Minnesota Bridge

Unit 178 October Minutes

Keep up to the minute with what Unit 178's board is doing by checking out the most recent minutes!

Bermuda Bowl Slams

Many of us in Minnesota and throughout the U.S. set our alarms early to watch the most exciting Bermuda Bowl matches the past two weeks.  As the field narrowed to only four teams, the tension built.

Our Mike Cassel was one of those kibitzing.  Mike has thoughtfully written up some slam hands from the last few days.  Needless to say, when in the slam zone, many IMPS can change hands.

Match your wits against the best of the best!  And - thanks, Mike!

Minnesota State

Do you want to have fun, play bridge with your friends, win masterpoints and events - and perhaps improve your game so that one day you can be second in the Bermuda Bowl like Joe Grue?

Then be sure to come and compete at the Minnesota State tournament next weekend!  From November 4-6 at America's Best Value Inn in Shakopee, you can enjoy loads of bridge plus super hospitality.  Highlights include:

• Free mini muffins and coffee on Friday and Saturday mornings
• Ice cream following Friday night's session
• Full buffet dinner in between Saturday afternoon and evening sessions
• Another great buffet dinner Sunday between Swiss sessions
• Free coffee & candy every session every day

A flyer with all the details about this excellent tournament can be found to the left. 

We cannot promise that competing at the Minnesota State will send you to the Bermuda Bowl.  We can, however, promise that you will have a great time and be delighted with all the Minnesota hospitality!

 

 

 

 

How They Did It

How did USA #2 beat USA #1 in the semi-final match of the Bermuda Bowl?  USA #2, with home grown Joe Grue, is packed with talent.  But - so is the more experienced top notch USA #1 team!

Mike Cassel gives us a run down on some of the most exciting board - as USA #2 pulled away.

In The Finals!

Joe Grue, along with his teammates from USA#2, will be competing in the finals of the Bermuda Bowl!

USA #2 just finished soundly beating the quite fine other USA team in the semi-finals.

Don't believe the old adage that "nice guys finish last."  Here is Joe, posing with Unit 103 President Gus Doty's grandson, caddy at many of our tournaments.

Not only has Joe finished "first" in each of his KO matches in the Bermuda Bowl - all of us in Minnesota, District 14 and throughout the U.S. are hoping that he finishes first at the end of his upcoming match!

Very well done and best of luck, Joe & Co!

Bermuda Bowl Semis

 

Did any of us ever think that Joe Grue would  be competing in the semi-finals of the Bermuda Bowl one day?  Well - whether any of us anticipated this or not - Joe in the semis is a reality. 

After soundly beating the powerful Swedish team today, Joe & Company will face a team with seasoned stars:  USA #1.  Those wishing to watch at Bridgebase need to set their alarms early.  We in Minnesota need to be up and at 'em at 3:30AM to see USA #2 battle their American counterparts.

I'm not sure if I ever really thought about Joey in the Bermuda Bowl when he was a teenager.  Yet, I for one did see him becoming a star.  His quickness, ability to see what would work so rapidly and clearly - along with nerves of steel - were strong indicators of his huge talent. 

That Joe is quite the nice and thoughtful person, in addition to a powerhouse at the table, is a huge bonus for all.

Kerry Holloway, one of Joe's early partners pictured with him here, may not be playing in the Netherlands.  But Kerry, I and loads of other friends will be cheering Joe and his team to victory.  Go, Joe!

Three Way Tie

Three players won exactly the same number of masterpoints at the Autumn Harvest Sectional:  Terry Lijewski, Paulo Ranaldi and Bruce Boje grabbed 26.38. 

Congratulations to these three players for heading the list of masterpoint winners, and to all the rest of the competitors who vied throughout the weekend in St. Paul!

The Pressure is On

When you have a fit, jumping to the maximum level you believe to be appropriate immediately often leads to success.  Sometimes you find a good save against the opponents' contract.  And sometimes - you find a line of play to actually make your "save"!

This week, John Koch instructs how we can find the latter. 

In addition - be sure to note the key points for defenders, too!

Up to the Minute Results

In case you missed it, Kim Hayward kindly left a comment about results for the Autumn Harvest Sectional.  We will post final results from ACBL when they are ready, but in the meantime, you can see what is happening here.

Thank you, Kim!

 

 

Joe Grue: Bermuda Bowl Bound

Fifteen years ago, did we really think that little Joe Grue would one day be competing in the Bermuda Bowl?  For those who imagined it; they were correct.

Joe will begin play with his team Sunday.  For those who would like to kibitz on Bridge Base, you'll need to get up early!

