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Want to have fun with photos you have? Try out this website; the opportunities are limitless!
This photo was taken at one of the high school bridge competitions that Evan Sachs and Colin Kehe have been coordinating. Hope that this poster motivates you to help promote bridge, also!
Are you sometimes bewildered when dummy appears? Are you unsure as to how you should proceed? I know that I too often am!
This week, John Koch provides reasoning and tips as to how you can succeed. Be you declarer or defender, John is here to help!
By the way. Every week, John numbers his column prior to presenting its title. You might note that this week, we have column number 71. John has created 71 weeks worth of fascinating deals and hints as to how to whisk away the cobwebs when you are playing.
Please join me in offering a hearty "thank you" to John! Both the quantity and the quality of John's columns are remarkable!
And now - proceed below the line for this week's fine offering!
Now, bridge youth will be!
Here's hoping that this documentary of the first Junior Nationals will be one more key to promoting bridge to the next generation!
Many of the duplicate players I know have been playing for ages. They learned our great game at the kitchen table, or at the student union in college - or, at someone's home when they were young marrieds. Though they perhaps took up bridge 15 - 20 - 40 years ago, they are still fascinated by tough defensive problems or a difficult rebid.
Today, those of us who love the game have a goal in addition to "mere" enjoyment of bridge. We need to train the next generation of players.
Sue Jackson, head of Unit 178's Junior Bridge Program, has alerted me that the powers that be are attempting to do just that. Unit 178 recently sent letters to 100 Twin Cities middle and high schools, requesting that they allow us to start bridge clubs in their schools. We would provide teachers and materials at no cost to the school; they would provide the students! As studies demonstrate, learning bridge enhances a student's ability to think critically and logically. This is a "win-win" for all.
As Sue's letters have not yet generated any responses, we are requesting that you help. Please contact the school of your choice, and encourage the principal to give their students the opportunity to learn this fascinating game. Ultimately, in addition to teaching bridge to young people, we would like to organize competitions among schools.
So many of us have reaped the rewards from bridge for decades. Let's do what we can to train future budding bridge stars!
Bridge experts named Magellan, Columbus or Cabot? Not that I am aware. Balboa, Pizarro or De Gama? Don't think so.
Perhaps no bridge players today share these names. Nevertheless, top bridge players are discoverers! Any bridge player worth his salt knows that you must navigate rough waters and search for evidence to avoid wrecking on shoals.
Captain John Koch (or is it Cook? :)) shows us the way. Ahoy, Mate!
Looking for silver points?
Iowa had a sectional scheduled in Mason City this weekend, June 13-15. Due to the flooding and rain, however, it had to be cancelled.
Our best wishes to everyone in the bridge community to stay safe and dry with this stormy weather!
District 14's Board of Director election will soon arrive. For a number of years, Sue Himel was our representative to the national board. But Sue has judged that she will not run for another term.
Minnesotans Sharon Anderson and Steve Gaynor are running for Sue's seat.
Larry Delfs, our webmaster for the District webpage, has posted about this. Be sure to check out Steve and Sharon's profiles at the District 14 webpage!
Partner and you bid without interference. You await the dummy eagerly as LHO considers her opening lead. A card hits the table, dummy comes down - and your contract appears hopeless!
Are your first thoughts: "How could partner overbid like this?" "Why didn't my partner bid x, y or z instead?" Ugh; we are going to lose IMPS on this ...."
Frustration, anger and annoyance are all natural reactions when you arrive in a poor contract. But - don't get mad; get glad!
Today, John Koch demonstrates how to make lemonade when you are dealt lemons.
Usually when bridge players compete, they are competing against people in the same room. It might be the local bridge club. Possibly, it's the ballroom of a large hotel for a national event. Nevertheless, be it huge or small - you can see those against whom you are battling.
Two cases are different. The first is online bridge. While you might be safely ensconced in your bedroom, trying to make 2 spades doubled, your partner can be half a continent away in his Ohio office - as your opponents in Turkey and Iceland try to foil you!
