Minnesota Bridge

The Successful Day! - St. Paul Version

We reported on The Longest Day in Minneapolis.  Mary McIntyre sends us photos and details about the success of the Longest Day in St. Paul.

Their day began at 5:30AM (!!!) - and players streamed in throughout the day.  Tom Hammond dished up treats for folks, as they enjoyed session after session.

Winners of the most masterpoints earned during the Longest Day were Jim Stepnes and Bill Voedisch.  They barely edged out Mary and Keith Anderson of Rochester by .11!  The proud pair earned The Longest Day trophy and t-shirts.

Thanks to all who volunteered and worked so hard to make this event an incredible success - and to all who participated and supported such a worthy cause!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Summertime at the Twin City Bridge Center

Whether we are dealt stormy days or steamy hot ones - no matter.  Every day we have a place to go and enjoy our great game:  the Twin City Bridge Center!

Here is July's schedule.  NAOP qualifiers, pot luck birthday celebrations, 199er and 299er games, free lunches, the Aquatennial Sectional and much more.

Come to 60th and Nicollet and indulge your favorite pastime!

Precision

Many of you who know John Koch are aware that he often plays "precision" - a system that uses a one club bid for big hands and many artificial bids throughout the auction.

This week's column is not about that.

Rather, the column addresses precision in defense; precisely, knowing how and when and what to discard.  And why.

How many of us have begun to make pitches as declarer runs a long suit - only to suddenly stop, and then wonder:  "What now"?

Read John's column.  You will get the wisdom that you need!

Granite City Sectional Results

Straight line winds and monsoon rains?  In Minnesota, we don't let anything keep us from our tournaments!

Despite fierce weather, the Granite City Sectional was a success.  Results from all the events can be seen here.

Top masterpoint winners were the father son combo of Terry and John Lijewski, with almost 19 for the weekend.  Congratulations!  Overall points awarded are here.

Our thanks to all the volunteers and directors at this tourney - and to all our players who braved the elements to compete!

The Successful Day!

The ACBL's Longest Day produced one of the most successful days for bridge's support of a worthy cause.  In Minneapolis, Sue Jackson and other volunteers coordinated the longest day of bridge to raise $5,738 for Team Tannenbaum (Minneapolis area). This amount represents $4 per table, sent to the ACBL, which will be forwarded to the Alzheimer's Association.

Sue highlights that Chip and Teri Blue deserve special thanks for their hard work and donation, along with the indefatigable Larry Oakey for his tireless efforts.  Also, a big thanks to the Minneapolis Grand Slam Club and director Scott Smith, to Marguerite Cowles and Kowalski's for a fabulous lunch - and to all the individuals who contributed to the never ending table of food throughout the Longest Day.

We especially thank every individual who contributed by playing and/or by generously donating to the cause - and to Sue, who worked 'round the clock to make this day such a huge winner.

 

 

 

The Longest Day - Tomorrow!

Friday, June 21st is The Longest Day!  We hope you can participate in this fine event!

Here are the details on where you can play in the Twin Cities.

 

Twin City Bridge Center

5 games in 1 day.  Donate $100 to the Alzheimer's association and play free all day.  Games at 7:30 am, 11am, 1:30pm, 4 pm & 7:15 pm (7:15 sponsored by the Minneapolis Grand Slam Club). Entry fees $7.  Great Hospitality all day

Bridge Center of St. Paul

4 games in 1 day.  Games at 6am, 10am, 2pm and 6:30 pm, with continental breakfast at 5:30 am, lunch & dinner.

 

The Longest Day - Pledges

You can join the ACBL’s effort to raise money for the Alzheimer’s Association in many ways. One way is to ask friends and family to pledge a certain amount of money for every hour you play bridge on Friday, June 21. Or, you can make a pledge yourself to support one of the players who is playing all day.  For additional information, contact Sue Jackson.

Game times at TCBC are 7:30 am, 11:00, 1:30, 4:00, and 7:15 (sponsored by Mpls. Grand Slam Club). Entry fees are $7, and both TCBC and MGSC are donating the proceeds to the Alzheimer’s Association.

Food will be served all day. 

No Fireworks

Some bridge hands are razzle dazzle.  A fancy squeeze or duck; plays that less than .05% of the bridge community would ever imagine.

Other hands, however, are plain old crunching out the odds, calculating what is most likely to work - then following through.  Sounds simple - yet, as we all know, too often many of us miss "doing the right thing."

This week, John Koch presents a hand from the Gopher where this common sense path led to success.  Please see below.

And - speaking of tournaments, we have some great ones coming up!  St. Cloud's sectional is this coming weekend, 299ers have a Silver Point Sectional the next weekend at the Twin City Bridge Center, and District 14's Des Moines Regional takes place over the 4th of July week.

Lots of super events to attend - and - if you study John's Koch Korner columns, you will be a winner more often than not!

The Longest Day - Contribute

You can join the ACBL’s effort to raise money for the Alzheimer’s Association in many ways. One way is to donate to Alzheimer’s Association. Donations are tax deductible. Checks can be given to any participating club.

If you donate $100, you can play for free all day at TCBC. You can also contribute to the hospitality table for June 21 by contacting Sue Jackson ([email protected]).

Incroyable!

Last week, it was my pleasure, as photographer, to be able to attend the USBF Bridge Championship to select the two teams that will represent the United States this fall in Bali's international competition.  A number of exceptional teams competed, with ultimately a young Team Kranyak becoming USA1 and an experienced squad of experts, Team Fleisher, earning the USA2 berth.

