Minnesota Bridge

Stripe-Tailed Ape Double

Our District 14 Flight B champs did not get to victory without a few bumps along the way.  Richard Lawson, on the winning team, offers this amusing tale of how to not let the bumps get you down!

Kibitzing from Afar

With the advent of Bridge Base Online and vugraph, now you can see what the creme de la creme do in the most prestigious of events. 

Our thanks to Mike Cassel for reporting on the Spingold, Round of 32.

Remember; you can enjoy expert bridge throughout the week!

A Fine Defense in NOLA

Our intrepid "Hand of the Week" author, John Koch, unfortunately is not with us for NABC in New Orleans this July.  John did play, however, during the last NABC in New Orleans in 1993.

Here is a hand from that tournament where the defense was as bright as the Louisiana sun!

National Champions!

Congratulations to Eric, Paul, Andy and Richard for their Sheinwold Flight B GNT Teams!

 

Go Get 'Em, District 14 GNT!

One team remains in 2010's GNT competition:  Flight B.  Here is to another winning day for Andy Caranicas, Eric Hendrickson, Richard Lawson and Paul Gutterman!

 

Unconventional

Jim Hall was one of Minnesota's top players for many years.  Jim said more than once that winning bridge was often not a lot more than "blocking and tackling."  That is - to win, you simply had to not make silly errrors.  Of course, Jim was correct.

Sometimes, however, more than "blocking and tackling" is needed.  Sometimes, the unconventional is required.

This week, John Koch shows us just such a hand.

Paul Bunyon Sectional

Tournament Chair Warren Nelson sent me this reminder about a fun upcoming September tournament.  Be sure to put it on your calendar!

Paul Bunyan

 Bridge Tournament

 

Duluth, Minnesota

September 10,11,12,  2010

Black Bear Casino (same as last year)

 I-35 and Highway 210 Carlton, MN (1-800-553-0022)

 

EVENTS

 

-Friday-

1:30 pm One-session Stratified Pairs

7:00 pm Pair/Team Game

 

-Saturday-

9:00 am One-session Stratified Pairs

First session of Bracketed KO 

1:30 pm One-session Stratified Pairs

Second session of Bracketed KO

7:00 pm Pair/Team Game

Final session of Bracketed KO

 

-Sunday-

 (NOTE EARLY START TIME)

***9:30 am***

Stratified Swiss Teams

Time of second session TBA

 

TOURNAMENT INFORMATION

 

Tournament Chairman

Warren Nelson

 

Tournament Director

Tony Ames

 

Partnerships

Walter Vasil - (218) 724-4180)

 

Sanction Number S 1009101

Sponsored by Minnesota Unit 103

 

Entry Fees

Friday and Saturday-$9 per session

Sunday-$90/Team (See below for lunch info)

$1.00 added fee for non ACBL members

and non-paid-up members per session.

 

Strat A: 1250+ MP's Strat B: 300-1250 MP's

Strat C: 0-300 MP's

 

STST

Swiss Teams Special Treat

!!! No bag lunches this year!!!

Each Swiss Team player Sunday will receive a ticket good for

EITHER the Casino's own Breakfast Buffet OR the Casino's Lunch Buffet in their dining area. 

Special group room rate is $65/night>
Reserve by August 12, 2010 for bridge rate.
Mention the Paul Bunyan Bridge Tournament.
Phone: 1 800 553 0022 for reservations.

The Local Duplicate

If you're like me, then you learned to play duplicate bridge at the local duplicate.  More years ago than I care to admit, far more experienced players than I took me under their wings.  Both the St. Paul Bridge Center, then at a Maplewood location, and the "Bridge Center" (now the Twin City Bridge Center) at 60th and Nicollet were my favorite haunts.

Irwin Boris, one of the area's top notch players, is also one of many who still much enjoys playing at our excellent local games.  Here is one hand that Irwin reports that all should enjoy - be you beginner or expert!

Race to Louisville!

The first weekend in October, District 14 players will have the opportunity to compete in the NAP (North American Pairs).  Finals competition is scheduled for New Brighton, MN this year.

Wayne Gergen has sent us a flyer for this exciting event.  A great opportunity to compete against your peers, win a subsidized trip to Louisville and the Spring NABC - plus healthy masterpoint awards!

Meet Your Board Members

We've had a changing of the guard at Unit 178's Board.  Here are those who are currently serving on your board of directors.

Do feel free to get in touch with any of them with your concerns, questions and/or compliments about bridge in Minneapolis!

