Minnesota Bridge

Steve Gaynor - A Gift to Us!

Moving Forward

And THANKS to Steve Gaynor!

Steve has been delightful in helping MN Bridge with so much of what has been happening!

Please join me in thanking Steve for all that he has done
And all that he continues to do!

You and Steve DO ROCK!!! 

 

Hello

 

I want to express my personal gratitude and congratulations to all of you for presenting a fine bridge experience for our members.  

 

All of you put in a lot of time and effort but it paid off in a positive experience for just about everyone who attended.   It was what our area needed coming out of the pandemic and I know many of the participants are counting the days until our next sectional.

 

Final figures posted today on the ACBL website were 158 tables (26+ per session), 1271.80 masterpoint won by 182 different players. It was a win/win all the way especially considering we experienced income over expenses.

 

Again, great job everyone, you all rock!

 

Cordially yours,

 

Steven Gaynor, President, ACBL Unit 178 (Viking).

We are On Our Way!

Our Apologies for Problems

But - We WILL be On Our Way!

Looking forward to connecting again very soon!  And appreciate your understanding!

Hold On to Your Hats!!

It’s almost time for the SIZZLIN’ SUMMER SECTIONAL!

When?

Wednesday, Thursday, Friday

August 3, 4 and 5

Where?

Southdale Mall, lower level, below Hennepin County Service Center

Paid/Team games everyday at 10 AM and 2:15 PM.

 

Best entrances are #8 (Dining Pavilion) and #13 by Hennepin County Service Center

Escalators and elevators at both entrances

Bring your favorite partner!

And let’s play bridge!

Thanks!

Vicky Smith

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The No-Trump Ladder!

THE NO-TRUMP LADDER

By Steven Gaynor

How many of you play a no-trump ladder?  Ok, why do you not all have your hands up?  Yes, you all play it whether you know it or not! 

When you have a balanced or semi-balanced hand you have a specific and unique way to tell partner exactly how many HCP’s you have within 1 or 2 points.  Let’s look at a typical ladder, most common among duplicate players.

Your hand shapes (with no particular order to the suits) are normally 4-3-3-3, 4-4-3-2, or 5-3-3-2.  6-3-3-2 is also OK in some instances.  How do you show your HCP’s?  Here is my ladder.  You should discuss these ranges with your partners and revise them if you like.

12-14: Open you convenient minor and re-bid 1N.  You just about guarantee you do not have 15 HCP when you re-bid 1N.   This way partner can pass those 9 or bad 10 counts knowing game is a long shot at best.

15-17: Open 1N*.  Consider doing this even with a 5-card major.  How else will you get your partner to know your HCP strength?  Take a hand with 2 spades and 5 hearts (2-5-3-3) and 15-16 HCP.  You open 1H and partner responds 1S.  Your next call is a big lie.  You are too strong to bid 1N, you do not have enough hearts to re-bid them, you cannot raise spades, and you do not have a 2^nd suit to show.  So lie about your heart length at the start and show your partner your overall strength.   It is just about always better to tell the truth about your strength when you have to tell one lie or another.

18-19: Open with your normal suit bid and jump to 2N (or raise partner’s 1N response to 2N).  If you jump to 3N you should be showing a long running suit (usually the minor you opened) and are hoping to get the lead early and cash nine fast tricks.  Partner’s first bid usually covers a suit in which you have shortness and no stopper.  It does NOT show the 18-19 HCP hand.  That is what 2N shows.  You should not have two bids that can mean the same thing.

20-21: Open 2N*. 

22-24: Open 2C and re-bid 2N*.

25-26: Open 3N*.The 25+ hands come up as often as the systemic bids (gambling, solid suit, etc.).

27-29: Open 2C and re-bid 3N*.  This rarely comes up unless you are my opponent at Rubber Bridge.

30-37: Check the deck to make sure it is not from a pinochle game.

*To keep things simple, I recommend that you use your normal responses over any strong NT opener or overcall (Stayman/transfers, etc.) no matter what level partner bids his strong NT (1, 2, 3).  If you do the same thing all the time you will not have to worry about it.

Current ACBL rules concerning 1 no-trump opening bids:

1. You MUST announce the range.  Please get used to this.
2. Opening with a singleton is OK as long as the singleton is a Q, K or A.
3. You cannot have a doubleton if you open with a singleton.
4. Examples of illegal 1 NT opening shapes include:
   1. 6-4-2-1
   2. Any hand with a void or two singletons.
      
