Minnesota Bridge

Collegiate Initiative - with More To Come!

 

Last weekend, four teams and 13 pairs participated in our online college tournaments.   Congrats to Georgia Tech Gold for completing a clean sweep of this year's Collegiate Teams Championship and winning all four of their matches by at least 25 IMPs. The six-person squad was led by Captain Cyrus Hettle and anchorman Sean McNally, the only player to play all four matches. Results   In the Saturday pairs, GA Tech dominated again, coming in 1st and 2nd with Wash U and Northwestern coming in 3rd and 4th. Results   1st: Zhuangdi Xu and Shengding Sun – Georgia Tech 2nd: Santhosh Karnik and Cyrus Hettle – Georgia Tech 3rd: Evan Alexis and Issac Stone – Washington University St Louis 4th: Jacob Reinke and Ben Fisk – Northwestern University Stay cool in the dog days of summer by playing in the CBO Club Special Tournament this Sunday, August 1, which will award masterpoints and special prizes. First through third place finishers will receive an Amazon gift card. Additionally, ACBL will draw the name of one random CBO tournament participant to receive a gift card.   You do need to be an ACBL member (only $5 for ages 25 and younger), have a BBO account (free) and be registered as a CBO member to participate in a CBO Tournament. Please note that it can take up to 24 hours to gain access to the CBO Club on BBO.   If you've never played in a CBO tournament before, simply log into BBO and click Competitive / Tournaments / All Tournaments or Free Tournaments / Collegiate. The CBO tournament should be first on the list.   If you have any bridge playing college friends, encourage them to join the CBO. Membership is open to any college undergrad or grad student age 35 and under. If you don’t have a student bridge org/club at your school, consider starting one. We can help! www.acbl.org/college

Plymouth Bridge IS BACK!!

We are happy to report that Plymouth Bridge

Will soon be Up and Running!

 

Bethlehem Lutheran Church
16023 Minnetonka Blvd
Sanctioned Games –Fun and Masterpoints

Saturdays 1 P.M.
Beginning July 31— Club Championship($5)

AUGUST
7 North American Pairs ($6)
14 Charity Stratified Pairs ($7)
21 IMP Pairs Club Championship ($5)
28 NAP ($6) ~~ Last One!!

SEPTEMBER
4 Stratified Pairs ($5)
11 Grand National Team Qual ($7)
18 Club Championship ($5)
25 GNT Qualifying ($7)

Club Manager & Partners ~ Tony Ames
952-200-3871
Director-in -Charge ~ Keith Thompson

 

COVID Rules -- Bring your own beverage;
Proof of covid vaccination must be provided.
You can email a copy of your vaccination card to
[email protected] or bring it to your first game.

Upcoming on October 30 The Scary Pairs (and Tony’s B-day!)

Todd Flowerday - Our Newest Author, Aiming for Learning and for Life Master!

I am grateful to receive another article from Todd Flowerday, a recent transplant to Minnesota - and - a young man who - like most of us - is fascinated by bridge!  Todd takes us from his plans to play with partner and good friend Bob, to his first foray into IMP pairs and his highs and lows. For those of you who are not "old timers" at the table, though, I hope that Todd and all the others realize this.  No matter how hard you study, learn and battle at the table - no one gets 'em all right!  That is part of the challenge and the fun of bridge...  

I look forward to more of Todd's years of learning, of more young people becoming entranced by our game as so many Minnesotans have for decades - and for expressing it all for all of us!  Thanks, Todd!

P.S. For Todd and all the others who haven't been competing for years and years - even THE BEST have incredible disasters now and then....  just not anywhere as often as the rest of us!

Letters

So, my Washington partner and good friend Bob recommended we do the NAOBC. He’s determined—maybe more than I am—to get me those last two-point-something gold so I can drop the “N” from LM. He’s also pressing me to go to Austin for a few days this Fall. Given that I still work for a living and don’t have the means of travelling to those North American events that lack the “O,” this might be my only chance to compete on the continental level.