 

Marv Riedesel	President	Bridge.buddy@yahoo.com 651.485.0027
Linda Brammer	Properties	Linda.brammer@yahoo.com 612.927.0346
Mike Cassel	GNT Coordinator	Mc2mikec@aol.com 651.697.9856
Julie Tigges		Jj2@pro-ns.net 612.925.9664
Diane Henson	Publicity	Diane.henson@gmail.com 952.545.7689
Vicky Smith	Treasurer	Vsmith2946@q.com 952.974.0311
Sue Jackson	Vice-President Recording Secretary	sjackson@smumn.edu 651.636.4446
Steve Gaynor	Advisor/Historian (NV)	mrturk@comcast.net 612.708.7563
Mike Flader	Advisor (NV)	Jillandmike123@comcast.net 651.895.9395
Verda Gould	NAP Coordinator (NV)	verda96@comcast.net
Nita Fronk	I/N Coordinator (NV)	mnfronk6998@msn.com
Brendan Byrne	Youth Bridge Coordinator (NV)	millcityoflakes@gmail.com

Unit 178 Minutes and Business

Two items of news for Unit 178 devotees today.  First, you can find the July board minutes below.

Second, Unit 178 is looking for someone to work as their Properties Chair.  The person with this paid position is responsible for keeping track of materials owned either by Unit 178, or co-owned with Unit 178 and another entity.  Initially, an inventory of tables, bidding boxes, section standards and the like would be taken at the Minnesota State Sectional in November.  Members of the Unit plus potentially other volunteers would assist the Properties Chair during this initial inventory.

Details of the responsibilities for Properties Chair are below.  Should you be interested in this position, please contact a member of Unit 178's Board of Directors.

Fatal Action

Defending a doubled contract is a tricky proposition.  After dummy comes down, you may appreciate that success hangs upon a thread.

Do not, however, panic into committing a fatal attraction move that may allow declarer to come home.  This week, John Koch teaches us how to avoid that fatal action and end up victorious. 

If only Michael Douglas had access to John's article in time....

The Hand That Wasn't

If you're like me, then you find bridge itself as fascinating as the competition.  

Not only are most of the hands we encounter at the table intriguing.  Sometimes, what does not happen at the table can be just as compelling.

Our thanks to Mike Cassel for his excellent discussion of The Hand that Wasn't.

UPDATE:  Some people have had trouble opening and reading Mike's column.  Mike has sent a PDF file of the column, and it is posted below now.

Motions to Review

Sharon Anderson will soon be heading to New Orleans, to represent our district at the Board of Directors meeting.  At her blog, she has posted the motions that will be up for review.

Do take a look at them, and feel free to share any opinions or thoughts you might have with Sharon.

Aquatennial Results

 
The highlight of summer bridge - the Aquatennial Sectional - concluded yesterday.  Kudos to Mike Cassel for being #1 with most points earned.  Mike's 20.55 for the tournament put him a couple ahead of second and third place Irwin Boris and Paolo Ranaldi.

Big Matchpoint Game bragging rights go to Evan Sachs and Jean Boettcher, with a whopping 72.12% game in Thursday's Open Pairs.

Thanks to all who made Aquatennial 2010 such a success!

Going for the Max

Duplicate pairs offers more than one way to skin a cat.  You can choose to defend - and beat the competition.  Or, you can judge to declare, hoping that your superior skills will allow you to best the field that way.

This week, John Koch highlights the road to success by choosing the path of declaring.  Enjoy!

New Design!

During May's Gopher Regional, I took this photo:

Then, I added in a bit of Photoshop design to it:

Slice and dice a bit, add some text - and you end up with the new banner image we have for MN Bridge above.  I may still tinker with it some.  I hope that it provides a fun change of pace for us - and that you enjoy the card theme, too!

 

Aquatennial Silver Sectional

Summer's highlight - the Aquatennial Silver Sectional - is just two days away!  At the Twin Cities Bridge Center,a great schedule from Wednesday through the weekend.  Check it out and enjoy!

Unit 178 New Board Members

Congratulations to new Unit 178 board members:  Linda Brammer, Mike Cassel, Diane Henson and Julie Tigges.

Thanks to those members who are retiring:  Verda Gould, Paul Gutterman and Cezanne Martin.

Another "thank you" to our Nominating Committee and Election Committee members:  Steve Gaynor, Cathy Sigafus, Brian Weilke and Judy Hansen.

If you have any questions about the election process, please feel free to contact President Marv Riedesel at either 651.485.0027 or at bridge.buddy@yahoo.com.

 

Unit 178 Board Meeting

After the Fourth of July, Unit 178's board will "celebrate" the holiday with a board meeting.  Those wishing to see the agenda for this meeting can do so below.  And, should you wish to stop by and observe, the meeting will be at the Twin City Bridge Center, 11AM on July 10th