Sunshine Bridge News 22 Dealer: South E-W Vulnerable ♠ K J 9 8 ♥ J 10 9 2 ♦ A K J ♣ J 7 ♠ 5 ♠ 4 3 2 ♥ K Q 3 ♥ 7 6 5 ♦ 10 9 4 ♦ 8 7 6 5 ♣ A K Q 4 3 2 ♣ 10 9 8 ♠ A Q 10 7 6 ♥ A 8 4 ♦ Q 3 2 ♣ 6 5 West North East South 1♠ 2 ♣ 3♣ Pass 3♠ Pass 4♠ All Pass Contract: 4♠ by South Opening Lead: A♣ BIDDING COMMENTARY: North’s cuebid of 3♣ shows a limit raise or beer in spades. Partner assumes a limit raise and bids 3♠, saying that facing a limit raise he does not wish to be in game. Holding more than a limit raise, North bids game. An initial leap to 4♠ by North would have been preemptive, and the partnership might miss a slam, which is why North did not bid 4♠ directly. In effect, the cuebid could be the beginning of a slam try in spades. DEFENSE COMMENTARY: After cashing two clubs, West should exit safely with the 10♦, hopefully awaiting two heart tricks. PLAY COMMENTARY: Win the diamond shift in either hand, draw trump, strip the diamonds ending in dummy, then run the J♥. West wins but is endplayed. A heart return costs West a heart trick, while a club lead allows declarer to ruff in dummy while discarding a losing heart. THE BOTTOM LINE: After an intervening overcall, a cuebid by the responder shows limit raise values or beer along with three or more cards in support of partner’s suit. The cuebid immediately sets the trump suit. While the cuebid may be made with a slam- going hand, the opener initially assumes that partner holds only limit raise values until shown otherwise. Dealer: West Vul: Both ♠ K 6 5 4 ♥ K 9 ♦ K 7 6 ♣ A 9 7 6 ♠ A 10 9 7 ♠ 2 ♥ A J 10 8 2 ♥ 6 5 ♦ 5 ♦ Q J 10 9 8 4 2 ♣ K J 10 ♣ 8 4 3 ♠ Q J 8 3 ♥ Q 7 4 3 ♦ A 3 ♣ Q 5 2 West North East South 1♥ Dbl 3♦ 4♠ All Pass Contract: 4♠ by South Opening Lead: 5♦ BIDDING COMMENTARY: After his partner’s opening bid is doubled, East’s jump to 3♦ shows fewer than six high-card points coupled with a large potential source of tricks in diamonds. East’s primary intent Competitive Bidding by Michael Donnelly [email protected]Please see page 24
West North East South 1♠ 2 ♣ 3♣ Pass 3♠ Pass 4♠ All Pass Contract: 4♠ by South Opening Lead: A♣
BIDDING COMMENTARY: North’s cuebid of 3♣ shows a limit raise or better in spades. Partner assumes a limit raise and bids 3♠, saying that facing a limit raise he does not wish to be in game. Holding more than a limit raise, North bids game. An initial leap to 4♠ by North would have been preemptive, and the partnership might miss a slam, which is why North did not bid 4♠ directly. In effect, the cuebid could be the beginning of a slam try in spades. DEFENSE COMMENTARY: After cashing two clubs, West should exit safely with the 10♦, hopefully awaiting two heart tricks.PLAY COMMENTARY: Win the diamond shift in either hand, draw trump, strip the diamonds ending in dummy, then run the J♥. West wins but is endplayed. A heart
return costs West a heart trick, while a club lead allows declarer to ruff in dummy while discarding a losing heart. THE BOTTOM LINE: After an intervening overcall, a cuebid by the responder shows limit raise values or better along with three or more cards in support of partner’s suit. The cuebid immediately sets the trump suit. While the cuebid may be made with a slam-going hand, the opener initially assumes that partner holds only limit raise values until shown otherwise.
West North East South 1♥ Dbl 3♦ 4♠ All Pass Contract: 4♠ by South Opening Lead: 5♦
BIDDING COMMENTARY: After his partner’s opening bid is doubled, East’s jump to 3♦ shows fewer than six high-card points coupled with a large potential source of tricks in diamonds. East’s primary intent
Lynn Berg has been an ACBL member for over 50 years, a club director for 40 and a tournament director for over 10. She’s also done quite a bit of directing on cruise ships and is a teacher trainer for ACBL and for EasyBridge. Lynn says: “I am of the firm opinion that we can adhere to the rules, be completely ethical and still have a great time (and even win!). Civility and good humor go a long way at the table.”
The bidding so far:
East South West North 1♥ 2♣ 1NT
North: “That’s insufficient.” West: “We’ll, I’ll just make it sufficient.” South: “No, let’s call the Director—my partner has some options.” East: “You can’t say that! You’re telling your partner what to do. Besides, it’s not your turn to bid!” West: [Finally!] “Director, please!”
