Minnesota Bridge

Online Bridge - Making Lemonade Out of Lemons!

Steve Beatty - Creative Genius

Throughout Minnesota and the rest of the world, bridge players are bemoaning the inability to go to the club (or the tournament or the world championships) - and play bridge with their favorite partner and teammates. Yet - we have an opportunity to make "lemonade out of lemons."  

What does that have to do with bridge?  This. Every day, there are a multitude of bridge games going on at BridgeBase Online. If you want to play against friends, join a speedball tournament, set up an event of your own or sign up for one of the very many tournaments available literally 24 hours a day - you can do it!  And - even if you're not terrifically familiar, once you start you'll learn the ropes and have a great time.

 

Walt Schafer - Brilliant Mad Genius!

A couple of nights ago, I decided to watch the tournament that Grand Life Master Walt Schafer (from Iowa and now California) cleverly has arranged for people every night. It's a "star" Swiss pair competition, with pairs playing usually between 25-30 boards among one another.  (One needn't have a star by their name, yet the event is challenging with a number of Hall of Fame participants in it.)

Walter was playing with another top player, Steve Beatty from Washington, when this interesting hand arose:

  KQ9542

                            AKJ8

                             KJ

                             6

 

J873                                   A

10                                       Q76532

982                                     Q64

KQ432                               AJ9

 

                             106

                             94

                             A10753

                             10876

   

West passed, Steve (north) opened 1S and east chimed in with 2H.  Walter, never one to be shy, doubled showing the minors.  After a pass from west, Steve added up his values and strength and jumped to 3NT.

East chose to lead a heart. The contract looks doomed, does it not?  After the opening lead, a club shift will be obvious.

But.... wait.

After the 4th best heart lead, dummy followed, west played his stiff 10 - and Steve won.... the king! 

Steve now played a diamond to dummy and ran his 10 of spades. East won the ace, perforce - and not realizing Steve's brilliancy at trick one - led another heart!  Steve was now able to win the NINE in dummy and hook a spade.  When the smoke cleared, Steve had taken 3 spade tricks, FOUR heart tricks and his two diamonds.

This is how you turn disaster into treasure - or  - lemons into lemonade!

If you like, try your hand at playing virtually at Bridge Base Online. Games around the clock; all sorts of events with various levels of ability available.

Here's to fun online and exciting hands like this one!  Thanks, Steve and Walter!

Bridge Online Can Be Sublime!

 

Connie Nelson is back in Minnesota - and not only writing up a storm but playing up a storm - ON LINE!

Read all about it - and - join in the fun!

 

On April 15, we offered our first ever St. Cloud Club game online.  (Thank you, Kim Hayward, for directing.)  Three tables signed up, and it felt great to be back playing with old friends.  The Chat lines were filled with “hellos” – as well as playful trash talk. 

I know most of us would prefer to play face to face at our Clubs, but - for some - the online version of play is providing a reasonable alternative.  David Hanson said, “Playing bridge online while enjoying a nice glass of wine … sublime!”  (Did you just write a poem, David?)  

Wayne Reynolds added, “I would go totally stir crazy if it wasn’t for on-line bridge.” 

One pair of our “advancing” St. Cloud players has been playing quite a bit. This week alone, they played on Monday, twice on Tuesday and once on Wednesday!  I was curious what they thought:

Rhonda Rossman considers online bridge to be “a lifesaver.”  She said it has kept her connected to her regular partner and other local players.  She loves that “you can play – and go back and review the hands - at any time. You can do that with Club games, too, but this version shows the bidding sequence at every table.  That has been a great learning tool for me!” 

 

Her partner Liz Hammer had this to say: “I have enjoyed online bridge. It’s convenient and fun to have something to do while sequestered at home.” She went on to say: “I most love playing in the St. Cloud and St. Paul Clubs’ virtual games because I know the people and trust their bids.”  However, other online games have “opened up a whole new world,” Liz said, “I find myself playing with people from around the world.”  (I appreciated that statement.  One hand Jim and I recently played, our two opponents were in Pakistan and Romania!)

