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ACBL UNIT 103 NEWS!
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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 What there’s more? Yes!!!!!!! Celebratory game for all Minnesota Players (both 103 and 178) When: Saturday April 24:
$3.00 entry fee - Where: On BBO – if it doesn’t come up automatically More information coming out the week of April 24. See the attached flyer Hope to “see” you all there! |
Curt - Ben - Kerry - Richard are #1
Congratulations to Curt and Ben Kristensen, with teammates Kerry Cotterell and Richard Underwood for winning the NAOBC 0-5000 KO yesterday. In Saturday’s semi-final they trailed by 10 at halftime. But they stormed back to win by 58.
In Sunday's final they trailed by 5 points at the halfway point. Yet they came back to win a hard-fought battle 79 - 65. In the process they won 64 gold points. Well done, guys!
From Proud Unit 103 President, Warren Nelson
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Many years ago, on the final day of a Gopher Regional, my partner Bill Kent and I faced Curt Kristensen and his young son, Ben. I think that Ben was about 10 years old then. Vern and Monte Evans were our teammates, and we won the Swiss. Yet we did lose one match at our table, when the youngster at our table - BEN - beat us! I was quite impressed at the abilities Ben had at such a young age. And I was fortunate to be able to play with Ben a few times, too, over the years; quite the player!
Since then, Ben has competed in a number of major events, once knocking out the #1 team in the WORLD in the SPINGOLD when his team of juniors roughed them up! And Ben has earned other impressive titles.
Curt plays quite well himself, and surely has given Ben a wonderful foundation both as a player when he first started - and as a young man who has an array of fine qualities in addition to his bridge prowess. A round of applause for Curt and Ben - and here's to more successes!
From Proud MN Bridge Editor Peg!
What a great day! No longer below zero, sunshiny with blue skies - and a new fine story from Connie Nelson! We hope all of Minnesota's players are not only enjoying the weather - but enjoying various games that are available online. Here's to a pretty day, our great game, our wonderful teachers and students - and Connie's talented storytelling!
Several members of our St Cloud Bridge Club like to fish, but Roger Melaas loves to fish. Once a professional fishing guide, Roger has been heard to say: “To fish or not to fish. That’s a stupid question.” He fishes across all seasons, often sharing his catch with others. But via this article, I want Minnesota players to know that Roger, a Ruby Life Master, is also “a keeper” in the Bridge world.
I have previously written about our Club’s Mentor program started in 2019.[1] However, Rhonda Rossman recently reflected: “I think our mentoring program really started with our Liberty Lessons. For years, Roger Melaas has used those lessons to bring promising players up to speed and provide continuous learning.”
Roger Melaas giving a bridge lesson, using a fishing rod pointer
What are Liberty Lessons? Every Tuesday pre-COVID, Roger Melaas offered free bridge lessons and “chat bridge” at Liberty Bank. Roger started each lesson with recognition of one or more advancing players about a play or bid well made during the prior evening’s sanctioned game. Any player could then ask questions about hands from the night before. This was followed by a short lesson limited to one topic. Last, the players would play bridge, while Roger and other experienced players would float among the tables. They would stop the play to cover a hand that had stumped everybody, or was particularly interesting. Rhonda recalls, “What I loved about those lessons was that you could address a difficult hand ‘in the moment’.”
A mentoring table: Ruth Sundby, Marlene Schroeder, Sandra Hatch and Roger Melaas
Marlene Schroeder also had only good things to say about Roger: “Where do I start? I am so impressed with Roger’s ability to affirm and compliment people. He sends little notes to individual players about their play. His whole heart is in helping C players who want to learn advance their games.” Roger is currently Marlene’s mentor at St Cloud’s Friday online mentor game. She says that he has a kind – never critical – style. He watches for teaching moments, and says “Here’s where you could have done better.”
Roger’s kindness is not limited to the bridge table. If he hears of any Club member experiencing a health issue – he calls them; he visits them. He often refers to our Club as our bridge “family.” Throughout COVID distancing, he has worked to keep the game going and to keep spirits high. It speaks volumes that his current email signature line is: “Stay positive; Test negative – Roger M/7No”
By Connie Nelson
[1] If interested, see https://psohler.files.wordpress.com/2020/09/sept-2019-st.-cloud-bridge-club-mentoring-initiative.pdf.
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!
Yet again, it is my very sad duty to report the loss of another of our bridge players. Sue Greenberg alerted me that Grant Boadwine passed away earlier this month.
Grant's obituary is below - and a remembrance of him is shared by Sue. Our deepest condolences to all of Grant's family, friends and fellow bridge players.
As we pass through autumn, I'm delighted to share with you another excellent tale from Connie Nelson in St. Cloud. So grateful to her for the fine stories and photos! Enjoy, enjoy everyone! How Connie captures our bridge players, their activities and fun is a sparkling gem!
Last month, I wrote about the special birthday party held for Chuck Head. There’s another bridge player who has a birthday in September – and don’t we all know it!
