VOL. 58 No. 1 MARCH 2017 Help wanted: ACBL at the crossroads Robert Hartman, ACBL CEO? In what way? chief executive officer since Carman: The five of November 2011, has re- Directors on the search com- signed, effective July 31. mittee are also the CEO Re- Dennis Carman, our repre- view committee members. We sentative on the national met by phone/Skype [in late ACBL board of directors, is on January]. We are starting with the five-member team looking the ad that ran in the March for a new CEO. He answered 2011 Bulletin and will add and some questions by email. subtract from that. All 25 Table Talk: Can you tell me board members and 125 anything about the circum- Board of Governors members stances surrounding Mr. Hart- received surveys asking for man's resignation? Do you their input as well. I think the think he did a good job? job is a very difficult one to

Dennis Carman: Robert have and I truthfully think it Hartman left to join his family will be next to impossible to business in Florida. We the find someone that can do all that is asked. board did not ask him to leave. Robert had his pluses TT: Where do you see we and minuses and the 2 of us are on the following: were on good terms. ■Cleaning up the game re

TT: What can you tell me cheating? about the process and about Carman: I think we have what kind of candidate you are made significant progress on looking for, etc.? Are you hop- ridding the game of cheaters, ing for more from the next (Continued on page 2) and the league is committed events have to be manually to spend the time and redone as the system can't the money to continue that push. process it correctly. ■Tournament directors (and ■Fiscal aspects of ACBL other staff) retirements, re- operations, i.e., are we los- placements, training? ing money, etc.? What do Carman: The league does we need to do? need to continue to push to Carman: Through last Octo- develop directors and has ber, the league was in the committed the financial re- black over $700,000 for the sources to do it. The new year. With lower than ex- CEO will need to fill a few top pected table counts in Orlan- management spots that are do we will probably still be in open so we don't lose our forward the 1/2 million plus range for movement in all areas. the year. The BBO [Bridge ■ACBL Score and replace- Base Online] income of ment software? $250,000 for the last year was Carman: ACBL score and a bonus that had not been ex- replacement scoring system’s pected at the start of the newest revision is supposed year. The four-year, $2 million to be ready by early 2018 and contract Robert negotiated the league is spending the money with BBO was a plum. Final that is needed to make this 2016 financials should be in happen. Stay tuned. shortly. We are budgeted for ■Mix-ups at NABCs regard- the same gain in 2017 and ing wrong hands, wrong hope to start aggressively re- board placements, wrong plenishing our reserve fund number of overall places which has shrunk the last few awarded, etc.? years. Carman: The mix-up in ■New member recruitment Washington DC was human and retention? error with wrong hands and Carman: We are holding board placement. The direc- even at 168,000 members tors are aware of what hap- with about 10,000 new last pened and have added addi- year and the same amount tional safeguards to avoid this not renewing/dying. I think our happening again. Masterpoint recruitment programs are awards will hopefully be fixed good and our website much when the new scoring system improved for new/prospective is unveiled. Currently some players to navigate.

PAGE 2 TABLE TALK Michigan Bridge Association’s MICHIGAN STATE SECTIONAL March 23-26, 2017 Site: The Bridge Connection 26776 Twelve Mile Road, Southfield MI Just west of Northwestern Hwy. 248-356-6254

THURSDAY, MARCH 23 Stratified Open Pairs ...... 10 a.m. Stratified 0-300 Pairs...... 10 a.m. Swiss Team Lesson for New Players ...... 2:10 p.m. Stratified Swiss Teams ...... 2:30 p.m. Stratified 0-300 Swiss Teams ...... 2:30 p.m. Stratified Open Pairs ...... 7 p.m. Stratified 0-300 Pairs...... 7 p.m. FRIDAY, MARCH 24 Stratified Open Pairs ...... 10 a.m. Stratified 0-300 Pairs...... 10 a.m. Stratified Open Pairs ...... 2:30 p.m. Stratified 0-300 Pairs...... 2:30 p.m. Stratified Open Pairs ...... 7 p.m. Stratified 0-300 Pairs...... 7 p.m. SATURDAY, MARCH 25 Stratified Swiss Teams (Playthru – 7 matches) ...... 10 a.m. Stratified Open Pairs ...... 10 a.m. Stratified 0-300 Pairs...... 10 a.m. Stratified Open Pairs ...... 2 p.m. Stratified 0-300 Pairs...... 2 p.m. SUNDAY, MARCH 26 Stratified Swiss Teams (Playthru – 7 matches) ...... 11 a.m. Stratified 0-300 Pairs...... 11 a.m. Stratified 0-300 Pairs...... 3 p.m.

Stratified Events: A=unlimited; B=0-3000; C=0-1000 0-300 Stratifications: 0-50, 50-100, 100-300 as attendance warrants Average will be used to determine stratifications All pairs events are single-session Light lunch will be provided on Saturday and Sunday No smoking in the building

Tournament chair: Bob Ondo, 313-320-5173, [email protected] Partnerships: Marilyn Crane, 734-591-3431, [email protected] Patti Stoner, 734-728-1748

TABLE TALK PAGE 3 TABLE TALK MBA Officers Official publication Jonathan Fleischmann .... president of the Michigan Bridge Association Bob Ondo ...... ….president-elect 30660 Woodgate Dr., Richard Temkin ...... chairman Southfield MI 48076 Stacey Tessler .... recording secretary 248-646-3967 Bob Webber ...... treasurer e-mail: [email protected] Board of Directors MARTIN HIRSCHMAN, Editor Shelley Boschan, Marilyn Crane, Kurt Production editor: Marcia Abram- Dasher, Jonathan Fleischmann, Mar- son tin Hirschman (non-voting), Owen MBA Corresponding & Mem- Lien, Marilyn Nathanson, Bob Ondo, bership Secretary: Paul Pome- Grant Petersen, Patti Stoner, Richard roy, 34069 Hathaway St., Livonia Temkin, Stacey Tessler, Allan Tush- MI 48150, [email protected], man, Zachary Wasserman. 734-421-0193

