Minnesota Bridge

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
ynotsema@aol.com or bring it to your first game.

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

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

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!!

 

Face to Face St. Cloud Bridge Returns!

We are THRILLED to have Minnesotans returning to F2F Bridge!

Delighted yet again to have Connie Nelson provide us with all the scoops!

Hear about the fun that St. Cloud players & others can now enjoy!

Thank you, Connie Nelson!

On June 4, 2021, the St Cloud Duplicate Bridge Club held our first in-person bridge game since March 2020.  We had a great turnout -- thirteen full tables!  It felt so celebratory.  The “buzz” in the room was palpable – as friends greeted friends, and started up the familiar patter - “So glad to see you.  So glad to set you.”

 

The BridgeMates still worked, though many of us players were “rusty.”  After a year of on-line bridge – or no bridge, we sometimes forgot to alert our partner’s bids.  We could once again bid insufficiently or play out of turn.  There were way too many “Director, please” calls which kept Kory distracted.  (Maybe that’s a good thing!)  But I expect we’ll settle down quickly.

For anyone who is traveling through or by St Cloud, you are welcome to stop in and play!  Here is the pertinent information.  We currently offer two in person, ACBL sanctioned bridge games each week:

• On Monday evening, our game begins at 6:00 PM at the Labor Temple, 1903 4th St. N, St. Cloud, at the intersection of 19 1/2 Avenue and 4th Street North.
• On Friday afternoon, our game begins at 12:45 PM at the Whitney Senior Center, 1527 Northway Drive, St. Cloud.

We hope to add additional in person games soon!

The COVID protocols for our Club at this time include:

1. The first time you come for a face to face bridge game, you will be asked to show proof that you are fully vaccinated.  We keep track and will not ask you to show your vaccination card again.
2. Hand sanitizer is available at every table, which we encourage players to use between rounds.
3. Only individually packaged food items are available.

We also continue to offer two online bridge games each week listed under Virtual Clubs at Bridgebase.com.   Their start times are -

• Wednesdays at 10:00 a.m.
• Thursdays at 1:30 p.m.

We ask that you arrive at least 15 minutes before the in-person games, and sign up with a partner at least 15 minutes before the start of each online game. Cost is $3 per player. 

For other information about our games – or to check to see if we’ve added in-person games, please call our Club Manager, Kory Solarz, at 320-292-5001.  Welcome back everyone to in-person bridge!

 Bill Voedisch - Live from Live Bridge at the St. Paul Club!

Hot Days in the City!

 

And great bridge news at the Bridge Center of St. Paul!

 

 

Minnesota Bridge lovers --

 

We are pleased to report that live bridge at the Saint Paul club started again this past Tuesday, June 1 and it has gone very well.

 

We are starting with just 4 games a week.  The biggest table count was 13 on Thursday; for the Mentor game (9) and Chat Bridge (4).  Not a great turnout compared to our pre-pandemic games but we are pleased.  We know that some folks will continue with BBO games and we recognize that we will need to continue some online games for those who do not wish to enter the club, or who can't make it to the club.  At the same time we have members with no technology who have been without the game they love for nearly 15 months.   

 

We're just getting started and we will review things at our June Board meeting.

Kim Hayward has done her usual super job on this!  She drafted the reopening plan which the board approved, got the club ready for play, recorded shot cards ... everything.

For  complete information, schedule, and how to make a reservation for an entry, go to:
www.bridgecenterofstpaul.com

 

On behalf of the Bridge Center of St. Paul Board

Bill Voedisch

 

Together Again!

Though this time of year in Minnesota can be as quirky as some of our bridge games - 

Almost 90 degrees on one day - then 45 and jackets the next

(Kinda like having a 77% game one day - and 43% the next)

Being with REAL LIVE friends at the table is the best!

 Connie Nelson, our reporter from St. Cloud, describes just how swell it is

And how much players are looking forward to being Together Again!

 

Together Again!

By Connie Nelson

Many of our St Cloud Bridge Club members recently gathered for the first time since March 2020.  No – it wasn’t for a face to face game at our Club quite yet.  But over twenty of us – all fully vaccinated – came together April 30^th to celebrate the 90^th Birthday of one of our own – Jim Mustain. 

 

Jim Mustain – in the middle with red tie – and his St Cloud Bridge Club friends!

