Minnesota Bridge

Let 'Em Eat Cake!

 

 

We appreciate people in the bridge world for a variety of reasons. Some we admire as fine experts; some excellent partners.  Others serve in administrative positions and some very giving volunteers.

 

For the Monday night bridge crowd at the Twin City Bridge Center, Jim Essex is a superstar.  Why?  Because is hobby is decorate cake baking! 

 

Competitors recently were treated to this fabulous looking and tasting creation.  The grand slam of desserts!

 

 

Spring is Coming Sectional Photos

Sorry about the glitch with our website. Sharing photos of the many people who came, played, conquered and had a blast at the sectional!

Rochester Non-Life Master Sectional

This Saturday, our players with 0-500 masterpoints (non-Life Masters) are welcome to compete in Rochester's NLM Sectional.  Two sessions available to win silver points!

Details for the tournament are below.

Unit 103 - January 2017 Board Minutes

Thanks to Unit 103 for all their efforts! Updates for all as to the minutes from the Board's most recent January meeting below.

Spring is Coming Sectional Results

 

Our Spring is Coming Sectional produced an excellent turnout on Friday through Sunday. When the last board was played, a player we often see meeting with great success was at the top of the masterpoint list.  John Koch. Playing with a variety of partners, John amassed 27.3 masterpoints. Other competitors who earned 20 or more points included Robert Schacter, Paul Meerschaert, Kerry Holloway and Harry Sapienza.  The full list of points earned is here.  And results from each event can be viewed here.

 

Kerry Holloway dragged along his partner (yours truly) for an impressive feat in the Friday afternoon game. We managed to score over 77%!  That rare combination of welcome gifts from opponents, some racing luck and making lemonade out of lemons did the trick for us.

 

Our thanks to hosts Terry and Chip Blu for hosting the tournament, along with Kim Hayward, working hard to direct a fine weekend of bridge.

 

One fellow - a fixture of bridge in Minnesota for many decades - and "Mr Bridge" in just about every way one can imagine, TGLO, The Great Larry Oakey was present, of course.  TGLO was under the weather this weekend, though, so please join me in offering your best wishes to Larry to feel better soon.  

And now - lots and lots of smiling faces!  Thanks to all of you for attending and enjoying our favorite game!

New Faces at The Table

Not only was it exciting to have a great turnout for the Spring is Coming Sectional, it was also a thrill to see new players at the tournament. And - they were under 65! :)

Two pairs of young men had a great time. I asked them how long they had been playing; "A few years online" was the response.

Here's to more and more "face to face" bridge for them and years of competing!

 

Gopher Regional - Not Too Late!

The Wednesday pairs game at the Gopher Regional will honor John Westrom. His friend wants everyone to know how much they appreciate him as a great guy and great player. 

You, too, can recognize someone special by naming a game.

 

For information, contact Sue Jackson ([email protected])

Unit 178 - Charity Game

 

Unit 178 is willing to hold a charity game and fundraiser for a worthwhile, local organization. We invite Unit 178 members to propose a charity as this year's recipient.

 

Your proposal should include your name, name of a 501c(3) qualified charity, a brief explanation of the worthiness of the charity, the willingness of charity representatives to attend the event, and your willingness to chair the event with the board as your committee.

 

Submit proposals to Linda Brammer ([email protected]).

 

Thank you!

 

Minnesota Top 100 - 2016

 

Philosopher Heraclitus said, "The only thing that is constant is change."  Right he was.

For the year ending in 2016, we see changes in Minnesota's masterpoint landscape. We now have six Minnesotans who have earned over 10,000 points!  In order are:

Peg Kaplan                15414

Terry Beckman           11363

Sharon Anderson       11044

John Koch                  10577

Peder Langsetmo       10287

Larry Oakey                10021    

And rounding out our top 10 masterpoint holders in Minnesota are:  Jack Rhatigan, 9586, Paul Meerschaert, 9236, Bob Balderson, 9175 and Cindy Balderson, 8908.

Earning a spot on the top 100 for 2016 demanded a masterpoint total of at least 2410.

Our congratulations to everyone on the list! Here's to continued success to all our players in 2017.  May the "masterpoint force" be with you! 

Unit 103 Awards Banquet

 

Attend Unit 103's Awards Banquet and celebrate the 2016 winners

of Unit 103 Ace of Clubs and Mini- McKenney!

 

WHEN:          Saturday, April 22, 2017

                     1PM                                

 

WHERE:        St. Paul Bridge Center

                         2603 – 6^th Avenue East

                               North St. Paul, MN   55109

                        Phone:  651-490-5430

 

Congratulations to all Unit 103 players that did well in 2016!

We look forward to recognizing and celebrating their success.

 

All players are welcome to a complimentary lunch starting at 1:00.

 

 Immediately following will be the Awards presentations and a special Bridge game. 

Players who are 1^st, 2^nd, or 3^rd in their category will play free.

$6 entry for others.

 

Please join us in this fun day!  Everyone is welcome!

 

RSVP by April 12^th to 651-490-5430.  We look forward to seeing you!

A Feel for the Game - Honors Bridge at U of MN

 

The Bridge Experience Honors classes at the U of Minnesota continue on - with great success. During my most recent visit, Professor Eric Hendrickson gave a rousing lecture to intrigued participants.

 

Some students sported smiles as they listened and participated.

 

From the expressions of others, the complexity and challenge of the game is evident.

 

University Honors Program Director Matthew Bribitzer-Stull offered additional perspective, along with Professors Paul Gutterman and Leon Hsu.

 

At the table instruction, too, from Professor Bribitzer-Stull.

 

 

Bridge is the greatest mind game - and yet - the most challenging. Kudos to our instructors and honors students for giving it their all!

Below, Matthew Bribitzer-Stull shares a rundown of recent events during our classes. So thrilling to see students grasp more and more of this deep and fascinating game!