MBA CLUB DIRECTORY Evangelical Lutheran Church, 375 Lothrop, Grosse Pointe Farms. James Schmidt, 586-463-9835. Thursday 12 p.m., Sunday 1 p.m. ■Plymouth Community DBC, Cultural Center, 525 Farmer, Plymouth. Jim & Cheryl Perna, 248-887-9283. Tuesday 11:30 a.m., Wednesday 11:30 a.m. ■Thursday Evening Bridge, Ann Arbor City Club,1830 Washtenaw, Ann Arbor. Dorothy Kuhn, 734-761-6691. Thursday 7 p.m. ■Trenton DBC, 2700 Westfield, Trenton. Charles May, 734-301- 3872. Thursday 7 p.m. ■War Memorial, 32 Lakeshore, Grosse Pointe. Judith Thomas, ■Friendly Friday BC, St. Paul 313-372-4218. Monday 12 p.m. Evangelical Lutheran Church, ■Young Center BC, R.A. Young 375 Lothrop, Grosse Pointe Recreation Center, 5400 McKin- Farms. Tony Faint, 586-649- ley, Dearborn Heights. Joyce Koz- 3575. Friday 12 p.m. ma, 313-274-5587. Wednesday ■Neighborhood Club, St. Paul 11 a.m.

PAGE 4 TABLE TALK IT’S YOUR BID By Marty Hirschman

It’s a Slam-a-rama this issue, with a possible 6-something or more on four of the five problem hands. Hope you enjoy the ride. Congratulations to Myles Maddox, still going strong at 91, for racking up a perfect 500. Also congratulations to Val Enache and Morris Swiger, who tied for the top score among our read- ers. Thanks to Fran Wigod for reporting problems 1 and 5, to Willie Winokur for No. 2 and Lynne Schaeffer for No. 3. If you are still going strong, or would like to be, send in your answers to next issue’s hands, found at the end of this article.

1. MTPTs. Both vul. As cuebid. This hand has to be SOUTH, you hold: worth a slam try since partner ♠QJ10543 ♥Q105 ♦KQ106 ♣ will have a good play with as WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH little as ♠x ♥AKxxxx ♦Axx -- 1♥ Pass 1♠ ♣xxx. Pass 3♥ Pass ? Willie Winokur (4♣): Hoping Action Score Votes she bids 4♦. Then I will bid 5♥ 4♣ 100 7 and by some miracle she will 4♦ 80 5 grasp that I am worried about 4♥ 60 3 two possible spade losers and 5♥ 50 1 not “How good are your 6♥ 50 1 hearts?”

5♣ 40 0 Joe Chiesa (4♣): Since ♠x

We have a lot for slam, so ♥AKxxxxx ♦Axx ♣xx yields 4♥ is out. 4♣ seems like a 12 tricks South must at a min- good place to start. imum offer 4♣. Over 4♦ will bid 5♥ asking about spades. (4♣): On this In days of yore, South would auction, new suit at the 4- jump to 6♥ and East would fail level is a . Over the to find the winning lead. hoped for 4♦, then 5♥ asking Howard Perlman (6♥): No for a spade control. good way to find out if partner Jonathan Fleischmann (4♣): has second-round spade con- I’m going to set trumps with a trol or if we’re off pointed-suit

PAGE 5 TABLE TALK SCORES Experts: Kerry Lafer ...... 340 Myles Maddox ...... 500 James Walter ...... 270 Sheldon Kirsch ...... 480 George Pope ...... 250 Jonathan Fleischmann .... 470 Jim Reed ...... 240 Chuck Burger ...... 460 Barb Reed ...... 230

Joe Chiesa ...... 450 Addendum (Winter 2016-2017 Dick Temkin ...... 450 issue): Readers: Willie Winokur ...... 450

Val Enache ...... 410 Correction: Due to a typo- J. Morris Swiger ...... 410 graphical error in the last is- Patty Becker ...... 390 sue, the score for 4♣ on Prob- Margaret Carden ...... 390 lem 5 was incorrectly listed as Gerald Wahl ...... 390 90. The actual score for the Dan Sutherland ...... 380 bid was 80. Irv Hershman...... 350

HOW THE PANEL VOTED 1 2 3 4 5A/B Gene Benedict 4♦ 5♣ Pass Pass 4♠/6♦ Bob Brent 4♦ 4♠ 5♣ Pass Dbl/4NT Chuck Burger 4♣ 4♠ Pass 4♠ 4♠/6♣-6♦ Suzy Burger 4♦ 4♣ Pass Pass Dbl/6♣-6♦ Joe Chiesa 4♣ 4♣ Pass 4♠ 4NT/5♦ Jonathan Fleischmann 4♣ 4♣ Dbl 4♠ 4♠/6♦ Bob Katz 4♥ 4♣ Dbl Pass 4♠/6♦ Sheldon Kirsch 4♦ 4♣ Pass 4♠ 4♠/6♦ Morrie Kleinplatz 4♥ 6♣ 5♣ 6♥ 3NT/3NT Marilyn Maddox 4♣ 4♣ Pass 4NT 4NT/6♦ Myles Maddox 4♣ 4♣ Pass 4♠ 4♠/6♦ Howard Perlman 6♥ 4♣ Dbl 4♠ 3NT/3NT Irv Rosenstein 4♦ 5♣ Dbl 4NT 5NT/6♣ Don Rumelhart 5♥ 4♠ Dbl 4♠ 4♣/6♦ Dick Temkin 4♣ 3NT Pass 4♠ 4♠/6♦ Bob Webber 4♥ 4♣ Pass Pass 4♠/6♣ Willie Winokur 4♣ 4♣ 5♣ 4NT 4NT/6♦