 

Scott Krupke and Mark Doucette of our Club affectionally address Jim Mustain as “General.”  Mostly this is to honor his military service, and the fact that Jim was ROTC instructor at Saint John’s University from 1973-1975.  But they coined the nickname “General” when they first came to play bridge at our club, and Jim helped instruct them on how to play.  Always a gentleman away from the bridge table, when things aren’t going quite right at the table, Jim has been known to occasionally “bark” out a few suggestions for our betterment.

And, Jim – a Gold Life Master – does know his bridge.  Several bridge trophies were displayed at his party, including an Open Pairs trophy won with partner John Koch back in 1973! 

Prior to COVID, Jim was my standing partner the first Wednesday of each month.  We haven’t won any Open Pairs events, but we both enjoy our game. 

Jim and I like to play the Ogust convention after a weak-two opening bid by one of us.  I learned from Jim that I was mis-pronouncing this bid.  I would alert it as O-gust (long O), but Jim says it is pronounced the same as the month of August.  He knows this because Harold Ogust – for whom the convention is named - often appeared on Charles Goren’s TV program, Championship Bridge back in the early 60’s, and Jim watched that show religiously. 

For those who may not know, the Ogust convention is used after a Weak Two opening bid by partner, in order to gauge the strength of the weak-two bidder's hand.  The responder bids 2NT, asking opener to further describe both his/her six-card suit and high card points.  The standard Ogust responses are:

• 3♣shows a "minimal" hand with a "poor" suit
• 3♦shows a "minimal" hand with a "good" suit
• 3♥shows a "maximal" hand with a "poor" suit
• 3♠shows a "maximal" hand with a "good" suit
• 3NT shows a "solid" suit (that is, AKQ of the long suit)

What constitutes “minimal” and “maximal” is up to partnership agreement, but Jim and I play that “minimal” is 5-8 points, and “maximal” is 8-11 points.  A “poor” six card suit would be one without 2 of the top 3 honors, or 3 of the top 5 honors.  I find Ogust to be quite informative in placing a contract.

Jim Mustain hasn’t been playing much bridge during COVID, as he doesn’t play online.  We are both waiting for the day when we can partner again the first Wednesday of each month, and he can teach me some new conventions – along with their correct pronunciations!  Happy Birthday, Jim. 

I look forward to us all being Together Again!

Top 100 Masterpoint Winners - 2020

Despite the most tumultuous year in bridge since I have been your editor, we are proud to list the players who have won the most masterpoints as of year end 2020.  And, as I have done many times in the past, I shall share my comments and thoughts with everyone.  They both about the achievements of our players - and the reality that thrilling and fun as it is it to be on "the list" - we nevertheless must recognize that we each have our own unique lives.  

Thus, although some players who have a nice chunk of monsterpoints may well have fewer than some above their count -  we can't know for certain what exactly that means as players.  Some of us have jobs - or families - that take up a good portion of our lives. Others have more free time to play bridge and are able to scoop up lots of masterpoints - along with our talents.

What we should know, however, is that those on the list love our incredible game, work hard at improving their bridge every year - and that, in the end, what matters is the joy of bridge, the friends we make, and the fascination that this amazing game can deliver to us, year after year, decade after decade.

Judy Hansen, to whom I am most appreciative for putting together this fine list of top masterpoint players, also wanted to be sure that we remember two of our best who, sadly, are no longer with us.  Thus, our two In Memoriam Honorees for 2020 are:

 

Pedee Langsetmo  10364.05

 

Grant Boadwine       2891.35

Here is to 2021 being a not so crazy year - but a year filled with fun, fascination, learning and wins at the bridge table!  Don't forget - it's the greatest game!

 