Open IMP pairs?

Why not, I replied.

I wasn’t free for any event that touched on a weekend, so it was the Wednesday/Thursday session. He said IMP wasn’t his favorite format. I’ve never played one but rumor had it you treat it mostly like you play a team event. Bid your vulnerable games. A little less aggressive on NV games and small slams. And this rule seemed like a refugee from party bridge: don’t double anybody into game. So I’d have to pocket my favorite card in the bidding box. Boo.

The only time I felt as outclassed in a competition was a flight A NAP in Seattle. (My work schedule didn’t permit a B or C effort.) Bob and I didn’t finish bottom, but darn near it. I looked at the final masterpoint awards and the top pair had earned 24 gold. 24?! I joked to my friend that if I knew the payout was so generous maybe I should’ve tried harder.

I knew I was in the soup at this “O” when we drew a world champion in round 3. Then another. Then a Bridge Bulletin columnist. That wasn’t counting the profiles that listed DLM, ELM, etc.. We actually got a marginally good board against a famous author my daughter likes. Louis Sachar is a GLM, but his BBO profile didn’t mention the G. My dad was a jeweler, but this event had more gems and gold than I ever saw in his showcases.

What’s my assessment of an IMP event? Glad/not glad you asked. My friend and I had three bad boards in session one and four in the nightcap. That was about 75% of our losses, over 60 IMPs. Otherwise, it was like Chinese water torture, a point here and a point there over the other 41 boards. If we had played well—no big errors, that is—I think we would have placed around the top of the bottom third.

One thing I noticed being an “N” competing against P’s and E’s and D’s is that a good effort might still be a minus. Some genius bid a rare 6NT against us, and though we got him to think right up to the time limit, he was still one of a few who made it. Minus-12 on the third hand of the day.

World Champions never fumble the basics. I was most displeased with getting in the wrong contract and dropping a trick because I lost my concentration. Minus-200 instead of a hundred. Another 3 down the drain. My highlight was endplaying a weak jump overcaller for something like plus 2. Oh, and near the end of the event, I did double a 2NT for plus 300 and maybe 6 IMPS. It felt good to break the rule and not get punished.

I ask myself, did I learn anything? At this point in my bridge competing, the few gold points will come—that’s just a matter of time. I want to keep learning things so I can become a better player. I want to get good enough so that the LM really means something, and that it’s not just a participation award.

I’m going to keep playing up. Next time I find myself in the alphabet soup, I’ll be a little bit better prepared.

MN Bridge Schedule as of July 31st! It's COMING - YOU Come TOO!

                             It's been a tough year with the Pandemic! 

                                        Yet good times are on their way!

                             Check below for times, locations, directors and more details                                                                        Face to Face Bridge will be here SOON!

 

Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
Edina		Edina	Maple Grove		Minnetonka
11:45		11:45	12:00		1:00
OPEN		OPEN	OPEN		OPEN
FTF		FTF	FTF		FTF
Tony Ames		Scott Smith	Scott Smith		Keith Thompson
12:30	9:30	12:30	9:30	1:15
OPEN	0-750	OPEN	0-750	0-750
ON-LINE	ON-LINE	ON-LINE	ON-LINE	ON-LINE
Tony Ames	TCBC	Tony Ames	TCBC	Tony Ames
	12:30		12:30	1:30 PM
	OPEN		OPEN	OPEN
	ON-LINE		ON-LINE	ON-LINE
	Tony Ames		Tony Ames	Tony Ames

Another GREAT College Bridge Event for the Next GREAT Bridge Generation!

 

The Virtual College Tournament starts this Thursday (July 22)! It’s the college event of the summer, so don’t miss it!   Deadline to register is Tuesday, July 20, at 5 p.m. Central. See registration links below.   There will be both team and pairs games. The schedule (see below) is set so that you can play in both.   Current students – including incoming freshmen! – and those who graduated in 2021 are eligible to play. All members of a team or pair must be from the same school.

