By the Beer Dude
A
fter writing so many lamentations lately, I’m starting to think I’m a reincarnate Biblical scribe! March took another heavy toll on the local bridge scene, as you’ll hear from at least two of my neighbors on these pages. We lost Jo Ryan (Mar. 4, she was 87), who ran & owned games in Richmond, later El Cerrito, for 40+ years; the unit bought her out five years ago. Her son told me that services were private, per her request.I suggest to my fellow board members that we name a pair game at our Fall Sectional after her.
I also extend my sympathies to Ken White’
s family & partners; he passed away less than a week after he & I were on a committee after the Saturday evening game at our recent Sectional. Ken was one of the nicest opponents I’ve ever shared a table with; Mr. Mellow w/great sense of humor.We’
ll miss him at our BBQ Swisses & sectionals!March unit games drew four tables Mon. & 3.5 Sunday (we were up against Santa Rosa on Sunday; low turnout has killed the Monday experiment). At the Monday game, a “hi-lo” pairs where everyone played the Yellow Card, Gus Graban & Grace Uyeno won, with Ara Hammond 2nd, & Larry Lew & I 3rd (I played to fill up half a table). Sunday game saw Maureen Gravett & Neal Mazaroff daylight the field, with Vicki Chang & Don Steedman 2nd, Gale Smith & Mary Ann Thompson 3rd.
Two games this month: BBQ Swiss on the 16th (see ad in April issue/on our website); regular Strat Pairs on the 31st.
Hi/bye/up the ranks: Welcome new members Mel & Elizabeth Aden, plus transfers-in Arend Bayer from Utah & Jan Parker from Santa Rosa; nobody transferred out. Master advancers are Jannes Van T’Oever to Junior (5-20), George Cage to Club (20-50), Carrie Stoltzfus to Sectional (50-100), Jonathan Pines to NABC (200+), Prez Jim Scott to Silver (1000+), & Joanna Stansby to Grand LM (10K+; you’ll see her pic in the May ACBL Bulletin).
At the clubs, “H” & Carol Scott again were the Monday co-MP champs for March; they also had the best game (67.36%). John Begley was the Live Oak MP champ; best % games were Ara Hammond-Vi Kimoto’s 66.38% on Wednesday and Else Kiefer & Florence Siegel’s 68.64% on Fri. Great Western STAC games 4th 6th & 8th; Friday Live Oak quarterly club championship, moves up a week to the 15th.
Mark Your Calendars: Starting June 15, continuing thru August 22-24, all games move to the Madera Clubhouse; call me/see our website for directions needed.
I end on the ultra-positive; my good friend & fellow columnist Sandi Davis & I will have a helluva time topping this in 2009. I directed the 28-table game East Bay held Mar. 21 to honor Barbara Harmon. ’Twas gloomy outside, but love, peace, & happiness were in the air all afternoon inside! Barbara & partner Susie Wiebe were 1st overall; a perfect ending to a great event! After 12 rounds, they were just behind Steve Kanzee & Susie’s hubby Nick; their winning margin (just under a matchpoint) was roughly what they were behind. Super Kudos to both of you for bringing your A+ games! For the latest in B-E-R’s world, go to www.berunit497.org
By Rich Tirissini
A
t the Carson Bridge Center, Ken Grafton’s 7.41 masterpoints was the highest for March. Donna McLeod was a close second with 7.28 MPs, while Gloria Randle’s 3.28 masterpoints was good for third.Gary Nitzberg had the highest masterpoint total at the Carson Valley Bridge Club during March with 4.17 MPs. The runner-up was Ken Grafton with 3.77, while Beverly Batdorf came in third with 3.11.
Congratulations are in order to Thelma Nelson and Jony Sellers, each of whom have acquired a new great-grandbaby during this past month. And we wish speedy recoveries to John and Diane McCall, who have undergone surgery.
Game Results: A unit championship game was held at the Senior Center in Gardnerville on March 8. Results: 1A/2A, Brenda Pugsley & Marie Bresch; 1A/2A, Paul Pugsley & Gary Nitzberg; 3A, Beverly Meyer & Imogene Meyer; 4A, Ben&Donna McLeod; 5A(1B), Paul Jorgensen & Eileen Angelucci.
An ACBL charity game was held at the Carson Valley Bridge Club on March 23. Results: 1A, Ken Grafton & Nick Pchelkin; 2A, Marie Coffey & Donna McLeod; 3A(1B), Ruth Rouse & Rich Turissini.
Regular Club Games: Carson Valley Bridge Club, March 2: 11A, Gladys Turissini & Konrad Garrett; 2A, Ken Grafton & Gary Nitzberg; 3A, Beverly Batdorf & Leona Pchelkin; 4A(2B), Bruce Mitchener & Roxanne Hart; March 9: 1A, Konrad Garrett & Ken Grafton; 2A(1B), Jony Sellers & Carole Voge; 3A, Gary Nitzberg & Beverly Batdorf.
March 16: 1A, Gary Nitzberg & Kenneth Grafton; 2A/3A, Ben McLeod & Theresa Pinney; 2A/3A, Bob & Roberta Anderson; 4(1B), Ruth Rouse & Rich Turissini; March 30: 1A, Beverly Batdorf & Gary Nitzberg; 2A(1B), Theresa Pinney & Geoffrey Stokes; 3A, Aleeta Jones & Imogene Meyer; 4A(1B), Roxanne Hart & Bruce Mitchener.
By Chris Pisarra
S
ome months too much news, some months too little. Right now I’m looking for a man interested in biting a dog. I may have to go bite one of my own chickens just to fill out the column.So what is news, anyway? Plenty of places don’t have regular bridge clubs, and we can play in Rossmoon, Pleasant Hill, Discovery Bay, Orinda and Danville.
There’
s a game pretty much every day and night, and we think nothing of it. Is it news that we have so many great clubs available to us?People who play more, win more. That isn’t news. So I get kind of tired of printing all the same names again. I’d rather focus more on the newer players to the game, names I haven’t learned to spell right yet.
(Once I memorized Komstoeft & Szymczek I knew that they were playing too much.)
