Minnesota Bridge

From Here to (Almost) Eternity!

 

Yet again - our thanks to Steve Gaynor for delivering all the news and events that are fit to print for Minnesotans!  His latest and greatest is below the line.

From Steve:  My latest schedule.  Let me know if you have any corrections.  I encourage anyone who is planning any kind of activity that includes bridge players to check out dates so they can avoid conflicts.

And from yours truly, your webmaster.  For all who celebrate, best wishes for a wonderful and meaningful Passover and Easter this weekend!

From Here To - Almost! - Eternity

 

We hope that all of our Minnesota players have been having a wonderful holiday season!  And, with the advent of our new year - 2019 - soon to be upon us, we are again grateful to Steve Gaynor.  Steve has an upcoming calendar of events in Minnesota and ones that might be attractive to our players, posted below.

If you know of an event that is not listed, please contact Steve and he will add it!

Best wishes to us all for an excellent new year, filled with loads of marvelous bridge adventures!

(Also - please note this comment just received from Mr. Almost Eternity himself, Steve G:

"I missed the sectional on September 5-7 at the Black Bear casino in Carlton, MN. Located right on I-35 just 20 miles south of Duluth."  Thanks for the addition, Steve!)

TWO Smiles!

 

 

TWO reasons to smile today!  

First, this news from Sue Jackson as to how you can help our bridge community:

AmazonSmile has donated over $100 million to charities thanks to customers shopping at smile.amazon.com.

To celebrate, AmazonSmile is donating 5% (ten times the usual amount!!) to Minnesota Bridge Education when you shop at smile.amazon.com/ch/37-1745323 through Nov 2.

AmazoSmile #StartWithaSmile  

 

And.......  another great reason to smile is the Minnesota Autumn Sectional begins tomorrow!  Head to 526 Inwood Avenue N, Oakdale, the Oak Marsh Golf Club and enjoy a great THREE days of sectional competition!

The flyer is on the left; we look forward to seeing you there with a big SMILE!

Latest Schedule - From Here to (Almost!) Eternity

 

 A big shout out and thanks to Steve Gaynor!  Yet again, Steve has supplied us with the latest and greatest news and schedule about bridge in Minnesota and the great beyond.

Check out all the events and grab the bridge passion!  Schedule posted below.

Last Chance GNT Qualifier!

WE WERE SNOWED OUT ON APRIL 15  - SO HERE IS YOUR

 

LAST CHANCE GNT QUALIFIER

MAY 2, 2018 at the TCBC

TAKE A STEP TOWARD WINNING $2000!

 

We will explain how four teams, including one Non-Life Master team, can each win $2000 and play in the National Finals in Atlanta, Georgia this summer.

Super flight = At least one team member over 6000 lifetime points

Flight A = no team member with more than 6000 lifetime points

Flight B = no team member with more than 2500 lifetime points

Flight C = Non-Life Masters no team member with more than 500 lifetime points

Superflight, A and B flights will play as a group.  Overalls are stratified.  Strata for all four flights are determined based on your MP holding that showed on your September 2017 ACBL Bulletin.

Flight C will play separately if there are 4 teams in that group and at least 4 other teams total.

 LESSON AT 6:45 PM

GAME STARTS AT 7:15 PM

 

COME WITH A FULL TEAM OF 4 OR JUST WITH YOUR PARTNER—

TEAMMATES GUARANTEED. 

$32 ENTRY FEE PER TEAM

 

THE GAME IS A SECTIONALLY RATED GRAND NATIONAL TEAM QUALIFIER.

MASTERPOINT AWARDS ARE ½ RED AND ½ BLACK.

TWIN CITY BRIDGE CENTER

6020 NICOLLET AVE

MINNEAPOLIS, MN 55419

612-861-4487

Sunday Swiss * GNT Teams * Pizza * FUN!

 

For three Sundays, starting February 18th, the Twin City Bridge Center is serving all sorts of goodies that bridge players love! Enjoy a pizza lunch, included with your team entry, GNT qualifying opportunities, black AND red points - and the opportunity to help fine charitable causes, too.

