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Americans have a wide variety of ways to celebrate Labor Day and the end of summer.
But for bridge players? No better way than a bridge tournament!
Enjoy the Labor Day Silver Point Tournament at the Twin City Bridge Center. The tournament begins Friday, September 4th and ends Monday, September 7th with an Open Swiss Team and a I/N 299er Pairs.
The schedule with all the details is below. See you there!
And almost the start of the Minneapolis Grand Slam Club!
This year's first game will be on September 11th. You can see the calendar for the 2009-2010 season here.
Andy Caranicas, President of the MGSC, has requested that his welcome letter be posted. You can read it below.
If you are serious about improving your game, if you wish to play against the best players in Minnesota, if you like being in an atmosphere that is competitive yet friendly, if you desire a schedule filled with a variety of fun events - then you definitely should consider the MGSC on Friday nights!
By the way; you need not be a member to play at the Club. But, the benefits are many. So, if you are going to play, a membership is a wise investment!
Look what it did for Andy: a national championship!
The sun is bright, the trees are lush, flowers bloom daily and snow, cold and slush are but a distant memory.
But - sooner than you think, autumn and winter will be here!
So will the Minnesota State Sectional!
Below you can study a flyer for this tournament, scheduled for the first weekend in November. Get your partners and teammates, and be prepared when the sun and flowers have faded into history!
Units 178 and 103 are offering all Flight C players the opportunity to play in a Unit North American pairs Contest for Flight C players only!
The event pays black and red master points. Those who place in the overalls will earn five percent gold points!
Flight C players are non-Life Masters with fewer than 500 points. If you are a Flight C competitor who has qualified in a local NAP game, then you are invited to play in the two session Unit Final on Sunday, September 13th, at 1PM and 6PM. The final will be held at the Twin City Bridge Center at 60th and Nicollet in Minneapolis.
The NAP is a wonderful opportunity to play in a prestige event against your peers. In addition, this Unit final is excellent practice for those planning to play in the District 14 Finals in Des Moines on October 3-4.
The top three pairs in the District Finals will be able to represent District 14 at the Spring NAOP in Reno. The top two pairs that attend the event in Reno will win monetary awards in addition to masterpoints and fame!
You need not play on September 13th if you wish to compete in Des Moines. But it's a great idea to do so, if you are able! You do, however, need to have qualified at the club level to be eligible for the District finals.
Good luck to all!
UPDATE: Please note. The masterpoint limit is 500 points as of the 2009 June masterpoint cycle; not 300 as originally stated.
Some plays may seem simple on the surface. Yet, to lots, they definitely are not "simple" at all.
Steve Gaynor reports about a hand from the early 1990's. Marsha Brouillet was his partner. Marsha performed a play some may call a "baby play." I personally call it top of the class! Steve has all the details below.
As the "roaming reporter" at nationals, I take photos of folks, write up interesting stories and the like. What happens when suddenly our state is the news? Well. You get this.
States like New York, Florida, Texas, Illinois and California glitter with ultra-elite bridge stars. Minnesota seems only to birth ‘em. Yet, for one week in July, just like our beautiful snowflakes, Minnesota had a special sparkle all its own!
Indeed it is!
You are invited to the Bridge Center of St. Paul, 2603 6th Av. E., North St. Paul on Saturday, September 12th for a special "Eight is Enough" Membership Team Game.
Expert Kerry Holloway is our special guest speaker.
Enjoy a potluck dinner at 6PM, speaker Kerry Holloway at 6:30PM, then the "Eight is Enough" Team Game at 7PM.
Here is how the event works:
1. Each team can only have a total of eight points
2. Non-Life Masters count as one point
3. Life Masters up to 2,000 masterpoints count as 2 points
4. Life Masters above 2,000 masterpoints count as 3 points
5. Teams are stratified: A=8 points, B=6-7 points, C=4-5 points
6. Sign up in person, call or email - we can help you find a team or partner - Kim Hayward is our director and can help: 651.271.3500
7. Please feel free to forward this to friends
8. Most importantly - please attend and have fun!
Good players perform good plays at the table. Great ones investigate to make certain that something outside of "normal" isn't required.
Good players don't make obvious errors. Great ones search all the available information, to see if an unusual play is necessary.
Good players play well. But great ones don't give up, even when a session has been difficult.
John Koch is a great player. Read today's "Koch's Korner" column - and you will better understand why.
Late last night, I inspected the results from Friday. Steve Gaynor, Jean Boettcher, Keith Connolly and Rebecca Anspach had won a Swiss Team.
Eric Hendrickson, Andy Caranicas, Jason and Matthew Bribitzer-Stull had won the Mini-Spingold II to become national champs!
And, yours truly with partner Dick Bruno was faster than anyone else in racing to the finish line.
A true "Minnesota Miracle"! Congratulations to the Hendrickson squad for having the fortitude to come back from a first quarter 64 deficit and seize the event. Definitely more juicy details and stories to come!