                        Our thanks to Steve for these lessons!
      
            Part of our education is that we are ALWAYS LEARNING!

 

Steve Gaynor To the Rescue - Part Two!

Steven Gaynor (stev1249@comcast.net)

 

Unit 178 2022 Mini-McKenney - Halfway Standings

 

(All points won – local, online and tournaments)

 

     0 to 5   

 

Rita Stensgaard                      7.18

Randi Hogan                           6.58

Ellen Kluz                                5.54   

 

     5 to 20   

 

Richard Trachy                     13.16

Connie Falkenstein              12.10

Jean Reissner                      10.81

 

   20 to 50

 

Robert Chipinski                   20.07

Tom Pokonosky                    15.96

James Brink                          12.68

 

     50 to 100   

 

Jeffrey Knapp                       18.13

Peggy Lockwood                  16.30

Ken Rich                               15.77

John Cracraft                        15.77  

 

     100 to 200   

 

Thorwald Hansen                 25.36

Robert Diamond                   26.94

Dan McElroy                         23.47

 

     200 to 300   

 

Tom Sneed                           24.66

George Holmquist                24.23

Nora Walker                         18.05

 

     300 to 500  

 

Rolf Hubmayr                      78.97

Barry Bershow                    64.77

Thomas Botten                   52.41

 

     500 to 1000  

 

Rick Gavin                            65.75

Marc Ashton                         63.97

Michele Grindal                    58.25

 

 

     1000 to 1500  

 

Gary Knippenberg             103.77

John Schlundt                     70.66

Marylou Doerrie                  59.45

 

     1500 to 2500  

 

Sandy Fisher                      141.61

John Dunstan                      65.83

Jill Flader                              62.78

 

     2500 to 3500

 

Aly El-Selehdar                  109.42

Eric Hendrickson                 86.70

Joel Kramer                          75.58

 

     3500 to 5000  

 

Joseph Koester                 128.07

Judy Hansen                      115.55

Jean Boettcher                  107.75

 

     5000 to 7500  

 

Michael Flader                  114.52

Susan Jackson                    94.55

Kerry Holloway                    55.23

 

     7500 to 10,000   

 

Bob Balderson                   181.79

Cynthia Balderson             159.64

Brian Crossley                    141.95

 

    Over 10,000  

 

Paul J Meerschaert           306.45

Steven Gaynor                  153.03

Michael Cassel                  142.79

Steve Gaynor - To The Rescue!

What's Happening?

Steve Gaynor does a marvelous job of keeping us up to date!

Thanks, Steve - and - below is LOTS of info for us!

Unit 178 2022 Ace of Clubs – Halfway report

 

(Points won only at clubs – online or face to face)

 

     0 to 5   

 

Randi Hogan                        6.38

Rita Stansgaard                   6.49

David M Gregg                     3.83

 

     5 to 20   

 

Richard Trachy                   12.35

Connie Falkenstein            12.10

Jean Reissner                      5.93

 

     20 to 50   

 

Robert Chipinski               20.07

Tom R Pokonosky            11.97

James Brink                     10.7

 

     50 to 100  

 

Tom Lofthus                       14.48

Ken Rich                            13.92

John Cracraft                     13.92

 

     100 to 200   

 

Robert Diamond               26.94

Thorwald Hansen             20.16

Margaret Kinney              19.09

 

     200 to 300  

 

George Holmquist           24.23

Stan Jurgensen               17.64

Tom Sneed                      17.57

 

     300 to 500  

 

Barry Bershow                  63.43

Rolf Hubmayr                    29.04

Mary Stern                         28.43

Gary Stern                         28.43

 

     500 to 1000   

 

Rick Gavin                         62.46

Marcia Eaton                     56.31

Morris Eaton                      56.31

 

     1000 to 1500  

 

John Schlundt                  66.13

Marylou Doerrie               53.00

Gary Knippenberg           41.07

 

     1500 to 2500   

 

Sandy Fisher                      138.59

Carl Hartness                       50.21

Cindy Moat                           44.16

 

      2500 to 3500  

 

Aly El-Selehdar                  109.42

Chuck Cummins                   60.52

Eric Hendrickson                  53.31

 

      3500 to 5000   

 

Joseph Koester                   95.07

Judy Hansen                        92.39

Jean Boettcher                    53.23

 

      5000 to 7500  

 

Susan Jackson                    62.60

Roark Johnson                    33.50

Michael Flader                     25.45

 

      7500 to 10,000  

 

Brian Crossley                    122.40

Phil Schwarz                       108.98

Judy Schwarz                     108.98

 

      Over 10,000  

 

Paul Meerschaert              171.10

Steven Gaynor                    69.40

Michael Cassel                    67.38

Come One - Come All to the SIZZLIN' SUMMER SECTIONAL!