All the dates and wonderful details for these Sunday Swiss events are below. 

If you have additional questions, please contact either Steve Gaynor at: mrturk@comcast.net or Eric Hendrickson at: hendr064@umn.edu.

We look forward to seeing you for these special Sunday events!

Upcoming Schedule - From Here to Eternity (Almost!)

 

Yet again, another fine schedule, stretching ALMOST 'till the end of time, generously produced by Steve Gaynor.

Please note that we have our Winter Sectional coming up soon on January 25th in New Brighton! Check out that and the other wealth of fine bridge events and activities for our state below!

Upcoming Schedule - from Here to (Almost) Eternity!

Yet again, our thanks to Steve Gaynor for supplying us with the latest and greatest schedule of upcoming bridge events in Minnesota and beyond!

Reminder: Unit 103 Award Banquet - Mini-McKenney & Ace of Clubs - 2016

A reminder - please RSVP by April 12th for the fun and happy Unit 103 Awards Banquet!

 

 

 

Attend Unit 103's Awards Banquet and celebrate the 2016 winners

of Unit 103 Ace of Clubs and Mini- McKenney!

 

WHEN:          Saturday, April 22, 2017

                     1PM                                

 

WHERE:        St. Paul Bridge Center

                         2603 – 6^th Avenue East

                               North St. Paul, MN   55109

                       Phone:  651-490-5430

 

Congratulations to all Unit 103 players that did well in 2016!

We look forward to recognizing and celebrating their success.

 

All players are welcome to a complimentary lunch starting at 1:00.

 

 Immediately following will be the Awards presentations and a special Bridge game. 

Players who are 1^st, 2^nd, or 3^rd in their category will play free.

$6 entry for others.

 

Please join us in this fun day!  Everyone is welcome!

 

RSVP by April 12^th to 651-490-5430.  We look forward to seeing you!

From Here to Eternity

A new year for bridge - and - Steve Gaynor has provided us with a new schedule for almost all of eternity!

Our thanks to Steve for helping us know what fabulous games are lurking throughout our state - along with other events that Minnesotans would love.

From the start of 2017 and on - posted below.  Thank you, Steve!

From Here to Eternity

Not quite, but - pretty darn close!

Our thanks to Steve Gaynor for keeping Minnesota's bridge players up to date with bridge activities here and beyond!

Upcoming Schedule - from Here to (Almost) Eternity!

A new month - a new almost-forever bridge schedule from Steve Gaynor!

Thanks, Steve; enjoy, everyone!

**Please note.  Brian Weikle noticed that the Gopher Regional still shows the Ramada in Bloomington to be the site for the tournament.  It is not!

In 2017, the Gopher will be at the Sheraton West in Minnetonka.  We don't know from there to eternity - but - we will provide that info.  Thanks, Brian!

Love Bridge?

If you love our game - then you will love all these super upcoming events!

Our thanks to Diane Henson to keeping us up to date on all the bridge happenings in Minnesota!

 

Upcoming events and news 8 is Enough team game at Bridge Center of St. Paul - Feb 27  5:30pm potluck, 6pm game.  Please let Kim know if you'd like to play and she will help you find a team if you need help. Kim 651-271-3500.                                   Spring Sectional at Twin City Bridge Center Mar 4-6  See link for games and times:Spring Sectional Rochester Sectional Apr.1-3 Rochester Intl Event Center; see link for information: Rochester Sectional  Note the cutoff date for the hotel bridge rates is 3/1/16. Gopher Regional May 23-29 at Ramada MOA   Gopher Regional GNT Qualifying games run through the beginning of May 2016.  Please check with local clubs for games.  Here are some that are posted: Twin City Bridge Center:  Feb 15 at 11am  Come with a team or the director will provide teammates. Light lunch provided. If you have questions or want to register in advance, contact sjackson@smumn.edu, April 9 at 1pm Bridge Center of St. Paul: Feb 12 & 15- at 10am , Feb 21 at 5:30 Plymouth Bridge Club at Edina Sr. Center: Feb 23, March 29, April 26 at 6:30 pm, Feb. 11, Mar. 10, Mar. 24 at 7pm Minneapolis Grand Slam Club:  Edina Senior Center at 7:15pm, Feb 12 & 19- BAM Team qualifier.  Rochester:  March 30 at 12:30pm GNT finals to be held in Omaha, NE May 14-15 in conjunction with a Sectional Tournament starting on May 12th.See flyer:GNT Sectional

From Here to Eternity

A new year - 2016.  A new schedule from Steve Gaynor.  As usual, it runs almost through the end of eternity!

