Minnesota Bridge

Gopher Bulletins - Monday

Monday is the final day of Gopher 2010.  This is your last chance to find a winning lead to beat a slam, make a tough game and win a regional event.  With a game time of 9:30AM, you have plenty of time to enjoy a day of bridge and still celebrate the Memorial Day holiday afterward!

Many, many people have contributed to the success of this year's Gopher.  First and foremost, our thanks to co-chairmen Patti Stuhlman and Sue Jackson.  From start to finish, planning and implementation, these two ladies did a superlative job.  Thank you to our many volunteers who also offered so much to create a great tournament.  Our directing staff was wonderful.  Mike Cassel created excellent bulletins every day - and please check today's for stories about hands, results - and a list of those many people we should all thank (not the least of whom is Mike!)

Finally, thank you to all our District 14 competitors and all our other guests who traveled to the Twin Cities to enjoy our beautiful city, hospitality and Gopher Regional.  We hope you enjoyed yourself as much as we did!

Pesky Preempts

What do you do when those opponents get into your auction with a preempt?  Read Steve Gaynor's lesson to find out!

Gopher Bulletins - Sunday

Only today and tomorrow remain for Gopher 2010!  Be sure to head over to the regional to continue on in a knockout event, or enjoy the most exciting John Boeder Memorial Barometer Pairs!

Mike has Sunday's bulletin for you with all the results and news.  We will both see you today at the Gopher!

Gopher Bulletins - Saturday

Mike has Saturday's report ready.  He would like to remind everyone that if you are searching for a particular name, hit "control F", put in the name you want and you can easily find all references to that name.  In addition, bookmark MNBridge so you can have it immediately ready.  Finally, if you wish to tell someone about the blog, direct them to:  MNBridge.com.  This easy URL will take you there!

We have three more days of exciting competition!  Look forward to seeing everyone at the Gopher!

Gopher Bulletins - Friday

The Gopher weekend has arrived!  Mike has a round up of all the results, plus an upcoming schedule on the exciting events that remain.

Good luck to those who are continuing on in knock outs - and to those entering new events!

Gopher Bulletins - Thursday

Thursday's Bulletin is hot off the press!  Bulletin editor Mike Cassel would like everyone to know that he's sorry for some items that may be missing or in different formats than what we had previously.  But, sometimes files differ, and as a player, he just can't stay up all night working on it!

Mike appreciates all the stories people related to him.  If you wish to look for your name in the bulletin online, hit "control-F" and put in your last name.  Bingo; you'll find yourself!

All would be appreciative if, when you are done at a table, you tidy up after yourself. 

And finally - if you see Arty Bakshian, it's his birthday!  Wish him a happy one!

Thanks - and enjoy Thursday's events at the Gopher!

Navigational Signs

For every bridge hand, there are signs along the way.  They may be in the form of bidding, the cards that defenders pitch, or the spot cards.  Even beyond the actual bridge itself, we can glean information from the ability level of our opponents.

This week, John Koch highlights how to take advantage of all the information available, and put it to your best use.

Hope you are enjoying the Gopher Regional!  The tournament continues on through Memorial Day.  Be sure to review John's tips; I guarantee you they will help you to win more and lose less!

Gopher 2010 Bulletins - Wednesday

With just one session of play completed, Mike Cassel has a bulletin chock full of results, hands, session scores, news and much much more!  Enjoy!

Youth and Junior Bridge Ambassadors

District 14's director, Sharon Anderson, is requesting your help in finding youth and junior players who might make great bridge ambassadors.  Please check out this post on her blog.  If you know of excellent young people, do let Sharon know!

Gopher 2010 Bulletins - Tuesday

Thanks to editor Mike Cassel, you will be able to enjoy daily bulletins for the Gopher Regional both at the tournament site and here at MNBridge!  Here is Tuesday's edition, complete with colorful masthead and a full recap of every session's matchpoint results.

One Day Away: Gopher Regional 2010

For those who have been anticipating Minnesota's biggest tournament, your wait will soon end.  Tomorrow evening, this year's Gopher Regional will begin.  As always, it rates to be full of most competitive events, offerings for newcomers, plus a marvelous opportunity to see bridge buddies from our community.

One of the highlights of the Gopher is a barometer pairs.  A barometer pairs event is one in which all partnerships play the same boards at the same time.  As a result, throughout the event, each pair knows exactly where they stand in the field.

The 2010 event is the John Boeder Memorial Regional Barometer Pairs.  Some who are not "old timers" may not know who John Boeder was.  Murray Applebaum, a good friend of John's and occasional teammate, has written a very nice piece explaining why this prestigious event is named after John.

Do check out Murray's article - and for sure be part of this year's very special Gopher Regional!

Provisional GNT 2009-2010 Board Report

Mike Cassel has a report chock full of stats and musings about the GNT in District 14.  Please review below, and share any of your thoughts with Mike.

Mike also wants everyone to realize this is a "work in progress."

