course, Sharon and Roger - for donating so much to our bridge community!  You all are the best!

Do check out this link, too, for lots more photos of the latest Expert Night!

Bridge Battle

We all love our game.  Yet, training the next generation to engage in our game as we have is critical.

I am happy to report that youth bridge is on its way in Minnesota!  Bill Phillips has kindly supplied me with both details and photographs of last Thursday's first intra-school bridge match in the Twin Cities.  St. Anthony faced Cretin-Derham Hall.

A team-of-four match (board-a-match) scoring was used in conjunction with the ACBL Spring School Tournament.  Six hands were played, with Cretin winning a close match:  3.5 to 2.5

Mary Vik coached the Cretin team:  Vince Vick, Gino Patera, Nick Gleason and Jack Simpson.  Bill Phillips and Jean Sanford were the St. Anthony coaches for:  Mike Jacobsen, Alaric Leger, Ryan Burr and Miles Crocker.

Needless to say, the coaches were delighted to see their students engaged in serious competition for the entire match.  Afterwards, everyone analyzed hands, received constructive advice and appreciated the collegial spirit of the event.  Future matches are anticipated anxiously!

Our thanks to Mary, Bill and Jean - and for these new players for their interest and intrigue in our great game!

Volunteers

We need you!

Mary Vik is teaching bridge at Cretin Durham Hall High School.  Students there need help with learning how to play on line.  If you are able to donate an hour of time during the lunch hour to assist Mary and the kids, we would greatly appreciate it!

Please contact Sue Jackson at 651.636.4446 or SJACKSON@smumn.edu if you are able to help out.  And thanks in advance!

 

Frequency

Bidding and defensive agreements are myriad and varied.  We all have our favorites:  Drury, Roman Key Card, UDCA, 3/5 best leads - and on and on and on.

When you've got an established partnership, remembering the plan usually isn't too cumbersome.  But a new or infrequent partnership?  What to do?

Steve Gaynor to the rescue, that's what!  Steve has some excellent advice for players, whether you're a 99er or a long-time Life Master.  Please see below.

Chat Bridge

 “Chat Bridge” may sound like intriguing gossip following a session of our favorite game.  Delicious, perhaps – but – “Chat Bridge” is something much better!

Chat Bridge is two hours of bridge playing, preceded by a half hour mini-lesson.  Hands for the Chat Bridge come from an earlier duplicate game.  With this tool, players can compare their results with those recorded on score slips from the prior session.  Several experienced volunteers circulate around the room.  They are ready to answer questions about bidding and play – ergo, the name “Chat Bridge.”  Participants arrive both with and without partners.  An effort is made to pair singles with a partner of comparable skills.

On Saturday mornings at the Twin City Bridge Center, Chat Bridge players are able to enjoy freshly baked ‘mini muffins’ from Perkins across the street.  Both social and more serious bridge players arrive at 10AM; usually 9 to 12 tables are in play.

Do consider trying Chat Bridge both for the fun and learning aspects!  Additional Chat Bridge opportunities are available at the Twin City Bridge Center on Mondays at 1PM and 7PM, and Thursdays at 7PM.

And please enjoy more photos below from Valentine's Day's Chat Bridge session!  (Please note; if you'd like to see a larger version of each photo, merely click on it.)