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 23rd 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!
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