Bridge Opportunity Knocks

One of the hallmarks of a player who is both excellent and a lover of the game is this.  Not only does the player love the competition at the table and winning.  He also loves the theory and beauty of the game.  After a hand is over, he wonders:  "What might have been?"  "Could I have figured this out at the table - and why?"

Paul Meerschaert is exactly such a competitor.  One of the finest players in Minnesota, Paul, on the winning GNT Superflight team, shares with us his thoughts about a hand from last weekend's competition. 

GNT 2010 District Finals - Recap

Mike Cassel, GNT 2010 coordinator, has taken the time to provide us with a comprehensive recap about this year's Grand National Teams.  Mike congratulates the winners, explains much of how the movements worked this year and thanks the many people who contributed to this year's District 14 finals being such a success.

In addition, Mike also addresses some of the difficulties that arose, and muses about potential changes for the event in the future.

I would like to add my own thanks to all those who played a part in 2010 GNT, from the many volunteers, the club owners, the directors - and, of course, you the players!  Finally - a huge "thank you" to Mike.  Mike has put in an enormous amount of work and thought into trying to make our District GNT finals the best it can possibly be.  We are all grateful, Mike!

Please check out Mike's recap.  If you would like to add your own thoughts and suggestions, we encourage you to do so.  Either leave comments below, or feel free to contact Mike directly.

The Jam

So you open a decent hand in first chair.  The next thing you know, your LHO has preempted, partner has made a negative double – and RHO has raised the stakes.  It’s only your second chance to bid – yet if you want to do it, you have to speak at the four level.  What do you do?

This week, John Koch teaches us how to evaluate what to do about “the jam” from opponents.  Here’s how to turn preemption into a sweet deal for you and partner!

GNT 2010 Winners

All of Mike Cassel's efforts to promote the GNT and have an excellent event paid off this last weekend.  District 14 now has 4 fine teams to send to our New Orleans NABC in July.

Mike has written up a short synopsis of the event, along with congratulations and photos of Superflight and Flights A, B and C winners.  Please check out the report below - and also be sure to thank Mike and everyone else who contributed to the success of this event the next time you see them!

UPDATE:  Director Tony Ames has sent the results from all GNT flights plus the Sunday Swiss.  They are all posted below.

Gopher Countdown: One Week Away!

The Gopher Regional is only 1 week away!

The last day of the tournament, Memorial Day, Monday, May 31, is loaded with choices. Games start at 9:30AM. We offer three levels of two session Swiss teams (A/AX, B/C/D, and I/N). In addition, we are continuing an event that was well received last year: the 2 session fast pairs. Start at 9:30AM and be done by 4:00PM!

 We are also trying to do something new for lunch this year. Watch the daily bulletin for more details about .  

Check the link on this blog for a flyer, and we will see you at the Gopher!

Steel Yourself

Many "bridge aphorisms" are just that because they work:  "second hand low; third hand high" - "cover an honor with an honor" - "eight ever; nine never."  Once you have been playing bridge for a while, however, you learn that what works most of the time does not work all of the time.

This week, John Koch gives us a hand with exceptions that prove the rule.  How do you judge that "the rules" aren't going to work?  Calculate in your mind that if you follow them, then failure will be yours.  Search for something else.

As John says, "steel yourself" to make plays that seem unnatural - yet the plays that will bring you success.  Read all about it below!

Silent Auction and Awards Party

Unit 178's Silent Auction and Fundraiser, combined with their Awards Party for 2009 Ace of Clubs and Mini-McKenney winners was an enormous success!  Roger Anderson was his usual dapper self as MC for the Awards Party, Sharon and Verda Gould provided everyone with an incredible spread, Larry Oakey handled directing as only he can, and Chip and Teri Blu graciously hosted at the Twin City Bridge Center.  Marv Riedesel, President of Unit 178, gave a wonderful speech about what had been achieved, and helped Roger congratulate all those who performed so well last year. Both Marv and Roger have shared some of their thoughts about the events, which are posted below.  In addition, you can watch a short slide show highlighting our players and our many volunteers.  A great bridge community does not just "happen".  It's the result of many committed and devoted volunteers, workers, players and friends.  Thanks to everyone who is giving their all to great bridge in Minnesota!

This free slideshow design generated with Smilebox

Gopher Countdown: Two Weeks Away

The Gopher Regional is only 2 weeks away!

Sunday, May 30, will be quite a day at the Gopher Regional. The premier event is a two session, Flighted Pairs. At 1:30, Flight A players will play in a qualifying session in the John Boeder Memorial pairs. The top pairs from that session will then test their skills in the John Boeder Memorial Barometer Final. (In a barometer game, all tables play the same boards during the same round. Standings are posted after each round.  Thus, competitors know where they - and their opponents - stand throughout the game.)

Meanwhile, players in Flights B, C, and D play in a separate section. Their game is a two session playthrough (overall awards are based on the two session total). Some of the masterpoint awards will be gold points. While I/N players may continue to play in the I/N games this day, they should consider playing in this event in Flight D. It will be exciting!

On top of all of this, the tournament is offering a free dinner to all afternoon/evening players! Check the link on this blog for a flyer, and we will see you at the Gopher!