The World Wide Pairs is different, too. Yes, you can see some of your opponents. There they are, at tables 4, 8 and 12. As usual, they're a few feet away.
Yet, some of your opponents may be in Florida - or Canada, Poland, South Africa or China! Yes, as the name implies, you are competing against players everywhere around the world.
Our thanks to Mike Cassel for reporting on an interesing World Wide Pair hand - and the bridge theory that it raises.
As many of you remember, Sharon and Roger Anderson recently organized an auction and "Play with the Experts" night at the Twin City Bridge Center. One of the gifts auctioned was a tour of Prior Lake with Marv and Mary Riedesel, followed by a gourmet dinner.
This past weekend, Larry Oakey, Sharon and Roger Anderson, and Phil and Judy Schwarz delighted in the fruits of the gift that they bought from Marv and Mary. Enjoy the photographs from this great day (I heard reports that as fun as the lake tour was, the gourmet dinner was even better!)
And a big "thank you" again to all who organized, donated gifts and a night of bridge expertise, participated in the charitable function - plus to the TCBC for offering their venue.
UPDATE: For those interested in seeing who donated what and what was raised - please see below, courtesy of Roger Anderson! Thank you!
Steve Garner and Howie Weinstein entered the United States Bridge Federation's Open Team Trials held in Palm Beach last week. Steve and Howie came close - but didn't quite make it out of the semi-finals to the final two-day match.
But - Steve made it into the New York Times bridge column as the only declarer out of four to find the handle on four hearts.
Well done!
Every year, MN Bridge publishes a list of the top 100 masterpoint holders in our state. And, every year since I have been doing it (which is quite a few now), one person has been at the top of the list: Jim Hall.
Jim is no longer listed. One reason, and one reason only removed him: the end of his fierce battle against cancer. A tiger at the bridge table, Jim was no different when it came to meeting his health foe. Jim lasted much longer than many thought possible - just as he won many a fight at the bridge table that some thought he could not. Still, although Jim is not at the top of the list this year, I know that I and many others will never forget Jim as a tough competitor, a strong partner and teammate - and great friend.
Along with our list below, you'll see some facts about who's doing what with masterpoints in Minnesota - and some thoughts about playing our exceptional game. My thanks, too, to President 178's Marv Riedesel for providing us with 2008's list.
Marv Riedesel, President of Unit 178, provides MN bridge with a wealth of benefits.
Many of you may never have contemplated all of the data below before - but - Marv presents you with a variety of Fun Facts about bridge in our great state! Thanks, Marv - and enjoy, everyone!
June 3rd's Tuesday morning game attracted 31 tables! This is a record for a non-tournament event. 34 pairs earned masterpoints in either the open game or the 299er game.
Was it the free lunch? Or - just so many people loving the game of bridge?
Maybe a little of both!
Through Friday, the Open Team Trials to select the United States representative at the Mind Games competition in China is being held in Palm Beach.
Some of you have already been watching this thrilling competition via vugraph on Bridge Base Online. If you have not yet seen any of this long, grueling event, I suggest you consider kibitzing a bit. Those who view the remaining semi-final and final matches will see the toughest, roughest and most exciting bridge imaginable.
For those who are dazzled by our own Joe Grue, I regret to inform you that Joe's team missed the cut in yesterday's and today's quarter-final match against the Jacobs team.
Nevertheless, those who want to see born and bred Minnesotans in action can still do so! Howie Weinstein and Steve Garner will be playing 120 boards against the mighty Nickell team. And, as Howie and Steve are playing 4-handed, you can bet that they will be there all the time for their fans. Here is the Team Trial schedule, if you would like to fit it to your own.
Whether you watch so that you can improve your own game (a wonderful way to learn), to appreciate just how difficult this game is (yes; experts do not go right on every single hand!) - or simply for sheer entertainment, visit BBO's vugraph! You will not be disappointed.