PAGE 6 TABLE TALK aces. Exclusion Blackwood tough problem. You can be [via 5♣] doesn’t help as it gets cold for 7 or down in 5. 4♣ or us too high on many hands. 4♦ would not lead to any con- Willing to shoot it out. clusive path for either partner. At matchpoints, I play it safe. Don Rumelhart (5♥): General slam try. 5♥ could be too high, Bob Webber (4♥): Too bad but 4♥ does not do the hand 4♣ isn’t a cuebid. justice. At the table, 6♥ was a make. Gene Benedict (4♦): I am I do not have the hand record. hoping 4♦ agrees hearts as and I get a 4♠ cuebid in 2. MTPTs. None vul. As return. SOUTH, you hold:

Bob Brent (4♦): I am not sure ♠J ♥A9 ♦KJ106 ♣KJ10972 how to get to slam, but 6♥ is WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH 2♠ 2NT 3♠ ? very possible and will try to pattern out. Action Score Votes 4♣ 100 10 Going low: 4♠ 60 3 Bob Katz (4♥): Partner might 5♣ 50 2 have the right hand. If I cue 3NT 50 1 4♣ it might mislead opener. 6♣ 50 1

Morrie Kleinplatz (4♥): Very We have a lot for slam op-

GRAND NATIONAL TEAMS DISTRICT FINAL May 12-13, 2017

The district final will be held Friday and Saturday, May 12-13 at the Bridge Connection, 26776 W. 12 Mile Road, Southfield. Game time is noon on Friday and 11 a.m. Saturday. Teams of 4, 5 or 6 players may compete in one of four flights: Championship: Unlimited; Flight A: 0-6,000; Flight B: 0-2,500; Flight C: Non-LM under 500. Further information appears on the District 12 website (district12.org). There is a discount for registering in advance. Contact district coordinator Susan Bailey-Carman at 269-664-4802 or [email protected].

TABLE TALK PAGE 7 posite partner’s 15-18 2NT raise 5♣ to 6♣ or bid 5NT over , so 3NT is out. 4♣ 5♦, showing a 6-4 hand. I seems like a good place to would not risk that sequence start. with most partners.

Marilyn Maddox (4♣): Inter- Bob Brent (4♠): Headed to ested in club slam. Partner 6♣ or 6♦. will cuebid if interested or sign Chuck Burger (4♠): Followed off in 4NT. by 6♣ to show minors but Myles Maddox (4♣): Trying more clubs. for a club game or slam. Don Rumelhart (4♠): A good Jonathan Fleischmann (4♣): hand with minors. I will pass I can follow this up by bidding 4NT, raise 5 of minor to 6. 5NT, asking partner to pick a At the table, partner held slam. He’ll realize I’ve got ♠AQ5 ♥J64 ♦AQ752 ♣Q6. both minors with longer clubs, With the king of spades on- probably lacking first-round side (for an early to spade control. pitch a heart loser) and no Suzy Burger (4♣): Safer if available to the defenders, partner has only one stopper. both 6♣ and 6♦ were making. Could still get to 6♣/6♦ if right. 3. MTPTs. None vul. As Howard Perlman (4♣): Fol- SOUTH, you hold: lowed by 5NT, pick a slam. ♠KJ762 ♥Q73 ♦void ♣AKJ76 Please don’t ask if 4♣ is forc- WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH ing! ------1♠ Joe Chiesa (4♣): More days Pass 1NT* 4♦ ? of yore when this hand jumps *Forcing, 5-11 HCPS to 6♣ and East fails again to Action Score Votes find the lead. Choices Pass 100 9 abound: 4NT quantitative. 4♠ Dbl 70 5 unbalanced slam try. The 5♣ 60 3 whip, aspiring to +500. 4♣ de- 4♠ 40 0 scribes a natural forcing slam try. Seems like what I hold. There is no compelling rea- son to think you can make 10 Morrie Kleinplatz (6♣): With a or 11 tricks anywhere, or that practiced partnership, I would you can or cannot beat 4♦. prefer 4♠, which should ask about the minors. I would then Sheldon Kirsch (Pass): Hate

PAGE 8 TABLE TALK this, but no good bids. partner passes and they make it… Dick Temkin (Pass): Let’s hear from partner. It may not Bob Katz (Dbl): Options are even be our hand. obviously Pass and Dbl. I don’t think Dbl guarantees di- Marilyn Maddox (Pass): Ex- amond cards, just shows a pect partner to take some ac- good hand that wants to com- tion if on a good 9-11 points. pete.

Bob Webber (Pass): 4♥ may Joe Chiesa (Pass): Why be the winning bid. take the woodchipper (Dbl) Gene Benedict (Pass): Let’s from partner’s hands. Double see what partner can do. This by moi is putatively penalty, would have been tougher with not necessarily a trump stack 16 or 17 points. but, if not, more high cards than this. My high cards are in There seems to be a disa- the minimum range for an greement about what double opening bid, and I have no would mean here. (Should be reason to believe I can beat “Too good to pass, no clear 4♦ or that I have a fit. Partner action,” IMHO.) Also about yet has a bid coming. whether you are good enough to double. Jonathan Fleischmann (Dbl): I’ve got the shape to be Don Rumelhart (Dbl): Nega- pushy, so I’ll try to take some tive with no clear bid. Hopeful- of the pressure off partner. ly partner will have some idea. Morrie Kleinplatz (5♣): Why Suzy Burger (Pass): Dbl = God created . penalty. 5♣ = too big. Partner still has a bid. Willie Winokur (5♣): This is

Chuck Burger (Pass): Dou- not a bridge problem. This ble should be takeout, but I question is meant to point out don’t have 4th heart or who are the cockeyed opti- mists. enough of a hand. 5♣ pre- cludes partner bidding 4♥ or At the table, partner had a showing 3-card limit raise. three-card limit raise of

Howard Perlman (Dbl): spades: ♠109x ♥Ax ♦KJx Seems pretty clear. Brings ♣Qxxxx. Both 4♠ and 5♣ hearts into the game and if made 10 tricks. So did 4♦.