By the time the Director gets to the table, tempers have flared and a lot of ill-will has been generated. First, saying that a bid is insufficient is not saying whether or not it will be accepted; it’s just acknowledging that there’s been a problem. At that point, someone should have called the Director. Second, South was not out of line in pointing out that his partner had options, though he would have been better just to call the Director instead of just saying that the call should be made. Once a problem has been identified, anyone may call. That includes the dummy during the play of the hand. Third, West did not have the option of making the bid sufficient unless he could convince the Director that he had intended to bid 2NT all along and that he’d just physically pulled the wrong bidding card. Now, if he had 10-12 HCP and the KJx of clubs,
I would accept that argument. However, just glibly claiming a “mechanical” error won’t work if the hand doesn’t justify it. Fourth, North has to be offered the option of accepting 1NT if the error was mental rather than mechanical. This would give him the chance to bid at the two level, so he might welcome the opportunity. But if the error was mechanical, it wasn’t a true insufficient bid and the next bidder has no options; the error is just corrected without penalty. Fifth, if North does not accept the insufficient bid, now the Director would have to find out whether or not 1NT is forcing in the E-W agreement. If it is, then making the bid sufficient with 2NT would have a substantially different meaning. That’s when this ruling becomes hard to understand for many players. What if the auction had been 1NT—2D—2C. Now 3C would have essentially the same significance in the auction—a good hand with a club suit. That’s clearly natural, where the forcing 1NT and the free bid of 2NT have very different meanings. When the meaning would be the same, the corrected sufficient bid allows the auction to go on as if none of this had happened. When the meaning is different, the partner will be barred for the remainder of the auction. Why? Because otherwise he will have had the advantage of getting two pieces of information from his partner in one round of bidding—a truly unfair advantage. When the insufficient bid is in a suit and the bidder who erred decides not to bid
Please see page 24
Sunshine Bridge News24
Apparently folks like to bid more than was formerly the case, judging from the hands that get opened these days. Long gone is the old Goren standard of thirteen high card points with 2 1/2 quick tricks, replaced by any random eleven. Sorry, but even I don’t consider QJ, J9652, KJ,QJ85 to be worth an opening bid. That said, there are certain minimums that I would regard as being mandatory opening bids. Those are hands that are light on high cards but heavy on distribution. The basic criterion I use, often referred to as “The Rule of Twenty” is this: Take the number of cards in your two longest suits. Add the number of high cards (Ace =4, King = 3, etc) If the sum adds up to twenty, open the bidding. You may or may not wish to
impose restrictions concerning defensive or quick tricks - I like to have at least one quick trick (A or KQ) Hands such as the following then equate to opening one bids
1) AJ7654, KQ76, 4, 75 - open 1♠2) QT75, 7, AT8753, A - open 1♦3) –, –, A87642, AT98762 - open 1♦ or 1♣4) KQ874, KQ942, 43, 7 - open 1♠
Having opened the bidding, be sure to follow through on your rebids and hand evaluation. Any of the above hands are good hands, but possession of a five card or longer major is golden. If I received a limit raise (promising four card trump support) on hands one or four above I would bid game.
is not so much to buy the contract as it is designed to obstruct the opponent’s communication, forcing them to guess at a higher level. Holding extra values, along with four card spade support, South guesses wrong by jumping to game, instead of bidding a more conservative 3♠. For East, it all amounts to mission accomplished. DEFENSE COMMENTARY: After leading his singleton diamond, West’s primary objective is avoid being endplayed in the black suits in such a way that he provides declarer with extra tricks. The likely result will be a two trick set. PLAY COMMENTARY: After the diamond lead, declarer has too many obstacles to fulfill his contract and will be lucky to go down only one trick. THE BOTTOM LINE: Preemptive weak jumps can be truly annoying to the opponents and greatly rewarding for your partnership.
the suit at some time in the auction, there can also be a playing penalty when his side defends. Because his partner knows he was thinking of bidding the suit even though there was no legal bid, the Declarer could require or forbid the lead of that suit the first time the offender’s partner has the lead. If the insufficient bid was artificial? Then it would depend …if it promises a specific suit(as a transfer bid does, for instance), the penalty would be for the suit promised. If it’s an insufficient forcing NT when no particular suit is indicated, the Declarer gets to pick the suit he’d like to ban or require. Sound complicated? You bet. That’s why we have Directors who are supposed to remember the rules and apply them correctly. Rather than trying to remember or guessing, just call the Director. It will save time and be fair to everyone at the table.
BergDonnelly
July/August 2015 25
NOTICEFrom the ACBL Handbookof Rules and Regulations
When a sectional (excluding STaCs) or higher rated event is being conducted within 25 miles of a club game’s playing site, the club is permitted to hold only its regularly scheduled club masterpoint games (i.e., no special games).
Tournament AttendeesPlease summon a director should you encounter a deck of cards which is very far past its prime. Every once in a while we miss replacing a really icky deck, but we are happy to do it if we know about it at the time. Please also call about bidding box cards which need to be replaced.
I learned about duplicate Bridge while I was in my second year at the University of Miami Law School, it was 1978. When a professor decided to hand out his lecture notes at the door, then read them back to us without taking questions, someone asked me if I knew how to play Bridge. It turned out that knowing Blackwood and Stayman were good enough credentials to head across the street and try a game. I had never seen 24 tables of Bridge in play. During that game we had a hand that started with my partner opening 1♠, I responded 2♠ and heard 4NT from my partner. I knew I was to show my aces and responded 5♣ because I did not have any. Then I heard my partner bid 5♦. I had no idea what to do, but reasoned that I had already shown my Spade fit and that I possess no Aces, so I bid 5♥ because I held the ♥K. This was enough for my partner to bid 6♠ and achieve a top score. The comment I got for my 5♥ bid was: “You have potential.” I was hooked into Bridge that first game. The first goal was to become a Life Master. Since I was going to Law School, clerking for a Circuit Court judge, married, running a household and the mother of a small child, I had many responsibilities that were higher on the priority chart. It took me until 1981 to achieve that goal. The ACBL added new goals, the highest rank being Grand Life Master. It was my goal. Getting to 10,000 Master Points was achievable and the escalating number of points awarded at every level of play seemed to make it more so. The second requirement of winning a National event with an unlimited Master Point requirement was more elusive. I began the pursuit. During this journey I came in 2nd four times. Three of those 4 having the highest score in the finals, but losing the top prize on carryover.
My Journey toGrand Life Masterby Bernace DeYoung
During this decades long journey I lost my home in Hurricane Andrew and was a homeless person for about six months. I broke my leg two times, both of which required hospitalization and about a year of recovery time, denying me the ability to travel to tournaments. I also advanced into the condition of Post Polio Syndrome which has moved me from mobility on braces and crutches, to a wheelchair. Now, after winning the NABC Women’s Pairs in Providence, RI, I am a GRAND LIFE MASTER. I cannot stop smiling. It is a lifetime highlight and a complete delight. I am proud that I achieved that goal. I am also proud that I was able to hang in there through catastrophic difficulties. What a wonderful thing to be able to compete at this great game throughout a lifetime and with a major disability. I am filled with joy.
Sunshine Bridge News26
The Common GameCongratulations to OurApril & May Winners!