Lots of great bridge!  Check it out!

 

From Here to Eternity

Once again, Steve Gaynor has provided us with a schedule for bridge events in and about Minnesota for our bridge community ... stretching out almost to eternity!

Thank you, Steve - and - hope everyone has a marvelous time competing in the wealth of upcoming events!

What's Happening!

A number of Minnesotans are in New Orleans - competing in everything from top open national events, to regionals and side games. Lots of bridge for everyone - plus loads of fine dining when you're not at the bridge table.

Back in Minnesota, Steve Gaynor helps us know what is happening in our state and here and there around the bridge world!

Wherever you are - enjoy!

 

LOCAL FULL-TIME BRIDGE CENTERS:

Twin City Bridge Center, 6020 Nicollet Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55419 612-861-4487

www.Tcbridgecenter.com

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

 

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 other sanctioned duplicate games in MN.

American Contract Bridge League (ACBL):  www.acbl.org

See how bridge is administered, check masterpoints, get tournament schedules, locations of clubs, etc.

Bridgebase online: www.bridgebase.com

Watch, learn and/or play bridge online.

 

UPCOMING LOCAL EVENTS:

Apr 10 – 12     Hiawatha Valley Sectional @ Events Center in Rochester, MN

May 18 – 24     GOPHER REGIONAL @ Ramada MOA in Bloomington, MN

Jun  5 – 6      WBF Worldwide Pairs @ local clubs

Jun  8 – 14     District 14 STaC @ participating local clubs

Jun 19 – 21     Granite City Sectional @ Whitney Center in St Cloud, MN

Jul  8 – 12     Aquatennial Sectional @ TCBC in Minneapolis, MN

Sep  4 – 7      Labor Day Sectional @ Twin City Bridge Center in Mpls, MN

Sep 11 – 13     Paul Bunyan Sectional @ Black Bear Casino in Carlton, MN

Oct 30 – Nov 1  MN State Autumn Sectional @ Ramada Plaza in Minneapolis, MN

 

GOVERNANCE

 

WBF (World Bridge Federation):  Over 100 countries have national Bridge Organizations that are part of this.  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 over 166,000 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 (Minnesota State):  Encompasses about 900 members all in MN except for Minneapolis and most of its’ western suburbs (see below).

 

ACBL UNIT 178 (Viking):  Encompasses about 900 members mainly located in zip codes beginning with 553 and 554.

From Here to Eternity

 

Well - maybe not eternity....

But - if you are interested in upcoming bridge events well into the future, then you will surely want to check out Steve Gaynor's extensive list!  Great bridge activites for everyone.  Even if not quite for all eternity..

And - thanks, Steve, for organizing our schedule! 

Spring Calendar - 2015

We may see snowflakes and cold in our backyards right now. Yet, spring really is not that far away!

Diane Henson helps us to remember that - along with a cavalcade of fine bridge events to keep us both happy and busy!

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

March 2nd- ACBL wide Seniors game at local clubs:  Bridge Center of St. Paul- special time 12 noon.

