Minnesota Bridge

Deception

Honesty is the best policy in business, love life and friendships.

When it comes to the bridge table, however, deception (within the conditions of contest) rules!

John Koch details a hand where declarer's sneakiness succeeds in spades!

Minnesota Goes to Las Vegas!

With a few exceptions (including my stellar partner, Bill Kent of Iowa), a mass of Minnesotans are heading for the Grand National Team competition at the Las Vegas Nationals this July.

Congratulations to all the winners - and "break a leg" at the final stages!

Last Chance

A good declarer looks for more than one opportunity to bring in his contract.  A great declarer searches for something else - somehow, some way - when it appears other lines have failed him.

John Koch guides us through the process of seeking last chances - and finding them!  Please see below.

The New Seniors

Bridge is a fabulous game for the middle-aged and older.  Even if you can't see well or hear well - or if you can't whip around as you once could in your youth - you can still calculate what to bid, how to declare and how to defend.

Do not think for a moment, however, that bridge is for those who are only young at heart!  If you are old enough to do a bit of logic and math, then bridge can be the game for you!

In the Star Tribune today, columnist Katherine Kersten writes of seniors who love our game.  These seniors, however, are still in their teens:  they are high school seniors!

Here is what these students had to say about the game that so intrigues them.

What makes bridge such a great game? For one thing, it's intellectually demanding. Two pairs of partners bid, or predict, how many "tricks," or sets of four cards, they will win during play. Through their bids, they communicate to each other the strength of their hand and the suit they prefer to be "trump."

Bridge downplays luck and emphasizes skill and memory. "Like all games, it's based on finding out hidden information and using it to your advantage," explains Jopp. "You can get better at the game endlessly -- there's no limit. You never master it or even reach a point of satisfaction." Weitz adds that playing with a partner makes the game a lot more fun.

No matter what kind of senior you are - bridge can be your game!

More Remembrances

Hugh MacLean was a big fixture for many years in the Twin Cities bridge world.  Ron DeHarrporte shares his memories of Hugh with us.

UPDATE:  In addition to Ron's remembrance, here is Hugh's obituary.

Hugh MacLean

The last few months have been difficult ones for the Minnesota bridge world when it comes to our friends.  We have lost too many in recent days.

Now, alas, I must add another to the list:  Hugh MacLean.  Hugh died the day before yesterday in his sleep, presumably from a heart attack.

Newer bridge players may not even recognize this name; Hugh and his wife MaryAnn moved to Gonzales, Texas, a number of years ago.  The oldtimers among us, however, all knew Hugh. 

Hugh had great success with Ron Anderson, aka "The Hog" - and played on Kathy Wei's team.  Hugh was erudite, well-read, charming and a nice guy in addition to being a fine bridge player.

I'm afraid I haven't been able to find any bios online.  I would welcome anything that readers could send to me to post about Hugh.

Feel free to share you thoughts in comments.

A Basket of Lessons

After drizzly cold rains and even snow last weekend, we finally have some spring April weather! 

While baskets of flowers are still a few weeks away in Minnesota, John Koch has kindly provided us with a column chock full of lessons.  Please enjoy the words of wisdom below!

Five Come Alive

Matthew Bribitzer-Stull traveled south to Mason City last weekend.  While competing at the regional, Matthew came upon a most fascinating hand.

Thank you, Matthew, for your fine column and analysis.  Sorry that you aren't a card rack, though, Matt; where is that five when you need it, eh?

Please see below for Matt's gory details.

Expert Night

With a new beta at Typepad, my posting has had its challenges lately!

In case you missed it earlier, here is a report about a fine evening at Roger and Sharon Anderson's home starring expert Kerry Holloway!

Mason City Regional 08

  District 14 had its spring regional in Mason City this past week.  The playing quarters were not fancy.  But, Elaine Olson and her crew worked mightily to offer a nice week for everyone.  A variety of events were available, plus free lunch most days!  (Cookie Hoberman of Omaha surely has started a trend!)

A number of Minnesotans took the short jaunt south to engage in the festivities.  Here are a few highlights from the regional, along with results.

How Did Ya Do?

Do you compete at the Twin City Bridge Center?  Want to find out how you did after the game?

Now you can find out quickly online!  Just go here, and results will be posted soon after the game.

To herald this fine feature, Mike Cassel has been kind enough to send us a hand.  Thanks, Mike!  Thanks, TCBC!

Smothered

You can be smothered in a relationship.  You can smother a chicken in gravy.  And - the smoke from fire can smother you quickly.

John Koch tells us about one more way to do a little smothering at the bridge table!  Please see below.

Minnesota Gopher Regional

Less than 2 months away now! 

Please see the updated schedule below.  Note that our first Knockout has been renamed in memory of Jim Hall.

Be sure to start lining up teammates and partners soon!

Kerry's Big Hands

Sharon and Roger Anderson, along with some of our finest local stars, have conspired to aid the bridge games of many.  Throughout the year, the Andersons invite those who wish to improve their knowledge of bridge to their beautiful home.  There, people enjoy a bountiful pot luck dinner, followed by a lecture by one of our top players.  Then, specially prepared hands which fit the theme of the evening are played by the participants!

This weekend, Kerry Holloway performed admirably as the resident expert.  Kerry expounded on what to do with Big Hands.  His explanations about reverses, jump shifts and lebensohl responses prompted many questions.  Kerry even provided a mini-quiz to help enlighten all!

As someone who has represented Minnesota more times than I can count in NAP and GNT games, we could hardly do better with Kerry at the helm.  Add in Sharon and Roger as hostess and host - plus Larry Oakey as Director extraordinaire - and you have one superb bridge evening!

For shots of host, expert and guests - check out this album.

Operating in Rochester

Everyone knows that Rochester is famous for its world reknown Mayo Clinic.  Yet - it has something else worthy of note:  a great spring sectional!

The Hiawatha Valley Tournament begins tomorrow, and here is the schedule.  Be sure to attend!

Also; results will be updated at this site, should you be unfortunate enough to not operate on the opponents yourself!

Spring Showers

This spring, it seems that spring showers don't require an umbrella,  but a snow shovel!  The really bright ones among us avoided blizzards and enjoyed our Minneapolis Spring Sectional.

Here are those who performed admirably!

The Odds

I once heard a bridge instructor tell his student:  "If you don't count, you cannot win at bridge."  Surely, it is true.  If you are not paying attention to who has what, this difficult and fascinating game becomes way more difficult and much less fascinating.

This week, John Koch gives us a few examples of how counting, combined with a basic knowledge of odds, can heighten the odds of your game being excellent!

Thanks, John!  Check out just how John does it (and how you can, too!) below.