Here are some new names: Evan Price, Andrew Van Wye, John White, Lynn Humphrey, Randy Corr and Richard Eddy. They are the leaders in their categories for the Ace of Clubs awards. That’s the prize for winning the most points in the club each year.
Along with Andrew Fine, they are also the leaders in the Mini-McKenney races, the contest for most total points in a year. Newer players, with that thirst for knowledge and points that we all started out with. Don’
t just watch out for them, give them a hand; they are the future of the game.So what else is new? Lovely sweet ElDonna Dayton is turning 85, and her friend Joyce is throwing a surprise birthday party for her. It will all be history by the time this article is printed, but here’s my chance to sayHappy Birthday ElDonna!
Deadlines and publishing schedules are the bane of my existence. Once again, I have to write this just before the Iron Horse Sectional, and it will be published after the event. On top of that, I’ve been promoted to the Unit 499 traveling team, so it’s off to Gatlinburg for a week; which means missing the Elegant Pairs, and not having the opportunity to judge the annual Cleavage Contest. That’s the price of playing with the big boys, I guess. Of course, I’ll be thoroughly studying the photos Marvin takes of the players, and conducting careful in-depth interviews with my spies, so I’ll still have a full report on the most important subject of the sectional.
And that’s all she wrote this month. Play well in the sectional, make a date with a newer player once in a while, and drop me a note when you do something wonderful.
Chris@Pisarra.com
By Sandi Davis
T
he Piedmont Veteran’s Veterans Building was brimming with good will. What a great party! Barbara Harmon was surrounded by her son, daughter (and son-in-law), and the famous triplets (absolutely as adorable as she has claimed!) as she was honored by many of those whose life she has touched. Betty Kael, Rich Leres, and Ron Miller mentioned a few of her many accomplishments. Nadine Levine sure had it right when she extended a big hug from everyone in the room. Barbara & Susan Wiebe went on to win the event to cap off a great day.Remember that Sunday, May 3, there are no regular pairs game at Mosswood. As mentioned last month, this is the first of two Swiss Teams games being held. Game time is 1:00 p.m., fee is $28 per team which includes a delicious pizza lunch before the game.
Reservations are mandatory; the last event sold out very quickly. Call Michael Sasso 510 891-0353 or Tom Pajak 510 530-4913.
At the unit game on March 15, Crispin Barrere & John Hadreas (EW) came in 1st OA with Michel & Andrea Schneider coming in 1st N/S. On April 5, the unit honored the winners of the Ace of Clubs and the Mini-McKenney. Tom Pajak & David Cartwright came in 1st N/S, but Nadine Levine & Cass Hawes (E/W) stomped on the entire 21 table field with a huge 70+% game. Well done.
Welcome to the unit to Jackie Fenton, Russell Parish, Barbara Stumpf and Kirk Stumpf. I look forward to putting faces with your names soon. In addition, I am very happy to welcome two additions to our unit, Tom McKelvey and John Santibanes. I have had the pleasure of partnering with each of these fine players and am delighted they have decided that 502 should be their home.
We have rank advances. Howard Harrison, Charles McMillan and Esther Rubke are new Club Masters. Joyce Jacobson is now a Sectional Master. And as mentioned last month we got the official word that Donna Rolle and Ed Fong are the newest Life Masters!
Congratulations on your achievements!
We offer our condolences to the friends and family of member Monica Duncan who died recently.
It is never too early to start lining your partners and teammates for the East Bay Summer Sectional on June 5, 6 and 7. Grab your favorites and come to the Holy Redeemer Center for good bridge in a beautiful setting.
More people have gone and entered their contact information in the directory on the website so I have not bugged you for a while. But here is a reminder for all Unit 502 members to send your information for inclusion in our unit directory. We are not doing a hard print-out directory in the near future so sign up on line. Go directly to http://www.eastbayunit-502.com/ (and do not forget the dash (-)!) and follow the simple instructions when you click on Unit Directory.
If you don’t have Internet access, call me at 510 524-6925 and we can git’r’done!
That’s it for this month. Please e-mail me at sandstress@mail2sandra.com with your corrections, glories and debacles!
By Laura Da Costa
H
ello Everyone! By the time you read this article, we should all be enjoying the new clubhouse. Our appreciation goes out to Kay, Byron, Mike, Mary Jo, and Dora for coordinating the many details of this move. Also thanks go to Jim McKoane for providing moving services, and Kirk Stewart who donated a new microwave for the clubhouse. I hope everyone likes the bright, new color scheme for the carpet, paint, flooring, and countertops that were picked out by Maggie, Kay, Dora, Mary Jo, and me (notice no men volunteered to contribute to these choices).Remember that the Open House & Silent Auction is on May 2 from 12:00 noon to 4:00 p.m. Please come and help us celebrate (and bring a friend!).
Congratulations go out to the following pairs that cracked 70% this month. On 3/9, Everett Bondeson & Jim Honeywell had a 70.6% game in Oakhurst; On 3/23, Barbara Thacker said that she & Doris Frazer could do “no wrong” as they ended up with a 74.54% game. The next day, Howard Reed & Jim Stefanich really had it their way with a 76.7% game. Our Tuesday evening 49ers game is certainly producing big winners. Bill & Diane Civiello twice cracked 70% with a 78.13% on 3/17 and a 77.83% on 3/24. Kathy & Andrew Graves had a 75% game the following week (3/31).
Mike Molinari had informed me that he will be starting the “Conventions and More Conventions” lessons (Books 4 & 5 from the “Beginning Bridge Series”) on Saturday mornings. Among the topics to be covered include: “Jacoby Transfers,” “Jacoby 2NT,” “Drury,” “Negative Doubles,” “Michaels, Cue-bids,” and many more. If you think you would be interesting in taking these lessons, contact Mike. Following these lessons, there will be a 49ers game (in addition to John Schnell’s open game).
Also, if you have friends that you think would be interested in taking lessons from the very beginning, Mike expects that the whole series of lessons will be starting over again in September.
“Welcome Back!” goes to Emmy Camp (playing again after taking many months off) and Verlee O’Neill (playing after having had back surgery).