The SIZZLIN’ SUMMER SECTIONAL - It's Coming!!

August 3, 4 and 5, 2022.  Wednesday through Friday.

 

 Exciting pair/team games every day at 10:00 and 2:15.   Entry fee $12.

                                                                       

New site: Southdale Mall, lower level

below the Hennepin County Government Center (near Fitness Center). 

                                                         Free Parking

Lots of lunch options on the premises – and convenient shopping too!  

 

CDC/ACBL COVID guidelines followed (vaccinated or masked).  

Tournament chair: Barb Zipoy     barbzipoy@gmail.com

Partnership chair:  Vicki Smith       vsmith2945@gmail.com

 

 

 

 

 

Grand National Teams - Here They Come!

 

As of today, July 3, the Grand National Teams will begin in ten days at the Summer NABC in Providence, Rhode Island.

 

In District 14, the Flight C winners are David Nelmark, Phillip Hayne, Roll Heyer, and John Schaefer.

 

In Flight B the winners are Connie Nelson, James Schnepf, Wayne Reynolds, and Keith Thompson.

 

In Flight A the winners are Andy Caranicas, Richard Lawson, Eric Henderson, Paul Gutterman, Rob Schachter, and Mark Krusemeyer.

 

Finally, in the Championship Flight, the winners are Cindy Balderson, Bob Balderson, Kerry Holloway, and Kurt Schaeffer. Kurt is unable to travel to Providence, so Mike Flader will partner Kerry for the National event.

 

Each of these teams from our district will compete with 20 to 23 other ACBL districts, hoping to bring a National title back home.

We wish everyone the best - and that their efforts are successful - and fun!

Something for Everyone!

Is there a more fascinating game than bridge?  As far as I am aware, the answer is a
resounding "No"!  Yet in reality, bridge can be varied - in many respects - for a wide variety of players.

When I was in college at Madison, Wisconsin, that was when I became addicted to cards.  Yet oddly, I loved a host of card games - with bridge NOT being one of them! Friends taught me some rudimentary aspects of bridge, so I'd play a bit. Later, I came to Minnesota, with a similar trajectory... A game of bridge every 2 to 3 weeks - with stars - and beginners like myself.

Despite falling on my face many times, I began to play more and learn more. Then - the big thrill.  My Aunt Rosy, having a tournament in Oklahoma, invited me to attend!  She had friends for me every day - and we made it to the overalls throughout!  It became the first - and last - time that my masterpoint holding tripled!  The biggest thrill, however, was when we played on Sunday against Jim Jacoby's team.  We WON!!  We headed out for fun afterwards, with Mike Passel claiming that Aunt Rosy was the world's oldest living teenager - and now in her 90's, Aunt Rosy still is!

Bridge has changed in many ways over the years.  Yet people can enjoy the game, whether they are super stars - or folks who play here and there, with simple systems and more chatting and fun instead.  Whether you are 15 or 50, a beginner or a casual player, creative or a Grand Life Master - bridge can deliver a lifetime of both learning, triumph - and sometimes disaster.

Is bridge the greatest game around?  You betcha!  Just ask Aunt Rosy and Bob Hamman - and you will fall in love, too!

 

 

GNT Results for 2022!

2022 GNT Results

 

        The 2022 GNT District finals are completed!

 

14 teams competed for the chance to represent District 14 in Providence, Rhode Island to start the Summer Nationals.

4 teams came out on top of their strata.

         

The Superflight will be contested by the team of Kurt Schaeffer, Kerry Holloway, Bob Balderson, and Cindy Balderson.

         

Flight A will be contested by a 6 person team with lots of experience at the national level. Eric Hendrickson, Paul Gutterman, Andrew Caracas, Richard Lawson, Mark Krusemeyer, and Robert Schachter were the winners in Flight A.

 Flight B finalists are Connie Nelson, James Schnepf,         Wayne Reynolds, and Keith Thompson.