All games will be played on Bridge Base Online. Any student from any college can participate, but you must be an ACBL member (Junior memberships only $5! Click here to join).

Make the Virtual College Tournament part of your summer!                                                                         Register today!

 

 

Barb Zipoy Sends the Scoop on In Person Bridge Games!

We're seeing face to face games start up again!  Barb has the details!

The Edina 1145 Edina Senior Center has in person bridge games on Monday and Wednesday.

Tuesday at 1PM an Open Game is held at the Mayflower Church on Diamond Lake Road and 35 W.

Thursday has a 12 noon start for an open game at Maple Grove - Friday a 0-750 game at Mayflower Church.

Saturday 1PM you can find an Open Game at Bethlehem Lutheran in Minnetonka.

Plus some St. Paul games are also in person; the Saint Paul Bridge Center website should have details.

For our own joy and fun - and for the future of our game - here's hoping more and more of our players - and new ones, too! - return To The Table!  We want to see The Greatest Game return with lots of folks and players of all ages!  Check with Barb for more - and - THANK YOU BARB!!

 

Grand National Teams Super Flight - Rich Newell Team and Highlights

Rich Newell's team faced many professional and elite players - but alas -

did not make the cut to today's events.  Yet Rich was kind enough to give us some of the details

of what happened to his team.  Just BEING in the event was an achievement; thanks, Rich!

 

The rank next to each opponent was how they finished the event out of 24 teams.  I sat out rounds 1 & 2

Round 1 vs Patel RANK 19 (Mike & Steve / Mike & Barry)

Only one other pair bid this vulnerable game which cannot be set, so that was a loss of 12.   Another game swing in each direction, and we lost some partscores.

 

Round 2 vs Jacobs/Vogel RANK 23 (Mike & Steve / Mike & Barry)

Well, there’s one way to get to the slam, preempt on 11hcp and tell your partner you have a good suit and a good hand.

At the other table George Jacobs and George Vogel bid 1H 2D 2H 4S (1430) 5D (2 no Q) and Clade bid 7NT.  Double dummy the jack of diamonds must be led and wasn’t, but after cashing the spades and diamonds south doesn’t have any trouble holding on to the queen of spades and ten of diamonds so -1 and 20 IMPs to Flader, which was our margin of victory.   Only two people tried 7NT so our luck equalized a bit.

Result: Win 33-13, 17.21 VP, 19.35/40 

 

Round 3 vs Debbie & Michael Rosenberg RANK 3 (Rich & Tony / Mike & Barry)

3C was not the strongest superaccept.  3S was unspecified shortness which turned out to be clubs.  The ten of diamonds was a good lead but no way for declarer to go wrong, lose 13 in a match that was lost by 19.

 

Round 4 vs Apfelblum RANK 21 (Rich & Tony / Mike & Steve)

I’m familiar with a pair on this team; Art Korth (ArtK78) and his partner GuyMath.  They are aggressive nonvul opening all 10+hcp hands, I’ve played against them many times on BBO. 

As west I played four spade partials which all gained IMPs, helping us to a 12-6 win.  Curiously my pair of +110’s  were BOTH passed out at the other table.  On one of those hands I bravely bid 2S vulnerable 3^rd seat with the west hand below.  They won two clubs, a heart, a diamond, and a diamond ruff, but never got the trump going and at the end I had a high cross ruff.  North should have sent his 87 to disturb my K6, curious.  The top teams would have me scrambling for the double dummy result of -100.

Ages ago Toby & I played a 10-12 NT nonvul and we once had success in the Silodor Pairs - I distinctly recall Toby leaving the table telling me he was thrilled at +90 knowing the hand would frequently get passed out.

Result: Win 12-6, 12.57 VP, 35.39/80 

 

Round 5 vs Munday,Oshlag,Sealy,Foster RANK 11 (Rich & Tony / Mike & Barry)

Perhaps I should bid 1NT forcing and maybe Tony could have braved 2S but I don’t know if that would have prevented this slam.  The other team bid 1N forcing and north’s 2S bid (Michaels) resulted in an immediate 4H contract by our teammates, but the 4D splinter bid was key.