In upcoming events, the Peggy Och’s Memorial Game will be Sunday, May 3. This game, along with the nostalgic feeling from leaving our old clubhouse, has led me to think about the individuals we have lost over the years. A few who stand out in my mind; Sandy Barnes, who provided my first defensive lessons; Pat Tyler playing with George Sturges; my frequent evening partner, Paul Ash; Jerry Faas (in his 80s) climbing the ladder in the clubhouse to replace the fluorescent lights; and Margie Kenyon talking up a storm.
Finally, my mother’
s dog, Nikki, who roamed among the tables looking for Mom, and anyone interested in giving her a cookie. I am sure you have your own list of individuals you remember fondly, I hope you will come out to this game and celebrate their memory.Good-bye for this month. Hope to see you at the Open House and Memorial Game!
By Dian Wood Picone
L
upine popping out of the ground, full sprung blue, yellow, white and pink, announce that spring is here no matter the frosty nights and days. A few of our bridge pals are seeking other climes, some warm and some not. Linda & Ron King are floating around the Mediterranean, soaking up the sun in deck chairs while Rosemary Erwin skillfully handles Linda’s Tuesday Bridge in Hollister. Somehow, I’m sure that Ron & Linda will find time to play a little bridge between visits ashore.Patty & Win Stone returned from two weeks in Hawaii having sampled Hawaiian bridge clubs and finding them hospitable. They and the Dimmicks are headed north to beautiful Victoria, B.C., in April with Lyde McReynold’
s Monterey Bridge Club, to try their luck at the Victoria Regional.The unit started the month with a well-attended Spring Swiss Teams match that included many who hadn’t ventured to try this intriguing and challenging Duplicate game before. It was much fun and I’m sure that the next game, May 3, will be a hit too.
Gilroy/Morgan Hill: Swiss Team unit game: 3/1, 1st, Gary Jones, Burt Malech, Ronald Dragt, Winston Stone, 2nd, Jerry Pelletier, Barbara Earley, Gale Dimick, Katie Dimick. Unit game: 3/15, N/S 1st, Bob Frohman & Mike Slattery, E/W 1st, Rosemary Erwin & Diana Dragt. Open Pairs Mon. p.m.: 3/2, 1st, Mike & Margot Kakalec; 3/9, 1st, Sheila Hill & Rosemary Erwin; 3/16, 1st, Pat Kraut & Teri Swan, 2nd, Bill Smith & Burt Malech; 3/23, 1st, Bob Frohman & Dick Tani. 3/30, 1st, Patrick & Liega Arnett; Open Pairs Thu. a.m.: 3/5, 1st, Rosemary Erwin & Don Bugge; 2nd, Ron Dragt & Win Stone; 3/12, N/S 1st, Marilyn Ribardo & Billie Mechanic; E/W 1st, Rosemary Erwin & Diana Dragt; 3/19, 1st, Diana Dragt & Dee Bugge; 3/26, 1st, Ron Dragt & Win Stone; 2nd, Mike Slattery & Bob Frohman.
Hollister:
Linda’s Tue. aft Pairs: 3/3, N/S 1st, Win Stone & Burt Malech; E/W, 1st, Katie & Gale Dimick; 3/10, N/S 1st, Win Stone & Burt Malech; 2nd, Jerry Pelletier & Barbara Earley; E/W 1st, Linda King & Stuart Proctor; 3/17, N/S 1st, Gale & Katie Dimick; E/W 1st, Maxine Elin & Janet Bernhart; 3/24, N/S 1st, Kay Devita & Rita Lompa; E/W 1st, Chiong Yuan Han & Doug Stauffer; 3/31, N/S 1st, Suzanne & Lou Peloquinn, E/W 1st, Connie Coyne & Patty Stone.Mike’s Bridge Club Wed. p.m.:
3/4, 1st, Donald Nemiro & Dick Tani; 3/11,1st, Dick Tani & Bob Williams; 3/18, 1st, Dee Bugge & Diana Dragt; 3/25, 1st, Mary Calderone & Don Nemiro.We were happy to see Julie Robertson, back after her successful surgery, gracious and charming as ever. Charles Costa, too, is back giving his opponents a “run for the money” at the tables. News about our bridge players is always welcome. Contact me: DianPicone@yahoo.com
By Paul Dubois
T
he Livermore club welcomes a new member, Gary Oehrle.The second of two new events took place this month in Pleasanton. In February, we had our first individual game, in which everyone got a new partner each round and ended up with an individual score. Everyone played SAYC with standard carding. Then, on March 23, we had a Barometer Pairs game. Using five sets of boards, each table played exactly the same boards each round, and while we started the next round director, Carmen Meuter, posted the scores so far. Those in the early lead were happy but looking down nervously at a very strong field, while those trailing were vowing to catch up. The E/W winners were: Teresa Boyd & Grant Robinson, followed by, Jean Barry & Nancy Boyd, Ching Chao & Paul Dubois, and Gilbert Reeser & Gary Minnig. On the N/S side, Ameen Paul & William Hodges were followed by, Verlan Gabrielson & Terri Kiyota, Dennis Thretheway & Gary Shepley, and Linda & Anthony Davito who were also 1st in C. Both events were so well attended that more are planned.
The next individual game is May 22, and the next Barometer game is June 19. Be sure to let Carmen know you are coming. Her e-mail is
carm4u@earthlink.netAt the San Mateo Sectional, points were won by unit members Jean Barry, Dan Bergmann, Qiang Zhang, Katie Love, and Donald Smith. At the Modesto Sectional, a team containing Gilbert Reeser and Teresa Duewer won in the Stratified Swiss, while Katherine Love & Donald Smith did well in pairs games.
April is charity game month at the clubs. Please come out and support these events.
See you at the Diablo Valley Sectional, April 17-19. (There is no game in Pleasanton on the 17th.)
Directions to our clubs are at: unit501.bridgeforyou.com.“One last business note: Effective May 1, card fees in Pleasanton have increased $1.00 to $6.00 for our regular games due to increases in expenses over the past year.”