 Flight C winners are David Nelmark, Philip Hayne, Rolf Hoyer,   and John Schaefer.

 

Congratulations to our District Winners!

And Good Luck in Providence!

 

        

Keith Thompson

Unit 103 GNT Coordinator

The World According to Keith Thompson - (We are Thankful!)

Keith Thompson is Unit 103 GNT Coordinator - and we are fortunate to have him.  Keith has lots to share with us, for which we are grateful.  So I will share with you what Keith views as the good and bad (no "ugly" from Keith, thanks!)
We appreciate what he is doing - and look forward to what the future brings!
*********************************************************************************************

 Hi All - I am Keith Thompson, Unit 103 GNT Coordinator.

 

          The best experience I had during the recently ended Gopher Regional was seeing all the people I have played with, and against, in one place, and face to face. The social aspect of our game is very important to me, not to mention that it is impossible to feel ‘table presence’ when you play online.

          While chatting up all these old friends, one question kept getting repeated. “Keith” I heard, “ What is the status of the Grand National Teams?” So I will tell it to you so    that everyone will know, that there is good news and there is bad news.

          First the bad news. There were so few teams registered for the Grand National Teams this year that a semifinal wasn’t necessary to cut down on the field. That is not the sort of news I like to relate. I think that team games are a true test of bridge skill. It always amazes me that people who compete in pairs games are unwilling to test their mettle in the team arena. Just like you trust your partner in a pairs game, you trust your teammates in a team game, to help you best the opponents over a set number of boards.

 

Team games are fun! You don’t need individual heroics to save a match; you can count on your teammates to salvage a push. And you don’t need to berate yourself or your partner when things go south.  All four of you can share responsibility for a bad result! So you have many opportunities to show your character.

          But how about the good news? Well, the good news is related to the bad news. Because so few teams registered for the GNT semifinals, there is opportunity for more teams to enter before the finals commence on Saturday, June 18. We have openings for two Flight A teams to enter, and one more Flight C team. The Open Flight and the B Flight both have 4 teams registered, and these teams will face off that Saturday to determine the two teams to play for entry to the Nationals in Providence, Rhode Island.

The Director in Charge, Kimberly Hayward, has informed me that she will accept 3 more teams, on a first-come, first-entered system, to fill out the ‘A’ and ‘C’ flights.

 

          Here is an abbreviated version of the Conditions of Contest, for anyone who wishes to attempt to win a subsidized trip to the Nationals to play for District 14. Players should know that there are subsidies from the Units to help you get to the Nationals, and you will have free entry to the GNT sessions.

The Providence NABC starts on July 13, 2022

         Strata are determined by your Sept.1, 2021 master point total, so any points earned after that date will not affect your eligibility for a flight.

          Flight A no more than 6000 masterpoints

          Flight C must be a non life master under 500 masterpoints

          Players must be paid up ACBL members with principle residence in District14 as of a year previous to Sept.1            

A player must have played in a qualifying team game during the September through March qualification period (or the Unit 178 Last Chance Qualifier in May)

Are You Qualified?  To find out: check this link

https://web2.acbl.org/documentLibrary/play/GNT_Qualifiers/GNT_D14.pdf

 

Or: Go to the ACBL main page

Go down to Club Corner

Go down to Special Events

Go over to GNT COC/Qualifiers

Under GNT Qualifiers click on District 14

Any questions? Contact Keith Thompson, Unit 103 GNT Coordinator keithclockt@icloud.com

 

If you have a team of qualified players, this is what you wish to do next:

 

Teams need to register at their earliest convenience as this is first-come, first-entered. Please register by emailing names, emails and BBO names for all players to kim.hayward@acbl.org. Each team will pay a fee of $60 for the first day of the finals in June, and the two final teams $60 for the final. These fees are payable to District 14 GNT and should be mailed c/o Kimberly Hayward, Bridge Center of St Paul, 2603 6th Ave E, N St Paul, MN 55109.

 

The Finals to determine each flight's representation for the NABC will take place on the weekend of June 18 and 19, with two 26-board segments between the contending teams on Saturday to determine the two teams which will compete on Sunday.

 

The winner of the finals of each event will represent District 14 in Providence, RI at the NABC July 13- 17.