1	Peggy	Kaplan	16390.29
2	Sharon	Anderson	14256.44
3	Terry	Beckman	14169.08
4	John	Koch	12517.67
5	Paul	Meerschaert	11894.93
6	Roger	Anderson	10994.94
7	Steven	Gaynor	10123.11
8	Michael	Cassel II	10015.19
9	Tony	Ames	9925.67
10	Bob	Balderson Jr	9870.39
11	Cynthia	Balderson	9792.60
12	Phil	Schwarz	9523.86
13	Judy	Schwarz	9326.71
14	Carole	Miner	9269.94
15	Barry	Purrington	8803.41
16	Peg	Waller	8787.76
17	Gregg	Van Dyke	8780.22
18	Michael	Hoffmann	7962.10
19	Jackie	Evans	7739.43
20	Ronald	DeHarpporte	7429.70
21	Brian	Crossley	7341.52
22	Carol	Mahoney	6872.56
23	Sharon	Christenson	6825.10
24	Kerry	Holloway	6682.56
25	Kory	Solarz	6447.92
26	Richard	Ekstrum	6385.15
27	Michael	Howland	6296.42
28	Kathy	Beckman	6112.84
29	Greg	Caucutt	5983.92
30	Keith	Connolly	5944.74
31	Lance	Chamberlain	5921.78
32	John	Minton	5665.73
33	Dan	Sershon	5457.64
34	Thomas	Smith	5346.15
35	Michael	Flader	5249.60
36	Pat	Burrows	5220.97
37	Rita	Xistris	5126.07
38	Roark	Johnson	4919.01
39	Genny	Rice	4882.38
40	Audrey	Weikle	4863.85
41	John	Allen	4653.78
42	Joseph	Browan	4644.87
43	Kurt	Schaeffer	4352.49
44	Ann	Lockhart	4388.33
45	Paul	Gutterman	4369.50
46	Robert	Schachter	4287.87
47	Jean	Boettcher	4221.55
48	Warren	Nelson	4126.29
49	Steve	Reed	4119.20
50	William	Voedisch	4039.31
51	Irwin	Boris	4007.65
52	Randy	Okubo	3944.89
53	Phyllis	Rosscup	3941.63
54	Wayne	Gergen	3939.78
55	Teresa	Sackett	3868.27
56	Harry	Sapienza	3867.04
57	Thomas	Baskin	3828.26
58	Colin	Campbell	3822.55
59	Mark	Krusemeyer	3794.32
60	Dennis	Dufner	3691.90
61	Richard	Lawson	3635.85
62	Teri	Blu	3624.64
63	Jeff	Dzuik	3618.99
64	Jane Dickey	Matson	3557.12
65	Paula	Cohen	3553.26
66	Stephen	Jackson	3530.08
67	Gregory	Lutgens	3528.75
68	John	Crouch	3358.06
69	Judy	Hansen	3314.94
70	Joseph	Koester	3280.78
71	Eric	Hendrickson	3276.97
72	James	Mustain	3248.95
73	Larry	Johnson	3213.97
74	Larry	Uttley	3211.51
75	John	Bloomquist	3194.72
76	Janet	Williams	3183.52
77	Carol	Rynders	3162.88
78	Deborah	Watson	3152.93
79	Marsha	Brouillet	3131.41
80	James	Tenbroeke	3100.16
81	Donald	Stanger	3091.02
82	Dennis	Cerkvenik	3075.28
83	Charlene	Thul	3062.58
84	Elaine	Prebonich	3034.43
85	Jeanine	Hall	3025.45
86	Bill	Heyer	2965.36
87	Maureen	Weiman	2959.08
88	Vern	Swing	2910.53
89	Dianne	Carr	2903.62
90	Gerald	Welander	2901.44
91	Paul	Sitz	2889.09
92	Joe	Proulx	2838.40
93	Patti	Stuhlman	2836.81
94	Gene	Willson	2836.41
95	Peg	Mitchell	2800.07
96	Neil	Swanson	2774.95
97	Betty	Triliegi	2772.54
98	Jim	Stepnes	2763.00
99	John	Stern	2752.86
100	Marv	Riedesel	2735.74

 

More Messages - Mini-McKenney & Ace of Clubs Awards!

 

ACBL Unit 103

Unit 103 & 178 2020 Mini-McKenney And Ace of Club Awards Celebration  When: Saturday, April 24  What: Unit 103 & Unit 178 Awards Program via Zoom Time:  11:45am via Zoom             Unit 103 Zoom link for the celebration available at:                           bridgecenterofstpaul.com and medcitybridge.com             Unit 178 Zoom link for the celebration available at:                           bridgecenterofstpaul.com  What there’s more? Yes!!!!!!!  Celebratory game for all Minnesota Players (both 103 and 178) When:  Saturday April 24: 0-300 MP Game @ 12:30pm 0-1000 MP Game @ 12:35pm 0-2500 MP Game @ 12:40pm Open Game @ 12:45pm            $3.00 entry fee  -             the top 3 finishers in each category will be             reimbursed their entry fee.  Where:  On BBO – if it doesn’t come up automatically                             Look in Virtual Clubs for “Unit 103 Awards…” For more information see the attached flyer. Hope to “see” you all there!

Unit 178 Zoom Awards Party - April 24!

Posts were recently made highlighting 178 Mini-McKenney and Ace of Clubs Players!

Now Unit 178 President Steve Gaynor is hoping many can join the Zoom Awards Party!

Details below; Looking forward to a great turnout!

 

Attention ACBL Unit 178 winners!!