By Bob Sampson
T
his column mostly is a chronicle of Marin players’ noteworthy results in March 2009.At the San Mateo Sectional:
Irene Lam, 4th D in BCD Pairs; Loretta Bromberg, 3rd A Strat Pairs; Bob Roman on team 1st Bracket 2, KO’s; Bruce Noda, Laura Kenney and Gene Simpson, 3rd AX Swiss. At the Santa Rosa Sectional: Strat Open Pairs: 6A & 2B, Frank Aftowicz & Janet Russell; 11th A, Loretta Bromberg; 4th C, Susan Bowser & Anita Stone. Stratified 299er Pairs, 3D & 2E, Nina Tychinin & Joanne Paben; 6th BCD Swiss, Norma Conner, John Heisler, Anita and Ron Studen; 1st 299er Teams, Ron Mulcare & Susan Bowser; 2nd, Tom Belshe; 3rd, Susan Angel, Jane Bauer and Jean Marchant.In Houston at the Spring Nationals:
Bob & Lenore Roman, 3rd KO4 & 1st KO7; Gene Simpson, Side Game 2nd, Side Series 1st, Leventritt Silver Ribbon Pairs 4th, w/ Nancy Ferguson, Side Game 2nd; Bruce Blakely, 2nd Mid KO & KO4 Consolation. Bruce Noda, 48th Leventritt & 56th IMP Pairs; Brad Moss, 3rd, Silidor Open Pairs & 2nd, Vanderbilt KO Teams.Only two pairs achieved a 70 percent game at the clubs in March. At Crossley’s Monday Night Lite game, Bob Hall & Martell Smith had a huge 77%. At Terra Linda in the Thursday Relaxed Bridge game, Holland Grey & Noel Horton had 71%. Stealing a march on April so to speak, we are happy to report that on April 1, no fooling, Susie Cole & Eliot Fraser had 75% at Terra Linda. The director, Peggy Tatro, noticed that after 16 of the 24 boards they had 84%!
Apparently, Ingrid Purcell played in only three games in March, all in one week at Terra Linda, but did rather well: first overall on successive Thursdays with Sue Parker and first on the intervening Friday with Vicki Quinn. If you’
re looking for a partner, ask her soon before she cools off.Did you see that bridge column by Bobby Wolff in the S.F. Chronicle on March 28 about a 3NT contract? When the dummy appears, you have only eight winners. The recommended line is to let the defenders cash four winners in the five-card suit that they led; in other words, after winning the opening lead duck the next four tricks. In the process, the defenders squeeze themselves and set up a ninth trick. Mr. Wolff said this play arises more often than one might expect. Could we call it “having all your ducks in a row?”
We have a new e-mail address:
mbsampson247@comcast.net
By Lee Striplin
O
ur Almond Valley Sectional was a success with more players than last year. Chris Brown led the masterpoint winners from our unit, followed by William Frame, Barbara Price, Pieter Mastenbroek, Latrelle Uhl, Ralph Jungwirth, JanMastenbroek, Sharon Fauss, Juanita Kaufman, and Jackie and Roland Wilson. Chairman Barbara Price thanks Mary Sue Moore and Margaret Quinn, hospitality, Joyce Ielmini and Latrelle Uhl, partnerships, and Drew Mercer, coffee maker for all their help.The March unit game brought out thirteen tables. Overall winners in A were Drew Mercer & Galen Neptune, followed by Doris Ashcroft & Roy Carnahan, Leigh Tibbetts & Glenn Van Denburg, Betty Gailfus & Gail Vick, Gary Capwell & Charlotte Martin, and James Kenyon & Alan Strauss. These were all B players except Kenyon & Strauss. Evelyn Corey & Fred Fellows were first overall in C, Elena Franzia & Juanita Kaufman were 2nd, and Mike Gutowski & Mary Zak were third.
Players of the month for March were A, James Kenyon, followed by Stewart, who also led B. Sharon Cole was second in B and first in C, and George McMahon was second. Raymond Johnson and Mike Weisberg led the Sonora group.
The news from Sonora regarding their winnings in the Monterey Clambake Regional was inadvertently omitted from last month’s Forum.
The team of Bud Bates, Chris Bell, Sharon Fauss, & Dave Jenkins placed second in A in a two-session Swiss game. The team of Alan & Susan Hamilton, Lydia & Robert Soloman won a Bracket 3 Knockout game. The team of Bell, Fauss, Jenkins & Robert Serrett placed seventh in a two-session Swiss game. Sharon Fauss won 27.33 points in all, followed by the Solomons with 18.17, Chris Bell & Dave Jenkins with 17.32, and the Hamiltons with 16.4. Dana & Tim Davis won a 299er event. Several Sonora players have had health problems recently, including Margaret Bell, Don Cross, Ray Johnson, Hope Koford, and Thelma McMillen.
We hope that they all recover quickly and return to the bridge group.
A potluck club championship in Sonora honored Robert Serrett who is moving to Oregon. Last year he chaired the Sonora Fall Sectional, and he has been a very supportive member of their bridge community.
The Great Western Spring STAC games will be held the week of May 4-10. Also coming up is the California Capital Regional in Sacramento on May 25-31.
The next unit game is on May 17, at 12:30 p.m. Come for lunch and bridge.
By Maja
S
ome of the newer players in our unit are having great success. At the Santa Cruz 299 Sectional Brenda Stevensen & Peter Herrick won the Sunday morning Stratified Pairs and left with a total of 5.56 points for the tournament. Kurt Schnebele & Arlene Seckel collected 3.38 points at the tournament and won the Saturday a.m. club championship game held April 4 with a 65% game. Congratulations!We’
re so excited so have many enthusiastic and successful new players.Tuesday afternoon Pairs was was won by Peter Herrick & Lauren Upson; Sunday afternoon Pairs was won by Robin Evenden & Charles Pender; and the Ord BC ACBL Charity Game was won by Maja & Wally Thorpe.
When Lyde told the group on April 1 that ACBL was allowing gold points for that day’s game if members would pay a $17 entry fee; they were ready to go for it. As if that weren’t enough, when Larry arranged one board with 20 point hands in all four seats (he used the same color back on the cards) he got by with it for six rounds before suspicion set in. We are a trusting and gullible group in Monterey, aren’t we?
Lyde will offer six weeks of conventions starting Wednesday, April 29 from 3:00-5:00. This will include “Conventions you can’t do without” followed by three weeks of “Two over One.”
Please reserve with Lyde, 626-4796, or sign up at the Bridge Center.