Information from Brian Weikle for Summer NABC at Providence

Brian Weikle Updates Us for Summer NABC
and
For The Fall NABC

**********************************************

For Summer  from July 13-24, the NABC will be held at the
Providence Convention Center

For Fall the NABC shall be at the Phoenix Convention Center

(no bridge play at the Hyatt)

 

 

 

CALENDAR OF BRIDGE EVENTS FOR TWIN CITY AREA PLAYERS

CALENDAR OF BRIDGE EVENTS FOR TWIN CITY AREA PLAYERS

from Steven Gaynor (e-mail: stev1249@comcast.net) 

(C): 612-708-7563   

PLEASE USE THIS WHEN PLANNING YOUR BRIDGE EVENTS IN ORDER TO AVOID SCHEDULING CONFLICTS – THANKS!

JUNETEENTH, 2022

 

If an event is not listed, it has not been sanctioned with the ACBL as of the date above.  These events and dates are subject to being changed by the local regulating authorities.

 

COLOR KEY:   NABC’S; DISTRICT 14 REGIONALS;  MINNESOTA SECTIONALS; DISTRICT 14 GNT/NAP EVENTS;

                              WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP EVENTS

 

2022

Jun 23 - 25     Granite City Sectional @ 850 19^th St. South in Sartell,

                         MN 

Jun 29 – Jul 2  REGIONAL @ Waterloo Center For the Arts in

 Waterloo, Iowa        

Jul 21 - 31     SUMMER NABC @ PROVIDENCE COMMUNITY CENTER IN PROVIDENCE, RI

Aug  3 - 5      Sizzling Summer Sectional @ Southdale Mall, Edina, MN

Aug   20        I/N Sectional @ St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Rochester, MN

Aug 22 - 28     REGIONAL @ Lake Hallie Eagles club in Eau Claire, WI

Sep             International Fund game month – Games @ local clubs

Sep 12 - 15     D14 STaC @ participating clubs

Oct    4        Yom Kippur starts (evening)

Oct  6 - 8      Med City Sectional @ St Luke’s Episcopal Church in Rochester, MN

Nov 24 - Dec 4  FALL NABC @ PHOENIX CC & HYATT REGENCY IN PHOENIX, AZ

Dec   1         I/N Sectional @ St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Rochester, MN

Dec 9 - 11    Holiday Sectional @ Bridge Center of St Paul, N. St Paul, MN

 

 

2022-23 Sectionals in District 14, but not MN

 

2022

Jul 15 – 17     Sioux Falls, SD

Aug 26 – 27    Hills, IA

Aug 27 – 28    Urbandale, IA (I/N)

Sep  8 – 11     Urbandale, IA

Sep 23 – 25    Spirit Lake, IA

Sep 23 – 25    Dubuque, IA

Oct 14 - 15     Davenport, IA

Nov  4 – 6      Waterloo, IA

 

Aug 26 – 27    Urbandale, IA (I/N)

Sep  7 – 10     Urbandale, IA

Sep 22 – 24    Spirit Lake, IA

Sep 22 – 24    Dubuque, IA

Oct 20 - 22     Davenport, IA

Nov  3 – 5      Cedar Falls, IA 

 

 

NORTHERN WISCONSIN (WUMBA) EVENTS 2022

 

2022

Jul 10 – 12     Fitchburg, WI (I/N REGIONAL)

Jul 10 – 12     Fitchburg, WI (open sectional)

Sep 15 – 17    Wausau, WI

Oct 13 – 15    Marquette, MI

Nov 11 – 13    La Crosse, WI

 

This calendar is made up from information on the ACBL website.  I do not have authority to schedule events. But I am willing to assist anyone trying to plan a bridge activity in finding the best dates to maximize potential attendance. 
Please contact me anytime for more information or if you have additions or corrections to this calendar.  

Granite City Sectional is Next Week!

One Week Away!
Connie Nelson

 

The 2022 Granite City (St Cloud/Sartell) Sectional starts one week from today, and runs June 23-25, Thursday-Saturday. Each day offers single-session events of Swiss Teams and Pair/Team games.  See our attached Flyer.

The friendly players of the St Cloud Duplicate Bridge Club invite you to come and play.  We already know we’ll be hosting players from Colorado, Texas, North Dakota, and South Dakota.  We have players from clubs in Woodbury, Mankato, St Paul, Minneapolis, Duluth and Rochester coming.  You should come too!