APRIL WINNERSOpen Game - Most Points earned:
William Kulbersh - Bridge Club of Atlanta299er Game - Most Points earned:
Shelly Costello - Abbie & Jans Bridge Studio Victor Costello - Abbie & Jans Bridge Studio
Most Top Twenty Finishes Open: Gavin Wolpert - Saint Catherine DBC
Most Top Twenty Finishes 299er: Shelly Costello - Abbie & Jans Bridge StudioVictor Costello - Abbie & Jans Bridge Studio
Attendance - Most Plays:Lillian Gordon - Bridge Center of Long Island
MAY WINNERSOpen Game - Most Points earned:Melih Ozdil - Cavendish BC (NY)299er Game - Most Points earned:
Matti Schlang - The Bridge Deck (NY)Most Top Twenty Finishes Open:
Kay Schulle - The Hartes Club (NY)Shelly Salvi - Pompano Beach DBC
Most Top Twenty Finishes 299er:Beth Castleberry - Valley View BC (TX)
Attendance - Most Plays:Leonard Lederman - Jourdans
What is TheCommon Game?
The Common Game is a service offered through local
clubs that provides bridge players the opportunity to compare their results with
players at other clubs, playing the same hands, in Florida
and across the country.*
What does it offer toclubs and players?
• Players can compare theirresults with players in Florida
and across the country.• Pro analysis of many of the
interesting hands played• Individual play analysis (ifyour club uses Bridgemates/
BridgePads)• Prizes awarded monthly,
quarterly, and annually for both performance and
attendance.• New Contests coming soon.
How can youparticipate in theCommon Game?
Enrolling in the Common Game is simple! Ask your club manager to contact us at 941-
*Participation in the Common Game does not affect a
player’s score or masterpoint award at the local club. The
ACBL masterpoints continue to be scored and reported as always Common Game
awards are based on match-pointed results across the
larger field.
July/August 2015 27
TWO WAYS TO EARN A TRIP TO AN NABC The Grand National Teams is one of two “grass roots” events held ACBL-wide, with club-qualifying starting the ball rolling. Team qualifying lasts for seven months, September through March. You don’t have to play with your full team to qualify together, but you do have to be a District 9 member to qualify to play in our finals, with rules set by ACBL. After you put together your team of qualified players, you play vs. other players in your flight at the District 9 Finals, to be held April 30 and May 1st next year, to earn the right to represent your district in the finals of the event. The GNT Finals, where our team plays vs. teams from the other 24 districts, are held every year at the summer NABCs, which will take place in Washington, DC, in 2016. Email the district coordinator, Shirley Seals, [email protected], for any questions about club qualifying or the district finals.
MOVING RIGHT ALONG! HAVE YOU QUALIFIED FOR THE NORTH AMERICAN
PAIRS??? The other grass roots event is the North American Pairs, where again you play in qualifying games at your local club to earn the right to compete in the district finals. There are three months of qualifying games for the NAPs, June, July and August, so you have well over half of the qualifying games still in front of you. Our district finals for that event will be held October 24th and 25th. Flights B and C will be determined in a split-site finals, so you can play at either the St. Petersburg Bridge Club in Pinellas Park or the Mandel JCC Bridge Club in Palm Beach Gardens. You can play with any other qualified partner, again both having qualified and satisfying the membership requirement in District 9. The Flight A finals will be held only at the St. Petersburg BC. Flight C is for players who are not Life Masters and have under 500 masterpoints, Flight B players can have up to 2500 masterpoints, and Flight A is open to all players. Your masterpoint holding is determined by the May 6th running of the masterpoint totals, so you have already received your point count on your June ACBL Bulletin. While you’re qualifying, games pay half black/half red and are sectionally rated. The district finals of A and B pay gold for section tops and overalls; flight C is 25% gold for overalls; all remaining awards are red. You can go to http://bridgefinesse.com/NAP/ to see a complete list of qualified players for the district finals October 24-25. Remember we are District 9. As of June 3rd (three days into the three-month qualifying period), 388 players had already been recognized as having qualified in District 9!
Sunshine Bridge News28
NOW FOURTEEN FLORIDA CLUBSARE IN ACBL’S TOP FIFTY!!!
You may recall that there were 13 Florida bridge clubs in the top 50 ACBL clubs in 2013 by table count. In 2014, that number went up to 14 clubs, and District 9 is pleased to congratulate them all and showcase them here. By the time you read this, you will probably have read an article about clubs’ table count in the June ACBL Bulletin, but we’ll give you this great news. Ten of the clubs on the list from 2013 increased their table count from 2013 to 2014, some of them significantly. Four clubs increased their table counts by over 10% from 2013 to 2014. Very impressive. The Villages! Jourdan’s! Bonita Bridge @ Wiggins! Fort Lauderdale Bridge Club! Keep it up. Imagine all those players, busily exercising their brains and winning plenty of masterpoints. Special congratulations to Mandel JCC Bridge Club in Palm Beach Gardens and St. Catherine Duplicate Bridge Club in West Palm Beach, both appearing for the first time. These are two of the newer clubs in District 9 and no doubt their table counts increased significantly from ‘13 to ‘14. Five of these 14 clubs are in Palm Beach County, three are in Broward County, and the rest are in areas around the state well known for their large numbers of retirees.
Jourdan’s BC Delray Beach 14,246 1/2
The In-Between DBC Sarasota 13,765
Vero Beach Bridge Center Vero Beach 10,803 1/2
The Villages DBC The Villages 10,149 1/2
Boca Raton DBC Boca Raton 9,902 1/2
Fort Lauderdale BC Fort Lauderdale 9,714
Naples Bridge Center, Inc Naples 9,377 1/2
Bonita Bridge @ Wiggins Naples 8,617
McGregor Point BC Fort Myers 7,877
Mandel JCC BC Palm Beach Gdns 6,138 1/2
Pompano Beach DBC Pompano Beach 5,957 1/2
St. Catherine DBC West Palm Beach 5,952
Hollywood Bridge Club Hollywood 5,869 1/2
WIN “The Bridge Club” Boca Raton 5,847 1/2
July/August 2015 29
BUT WAIT, THERE’S MORE... David Reiter of the Hollywood Bridge Club takes special pride in his club’s table count, because they have fewer sanctioned games than some of the larger clubs. David reports this from his research. “Here is my annual revised list of the top clubs in the country based on tables per sanction rather than total tables.” In the top ten clubs when computing tables per sanctioned session, David reports that seven of the top ten across all of ACBL are in Florida.