TABLE TALK PAGE 9 4. MTPTs. N-S vul. As or more semi-solid hearts and SOUTH, you hold: an outside card. With the right ♠A ♥7 ♦AK9854 ♣A8542 hand, partner can Blackwood WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH and locate a grand. ------1♦ Dick Temkin (4♠): Need to Pass 1♥ Dbl 2♣ make a try with all of these 2♠ 4♥ Pass ? controls. Action Score Votes 4♠ 100 8 Sheldon Kirsch (4♠): Hope Pass 70 5 his hearts are as good as ad- vertised. 4NT 60 3 6♥ 50 1 Don Rumelhart (4♠): A good 5♣ 20 0 hand. I considered 5NT (pick 5♥ 20 0 a slam), but that bid will likely

4♥ by partner on the first be available on the next round as well. round of bidding would have shown a stretched game bid, Less certain: while 3♥ over 1♦ is best played as showing KQJ10xxx Joe Chiesa (4♠): Like the and out. So 1♥ followed by 4♥ aces and kings but fear a mal- should show full opening-type distributed trump suit. Will at values with a strong 7-card least make a try. Pencing suit. With our quick tricks and KQJ109xx and out in partner’s mitt. good controls, we are at least close to slam. Willie Winokur (4NT): Yes, if Confident: she has ♠xxx ♥KQJ10986

Howard Perlman (4♠): With ♦xx ♣x and a spade lead, I should pass. all these controls, I feel com- pelled to make one try. Part- Marilyn Maddox (4NT): Need ner bid 1♥ initially rather than to know about controls in 4♥, so partner has a good heart suit. Expect partner to hand. have at least pretty solid 6 or 7 hearts. Chuck Burger (4♠): Partner has side values since he Unconfident: didn’t bid 4♥ directly. This will also help find a minor. Gene Benedict (Pass): Even if partner has KQJ109xx of Jonathan Fleischmann (4♠): hearts, 11 tricks may be the Partner figures to have seven limit with a spade lead.

PAGE 10 TABLE TALK Bob Katz (Pass): Likely heart game 69 times and a heart loser and who knows heart partscore (!) 6 times. what else. There also was one +660, one +800, one +1100 and one Bob Brent (Pass): And hope -100. he (or she) can make it. Morrie Kleinplatz (6♥): At This hand came up in the first glance it looks like a good finals of the NABC Mixed play for 7. But there are infer- Board-A-Match and Werner ences that it will not play easi- Open Pairs last summer in ly. At favorable vulnerability Washington. Partner held neither opponent has ♠9852 ♥AKQ10864 ♦6 ♣7. preempted in spades, so part- With hearts 3-2 and diamonds ner has at least 3 and likely 4 3-3, 13 tricks were available in of them. He is likely short in hearts. Of the 106 tables diamonds, which figure to where the board was played, break poorly. On a spade 7♥ was bid and made 4 times, lead, entries will be a prob- 6♥ (making 6 or 7) 23 times, a lem. I will hope to make 6.

MOVING UP...

JUNIOR MASTERS BRONZE LIFE MASTERS Cynthia DeGalan Stuart Dombey Donna Zajonc Flora More Catherine Nierle CLUB MASTERS Gertrude LaFerte SILVER LIFE MASTERS Susan Marwil REGIONAL MASTERS Rosemary Hastings GOLD LIFE MASTERS Joan Long Allan Becker James McNamara Patricia Becker Pamela Morse Samuel Hirschman Barbara Schiff Grant Petersen

NABC MASTERS DIAMOND LIFE MASTERS Susan Michelotti Kurt Dasher

TABLE TALK PAGE 11 5a. MTPTs. N-S vul. As Solvers who voted for 6♣ on SOUTH, you hold: 5B were just covering the pos- ♠A7 ♥A65 ♦Q652 ♣AKJ8 sibility that partner will bid WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH clubs; otherwise they will wind -- 1♦ 3♠ ? up in 6♦. So I scored 6 of ei- 5b. What is the lowest con- ther minor the same. tract you plan to play in? Bob Webber (4♠/6♣): 6♣ Action Score Votes mainly if partner bids them 4♠/6♦ 100 6 next. 4♠/6♣ 100 2 4NT/6♦ 80 2 Chuck Burger (4♠/6♣ or 6♦): Dbl/6♣ 70 1 To game plus interest in dia- monds and setting up RKC. 4♣/6♦ 70 1 5NT/6♣ 70 1 Jonathan Fleischmann 5NT/6♦ 70 0 (4♠/6♦): I think 4NT here is 3NT/3NT 60 2 quantitative, but my hand Dbl/4NT 50 1 feels too suit-oriented for that. 4NT/5♦ 50 1 6♦ may be touch-and-go, but I 4♠/5♦ 50 0 may be trailing the field when Dbl/3NT 50 0 they manage to stop in 3NT: If

With all the weak hands 5♦ makes exactly 11 tricks, I people open these days, 18- figure to lose to the pairs mak- point responder hands offer ing 10 or more in NT. no guarantee of a slam. But Going slower and lower: we have a fit (probably) and good controls... Bob Brent (Dbl/4NT): I would raise 3NT to 4NT. If Dick Temkin (4♠/6♦): Partner partner bids 4♥, I can find out is almost certain to have at everything I need to know and least four diamonds and, with end up in 6♦. little or no wastage in spades, it’s likely that he’ll have the Joe Chiesa (4NT/5♦): 4♠ will cards to make a slam. fetch 5♦ – no help. By my lights, 4NT is RKC Black- Bob Katz (4♠/6♦): I don’t want wood, but even if North re- to guess 6♦ when 7♦ might be gards it as straight Black- cold. wood, I will land on my feet. Don Rumelhart (4♣/6♦): Moreover, if partner thinks Planning to support diamonds quantitative that’s likewise later. palatable.