 

You are cordially invited to the Unit 178 Zoom awards party on Saturday April 24 at 11:30 am.  

 

Following this you are also invited to play in the awards recognition game that will be run on BBO starting at 12:30 pm on the same day.  The $3 entry fee will be reimbursed to you on your BBO account for later use.  Due to the high number of tables expected we will run four different strata.  If you wish to 'play up' inform the director of such.

 

If you do not yet have a BBO account (everyone who plays, even only in free games, on BBO has one), let us know if you need help.   

 

You may contact me at stev1249@comcast.net or call 612-708-7563.  I normally do not return calls unless I get a message, so please leave one if I do not answer.  If you want to attend the Zoom awards party, send me your email and I will send you an invitation.

 

There is another Blog article with that invitation so I would appreciate if you check that first.

 

Steven Gaynor

President, ACBL Unit 178.

Zoom for Mini-McKenney and Ace of Clubs Awards in Unit 103!

 

ACBL UNIT 103 NEWS!

Unit 103 2020 Mini-McKenney And Ace of Club Awards Celebration  When: Saturday, April 24  What: Unit 103 Awards Program via Zoom Time:  11:45am via Zoom            Zoom links will be available before the party at:            bridgecenterofstpaul.com and medcitybridge.com What there’s more? Yes!!!!!!!  Celebratory game for all Minnesota Players (both 103 and 178) When:  Saturday April 24: 0-300 MP Game @ 12:30pm 0-1000 MP Game @ 12:35pm 0-2500 MP Game @ 12:40pm Open Game @ 12:45pm            $3.00 entry fee  -             the top 3 finishers in each category will be             reimbursed their entry fee.  Where:  On BBO – if it doesn’t come up automatically                             Look in Virtual Clubs for “Unit 103 Awards…” More information coming out the week of April 24.  See the attached flyer Hope to “see” you all there!

2020 UNIT 103 MASTERPOINT RACE!

          LET’S  ALL CELEBRATE

             AWARDS CELEBRATION  

               

                                  WHERE:               Zoom meeting + virtual game                                            

                                  WHEN:                 Saturday, April 24,                                                      

                                  TIME:                   11:45 am Zoom meeting;

                                                                Winners announced

                                                               12:30 pm:  3 flighted

                                                                                  virtual games

                                                                  0-300  *  0-1000  * Open

                                                               Game entry fee $3.00 

                                                                       

(Top three award winners in each category will be reimbursed the entry fee.)

The Zoom link for the awards presentation will be sent out in an email blast at a later date. 

Watch for it in your inbox!

CBO Club Special Tournament on Monday March 1st!

First day of March tomorrow - and an opportunity for those who are college bridge players to compete against students throughout ACBL land!

Instructions below; hope many of you are able to compete in this fun event and perhaps win prizes!

 

Don't forget about the CBO Club Special Tournament this Monday, March 1, awarding masterpoints and 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. Please encourage your friends to participate so that we can continue to offer these games.   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

MN Gopher Unit - #103 - Board Members

MN Gopher Unit #103 Board Members

 

President Warren Nelson                   Vice President Sue Greenberg

303 Dalewood Avenue S.W.                 4727 County Rd. 15 S.W. 

Cloquet, MN  55720-1203                     Byron, MN  55920

218-269-2724                                        507-365-8236

Nelson11375@yahoo.com                     rdbcmanager@gmail.com

Director Connie Nelson                       Director Matt Belau

902 Waters Edge Circle                          600 4th St. SW, #508

Avon, MN  56310                                    Rochester, MN  55902

320-282-7859                                          858-472-4433

connie@psg.us                                        mbelau1@gmail.com

Director Amy Dutton                             Director Kathy Beckman

668 Mulberry Lane                                  7328 Noble Ct. N

Mendota Heights, MN  55118                  Brooklyn Park, MN 55443

402-423-5406                                           763-229-2224

amy.dutton@gmail.com                            hlmarklady@aol.com

Director Rajiv Kapadia                           Director Tom Owens

120 Mapleridge Dr.                                    9418 Knighton Rd.

Mankato, MN  56001                                  Woodbury, MN  55125

507-351-0133                                            651-714-0100

Rajiv.Kapadia@mnsu.edu                          Tom@Insurance-Exec.com

Director Keith Thompson                         Non-Voting Member of the Board

1544 Minnehaha Ave. East                          Larry Huiras

St. Paul, MN 55106                                     1908 19th Terr. NW

612-239-2667                                               New Brighton, MN  55112

keithclockt@icloud.com                                715-410-8705

                                                                      bridge.kibitzer@gmail.com

 