Boca Raton DBC (6 sessions) 9902 tables 1650 per session Jourdan’s (12 sessions) 14246 tables 1187 per session St. Catherines (6 sessions) 5952 tables 992 per session In-Between Club (14 sessions) 13765 tables 983 per session Hollywood Bridge (6 sessions) 5869 tables 978 per session Bonita Bridge (9 sessions) 8617 tables 957 per session WIN (6/7 sessions) 5847 tables 836/974 session
WE ARE SO EXCITED!Thirty two young people will be going to the Youth NABC in Chicago on August 6, 7, and 8. They come from eight different counties in Florida. This is the largest group District 9 has ever hosted. We are unique across the country and have so much to be proud of. Giving each of these young people $500.00 to help with expenses has helped encourage Bridge among the next generation. Thanks to all who have contributed to the Foundation*. If you will be in Chicago, stop by and watch these kids in action!
*Community Foundation of the Florida Keys: go to CFFK.org; click on Donate Now; click on Donate to a Fund Today; click on Florida Junior Bridge Scholarship Fund; click on Donate.
FEEDBACK FROM SURVEYSSeveral months ago, we asked you to prioritize your reading preferences. There wasn’t much consistency, with everything appealing to some of you but no clear favorites emerging. We’ll continue to strive to give you a little of everything, so hopefully you’ll find something that entertains or educates you, in every issue.
The big survey from the May/June SBN is being compiled as we go to press.
CORRECTIONAfter we went to press last time, the 2014 Helen Shanbrom Ace of Clubs race in the 2500-5000 category changed. Here, with our congratulations, are the Top Five in District 9.
1 T.J.Fitzsimmons Davie 345.74 2 Robert Ramos Fort Lauderdale 319.10 3 Ronald Weissberg Fort Lauderdale 279.23 4 Francine Feldman Boca Raton 276.94 5 Maxine Oleshansky Aventura 266.02
Sunshine Bridge News30
Which EventShould I Enter?by Harry Falk
Before Lynn Berg wrote the Director’s Corner, it was Harry Falk’s job. Here’s a good one from many years ago, adjusted for recent
changes.
Experienced tournament goers might find my subject a bit boring this month, but since many players only come to an occasional tournament or are new to the tournament trail, it’s time to offer a little guide on types of tournaments and the events. So here we go:
Types of Tournaments REGIONALS
Regionals in Florida are seven-day tournaments, usually held at a hotel or convention center. Regionals offer opportunities to win both gold and red points. Gold points may be won in events which are at least 2 sessions long. There is a wide variety of events offered at regionals, including pair games, Knockout teams, and Swiss teams. Regionals are sponsored in Florida by the member units across the state, plus one tournament that is specifically the District 9 Regional, currently in Tampa and shared with Unit 128.
SECTIONALS Sectionals in Florida are usually 3-4 day tournaments held in a local area. While units are granted sectionals by the ACBL, many of the sectional tournaments are conducted by local clubs as permitted by the units. Sectionals offer silver points. Because of the shorter duration and smaller size of these tournaments, there usually are fewer events offered.
SECTIONAL TOURNAMENTS AT CLUBS (STaCS)
STaCS offer club players the opportunity to win silver points in the
comfort of their own clubs by having their scores compared with players throughout their own units and throughout the district once each year.
Types of Events OPEN EVENTS
Open events offer the opportunity to any player to compete, regardless of skill level or age.
MASTERPOINT RESTRICTED EVENTS These events usually place an upper masterpoint limit for those competing. For instance, a common event is the “299’er pairs”, an event in which no player has more than 300 masterpoints. A newer masterpoint restricted event is the extremely popular Gold Rush Pairs. In Florida, they’re often called the Florida Gold Pairs. The upper masterpoint limit to enter these events is 750, and the top strat wins some gold for a section top and for overalls. You can enter this game as long as neither you nor your partner has over 750 masterpoints, on the latest masterpoint “run” at ACBL, generally done on the 6th of each month. Even if you have very few points, you could win some gold if you do so well as to beat out all the players even in the top strat.
RESTRICTED EVENTS These events require that players must be a certain age in order to compete. Senior events are restricted to players over the age of 60, per a recent change. However, younger players have been grandfathered in, so you are eligible to play in senior events now if you were born before January 1, 1959.There are also junior events, which require participants to be under a certain age.
FLIGHTED EVENTS In a flighted event, players within a
July/August 2015 31
certain masterpoint range play against only other players in their peer group. The North American Pairs is a flighted event, with three distinct flights, the Open Flight, the Under 2500 Flight, and the Under 500 NLM Flight.
STRATIFIED EVENTS In a stratified event, players play against each other in the same game but are ranked within their own peer groups. For example, a game may be divided into three strata, with the “A” group with unlimited masterpoints, “B” players under 2000, and “C” players under 750. For ranking purposes, only “C” players may place in their own stratum, “B” or “C” players can place in the “B” field, and any player may place in the “A” field. This is just one example of possible stratifications. Be sure to check the tournament flyer for the strats planned for that tournament. Masterpoint averaging is often used, but both players must fit under the upper limit of the event. If in doubt, ask a tournament director or the tournament chairperson.
STRATI-FLIGHTED EVENTS Strati-flighted events are a blend of flighted and stratified events. For instance, players may play in an open field with two strata, the first with no masterpoint restrictions, and the other with players under 3000 masterpoints. Then, there is a second flight, with all players under 2000 or 2500 but broken into three strata, above 1000, 500-1000, and under 500. This is just one example of possible stratifications. Be sure to check the tournament flyer for the strats planned for that tournament. Masterpoint averaging is often used, but both players must fit under the upper limit of the event. If in doubt, ask a tournament director or the tournament chairperson.
