Minnesota Bridge

Keep Bridge Alive!

The game we all love needs to continually attract new players. Minnesota Bridge Education is dedicated to that cause.

The purposes of this corporation are:

1. To support and engage in educational activities for the purpose of instructing the public of all ages as to the fundamentals, study, and play of contract bridge
2. To support and conduct informational activities to increase public awareness of the cognitive and social benefits of playing contract bridge
3. To increase the number of bridge players, especially duplicate players, and their enjoyment of playing bridge

We have started small but hope to grow. So far we have supported a 0-20 game in Minneapolis (with 10 new ACBL members) and a mini-lesson program for Flight C players.  We are an independent corporation and recognized as a charity by the IRS; hence, contributions are tax-deductible.

You can help by making a donation or a memorial gift. Also, anyone interested in applying for a program grant or a scholarship to pay for lessons should contact us.

Board of Directors: Susan Jackson ([email protected]), Paul Nesvig, Sharon Anderson, Mignon Nearmyer, Joel Kramer, Barb Zipoy, and Linda Brammer.

Home Town Boy

Joe Grue may be all grown up - and many years may have passed since Joe lived and played in the Twin Cities.

Yet, all of us cheer every Joe Grue victory and love to follow his most successful career.

Here is yet one hand where Joe stars as the hero and rakes in the IMPS!

Winners Circle

Believe it - and it can happen.

On the final day of Gopher Regional 2015, a Flight ABC Swiss Team was on the schedule. Fifty five teams entered. Some of the teams had players with over 10,000 masterpoints; some had national champs within their ranks.

At the end of the day, however, we did not find the high masterpoint holders nor the national champs in the winners circle. Instead, we found a Flight C team with all the nuggies!

Marsha Devine, Wayne Reynolds, Paul Sitz and Jay Olson, all of Minnesota, earned the top spot with 95 VPs, eking out victory against a fine Flight A team by 2 VPs.

For those who are newer and less experienced players, Team Devine's win should be a lesson. No matter how well you have done in the past, no matter your experience level - all that matters is how  you play each hand and each match on any given day. On this day, Marsha, Wayne, Paul and Jay did well enough to earn the top spot.

I might also add that of the 11 overall finishers, 5 were Flight C teams!

Congratulations to our winners and those in the overalls. And remember; no matter who you are, tomorrow could be your day. So face the tough guys with confidence - and you, too, may find yourself a winner!

 

Hot Time in the Summertime

Special games are available summer Friday nights at the Twin City Bridge Center!

Steve Gaynor has all the great details!

SUMMER NIGHTS ON FRIDAY

(AND ONE WEDNESDAY)

We are going to hold special games on Friday nights this summer at the Twin City Bridge Center, 6020 Nicollet Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55419, 612-861-4487.  We will start all of the games except for July 10 at 6:30 pm.  

DON’T BE LATE! 

All games are stratified and every game is something special.   Call the Bridge Center for partners or if you are running late.

 

Here is the schedule of events:

June 5              WORLD-WIDE PAIRS – game time is 6:30 pm

Hand analysis booklets will be available for all participants.  You can win district-wide and world-wide masterpoint awards.

June 12            STaC – Silver Points.  Game time is 6:30 pm

June 19            NA PAIR QUALIFYING –*mini lesson at 6 pm.  Game time is 6:30 pm

June 26            Club Championship – Game time is 6:30 pm

July 3               Grass Roots Fund – Game time is 6:30 pm

July 10             Part of the Aquatennial sectional.  Stratified pairs and I/N game.

Game time is 7:00 pm for this Friday only.

July 15             *WEDNESDAY NIGHT* – ACBL-WIDE INT’L FUND GAME #3

GAME TIME IS 6:30 PM

Hand analysis sheets will be available for all participants.  You can win district-wide and ACBL- wide masterpoint awards. 

July 17             NA PAIR QUALIFYING – *mini lesson at 6 pm.  Game time is 6:30 pm

*Players attending the mini lesson before the NA PAIR QUALIFYING games will receive $1 off of the entry fee for that night’s bridge game.  Dollars will be handed out by 6:05.  Must be present and attend the lesson to get paid.

Let me know if you have any questions! 

I am looking forward to seeing you this summer.

 Steve Gaynor - 612-708-7563 - [email protected]

 

REMEMBER – GAME TIME IS 6:30 PM!!!

Unit 178 - June 2015 Agenda

The latest and greatest agenda for Unit 178's June Board of Directors meeting!

Gopher 2015 Wrap-Up

Another Gopher Regional has concluded. In our recent posts, we thanked the very many people who are integral to the tournament being organized, promoted and running smoothly.

Now?  We'd like to thank YOU!

Many thanks to all the local folks who competed, the visitors from near and far who came to play - and everyone who was a part of Gopher 2015. We cherish each and every one of you!

Final results for the Gopher can be found here. Congratulations to Tony Ames, our top masterpoint winner with an 83 point total. 

And, the last of Mike Cassel's excellent Bulletins is posted below - along with loads and loads of photos of our super players!

See you in 2016 at the Gopher!

Gopher Gratefulness - Part II

 

Patti Stuhlman and Sue Jackson, our Co-Chairs of the Gopher, had a great team organizing and running everything.

Please check out Mike Cassel's Sunday Gopher Bulletin below for a list of all the people who headed up our volunteer force to deliver such a fine week.

