Minnesota Bridge

Unit 103 Board Minutes - June 2015

What have the Board members of Unit 103 been up to?  Read their most recent minutes to find out!

Many thanks to Unit 103's and 178's board members for all the work they do for the good of bridge in Minnesota!

Goodbye to Don Priewert

One of the most difficult tasks I must do as webmaster for Minnesota Bridge is to report when we lose one of our players. I feel as if we bridge players are a sort of family; the death of one of us is a loss to all.

A short while ago, Don Priewert's friend and sometimes bridge partner Sue Jackson emailed me that Don died today. Those of us who knew Don were well aware that he was a character, sometimes outrageous - and a fine player, too.

Sue kindly has shared some of her thoughts about this funny and talented character who loved our game to bits. Thank you, Sue - and goodbye to our friend Don.

Don Priewert passed way the morning of July 29th. He died peacefully while receiving dialysis at St. Mary's in Rochester.  Don was one of my favorite people, despite his issues with tact.

Don's humor was always enjoyable. For example, if queried "What are your discards?" Don's reply would be:  "We keep winners and throw away losers."

Whoever was Don's partner was likely to learn something. "Don't give up the pump" would get laughs - or sympathy.

Don was a character; we all witnessed his emotions at times getting out of hand. Nevertheless, the fact that Don was closing in on 7000 masterpoints was evidence of his outstanding abilities at the bridge table.

Even as his health problems mounted, Don continued to make the long drive from Rochester to the Twin Cities.  He loved, loved, loved the game. Don would pull out his cards, make an outrageous bid - then get away with it.

His friends will miss him.

We may not see an obituary printed in the paper. Mary Brown or I will let you know if a service is scheduled.

 

Sue Jackson

 

 

 

Unit 178 - August 2015 Agenda

Summertime in Minneapolis - and Unit 178's board has a meeting scheduled!

Interested in seeing the August agenda?  It is posted below.

Restricted Choice

Part of the fascination with bridge is that you can never master it all. The game is so deep and complex, with untold facets - all we can do is try to improve.

One player who comes close to mastering is the great Zia. Today, we present an article on "restricted choice." What is it? How do we make it work for us?

Zia explains here!

Get Better!

Everyone loves to get better at bridge! Now, the Bridge Center of St. Paul has a wealth of classes aimed at that goal!

Here are the details!

 

CLASSES AT THE BRIDGE CENTER OF ST PAUL

Call with questions or to sign up 651-490-5430

2603 6th Ave E, North Saint Paul, MN 55109

​Mondays​, 6:30pm:​ ACBL​ Bridge Defense ​in the 21st Century Heart​ ​Series

​This class on defense using the book listed above. It will meet for 9 weeks beginning July 13 ending Labor Day September 7 and cover one chapter per week. Topics include:

● Opening Leads Against No-trump Contracts
● Opening Leads Against Suit Contracts
● Third Hand ​Play

​​● Second Hand​ Play

​​● Defensive Signals

● Developing Defensive Tricks
● Interfering With Declarer
● Making a Plan
● Negative Doubles

Whether you took lessons recently, a while back, or just want some review, all are welcome. Lessons are two hours. Taught by George West. $40 for the series. or $5 per week. Book is list price $19.95, but you pay the ​​club ​just ​$12.

​

Tu​esday​s, 2​:00pm​: 2 Over 1

Tom Hammond returns to teach this  eight week class on 2 Over 1. The price can’t be beat, $25 will get you the entire series, and be donated to a charity of Tom’s choice. Begins July 14.

Tuesday​s, 6:00pm:​ Mini Lesson

T​here is a free mini lesson before the 6:30pm game. Various topics, Taught by Keith Thompson.​

 

​Thursdays, 11:00am-noon: ​Intermediate Chat Bridge

Th​is popular program continues. Four players work with one coach on hands. Lots of individual teaching. If you attend the 12:30pm game after the lesson, there is no charge. $5 for others. Please sign up so we can provide enough coaches.

​

Thursdays, 12:30pm: ​Chat Bridge

Chat Bridge continues with Doug & Jane Frost. Cost is $5. No need to come with a partner.

 

​COMING SOON:

Wednesdays, 6:30pm: Chat Bridge

This is a new time slot and will begin on August 5. With Larry McIntyre.​ Cost $5. No partner necessary, please call ahead for count.