Don’t forget the Monterey Sectional at the Bridge Center May 15-17.
By Keith Vincent
W
e held our unit game on March 1 with 10 tables in play. The overall winners were Thelia Smith & Joe Freeman, followed by Dave Spharler & Dave Cappucini. Nine table for our second game on March 15. the overall winners were Barbara & Gerry Fox, next were Joan Garcia & Wayne Gordon.Congratulations to our newest Silver LM, Jean Corwin and our Bronze LM, Thelia Smith.
The Ace of Clubs awards was established in 1984 to recognize the local Club leaders. There are actually 10 categories, including Rookie of the Year to Gold LM. The list this year included John Rothschild, William Barron, Knud Rasmussen, Shannon Gardner, Brit-Marie Eldred, Dawne Dickenson, Dan Harp, Randy Hoyle, Anita Pensler and Don Powell There is also a Mini-McKenney list which includes the local leaders in the various sectionals, regionals, etc. The list may be similar, but in this category there other leaders including Wayne Miller, Tim Jeans, James Gardner, Joe Freeman and Randi Montin.
Our Wine Valley Sectional is scheduled for July 11-12 at the Vintage House Senior Center in Sonoma. The tournament director will be Nancy Boyd, and the tournament chair is Joe Freeman. Details are available atwww.acblunit512.com
Palo Alto
By David Bernstein
N
otwithstanding a few serious cases of withdrawal, we have recovered from the club’s closure caused by a huge water-pipe break, and attendance is back to normal although there may have to be later shutdown.During the past few years the unit has initiated an array of activities aimed at attracting new members and providing a variety of lessons for players at various levels of experience and ability. In addition to the Easybridge! and the newcomers games, are the Thursday night classes given by Frank Smoot with Lori Spaeth. Eric Mayefsky, a graduate student at Stanford and a member of our board taught a class on bridge for 15 students at Stanford as well as organizing duplicate games on campus. Finally Lori and Eric went to Menlo School to help entice future players.
The unit has held a series of free lectures on a variety of subjects, such as opening bid criteria, third hand opening and Drury, defensive signaling, card combinations, and opening pre-emptive bids. Additional lectures are planned for the spring quarter.
The schedule is available on the unit web site,
paloaltobridge.com All of these lectures have been made possible thanks to tax deductible donations by our unit members to the ACBL Educational Foundation for use by the unit. Alan Cummings has provided his characteristic energy in making this funding possible as well as organizing the lectures and handling all of the logistics. Each of these lectures have been attended by 60 to 80 members.Bridge has often been mentioned as one of the few games in which players of all levels can play against the pros. This is certainly true at our games. Recently a couple of mid-level players flipped out their Pass cards as a pro bid a confident 6NT. He was able to claim immediately after the defense took the first four tricks. The players’ names were not available to this reporter.
Sacramento
By Bob Olsen
A
t the unit games we now are setting-up a separate 0-299er section with two strats (0-100 & 101-299). This gives you a chance to play against players closer to your point level, but you may also choose to play in a higher category. We hope many of you will come to the unit games and demonstrate the need for tournaments with equal competition for emerging players.A unit sectional is scheduled for May 1-3 at the Orangevale Bridge Center, 6826 Hazel Avenue, Orangevale. Partnership: Linda Gorski at 916 723-5492.
From May 4-10 the local clubs may schedule Great Western Spring STAC games (Sectional Tournament at Clubs).
Please remember the Sacramento Capital Regional, May 25-31 At the DoubleTree Hotel, 2001 Point West Way, Sacramento.
A unit game is scheduled for Sunday, June 7 (Charity Pairs) at the Sacramento Bridge Center, 2330 Fair Oaks Blvd.
The unit will be publishing a 2009 Player Roster. The current 2007 roster has been forwarded to all the clubs so that you can make corrections of address, phone number, additions and other changes. Please check the roster to make sure your contact information is correct.
Rose Mary Maring passed away on March 4, at age 82. For 17 years Rose Mary managed and directed games at the Sierra Bridge Club; at one time three games per week. Rose Mary recently finished writing a comprehensive bridge book for beginners (Let's Play Bridge), which I understand, will be available online later this year.
A number of special games are scheduled at Ann’s Fun Bridge Club located at the Sacramento Bridge Center, all on Saturdays at noon: 5/9, Swiss Team Great Westerm Spring STAC game (silver points); 5/16, & Sunday 5/17 5:30, club championship games, Open Pairs; 6/6, Potluck plus World Wide Pairs game; 6/13, Potluck plus Swiss Teams game; 6/20, North American Pairs game.
San Francisco
By Kim Fanady
S
pring is here at last and summer is just around the corner. That means that the San Francisco Summer Sectional is almost upon us! Make plans now to join us at our usual great location, the Janet Pomeroy Center out by the zoo, for lots of bridge, snacks and fun on June 13 & 14.Between sessions, you can visit the animals, take a hike down to Ocean Beach, stroll around nearby Lake Merced, and visit Harding Golf Course, site of the President’
s Cup featuring Tiger Woods later this year. Or you can just grab a bite and pore over hand records like everyone else. Look for our ad elsewhere in this issue. Hope to see you there. The Great Western Spring STAC starts on Monday, May 4, and continues all week. STAC is your chance to win silver points at your regular club game. Post a big score and you’ll make the Western Conference overalls and win double digit silver points! All the local clubs are participating, and this month’s unit game, on Saturday, May 9, also will be part of STAC week. So come on out and play!At the clubs, QuickTricks will host the Inter-Club Championship on Monday, May 11. Compete with players across the ACBL, including Canada, for extra masterpoints and glory. Two previous overall winners of the event have come from the QuickTricks game; you could be next! QuickTricks will also resume its popular “Last Monday Swiss Teams” series this month, except that this month the team game will be on the second to last Monday to avoid Memorial Day.
Check the club web site for more info
, www.quicktricks.orgCongratulations to all those advancing up the masterpoint ranks this month: Junior Masters Daphne Bransten, Richard Spalding; Club Masters Gail Gabiati, David Rosenkrantz, Gayle Rosenkrantz, Donald Stephens; Sectional Masters Maka Langfeld, Jane McLaughlin; Regional Master Madlyn Stein; NABC Masters Dolores Bee, Susan Boeing, Denise Daley; Life Master Christopher Friday; and Bronze Life Masters Charlotte Blank, Liz Funsten and Eric Groves. Well played, all!