PAGE 12 TABLE TALK Much lower: NEXT ISSUE’S HANDS

Howard Perlman (3NT/3NT): 1. MTPTs. N-S vul. As SOUTH, If partner has a balanced min- you hold: imum, I’m high enough. The ♠K632 ♥10963 ♦KQ2 ♣Q10 opponents have stuck it to us. WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH Partner knows I am under du- 2♣ 2♦ 2NT ress and bid on with shape. Pass 3♣ Pass ? I’m too balanced to be real aggressive. 2. MTPTs. N-S vul. As SOUTH,

Morrie Kleinplatz (3NT/3NT): you hold Won’t score high on this pan- ♠void ♥A54 ♦AQ10953 ♣K532 el. I stay preempted on this WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH and hope to get a good board 2♠ Pass 4♠ ? by playing in NT and beating all the pairs who play 5♦ or go 3. IMPs. None vul. As SOUTH, down in slam. I’ll pay off to the you hold: cold slams unless partner bids ♠A98752 ♥43 ♦AKQ7 ♣10 again. Too many minimum WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH hands that have little play. For 1♣ 2♥ 2♠ example: ♠Qx ♥Kxxx ♦AKJx 3♥ 4♠ Pass ? ♣xxx. This hand might go down in 6♦ even with a lead 4. IMPs. Both vul. As SOUTH, you away from the spade king. hold: With what most people open ♠AJ95 ♥A98762 ♦void ♣932 these days, partner might WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH have less. Pass 3♣ ?

At the table, partner held 5. MTPTs. N-S vul. As SOUTH, ♠Q6 ♥K42 ♦AJ743 ♣Q75. you hold: The Kx of diamonds was off- ♠AK104 ♥63 ♦KQ9 ♣Q863 side (yes, in the preempter’s WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH hand), so 6♦ was down one 1♣ ? after a non-spade lead. 3NT by South may not make after Mail your answers to: a spade lead through the Q Table Talk Magazine (though there are chances for 30660 Woodgate Dr. a ; don’t write Southfield MI 48076 in). So an IMP-oriented 5♦ Or email to: contract might have been the [email protected] big winner.

TABLE TALK PAGE 13 IN MEMORIAM because of a mutual friend, we attended many concerts Sarah Lampert and musicals together, includ- Esther Scheppele ing trips to Stratford and the Jerry Thornton Shaw Festival. Jerry was al- ways a congenial and loyal companion. Jerry Thornton, former “We had recently become MBA board member and chair bridge partners, and I was of the Ann Arbor sectional. very saddened to lose a good passed away Dec. 14. He was friend.” 80. Stacey Tessler writes: Esther Scheppele of Can- “Jerry and I were just great ton, who died Dec. 8 at 89, friends. He was a gold life master with loved the arts. over 3,300 masterpoints. She He had sub- was a regular at local club scriptions to games and tournaments, as the UMS con- was her sister certs. He also Edith Jones, collected art, also an MBA loved to travel member, who worldwide, and attended died several opera, ballet and plays. He years ago. and I went to Jackson each Esther had summer for the Shakespeare worked for over Festival. 20 years as an accountant at the “I could always call him to fill Hawthorn Center. in at any game that I run in Neil Manley Jr. writes: Ann Arbor. He was a great “Esther was a regular at the partner and never complained Plymouth Club for decades. about bad bids or plays by his She was my regular partner partner. A true gentleman. I on Tuesday for at least 10 miss him very much.” years. Our last game was in Marcy Toon writes: March 2015. Her memory “I met Jerry in 1990 when I didn’t allow her to continue first started working in the playing. University of Michigan Gradu- “I cannot recall a Tuesday ate Library. Through the years that Esther had to cancel. Her

PAGE 14 TABLE TALK daughter told me that she and Barry Crane update family would drive here to visit from out West. Sometimes “Who Killed Barry Crane,” when they got here Esther an update on the unsolved would tell them, ‘See you lat- 1985 murder of ACBL’s then er. I have a bridge game to- top masterpoint holder, ap- day.’ peared in the January issue of “Ed Williams and I visited Hour Detroit magazine. her about a week before her You can read the article, death. She was in hospice written by MBA member Mi- care at an assisted living facil- chael Betzold, at: ity. She was on oxygen and http://www.hourdetroit.com/ unable to walk. She told us to Hour-Detroit/January-2017/ call her if we needed some- Who-Killed-Barry-Crane/ one to fill in at the bridge club.”

2016 MBA Treasurer’s Report

2016 2015 RECEIPTS Sectional tournaments 3,005 4,582 Motor City Regional 5,532 5,912 NAP -404 -686 Bid boxes 0 210 Dues 3,156 3,202 Interest 118 170 11,407 13,390

EXPENDITURES Table Talk 6,921 7,092 Honoraria 4,800 4,800 Board meetings 1,270 652 District 12 860 419 Office and postage 635 899 Miscellaneous 1,128 1,011 15,614 14,873

Gain (loss) -4,207 -1,483

Cash balance beginning of year 37,807 38,570 Cash balance end of year 32,880 37,807