 

MN GOPHER UNIT #103 NON-BOARD MEMBERS                                                              

Financial Advisor                                           Secretary

Lance Chamberlain                                        Patti Huiras

2670 Bandel Drive, NW                                    1908 19^th Terrace N.W.

Rochester, MN 55901                                       New Brighton, MN 55112

507-282-7319                                                    651-343-20 8

lancechamberlain@juno.com                            patti.huiras@gmail.com

2020 Results for Unit 103 - Mini-McKenney Standings

Our thanks yet again to Warren Nelson and Unit 103 for their 2020 efforts this year!
And congratulations to all our players!  Whether you had big tallies, are just learning bridge...
Or simply having a blast at the virtual table...  We hope that 2020 was super ...

And that 2021 is fabulous!

 

 

2020 Unit 103 Mini-McKenney Standings

 

0 - 5 Masterpoint Race

Richard Kjonaas             Maplewood, MN          122.80

Steve Rholl                     Northfield, MN               51.26

James R Noren              Woodbury, MN               27.52

 

                                                                  5 - 20 Masterpoint Race

Paul J Wehrman              Shoreview, MN              185.12

Catherine A Wehrman      Shoreview, MN              185.12

David J Katzelnick            Fountain Hls, AZ              24.88

 

                                                                  20 to 50 Masterpoint Race

John Miller                        Rochester, MN                 82.55

Andrew Lehman                St. Paul, MN                    47.87

Michael K Wilson              Edina, MN                        44.40

 

                                                                  50 to 100 Masterpoint Race

Jan Morris                          Rochester, MN               109.54

Gail M Baev                       Woodbury, MN                  64.09

Dr Wayne F Detmer           Woodbury, MN                  56.51

 

                                                                    100 to 200 Masterpoint Race

Ed Prosser                                                                 174.73

Gregory M Dorr                   Little Canada, MN            91.37

Joanne K Long                    Rochester, MN                 74.98

 

                                                                   200 to 300 Masterpoint Race

John Woog                          Rochester, MN                  232.31

Sherri Browne                     Roseville, MN                    128.64

Sheri French                       Pine Island, MN                 115.88

 

                                                                    300 to 500 Masterpoint Race

Dr Jack L Crary                   Detroit Lakes, MN              138.94

Clyde E Johnson                 Duluth, MN                         125.13

Cynthia S Schield                Fort Myers, FL                    107.17

 

                                                                   500 to 1000 Masterpoint Race

Gloria Georger                      Rochester, MN                    188.20

Connie R Nelson                   Avon, MN                            134.74

James A Schnepf                  Avon, MN                             133.34

 

                                                                    1000 to 1500 Masterpoint Race

Robert R Roediger                 Rochester, MN                     187.75

Layne E Vinje                         Rochester, MN                     133.72

Rajiv J Kapadia                      Mankato, MN                        122.74

 

                                                                   1500 to 2500 Masterpoint Race

Gene P Brandl                       Apple Valley, MN                     250.40

Dr Del Swanson                     Apple Valley, MN                     223.90

Grant Duffrin                          Roseville, MN                          204.19

 

                                                                    2500 to 3500 Masterpoint Race

Colin M Campbell                   Duluth, MN                              244.02

Bill J Heyer                                                                             197.18

Larry Johnson                         Brooklyn Center, MN               135.21

 

                                                                    3500 to 5000 Masterpoint Race

Joseph W Browan                    Maplewood, MN                       209.58

Genny Rice                               Rochester, MN                         190.24

John R Allen                              Oakdale, MN                            168.55

 

                                                                  5000 to 7500 Masterpoint Race

Greg L Caucutt                         Rochester, MN                            205.26

Kathy A Beckman                     Brooklyn Park, MN                      169.18

Carol J Mahoney                      Rochester, MN                            135.91

 

                                                                 7500 to 10,000 Masterpoint Race

Carole A Miner                           Rochester, MN                             270.73

Gregg Van Dyke                        Key Largo, FL                                   8.94

 

                                                                Over 10,000 Masterpoint Race

Terry L Beckman                         Brooklyn Park, MN                       597.89

John R Koch                                Saint Cloud, MN                          312.07

Tuesday Evening Swiss Teams Returns to the Twin Cities!

Tony Ames, both one of our top players and one of our finest directors, posted the results for the initial offering of the Tuesday Evening Swiss Teams.  Congratulations Harry, Barry, Kerry and Michael Lee Howland (MLH - your parents couldn't rhyme you, too?!?)  A nice finish for their team, and so great to see people enjoying the fun of battling as teams for a change, too.

