Minnesota Bridge

Unit 178 September Minutes

Those who like to know what is going on in Unit 178 can find out here!  September 2010 minutes are posted below.

Thanks to everyone on the 178 board for all that they do!

Sweet Success

John Koch explains how to read the cards and achieve sweet success.

Searching for NAP Finals

If you are unsure where the District 14 NAP finals are - then check out this link at our District Director's blog!

Hope to see you there!

North American Pairs 2010

Some have been having difficulty finding the flyer for the NAP District 14 Finals.  Please check out this link at our District Director's site, Sharon Anderson, to see the brochure.

My thanks to NAP coordinator Wayne Gergen for a new copy!

Get Your Free Play!

Since 1937, bridge players in the Twin Cities have been enjoying their membership in the Minneapolis Grand Slam Club.  The MGSC meets most Friday nights, from September through the end of May.  

Two games have already been held this fall.  But, Friday is the first "Club Night".  All players who are members of the club get to play for free four times a year at "Club Night" - and the player with the highest percentage for those nights wins free plays for the next season!

Add in a directory of members, a fun party at the end of the season - plus excellent weekly bulletins and articles, courtesy of Richard Lawson - for only $20, this is a deal not to be missed!

For a taste of what members are able to read each week - Richard's latest production below.

Inimitable Roth

Al Roth has been gone a few years - and didn't play at high levels for some years prior to that.  Still, he was one of the finest players ever - and his ability to judge what was going on during a hand remains legend.

This week, John Koch presents us with a hand that Roth played.  As is par for the Roth course, he sniffed out what was happening by passing a hand that most would open - and reading the cards expertly.

Also - John has delivered his column this week in PDF form.  If you like it; great!  If not, please let us know in the comments.

EVEN Better!

 

Gus Doty of Unit 103 just alerted me that there is even another great reason to attend the Autumn Harvest Sectional:  free lunch on Friday and Saturday between the morning and afternoon sessions!  Bridge, friends, masterpoints - and now free lunch, too.  What a deal!

Unit 178 Board Meeting

President Marv Riedesel has a new agenda for September's Unit 178 Board meeting.  The meeting will happen this coming Saturday, 9-25-10, at 9:30AM at the Twin City Bridge Center.

Feel free to stop by, or contact your favorite board member for questions, input and the like!The agenda is posted below.

Two for You!

Two exciting October events coming up for us in the Twin Cities.

The first is North American Pairs District 14 Finals.  The event will be held the first weekend in October, in New Brighton.  Read this post for all the details!

Our second fun event is the Autumn Harvest Sectional in Maplewood; it's held one week after NAP, Friday Oct 8-10.  A flyer with all the information is posted below.

Enjoy the crisp weather - compete for a trip to Louisville next spring - and see your friends at the Autumn Harvest!

Silence is Golden

Virtually every "rule" in bridge sometimes should be broken.  People say "It's a bidder's game."  And - much truth to that statement.  Yet, sometimes, as the title of this post states, silence is golden.

This week, John Koch gives us a hand that highlights these truths.  Imagine how you would declare this hand with silent opponents - and how you would on the actual auction.

Kudos to this declarer for producing the only success story in the field!

Paul Bunyan Results

Lots of folks headed to Duluth this past weekend to enjoy our autumn sectional there.  Congratulations to Timothy Toderash and Steve Russo of Thunder Bay, who grabbed more masterpoints than the rest of the field.  All the results can be viewed at this ACBL link.

 

St. Cloud Bridge

Our MNBridge blog is an excellent resource for bridge throughout our state.  If you wish to find a bridge club in your neck of the woods, just click on the various links on the left panel of our blog.

We are happy to announce that a new site is now up and running.  Pat Sohler has a website for St. Cloud Bridge.  Please do investigate the site - and visit the club, too!

Our thanks to Pat for putting forth this effort, and letting us know about it.

Fargo Festivities

Be sure to check out how many Minnesotans and others fared over the Labor Day holiday in Fargo at Sharon Anderson's blog!

So Sorry!

Have you ever pasted a truly awful and unlucky result on your opponents?  One so bad, you feel you must apologize?

At the Fargo Regional, Jason and Matthew Bribitzer-Stull did just that.  "So sorry!" they told the opponents. 

Still, I'm sure that Jason and Matthew loved their basketful of matchpoints!

Gory details below :)

The Threats

This week, John Koch delivers an exciting grand slam.  The hand looks fairly easy to make at first blush.  When one suit splits badly, however, the hand morphs from "Oh, I could do that" to "How did you bring this one in?"

John will show us the "how" below.  If you wish to learn how to threaten your opponents (at least, in a legal way) - this is it!

Paul Bunyan Sectional

Next weekend is the time to head to Duluth and the Paul Bunyan Sectional!  From September 10-12, enjoy a beautiful early autumn drive to Lake Superior and an excellent tournament!

See this flyer for schedule and details.

 

MGSC

If you don't know what "MGSC" stands for - you should.  It's the "Minneapolis Grand Slam Club."  Modeled after a Flight A tournament event, the MGSC is one of the oldest bridge clubs in the country.  Since 1937, it's the place for those who wish to play bridge locally at the highest possible level to come and compete plus socialize with friends.

Although you need not be a member of the MGSC to play at the Club, membership does have its privileges!  Members receive a weekly bulletin ably edited by Richard Lawson, a handy membership directory, four free plays at "Club Games" throughout the season, and a wonderful year-end party that is subsidized for members.

President Dave Neiman sent out a welcome letter for the 2010-2011 season, along with a schedule of play.  Both can be found below.

If you have been a member in the past, then you are well familiar with all the benefits of belonging to the MGSC.  If you have not been - do consider it!  A great way to improve your bridge game and forge lasting friendships.

The Sacrifice

Sometimes success on a hand seems impossible.  Your mind runs through various possibilities; none will allow you to reach the number of tricks you need.

Great players, however, try to imagine one more scenario where they can be victorious.  This week, John Koch tells of how one imaginative player found the sacrifice of a trick for greater riches.