Welcome as always to our new members and transfers: new members Joan Berry, Carol Cravens, Irene Dietz, Daniel Edelman, Mary O’Gara Lipman, Edwin Mah, Allison Ruggles, Rosemarie Wagner, Robert Wu, and Adrienne whose last name was dropped off the list; and transfers Norma Abbott (Palm Springs), Jerome Clark (Palm Springs), Angie Dagovitz (Marin), Melvin Dagovitz (Marin), Taylor Lyen (South Bay), Gabi Schneider (“Foreign Unit” don’t know exactly where), and Dudley Shell (Shreveport).
Be sure to welcome these new players when you meet them at the table.
Finally, we sadly say goodbye to Denis Shalloo, who passed away last month. Denis was a fine bridge player and a very kind and gracious person with a lovely sense of humor. He served as a San Francisco Superior Court Commissioner for many years, and for much of that time conducted hearings to determine whether people under arrest or detained should be committed to a mental health facility. He often joked that his work was good training for the bridge world!
He will be very much missed. Our condolences to his family and friends.
San Mateo/Redwood City
By Joel Steinberg
S
pring is upon us, and the baseball season has a delayed opening day; so I think I’ll have to play more bridge to occupy my time. Hi once again from Unit 498. We hosted our annual Spring Sectional at the San Mateo Expo Center March 7-8. The event was very well attended.As usual, our members played well and racked up lots of silver points: Dan Raider, 4th Bracket 1 Compact KO; Alice Wallace, Margaret Conner, Nancy Finney and Penny Bellamy, 3rd Bracket 2 KOs; Jay & Mary Bates, Anne Javer and Al Malouf, 1st Consolation Bracket 2 KO; Dena Fisher & Lolly Donovan, 2nd Art Weinstein Memorial Pairs. Arlie Lamb, Don Doolittle, Ed Frymoyer & I, 1st BCD Swiss; Lex Murdoch, Kris Tejwani, 6th BCD; Carl Sutherland & Phil Scatena, 3rd D.
Thanks to all our members for their efforts in the set-up before and the clean-up after the tournament.
Congratulations to new Club Master, Maureen Vasquez; new Sectional Master, Marge Linder; new Regional Masters, Mavis Baird & Lorraine McCloud; new Life Master, Gigi Nordman; new Bronze LM, Jagdish Datt; and new Silver Life Master, Karin Rabin. Well done all!
Mark your calendars for Sunday, May 17, our Unit 498 awards dinner and unit game. Dinner will begin at 5:00 p.m., with speeches (brief, I hope) and installation of new board members, and, of course, bridge to follow. This is one of the highlights of the year; so plan to attend. Call 650 344-4919 to sign up, get directions to the club, arrange for a partner, etc. You do not have to be a Unit 498 member to attend.
The Bayshore Bridge Club holds open Stratified Pairs games Monday through Friday at 12:15, and Monday & Thursday evenings at 7:00.
And 99er Fun Bridge is held at 9:00 a.m. Thursday, with insightful post-game analysis and instruction by Ted Richmond.
Santa Clara Valley
By Ray Yuenger
Y
ou can win silver points at the San Jose Bridge Center from May 4 through 10 at the Great Western S(ectional) T(ournament) A(t) C(lubs). For a change of pace, the unit is offering an unSTAC Stratified Pairs game on Monday night, May 11.It’s been a busy month for bridge, culminating with our Santa Clara Valley Spring sectional. The turnout far exceeded expectations and the parking lot overflowed. Fortunately we had extra tables on hand. There was a scramble to set them up as players kept turning up. The directors had their hands full. Our sectional chair, Shirley Foreman, kept the snacks coming.
Thanks to everyone (too many to name) who helped with hospitality, partnership, and the set-up. Next time we’
ll plan for a bigger crowd.Earning stratification and section tops in the two-session Open Pairs game were Frank Lowenthal (who won), Panette Talia, Shirley Foreman & Rekha Nirula, Julie Joyce & Miwako Wong, Stephen Tu, Zag Kadah & Arkady Estrin, Wendy Dewell, Norman Marks & Philip Freiberger, Yul Inn, Sathya Bettadapura, Ivan Jen & Elenalani Lam, and David Mack.
In the single-session Open Pairs games it was Lynn Yokel, Anne Boboricken & Ed Barlow, Peggy Sprague & Erin Gove, Thomas Feury, Art & Colette Quaife, Nongyu Li, Jack & Missy Verson, Faye Parsons & Jeff Hack, Sabina Siem & Rita Tingley, Richard Markell & Paul Lee, Mike Braun & Joan Simpson, Mindy Foos & Michael Fleisher and Larry Wagner.
Prevailing in the limited games were Susama & Amar Chunder, Alan Malloy & Wendy Fotland, Rodica Cailean & Mike Bennett, Karen Rice & Anthony Disilvestre, Sheri Archer & Karen Hunt, Peggy Wheeler, and Patricia & Richard Bader.
First in the AX Flight in Swiss were Gary Porter and Stephen Tu. First in her strat in 299ers Swiss was Sheila Peterson.Earlier, at the nationals in Houston, Michael Bodell & Elenalani Lam won Flight C of the North American Pairs. Will Watson was fifth in Flight A. Mindy Foos & Michael Fleisher were ninth in the Red Ribbon Pairs. Rose Meltzer’s team tied for ninth in the Vanderbilt.
On winning Knockout teams were Nongyu Li; Richard Markell, Barbara Mash and Wendy Dewell. Michael Bodell. Elenalani Lam won a limited pairs game.