—ROBERT WEBBER, treasurer

TABLE TALK PAGE 15 Mike Graham Ann Arbor Sectional Here are the results of the SUNDAY SWISS TEAMS Mike Graham Ann Arbor Sec- FLIGHT A: 1, Robert Raf, tional, held Jan. 28-29 at Steven Jacob, Sandy Birn- Eastern Michigan University in holtz, Clarke Cunningham. 2, Ypsilanti. Mark Bendure, Richard Tem- kin, Daniel Marcus., Irving MASTERPOINT LEADERS: Rosenstein. 3, Steven Wino- 1, Mark Bendure, 19.67 kur, William Winokur, Frank 2/3/4, Martin Hirschman, 15.78 Treiber III, Michael Crane. 2/3/4, Lynne Schaeffer, 15.78 FLIGHT B: 1, Raf team. 2, 2/3/4, Gordon Parnes, 15.78 Chris Brewer, Stuart Dombey, 5, Frank Treiber III, 14.75 Klaus Brondum, David Arm- 6, Robert Raf, 11.61 strong. 3, James & Kathleen 7/8, Richard Temkin, 11.22 Miller, Edward Stang, Eric 7/8, Irving Rosenstein, 11.22 Holder. FLIGHT C: 1, Brewer 9/10, William Winokur, 10.87 team. 2, Miller team. 3, Ste- 9/10, Steven Winokur, 10.87 phen Leist, John Berry, Rich- ard Voss, James Peresta. SATURDAY SWISS TEAMS FLIGHT A: 1, Martin Hirsch- Non-LM winners man, Mark Bendure, Gordon Parnes, Lynne Schaeffer. 2, SATURDAY AM PAIRS: Jonathan Fleischmann, Frank Chris Hill, Ann Margosian Treiber III, Jordan Kaye, Rob- SATURDAY PM PAIRS: ert Katz. 3, Henry Zhang, Richard Voss, John Berry Yanping Zhang, Ching-Po SUNDAY AM PAIRS: Joyce Wang, Xingyu Zhang. FLIGHT Van Octen, Robert Hatto, tied B: 1, Zhang team. 2, Ken- with Jane Lehman, Mary Rob- neth & Arlene Geisler, Steven inson Kaplan, Randy Rodnick. 3, SUNDAY PM PAIRS: Ed- John Philbrook, John Allen, ward & Jean Becker

Tim Berges, Walter Magee. FLIGHT C: 1, Zhang team. 2, CONGRATULATIONS Geisler team. 3, James Wal- NEW LIFE MASTER ter, Klaus Brondum, Albert Sayed, Barb Ferrera. Sonia Manchek

PAGE 16 TABLE TALK 2016 MBA 2016 MBA Mini-McKenney Mini-Ace of Clubs

0 to 5: 1, James McNamara, 95.02. 2, 0 to 5: 1, James McNamara, 40.96. 2, Peggy Blaylock, 17.38. 3, Joe Feld- Jeanne Learman, 11.13. 3, Joseph man, 14.01. Learman, 10.63. 5 to 20: 1, Daniel Rose, 29.22. 2, Betty 5 to 20: 1, Betty Kaiser, 12.90. 2, Doug- Kaiser, 18.29. 3, Gary Boyers, 17.21. las Sendelbach, 11.32. 3, Rodney 20 to 50: 1, Julian Prince, 48.85. 2, Bri- Guest, 10.18. an Morton, 32.91. 3, Jack Hyatt, 30.66. 20 to 50: Brian Morton, 32.91. 2, Jack 50 to 100: 1, Pearl Lim, 116.40. 2, Hyatt, 26.73. 3, Marge Wolber, 17.57. James Korte, 86.26. 3, Steven M. 50 to 100: 1, Pearl Lim, 46.22. 2, Steven Miller, 76.26. M. Miller, 41.70. 3, James Korte, 38.98. 100 to 200: 1, Bob Ondo, 218.86. 2/3, 100 to 200: 1, Bob Ondo, 70.42. 2, Henry Zhang, 152.26. 2/3, Yanping Giles Schnob, 49.01. 3, Carrie Os- Zhang, 152.26. borne, 41.82. 200 to 300: 1, Barb Ferrera, 159.53. 2, 200 to 300: 1, Craig Ross, 85.57. 2, Su- Susan R. Smith, 106.87. 3, Craig san R. Smith, 52.67. 3, Barb Ferre- Ross, 90.43. ra, 47.39. 300 to 500: 1, Dennis Ebendick, 300 to 500: 1, Rosemary McNair, 63.04. 150.31. 2, Brad Dracka, 103.63. 3, 2, Robert Holmes, 59.55. 3, Paul Graham Putnam, 84.16. Chirgwin, 55.36. 500 to 1000: 1, Jordan Kaye, 189.38. 2, 500 to 1000: 1, Martha Henkel, 73.73. Steven Winokur, 150.45. 3, Dan 2, Elmer Winkelman, 69.46. 3, Patri- Sutherland, 108.69. cia Cosgrove, 63.09. 1000 to 1500: 1, Wilbur Argersinger, 1000 to 1500: 1. James Walter, 150.97. 401.85. 2, James Walter, 288.95. 3, 2, Judith Gessner, 99.12. 3, Marilyn Sandy Birnholtz, 166.38. Vander Velde, 86.62. 1500 to 2500: 1, Zachary Wasserman, 1500 to 2500: 1, James Smyth, 136.87. 408.14. 2, Grant Petersen, 351.61. 2, Grant Petersen, 136.36. 3, John 3, John Koschik, 341.66. Koschik, 109.99. 2500 to 3500: 1, Jonathan Fleisch- 2500 to 3500: 1, Jonathan Fleisch- mann, 1023.82. 2, Joe Monro, mann, 135.75. 2, Margaret Moore, 392.56. 3, Rose Burke, 251.70. 113.18. 3, Joyce Bell, 110.14. 3500 to 5000: 1, Anastasia Tessler, 3500 to 5000: 1, Michael Giordano, 386.94. 2, Rhonda Monro, 343.26. 147.40. 2, Charlotte Miller, 103.20. 3, Michael Giordano, 340.26. 3, Anastasia Tessler, 71.27. 5000 to 7500: 1, Robert Katz, 5000 to 7500: 1, Lynne Cook, 430.60. 2, Sheldon Kirsch, 410.15. 156.83. 2, Ed Herstein, 110.82. 3, 3, Sondra Schubiner, 381.99. Richard Becher, 104.76. 7500 to 10000: 1, Owen Lien, 7500 to 10000: 1, William Wino- 919.48. 2, Robert Brent, 352.89. 3, kur, 156.79. 2, Robert Brent, Allan Falk, 306.59. 132.03. 3, Brenda Jaffe, 122.71. Over 10000: 1, Bert Newman, 1047.09. Over 10000: 1, Bert Newman, 154.45. 2, Martin Hirschman, 459.89. 3, Wil- 2, Lynne Schaeffer, 87.82. 3, Bob liam Arlinghaus, 385.76. Webber, 77.66. Note: Categories denote points held at the beginning of 2016

