Minnesota Bridge

Something for Everyone!

Be Happy!

Enjoy Bridge!

I still recall when I began playing bridge.  It surely was fun.  But I had a drive to White Bear Lake to play with my husband's uncle. And although he was a good player, I was a rookie who didn't know too much at all. So between lots of driving every couple of weeks to go to and from the west to the east, I had fun but surely didn't have much upstairs in the way of bridge mastery.

As time went by, friends, both from Minnesota and my home town, Chicago, were
a delight with whom to play and learn.  But boy; I sure had a lot I needed to somehow get out of "entry level" bridge!  That being said, people here and there were so nice, so helpful - and so fun - I began to learn more. And enjoy more.

I also learned this - which to this day I think is important and that we need to focus on it more.  What is it?  It's that bridge players are NOT born equal!  

For some, playing at local games, at someone's home, or just a party is loads of fun.  Others?  They want to learn a lot from those who have played more.  So they listen and learn - and their games improve!  Especially when more experienced players help their friends.

And then we get to the experts - and super stars.  Please note that having a poor game necessarily means you are not such a good player.  Even those who have loads of accolades for decades have errors, "forgets" - and end up with REALLY a bad result!  That actually, in some respects, demonstrates how fun - and also how challenging and tough bridge is!

Yet - the true "bottom line" is that, irrespective of great ability, talent, knowledge - or just a game with buddies...  The game itself is something we can enjoy as long as we have breath in our bods!  Here's to everyone loving bridge - irrespective of the details!

Steve Gaynor is Helping Us - Make Bridge Great Again!

BIG Thanks to Steve Gaynor!

Lots of info for all sorts of bridge!

Be sure to peruse around - and - see
WHATS UP!!

 

LOCAL FULL-TIME BRIDGE CENTER:

 

Bridge Center of St Paul, 2603 6^th Ave, North St. Paul, MN 55109 651-490-5430 6th Ave, North St www.bridgecenterofstpaul.com

 

Minneapolis area face to face games:

 

Monday-Wednesday-Friday:  Edina Senior Center, 5280 Grandview Square, Edina, MN

 

Thursday:  Maple Grove Community Center, 12951 Weaver Lake Rd, Maple Grove, MN

 

Tuesday-Saturday:  Studio 1, 6001 Lyndale Ave S, Minneapolis, MN

 

Contact Tony Ames at 952-200-3871 – [email protected]

 

Contact Scott Smith for Wednesday and Thursday – [email protected]

 

 

 

OTHER POPULAR BRIDGE SITES:

 

Minnesota Bridge Blog:   www.mnbridge.com  

 

Keep up-to-date on all sorts of happenings in the world of Minnesota Bridge.  There are links to lots of other bridge sites including a list of other sanctioned duplicate games in MN.

 

Unit 178.com

 

News about bridge in Minneapolis and the western suburbs

 

American Contract Bridge League (ACBL):  acbl.org

 

See how bridge is administered; check your masterpoints; get tournament schedules; locations of clubs.

 

Bridgebase online:  BBO.com  - Watch, learn and/or play bridge online.  Currently offering ‘Virtual Club Games’ that benefit your local bridge club and pay ACBL masterpoints to the winners.

 

Bridge Winners:  bridgewinners.com - Players from all over the world share experiences, hands, opinions about everything bridge. 

 

 

 

UPCOMING LOCAL EVENTS AS OF APRIL, 2022:

 

May 23 - 29     GOPHER REGIONAL @ CROWNE PLAZA AIRPORT/MOA IN BLOOMINGTON, MN

 

Jun    2        I/N Sectional @ St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Rochester, MN

 

Jun 23 - 25     Granite City Sectional @ 850 19^th St. South in Sartell, MN

 

Jun 29 – Jul 2  REGIONAL @ Waterloo Center For the Arts in Waterloo, IA

 

Jul 21 - 31     SUMMER NABC @ PROVIDENCE COMMUNITY CENTER IN PROVIDENCE, RI

 

TBA             Aquatennial Sectional @ TBA

 

                                                                                                                                                                 GOVERNANCE                                

 

 

 

WBF (World Bridge Federation):  Over 100 countries have national Bridge Organizations that are part of this main organization.  They administer world-wide events and championships including the Bermuda Bowl (held every 2 years); Olympiad or World Mind Sport Games (held every 4 years); Rosenblum Cup (held every 4 years).