Locally, at the San Mateo Sectional, Rajeeva Sharma & Corinne Carter won the 99er trophy. Also earning strat tops in that event were Betty Rosa & Karen Hunt and Karen Rice & Sona Bhambra. In the Open Pairs, topping strats and sections were Mansoor Gowani & Ray Yuenger (who won in the afternoon), Stu Goodgold & Mike Cailean (who won A/X in the evening), T-C Yang & Jason Chui, Stephen Tu, Mary Harvel & Randy Rice (who won Flights B/C/D in the evening), Josephine Murray & Erma McCrory, Norma Epler & Happy Fordham, John Watson-Williams, Karen Rice & Lawrence Frazier, and Linda Rallis & Marilyn Cox. Prevailing in their Swiss strats were Derek & Teddi Fiero and Michael Fleisher & Mindy Foos; Ken Rosenfeld, Leon Lee and Peggy Sprague; Rajeeva Sharma, Lawrence Frazier, Karen Rice and Corinne Carter.
On a winning Knockout team was Eugene Hung and Jennifer Gu.
At the Almond Valley Sectional, Mike Roney & Stu Goodgold placed first in a pairs event.
Congratulations to our newest Masters: Joan Buel, Cheng Ping Chang, Terry Lancaster, Brien Wilson, Jimmy Woo (Junior); Raghu Agarwal, Mike Braun, Josephine Murray (NABC); Michael Bodell, Keith Burnett, Alan Malloy (Bronze); Bruce Scott (Silver).
I’m still available at 408 379-7717 and at:
rayyuenger@comcast.net
Santa Cruz
By Susan Benich
C
ongratulations to all the participants, winners, and volunteers who made the 2009 299er Rising Stars Sectional Tournament such a success! Our table count was up 30% from last year-yeah! The shiniest stars are our own Vee Duval and Mary Simoni who earned the most masterpoints of all. Marilyn Chambers & Dorothy Malutta placed 1st in the 49er overalls as did Roger Griffith & John Peterson. Also, placing in the 49er overalls were Ginger Stone & Cheryl Martin. The Swiss team of Bonnie Simon, Jack Simon, Linda Brown-Johnson, and Phil Johnson placed 1st. A HUGE thank you to the co-chairs Bonnie Simon and Jane Jennings along with their team of volunteers (Barbara Shepherdson, Jack Simon and his set-up team, Shirley Passaro, Mark Hasey, Susan Benich, Diana Schilling, Diane Wolfsen, Phyllis Cramblet, Annemarie Moller, Pam Benz, Ken Llacera, our telephone team, Jeanne and Wayne Boss).During the month of March we had some very high scoring pairs: Lynn Yokel & B Wayne Stuart played a 74% game; Tom Snouse & Jim Martin can boast a 71% game; Jeff Pruett & Hal Rodgers were hot at 69.58%; Barry Samuel & Malcolm Sprott clicked for 69.09%.
Other pairs breaking 65% were Ann Ottenberg & Alice Hopkins, John Hadley & Elena Laborde-Bishop, Jim Slinger & Heather Cutting, Robin Evenden & Ann Ottenberg, Jim Monahan & Alice del Core, Diana Schilling & Eunice Lee, Joyce Martin & Vicki Kuhlmann, Jonni Faircrest & Neil Joseph Smyth, Jane Jennings & Bonnie Simon.
We’re hoping you will line up your favorite partner or a future favorite partner and seek out those elusive silver points during Great Western STAC week, May 4-10.
Mark Hasey invites you all to attend his free Memorial Day BBQ’s prior to his games on Thursday, May 21 at 6:00 p.m. & Sunday, May 24 at 12:30 p.m.
Nancy Wainer is offering a NLM Swiss Teams game on May 12 and her annual Margarita night on May 19.
Don’
t forget Bridge Camp the first Thursday of each month at 10:00 a.m.Sherry is tempting us all with the likes of sweet Italian sausage & vegetable soup, bread pudding with chocolate covered raisins, Golden Citrus salad, etc.
Check the menu postings at the club.
We have at least a couple of celebrities among us! How many of you had the opportunity to see Karen Schamberg as Dorothy in the half hour episode from the “Golden Girls” TV show, sponsored by the Scotts Valley Arts and Scotts Valley Parks and Recreation Department? Karen is active in community theater (as are Meg Harlor and Peggy Dilfer) and performed in the benefit to raise funds for a future performance center in S.V.
Did you get to listen to Jim Martin as a guest on KSCO radio? Jim is a member of SCORE, a nation-wide, government sponsored organization that provides workshops and counseling to small businesses and non-profit organizations. Callers were free to take advantage of Jim’
s expertise. Prior to his retirement Jim worked 20 years in the semi-conductor industry and five years editing a major high tech magazine. Sam Badawi is also a member of SCORE having served as their co-chair for a year.Barry Samuel and his brother Russ went to the Houston Nationals and won 20 gold points winning a Compact KO and placing in the overalls in another event.
We will miss Barry as he will be moving to Santa Rosa in May.
By Randee Dimond
O
ur hugely successful sectional, like March, came in like a lion, but it went out like a bigger lion. Attendance exceeded our wildest expectations, necessitating extra table setups, making a food run (thanks, Chris!), heroic efforts by director Nancy Boyd and her cute caddies. Special thanks to Mark Hersko, tourney manager extraordinaire, to Evelyn Holtz for directing the large newcomer turnout, and to Jackie Ortiz, captain of the kitchen, and her minions. Thanks, too, to all who brought snacks and to the set up and tear down volunteers. Winners included Shelley Schuster, Debby Walton, Patty Harberson, Carol Zocchi, Gloria Hersch, Chris Pedroncelli, Tim Coshow, Tom Gee, John McNulty, Sara Rothmuller, Larry Wyner, Mark Hersko & 1 Meryl Fischer. For the rest of the best, see the ACBL website.March events included the Second Annual Frank Bessing Team Game, won by Jennifer Jones, Bob Klein, Kathy Venton & Dave Pankratz. All players enjoyed Jennifer’s presentation, seeing Frank’s family, the great food and the whole experience. March luminaries (winners not named elsewhere) include Kate Hill, Gary Robinson, Lee Grams, Sally Jamison, Mimi Armstrong, Chris & Bob Evans, Ann Slater, Donna Edwards, John Vion, Jon Merry, Peggy Leiser, Nina Arrabit, Paul Scheinberg, Erwin Linzer, Evelyn Holtz, Rose Marie Johnson, Peg Devine, Jackie Ortiz, Joanne Pransky, Larry Spanier, Kate Wilmore, Nancy Johnson, Richard Zalenski, Wendy Merget, Ramona Haller, Patricia Scoville, Helene Gay, Patricia Gittings, Larry Hansen, Dorothy Gummerson, Ron McEwan, Lynn Blumenthal, Betty Riley, Jim Huhn, Jane Wahler, Susan Campbell, Eleanor Wales, Chris Flindt, John Kozero, Larry Borsian, Patty Hertz, Paul Gardner, Carl Tillmanns, George Osborne,, Barbara Briggs-Letson, Elise Henderson (welcome back!) & Gladys Sawyer. To see full-bore recent results, go tofriendlybridge.com
A world class director call: One of our top players called the director on himself recently. He noted an un-alerted call that might have changed the defense. The director found for the defense, changing the result from 4NT making to 4NT down two, costing our favorite expert the match.