All my takeout double did here was clarify to north that their heart suit was working.  5D is only down 1 but my hearts are now worthless, and if Tony has more than one heart now it could easily go for -500.  So the opponents were +420 N/S and +130 in 4D E/W at the other table, lose 11.

Result: Lose 0-34, 0.71 VP, 36.10/100 

 

Round 6 (Mike & Steve, Mike & Barry)

At this point I find out that the team with Will Engel and Ron Ashbacher (RANK 24) withdrew after 4 rounds with a score of 14.41/80, causing a sitout.  Whichever team presumably near the bottom of the leaderboard receives that sitout and 12 victory points.  Well for round 6 that team is us, so we are at 49.7/120 with two rounds to go and about 6 victory points shy of 16^th place.  Usually a 3-way in a swiss match tells you you’re not doing so well, but here they rest you and give you 12 victory points. 

Result: Sitout, 12 VP, 65.52/140

 

Round 7 vs Sloofman RANK 22 (Rich & Tony / Mike & Barry)

This was one of the weakest teams.  I was also south and at both tables it went low to the ace of hearts and another.  At my table the king was won and a club to the ten and jack, giving Tony a crucial tempo to set up hearts, and from there it was an easy down 1.  At the other table the queen of heart was won in dummy and a club to the queen.  South chose to duck this to preserve his entry and Mike lost to the J next, but with South shutout from the fourth heart Mike was able to get two tricks from the spade suit to win 10.

Result: Win 28-5, 17.42 VP, 65.52/140

At this point we are 16^th, we just need a win!!! 

Round 8 vs Robinson RANK 8 (Rich & Tony / Mike & Barry)

We got nickled and dimed here, nothing quite worth extending this.

Result: Lose 1-14, 5.07 VP, 70.59/160 

And we finished 18^th .

Tony Ames - FIRST Grand Life Master AND ACBL Tournament Director!

Tony Ames

Grand Life Master AND Grand Director!!

 

Tony Ames began playing bridge at the kitchen table in the late 50's.  Tony would play the dummy's cards as his mom called out what to play.  Some years later, Tony began to play "real bridge" with other budding freshman players at St. Johns University in Collegeville.  Greg Vasterling came from Cretin, then to St. Johns on the 4th floor of Bennett Hall, where they met John Koch, an advanced sophomore.

The boys had talent, with Tony and John attending sectionals, regionals and national tournaments.  I was graced with good luck to play with them on many outings, with Tony and/or Dick Bruno from Chicago as my pards.  Tony and I would play during week events, with Dick coming in for the weekend, so he and I could play with Tony and John at the other table.  We had great times, heading to St. Louis, Lake Geneva and Oconomowoc, Wis - and not infrequently beating some Big Talent!  In one regional, we won 3 KO's and 2nd in a Swiss!

What I remember most about Tony's game, however, is that I knew NO ONE who was as nice and kind  a partner as he.  Twice, once at an NABC and once at Lake Geneva, we had costly losses.  I would classify the LG one as about 95% MY FAULT - but Tony was right there apologizing for our disaster!  Needless to say, I laughed and said NO WAY - and with neither of us upset we moved on to the next hand.  And the NABC?  Most were in slam going down 1 - but our jaunt to SEVEN earned us a double - and a bottom.  Again, Tony was calm and kept us on track with his easy going demeanor.

 

For those who have not yet read their ACBL Bulletin, Tony has become Minnesota's 3rd Grand Life Master.  Yet Tony has achieved another title that no one else has accomplished:  The first ACBL tournament director to be a Grand Life Master!  Tony's team faced a number of elite professional and world-class teams in Orlando's 2004 Senior KO's. Yet none could catch Tony, John, Rod Beery and Mary Egan.