Mondays, 6:30pm: Beginning Bridge

​ACBL B​ridge ​in the 21st Century: Bidding - Club ​Series will be the book used for this class beginning September 14. Taught by George West. Call to sign up.

Eau Claire - Split Regional

A request from our neighbor to the east. A great opportunity to attend their nearby summer regional!

Summer's End Split-Regional Bridge Tournament!

 

Where? Plaza Hotel and Suites, Eau Claire, Wisconsin, August 24-30 

 

(Make reservations by 7/24/2015 for $89 bridge rate)

 

Featuring:

 

• Bracketed KOs throughout the week
• Gold Rush Pairs and A/X Pairs, Tues, Wed, Fri, and Sat
• 2-Session Swiss, both Thursday and Sunday
• Open Side Pairs throughout the week
• Discount Price on 299er events, Thur, Fri, and Sat
• Flyer for the Regional
• Tournament Chairman: Richard Brown,[email protected]

 

 

 

 

T Beckman - Over T-en Thousand!

 

When yours truly, the MN Bridge webmaster, first began to play duplicate in the late 70's, Terry Beckman - aka "T" was already a well known Minnesota expert. T began his duplicate bridge career in 1968 and clearly had a strong affinity for the game.

 

Like many of us, T took breaks throughout the years for his career and for family. He was fortunate, however, to have a number of other find players and good friends to help him on his journey.

 

Early partners were Russ Weikle, Paul Winter, Howie Weinstein and Hugh MacLean.

 

In later years, T's most frequent partners have been his wife, Kathy and John Koch. Terry clearly did well in selecting partners - and - his partners with Terry, too!

 

T is a big fan of Precision systems; he likes working out all the many permutations the system affords. He plans to take Precision - along with Kathy - to many bridge tournaments, focusing on Minnesota and Florida, now that he is enjoying his retirement.

 

"I expressed that I would 'slow down' after I reached my goal of 10,000 points," T tells us. "But I have already changed my mind!"

When you have talent and a great game like bridge - I guess that is what happens!

 

Congratulations, Terry, on your fine achievement that so few ever reach.

 

 

Aquatennial Sectional Results

Another great summertime bridgefest! Many thanks to our directors, Mike Flader and Larry Oakey, and to Teri Blu for hosting at the wonderful Twin City Bridge Center.

Congratulations to all who won, placed and showed. A list of everyone in each event at the Aquatennial can be viewed here.

At the top of the list, with almost 40 masterpoints earned (!!) is Terry Beckman. We've been seeing Terry's name at "the top of the list" for many years now. And, just recently, T Beckman reached a most lofty goal. T now is one of the few Minnesotans to have ever attained a total masterpoint holding of over 10,000!

Kudos to Terry - and to Kathy Beckman, who was just behind Terry at the Aquatennial!

Photos of some of our competitors below!

Bridge's Heartthrob - Omar Sharif, 1932-2015

Some quite famous people love to play our game. District 14's Warren Buffett is one. Warren's good friend and frequent teammate, Bill Gates, is surely another.

One competitor, who may be the most famous of all celebrity bridge players, was Omar Sharif.

This film star was not only one of the world's greatest heartthrobs, he was also quite the talented bridge player.

The ACBL website details some of Sharif's history at bridge.

And the Washington Post has an extensive article with many photos of this flamboyant man - both in movies and at the table.

Once ranked among the 50 best players in the world, he formed the Omar Sharif Bridge Circus to perform exhibition matches before such spectators as the shah of Iran. Mr. Sharif shared a byline on a syndicated bridge column for decades, first with Charles Goren and later with Tannah Hirsch.

Asked why he spent so much time at bridge when he could have been making movies, he once replied: “The real question is why I spend so much time making movies when I could be playing bridge.”

Aquatennial Silver Point Tournament - 2015

It's summertime in Minnesota - and the Aquatennial Sectional is in full force!

If you are one of our competitors who has been enjoying Wednesday and Thursday's game - you know what a great tournament it is! Yet, whether you have been At the Table already - or not - we have lots left!

Here is the schedule for the Aquatennial.  Beat the heat and light a fire at the bridge table!