Minnesota Bridge

A Cornucopia of Riches

Fabulous schedule.  Inviting venue.  Free coffee and free Friday lunch.  Variety of events.

Wow.  You'd think that this array would be enough to entice every bridge player around to attend the Minnesota State Sectional next weekend at the Ramada by Mall of America.  Yet - there is even more!

On Friday, November 7th, as lunch is served, players can learn from a panel discussion where experts Roger Anderson, Sharon Anderson and Mike Cassel will discuss hands from the morning session, complete with hand records!

On Saturday at 6PM, expert and weekly column contributor John Koch will offer sage advice about two suited hands.  How should they be bid, declared and defended?  John will tell all.

      

You cannot afford to stay home!  See you November 7-9 at the MN  State Sectional!

Sunshine in November

Temperatures dropping.  Winds howling.  Autumn leaves fading.  Yes folks; we are mere days from November.  Winter is approaching; soon icy temps and snowy scenes will be ours. 

Nevertheless, we Minnesotans have a very bright spot on the horizon early in the month. The weekend of November 7-9, the MN State Sectional is here!  Conveniently located by the Mall of America at the Ramada (formerly the Thunderbird Hotel), players will have their choice of a variety of events.  Enjoy compact KO's, pair games, pair/team games or a Swiss.  All are on the schedule.

In addition, tournament  chairs Verda Gould and Vicky Smith have added a free lunch on Friday, and free coffee throughout Friday and Saturday games!

Let's see.  Blustery wind and cold - or - the MN State Sectional?  I know what I am choosing!

It's A Miracle!

Partner puts down dummy.  You think to yourself, "It is impossible to make this contract!"

Has this ever happened to you?  If not, then I doubt you really are a bridge player!

What truly separates the champions from the rest of us is this.  Too many of us look at dummy, craft terrific barbs to toss at partner about how poor his bidding and judgment were - and then we quietly fail to succeed in our contract.  The champions focus, settle in - and wonder, "Is there any way at all to bring this home?"

Today, John Koch tells the tale of one fellow who did not give up.  Want to discover a miracle at the bridge table?  Please read below.

Stealing

A cornucopia of methods can lead to winning at bridge.  You can utilize odds better than the rest, defend like a demon, or craft a system that's superb.  Having the vision to "see" how to play a hand reaps rewards.

And then - there is stealing.

Marv Riedesel, President of Unit 178, tells the tale of how his pockets were picked at the bridge table.  Our thanks to Marv for reporting the theft.  I'm so glad that others have learned from my larcenous example!

Too Much Pressure

Key card Blackwood.  Support doubles.  Finesses, endplays, squeezes, counting, signaling . . . .   No one ever said bridge was easy!

Of course, that's just the "bridge" part.  There's the human element too:  you and your partner.

Kurt Schaeffer shares a hand with us that calls out for good judgment - in more than one way!  Please see below.

Introduction to Duplicate

The weekend of November 7th through the 9th, our Minnesota State Sectional tournament will be held.  Many of our local duplicate competitors will be there.

Yet there are loads of bridge players out there who have never played a hand of duplicate bridge, nor never played in a bridge tournament.

Do you have friends or family that fit this description?  If so, please let them know that the Twin Cities Bridge Center is having special classes for them concurrent with the MN State Sectional!  "Party bridge" players can learn both the scoring and strategy of duplicate bridge.  In addition, they can participate in a practice duplicate game.

Teri Blu will be offering this $10 class twice at the Twin Cities Bridge Center at:

• Friday, November 7th from 11AM to 2PM
• Saturday, November 8th from 1PM to 4PM

Let others learn about the fascination and fun of duplicate; spread the word!

My Hero!

Sometimes all that is required for success on a hand is to avoid a siesta.  Other times, great care - or even heroics - are the calls to action.  Ultimately, knowing which is which is a tricky enterprise.

This week, John Koch guides us through a complex hand, chock full of lessons for both defenders and declarer. 

You didn't think this game was easy, did ya?!  Fascinating?  For sure!  Easy?  Try "Go Fish"!

Young Love

No, nothing racy is here at Minnesota Bridge.  But, those of us who are fascinated by bridge should have a mission.

Just as we once fell in love with the game of bridge - we need to do more to encourage young people to do the same.

My friend in Chicago, the fairly-young-herself Stacy Jacobs, ruminates on what we can - and should - do for our game and for junior players.

Water World

Mike Cassel, a frequent and most welcome contributor to these pages, graces us with a new column.  This one heralds from a recent Eau Claire sectional.  It's chock full of tough questions at every turn in the bend, and is aptly named "Murky Waters."  Ironic, for an Eau Claire site - and - if you do not get it, check out this!

Check out Mike's tale below the line.....

Need To Know

The rules of bridge, while not simple, aren't terrifically difficult to learn.  How to be a strong competitor?  Well; that takes a lifetime!