TABLE TALK PAGE 17 Suzy goes nesse, losing to the king. Next, Suzy made the dra- for the gusto matic and risky play of under- leading her AKQ of hearts. Matchpoints East, Lynne Schaeffer, won None vul. the jack and returned the NORTH queen of spades. Declarer’s ♠A852 king was ruffed away. Eventu- ♥1063 ally declarer had to lose a ♦J986 spade, for down 2, -300, giv- ♠62 ing Burger and Schaeffer an WEST EAST 86 percent score on the ♠7 ♠QJ1064 board. ♥AKQ87 ♥J942 Actually, declarer botched ♦K102 ♦4 the rest of the play and went ♣10754 ♣KJ8 down 3, giving East-West 92 SOUTH percent. ♠K93 ♥5 Newman wins ♦AQ753 6th Marsee ♣AQ93

WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH Bert Newman, MBA’s top ------1♦ masterpoint holder, was the 1♥ Dbl 3♦* Dbl 2016 winner of the Grant Mar- 4♥ Pass Pass 5♣ see Memorial Trophy, award- Dbl 5♦ Pass Pass ed to the Michigan player who Dbl Pass Pass Pass wins the most masterpoints in *Mixed raise the Barry Crane Top 500 : 7 of spades race. Newman amassed 1047.49 Suzy Burger bullied her op- total points in the year, ponents to the 5-level, then edging out 2015 winner doubled and made the most Jonathan Fleischmann, who of the defense on this hand on won 1023.82 points in 2016. Bridge Base last summer. It was Newman’s sixth Mar- Sitting West, Suzy led her see win. He previously won singleton spade against 5♦x. the Marsee in 2000, 2001, Declarer went up ace in dum- 2002, 2013 and 2014. my and took the diamond fi-

PAGE 18 TABLE TALK The Denver 10: Another sad episode for bridge By Marty Hirschman There was no time to replay Table Talk Editor the match.

What would happen if you So what did they do? Did play a Swiss match at a re- they call or inform the direc- gional, and when you com- tor? pare scores with your team- No. mates you discover that both Instead, nine of the players pairs inadvertently sat in the did nothing, while the captain same direction? of one of the teams turned in What would you do? How a score slip showing the would the match be scored? match as a tie. That resulted, It has happened before and initially, in both teams getting it will happen again. It has 10 Victory Points on the 20- happened often enough that point scale -- 10 more than the ACBL has a specific rule they were entitled to under the for this situation incorporated rules. in its General Conditions of Several minutes later, a Contest for Swiss teams: player on another team who got wind of what happened “PLAY told the directors about the *** incident. (Ironically[?] that “9. Each team captain must player was top pro Mike Pas- ensure that his pairs are play- sell, who himself recently ing in opposite directions. faced unrelated ethics charg- Failure to do so will result in es. See “Incident at Palmetto,” both teams receiving a zero Table Talk, June 2016, p. 24.) score.” The score of the match was

And it happened in Denver changed to 0 VPs for each last May during the Sunday team. Swiss at the Rocky Mountain Close to a month after the Regional in a much talked tournament, ACBL brought about case involving a pair of charges against the 10 mem- teams that included a number bers of the two teams in- of professional players, well- volved. known experts and one mem- In November the case was ber of the national ACBL heard by the ACBL Ethical board of directors. Oversight Committee (EOC).

TABLE TALK PAGE 19 Results of the hearing (“In the port of the discipline makes matter of Hinze et al. …”) are no statement about the sub- posted on the ACBL website stance of what allegedly hap- under News…Recent Discipli- pened or of the factual find- nary Decisions. One player, ings that were the basis of the David Grainger, reached a decision. negotiated settlement, agree- While the case was pend- ing to serve six months proba- ing, news about it appeared tion. Three other players, Ca- on BridgeWinners.com, spawning nadian professional Cameron a torrent of commentary, mostly Doner; top pro and critical of the defendants for longtime ACBL board member not immediately informing the , both of Texas, director of what had hap- were found guilty of violating pened and for, in effect, mak- paragraph 3.7 of the ACBL ing their own incorrect ruling Code of Disciplinary Regula- that the match be considered tions (CDRs) (“Actions or be- a tie. There were colorful but havior unbecoming” a player unsubstantiated claims and in an ACBL event). Lair and speculation about the details Morse also were found of what happened. guilty of violating CDR 3.2 We will never know all the (“Violation of ACBL regula- facts. tions.”). Charges were dis- There also was discussion missed against the other six on BridgeWinners.com about players. Doner was given six whether those involved knew months’ probation. Lair and of or should have known of Morse were suspended for 30 the rule that such a match be days, to be followed by a one- scored as a so-called “double year period of probation. blitz,” i.e., no VPs for either Although the case was team. And there were a few heard during the Fall NABC, testimonials to Lair’s good the decision wasn’t published ethics and sportsmanship dur- in the Daily Bulletin of the ing his long career. tournament as required by In August, Lair resigned CDR 9.6. According to ACBL, from the team that was sched- that was because the decision uled to represent the United wasn’t finalized until after the States in the Seniors division tournament. at the fall 2016 world champi- Consistent with current onships. It is assumed he did league rules, the website re- so to avoid any embarrass-

