Minnesota Bridge

Gopher Recaps

For those who are not quite done with Gopher 2013 - you may find additional recaps to enjoy below from our Bulletin editor, Mike Cassel.

The Gopher - The End!

 

Another Gopher Regional has concluded. Many people contributed to making it a fine event.  A number of our players met with excellent success.

Among the latter group, the Balderson team seized the final KO event in Bracket #1.  They and their teammates are not infrequently found in the winner's circle.

Also big winners were my teammates:  Vern and Monte Evans and Bill Kent. Vern and Monte, session after session, return to compare with a scorecard that rarely has a misstep - and often has a substantial pickup.  And, after watching Bill Kent across the table for close to twenty years, I continue to be amazed by every aspect of his game.  His creativity in both bidding and play, his ability to imagine the entire hand from the start, then know what to do - and to handle it all so fluidly and effortlessly - is exceptional.  

The Kent team topped the masterpoint leaderboard for the Gopher.  As one who tried to stop my teammates from success at times, I can guarantee you that they were great! Bill, however, did sacrifice a couple of masterpoints by attending the District 14 Board meeting on Saturday morning.  Reports were that Bill ably took over the reins of the presidency, after our loss of Verda Gould to cancer earlier in the year.

To all who worked so hard for us this year - a big "thank you."  And to all our competitors who braved the monsoon weather of Twin City spring 2013 to attend - we are so glad that you did!  Please return next year - and bring a few friends along, too!  We will be looking forward to seeing your smiling faces.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our final Gopher Bulletin, results from throughout the week and hand records for the latter part of the tournament are all posted below.

 

Gopher: Lost and Found

Did you leave a:

• Black Benetton umbrella
• Soft sided Playmate cooler
• Red metal water bottle
• Purple plastic water bottle
• Black chair cushion 
• Blue Tupperware container

at the Gopher Regional?  If so, co-chairman Sue Jackson will deliver all to the Twin City Bridge Center at 60th and Nicollet.  Or, if you prefer, contact Sue and you can arrange to pick up your item from her Roseville home.

 

Last Day

This is the second year that Sunday is the last day of the Gopher Regional.  Organizers have judged that it's wiser to start a day early so that we can spend Memorial Day celebrating with friends and family.

Mike Cassel's final Gopher Bulletin is posted below.  Mike has thanked some of the many people who have contributed to another excellent tournament.  We couldn't do it without you! Special thanks to Co-chairmen Patti Stuhlman and Sue Jackson, DIC Mike Flader and all his other directing staff, our volunteers and their workers, caddies .... And all of our great players.

Whether you drove 3 miles to the playing site, traveled from nearby states or from one of the coasts, whether this was your first tournament or #300 - we are so glad that you could join us!  

Good luck today and looking forward to seeing you in 2014!

 

 

A Good Partner

We've all had it happen to us.  We're playing our little hearts out and doing just fine ... but partner is not.  A game fails when partner revokes.  On another hand, a cold slam goes by the wayside when partner calls for the wrong card from dummy.

Some might have harsh words for partner - or worse.  We've all seen people rant at the table.

Not Richard Lawson.

When his partner was struggling, Richard offered a cheerful "forget about it" to him. The opponents saw no anger and only support from Richard.

Playing bridge well is difficult - and we all have our moments when we do not rise to the occasion.  Kudos to Richard for understanding that being supportive of partner during such times is the wisest course - and for earning the respect of others, too!

A good partner can be tough to find.  Yet if you are looking for one - you will have found him in Richard Lawson.

A Few "Thank You's"

Any regional has a great many people who contribute to its success. Here are just a few of those super folks who have made the Gopher a fine tournament - and who help bridge in Minnesota throughout the year.

 

David Neiman, speaker

Chris Patrias, director

Caddies!

Gus Doty, District 14 Board Member

 

Hello Sunshine!

No locusts, but the Gopher Regional has been plagued with loads of rain.  Thursday and yesterday, however, brought us some lovely sunshine - in addition to loads of fun and new winners.

One of the special treats of our tournament, too, is seeing faces of friends who either do not live in the Twin Cities or who aren't able to get to the bridge table very frequently.  We are so glad that we were able to see their sunshiney faces!

Saturday's Bulletin is now available for viewing, too!

Gopher Reading Material

When he's not playing, our hard working editor is producing another fine Bulletin for us! Here is Friday's, along with recaps and all the hand records that have been in play so far.