Now
that’s world class!Our December Holiday Party is now December 13, moved back a week. Clear your calendar, and look for sign-up sheets in the fall. Speaking of dates, our next unit game is May 24 preceded by Great Western Spring STAC week May 4-10. Line up partnerships and teams; ask Kathy for help. STAC affords lots of opportunities to play, some Pro-Am, and silver points to boot.
Great teachers turn stumbling blocks into stepping stones. How lucky we are to have so many talented teachers in the unit. Kathy Venton will conduct a two Saturday (May 16 & 23) workshop on Two Over One bidding. Kathy will de-mystify 2/1 with sessions on Forcing NT, rebids, and more. Make 2/1 part of your repertoire. Sign up in advance at the Gallery or give Kathy a call at 591-5915.
We all extend sincere condolences to John Vion and are happy to have him back at the table. We also welcome back Laura who seems back in the pink.
By Jim Solomon
P
re-alert! This year’s Hayward South County Sectional, coming up in early August, will be held in a new location, Transfiguration Catholic Church in Castro Valley. Details will appear when the event is closer to the horizon.Notable Recent Tournament Performances: San Mateo Spring Sectional: Compact Team KOs, Bracket 1: 1st, Steve & Sarah Chen; 3rd: Bin Liang; 4th, Jey Jeyakumar. Conso Bracket 1: 1st, Stephanie Singer. Sat. aft Open Pairs: 2C, Charlie & Ann Conrad. Sat. eve Open Pairs: A/X: 6A, Jay Magid; B/C/D: 5C, Charlie & Ann. Sun. Swiss Teams: A/X: 2A, Jay; 7A, Jey; B/C/D: 3B/2C, Stephanie.
Sun. aft Open Pairs: 3 OA, Nancy Boyd. Santa Cruz Rising Stars 299er Sectional: Sat. morn 299er Pairs: 2 OA, Lynn & Jim Groh. Sun. morn 299er Swiss Teams: 6th OA, Lynn & Jim. Modesto Almond Valley Sectional: Sun. Strat Swiss Teams: 1 OA/1B, Jim Solomon.
Santa Clara Valley Spring Sectional, San Jose: Sat. aft 199er Pairs: 1 OA/1E, Stephanie Singer. Sun. B/C/D/ Swiss Teams: 4 OA, Jim Solomon; 5/6 OA, 4/5 C, Stephanie. 299er Swiss: 1 OA, Darrell Fung.
Special Club Games in the Next 30 Days: All of our clubs will be holding Great Western STAC pairs games during the first full week of May, and on Friday, May 8, we’ll have a unit-sponsored STAC pairs brunch, beginning at 11:00 a.m. at the Marina Community Center in San Leandro; see our unit web site for details:
unit500.bridgeforyou.com
On Saturday, May 23, the Tri-City BC will hold a club championship game at 1:00 p.m.
Winners at Recent Special Club Games: Tri-City BC unit championship), Mar. 7: 1 OA, Chrystal Newell & Terry Kellerman; 1B, Bev Kline & Hildegard Leslie; 1C, Darrell Fung & Frank Rooney. Unit 500 Lasagna Pairs U.C., Mar. 13: Open: 1 OA, Morrie Pakulis & Jim Solomon; 1B/1C, Charlie & Ann Conrad; NLM: 1 OA/1B, Darrell & Randy Corr; 1C, Bev Chance & Barbara Watts. TCBC club championship (C.C.), Mar. 16: 1 OA/1B/1C, Mickey Row & LaVonne Addison.
Redwood BC C.C., Mar. 16: Open: 1 OA/1B, Darrell & Gil Reeser; 1C, Sherry Larsen Beville & Susan Kovacevic. NLM: 1 OA/1B/1C: Ann Farias & Elinor Wilkinson; 1B
N/S, Don Hubbard & Theresia McNulty; 1C E/W, John & Lynne White; 1B E/W, Gen Brazil & Dolores Roberts.Fremont Easybridge! Club ACBL-wide Charity C.C., Mar. 17: 1 OA/1B, Nuno Rebelo & Vicky Santos; 1C, Dave & Louise Minor. TCBC C.C., Mar. 21: 1 OA, Bonnie Janzen & Barbara Luttrell; 1B, Bin Liang & Song Wang; 1C, Darrell & Randy. Hayward Weekes
Park Easybridge Club C.C., Mar. 26: 1st, Joe Foley & partner; 2nd, Joanne Baumgardner & Anne Smith. RBC U.C., Mar. 30: Open: 1 OA, Marty Holtz & Morrie; 1
N/S, Don Schrump & Wen-yen Leong. NLM: 1 OA, Gerald & Claudia Tyson; 2 OA/1B E/W, Pat Krock & Randy Corr; 1B N/S, Celia Bjerkan & Pat Edgar; 1C N/S, Bill Beeson & Sherard Wood. FEC C.C., Mar. 31: 1 OA/1B, Nuno & Vicky.Welcome to Our Fold to Jan St. Denis of Hayward, now a regular in the Hayward Weekes Park Easybridge! Club, and to Dr. Henry Hornstein, who recently moved to Fremont from Germany and joined ACBL.
Finally, John and Marilyn Gage, charter members of the and now regular players in the Redwood Club, have joined ACBL.
Moving up the Masterpoint Ladder:
Congratulations to Margaret Halland and Darlene Mayhew, our newest Silver Life Masters.