Minnesota Bridge

Insurance

When we first start learning this complex game, we think about the basics.  What do we need to open the bidding?  How do we gain an extra trick when we have Kxx opposite xx?  And so forth and so on.

Yet the longer we play, the more we appreciate just how tough and deep bridge can be.  Matchpoints in particular can be a vexing game.  When do we simply "take our tricks"?  When do we "go for the gusto"?

As always, John Koch has wise answers.  In this week's column, John demonstrates how to weigh when we've reached a good contract, and how to insure that we don't lose our well earned potential gains.

Summer Fun in St. Cloud

Results from the Granite City Sectional are now available!

Apparently this was the tournament for family partnerships to do well.  First overall for masterpoints earned went to the Kathy and Terry Beckman, for pocketing almost 23 points.  Next, father and son Terry and John Lijewski with 18.4.

Congratulations to these two pairs - and - to all the partnerships and teams that enjoyed summer in Granite City!

Sacrifice

This past weekend, Minnesota enjoyed a 0-300 tournament at the Twin City Bridge Center and a sectional in St. Cloud.  Results have not yet been posted at ACBL.  As soon as they are, however, we will report on accomplishments.

In the meantime, Mike Cassel has been kind enough to supply us with a fine column about a most interesting type of maneuver:  the Merrimac Coup.  The Coup requires the sacrifice of an honor - and sometimes establishes an extra trick in the short run for declarer. Ultimately, however, it can cut declarer off from a source of many tricks - resulting in big rewards.  Mike explains below!

The Path to Success

Some bridge hands are fairly straightforward.  Declarers pull trump and set up winners.  Defenders start a cross-ruff, leading to a set.

Many other hands, however, are far more complex.  Both declarer and defenders must imagine the other hands, and well into advance consider a wide variety of permuations for how a hand will progress.  The path to success can often be most difficult to see.

This week, John Koch analyzes such a deal.  Fine lessons for us all!

Adella Lally

Recent months have been difficult for Minnesota's bridge community.  We are saddened to report the loss of one of our oldest members:  Adella Lally died June 14th at the age of 94.

Adella was a fixture at the Twin City Bridge Center morning duplicate.  Adella lived less than a mile from the club, so Teri Blu often would call on Adella to serve as a fill in player.  Teri or Scott Lutgens would jump in their car, zoom over to Adella's to pick her up and head on back to the Center.  Once in her seat, Adella had a fun time playing - irrespective of who her partner might be.  She enjoyed good results and shrugged off the less than stellar ones.  What mattered to her that she was still playing the game....

Adella will be missed.

Sunday's paper has a lovely obituary about our friend.  Services shall be held on June 29th.

 

The Illusionist

At Minnesota Bridge, we love to highlight the exploits of our players.  Nevertheless, sometimes we learn of a move so creative and successful - we want to share it with everyone! 

My friend Fernando Lema, of Argentina, wrote up this hand from the South American Transnational Bridge Festival.  Kudos to Agustin Madala for his masterful defensive falsecard to fell a seemingly impregnable game!

Unit 178 July Agenda

Unit 178's agenda for July is now available.  The meeting will be held at the Twin City Bridge Center on July 7th.  For those who like to stay involved - please see below!

Dorene King

The Minnesota bridge community is sad to say farewell to another of our longtime members.  Dorene King died on June 12th.  Her memorial service will be Friday at 11AM in Stillwater.  Dorene's obituary can be found here.

Dorene was one of the first people I met in the bridge community.  In the late '70's, she welcomed me to The Bridge Center at 60th and Nicollet.

Our condolences to Dorene's family and to all those who shared a lifetime of memories with our friend.

Keeping Cool

Sometimes, partner puts down a dummy that is, uh - less than stellar....  We know that it can be easy to loose our cool.  "What was partner thinking?!?!" and "How on earth am I going to make this contract?!" may run through our mind.  The temptation to let loose at partner and show our exasperation can be great.

Yet, the wisest course is to keep our cool.  If we do so and concentrate deeply on how to salvage our situation - then sometimes, big rewards are ours.

And - so it is in today's Koch's Korner.  John shows us how to turn lemons into delicious lemonade!

Remembering Van Christenson

MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR

VAN CHRISTENSON

 June 29, 2012 at 10:00 AM

  PLYMOUTH CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH

19^th and Nicollet Avenue

Refreshments served after the service

Visitation at 9:00 AM

Final Fireworks

Were you among the thousands who signed into Bridgebase Tuesday night to watch the USBF Women's Team Trials finals?  If so, you were treated to an incredible show.

The hands were fascinating; the match was close.  The lead switched back and forth over and over as just a few IMPS separated the two teams.

Fortunately, we had an expert kibitzer in the crowd who loves to report on the action:  Mike Cassel.  Mike has contributed a fine analysis of this match, highlighting bidding decisions and superb defense.  Thanks, Mike!

Congratulations to the Moss team; we wish you well in Lille!  And condolences to the Sprung team.  It was a match where most regreted there could not be two winners.

Young Lions

Often, our more expert players think that they can ride roughshod over our newer ones.

This week, John Koch puts paid to that notion!

Kudos to Bill Cummings for his fine play.  I'm quite sure we will be hearing more from this young man!

Big Game

Cecil Frank has had serious health issues over the last half year.  But on Saturday, June 2nd, Cecil demonstrated that heatlh problems have not adversely affected his brain cells.  With partner Sue Jackson, Cecil had a Big Game in the World Wide Pairs.  Their 67.36% club score, when matchpointed across the world field, was 66.32%!

Throughout the game, the card gods were with them.  They won a world-wide top of 4542 on one hand when they doubled and earned 1100.  Overall, Cecil and Sue were 36th in the world field of 5117 players. Jeff Dziuk and Larry Johnson were 368th; Paul Gutterman and Eric Hendrickson were 546th and Ann Ziomeck and Don Priewert were 684th.

In Friday night's World Wide Pairs at the TCBC, Paul Meerschaert and Michael Howland's club score of 62.73% ended up rising to 64.23% world wide.  They placed 111th out of 5082 pairs.  Evan Sachs and Jack Rhatigan were 386th, with Sharon Christensen and Don Priewert placing 423rd and Brian Crossley and Jonathan Cohen finishing 435th.

Well done!

 

Team Trials in Chicago

A few weeks ago, Open Team Trials were held in the Chicago 'burbs to select a team to represent the United States.  The 2nd Mind Games will be held in Lille, France in August.

The Nickell team won the Open competition.  Now, Women and Seniors trials are being held concurrently in the same spot.  The Women's final, between the Sprung and Moss team, is starting just now.  The Senior semi-matches are also being played.

As is his wont, Mike Cassel has been kibitzing - and - writing up the more interesting hands for us!  Our thanks to Mike for another excellent hand to present, along with lots of info about the Team Trials.  The trials continue through Wednesday - so - be sure to watch some on BridgeBase Online if you have a chance!