Minnesota Bridge

Thumper

Thumper may be an adorable fluffy bunny from Disney's Bambi.  But, no one who plays bridge should ever wish to be a Thumper!

In this week's object lesson, John Koch explains exactly why.

Who's Bob L?

Our own Rebecca Anspach can tell you!

GNT Unit Finals

Mike Cassel's diligent efforts to build Grand National Teams continues to pay dividends.  Mike reports that yesterday in St. Paul 19 teams entered the Unit 103 and 178 finals, both for potential cash and masterpoints!  Congratulations to those teams who won.  Remember that in May, everyone will have an opportunity to win a subsidized trip to the national GNT in New Orleans in July.

To see Saturday's results, please check here.

For additional comments by chairman Mike Cassell, please see below.

Getting Pinned

You have to be pretty darn old (like yours truly) to remember what it's like to get pinned.

Kurt Schaeffer, however, one of the best declarers in Minnesota, reminds us what it is like...  Not just once; twice!

One Hundred Plus

The ACBL today highlights those people who have brought in one hundred or more new members to the organization.  Our Teri Blu of the Twin Cities Bridge Center is one of those people!

Congratulations - and thanks - to Teri!  And - welcome to all those new Minnesota bridge players, too!

Lawbreaker

Are you familiar with Larry Cohen's "Law of Total Tricks"?  If you are not, then you should be.  "TLOTT" is an important insight as to how high you should bid while in competitive auctions.

Of course, like virtually all laws, there are times when they should be broken or when they curiously do not apply.  Is John Koch's column hand today one of those examples?

We shall see!

Technology: A Letter from Unit 178's President

Dear Bridge Player,

The Board of Directors of Unit 178 has launched a fundraising campaign to raise $12,000 to purchase a dealing machine and electronic scoring machines. All clubs within Unit 178 will have free use of these machines.

The dealing machine will sort cards according to an electronic hand record and insert the cards into the proper slots into hinged boards.  This has several benefits for our players.

•    Hand records available at club games – a great learning tool!!

•    No more making hands at tournaments - boards will be ready to play and games WILL start in a timely manner

•    Multiple sections playing the same boards – assures fairer scoring

•    Less chance of fouled boards

•    The ability to hold special events such as a barometer game.

The machine itself costs around $4500 and multiple sets of boards, cards, and carrying cases raise the cost to around $7500.

The Bridge Pad scoring machines allow one player to enter the contract and result at the table after each hand is played.  A member of the opposing side verifies the entry and scores are sent electronically to the computer.  The use of scoring machines results in far fewer scoring errors.  Final results are available immediately after the game.  Directors will no longer be entering scores and therefore will have more time to spend on the floor.  The use of these scoring machines will also decrease caddying costs at tournaments.  A set of 50 machines will cost the unit around $5000.

All of the clubs in Unit 178 are supporting this venture.  The fund-raising effort includes soliciting cash contributions and holding a silent auction and bake sale on May 8 in conjunction with the Ace of Clubs, Mini-McKenney Awards banquet at the TCBC. 

We are very excited about the prospect of bringing these amenities to the Unit 178 bridge community and we hope that you are too.  Please join our fund raising campaign by making a contribution. Donations of any size will help us achieve our goal.

Options for making contributions are shown below.  Thank you in advance for your support.

Sincerely,

Marv Riedesel, Unit 178 President

   

Please note that contributions are not tax-deductible since the unit is not a 501c3 organization.

Technology Fundraiser: How YOU Can Help

Cash Donations

We have instituted several categories of donors.

Platinum Donor         $1000
Emerald Donor             $750
Diamond Donor             $500
Gold Donor                     $250
Silver Donor                    $100
Bronze Donor               $50

We will certainly accept cash donations of any size, but we have named the more substantial categories by replicating the ACBL Master point award categories.  We will post names of donors at the TCBC. If you are interested in making a cash donation, please contact Cindy Balderson, Marv Riedesel ([email protected] or 651.485.0027), Sue Jackson ([email protected] or 651.636.4446), or Teri Blu.

Silent Auction

On May 8 we will hold a silent auction (and fixed price sale) of donated items from 5:00-6:25. You can contribute items to the auction by contacting Linda Brammer ([email protected] or 612.927.0346) or Barb Zipoy or by leaving items at the TCBC with your name and, if you wish, a minimum sale amount.