We will report on how our Minnesota son is doing.  In the meantime, an interview with Joe and competitor from USA1, Steve Weinstein at http://www.bridgewinners.com/index.php/component/content/article/2-latest-news/1244-veldhoven-10132011.

New Feature

As of today, we have a new feature at MNBridge:  want ads.

If you have something related to our game that you would like publicized, please let me know.  I will add it to the list to the left under "want ads."

I do plan to keep the list updated, which means that items will be removed if and when they are no longer relevant.  How many items are posted - or not - is up to you!

Our first item is now posted.  Mike Cassel and Carol Rynders have a condo to share with someone going to the Fall NABC in Seattle.  Check it out!

Fun AND Good!

How much in life is fun and good for you?  Not much, but...

Bridge is!

Bridge is a challenging game even for adults, requiring strategy and the memorization of complex rules. Yet evidence of its academic benefits is still largely anecdotal. A 2005 study by Christopher C. Shaw, a retired business professor and bridge player, found that a group of bridge-playing fifth-grade students in Carlinville, Ill., made larger gains on standardized tests than their classmates, but academic scholars have called these findings limited and preliminary. Mr. Shaw is conducting a similar bridge study with students in Mount Pleasant, Iowa.

“My intuition says bridge is a really good tool to develop critical thinking and inferential reasoning, plus it gives them a lifetime recreational skill,” Dr. Shaw said.

Minnesota Harvest Sectional

What is the cherry on top for the beautiful sundae of autumn?  The Minnesota Harvest Sectional!

It begins this Friday, running through Sunday.  Here is the link to the schedule, events, location and much more.  Get your partners and teams and compete!

Pigs Get Slaughtered

Every time we declare or defend, we face a challenge.  We all want to take as many tricks as we can.  Yet, on defense, defeating a contract is paramount - as is making our contract when we are declarer.

This week, John Koch presents us with a hand where defender and declarer each face this challenge.  Keeping in mind the title of this post is key!

Minnesota State Sectional Correction

District 14 President Verda Gould spotted an error in the schedule we posted a couple of days ago.  Although we provided an update on that post, we want to make certain that everyone is aware of the correct venue for the sectional!  Here is the update; sorry for any confusion!

UPDATE:  The site for the Minnesota State Sectional on November 4-6 is NOT being held at Mystic Lake.  This year's site is the American Best Value Inn (formerly the Canterbury Inn.)  Please note that the schedule below shows the incorrect venue for the sectional.  We are looking forward to playing at American Best Value!

NAP Congratulations!

Winners and finalists for this year's District 14 NAP competition can be found here.

Special congratulations to Minnesotans Tony Ames and Judy Nassar, 2nd in Flight A, Joe Rice and Bjorgvin Kristinsson, Richard Lawson and Andy Caranicas, Mark Lasoff and Herb Hein, 1, 2 and 3 respectively in Flight B - and to Jake and Jeff Olson, who tied for 1st in Flight C.

Go get 'em at the Memphis NABC!

 

Opponents Bearing Gifts

I don't know about the rest of you.  But, if it weren't for the kindness - and gifts - of others, you could surely deduct a great many masterpoints from my total.  None of us ever play perfectly.  When gifts are given, we must take advantage of them.

In this week's column, John Koch tells us how to go for the gusto - and grab those presents when they are presented to us!

GNT Updates

Mike Cassel, District 14's GNT coordinator, has a report and an update on GNT at the District website.  Please check them out!

Bridge from Here and Beyond

Steve Gaynor has been wonderful at compiling schedules for bridge happenings in Minnesota and nearby for years. Here is Steve's latest project for tournaments and special events for Units 103 and 178 and close by.

If it's bridge and it's on the schedule, Steve has it for us!

UPDATE:  The site for the Minnesota State Sectional on November 4-6 is NOT being held at Mystic Lake.  This year's site is the American Best Value Inn (formerly the Canterbury Inn.)  Please note that the schedule below shows the incorrect venue for the sectional.  We are looking forward to playing at American Best Value!

Who Would Have Guessed?

Attracting new bridge players is a goal of all of our clubs, but finding the best time to offer lessons is always a challenge.

This September, the Twin Cities Bridge Center offered beginning bridge classes at what seemed a novel time: 4PM to 6:30PM on Wednesdays. The response exceeded expectations! Teri Blu has about 30 people taking the classes. They are primarily working-age adults who like the time because they can leave work early, come to bridge, then go home for dinner.

Once they finish the lessons, Teri hopes to start a 4PM, 18 board duplicate game for players with fewer than 50 master points.