I also asked Kerry if he would write up a little bit of what happened that evening - and he most cordially obliged.  Big thanks to Kerry, congrats to their team, and hope all of our players had fun with our new event!  Kerry's story comes next, results after that...  And I hope that more of our competitors will rally to the next Tuesday Evening Swiss Teams event!  
******************************************************************************************************************

The Plymouth Bridge Club has a new Swiss Team event every Tuesday night. After ironing out a few glitches, the Swiss format has been approved for prime time.

 

Harry and Barry invited Kerry and Michael (not rhyming any more) to play with them in the inaugural event.  We played last night.

 

One positive swing came on a slam hand. I held AQxxxx Qxxx x xx. Michael and I play precision, so most hands not opened 1C have fewer than 16 HCP.  Our weak two’s are 8-13, thus opening 1S and rebidding 2S shows 14-15 without jumping.

 

I opened 2S, pard bid 3C (relay to3D, then showing 5 hand types).  I bid 3D, pard bid 4C (exclusion for Clubs). Double by David Neiman, pass, we play R2D2 (redouble and double show second step 0 or 3), so pass shows 1.

 

Michael bid 6S, and held KJxx AKJx, AKxxx, void. Easily makes 7. 

 

A fun way to start the season.

 

Kerry

 

*****************************************************************************************************************

Subject: Tuesday Evening Swiss Teams

Reply-To: ynot6934@aol.como

Winning all 4 matches for a VP total of 61, Harry Sapienza, Barry Purrington, Kerry Holloway and Michael Lee Howland won the initial offering of the Tuesday Evening Swiss Teams.

Results were:

 

Rank	Name	Score (VP20)	Points
1	bpurringto+hsapienza,Kellog+MNgoofer	61.00	0.80
2	Cbalderson+Windsurff,Peg Waller+Ron1005	54.00	0.56
3	darlene789+jn55345,dlweiss+vswing1	47.00	0.40
4	rharha+sharonroe,tempport+bxley	45.00	0.24
5	ice33+farmboy7,caught1+njskag	33.00	0.08
5	laz49+slamster,dytrevor+dgoodrie	33.00	0.08
7	Long Lake+lvettel,slomovas+lmlhopkins	26.00	0.08
8	Nancy w T+fishtuc,L D Schram+Mike Stein	21.00	0.08

Help! I Need Somebody!

With the seismic events that have happened around the world - and to our game - bridge is quite different in a number of respects these days.  Additionally, it appears that MN Bridge is not receiving stories from players: problem hands, amusing incidents, thrills and chills!  It's also great to know what's happening to our newer players, our top experts and more.

As I am not able to play bridge right now (but I'm a committed kibitzer), I would like to call on YOU, our Minnesota devotees, to submit any stories, hands, triumphs, heartaches and the like that you think would be of interest to our players.  Long or short; technical or belly laughs - feel free to send 'em in!

Bill Voedisch was kind enough to offer a "wowzer" of a quickie!

At last nights St Paul Swiss, Denny and i had a 2,000 score.  That's their contract, doubled, red, down 7. 

19 IMPS for the good guys!

 

Wow - somebody sure needed some help last night!  And thanks to Bill for sharing his and Denny's story.  If you haven't racked up a big number ever - you haven't lived!  Play at your favorite game and see how high you can go!

 

And - thanks in advance for sharing YOUR bridge tales!

 

 

 

Hi Minnesota Buds - Joseph Jones has news for all wishing to play at ACBL NACB Tournaments that we're going to have to hold on for a while.  I know most of us much prefer to see our friends from all over the world, enjoying a yummy dinner in between rounds as we discuss hands and even do a tad of site seeing.  But Joe will explain why we are unable to do so right now - and I hope everyone keeps on enjoying virtual bridge at their favorite MN club - or "sneaks down" (LOL) to their favorite club in Miami, Tucson or California for a toasty, roasty great game!  (Or stay home in bed and turn up the thermometer!)  Peg

Dear Member,   Due to the ongoing risk posed by COVID-19, the ACBL has canceled the 2021 Spring North American Bridge Championships that were scheduled for March 11-21, 2021 in St. Louis, MO.     ACBL officials and local volunteers have worked tirelessly with the host hotel and local government officials, and, sadly, the event cannot be held as scheduled because the coronavirus pandemic continues to surge and the vaccine roll-out is slower than anticipated. Please know the health and safety of our members and our employees is of paramount importance to us.   Due to the attractiveness of the location, the ACBL is working to negotiate rescheduling an NABC in St. Louis sometime in the future. Members will be notified if and when those dates have been finalized.   We will continue to offer chances to play and win black, silver, red and gold masterpoints® on Bridge Base Online. Details of ongoing and special events along with Virtual Clubs can be found at acbl.org/virtual.   Sincerely, Joseph Jones ACBL Executive Director January 11, 2021

From President Dave Neiman - With Love for Us All for Bridge!

