« September 2007 | Main | November 2007 »
Whether you're 10 or 100. Whether you've got 'em or not.... If you're a bridge player, then the future of kids in bridge affects you.
Here are some updates on what is going on in the bridge world with kids. I might add - anything you can do to help helps us all!
A "trump coup" is a phrase used for a special type of manuever. One purposefully ruffs with trumps when not clearly necessary to take tricks, for the purpose of properly timing a finessing situation in trumps when otherwise it would not be there.
But, a "coup" also refers to a "clever act" that one can perform.
In this week's lesson, John Koch alerts us to a "coup" in trump. Judge what to do on this hand, and you can defeat an expert declarer!
Read below to see if you can pull of your coup - or if the right play flies from the coop instead.
Is there any game more fascinating than bridge? If so, I do not know about it.
Today, John Koch presents us with a hand that combines honesty of spot cards with weighing all the evidence. Sometimes, just like Honest Abe, cards are what they appear to be.
For John's weekly wisdom, please see below - along with a bit of commentary from your blogmaster!
Yes, I know the phrase is supposed to be "harvest gold." But, the tournament in Oakdale this last weekend was a sectional. So, competitors harvested black and silver in this 103 tourney!
As always, an excellent tournament. A vast array of sweet treats were available every session, with a fine meal in-between sessions during the Swiss Team.
Your Roaving Reporter played on Sunday for the Swiss. Here are some shots of our hard working caddies, along with their grandpop (the very hard working President of 103, Gus Doty!).
Our caddies sometimes even play bridge!
Oh. You want a pic of the Swiss winners? Here you go!
Lots more photos - just keep on scrolling below!
(Note; if you click on any individual photograph, it will get BIGGER....)
Some folks are looking for partners at the upcoming Lake Geneva Regional....
If you wish to add your needs for Lake Geneva in the comment section below - feel free!
I will say that in addition to being a very nice tourney, Lake Geneva has to be one of the most beautiful spots on the ACBL calendar!
Mid-October 2006 was the birthdate for the Minnesota Bridge Blog. Having a blog means:
Plus - whatever else we choose to do with our blog. We are only limited by our imaginations!
Your input, ideas, photos, stories, questions, and the like are much appreciated. Happy birthday to all of us, and may our Bridge Blog flourish!
For many of us, earning enough points to become a Life Master is the thrill of a lifetime. Others go even further; they earn 1,000 points - or 5,000 points ... or go over 10,000! A few even manage to earn many points, along with a national championship - and then the title of "Grand Life Master" is bestowed upon them.
Now we narrow the field even further.
Only a tiny percentage of bridge players ever even compete in the Bermuda Bowl. Of those? Obviously, no more than 12 players (6 on each team) make it to the finals.
Two home town boys did just that.
Congratulations to Howie Weinstein and Steve Garner. Originally from Golden Valley and Richfield, both have lived in other states for many years. Nevertheless, we still claim them as our own, and are tremendously proud of their incredible bridge achievement.
Along with team captain George Jacobs, Ralph Katz, Michael Rosenberg and Zia, they grabbed the Bermuda Bowl silver medal. Though Norway bettered them in their final days of play, George's wife Stacy well expressed the moment: "But for their last opponents, every team in the world would have traded places with them."
A super performance by six most talented players; bravo!
Has anyone represented District 14 more times in the NAP than Kerry Holloway? If so, I am not aware of it.
Kerry has had a bunch of fine partners. Nevertheless - so have some other players! No one seems to capture one of the two top slots more often than this fellow.
Here is Kerry's remarkable record in North American Pairs, both flights A and B. Of course, we wish Kerry and Larry the best in Detroit come spring!
| 1997 | Dallas | Peg Waller | B |
| 1998 | Reno | Harry Ross | A |
| 1999 | Vancouver | Joe Grue | B |
| 2000 | Cincinnati | Joe Grue | A |
| 2001 | Kansas City | Kurt Schaeffer | B |
| 2003 | Philadelphia | Kurt Schaeffer | A |
| 2008 | Detroit | Larry Oakey | A |
Anything that promotes bridge to the next generation is good for all of us!
Kudos to these Omaha bridge players who are doing just that.
