Minnesota Bridge

D14-Wide ONLINE PAIRS GAME - Check it Out!!

Matt, who helps us with a variety of wonderful bridge events and needs,

Is sharing THIS with US!

Lucky, lucky!  It's coming up!   Check it out - and - PLAY!!!

D14-wide ONLINE PAIRS GAME

Sunday October 16th - 6:30pm

 

WHAT:  It’s a District-wide online pairs game, sanctioned by

the ACBL and BBO; just like other online bridge games, only 

with the potential to be much, MUCH bigger (read: lots

more masterpoints). . .with an entry fee of $6

 

WHERE:  The comfort of your own living room.  Just sign on

to BBO like any other online game, you’ll see this game listed

- then register with a partner and let the cards fly

 

WHO:  You - anyone that is in District 14 is eligible to play in

this mega-online game.  While you must be a member of

D14, your partner does not have to be - so you can play

with anyone that you want (around the country or around 

the world!)

 

WHEN:  Sunday October 16 at 6:30pm.  The game will be

available for signup two hours beforehand

 

WHY:  100% of the proceeds from this game will go to the

D14 Grass Roots Fund, which helps to sponsor D14 GNT 

Finalists as they move forward to the Nationals in Chicago

next summer

Long Ago and Far Away

Like so much in life, bridge does not remain static.  In college, I learned about a wealth of different card games and enjoyed them tremendously.  I began to dip my toes into bridge - yet clearly the game was far more challenging than anything else I'd learned.  When I came to Minnesota and grad school, I did play a bit of bridge, though generally it was no more than 2 or 3 games a month.  And no matter how hard I tried, mistakes and misunderstandings were inevitable, forgetting happened - yet the game remained with challenges that surely were intriguing - and fun.

But bridge "back then" was so very different when I started learning more and more.  While the "super stars" were fascinating to watch, other players would chat and help one another.  And when we found that improvement grew and grew as we watched, listened, and realized more as to how intricate and difficult the bridge world could be.  We nevertheless still continued to learn - with some of us increasing our game upward - and occasionally beating up on the big boys, which was always a thrill!

In Minnesota, our big games were BIG!  I remember the hotels that had so many players competing, that it was easy to see players everywhere, be they novices, intermediates - or the best of the best.  Some of us would reach a level - and stay there.  Others?  They would work so hard, they'd win lots more, learn so much that was once a mystery, and continue to be fascinated by the varied abilities - and lack thereof - of our players.

Recent times have delivered immense change to our games.  Covid managed to take many who were superb players, to relegate themselves and their partners to staying at home.  Others wore their masks - and although this allowed them to play, it clearly was more difficult - and the percentage of players who continued to play dropped dramatically.

Additionally, unfortunately we have lost many of those who played so well.  Yet time and age has ended lives, which again, has caused our games to be fewer and smaller.

Can this change?  Of course.  But we really cannot know immediately what the changes will be, if the games can grow significantly again - or if changes slowly grow again...  Or, if bridge may take a long time to return to our once strong world.

In the meantime, if you can play and you want to play - do so!  Decades of players continue on!

And - just like life itself - bridge has a myriad of fascination, thought, creativity and much more.  Let's hope it returns to growth - and to us.

Peg

Summer will be winding down - Fall Bridge Events are On Their Way!

Once again, summer is winding down before I expect it. But it's State Fair time and school starts next week, so it must be true!

On the plus side, there is a lot to look forward to in bridge this fall in Unit 178.

 

September Schedule of games is attached. Here are some highlights:

Board-a-Match game resumes, Wednesday evening at 6:15

On September 7, Keith Thompson and Tony Ames are restarting the ever-popular Board-a-Match game. Games will be held every other Wednesday at 6:15 pm at the Edina Senior Center. The schedule for 2022-23 is attached.

BAM is a team game without complicated scoring like IMPs, so every board is win or lose and a single extra overtrick (or undertrick) can be a huge difference.

Teams need to register by contacting Keith ([email protected], 612-239-2667) or Tony ([email protected], 952-200-3871). They will help you form a pair or team, too.

New location for Saturday games starting Sep 10

The Saturday FTF game at 1:00 p.m. is moving to the Eden Prairie Center Community Room as of September 10. It's in the basement next to the main rental office and restrooms.

Enter on the East side through the Von Maur store, or on the South through the food court. Take the elevator, located in the center of the mall, down t the basement. It's very similar to the Southdale Center where we had the recent sectional tournament.

Lessons this fall

Tony Ames is offering beginning bridge lessons this fall on Tuesdays at 1:00 pm at the Edina Senior Center. Lessons start September 13 and continue for 8 weeks. Contact the Edina Senior Center at 952-833-9570 to register.

Alternatively, the Bridge Center of St Paul is offering beginning bridge lessons Monday evenings at 6:30 starting September 19, both online and in person. A second series will be held online only on Wednesdays evenings starting September 21. Check out the website for more information or to register http://www.bridgecenterofstpaul.com/

Chat bridge continues

Chat bridge continues every Tuesday at 12:45 at Studio 1. It's a great way to practise and improve your game after you've taken lessons. A number of players have "graduated" to the limited game at the same time, there's always room for more. Contact John Schlundt for more information. [email protected]

Gopher Regional Tournament very successful!

Tournament chair Patti Stuhlman reports that the Gopher Regional tournament last may was very successful. Attendence exceeded expectations, and the tournament even made money. Congratulations and thanks to Patti and her team!

Feedback was generally positive, and suggestions will be taken into account in planning next year's Gopher. I know they've started working on it already.

Milestones

Congratulations to these players who have reached new levels:

• Junior Masters: David Gregg, Carol Hagelee, Carol Lord
• Club Master: Mary Stark
• Sectional Masters: Patti Richardson, Jeffrey Knapp
• NABC Master: Marc Ashton
• Bronze Life Master: Mark McGree
• Silver Life Masters: James LaFave, Michael O'Leary