Liz envisioned potential, longer-term implications: “We at the St. Cloud Club have a lot of people who go South for the winter – or can’t leave their homes due to mobility issues, such as hip surgeries.  We have dear friends who have moved to other states to be closer to their families, such as Mary Labernik.  Even after the “shelter at home” is over, we could continue to offer at least one online game a week to stay connected with these people.”  

 

Finally, one of our most experienced players had this to say - Paul Sitz says he has played online for over 20 years.  He touts certain advantages over face-to-face bridge.  For instance:  No one can bid or play out of turn.  No one can make an insufficient bid.  No one can renege.  He likes that bids are self-alerted, rather than partner-alerted.  This way, at least the bidder (should) know what his/her bid meant, while a partner could give honest – but misleading - information. 

While many of us are struggling to simply get online, these early adapters might show us the way. 

What have been your Club members’ experiences?

An Inconvenient Truth

 

Afraid no "live" bridge to be offered yet. But - the next best thing!

Big thanks to director, teacher, mentor and fine player Steve Gaynor for a great article!

Enjoy; it's below the line in a PDF. 

"Upcoming" on Hold

 

Tiny buds peek through the snow. Nature is unaware of the current changes in our world.

One of those changes is the dramatic impact Covid-19 is having on our bridge world.  We are deeply hoping that bridge, like so much in life, sooner rather than later returns to some normalcy.  Yet until that occurs, we are putting all of our "upcoming" tournaments and special events on hold.  Don't look for them right now on our left column; not being scheduled!  As soon as it is safe, however, to have our tournaments and special events, they will be up and running again. 

In the meantime, we hope every single one of our Minnesota players and all their family members and friends stay safe and healthy.  And we do hope that many of us can still enjoy our favorite game by playing online!  If you haven't ever tried it - do so now!  It is fun!

Best wishes to all ...  We SHALL return one day with good news and events!

St. Cloud June Tournament is Canceled

 

St. Cloud was all ready for us to arrive and play bridge.  But alas; the fates remain against us and we shall have to wait until next year.  Big thanks to all who worked in advance for the Granite City Sectional - and appreciation to Tournament Chairs Kory Solarz and Connie Nelson for their report.

 

Due to the continuing public health emergency, we were notified today that the Unit 103 Board has canceled the 2020 St. Cloud Granite City Sectional scheduled for June 18 - 20th.  We know that the Board made this decision to protect the health and safety of all Bridge players and tournament volunteers.

We will miss seeing all the wonderful players who have participated in our tournament in the past.   We look forward to welcoming you back – along with some new faces – in St. Cloud in June 2021. 

In the meantime, stay well. 

Kory Solarz and Connie Nelson

        St Cloud Sectional Tournament Chairs

TCBC - Jackson Wahl Schedule Updates

 

More changes from TCBC Director Jackson Wahl. 

Have fun playing and good luck, all!

Over FIFTY THOUSAND people playing bridge online!  

Get your bridge fix with Jackson and BBO!

 

Tuesday, 11:30 AM

 

Wednesday, 3:30 PM

 

Thursday, 11:30 AM

 

Friday, 9:30 AM

 

Saturday, 11:30 AM

20,000+ for Dr. John!

Dr. John Gustafson - 20,000+ Masterpoints!

For most of us, the world wide events of this year's pandemic have created chaos and stress of all sorts. Thus, we are delighted to be able to bring everyone an event from down south (Iowa, thank you) which is deserving of much applause. 

Rich Newell, Dr. John Gustafson's partner over the weekend and good friend, sent me the thrilling news that John is now the proud owner of over 20,000 masterpoints!  That the good doctor is well into his 90's and still sharp as a tack is news enough on its own. Yet we have great tales from Friends of Dr. John about his achievements, his years at the bridge table and more. 

Congratulations, John, on reaching masterpoint heights that few ever attain - and for being a success at the table for decades upon decades!  Big thanks, too, to our contributors for sharing these day brightening stories!

 

John & Bob Hamman - Nebraska Regional

In the early 2000's when I lived in Minnesota and was progressing to life master at the Gopher Regional, I noticed an elderly gentleman watching a team match all morning.  I remember finding that odd because I would rather just play all the time.  In 2005 I moved to Des Moines and have come to know that kibitzer as Dr. John Gustafson.  John still loves to watch and is a constant spectator of BBO team matches.  With the bridge club closed for now, he finally tried his hand at playing on BBO and has done so successfully.  The Des Moines club has anticipated his rise to 20,000 masterpoints for some time now, but alas he was about 10 points shy once the coronavirus shut down the bridge center.  So, Toby White & I hatched a plan this month to play with him online and get him those points.