Here is the info you need, all in one place --

• The tournament will be held at a new location: the Sartell Community Center, 850-19^th Street South in Sartell. Games start at 9:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. daily.
• COME EARLY the first day you come to play. Allow for a little extra time to get the wristband signifying that you are fully vaccinated.  Currently, Stearns County is rated “medium” for COVID spread, and masking is optional.
• Check in at the Health and Safety Desk to get the vaccination wristband you’ll need to buy an entry or enter the playing area. Show both your ID and vaccination card at the Desk to get your wristband.  If you have played face to face bridge in MN, you are likely to be in our list of vaccinated players, and will only need to show an ID.
• Grab a cup of free coffee and some of our treats. 
• For lunch, several locations are conveniently nearby across the street. On Saturday, a complimentary lunch will be served, courtesy of the Unit 103, followed by a Unit 103 Membership meeting.
• If you need a partner or teammates, please email Connie Nelson at Connie@psg.us, prior to June 22nd.
• Buy your entries for your favorite games.
• With day games only, you may wonder what you’ll do in St Cloud in the evening. See the back side of our Flyer for LOTS of ideas.

We are excited to have our face-to-face Sectional back, and look forward to seeing you there.   We hope you have a great time, and take home lots of Silver!

Posted by Peg on June 16, 2022 | Permalink | Comments (0)

 

The 2022 Granite City (St Cloud/Sartell) Sectional starts one week from today, and runs June 23-25, Thursday-Saturday. Each day offers single-session events of Swiss Teams and Pair/Team games.  See our attached Flyer.

The friendly players of the St Cloud Duplicate Bridge Club invite you to come and play.  We already know we’ll be hosting players from Colorado, Texas, North Dakota, and South Dakota.  We have players from clubs in Woodbury, Mankato, St Paul, Minneapolis, Duluth and Rochester coming.  You should come too!

Here is the info you need, all in one place --

• The tournament will be held at a new location: the Sartell Community Center, 850-19^th Street South in Sartell. Games start at 9:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. daily.
• COME EARLY the first day you come to play. Allow for a little extra time to get the wristband signifying that you are fully vaccinated.  Currently, Stearns County is rated “medium” for COVID spread, and masking is optional.
• Check in at the Health and Safety Desk to get the vaccination wristband you’ll need to buy an entry or enter the playing area. Show both your ID and vaccination card at the Desk to get your wristband.  If you have played face to face bridge in MN, you are likely to be in our list of vaccinated players, and will only need to show an ID.
• Grab a cup of free coffee and some of our treats. 
• For lunch, several locations are conveniently nearby across the street. On Saturday, a complimentary lunch will be served, courtesy of the Unit 103, followed by a Unit 103 Membership meeting.
• If you need a partner or teammates, please email Connie Nelson at Connie@psg.us, prior to June 22nd.
• Buy your entries for your favorite games.
• With day games only, you may wonder what you’ll do in St Cloud in the evening. See the back side of our Flyer for LOTS of ideas.

We are excited to have our face-to-face Sectional back, and look forward to seeing you there.   We hope you have a great time, and take home lots of Silver!

The 2022 Granite City (St Cloud/Sartell) Sectional starts one week from today, and runs June 23-25, Thursday-Saturday. Each day offers single-session events of Swiss Teams and Pair/Team games.  See our attached Flyer.

The friendly players of the St Cloud Duplicate Bridge Club invite you to come and play.  We already know we’ll be hosting players from Colorado, Texas, North Dakota, and South Dakota.  We have players from clubs in Woodbury, Mankato, St Paul, Minneapolis, Duluth and Rochester coming.  You should come too!

Here is the info you need, all in one place --

• The tournament will be held at a new location: the Sartell Community Center, 850-19^th Street South in Sartell. Games start at 9:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. daily.
• COME EARLY the first day you come to play. Allow for a little extra time to get the wristband signifying that you are fully vaccinated.  Currently, Stearns County is rated “medium” for COVID spread, and masking is optional.
• Check in at the Health and Safety Desk to get the vaccination wristband you’ll need to buy an entry or enter the playing area. Show both your ID and vaccination card at the Desk to get your wristband.  If you have played face to face bridge in MN, you are likely to be in our list of vaccinated players, and will only need to show an ID.
• Grab a cup of free coffee and some of our treats. 
• For lunch, several locations are conveniently nearby across the street. On Saturday, a complimentary lunch will be served, courtesy of the Unit 103, followed by a Unit 103 Membership meeting.
• If you need a partner or teammates, please email Connie Nelson at Connie@psg.us, prior to June 22nd.
• Buy your entries for your favorite games.
• With day games only, you may wonder what you’ll do in St Cloud in the evening. See the back side of our Flyer for LOTS of ideas.

