Minnesota Bridge

Bridge Center of St. Paul!

Big Thanks to Kim Hayward for This Weekend's Tourney Information!

Quick note about the tourney this past weekend for MN blog. 

 

This past weekend Unit 103 hosted the Welcome Back Minnesota Open Sectional and Gold Rush Regional in New Brighton. Having heard that many tournaments decided to cancel and others were poorly attended, the planning committee was hoping for at least 50% of 2019 table counts (the Oak Marsh golf club tournament).

We are happy to report that for the 4-days we had a total of 197 tables. If you subtract the Sunday Swiss which didn’t occur in 2019 we had 63% of the tables, much better than our 50% goal. Thanks to all who played! 

 

Pink & Blue = Judy Holderback & Joe Kivel (from St Paul)

Yellow & Jeans = Marc Ashton & Rolf Hubmayr (from Minneapolis)

White Sweatshirt & Dark sweater = Owen Barnett & Sophia Maymudes (both from Carleton)

Hawaiian Shirt & Cowl = John Miller & Jan Morris (from Rochester)

 

 

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Kimberly Hayward, Club Manager

Bridge Center of St Paul

651-490-5430 w

651-271-3500 c

4 Attached Images

 

Home Again, Home Again - Jiggity Jig!

Steve Gaynor sent this message to me from a recent regional in Detroit.  I love how many of us did indeed struggle and sweat as we began to learn the mega-complexities of our amazing game!

Here is a fun hand from the regional in Detroit last week.    It meant a lot to go back home where I struggled so in my first 12 years of bridge and come away with some good results.  I told one of the players who is currently in his struggling era that his turn will come, just stick to it.  

 

Board 26 – All vul – Dealer East

A K 10 7 6 

K 6 5 

Q J 10 9 8 

                        ---

9 5                                           8 2 

Q 10 9 4                                  A J 8   

A K 4                                       5 3

A Q 9 6                                    J 10 8 5 4 2

 

Q J 4 3                        

7 3 2 

7 6 2 

K 7 3

E          S          W         N

P          P          1N        2D*

P          2H**     P          2S

3C        3S        4C        4S

P          P          5C        P

P          X          All pass

Jean & I went to Detroit to play in the first live ACBL regional since the pandemic started.  Several ACBL dignitaries were also in attendance like Executive Director Joe Jones, BOD president Georgia Heth, Director of Operations, Greg Coles and District 12 BOD representative, Dennis Carman.

After the defense took two spade tricks, North shifted to a diamond.  Unsure of how to play trumps, Jean decided to use the Murray Applebaum Discovery Play (play side suits to get info on distribution before tackling trumps) and hooked the hearts.  Finding North with three, she now played South for all the missing clubs, figuring that North would not enter this auction vulnearable without 5-5.  Plus 750 was worth all the matchpoints and helped us to a nice overall finish in the two session regional pair event.  Murray, a consistent winner of open events was also one of most charming, witty players who graced the Twin City bridge tables.  I hope he was up there watching his famous play succeed.

Murray Applebaum was a long time Minnesota player and a true character.  I, like Steve, do hope that Murray is looking down on our Minnesota contingency of competitors and remembering the years and years of fun, excitement - and occasional agony! - that we all face At the Table!

 

Falling in Love

As so many of us know, bridge is an amazing game.  And part of what is so amazing about our fascinating game is the appeal and attraction of the game, which can vary dramatically from bridge player to bridge player.

For some, bridge is a social event that began with parents, grandparents - or even great-grandparents!  We'd be at friends homes for a few hours, perhaps break for a pleasant lunch, and chat as we learned "Charlie Goren" bridge and socialized.  For others, (yours truly), in various ways we would be taught how to play in college, where newbies or already talented players went from "what am I supposed to do NOW?!?" contemplation.  Or - some would be the "super stars" of each era who seemed to be able to pull rabbits out of their hats and make plays that few of us would ever master.

Whether you were a "few times a month" player, or someone who did their utmost to compete as much as possible - bridge was amazing.  And part of what made it so was both the wide variety of people who played, their talents - and personalities.  

I daresay, however, that few of us have experienced the bridge world as it has been for the last couple years, with the world at large changing in ways many of us have never before witnessed.  Do I know what the coming months and years will ultimately deliver to bridge - and us?  Does anyone?  My guess is that only time shall tell.  Yet I myself hope so very deeply that despite the myriad of challenges we face today as we try to play, eventually the "ship will right itself" and new generations of bridge players will indulge in all sorts of future bridge events - the details of which we can only imagine.