 

In the early days, Tony the Tiger could be pretty wild, bidding like a crazy man.  Fortunately, Tony calmed down a bit (though he says he can still deliver some "crazy") - helping him to achieve both his title and history first.

 

We in Minnesota are so fortunate to have Tony, as a fine player and as an superb director.  He began directing at the Grand Slam Club in 1996 when The Great Larry Oakey retired.  And Tony added new refinements to the games with pre-made boards and hand records.

 

2003 potentially could have been the end of Tony's bridge career.  Home from the nationals, Tony was teaching a class at the TCBC. Suddenly, as students watched, Tony's normally fine discussions and explanations had turned into gibberish.  Yet Tony had the good fortune that Paul Meerschaert was there, who whisked Tony to the hospital as he was having a stroke!  Tony explains that ultimately some abilities were compromised.  Yet as we know, his bridge talents WERE NOT!

 

Huge congrats to Tony for not only achieving GLM status, but for also being in a class of ONE to handle being a fine ACBL Director, too.  And put me down as always being amazed at Tony's ability to be both so very talented and perhaps THE kindest guy around at the bridge table!

 

Todd Flowerday - New to MN & Loving Bridge - Sharing Ideas!

Todd is not only enjoying MN AND bridge, he is assuredly learning as much as he can about our game.

We are glad that Todd also is an excellent writer, and shares what he is learning with us!  No matter who you are, whether you've played a few months or several decades..... Part of the fascination of bridge is that it's always fascinating, even the most elite continue to study and learn ... And it is NEVER dull!

Our thanks to Todd for his second column!

 

“Defensive Maneuvers”

Bridge Bulletin column by Paul Ross.

In college, I learned bridge from my mates in the chess club. Really. Our club treasurer Dave was a good friend. He was also my favorite partner, as we were both in novice mode. Back then we had Goren for bidding and Watson for play of the hand. Maybe we had scratched the latter author’s guidance on attitude signals, as I remember one hand leading a king (from AK in those stone age days) and noticed Dave’s intermediate card. At trick two I saw him drop the deuce under my ace. The third card of that side suit was covered by dummy’s queen and partner ruffed. The opponents eventually went down two.

I remember that hand because that one small triumph switched on a light in my brain. I wasn’t worried about conceding a trick to a master card in the suit. Not only did I notice the signal, but I trusted Dave’s guidance on the play. Suddenly, bridge was a lot more than 4-3-2-1 counting and plunking down high cards on top of low cards. The game was afoot.

Sometimes when I’m defending I’m not sure what I should be doing. When I fail badly, I don’t even think I asked the right questions. That’s why I enjoy one of the newest Bridge Bulletin writers, Paul Ross. His column, “Defensive Maneuvers,” has become a favorite.

The ACBL braintrust planted it in the intermediate section, and that seems about right to me. Let me click off the plusses. First, good writing: crisp and concise. Second, he assumes the reader is an intelligent student of the game—the basics are already in place. Third, I value an educator who asks questions of students. There are a lot of teachers who like to hear themselves talk, talk, talk. When a mentor is asking questions, it shows she or he wants the person to think. I know I can’t become a better defender unless I’m forming myself to think, to ask the right questions.

In the year since Mr Ross debuted as a columnist, I like being challenged with his questions, starting with the very basic things a NLM can and should be asking when defending. For me, some of it is review—and that’s not a bad thing.

Best of all, I’m starting to think about defense like the title suggests: outmaneuvering declarer for a triumph. Sometimes plus 100 is much more satisfying than plus 980.

Judith Ann "Judy" Hammond - 1941-2021

For many years, your editor has been writing about the triumphs, the joys, the fun and so much more about bridge.  Yet I have also written about the loss of our bridge players, the most sad part of my role.

The Bridge Center of St. Paul has sent an obituary for Judy Hammond.  We treasure the years we had with Judy and husband Tom; we are saddened that both no longer are with us.  

