Minnesota Bridge

Ladies; Start Your Engines

The first day of NABC events has begun at the Fall Nationals in Seattle.  Two of our Minnesota pairs are excelling!

In the Smith Life Master Womens, a well known Minnesota partnership currently stands in fourth.  Will this pair event be the charm for Cindy Balderson and Carole Miner?

 

 

 

 

 

 

Also competing are Sharon Anderson and Peg Waller.  Sharon is still beaming about the recent election that names her ACBL president-elect.  Peg carefully studies her cards.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Best of luck to all our Minnesota ladies in the final two sessions!

It's Own Reward

This week, John Koch presents us with a hand with lessons and card reading from all angles.  We must analyze who might have what from the bidding and defensive clues.  Then, armed with that data, we must figure out how we can make a tough hand.  As so often is the case, John is able to do it!

Sometimes when we perform such a feat, we look forward to accolades and a nice pick-up.  Alas; sometimes, achieving well must be its own reward.

John has the details below....

Sharon Anderson - Our New President

Minnesota's Sharon Anderson will be ACBL president for the upcoming term!  Congratulations!  We are sure you will do very well for us and our organization.

Good News - Bad News - Good News

Your editor has been submitting stories at the popular bridge site Bridgewinners.  If you aren't familiar with Bridgewinners - then you should be!

This hand came from a recent Minneapolis Grand Slam Club knockout match. 

Sometimes, you lose IMPS.  Still - you can be grateful when the loss is far less than it might have been!

The Cardturner

Sue Jackson, President of Unit 178, recently read bridge player and author Louis Sachar's book, The Cardturner.  Below are some thoughts from Sue about the book - and from others, too!

By the way; I had the pleasure and honor of interviewing Mr. Sachar during the Houston 2009 NABC.  This photo is from that interview.

170 Out of 180

Today's Koch Korner hand originated from a Swiss Team event in North St. Paul.  There, John & Co. earned a most impressive 170 VP's out of 180!

With plays like the one John found on the hand below, 170 is no surprise at all!

Congratulations, John - and readers:  enjoy!

Holiday Reminder

Before we get stuffed full of turkey, sweet potatoes and pumpkin pie, before we get too wrapped up in presents that will need to be festooned for the holidays - a bridge reminder.  The Holiday Sectional Tournament at the Bridge Center of St. Paul is coming up soon!

First weekend in December, head to North St. Paul for a holiday kick-off of bridge and fun!  The schedule is here, with all the details.

The Object of the Game

Irwin Boris, one of the Twin Cities' experts players, has provided us with a play problem from last weekend's Minnesota State Sectional.

Our thanks to Irwin for his hand and analysis - along with further comments from Yours Truly following.

The Ninth Trick

Finding the best opening lead can mean success or defeat at trick one.  This week, John Koch instructs how to reason while selecting that all important choice. 

"Fourth from longest and strongest" - although an old saw because often it works well - is not always a winner.

MN State in Pictures

Thanks again to our stupendous tournament co-chairmen, Verda Gould and Kathy Beckman.  All their hard work and tireless efforts - along with many volunteers, our great directing staff, caddies and YOU made MN State Sectional 2011 super!

Thanks for coming.  Here are a few scenes from the weekend.

And - be sure to attend Minnesota's next excellent tournament coming up.  The Holiday Sectional in St. Paul begins the first weekend in December!

The Hand Records

Paul Gutterman heard this amusing story from Magnus Weiman.  Today's bridge chuckle!

I/N Player approaches Information table:  Are there hand records available?

 

Responder:   Yes, right over here.

 

I/N Player:   But we played in the I/N game.

 

Responder:  It doesn't make any difference.  Everyone played the same hands.

 

I/N Player turning to her partner:  Oh, that's why we didn't do very well!

 

MN State Official Results

Here are the final ACBL results for the MN State Sectional in Shakopee this past weekend.

Terry Lijewski and Kory Solarz earned a most impressive 42.43 masterpoints!  Just a hair behind was Paolo Ranaldi, with 42.23.  Very well done!

My teammates for the Friday afternoon BAM were pretty excited about our result in that event.  I must admit that I never had a game quite like that.  Out of a possible 24 score, we earned 22!  That's over a 91.6% game. 

We couldn't have achieved perfect.  I cost a half a board when I misdefended against a game, turning our minus 420 into minus 450.  And, I could have passed out a hand for plus 200 against 140 at the other table.  Instead, I chose to double, and partner didn't judge to leave it in.  Still - I and Kerry Holloway, Joe Rice and Tim Wernz were rather amazed as we compared, and the "win's" kept on coming.

 

Minnesota State Sectional

We survived the "fall back" time change and finished the MN State Sectional on time!

Our thanks to co-chairmen Kathy Beckman and Verda Gould for all their hard work.  Appreciation, too, to Mike Flader and his directing staff.  They had to contend with a great turnout and find spots for all of us to play!

Great hospitality every day - and loads of fun!

Results are below.  Official ACBL results will be posted as soon as they are available - along with some photos from the weekend, too.

Wonderful to see everyone's smiling face this weekend!

MN State - Friday Results

Day #1 of the MN State Sectional has completed.  Results are below.

Two days of play remain, however!  Here's the schedule; we hope to see you there!

Everything You've Ever Wanted to Know About Joe Grue

And then some!

Bridgewinners has a feature called "In the Well."  People very well known in the bridge world are put "in the well" - and then answer all sorts of questions that are put to them.

Currently, our own Joe Grue is "in the well."  If you'd like to read the questions put to Joe - and his answers - then check out this link!

The Mother of All Disasters

Check it out at District 14!

Choosing Well

As some of you may have noted, last week we had no "Koch's Korner."  A glitch between John Koch and me - along with John being at Central States Regional in Lake Geneva all week - left us bereft of our favorite Minnesota bridge writer.

We do, however, have double good news.  First - John's efforts in Lake Geneva were well rewarded.  Along with partner Paolo Ranaldi, John headed up the list of masterpoint winners!  Second - we have a new and excellent column to read this Wednesday.

Bridge is a game of continual choices.  Some are straightforward; many are educated guesses and less than appetizing.  In this column, John wisely analyzes all.

Thanks, John, and kudos on your fine Lake Geneva showing!