We all diligently study how to signal with our partners and communicate.  Nevertheless, sometimes staying mum is what is required.  When is it best to tell partner what is happening?  When is "just following suit" superior?

As he does every Wednesday, John Koch offers wisdom about how to sort it out.  Enjoy a fascinating hand and a fine lesson at the same time!

The Silent Dog

At the bridge table, we need to consider what does not happen as well as what does happen.

Mike Cassel highlights a hand from the North American Pairs District 14 qualifier.  This silent dog gave Mike the clues he needed to bark with joy!

Fall Pleasures

This past weekend, Maplewood held its Autumn Harvest Sectional on what may have been the most beautiful weekend of the year.  Results from the tournament are posted here at ACBL.org.

As the weeks go by, spectacularly lovely autumn colors will disappear.  But fortunately for bridge players, wonderful Minnesota bridge tournaments will remain!  Next on the schedule is the Minnesota State Sectional Tournament, held November 7-9.  Our venue is the Ramada Mall of America (formerly known as the Thunderbird Hotel.)  If you're attending from out of town and would like to reserve a room at the room rate of $95, please do contact the hotel by October 16th.

Here is a list of all the goodies in store for you:

• Educational sessions on Friday and Saturday; details available at the playing site
• Compact KOs, open pairs and 299er games on Friday and Saturday plus pair/team games
• Free buffet lunch on Friday

• Sunday Swiss Teams

Check out the entire schedule here, then grab your favorite partner and partake of all the festivities!

Boys and Their Toys

Whether a beginner or an expert, bridge players enjoy using their favorite conventions. 

One of our most prolific columnists and top competitors, Paul Meerschaert, enlightens us about a convention that brought much joy and success.  See below to read about Paul with greatly missed partner and expert Jim Hall in the Blue Ribbon Pairs.

Managing Assets

In these turbulent times, managing assets is critical.

No - I'm not talking about financial markets; something far more important!  I'm discussing a bridge hand!

It's Wednesday.  As always - John Koch has excellent details about what to do when - and why.

Right and Wrong

The North American Pair competition includes some long-time partnerships.  Other pairs are players who have never before faced one another.

Matthew Bribitizer-Stull competed in the latter category this past weekend.  Here is Matthew's story.

Heading for Houston

Nine pairs qualified for the right compete next spring at the Houston Nationals in the North American Pairs.  Of the three pairs in each flight, winners receive a subsidy of $700 each; second place competitors receive $300 each, and the third placing pair earned the right to compete in the event.

Here are those who beat the rest of the pack and who will be representing District 14.  Congratulations, all!

Flight A

1. Sharon Christianson - Van Christianson
2. Kerry Holloway - Larry Oakey
3. Cindy Balderson - Carole Miner

Flight B

1. Bill Voedisch - Dennis Cerkvenik
2. Marv Topper - Wayne Pinsonneault
3. Patti Stuhlman - Mark Krusemeyer

Flight C

1. Sue Greenberg - Margaret Lichty
2. Richard Lassow - Sheila Kim
3. Carol Hieb - Marlene Kettler

Thanks to the NAP organizer, Darlene Anderson, and to directors Mike Flader and Tony Ames for a great competition!

Oh, Canada!

Did you happen to attend the 1999 Nationals in Vancouver?  If so, you had the pleasure of experiencing one of the greatest national tournaments the ACBL has ever held.  With a fabulous hotel perched on a bay as the playing site, participants were able to compete in a breathtakingly beautiful atmosphere.  The diverse home city has a wealth of excellent restaurants.  With a strong dollar at the time, eating divine meals every day was easy and inexpensive.

Paul Meerschaert also attended that fine competition.  Another of his favorite hands resonates from it.  Below, you can read about Paul's experience and one more great  hand! 

NAP 2008

This coming weekend, one of the ACBL's grass roots events will be held in Bloomington, MN.  Irrespective of your level of experience, consider competing in this year's District wide North American Pairs.

Players who are eligible from local NAP qualification can win a trip to the Houston Nationals!  Those under 500 masterpoints can play in Flight C; those under 2,000 can compete in Flight B; everyone else is in Flight A.  (Remember; you can always "play up" if you so choose.)

The competition begins Saturday 1:30 PM at the Ramada Mall of America (formerly the Thunderbird Hotel.)  This four session event is fun, exciting - and, for some pairs, will have an exceptionally large prize!  Especially for Minnesotans, this is an excellent opportunity.  Hope to see many of you there!

For more information, contact NAP chair Darlene Anderson at:

[email protected]

 

651-633-4533

Scaling the Heights

We all know that John Koch is one of Minnesota's finest players.  When you read tales of his table exploits, however, you become intimately aware of the heights to which John  can climb!

Today's column has a wealth of information about bidding tools, slam evaluation, card play and more.  Those who have acrophobia perhaps should be in a secure spot before opening John's article.  Everyone, however, will surely enjoy today's story.