Our Club Director Kory Solarz was born on September 11th. We know this because Kory usually celebrates, or at least mentions, his birthday anywhere between three to twenty times every September. This year – not being together – I found myself missing all the reminders.
So, I want to do my part to celebrate this guy some call “Special K.”
Simply stated, Kory makes our Club fun! When I ask a club member to describe Kory, every person immediately gets a smile on their face or in their voice. Shari Pretzer recalls the first time she beat him at a hand. He sent a note after: “I used to like you!” I remember giving him a jar of homemade jam. A few weeks later, he maneuvered the traveling bridge boards in such a way that my West hand included a slip that read, “My jam jar is empty.” If anyone has a special birthday or accomplishes a bridge milestone, they may get a present from Kory - a signed photograph of himself! (I guess that started back in his childhood when Kory would give his siblings signed self-portraits for their birthdays!)
His siblings also tattled that Kory had an uncanny way of getting out of work. While growing up in Upsala, he had a hundred ways to avoid bailing hay, cleaning the barn, or mowing. But, he would miraculously reappear for meals! And, that shirking theme kept repeating -
Roger Melaas: “In the fishing world in which I live at times, Kory is what you would call A KEEPER. However, while he loves to eat the fish, he is never is around to help fillet them, or clean up afterward.”
David Hanson: “For all the cards he’s played, Kory rarely has shuffled a deck.” In fact, it was so unique to find Kory making a board one time, Dave took a picture! This was back in 2010, and Dave’s kept it all these years. (When Dave sent me the picture, he had titled it: “Kory making boards. A sight so rare it belongs in the Smithsonian.”)
Yet, overwhelmingly, our club members would agree with this observation from Roger Melaas: “Kory is quite the character, but he is also a man of character!” David Hanson recalls once when he and Kory were partners, they heard a nearby table discussing a hand. A player said, “We could make six easily.” That hand came next to Kory and David. No one else had heard the comment. Kory passed the hand at four, and told David later… “I might normally have considered bidding 6, but I couldn’t use unauthorized information.” He went on, “If we can’t play bridge honestly, we shouldn’t be playing.”
One thing I really appreciate about Kory is that everyone trusts his director calls; they are informed and fair. He has a soft, fun way of soothing ruffled feathers or quieting a raised voice. He works tirelessly for our club and its members, and is frequently seen going over a play to help an advancing player. David Hanson said that Kory’s insight and review of challenging hands has been invaluable to him over the years. Dave added: I do remember the first bridge lesson he taught me ten years ago: “If I have the 9 and the 4 of trump and my opponent only has the 5 left, I should probably play the 9!”
Kory is one of those people who appears to play almost magical bridge. After the bidding and your lead at trick one, Kory can usually place 98% of the cards across the other three hands. This ability has caused some to accuse him of having “a third eye,” but it’s simply great bridge.
So happy belated birthday, Kory. May we celebrate in person next year! P.S. Jim and I did drop off a jar of jam on his birthday.
Today is May Day - the start of a new month in the most tumultuous of times.
Almost every aspect of life has been altered; our bridge world is no exception.
Once again, we are most grateful for Connie Nelson. When life deals us lemons, Connie reports on the sweetest lemonade available!
Big thanks to Connie - Professors Scott Richardson and Jim Schnepf - and to our new players who are "Passionate about Bridge!"
The month of May should be full of college graduations and summer good-byes. But mid- spring semester, campus life was cut short. Students had to scramble to vacate campuses. Many had to abruptly leave friends, teachers, courses and extra-curricular activities.
This is the story of seven College of St. Benedict students who had to leave behind their year-long Tuesday Bridge lessons --
In September 2019, Professors Jim Schnepf (retired) and Scott Richardson launched an endeavor to introduce Bridge to college students. Scott sent out a letter asking the Honors Students of St. John’s University and the College of St. Benedict if any of them would like to learn to play Bridge. After an introductory gathering, seven students – all women from CSB – continued to attend Bridge Club every Tuesday evening. Several of them didn’t miss a week!
I recently interviewed three of the women. I started by asking them, “Why did you come out for this extra-curricular? It didn’t get you academic credit.” I loved their reasons.
Senior Molly Kluever (English and Theology majors) responded, “I wasn’t big into card games even though I’m from Wisconsin (i.e. Sheep’s Head territory). But, Scott’s passion for the game just jumped off the page. He was quite the salesman!” She kept Scott Richardson’s original email. I especially loved these phrases, “Colleges used to be full of bridge players who endangered their graduations by getting hooked on this opiate-like game...” and “Bridge (uses) a strong dose of codes …, both giving your partner information and deceiving the opponents. It’s a good game for spies!”
Who could resist those enticements?
Junior Olivia Engling (Peace Studies and Psychology majors), said: “My grandmother has her list of Five Wishes she would do if she could start her life over. I have been systematically checking them off. One was to learn to play bridge, so when this opportunity was offered, I jumped!”