BRACKETED EVENTS Bracketed events have no predetermined masterpoint limits (either upper or lower). Teams are ranked from top to bottom based upon the total masterpoints of all of the members of the team. The field then is broken into groups (the size of the group is determined by the
number of sessions over which the event will be conducted). The goal is to place teams into groupings with players of similar levels of skill. Of course, the size of the field often determines how similar the groupings will be. The bigger the field, the narrower the masterpoint range of each grouping. In smaller tournaments, the range of players in a field may be somewhat dissimilar.
HANDICAPPED EVENTS Bracketed events that are expected to be small are sometimes handicapped in an effort to make the field a little more level. Handicaps are determined by a complex mathematical formula based upon the average masterpoints of the competing teams and the number of boards being played.
IF YOU RUN A SECTIONAL!
All changes to sanctioned sectionals require approval from the District 9 Tournament Committee as well as our District Coordinator, Patty Johnson.
If you change anything, whether it be your dates or the type of sectional or the location, or if you decide to cancel an already-sanctioned tournament, please let Patty Johnson know immediately by emailing her at [email protected]. Information should also be sent to Shirley Seals, Chair of the Tournament Committee, at [email protected].
ATTENTION DISTRICT 9
PLAYERSIf you serve on an Appeals
Committee at any District 9 Regional, you will get scrip for a free play, good for one year from the date you serve
on the committee.
Sunshine Bridge News32
JULYJul 1-31
NAP Club QualifyingJun 29-Jul 5
JACKSONVILLE REGIONAL
Jul 10-12 Daytona 299er
SectionalJul 17-19
Pensacola SectionalJul 24-26
Orlando SectionalJul 31-Aug 2
Ft. Myers SectionalAUGUST
Jul 31-Aug 2 Ft. Myers Sectional
Aug 1-31NAP Club
Qualifying Aug 8-9
Deland 299ersAug 6-16
CHICAGO NABCAug 13-16
St. Petersburg 499ers Sectional
Aug 17-23 District 9 STAC
Aug 27-29 Palm Coast Sectional
SEPTEMBERSep 1-30
GNT Club Qualifying
Sep 1-30Club International
Fund Games
Sep 3-7Ft. Lauderdale
0-500 SectionalSep 4-7 St
Petersburg Sectional Sep 5- 7
Melbourne SectionalSep 8-12
Jourdans NLM SectionalSep 17-20
Daytona Sectional Sep 18-20
Win Inc SectionalSep 18-20
Venice SectionalSep 25-27
The Villages299er Sectional
Sep 28-Oct 4NAPLES
REGIONALOCTOBER
Sep 28-Oct 4NAPLES
REGIONAL Oct 1-31
GNT Club Qualifying
Oct 1-31Jane Johnson Club
Appreciation GamesOct 8-10
Citrus Bridge SectionalOct 9-11
Ft Walton Beach SectionalOct 9-11
Vero Beach Sectional
Oct 10-11Sarasota
499er SectionalOct 13-17
Jourdans NLM Sectional
Oct 16Instant Matchpoint
GameOct 16-18
Jacksonville SectionalOct 16-18
McGregor Point NLM Sectional
Oct 18-20 Miami Sectional
Oct 23-25NAP Finals +
SectionalOct 26-Nov 1
U243, 102, 219 STaCNOVEMBER
Nov 1-30GNT Club
QualifyingNov 2-8
DAYTONA BEACH REGIONAL
Nov 8-12Boca Raton
NLM SectionalNov 13-15
Palm Beach Gardens SectionalNov 13-15
Pensacola SectionalNov 13-15
Ft. Myers SectionalNov 14-15
Deland 299er Sectional
Nov 19E-22Sarasota Sectional
Nov 20-21 Palm Coast
299er SectionalNov 20-22OrlandoSectionalNov 21-22
Khatib NLM Sectional
Nov 26-Dec 6 DENVER NABC
Nov 27-29 Clearwater Sectional
Nov 30ACBL-wide
Charity GameNov 30-Dec 6
U102, 219, 240, 243 STaC
DECEMBERNov 26-Dec 6
DENVER NABC Nov 30-Dec 6
U102, 219, 240, 243 STaC
Dec 1-31GNT Club
QualifyingDec 3-6
Pinellas Park499ers Sectional
Dec 4-5Naples 299er
SectionalDec 4-6
St. Augustine SectionalDec 7-13
Unit 128 STaC
District Nine
July/August 2015 33
Dec 11-13Vero Beach Sectional
Dec 14-20 FT. LAUDERDALE
REGIONALDec 21
ACBL-wide International Fund
Game #3JANUARY
Jan 1-31GNT Club
QualifyingJan 1-31
Junior Fund GamesJan 4-10
ORLANDO REGIONAL
Jan 14-17 Daytona Sectional
Jan 15-17Lake Park Sectional
Jan 14E-17 St. Petersburg
Bridge Club SectionalJan 21E-24
Sarasota SectionalJan 22-24
North Palm Beach Sectional
Jan 22-24 Ft Walton Beach
SectionalJan 25-31
U240, 102, 243, 219 STaCJan 29-31
Margret Bridge Club Sectional
FEBRUARYFeb 1-29
GNT Club Qualifying
Feb 5-7 Ft. Lauderdale
SectionalFeb 5-7
Jacksonville Sectional
Feb 5-7 Winter Haven SR/
NLM SectionalFeb 5-7
McGregor Point 499er Sectional
Feb 6ACBL-Wide Int Fund Game #1
Feb 8-14 Unit 128 STaC
Feb 12-14 Vero Beach SectionalFeb 15-21
SARASOTA-MANATEE REGIONALFeb 26-28
Sun City Center SectionalFeb 26-28
Orlando SectionalFeb 26-28
Tallahassee Sectional
Feb 29 ACBL Wide Seniors
GameMARCHMar 1-31
GNT Club Qualifying
Mar 3-5GainesvilleScetionalMar 4-6
RockledgeSectionalMar 4-6
Khatib Sectional Mar 4-6
BradentonSr/NLM Sectional
Mar 10-12Palm CoastSectionalMar 10-20
RENO NABCMar 11-13Ft.MyersSectionalMar 7-13
U102, 219, 240, 243STaC
Mar 18-20PensacolaSectionalMar 18-20
St. AugustineSectional
Mar 17E-20Venice Sectional
Mar 28-Apr 3 SOUTHEASTERNS
REGIONALAPRIL
Mar 28-Apr 3 SOUTHEASTERNS
REGIONALApr 1-30
Charity Club Championship
GamesApr 8-10
Ocala Sectional
Apr 8-10Bridge Deck Sr/NLM
SectionalApr 22-24
Spring HillSectionalApr 22-24
Vero BeachSectionalApr 22-24
McGregor Point 199er SectionalApr 29 - May 1GNT Finals &
I am happy to report that our Pro-Am Charity Pairs Event was a huge success. We had 71 pairs participating, including a few last-minute matches. There was enough contributed wonderful food to feed an army, and a great time was had by all. A donation of $1000 was made to Tidewell Hospice.
