Minnesota Bridge

Mentoring

Counting the various ways that people learn bridge surely would be a number greater than 13.  I remember when I first began.  I read everything that I could.  I kibitzed expert players.  Playing and trying as much as possible was always on the schedule.

In addition, however, I was fortunate.  More than one excellent player took me under their wing, playing with me, explaining, teaching.  As wonderful as all the other methods are, somehow, little seems to compare to having a top notch player tell you why your bid wasn't the wisest choice, or how you should have figured out what best to lead.

Last night at the Twin City Bridge Center, an entire room full of Life Masters signed up for an evening with non-Life Masters.  They then battled away for the evening, with some pairs earning fine scores.

Mike Cassel has kindly written up a report about the night.  Thanks to Mike for writing this, to all the experts who donated their services for an evening - and to all those players everywhere, who give to others simply because they are Nice Guys and love the game so much.

Out Like A Lamb?

One day left in the month of March, and a snowstorm will be visiting many of Minnesota's bridge players?  Alas; it is so.  You know the old saying:  if you don't like the weather in Minnesota, just wait a few hours. 

Nevertheless, despite the gray scene out your window, spring is supposedly right around the corner.  And, spring means that a spring sectional is on its way!  This weekend, Rochester is hosting the Hiawatha Valley Spring Sectional.  Please check out this flyer with all the glorious details.  And, if you require a partner and/or teammates for the tournament, do feel free to use the comments section below to search.

Who knows?  It might even be above freezing this coming weekend!  Hope springs eternal from this bridge player!

Missing in Action

Did you miss the action at the ACBL's most recent NABC in Houston?  If so, Minnesota Bridge will try to bring a bit of the action back to you!

First, a fun news clip about our game, its personalities and the future of bridge.

Next, a round-up of stories, photographs and people who were in Houston, courtesy of yours truly, the "roaming reporter."

Finally - another photograph of those who did enter Houston's bridge fray:  Carole Miner and Cindy Balderson with two of their teammates from the Women's Swiss Teams, Nadia Koch and Kathy Baum.

 

For our next NABC in Washington, D.C., we hope that you will be a contender!  Nothing would please me more than capturing a celebratory pose!

Anything Better?

Bridge is often a series of "what if's"?  We see a plan, then challenge ourselves to question whether anything better is available.

Sometimes, even our original call to action can be in danger - as is the case today, with John Koch's difficult play problem.  As always, however, John gives us some meaty analysis to guide us to a wise solution.

GNT - Recap and Beyond

Kudos again all around - to Unit 178's Mike Cassel and 103's Judy Nassar for an excellent weekend of GNT competition - and to those who played well enough to enter the winner's circle.  We wish the best to all who are headed for Washington D.C. in July, and look forward with anticipation to see how high District 14 teams can climb in North American battles.

Also, Mike has written a thoughtful recap of the weekend, along with some thoughts about future GNT's for District 14.  Both the final results from the weekend, along with Mike's piece can be found below the line.

2009 Houston Vanderbilt Finals

Are you a bridge player?  Then little in life is more thrilling than getting to the finals of a "major" - a big team event like the Vanderbilt.

Mike Cassel watched the 2009 Vanderbilt finals and was thoughtful enough to do an excellent write up of some of the key hands.

Thanks, Mike - and enjoy everyone!

More Houston Pics!

 

 

Houston NABC Notes

As always seems to be the case, a number of Minnesotans did us proud at the Nationals.  Congratulations to these players and the National results they achieved.

North American Pairs - Flight A

17.  Larry Oakey - Kerry Holloway

Silidor Open Pairs

39.  Keith Connolly - Sharon Anderson

Leventritt Silver Ribbon Pairs

9.  Judy Schwarz - Phil Schwarz

Rockwell Mixed Pairs

26.  Judy Nassar - Tony Ames

43.  Judy Schwarz - Phil Schwarz

Lebhar IMP Pairs

27.  Judy Nassar - Tony Ames

48.  Mark Krusemeyer - Randy Okubo

Whitehead Women's Pairs

6.  Cindy Balderson - Carole Miner

Bean Red Ribbon Pairs

23.  Sue Jackson - Steve Jackson

Golder North American Pairs - Flight B

6.  Dennis Cerkvenik - William Voedisch

14.  M Topper - Wayne Pinsonneault

President's Cup North American Pairs - Flight C

6.  Diane Henson - Larry Henson

Machlin Women's Swiss

5.  Cindy Balderson - Carole Miner - Kathy Baum - Joan Eaton - Candy Griffey - Nadia Koch

Unit 178 Minutes

Your Unit 178 Board of Directors is hard at work!  Here are the minutes to their February 7th meeting.

Pics and Posts to Come!

Your Editor is at a journalism conference in Florida and a bit pressed for time.  As soon as I am able, however, I will report on all the excitement from Houston!  Diane and Larry Henson had loads of triumphs - not the least of which included winning their first open regional event - a Flight A Swiss!  Jill and Mike Flader were their illustrious teammates -and Mike just kindly sent me this photo.

 

Well done, Larry, Diane, Jill and Mike!

