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If you glance at the top spots in almost any competition in Minnesota, there are good odds that you'll see Paul Meerschaert's name up there.
Paul has graced us with an article based upon a hand he recently had with another Minnesota star: Cindy Balderson. See below - and enjoy!
As always, John Koch provides us with a well-reasoned article about how to calculate success at the bridge table.
In this column, however, John also has insight into what not to do vis a vis proper behavior at the table!
I assure you; both are important.
Please see below for another entry into the John Koch Card Corner!
Sue Shorter has a longer title now. She's a Life Master!
Congratulations, Sue!
Many of you have been enjoying John Koch's exceptionally well done columns every Wednesday in John Koch's Corner. John is a national champion (along with teammates Tony Ames, Rod Beery and Mary Egan in the Senior KO) and one of Minnesota's top players.
John gave a lecture before the evening session on Saturday, and I saw that many of you wisely judged to partake of John's expertise.
For those poor souls who missed John's talk and are not sure who he is - this would be our champ!
Today, Sunday, is the day of our Barometer Pairs. For those who have never played in this event, it really is different, fun and exciting.
Instead of playing various boards at every table throughout the session, boards are identical contemporaneously at each table. Thus, if table #1 is playing board 13 - pairs at tables #2 through #13 are also. At the end of each round, you immediately know your matchpoints for those two boards, for you have comparisons as soon as the round ends and the directors are able to score.
It is very important to be quiet when you compete in a barometer. Others are playing the same hands as you are, and comments about anything having to do with the hands on the table can spoil the competition.
Knowing how you are doing each round, though, rather than having to wait for the end of the session for comparisons, adds a unique and distinctly exciting aspect to this form of the game.
We look forward to seeing everyone at the Gopher today for this great event!
And - here is a photo of four fellows who already won an event on Saturday! Plus, of course, Darlene Anderson's Sunday Bulletin below.
Please note; we have a correction to Saturday's Bulletin. The new and improved Saturday Bulletin is also posted here.
Welcome and congratulations to this first-ever-to-duplicate pair! We're so very glad you could join us at the Gopher!
Here is one of our newest Life Masters!
If you know of other folks who have reached this important milestone, please grab me so we can get a photo.
This caddy not only delivers boards to and fro - he's a player himself! Evan Sachs faithfully trains a group of students at St. Anthony school every week. We're glad to see the caddys working at the tournament - and hope that they can play some, too!
I didn't think that the rules allowed for someone having this good of a time at the tournament!
DIRECTOR, PLEASE!
Peg Waller, being her even more than usual cheerful self.
Play Saturday in a pair event or a compact knock-out - or the continuing saga of #3 KO, should you be so fortunate and talented.
Play Sunday in the B/C/D pairs, or the fun and exciting Barometer Pairs. Then on our final day, try to beat the rest of the field in the Swiss.
In the meantime, please see below for Darlene Anderson's bright and informational Daily Bulletin for Saturday! And - of course - a few photos, too.
If they end up playing half as well as their dad and grandpa, Monte and Vern Evans, future bridge stars is an understatement!
My friends complain that I only write about hands in which I'm involved. A fair enough charge - and I am happy to report about fascinating hands from other pair or team events. But - I have to hear about them first!
If you happen to hear of something you think would entertain the rest of the world - please do share it with me!
Here I am with my regular partner, Bill Kent. Yes, this is the guy who puts up with my illogical defenses, brain-on-empty declarer plays - and who, come rain, shine or hail, shares his french fries with me. Now that you know what I look like - and what the fellow who has carried me through scores of events looks like, too - please let either of us know about tournament news!
A glitch at the printer meant that Thursday's Gopher Bulletin could not be posted until the evening. But - consider it posted now! Please see below for the PDF file.
Pair events, the second KO, compact KO's, guest speakers, I/N program and more continue.
If you did not get washed away in Wednesday's deluge, then please be sure to compete in the remaining days of the Gopher! Fun events like KO #3, a Barometer Pairs and the Monday Swiss still remain!
Here are some of the faces of folks who have been battling away so far.
Patti Stuhlman, our tournament chairman, is here, there and everywhere as she does all she can to guarantee a fun, smooth running tournament. Whatever you can do to help out Patti in advance - we thank you!
I would like to enlist your assistance, too. If you learn about a great hand, an intriguing story or anything that you think Minnesota Bridge Blog readers would enjoy - do let me know! You can either leave a comment after one of the blog entries. Or, you can send me an email at [email protected]. Finally - you can grab me at the tournament site and tell me in person!