The Minneapolis Grand Slam Club will be honoring Peggy Kaplan at our weekly game this coming Friday, January 1^st, 2021. We will donate $100, plus $1 for each person who plays in the game, to Peggy’s chosen charity, the ACBL Education Foundation (ACBLEF.org), whose mission is to “...introduce more people, of all ages and walks of life, to the game of bridge…”

Our club has been fortunate and proud to claim her as a member for many, many, (many!) years, but her influence and contributions to the game and world of bridge extends far beyond our borders. She has played at a high level for most of those years, both nationally and internationally. If you don’t recognize the name, you will certainly know the perky woman with the radiant smile and the camera who has been chronicling NABCs in photographs for decades.  

Beyond her own success in bridge, I think Peggy would consider one of her proudest and most important accomplishments is to be a mentor to the Minneapolis-area youths who are beginning their bridge careers at Carleton College and the U of M.

My own words don’t do justice to the influence bridge has had on Peggy and the impact she has had on the world of bridge.  I asked Peggy herself to say a few words (below) and I linked a couple of BW articles to this one for further reading.

We would like to welcome all players, young and old, experienced and newcomer, to our game this week. The game is $5 and game time is 7:15pm CENTRAL time and can be found on BBO’s Virtual Club section under the director ID VACB255646 (MGSC Friday).  To respect IDs and email privacy, if you would like to play, reply to this email with your name and BBO ID (and your partner’s!)  and I will have the director add you to the game’s player list. There will be a Zoom call after the game for participants.  Please forward this note to anyone you think would like to play in this week's game in honor of Peggy Kaplan. 

http://bridgewinners.com/article/view/help-us-honor-peggy-kaplan/

http://bridgewinners.com/article/view/nobituary-for-peg-kaplan/

https://www.acbleducationalfoundation.org/page/about-the-acbl-educational-foundation-1.html

 

My Love Affair with Bridge

As many MGSC players know, I've been ill for some time and unable to play bridge - but I can watch!  And I am thrilled that Cookie Hoberman, my friend from Omaha who has built the Nebraska Regional (in Iowa - go figure) to tremendous standards, has been working with others to create the ACBL Educational Foundation Fund for Junior and Collegiate players, with a tournament in February.  Cookie is honoring Bob Hamman, the player that many believe to be the best in the history of the game - and me, the person who isn't QUITE in Bob's league (hahahaha), but adores our game, the people from all around the world who play it - and who hope it thrives and grows for a great many decades to come.

The Minneapolis Grand Slam Club is hoping that those who can might donate something for this worthy cause - and come out and play on Friday!  I’ve also been asked to list my national wins, so I have below.  Please note that the Machlin Women's Teams was second by ONE IMP (none of us coulda found THAT!!)  And I was proud and delighted that Minnesota stars were with me - Cindy Balderson, Carole Miner and Melody Bi.

I was asked to mention some highlights of my many years of competing.  I'm afraid if I got going too much - you might miss Friday's game!!

But - I will add a few thoughts.  One is from my bridge idol Bob H, and it is one of the wisest actions you can take to up your game.  When a hand has ended - it is OVER!!  If you want to contemplate when the event is finished how you could have made the hand you did NOT make, or how brilliant you were - DO NOT!  Focus on the hand you are playing, and that is it.  Not always easy, but this alone improves your game.  I literally have been on teams where our opponents were significantly superior to our players - but they forgot Bob's brilliant advice.

More of my beliefs about bridge are these.  Never stop learning.  Try your best for you and your pard to have fun. Be nice to your pard AND your opponents (try!)  The game is better if you do.  

And if you can, help others.  I was blessed beyond measure by tons of great friends and partners over the years, by truly wonderful mentors who took me under their wing and and taught me so much.  Bridge IS the greatest game, can be played if you're 8 or 100!  

My thanks to you all.  You are THE BEST!!

Peggy Bundy (thank you, George Jacobs!!)