More photos and more news about Minnesotans will be on its way soon!

Brains and Beauty

AND - the Vanderbilt!

First - brains and beauty.  Cindy Balderson and Carole Miner will play today in the finals of the Women's Pairs in Houston.

 

Plus, a treat from Mike Cassel.  A write up about an exciting match and a fascinating hand from the Vanderbilt.

To come:  a report on how Larry and Diane Henson, along with Mike and Jill Flader, won a Flight A Swiss Team regional event yesterday.  This was the Hensons' first unlimited open win!  They are HOT and I am going to try to track down the team for a photo.

Now - Mike's column.

Charity Begins at Home

Many organizations support worthy charities.  Our bridge world is no different.

Unit 178 will hold its annual Charity Game on June 6, 2009.   Unit members are invited to propose a charity worthy to be 2009's recipient. 

To submit a propose for your favority charity, please include this information:

1. Your name.
2. Name of your charity (it must be a qualified 501 (c)(3) organization)
3. A brief explanation of the worthiness of the charity.
4. Willingness of charity representatives to attend the charity game.
5. Your ability to help with the silent auction and other aspects of the event.

Please submit proposals by April 8th to Marv Riedesel, Sue Jackson ([email protected]) or Verda Gould.

 

 

 

 

The Big One

The ace of trump is the most powerful card in the deck.  Use it wisely and you can reap big rewards.

Yes; it's Wednesday and it is John Koch showing us how to use The Big One!  Also - a few more photos of our Minnesota contingent in Houston.

 

 

 

 

Minnesota in Houston Snapshots

Although I arrived at the Houston NABC too late to play, many Minnesotans were right in the thick of things.  Here are a few photos of friends I glimpsed during the second qualifying session of the Open Pairs.

 

   

Hello Houston

This afternoon, Your Editor heads Down South to the Houston NABC.  Already, despite being in chilly Minnetonka, I have a bit of news to report:  Kerry Holloway and Larry Oakey made it into the overalls for the North American Pairs - A.  Feel free to peruse Friday's Daily Bulletin to read all about the activity in Houston.

If you're a Minnesotan in Houston and something of note happens - please let me know!  I'm delighted to put it on the Minnesota Bridge Blog.  If you are staying home and watching our state morph from frozen tundra to stirrings of spring, stay tuned.  We hope to bring you lots of exciting news and photos of Minnesotans having a wonderful time at our spring NABC.

Kerry and Larry Do Houston

The Houston Nationals are under way; those who qualified for Flight A's North American Pairs are battling it out.  Our top District 14 qualifying pair, Sharon and Van Christianson, unfortunately did not make it to the second day.  Kerry Holloway and Larry Oakey, however, will be there to match wits in the finals.  You can view the results from the first day of play here.

Best of luck to one of our top Minnesota pairs!  I myself will be traveling to Houston tomorrow.  There, I will both play bridge and roam as the "roaving reporter" for the ACBL.  For those Minnesotans who will be joining me at the Houston NABC, please seek me out if you have any intriguing stories you'd like reported!

Tales from GNT Teams

Lots of great stories from this past weekend's Grand National Team District 14 finals.  And - who better to tell them than Kurt Schaeffer?

Smothered

Parents smother their new babies with love.  Chefs smother their burgers with grilled onions.

Bridge players?  They smother their opponents' spot cards for lots of matchpoints!

As he always does on Wednesdays, John Koch demonstrates how to cook up a spectacular result for your side.

GNT 2009 in Pictures

We now have a photoblog of this year's Grand National Teams.  From the exciting large turnout of Flight B and C teams and even our new youth star, Jake Olson's winning Flight C team, to the fine efforts of our directors, organizers and volunteers - you can get a feel of it all here.  Click on the link, then on the individual thumbnail photos.  You'll get larger ones, and you can scroll through the album.   

In addition, we have a report from Unit 103's GNT coordinator, Judy Nassar.  Thanks to Judy and all the others who helped to have such an excellent event.

Brilliance is Its Own Reward

Bridge - as all we bridge players know - can be a very perplexing game.  Sometimes your game is at best average.  Yet, the opponents are horrendous and you win anyway.  Other times, you play your little heart out.  But, high percentage contracts fail and you lose.

Kerry Holloway and Kurt Schaeffer played on a very fine GNT team this weekend.  Kerry has represented District 14 numerous times in our grassroots events (GNT and North American Pairs).  Kurt Schaeffer has, too; indeed, one year Kurt's team finished second nationally in Flight A.  Team Lijewski, nevertheless, managed to beat Kerry and Kurt's team in their Sunday semi-final match - going on to capture Flight A overall for the District.

Do not think, however, that Holloway and Schaeffer did not have any spectacular results.  They did.  Kurt was kind enough to write up a hand that Kerry played today.  If it seems that making this hand is impossible - well; join the club!  I could see no way to success.

Kerry's imagination and technique, though, are of the highest order.  Please read the article that Kurt sent.  I am sure that you will agree with my assessment, and you will be dazzled by Kerry's execution of the rare but wonderful winkle! 

Sometimes, Kerry and Kurt, brilliance must be its own reward.