Special thanks to Margaret Tominosky, who donated her services as Director. She also spent many hours before the game getting everything ready for the day. Thanks also to Sue & Tom Lordi, who helped tremendously with guidance on running the event.
We have just completed our Spring Sectional, and although attendance was down, probably because of the Holiday weekend and the proximity to the Tampa Regional, everyone seemed to enjoy the tournament. We had some new winners and some repeat winners, and thank you to all who participated.
Our Annual Members Luncheon at Misty Creek Country Club went well as usual, with Awards to new Life Masters and Mini –McKenney and Ace of Clubs winners. Check the website for winners of the Swiss Team Events.
The NABC in Chicago is coming up August 6 – 16. I highly recommend making plans to attend. Chicago is a great city to visit both for bridge and for so many other things to see and do. The Chicago Bridge community really knows how to run a great tournament, and I’m sure they will do it again this year. If you go, you should make an effort to stop in and observe the Youth NABC held August 6 – 8. It is really amazing to see how well and nicely these young people play our great game.
July/August 2015 35
Pine Shores Sectional Results Pine Shores Community Center hosted our Memorial Day Weekend Sectional. Richard Fleischman was presented with the Volunteer of the Year Award for 2015, in gratitude for his many years of service to Unit 102 as Liaison to Sunshine Bridge News. He also served on the Board of Directors of InterCity Bridge Club. Thank you, Dick!
Winners’ Circle included:Friday AM Open Pairs:
Terry Carrington and Richard CobinFriday AM Under 500 Pairs:
Catherine Lee and Carole DudichFriday PM Open Pairs:
Les and Gloria Bart Friday PM Under 500 Pairs:
Joe and Mary Jo ZaksasFriday-Saturday Knockouts:
Vic Lawrence, Dev Pathak, Elli Freihofer and Dennis Walsh
Saturday AM Open Pairs: Martha Marsh and Les Bart
Saturday AM Under 500 Pairs: Jan Lazar and Susan Gaynor
Saturday PM Open Pairs: Elaine and William McClure
Saturday PM Under 500 Pairs: Mona Karna and Sue Hokamp
Sunday Open Swiss Teams:Gloria Bart, Jim Russell,
Sandra Fleischman, and Larry AuerbachSunday Under 500 Swiss Teams:
Anne Runyan, David Curtis,Claudia Latona, and Joyce Leibelt
Special thanks to Tony Munson for the great photos, and for making an extra trip to the tournament site just to take some of them!
Friday AM Open Pairs: Terry Carrington and Richard Cobin
Friday AM Under 500 Pairs: Catherine Lee and Carole Dudich
Friday PM Under 500 Pairs: Joe and Mary Jo Zaksas
Friday-Saturday Knockouts: Vic Lawrence, Dev Pathak,Elli Freihofer and Dennis Walsh
Saturday AM Open Pairs: Martha Marsh and Les Bart
Sunshine Bridge News36
NEW MEMBERS INUNIT 102
We are happy to welcome these 18 new members to our unit.
Please make them feel welcome when you see them:
Richard AmesburySterling Brisbin
Alice CarltonGary Carlton
Lauren ChalenskiRichard Cooley
Jill FisherSue GerryJean Herb
Linda Carol JonesMary Kilanoski
Pamela MacFaddenJoan Mac IntireVictor OuelletteJohn Pecharich
Roxann PecharichCorrine StrandThomas Upton
Saturday PM Open Pairs: Elaine and William McClure
Sunday Open Swiss Teams: Gloria Bart, Jim Russell,Sandra Fleischman, and Larry Auerbach
CLUBS IN THE UNIT 102 AREA (see also www.Unit102.com)Bradenton Bridge Assn. and East Side DBC
Oneco Kiwanis Community Center, 1720 53rd Ave. E., Oneco, FL 34203Craig Abbott, Director – Tel: 941-358-8282 Mobile: 941-724-2029
Longboat Key BC and Merrill Bridge ClubBayfront Park Rec. Ctr. of LBK, 4052 Gulf of Mexico Dr., Longboat Key, FL 34228
Larry Auerbach, Director - Tel: 941-567-8115Club Website: www.District9acbl.org
Scroll down to District 9 Club Game Results
July/August 2015 37
Unit 102 Pro-Am A Success
Winners Patty Chiszar and Marcia Rabb Flight C Champs Mary Ruggles and Nanette Meyer
Unit 102’s first ever Pro-Am Charity Game was held on April 26 at Temple Sinai of Sarasota. Carol Hamilton coordinated the event and registered 71 pairs, some of whom had an opportunity to meet and practice in the weeks leading up to the event. The overall winners in Flight A and B, Pro Patty Chiszar and Amateur Marcia Rabb, were matched at the last minute because both their partners failed to show up! So much for practicing ahead!
Marcia was quite nervous at the start of the game, having played duplicate for only two years, and feeling very much the beginner, but Patty put her right at ease and made her relax and have fun! Leaders in Flight C were Amateur Mary Ruggles and Pro Nanette Meyer. Our Hospitality chair, Suzan Lordi, organized an amazing spread of treats contributed by many of our local players, and great fun was had by all.