 

NABC Bridge 1sts & 2^nd

 

2011    1          Freeman Mixed Board-a-Match           NABC+

2009    1          NABC+ Fast Open Pairs                     NABC+

2005    1          Freeman Mixed Board-a-Match           NABC+

2004    1          Rockwell Mixed Pairs                          NABC+

2007    2          Machlin Womens Swiss Teams           NABC

 

Memorial Service for Platinum Life Master & Friend - Peder Langsetmo

Hi All:

A number of bridge players in the Minnesota area had been asking after my father, who passed away last week at the age of 93.  Peder was a long-time fixture in the Minnesota bridge scene and was a Platinum Life Master.

The family would appreciate it if others who might not know about the upcoming service to "pass the word" in the MN bridge community.  The service will not be an open service, due to the Covid pandemic.   But it will be live-streamed on Saturday, December 5th at 12:00PM.  The service will be held at:              www.unityunitarian.org/memorial-services.html

For those unable to participate at that time, the service will also be available later

on Youtube (details to be given later).

In lieu of flowers, please direct any memorial contributions to the Animal Humane Society

(https://www.animalhumanesociety.org)

or Meals on Wheels

(https://www.mealsonwheelsamerica.org)

We will also be doing a narration of stories about him during the service, and we invite any of his bridge friends to contribute any anecdotes they have about him, or other thoughts and comments they may have.

We won’t be able to fix everything into the service, but we would appreciate any submissions

you might have that you’d like to share, and we will see if we can work them in.  You can e-mail any such accounts to me (Arne Langsetmo, alangsetmo@icloud.com) for compilation  (and our own personal memories), and please indicate if you would like such material to be anonymous.

Best regards to all his bridge friends, partners and opponents, from the Langsetmo family!

— Arne

 

Note from Peg--

Arne would appreciate if people could post on MN Bridge as soon as possible if they have stories or memories they would like to share about Peder.  They are hoping to have many to share during Peder's memorial service so we need them soon!  Thanks to all our friends from around the bridge world who wish to honor Peder.

An Invitation to Participate!

Apologies in advance if you receive multiple invitations as you may be represented on more than one distribution list.

The Minneapolis Grand Slam Club (MGSC)  is in its ninth decade of continuous play.  The premier event of the annual cycle is an extended team event.   Once a double elimination knockout in recent years the event has become a RRKO like this year’s premier online team events sponsored by the Online Contract Bridge League (OCBL) and the ALT.

The Grand National Teams are the ACBL’s premier live grass roots team events.  They are configured in four flights.  This year’s pandemic has completely thrown the competition a loop.  Club play would have started in September and culminated in District Finals next Spring with a trip to the Summer NABC for the flight winners.

Many players enjoy team events including Swiss Teams and KOs.  To promote team play MGSC is offering a series of Tuesday night, 24-bd matches scored on a 20pt VP scale beginning November 10.   The more teams that sign up the more brackets we can offer and the more ‘even’ the competition will be.  The top four teams after the round robin phase will compete in longer KO matches.

The sessions will be every Tuesday at 6:30pm online at BBO.  A $100 fee will cover the entire Round Robin phase.  If there are only 5 teams in your bracket, thus a 4 session RR, you will receive a refund.

The conditions of contest:  MGSC 2020-2021 RRKO CoC  Any U103 or U178 member or anyone who has played in the  MGSC Virtual Club Friday night game.

You can sign up at: Team Signup, with as many as six players.  Contact Dave Neiman if one of your team members doesn’t show on our rosterlist.  Your registration is not complete unless you send $100 to MGSC c/o Barry Purrington  829 Overlook Place, Eagan, MN 55123 before November 10.  Your team will be disqualified if the club has not received a check before November 17 (grace period).

Any team can choose to play up in higher bracket if doing so does not collapse the initial bracket assignation.  You may choose to make your initial registration conditional if we have only one bracket and you do not wish to play against the strongest teams.

The event coordinator is Steve Gaynor  mailto:stev1249@comcast.net.  We can facilitate team formation if you are a pair looking for compatible teammates.

Those of who are not MGSC members are particularly welcome to form teams.  It's a big plus to play a series of 24 board imp events against players you know or have some familiarity with rather than 12-bd  IMP speedballs on BBO.  You will see how other matches scored on the same boards, and have a chance to play "real" imp matches without time pressure.  And there will be a nice masterpoint award if you are one of the four teams to reach the KO phase.

We are hoping for a big turnout.  If we get enough teams for three brackets you will surely be playing against teams very similar in experience to your own.

Mike Cassel, MGSC Bulletin editor and former D14 GNT Coordinator