We are excited to have our face-to-face Sectional back, and look forward to seeing you there.   We hope you have a great time, and take home lots of Silver!

The Passing of a Member

We are sad to report that we have lost one of our members.

 

Jeff Dziuk passed away last night, from multiple medical problems.

Jeff was a Sapphire Life Master holding a bit more than 3,700 points.  He was a very long time member of the club, and Jeff did our bookkeeping for years on a voluntary basis.  He had lots of regular partners, namely Larry Johnson.

Both partners and opponents will miss Jeff.

A Memorial Service will be held at a later date.  Prayers and blessings to his family and many friends.

Kimberly Hayward, Club Manager
Bridge Center of St. Paul
651.490-5430 w
651.271.3500 c

 

 

 

 

 

June 25th - Unit 103 Membership Meeting to be Held

Unit 103 Membership Meeting to be Held June 25^th

 

While playing at the recent Gopher Regional, several of us wore our name badges identifying us as ACBL Unit 103 Board members.  A frequent question we encountered was: “What does a Unit Board do?”

Well, now is a perfect time to find out!  For the first time post-Covid, we will be holding an in-person Unit 103 membership meeting during the upcoming Granite City Sectional.

 

What Happens at a Membership Meeting?

Come and meet your Unit 103 Board Members -- learn what your Unit does, how Unit 103 “fits” inside ACBL, and hear quick updates on our Unit’s plans and finances.  Feel free to ask us questions or offer suggestions for the betterment

 of this game we all love! 

 

How do I know if I am a Member of Unit 103?

You are if you are an ACBL member and reside within the geographical area of Unit 103 (i.e. most of Minnesota, except Minneapolis and its suburban areas), or you live elsewhere but have retained your membership with Minnesota Gopher Unit 103. 

Other interested persons are welcome to attend the membership meeting, especially anyone considering joining ACBL.

 

What are the Meeting Arrangements? 

The annual meeting will be held on Saturday, June 25^th, during the St Cloud Granite City Sectional, held in Sartell MN this year.  Come and play in the Sectional’s team and pair games played each day from June 23 to June 25, and then join us for the Membership meeting between Saturday’s playing sessions on June 25^th.  The tentative start time is 12:30 p.m..

As a final enticement … there is such a thing as a free lunch!  A tasty luncheon will be provided.   

We look forward to seeing you there!

 

Sincerely,

The Unit 103 Board of Directors
Sue Greenberg, President

Matt Belau (Rochester)

Amy Dutton (St Paul)

Rajiv Kapadia (Mankato)

Connie Nelson (St Cloud)

Warren Nelson (Duluth)

Tom Owens (Woodbury)

Keith Thompson (St Paul)

 

The Bridge Center of St. Paul (the “Club”) helps newer players!

 

The Bridge Center of St. Paul (the “Club”) helps newer players

                

 

It was gratifying to see our newer players do well at the Gopher Regional.   The Club has several ways it supports these players.   

 

The Thursday Mentor Game   12:30 pm

 

Generally a Life Master mentors a non-life master but two non-life masters can also play together.  From our mentor game several did very well at the tournament .  On Monday, Linda Enrooth and Jan Jansen won the Gold Rush pairs, the first major win for each of them.  On Friday, Gail Baev and Bill Anderson won the Gold Rush pairs with Jan Jansen and Rita Mills 2^nd.   Many others won points, including some gold.  There was a lot of excitement.

 

 

The Thursday “Chat” Game    12:30 pm

 

Also on Thursday we have “Chat Bridge” for true beginners.  We encourage those who just finished one of our Beginners classes to join this game.  The pace is slower and coaches help answer questions during the play. 

 

Several of these “under 20 masterpoints” players competed in their first tournament.  On Friday the Gopher I/N game was too small so they were tossed into the Gold Rush pairs competing with players up to 750 masterpoints.  One pair, Francis Luikart and Laurie Carlson, averaged 46% for the two sessions.  Quite an accomplishment!  Ellen Kluz and Kris Verdin had 53.7% in an Open Side Game on Thursday.

 

 

New Novice game starting in June     Monday evenings

 

It’s a pretty big jump from “Chat” to the Mentor game, so we are starting a new 0-200 Novice game for Monday evenings at 6:30. 