I so hope that the uber talented will continue to encourage and help those who are starting out... that those who prefer "social bridge" can enjoy for decades.  And that, just as inventive and brilliant minds have improved the game over time for years - new thoughts and methods - fun and momentary tragedy at the table will start anew.

Whether you're someone who is a Minnesota star for decades - or a junior, who (like so many) can't wait to get stronger and better and start "beating the tough guys" - I hope bridge remains part of your life.

My thanks to all who diligently run our bridge games, set up the local events, be they daily games, sectionals or tournaments.  We are a world wide group of people.  And whether we are the creme de la creme, beginners - or just players who want to play forever - I hope we all are able to fall in love and share that love with others.  

What a gift bridge and its players are!

Supporting One Another

Steve Gaynor, long time fine player, active in so many roles for our game and more - is giving a talk at the I/N regional tomorrow, Thursday, between sessions for the I/N players.  Steve would like to be able to publicize that this will occur - and for us to publicize any other planned talks or lessons on MN Bridge!

Stephanie Steele is working with us, too.  And she would like everyone to know that Steve's talk will be during the lunch break for the I/N sectional; not for the Open event.

 

We are ALWAYS so grateful to those who volunteer, help, teach and so forth!  So we hope that if this is something that might interest you, you will listen to yet another of Steve's enjoyable talks and wisdom!

You never know; today's I/N players and newbies can one day become stars of the future!

Minnesota Welcome Back Open Sectional!

 

ACBL Unit 103

MINNESOTA WELCOME BACK OPEN SECTIONAL  October 21-24     Twin Cities Multiple Locations We are so looking forward to seeing you at the table again! We are hosting an Open Sectional Tournament. In case you know of an IN player looking for a limited tournament, we are also co-hosting an Intermediate/Novice Regional, limited to those Non-Life Masters with fewer than 750 Masterpoints at the same time! Because of the continuing Covid situation a couple of things are different. We could really use your help figuring out spacing and lunches! If you are planning to attend or thinking about attending plase take the following One Minute Survey: https://s.surveyplanet.com/6vt720j9 Here is the rest of the Covid "need to know:" Proof of Covid Vaccination is required to play. Mask will be required at all times in the playing area and in the building (MN state requirement) No food will be allowed in the playing area except during the lunch break. Beverages are OK Additionally, the ACBL is moving toward cashless tournaments and now prefer credit/debit cards for buying entries. However, we will still accept cash at the tournaments. Tournament Chair:    Larry Huiras     Email: bridge.kibitzer@gmail.com                            Phone: 715.410.8705           Partnerships:      Patti huiras     Email: patti.huiras@gmail.com                            Phone:  651-343-2078 Director in Charge:      Kimberly Hayward Hope to see you there!

The Greatest Game - Keep on Loving It!

I assume that for many of us, the last couple of years have been more unusual than any in our lives.  The pandemic itself has changed our world and affected so much of what we do (or, should I say, don't/can't do!)  Major issues have influenced where we can play, if we can play - and bridge is a different world now.

But as someone who fell in love with the game over 45 years ago, it is my fervent hope that bridge will continue to thrive.  Those who learned decades ago will keep on playing as long as they can - and those who are just learning will also become inchanted with the intrigue, fun and challenge of bridge.

Yet - to do so - we need to do what we can to encourage more to learn, play - and love bridge.

I am always grateful for those who give so much to the game help others, teach, and then see new people enjoy the magnificence of bridge.  But with all that is occurring, concerns about health, ability to get out and about - too many are not playing as they had been.  Some are intrigued about the game - yet others do not even know about bridge.

Thus - my fervent hope is that we can do our best to "spread the word!"  Let's get more young people falling in love with bridge!  Tell the middle aged -  or older - how bridge keeps one's mind sharp, never stops becoming new and exciting - and that the partnerships and friendships that you develop can enhance life greatly.  

I truly wish to encourage all of us to Keep Bridge Alive!  I was helped along so wonderfully by new friends and those who taught me when I first began my adventure into the world of bridge - both its people and the game itself.  Despite the challenges our world is facing right now - we can still marvel how much bridge gives to us in so many ways.  I look at some who started out as beginners - and now are champions. And others who play a fewtimes a week and that is a treat.

We can do it!  If you wish to share your years of both fun and failure, friendship and laughter - then please consider "giving back" - however you wish - to bridge.

Bridge has given more to me than I ever dreamed.  May more of us help others to do the same!

My thanks to YOU from Peggy Bundy!