Open Club Games Schedule
Day Time VenueMonday 1:00 PM In-Between DBC: Open Stratified & 0-199 7:00 PM Bradenton Bridge Assn.: Open StratifiedTuesday 1:00 PM In-Between DBC: Open Stratified & 0-499 1:00 PM InterCity Bridge Club: Open Stratified 1:00 PM Longboat Key Bridge Club: Open StratifiedWednesday 9:00 AM In-Between DBC: 0-20 Newplicate Game 1:00 PM In-Between DBC: Open Stratified & 0-199 1:00 PM Merrill Bridge Club: Open StratifiedThursday 9:00 AM In-Between DBC: Easybridge 1:00 PM In-Between DBC: Open Stratified & 0-199 1:00 PM Merrill Bridge Club: Open StratifiedFriday 1:00 PM East Side Bridge Club: Open Stratified 1:00 PM In-Between DBC: Open Stratified & 0-199Saturday 9:00 AM In-Between DBC: Easy Bridge 1:00 PM In-Between DBC: Open Stratified & 0-499 1:00 PM Longboat Key Bridge Club: Open StratifiedSunday No games scheduled
Sunshine Bridge News38
While we always strive to bring our players a superior Regional Bridge Tournament experience, the most recent Southeastern Tournament in Ft. Lauderdale did not come close to meeting expectations. As a result, we have, with the full cooperation of the hotel, cancelled future years at that property. We are looking for a new site for the Southeastern Regional. I hope to be able to report to you in the next issue that we have concluded contract negotiations to a bigger and better site. As you know, your Board has been asking for your feedback for each Regional tournament that we host. I, along with your other elected Board members look carefully at your responses. Many of you don’t realize that Unit 128 is only about 75% of the ACBL members in the State of Florida, so it does NOT host all the Regionals. Some, like the one in Manatee/ Sarasota, are hosted every other year by Unit 128 and other years by Unit 102. Some of you believe we have more control over the hotels, and what is going on in and around the hotels than we do. Most Regional sites are booked 3- 5 years before you actually sit down at the tournament site to play. Management companies change, staffs change, and unfortunately we are not able to control the quality of the hotel that we are contractually bound to offer to you as a playing site. One of the comments we frequently receive is: “ The card tables are too small.” Please understand that we have replaced most of the card tables or resurfaced others, within the last 18 months, but we cannot fit larger tables into most playing sites. This is the same reason that we sometimes are forced to turn tables at an angle for team games and knockouts. Hotels are unwilling to give or sell us additional playing space when our players don’t stay at the host hotels. We all understand that there are less expensive hotels, but none of them have meeting space that will meet the needs of a Regional Bridge Tournament. So, when possible please stay at the host hotel. It allows us to offer GOLD points to you all and the competition that keeps you coming to the bridge table. Others have complained that the cards are dirty. PLEASE, if you see a deck that you believe should be replaced, call the DIRECTOR. As a matter of policy, any cards that need replacing are replaced immediately, and all the decks are replaced routinely. Unfortunately, Bridge players make the cards dirty, so there is no way to guarantee new cards each time you sit down to play. Most of you did not like the former schedule of playing main events at 1:00 and 7:00 pm, so where possible, we have changed most of the schedules to start the main events at 10:00 AM and an afternoon session that follows, with a shorter time between sessions. Please let us know which time format your prefer. Last issue the District asked each of you and the members of each other Unit in the State of Florida (20,000 members) to fill out a survey and let your Boards know what you liked best and least about the Sunshine Bridge News and your Regional Tournaments. I believe we will have the results of that Survey in the next issue, but so far, few of you have responded, so please keep your constructive comments coming. It really helps us to bring you what you want or ultimately what you get! Bridge is Great in Unit 128, and with your help it will continue to improve. I truly hope to see you at our many outstanding Regional Tournaments.
72% Club79.37% Kari Nolletti / David Freyman Ballen Isles CC, Palm Beach Gardens78.83% Evelyn Kleinsasser / Jonathan Schuster Gatorbridge Club, Gainesville 77.84% Bill Garner / Charles Showalter The Villages DBC, The Villages77.08% Doris Berkman / Gerald Berkman Boca Raton DBC76.85% Val Covalciuc / Bill Lipton McGregor Point BC, Ft. Myers76.79% Helen Bossman / Phyllis Chase St Catherine DBC, West Palm Beach 76.67% Daniel Candee / Barry Mindes Hunters Run CC, Boynton Beach76.46% Mark Haberman / Bob Karlan Boca Raton DBC76.38% Joyce Ezrine / Nancy Hill Abie & Jan’s Bridge Studio, No. Palm Beach75.95% Rawy Shediac / Al Vaccaro Venice, DBC75.89% Arthur Loring / Alan Osofsky St Catherine DBC, West Palm Beach 75.61% Jay Moorehead / James Rhoden Palm Coast DBC75.60% Cecile Rothaus / Marilyn Silverman Boca West CC, Boca Raton75.00% Aggie Smith / Robert McAfee Timuquana DBC, Jacksonville75.00% Joellyn Drechsel / Sarah Woods Riviera DBC, Coral Gables74.77% Joan Gaaskjolen / Merle Gaaskjolen Lake County DBC, Eustis74.70% Janice Parsont / William Rosenberg Polo Club, Boca Raton74.49% Mike Grahwohl / Ed Swell Boca Raton DBC74.32% Dottie King / Bob Montgomery Timuquana DBC, Jacksonville74.03% Donna Leland / RoseMarie Stark Boca Grande DBC74.03% Helen Morton / Ronni Schneider St Andrews CC, Boca