 

ACBL: North American bridge organization encompassing the USA, Canada, Mexico, and Bermuda.  It currently has about 150,000 dues paying members and is headquartered in Horn Lake, MS (suburban Memphis). 1-662-253-3100.

 

USBF (United State Bridge Federation): Administers events leading toward WBF world championships to determine the teams from the USA that will compete in the Open, Women’s, Junior’s and Senior’s competitions.

 

ACBL DISTRICT 14: One of 25 Districts in the ACBL.  It encompasses Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska and North and South Dakota.  There are over 4000 members in this district’s 9 units.

 

ACBL UNIT 103 (Gopher): Encompasses over 800 members all in MN except for Minneapolis and most of its’ western suburbs (see below).

 

ACBL UNIT 178 (Viking): Encompasses about 800 members mainly located in zip codes beginning with 553 and 554.

 

Playing in a TOURNAMENT!!

New or Intermediate Bridge Players: 

The MN Gopher Regional is for You Too!

By Connie Nelson

Have you only recently started to play Duplicate bridge at a local Club?  Or, are you an advancing player at one of the lower masterpoint ranks?  Are you curious about whether you should even consider attending a Tournament at this stage of your bridge journey? 

The answer is: Yes –“Go-Pher” It!  Come join us at the MN Gopher Regional May 23-28.  Every tournament player once attended his or her “first” tournament.  This year could be your turn! 

Regional tournament play gives you opportunities to meet other bridge players, improve your bridge skills, and ask questions of higher-ranked players.  We offer games for every level of skill or masterpoint rank, as well as opportunities to learn and socialize. 

For instance, the MN Gopher has offerings specifically intended for Intermediate or Newcomer (I/N) players, i.e. players with fewer than 300 masterpoints.  These offerings include:

• I/N single session games are held every tournament day, Monday through Saturday, at 10:00 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. If you want to see what a tournament is like, try one of these. Placing high enough will earn you Red  
• Entry fees to I/N games are at a reduced price - only $10 a session. Remember, only players below 300 master points may play.  While these games award reduced master points, they allow you to compete against only your peers.
• “Lunch and Learn” lessons will be held between games Tuesday through Friday in the I/N playing area. Bring your lunch and attend a free mini-lesson taught by area players.

What’s it like to play in a tournament? 

One of the first places you’ll want to find is the Information Desk.  There you will receive information about the types of games offered, the locations they will be played, as well as a small welcome gift. 

Stop next at the Health and Safety Desk.  Everyone at the tournament must be fully vaccinated.  Show your ID and vaccination card and you will get a plastic wristband to wear during the tournament.

To play, you don’t have to pre-qualify or pre-register.  You just show up, meet your partner, register, pay for the event you are interested in, and play.  If you have time to play only one game or one day, that’s fine. Alternately, you can play as many days or games as fits your schedule.  Which games you play at a tournament, and when, is totally your choice. 

If you don’t have a partner, contact Sue Grue ([email protected], or 702-454-5352,  before May 23^rd and ask that a partner be found for you.  If you ever find yourself at a tournament without a partner, go to the Partnership Desk, and ask for help in finding or requesting a partner or teammates. 

If you’d like, you could “Go-Pher” other kinds of games other than I/N.  Unlike IN games, you would be playing against all levels of players.  However, most events are stratified or bracketed, meaning you are scored against players within similar MP ranges. 

For $15 a session, you could try games like:

• Gold Rush Pairs, a two-session event where no player entered can have more than 750 points. A section top or placing overall earns some Gold points!

 

• Stratified Pairs and Side Games, open games that award master points to tops within masterpoint strata or ranges.

 

• Bracketed Swiss Teams, where you sit N/S at one table and your teammates sit E/W at another table. Both tables play the same 6-8 boards and then compare results. Win a match, win master points!

So, if you are curious and considering the MN Gopher Regional, just come!  “Go-Pher the Fun” on May 23-28.  We hope to see you there.

For more information on the Tournament, visit:  bit.ly/gopherregional 

And our big thanks to Connie for our newer players!

Let's Fall in Love....

Throughout the decades, bridge does not stay static.  I recall when I was a child, and I would head to downtown Chicago to see my grandmother play bridge at a tournament.  Both men and women would be dressed elegantly as they enjoyed both bridge, beautifully designed hotels, and excellent meals inbetween sessions.