Senior Molly Mendel (Biology and Accounting majors), said: “My Grandpa is my best friend, and he plays a lot of cards. I wanted to learn to play “a card game.” Starting with Bridge has been a lot harder than I thought. You can never learn enough about this game - and I like that! I had three classes back to back on Tuesdays prior to Bridge, and I have only missed one week.”
While some students were playing their first-ever trick-taking card game, others had played games such as euchre and hearts. None had played bridge before. And as these interviewees said, “This game is unique in the amount of strategy and thought involved.”
Q: How did you experience the game at first, and how has that opinion changed?
All three said they initially felt “super-overwhelmed!” Molly M said, “I remember thinking there is no way I will be able to remember all these rules.” Olivia chimed in, “I decided to just pretend to know what I was doing.” For weeks, she says she was so scared of making a mistake, but when she just let go and played, she couldn’t believe that several hours flew by. She remembers thinking with pride, “I can actually do this!” Molly K summed it up: “Bridge has gone from terrifying to fun!”
I asked if they have now played with anyone outside of their group. Olivia played with three male co-workers. “That was so out of my comfort zone. But, bridge gave me a common language with them, and the night turned out great.” They told of another Club member player who has been playing online with random people. That member recently said, “I must be getting better… my partners aren’t getting mad at me as often!”
Q: “What has been the most fun or frustrating aspect?”
Molly M responded with something I’m sure we all have felt: “It’s fun to learn so much, and frustrating to realize that the very next thing I learn new, I forget something else!”
All three have loved it. As one said, “I met people I wouldn’t have otherwise known and, together we learned a game we had never played.” They now share insider language, such as “that’s a real Molly hand!” Molly K said, “We like to talk smack to each other. But Scott says that Bridge is a very Polite game, with Decorum!” She laughed, “I’m not sure we’d fit in!”
Q: “What would you like to say to Professors Scott Richardson and Jim Schnepf?”
And, they appreciated how Scott and Jim taught them. They said their learning progressed as follows: 1) Receiving a few lessons, 2) Playing pre-dealt hands, with lessons embedded, 3) Playing random-dealt hands, with prompts, 4) Independent play, with mentoring, and finally 5) Independent play, with debriefs. Olivia said, “I liked that it wasn’t just another lecture. You wanted us to play and have fun, knowing the learning would happen along the way.” They also said that they appreciated that the scoring came last. As one said, “I didn’t know I just messed up 620 points, so I didn’t get bummed out!”
Q: “What would you like to say to the readers of MN Bridge Blog?”
Molly K: “Now that I love this game, I am disappointed that I can’t find partners near my age. So I would plead with the MN Bridge Blog audience: If each of you could just teach one younger person to play – with special patience for someone who has no experience with cards, I would have potential Bridge partners to look forward to.”
Olivia: “I second that. When I decided to tackle my Grandma’s Wish List, I looked up bridge clubs in several Cities I lived, including Chicago. As a student, it was impossible. All the bridge lessons were during the day, most games were during the day, and none were held on college campuses. I would really like to keep playing, but we need more flexible times/places.”
Q: “What would you would say to other college students about Bridge?”
Molly M said, “I’d just say “Do It!” Olivia said that when her grandfather would play, he would play bridge around the clock. Sometimes he would go to bed, and rejoin a game in the morning. “I used to think, ‘Don’t you have anything better to do?’ Now, I get it! This game bonds people together. With a common language, you work together to defeat your opponents.” They suggested that Scott and Jim not limit Bridge Club to only Honors students, but open it up to any student who is “willing to learn a complicated, fun strategy game.”
I came away from the interview thinking that Scott and Jim have created some new Bridge ambassadors! This was a first-time endeavor on their parts, and they’ve already had a multiplier effect: one of the seven has taught her three siblings how to play. Another has “informed” her brother that he must join the Bridge Club when he enters SJU fall semester.
Last, remember how I started this article with the abrupt campus closure? Well, it didn’t end so abruptly for these seven. Jim created a weekly virtual game for them. He can watch all four hands being played and respond to questions during or after the play. So, during the last five weeks of being safer at home, these women have continued to meet every Tuesday afternoon to play bridge.
Molly K said that in some respects playing online together has made her a better player. “I can’t hold my hand up and ask, “What would you do?” Another agreed: “While the “community feeling” is absent, I think my bridge is getting better. I know I’m using my cheat sheet less and less!” Olivia laughed, “Yeah. I’ve progressed from “Not knowing anything” to “Knowing how much I don’t know!” This is usually called being in the Valley of Despair, but you know what? “I’m really excited to be here!”
Postscript: I asked Molly M. if she had played with her Grandpa as a partner yet. She said she hadn’t felt ready. But I had a hunch that she just might go ask him after getting off the call!
If any Club would like to see the full text of Scott Richardson’s letter, please let me know!