Not Just the Competition

Needless to say, every bridge player loves competition.  Whether a local club game or the Spingold at a nationals, we want to do our best and win!

Yet, there is so much more to bridge.  

We have learning about the game, hearing stories of huge success and sad losses.  We have partnerships that last decades, and friendships to match.  We also have sharing and teaching and helping others to enjoy this game as much as we have.

Thursday, I/N players were treated to a free dinner in the hospitality suite.  There, volunteers such as Sue Jackson, Jean Boettcher and others met with our newer players over sandwiches and other tasty treats.  They reviewed hand records, explained bids and regaled the group with their own tales of winning and defeat.

Thanks to all those who make bridge such a great game - at the table and away.  And to our newer players - here's to a lifetime of enjoying both the best mind game there is - along with the people who play it!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Two Peas in a Pod

Before the game begins, most people are laughing and visiting.  Peder Langsetmo and Paul Meerschaert, however, are fastidiously studying their convention cards.

Two peas in a pod at the Gopher!

Smiles - and Furrows

Are competitors playing?  Or are they visiting before the game begins?  As your photographer roams around the room, it's always quite easy to tell from everyone's faces.

If it's the former, then generally faces are serious and brows are often furrowed.  If it's the latter, we see lots of laughing and smiles - as in most of the photos below.

Congratulations to those who have already earned a win.  Lots more bridge, lectures, hospitality and fun to be had this week!  Be sure to experience as much of it as you can!

Today's Bulletin and recaps for your review, too.  Our thanks to Mike Cassel for his late night efforts to produce them!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

They Play, Too!

Our tournaments simply would not occur if it weren't for our fabulous volunteers.  Here are a few of them - with their work set in place, they're concentrating hard at the table.

Sue Jackson, Co-Chairman

Patti Stuhlman, Co-Chairman

Rebecca Connolly, Partnerships

Kerry Holloway, Daily Speakers Coordinator

Get Some Sleep, T Beckman!

Terry Beckman, along with wife Kathy and teammates Terry Lijewski and Bruce Boje went undefeated to win Tuesday's Swiss Team.  Very well done - but - at this moment in time, it assuredly looked as if Terry needed to get a few more "zzzzzzzzzz's"!

First Full Day

Tuesday, the Gopher had its first full day of play.  "Full" it was!  Pair games, knock-outs and Swiss events were all available for our players.

Mike Cassel has results, hands, news, quips and upcoming events all posted in Wednesday's Bulletin.  Recaps are also below for your review - along with additional pics!

Start Your Engines!

The directors are getting the first games set up.  Players are meeting, discussing system and making partnerships.  The Great Larry Oakey is on hand.  Caddies are ready to go!

Six more days of bridge at the Gopher are awaiting us.  Be sure to enjoy as much of it as you can!

Also note that Tuesday's Bulletin is posted below. 

 

Forty Dozen Reasons!

If you see this woman with the fabulous smile, then be sure to tell her "thank you."  We have forty dozen reasons to do so; exactly the number of chocolate chip cookies Sue Shorter baked at home for our hospitality room!

Talk about sweets from the sweet!  

Thank you, Sue!

Learn Bridge in A Day

Prior to the official start of the Gopher Regional 2013, a most special event was held.  From Atlanta, bridge teacher extraordinaire, Patty Tucker, came to present her "Learn Bridge in A Day" seminar.

From all reports, it was an enormous success!  One hundred new bridge players attended!  Participants ranged from "never played bridge before" to "played some party bridge long ago" to "a little bit of duplicate experience."

Throughout the day, comments about Patty and her instruction could be heard.  "This is great!" "I'm learning so much," and "this is lots of fun" translate to a most successful venture.

Our community plans follow up, including further lessons and free plays.  We hope that these attendees will continue to learn more about bridge and be as fascinated with it as our long time players are.  Joining the ACBL to get all the perks that come with membership would be a plus, too.

 

Please give a big thanks to Patty to coming to the Twin Cities with her fine seminar - and to all the table helps and other volunteers who contributed to this special occasion!

 

 

 

Gopher Bulletins

Mike Cassel, the Gopher Bulletin Editor, needs volunteers to help pick up daily bulletins around 8:15AM at the Edina FedEx Office.  It's located at 3535 Hazelton Road.

If you could help with this - or know someone who could - please get in touch with Mike at mc2mikec@aol.com.

 

Thanks much!

Monday's bulletin is posted below.

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!

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!