John & Helen Gustafson won the 1983 Rockwell Mixed Pairs, edging out famed Italian player Benito Garozzo at the finish after bouncing back from the lowest qualifying position.  I cannot begin to tell you how much I have learned from this man in years of post-game bridge discussions while sipping wine at the "roundtable".  On many occasions it has been my immense privilege to sit across the table from this gentleman, and there are few players in District 14 who are his equal.   

        Rich Newell

 

I have been playing bridge with John Gustafson some 47 or 48 years.  We’ve played from club games to Nationals and everything in between.  In that time I’ve become accustomed to some things.  For example, John plays his share of hands and then some.  Not because he’s a hand hog.  But the bridge gods know who should be playing these hands.  The man who can take a trick or two more than everyone else holding that hand should be declarer.   They turn the auction, blind the opponents, make John’s partner take a view suitable to their will or whatever it takes to put John in the declarer’s seat.  And, more often than not, John collects those extra tricks.

 

I remember only one time in this period where John told a partner ( no, not me ), “You can’t bid your hand anymore.  When I balanced, I’ve already bid on your values.  You can’t bid them too!”  It only took a bad opening lead and a subsequent misdefense to let John land his highly unfavored contract.  His partner remained unconvinced because of that success until the Post Mortem session after the game.  

 

John has an uncanny gift for divining the lie of the cards in the unseen hands whether as declarer or defender.  More than once I’ve seen defenders or declarer hold their hand closer to their chest on the next hand after John put this gift on display.

 

With all this, playing as John’s partner is not where I’ve learned the most.  It’s the drive home after a tournament outside our unit that has been that place.  John would typically discuss with the car load of partners and team mates the last round of the traditional Sunday Swiss.  One hand could easily cover 50 to 75 miles of driving if it was complicated enough.  That meant that we might not have enough miles to cover that last round.  On the other hand, if the hands were not sufficiently complex, we might get to cover the penultimate round as well.  Given John’s lack of tournament traveling the past few years, that has transitioned to discussions after the local club game.  These days he might also bring in an interesting hand that he kibitzed on BBO from a Jimmy Cayne set match or the finals of the Reisinger, Vanderbilt or Spingold to discuss before the game starts.

 

After these year, my greatest reward is not winning, points or the like with John.  It’s playing with John.  And once in a great while, it’s hearing, “Peter, you played a perfect game.  I couldn’t find a single thing to give you a charge for.”

 

        Peter Wityk

 

 

John's approach is to treat every hand as the crucial one.

 

        Doug Stark

 

 

Val and John in Competition

 

During the past 50 years of playing bridge in Des Moines, David and I have had the pleasure of playing both with and against John many times.  Nobody else in the bridge world takes more joy in or has more enthusiasm for the game.  He is a pleasure to play with or against, not only because of his obvious skill, but also because his appreciation of the game is so contagious.  One of the pleasures of attending the club games is anticipating what challenging hand from last week's game John is going to discuss with you. 

 

Clearly John is an outstanding player, but he is also an outstanding patron of the game.  Nobody in our bridge community has contributed more than John...with financial support, with friendship, with his dependable presence at all club games, and most of all with his love of the game.  John, you are a class act through and through. 

 

Congratulations on a highly successful life and on reaching this latest bridge goal.  You deserve it!

 

Valerie Laing

 

 

 

 

GREAT ACCOMPLISHMENT BY A GREAT GUY!

 

I HAVE HAD AN ACQUAINTANCE WITH Dr. JOHN FOR YEARS AND YEARS...HE IS NOT ONLY A PILLAR OF THE BRIDGE COMMUNITY BUT A PILLAR OF ANY COMMUNITY.