 

 Judith Ann “Judy” Hammond

1941 – 2021

The bridge community of Minnesota lost a great supporter of the game and a dear friend when Judy Hammond lost her courageous battle with cancer on June 1, 2021.  With husband Tom, she was a fixture in the St. Paul bridge community for decades.   Judy was very good at the game she loved, and was a mentor to new players.  She is remembered for her wonderful sense of fashion and style, which was her trademark.

Judy attained the rank Gold Life Master, and in spite of having her bridge time cut short this year due to her illness, she stands 5^th in her Unit 103 Mini-McKenney strata.

If you knew Judy, you liked her.  With a beautiful smile, kind heart, fun personality and great sense of humor, Judy was loved by so many, and will be so greatly missed by family and friends.  Judy is survived by daughters Jennifer (Barry Minsker) and Laurie (Dan Wienmeyer) and four grandchildren, Max, Olivia, Ellie and Jackson.

Judy and Tom were married 53 years until his passing in 2017.  We always said that when Tom married Judy, he knew exactly what he was doing.

Respectively submitted,

Bridge Center of St. Paul

Junior Bridge Comes Out with a Bang!

 Many of our juniors who learned bridge have left MN for grad school
Yet they are still in love with The Greatest Game

And are continuing to do wonderfully!

Congrats to the top finishers - and may ALL have special 4th of July!

 

Thanks to those College Bridge Online Club members who participated in the July 1 special tournament; 23 of those players received masterpoints. Click here for hand analysis for board 1 from Thursday's event. Congratulations to our top finishers! 1st Place r168r $50 Amazon GC UCLA 2nd Place JimmyK4542 $30 Amazon GC Georgia Tech 3rd Place BruceZhu   $20 Amazon GC Georgia Tech Drawing Winner Jstoller  $25 Amazon GC Colgate University Since we cannot meet in person at the Bridge Bowl this summer, we are planning on holding online events at the end of this month. Round robin team events will be held on Thursday and Friday, July 29 and 30th with a pair event on Saturday, August 1. More details and registration information will go out next week. See below for the full breakdown of masterpoints awarded in this week’s tournament, including a breakdown of the top schools:

Unit 178 Board Meeting Minutes - May 19, 2021

Our thanks to Board President Steve Gaynor and our other members

who are keeping up to date with all needed to have excellent bridge in our community!

 

Subject: Minutes of Unit 178 Board Meeting, May 19, 2021

Date: June 23, 2021

 

To: Steve Gaynor

The Zoom meeting was called to order by Board President Steve Gaynor

Board Members Present: Vicky Smith, Cass Weil, Jackson Wahl, Sue Sanger, John Schlundt and Richard Cottle

Guests: Teri Blu, Bonnie Sipkins and Tony Ames

Meeting called to order by Steve Gaynor

Minutes of March 24: Approved

Financial Report: Approved. Steve will meet with Vicky to update document signers.

Chairs etc: Our chairs etc. must be removed from St. Paul by June 1 so they can set up for face- to- face bridge. Arrangements will be made. Sue Sanger has room for some small items. A van will be needed.

Where can our Unit play? 4—5000 square feet is needed; must be accessible (no steps), ventilated, handicap bathroom for men and women. Edina? After discussion it was determined Edina would not work. Other community centers, churches, commercial spaces will be investigated.

Financial Goals: 130 tables per week, $3000-4000 rent per month, cleaning and directors.

Task Force: Bonnie and Sue will head up a Task Force to look for space.  Sue will check out Beth El and Women’s Club of Minnesota. Bonnie will check on Temple Israel. Bonnie will ask Jennie Peterson if she is interested in managing. St. Louis Park CC and Eden Prairie  CC have been ruled out. HarMar? Richfield Lutheran?                                            

Email all: Sue will email all Unit members for suggestions on a place to play. Steve will obtain a complete list from the ACBL.

Teri: “A place to play is the highest priority.”

Tournament: New Brighton will hold an IN and Open Regional tournament om October 21, 22, 23, 2021.

Next Meeting: June 30

Meeting Adjourned