As time passed, many competitors became more casual - though the intent to kill or be killed remained by the most serious of players. I personally did not learn to play any bridge until I headed out for college in Madison, Wisconsin. Yet many who loved games of all sorts would compete in the games of their choice, with some learning rudamentary elements.  And others would scoop up cash from the unlucky.  

When I headed out to U of MN for grad school, I began to play a bit more bridge myself with an uncle, heading out to White Bear Lake a couple of times a month. It was fun; I was pretty clueless.  Nevertheless, I began to meet others.

I continued to fumble around - until my Aunt Rosy invited me to Oklahoma, where she and my mom were raised. Hugely fortunate to have games over the weekend with Aunt Rosy's many talented friends, I accomplished something that never before nor again occurred; my partners and I manage to finish in the overalls of each event.  And we WON the final team event on Sunday - managing to beat superstars such as Jim Jacoby!  Though I still had years to go before I really had much of a clue - I was hooked.

As many of you know, I have played for many decades.  I was fascinated by the game itself - and the people who played. Yet - as we know - the abilities, knowledge, and more varies from player to player.  Still - one need not be a super star to enjoy the game.  Whether you have a room full of magnificent wins; or are someone whose modest game gives you pleasure, bridge is an incredible sport.

Which leads me to this.  Covid has currently altered our game in ways never before seen.  Mercifully, it is slowly returning though - and I hope that it continues to do so.

Are you one of the games big shots?  Perhaps you can help newer players grow.  Do you simply enjoy the camraderie and fun that bridge can deliver?  Go for it!

I truly hope that many more will start playing again (if they have not already).  That those with talent will help others grow and learn, as I and so many others were fortunate to experience.  As fun as it is to compete and win - it's also a thrill to see someone who was wandering through the desert blossom.  Help others fall in love - and let The Greatest Game return to its magnificent splendor!

 

Unit 103 MASTERPOINT RACE AWARDS CELEBRATION!!

2021  UNIT  103  MASTERPOINT  RACE  AWARDS  CELEBRATION

LET’S  ALL CELEBRATE!!

 

WHERE:        Bridge Center of St. Paul

                         2603 6^th Avenue E., North                                                                                            St. Paul, MN 55109

WHEN:               Saturday, April 23, 2022                         

TIME:               11 am         Free Lunch for all players, awards presented, followed by a Unit Championship, approximately 12:30 pm; entry fee $6.00. (Award winners play free)

Please RSVP by April 15 ,2022, to Bridge Center of St. Paul, 651-490-5430, [email protected],  or sign-up sheet at the Bridge Center. 

Questions? Contact the Bridge Center or Sue Greenberg, [email protected]

Proof of vaccination and ACBL/CDC masking in place.

 

 

Not Just a Side Game Anymore!

NOT JUST A SIDE GAME ANYMORE

 

 

You would play at the MN GOPHER REGIONAL (May 23-28) regional but you have a concern.   I only want to play one session a day.

1. I only want to play in the morning.
2. I only want to play in the afternoon.
3. I need GOLD but only want to play one session a day.
4. I only want to play on Saturday and prefer to play pairs.
5. I like to play with multiple partners over the course of a tournament.
6. I would rather not play in a two session open game. I want to wait to decide if I want to play a second session but still be eligible for overall awards.

If any of these applies to you then the ‘Side Game Series’ is for you.  Face it, we need your help to bring live bridge back and would appreciate your participation even if you can only play one or two times.  The ‘Side Game Series’ is built for you!

 

Consider these points:

1. Overalls are paid individually and are GOLD. You may play with different partners and still qualify.
2. You only have to play in one session a day. As long as you play in two sessions of the same series you qualify for overalls.
3. Section tops pay GOLD as long as you play in another session of the same series.
4. The event is separate from the two session event held the same day. You play the same hands, but your score is calculated only against the players in your event.

There are three series planned for the MN GOPHER REGIONAL this year.  All are four sessions long.

1. Monday through Thursday mornings (10:00 am start).
2. Monday through Thursday afternoons (2:30 pm start).
3. Friday and Saturday morning and afternoon (10:00 am and 2:30 pm starts).

For more information visit:  bit.ly/gopherregional or mnbridge.com

 

LIVE BRIDGE IS THE BEST BRIDGE