Bake Sale

We will hold a bake sale for morning, afternoon, and evening bridge players on May 8. All items will be priced at $5.00. You can donate items on Friday, May 7 or Saturday, May 8. Please use disposal packaging. Questions? Contact Sherry Hansen (612.867.2338).

Attend the Big Game on May 8

The fundraising game will be an extra point game, and entries will be $7.00. The Twin City Bridge Center will contribute all of the entry fees to the fundraising account.

The festivities that evening will begin at 5:00 with social time, free refreshments for all, and a silent auction.  The silent auction will end at 6:25, and the awards ceremony will begin at 6:40 honoring the Ace of Clubs and Mini-McKenney winners in each award category.  This will be followed by an Open and 299er game at 7:15.  Unit 178 will pay the entry fee for all players who placed in the top 3 of their category of each award. 

   

178 Board Meeting

April 3rd is the date for 178's next Board meeting.  If you would like to check out the agenda or attend, please check below.

Tales from the Vanderbilt

After I finished limping through the grueling finals of the Swiss Teams in Reno, I returned to my room to watch a most exciting Vanderbilt finish.

Mike Cassel was also observing; he has produced a short quiz about 3 key hands.

Can you win the Vanderbilt?  Check your skills!  While you're at it, however, do remember that these players are absolutely bone tired ....!

And - a few more Minnesotans enjoying the Reno NABC, too!

Ten Day Countdown!

Only ten days left to our Unit Final for the Grand National Teams.  Be sure to bring your team and compete!

Also, check out Peter Litchfield's recounting of playing in the GNT final - and the subsequent follow up.  It's great!

Save the Date!

Unit 178 has scheduled this year's awards party for May 8th at the Twin City Bridge Center. 

More information will be coming - but - be sure to save the date!

"Biggest Little City in the World"

The Spring NABC at Reno is well under way!  Some Minnesotans are already enjoying the festivities, with more to come.

As soon as links are available for highlights of the tournament at ACBL.org, they will be posted.  In the meantime, some Minnesotan portraits of bridge players having a fabulous time in Reno!

A Latecomer for Newcomers

My apologies to all for being a day late with John Koch's latest and greatest.  Wednesday morning greeted me early with food poisoning; I didn't turn on my computer for over 24 hours!

But - better late than never for one more excellent column.  We love to hear about excited newcomers to our game!

Silver Sectional Results

Silver Sectional 2010 is complete!  Director Mike Flader has sent me tournament results, hot off the press.

As soon as official ACBL results are available, they will be posted.

Congratulations, all!

Silver Sectional 2010

 

The Silver Sectional at the Twin City Bridge Center is well under way.  Yet, if you haven't had enough or - perish the thought - haven't enjoyed any of this tournament, more is left!  Sunday features the two session Swiss Team event that begins at 11AM, and a 299'er Pairs at 1:30PM.

As always, our thanks to Directors Mike Flader and Larry Oakey, to TCBC owner Teri Blu, and to all the players who make our events so fantastic!  We'll get results up as soon as we can.  In the meantime, enjoy this slide show of some of the competitors in action!

Make a free digital slideshow

Performing Miracles

If you kibitz an elite bridge player, sometimes it appears that they perform miracles at the table.  How do they know to drop a king offside?  Why do they spurn a finesse, and instead perform a "squeeze"?

In reality, while it may appear that the expert is making an incredible guess, most of the time their choice is based upon sound logic and utilizing all the information available.

This week, John Koch shares with us a hand from 1972's South American team trials.  Many lesser players would have not taken advantage of all the evidence and gone down in this slam.  But - the talent to weigh it all is what distinguishes stars from the rest of the planet!

As always - our thanks to John for discovering these gems, along with writing them up masterfully.

Unit 178 Minutes

Marv Riedesel, president of Unit 178, has submitted the Unit's most recent minutes from their board meeting.  Feel free to review and see what is happening with upcoming events, technology in bridge and more.

As always, our thanks to board members for their commitment and efforts!

A Call to Serve

Volunteers are integral to the health and survival of duplicate bridge in the ACBL.  All of us who sit down at a card table to play this great game shoul be exceptionally grateful to those who donate their time and expertise for bridge.

Paul Gutterman, one of Unit 178's board of directors, has written quite a nice piece about this.  Please take the time to read what Paul has written and take it all to heart.  Note the changes in voting for board members for the upcoming cycle.  And, also consider taking the time to thank all those wonderful volunteers throughout our bridge community for their efforts whenever you see them.

If you can and are willing to add your own talents to the cause - that would be stupendous!