 

Club Manager Kimberly Hayward (651-271-3500) can answer questions about these games and find you a partner.

 

Education offerings for I/N players

 

The Club offers classes geared to Novice and Intermediate players.  Larry Huiras heads this up.  Check our web site for upcoming classes.   www.bridgecenterofstpaul.com    Or do a search on “bc of st paul”

 

 Watch for our “Intermediate – Newcomer Sectional” July 28-30 held at the Club.

 

If you are a newer player and would like to grow your game in the most friendly bridge environment around, there are lots of folks at the Club ready to help.  Our wonderful mentors and coaches, too numerous the mention here, are all Club members who volunteer.   And of course, Kimberly Hayward makes everything go!

 

On behalf of so many …

 

Bill Voedisch

Board President, Bridge Center of St. Paul

Excellence from Keith Thompson - Unit 103 GNT Coordinator!

Keith Reports the Ups and Downs of Bridge

The best experience I had during the recently ended Gopher Regional was seeing all the people I have played with, and against, in one place, and face to face. The social aspect of our game is very important to me, not to mention that it is impossible to feel ‘table presence’ when you play online.

While chatting up all these old friends, one question kept getting repeated. “Keith” I heard, “ What is the status of the Grand National Teams?” So I will tell it to you  here, so that everyone will know, that there is good news and there is bad news.     

 First the bad news. There were so few teams registered for the Grand National Teams this year that a semifinal wasn’t necessary to cut down on the field. That is not the sort of news I like to relate. I think that team games are a true test of bridge skill. It always amazes me that people who compete in pairs games are unwilling to test their mettle in the team arena. Just like you trust your partner in a pairs game, you trust your teammates in a team game, to help you best the opponents over a set number of boards. Team games are fun! You don’t need individual heroics to save a match, you can count on your teammates to salvage a push. And you don’t need to berate yourself or your partner when things go south, all four of you can share responsibility for a bad result! So you have many opportunities to show your character.

But how about the good news? Well, the good news is related to the bad news. Because so few teams registered for the GNT semifinals, there is opportunity for more teams to enter before the finals commence on Saturday, June 18. We have openings for two Flight A teams to enter, and one more Flight C team. The Open Flight and the B Flight both have 4 teams registered, and these teams will face off that Saturday to determine the two teams to play for entry to the Nationals in Providence, Rhode Island.

The Director in Charge, Kimberly Hayward, has informed me that she will accept 3 more teams, on a first-come, first-entered system, to fill out the ‘A’ and ‘C’ flights.

Here is an abbreviated version of the Conditions of Contest, for anyone who wishes to attempt to win a subsidized trip to the Nationals to play for District 14. Players should know that there are subsidies from the Units to help you get to the Nationals, and you will have free entry to the GNT sessions.

The Providence NABC starts on July 13, 2022

         Strata are determined by your Sept.1, 2021 master point total, so any points           earned after that date will not affect your eligibility for a flight.

          Flight A no more than 6000 masterpoints

          Flight C must be a non life master under 500 masterpoints

          Players must be paid up ACBL members with principle residence in                          District14 as of a year previous to Sept.1            

          A player must have played in a qualifying team game during the September              through March qualification period (or the Unit 178 Last Chance Qualifier in              May)

Are You Qualified?  To find out: check this link

https://web2.acbl.org/documentLibrary/play/GNT_Qualifiers/GNT_D14.pdf

Or: Go to the ACBL main page

Go down to Club Corner

Go down to Special Events

Go over to GNT COC/Qualifiers

Under GNT Qualifiers click on District 14

Any questions contact Keith Thompson, Unit 103 GNT Coordinator keithclockt@icloud.com

If you have a team of qualified players, this is what you do next:

Teams need to register at their earliest convenience as this is first-come, first-entered. Please register by emailing names, emails and BBO names for all players to kim.hayward@acbl.org. Each team will pay a fee of $60 for the first day of the finals in June, and the two final teams $60 for the final. These fees are payable to District 14 GNT and should be mailed c/o Kimberly Hayward, Bridge Center of St Paul, 2603 6th Ave E, N St Paul, MN 55109.

The Finals to determine each flight's representation for the NABC will take place on the weekend of June 18 and 19, with two 26-board segments between the contending teams on Saturday to determine the two teams which will compete on Sunday.

The winner of the finals of each event will represent District 14 in Providence, RI at the NABC July 13- 17.

Good luck to all!