Raton73.98% Gerard Curley / John Curley Punta Gorda Isles BC, Punta Gorda73.75% Ginny Rosen / Kevin Gervase Winter Haven BC, Winter Haven73.54% Joan Schepps / Morton Karper Boca West CC, Boca Raton73.51% Caroline Roselyn / Anne Scholl Turtle Creek DBC, Tequesta73.48% Melanie Purcell / Gary Illman Jourdan’s BC, Delray Beach73.38% Martha Wirkutis / Bruce Ohmann Daytona Metropolitan BC, Daytona Beach73.30% Mark Haberman / Robert Karlan Boca West CC, Boca Raton73.21% Joe Degaetano / Bill Irvine Boca Raton DBC73.21% Clair Schoenwetter / William Bedard Pelican Bay DBC, Naples72.92% Judy Underhill / Gary Zogg RH DBC, Leesburg72.92% Ellen Kozlove / Joanne Weingold Boca Raton DBC72.92% Corey Krantz / Bruce Lang Jourdan’s BC, Delray Beach72.91% Betty Morgan / Anita Richin Plantation House BC, Ponte Vedra Beach72.79% Honey Ellis / Marilyn West Boca Raton DBC72.67% Lewis King / Al Levy Jourdan’s BC, Delray Beach72.62% Kent Carter / Jerry Schemer Bridge in the Clouds BC, Jacksonville72.50% Ginny Rosen / Kevin Gervase Winter Haven BC, Winter Haven72.40% Ruth Katz / Daniel Wilson Temple Shaarei Shalom, Boynton Beach 72.32% Bert Berkwich / Leonard Rosenbaum Boca Raton DBC72.28% Ruth Bogen / Selima Doull Jourdan’s BC, Delray Beach72.27% Alina Castells / Michael Yau Friendship Club, Miami72.22% Roberta Meyers / Karen Pekkanen The Villages DBC, The Villages72.04% Caroline Warner / Ned Rosenthal Boca Raton DBC72.02% Iris Bohan / Roz Kozminsky Grand Slam BC, Boca Raton72.02% Dottie King / Bob Montgomery Timuquana DBC, Jacksonville72.02% Beverly Kaufman / Lorraine O’Loughlin Temple Sinai, Delray Beach
All submissions must contain THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION:1. the club’s full name
2. the town in which the club is located3. the director’s name
4. the names of both partners5. an electronic link to the club results for the day of the big game
No Club Name, No Club Location, No Listing, So Sorry.No 72% games in a field smaller than six tables will be published.Please do not send us any.
Sunshine Bridge News40
UNIT NEWSCORRECTIONS
After we went to press last issue, the Helen Shanbrom Ace of Clubs race in the 2500-5000 category, and the Mini-McKenney race in the same category, changed. Congratulations to these top five finishers.
Helen Shanbrom Ace of Clubs1 Francine Feldman Boca Raton 276.942 Maxine Oleshansky Aventura 266.023 Angela Kaiser Bonita Sprg 259.784 Ann Panzer Boca Raton 257.075 Zita Lechter Sunny Isles 255.03
Mini-McKenney1 Jay Whipple III Boca Grande 806.062 Paul Street Delray Beach 722.783 David Rogers Naples 461.604 Jack Bonney Venice 451.415 Joanne Weingold Boca Raton 393.72
CLUB NEWS Two years ago, Neil Evangelista told us about a different kind of 99er, when the Boca Raton Duplicate Bridge Club honored Leone Goldsmith on her 99th birthday. They were looking forward to her 100th birthday,
and indeed, we published photos of that celebration as well. You might recall that Leone sits north and keeps the electronic scorepad. Now Neil writes to us again with news of Leone turning 101. Leone celebrated with players at the Boca Raton Duplicate Bridge Club on her birthday, which she spent engaged in one of her favorite pastimes. Club co-owner Marlene Catino reported that Leone is a regular at the club, playing usually three days a week or more. Leone has amassed nearly 1800 masterpoints. On her vacations she loves to go offshore fishing with her son Jimmy. She just got back from her most recent holiday to her hometown of New Orleans where Jimmy lives. As evidenced by the photos below, not only does she have non-bridge skills, the fish were definitely biting!
Leone Goldsmith with Marlene Catino
July/August 2015 41
The St. Petersburg Bridge Club missed its chance to have a Kentucky Derby party when it was hosting the Grand National Teams District Finals and Special Sectional. The fun had to wait until the Preakness Party.
Dottie Baxter, Terry Hubener, Pat McKittrick, Claudia Maricle, and Joanne Wharton
While we attempt to get all importrant information into each issue of the
Sunshine Bridge News, sometimes there are changes after we go to print. For the
most updated information, go to:
FloridaUnit128.org
Diane BarrsMarlene Flament
July/August 2015 43
DeLand Bridge ClubSilver Weekend
August 8-9, 2015Saturday
10 a.m.Single Session Pairs
2:15Single Session Pairs
Lunch Provided Between Sessions
Sunday10 a.m.
Single Session Pairs2:15
Single Session TeamsLunch Provided Between Sessions
STRATS: A 200-300 B 100-200 C 0-100Strats may be modified at TD’s discretion
165 Deerfoot Rd. DeLand 32720 386-734-7170Visit delandbridge.com for directions
$12 per person for ACBL members.$15 per person if not paid-up member of ACBL
St. Petersburg Bridge Club 499er TourneySilver Points!
9103 US Highway 19 North, Pinellas Park, FL 33782727-544-5040
August 13, 15, 16 2015
Thursday August 13 10:30 AM 499er Pairs 3:00 PM 499er PairsSaturday August 15 10:30 AM 499er Pairs 3:00 PM 499er PairsSunday August 16 10:30 AM 499er Swiss Teams
Strata: A=300-500 (not including Life Masters); B=100-300; C=0-100Strata may vary to accommodate the field
Free coffee, orange juice and snacks at all sessionsIf you need a hotel: La Quinta, 5000 Lake Blvd., Clearwater 727-299-9800
For more information or Partnership requestsCharles Gill: (727) 363-1136 [email protected] St. Petersburg Bridge Club is located just off I-275. From I-275, take Exit 28 and drive west on Gandy/Park about 11/4 miles to US Highway 19 N. (34th St. N.) Turn north (right) on US Highway 19 N. 9103 is 3/4 mile up US 19 on the right. In the Mainlands Plaza