Of course, our directing staff is critical to an excellent tournament, too! Many thanks to our Director in Charge, Mike Flader, and his other able directors.

(Please note we regret not being able to capture every volunteer and director's smiling face but we appreciate everyone!)

Gopher Gratefulness

A tournament like the Gopher Regional just not just "happen". We need the efforts of many volunteers and workers to create and operate a successful regional.  And it all begins at the top - with two find Co-Chairmen.

Our thanks to Patti Stuhlman and Sue Jackson! From start to finish, they put together a great team for the Gopher - with everyone putting in countless hours.

And as you can see from these photos, Patti and Sue are two of our fine players, also!

Thank you so much, Patti and Sue!

Gopher: Lost and Found

Did you arrive home, only to find that your sunglasses didn't make the trip with you?

 

If you happened to lose some possessions at the Gopher Regional, then perhaps Co-Chairman Sue Jackson ([email protected]) can help.

 

No sweaters nor jackets were left behind this year. But Sue would like to return the following items to their owners:

 

1. Sunglasses

2. Silver and black drinking cup

3. Free standing red card holder

4. Silver and black mechanical pencil

5. Gold Ralph Lauren button

6. Bob and Den convention card

7. Avis and Peg convention card

8. Buhlman and Kite convention card

 

Good luck finding your lost treasures!

Gopher Regional

Sunday, May 24th is the last day of Gopher 2015.  All of the fine Bulletins that our editor, Mike Cassel has produced for us, are posted below. Our thanks to Mike Cassel for his daily reports, stories and photos.

Once today's results are in, we will have a recap of this year's regional.

Our thanks to Patti Stuhlman and Sue Jackson, our Co-Chairs.  And to all the very many other contributors producing the Gopher - additional major thanks.

Without you, it would not happen!

Results are posted here.

 

Tonight, Tonight

It's the start of the Gopher Regional!

See you at 7:15PM - and check out the schedule every day so you do NOT miss a session!

Cayne by a Few Whiskers - USBF Open Championship

As we await the Gopher Regional and enjoy USBF Open Championship Final rounds on BBO Vugraph, Mike Cassel kindly writes up another report for us.

Here, Mike features the Mahaffey-Cayne match, where Cayne eked out a win by 8 IMPS. Mahaffey's front four drilled Cayne the last set (well, much of the set!) .... Some might say they ran out of boards!

Thanks, Mike, for helping us to feel like we are "there"!

The Gopher Has EVERYTHING!

NON BRIDGE ACTIVITIES

The famous Mall Of America is only ¼ mile away from the front door of the hotel!

Two large casinos, Mystic Lake and Treasure Island, are about a half hour drive and both have shuttles available.  

Both Minneapolis and St. Paul feature  many cultural activities:  night clubs, theaters and music. The Minnesota Twins of Major League Baseball play at Target Field.

  The downtowns are accessible by light rail; hitch a ride at Mall of America!

Day/night, pair/team – we really do have it all! 

And - the Gopher ends Sunday evening. You can spend Memorial Day with family and friends, yet not miss a session!

See you SOON!

Gopher 2015 - First Bulletin

The Gopher is almost here! Check out this post at District 14 Bridge to enjoy Bulletin Editor Mike Cassel's first offering!

USBF President at the Open Championship

Howie Weinstein, former Minnesotan, District 14 member from Omaha and President of the United States Bridge Federation, played on Team Hamman this week at the USBF Open Championship in Chicago. The Championship will select one team to be USA #2 in the Bermuda Bowl this fall.

When your team's name is "Hamman" - you can bet that it's good. But, as Mike Cassel recounts in the report below, sometimes even the best falter.

A young but talented team, Ganzer, managed to KO Team Hamman from the Round of 16. Mike has some of the interesting details below!

And be sure to catch some of the action in the Championship on BBO! It continues today through Sunday.

The Gopher Has EVERYTHING!

GAME TIMES

Morning sessions start at 10AM. No one will have to put up with rush hour traffic!

The afternoon session starts at 2:15 PM. It should conclude before 6:00, after the evening rush, but well before the sun sets.  

Additionally, the playing site is centrally located on 494 by the Mall of America.  

No matter where you are, you should have convenient access!

The Brain Muscle

For many moons, people have argued about the status of bridge. Is it a form of gambling? Is it a simple pastime? Or - is bridge a genuine sport, deserving of recognition as a tough pastime?

In England, a high court judge ruled that bridge was indeed a sport, one that exercises the "brain muscle."

Those of us who play and compete surely know this to be true!

Lots of great bridge coming up on the schedule in Minnesota. So - have a fabulous time exercising your muscle at the table!

Two Weeks from Today!

Two weeks from today, the Gopher Regional begins! Grab your favorite partner and teammates, and Come On Down (or up, as the case may be) for great bridge, competition and hospitality.

The rest of the District 14 Regional line-up can be found at District 14 Bridge!

The Gopher Has EVERYTHING!

INTERMEDIATE/NEWCOMERS

 

There are I/N games every session Monday through Saturday of the tournament!

The popular ‘Lunch and Learn’ program brings I/N players together to discuss the morning’s hands with experienced players who can answer your questions.

We will provide beverages and dessert in Room 215 between the morning and afternoon sessions.  Bring your own lunch or purchase one from the snack bar.

Plus I/N entry fees are $4 lower than the table fees of the open games!  Such a bargain!!