 

REACHING INTO THE PAST: IT IS SAID YOU GET BETTER BY PLAYING AGAINST BETTER PLAYERS. ONE OF THE BEST PAIRS  EVER IN IOWA  AS WELL AS ONE OF THE BEST PAIRS EVER IN DISTRICT 14...I REMEMBER PLAYING AGAINST JOHN AND J. FRED BENEDICT...YOU COULD LEARN A LOT PLAYING AGAINST THEM. 

    

    Jim Nash

 

Big thanks to Rich Newell for playing in the final session so Dr. John could go over 20,000 - and for collecting fine anecdotes and stories about Iowa's bridge hero!

 

And.... if you'd like to send John your OWN congratulatory note, you can reach him at this email address:  jegmd24@yahoo.com

 

 

No Rochester NLM Sectional for April 2020

As expected under these unusual circumstances, the April NLM Sectional has been canceled.

Fingers crossed that in not too long, we will be able to play bridge in person with one another at clubs and tournaments!

Twin City Bridge Online with Jackson - Timing Changes

Two changes from TCBC Director Jackson Wahl. 

Have fun playing and good luck, all!

 

A couple people have brought to my attention that the popular BBO/ACBL morning tournament runs from 9 to 11:10.  Thus many players will not be able to play both that and the TCBC's 11:00 game.

The Tuesday and Thursday games start at 11:30, as of now. 

 

To avoid a conflict with another BBO/ACBL game, the Tuesday and Thursday events are moving to 11:30 AM (instead of 11:00).

Hope to see you there!

Play Bridge! Jackson Has the Details!

 

 

One of our talented young players from Carleton College is now a talented director, too!

 

If you are missing bridge games at the Twin City Bridge Center, Jackson has just the solution for you!  Please read below, then sign up for virtual fun games at Bridge Base Online!

 

If you need help in the process, Jackson will be there for you!  Enjoy!!

 

 

Hi Folks,

 

Exciting news! The ACBL and Bridge Base Online (BBO) have partnered to allow live ACBL bridge play - for black masterpoints - with members from your club in the era of coronavirus. Starting tomorrow, Monday, April 6, I, Jackson Wahl, will be running five games a week on behalf of the Twin City Bridge Center until it reopens. 

 

How do I play on BBO?

 

The video linked here is a good primer on how to use BBO. If you'd like to play in masterpoint tournaments, you'll have to add your ACBL number, and if you don't already have an account, you'll have to let me know your username so I can add you to the list of players eligible to play in TCBC events. Pay close attention to the multiplayer functionality - on BBO, you have to alert your own bids, and your partner will not see that you alerted them. If you'd like to ask about opponents' bidding, either click on their bids or private message them. If there are other controversies, click the "Director!" button and I can come to your table.

 

When are the games?

 

For now, I'll be running five games:

 

Monday, 6:00 PM

Tuesday, 11:00 AM

Thursday, 11:00 AM

Friday, 3:30 PM

Sunday, 6:00 PM

 

All of the games are open to all. If there is enough interest, I will add more games and/or add restricted games.

 

How do I join a game?

 

Log in to BBO within two hours of the start time. Go to "Competitive" and then to "ACBL Virtual Clubs". Our game should show up. If it does not, then contact me and tell me your username, and I will add you to the list of people who can play.

 

What is the cost, how do I pay, and where is my money going?

 

We are charging $4.50 per person. Both ACBL and BBO will take a small fee, and the rest will go to supporting the Twin City Bridge Club.

 

To pay, you will need to purchase BB$. They are purchasable at the rate of $1 to BB$1 by clicking on the BB$ button at the top of BBO.

 

How will I see results?

 

Instant results will show up after all boards have been played on BBO. More detailed results can be found on ACBL Live for Clubs around three hours after the game is over.

 

Who is allowed to play?

 

By default, only people who have recently played at TCBC may play in the events. However, if you are a Minneapolis-area player, or you've played occasionally at the club, you are welcome to play - simply contact me. However, the game is generally restricted to club regulars.

 

What if I have questions?

 

The best way to contact me is by email (simply reply to this email), but you can text or call me at 612-280-1274. Calling is likely the slowest way to get in touch, however.

 

I know we've all been missing bridge a lot! Hopefully this is a way to get back into the swing of things. Make sure to tell your bridge-playing friends, too! I hope to see you all in the coming days and weeks!

 

Best,

 

Jackson Wahl