One very talented young player, Joel Woolridge, did not find his team in the winner's circle. Nevertheless, this competitor is one about whom we shall be hearing for a long time to come.  If you need evidence, check out this New York Times column.

Irwin Boris, I believe at least some of your views about the future of bridge should be assuaged!

 

The Longest Day - Do Something You Love; Play Bridge!

The Longest Day, on June 21st, is fast approaching.  The Bridge Center of St. Paul will be open from sunrise to sunset (and beyond!) to raise money for Alzheimer's research.

Doors open at 5:15AM; breakfast will be served.  Our first game starts at 6AM, with new games beginning at 10AM, 2PM and 6:30PM.  Complimentary food will be provided throughout the day.

Tables fees are $6, with all going to the Alzheimer's Society.  We are also conducting a silent auction.  The list of items currently being offered is below.

Of course, we are delighted to accept any and all donations to Alzheimer's Research!

Do good and have fun - please join us!

The Longest Day - Recruit

You can join the ACBL’s effort to raise money for the Alzheimer’s Association in many ways.

One way is to recruit others to play in one of the day’s games (Friday, June 21). Because the games at 11:00, 1:30, and 4:00 at TCBC are short, they are an ideal way for non-duplicate players to give our game a try.

Thanks for your efforts - both for bridge and for the Alzheimer's Association!

Wednesday Nights at the Twin City Bridge Center

If you think that summer is only travel and barbecues, swimming and picnics - then think again!  Always lots of bridge to enjoy in Minnesota.  And, in the Twin Cities, Wednesday nights at the TCBC, is a great game for those who enjoy playing in the evening.  Steve Gaynor, director, has all the details!

This week (June 12th)  is a session of the Sectional Tournament at Clubs (STaC).

Prior to the game Peg Mitchell is having a dinner at her home.  Stop by her place at 5PM or later and eat, then come over to the TCBC for the evening game.

I hope to see you all then.  Let me know if you need a partner.  It is best to call me cell phone at 612-708-7563 of call the Bridge Center as there is a limited game and someone live is there all afternoon on Wednesday. Once I leave for work Wednesday morning I will not have access to my e-mails.

The schedule for the rest of summer Wednesday evenings is below.  Be sure to qualify for the NAP; we have five qualifying games left on Wednesday nights.

Also, definitely attend the Grass roots fund games (GRF).  The extra dollar comes back to our district to be used for bridge education and promotion.  We will run that event once a month.  Best of all:  all games all summer long will offer extra masterpoints!

Wed Summer Nights

Twin City Bridge Center - 6020 Nicollet Ave S

June 12 – Sectional Tournament at Clubs (STaC)

June 19 – NAPQ

June 26 – A midsummer's night Club Championship

July 3 –  Grass roots fund game

July 10 – NAPQ

July 17 - part of the Aquatennial sectional

July 24 – Charity game

July 31 - NAPQ

August 7 –  Junior fund game

August 14 – NAPQ

August 21 – Grass Roots fund game

August 28 – NAPQ (last chance)

 

Bridge is a Beautiful Game

USA1 - Team Kranyak, with Gavin Wolpert, John Kranyak, Kevin Bathurst & Kevin Dwyer

Irwin Boris, one of our area's top players, has kindly written up an interesting hand from the Gopher for us.  In addition, Irwin offers some thoughts about bridge today.

Although it is unfortunate that attendance was down at the Gopher, in some ways, bridge is thriving.  Many of us have been watching at BridgeBase Online, as the United States Bridge Federation holds its championship to determine which two teams will represent our country this fall in international competition.  USA2 is still under way - but - USA1 has already been won.  The team that won it did it most convincingly, winning all of their matches against elite competition by large margins - and they did it playing 4-handed!  Perhaps the best news is that everyone on the team is in their thirties - or younger.

Irwin is correct that we need to do more to help spur interest in our beautiful game. Nevertheless, some - especially in the next generation - have already gotten the message in spades!

Thank you, Irwin, for your column and good luck to the United States teams in Bali!

Unit 178 - Board Meeting 2013 Minutes

Much going on with Unit 178.  For all the details from their Board of Directors meeting in June, please read the minutes posted below.

The Longest Day - Play

You can join the ACBL’s effort to raise money for the Alzheimer’s Association in many ways.

The first way is to play bridge on Friday, June 21. Games are at TCBC at 7:30 am, 11:00, 1:30, 4:00, and 7:15 (sponsored by Mpls. Grand Slam Club).  Food will be served all day.

Entry fees are $7, and both TCBC and MGSC are donating the proceeds to the Alzheimer’s Association. 

Understandings

 

Joe Grue at the Team Trials!

Many players like to focus on what conventions to play.  This is important - but more important still are understandings.

What are understandings?  They are general principles (and more specific, too) as to what a myriad of sequences mean.  Which bids show extras and which are competitive?  What are the upper limits for preempts - and the lower limits for overcalls?  When both sides are bidding, what does "pass" indicate and what does "double" show?

For ten days in Orlando, ending this Sunday, the best teams in America are vying to be USA #1 and USA#2. Though you can bet that they have extensive understandings on what all their bids mean - they nevertheless can, and do, have misunderstandings.  If you want to see bridge at the top, complete with razzle dazzle and errors by the elite, then tune into Bridgebase for a great vugraph show.

In the meantime, please enjoy this week's "Koch Korner" column.  John demonstrates with a specific hand how important it is to have well tuned understandings - and then win like the big boys.

My Favorite Hand

Sometimes I think that, as much fun as a tournament is - enjoying the retelling of success and oddities is just as much as the experiences themselves.

In that vein - please enjoy this wonderful tale from Eric Hendrickson about his favorite Gopher hand!