Mar 11- Dorothy Hardon 90th birthday party celebration at the 11 am game at the Twin City Bridge Center

April 2- ACBL wide Charity game:  Twin City Bridge Center at 11 am

April 10-12 Hiawatha Valley Sectional- Rochester and District GNT final April 11-12      See Link    Rochester sectional  
    Friday 1pm & 6:30pm- Pair/team and IN games

    Saturday 9am Mini-swiss team and IN game, 1pm & 6:30 PM Pair/team & IN game plus GNT qualifiers

    Sunday 10 am & TBD Regionally rated session Swiss teams plus GNT finals

GNT qualifying games - check with local clubs; some dates are listed below:

  Edina Community Center (Tony Ames) : Feb 24 at 6:30pm, March 12 & 26 at 7pm, March 31 at 6:30pm

  Bridge Center of St. Paul:  Feb 22 and Mar 29 at 5:30 pm

  Mpls Grand Slam Club at Edina Community Center : Feb 20 at 7:15pm- BAM team GNT qualifiers

  Rochester Bridge Club   March 2 & 5 at 6:30pm

  GNT Finals April 11-12 in Rochester.  Flight C 2 sessions on Saturday 1pm & 6:30 pm, Other flights: 2 session qualifying on Saturday (1pm & 6:30 pm) and 2 session semi-final and final on Sunday (10 am & TBD)

What's Happening?

This!  Our thanks to Diane Henson for the head's up!

                         

Jan. 31- International Fund Game#1- Twin City Bridge Center 1PM

 Hand records and analysis provided

 

 

Feb. 1st  (Super Bowl) at Bridge Center of St. Paul

 Note that the game time has been moved to 1PM so you can get home in time to watch the Super Bowl;  snacks will be provided during the bridge game.

  

Feb. 6-8  Winter Carnival Sectional at the Bridge Center of St. Paul

 

            Friday:  10am , 2:15pm and 7:15pm, Open Pair/Team and IN Pairs(0-300)

 

         Saturday:  10am Open Pair/Team & IN pairs, 2:15pm Regionally Rated pairs (40% more MPs) and I/N pairs

 

                    7:15pm 1 session Stratified Swiss teams

 

             Sunday:    10am & TBD:Stratified Swiss (two sessions)

 

10am and 2:15pm  I/N Swiss (single sessions)

 

Free lunch daily!  See link for complete information: Winter Carnival Sectional

 

GNT qualifying games

 Check with local clubs; some dates are listed below:

 

Edina Community Center (Tony Ames) : Jan 27 at 6:30pm, Jan. 29 at 7pm, Feb 12 at 7pm, Feb 24 at 6:30pm

 

Bridge Center of St. Paul:  Feb 22 and Mar 29 at 5:30 pm

 

Mpls Grand Slam Club at Edina Community Center : Feb 13 & 20 at 7:15pm- BAM team GNT qualifiers

 

Fort Snelling Officers Club, Wed, Feb. 18th @ 6:30- for members only

   

GNT Finals April 11-12 in Rochester

 

Flight C: 2 sessions on Saturday

 

Flights A & B: 2 session qualifying on Saturday and 2 session semi-final and final on Sunday.

 

Upcoming Events

Our thanks to Diane Henson for keeping us current on bridge in Minnesota!

MN Bridge Players,                       
                                                                                                                       
Hard to believe that winter weather is here already.  The Holiday sectional in St. Paul will be here soon. Please visit the Minnesota newsletter at www.mnbridge.com often to keep up with current events, great articles, and links to other sites plus links to upcoming tournaments. 

Thanks to all of you who responded to the MN State survey.  We are in process of making changes for next year's event and are reviewing all the great feedback.

Upcoming Events 
                          

Good luck to all Minnesota players playing at the Fall NABC in Rhode Island starting at the end of this month.  Nov 27-Dec 7                                        
 

Holiday Sectional Dec 5-7 at Bridge Center of St. Paul; flyer:     Holiday Sectional 

        Friday 10 am, 2:30 pm & 7pm- Open pair/team games and separate 0-300 pair games  

        Saturday 10 am & 2:30 pm-  Open pair/team games and separate 0-300 pair games  

        Sunday- 10 am 2 session Swiss  with separate 299r section              

 

Dec 8    -14 - District 14 & 15 STAC games at participating local clubs.   

                       
GNT club games are ongoing into April 2015.  Check with local clubs for games.                                   
              
Links and information are also available at www.MNbridge.com
or www.ACBL.org
 
                       
Happy Thanksgiving

Diane Henson