PAGE 20 TABLE TALK ment to our nation and the into Morse. Since the teams U.S. Bridge Federation as a were late and the directors result of the then-pending were pressing to have all re- Denver 10 case. port slips turned in, the con- Besides the official report of versation was short – perhaps the EOC, the only public 20 seconds. Lair recalls that statement by anyone involved Morse confirmed his team’s in the case was posted on pairs had sat the same direc- Bridgewinners.com in January tion and that he shared Lair’s by Marc Zwerling, an attorney view that the match would be who represented Lair before scored as a tie. In addition, the EOC. (“Fact Instead Of Lair vaguely remembers ex- Fiction: A True Report on the pressing concern that the Denver Regional”). According teams might be subject to a to Zwerling, all the players procedural penalty. When he claimed that, at the time, they left, Lair understood that did not know what the rule Morse’s team [Hinze] would was for such an occurrence fill out and turn in the score and that they mostly assumed slip, and report that the pairs the match would be scored as had sat the same direction. a tie. On the way to returning to his Greg Hinze, the team cap- team’s table, Lair stopped by tain who reported the “tie,” the Hinze team’s table to was sitting out for that match commiserate about their joint and allegedly misunderstood misfortune. what had happened, Zwerling “Lair remembers little about stated. The others, as depict- his conversation with other ed in the article, seemed to be members of the Hinze team relying on whoever reported except that they were stand- the result to tell the director ing in separate groups and what had actually happened, the conversation was brief. and mostly they claimed to Doner and [Hinze team mem- have only vague or non- ber Kay] Enfield testified that existent recollections of the they were standing by them- discussions among them at selves – embarrassed – while the time the mix-up was dis- Morse and Grainger stood covered: several feet away. Enfield at-

“…Lair got up and went over tempted to call a director but to compare with the other the call was aborted because team. Along the way, he ran with play having been com-

TABLE TALK PAGE 21 pleted it seemed the only have been 3rd if the teams thing left to do was to report had received 10 VPs for a tie. what had happened. Grainger recalls saying that he thought Commentary (by the au- the match would be scored as thor): a tie to which Lair and Morse ■ACBL management is to be commented that they thought commended for bringing so as well. For his part, Morse these charges. It would have remembers none of the con- been easy and the path of versation, which is not surpris- least resistance to do nothing. ing since he was headed to ■All players on the two teams the bathroom and, as all the who knew what happened witnesses agreed, the entire should have received at least exchange took 30 seconds or a slap on the wrist for failing less.” to make sure it was properly According to Zwerling the reported. It is unclear why the original charges against the committee found no culpability 10 players featured ethics of- by the majority of the players fenses for violation of CDR involved. 3.13 [Knowingly Submitting ■ACBL rules about publishing False Information to a Tourna- reports of disciplinary inci- ment Official] and Appendix B dents (CDR 9.6) should be -E7(b) [Intentionally Submit amended to allow for a brief [ting] a False Result of a report of the facts found by Hand, Round or Match]. “The the committee as the basis of essential facts charged were its decision. The official report that all the players of each of this incident does not say team ‘…knowingly agreed to anything about teams sitting submit a false result for the the same way in a Swiss or match…’ ” None of the play- what was and was not report- ers was found guilty of the so- ed to the directors. called “ethical violations.” ■Arguably the “double blitz” If you are wondering, the rule is too harsh. That seems Hinze team, which included to be the position of the edi- Morse, Grainger and Doner, tors of Bridge World maga- wound up second in the zine, who stated in their No- event, 14 VPs out of first. The vember issue: “At one time, other team, which included sitting incorrectly was scored Lair, came in 5th and would as a tie, but it was believed

PAGE 22 TABLE TALK that opposing teams that little high. didn’t mind a tied result Another idea is to assess a would conspire to submit a procedural penalty, usually 3 false report that they had IMPs per board. In a 7-board seated themselves wrongly.” match, that would be -21 A comparable scoring issue IMPs for each team, which can occur in a pair game would convert to just 2 VPs when a board cannot be for each team. That seems played due to the fault of one low, though better than 0 VPs. or both pairs. In such a case, A plausible approach would the pair or pairs at fault would be to average the two above typically be awarded Average- possible scores and give each minus on the board, which re- team 5 VPs. That sounds just sults in each getting 40 per- about right to me. And maybe cent of the available match- it would be enough of a bone points. to discourage the players from A 40 percent score on the playing games with the report- 20 VP scale would give each ing of such matches. team 8 VPs. That seems a TOURNAMENT CALENDAR Mar. 17-19: Toledo sectional June 22-25: MBA/SOMBA Mar. 23-26: Southfield sec- joint sectional, Southfield tional (MBA) July 7-9: Lansing sectional Apr. 1: Lansing NLM sec- July 14-16: Toledo sectional tional Aug. 14-20: KALAMAZOO Apr. 7-8: Bloomfield Hills I/N REGIONAL sectional Aug. 24-27: Southfield sec- Apr. 27-29: Grand Rapids tional (MBA) sectional Sept. 8-10: Traverse City May 5-7: Frankfort sectional sectional May 12-13: Grand National Sept. 17: N. Am Pairs dis- Teams district final, Southfield trict final, Lansing May 15-21: FARMINGTON Sept. 22-24: Petoskey sec- HILS REGIONAL tional May 22-28: Spring STAC Sept. 28-30: Grand Haven June 3-4: Kalamazoo sec- sectional tional Oct. 9-15: MOTOR CITY RE- June 11-16: BAY CITY RE- GIONAL, Farmington Hills (MBA) GIONAL Oct. 27-29: Midland sectional

TABLE TALK PAGE 23 Bridge cheaters’ teammates will keep most of their titles By Martin Hirschman the finals of the in Table Talk Editor both 2014 and 2015, with the team that included the Israeli In November, when the pair winning the title both ACBL’s Appeals and Charg- times. (Published reports sug- es Committee reaffirmed gest that Fisher-Schwartz cheating convictions against were cheating in more differ- two top international pairs, ent and creative ways than stripping them of all titles and Fantoni-Nunes!) The Israelis’ masterpoints, the committee 2015 teammates – team sponsor determined that their team- Jimmy Cayne, Michael Sea- mates would only lose their mon, and Lo- titles and high finishes in the renzo Lauria – will lose their 2015 Spingold KO Teams. title and masterpoints for the This despite the widespread event. Meanwhile the Italian/ belief that the two pairs – Is- Monaco pair’s teammates – raelis and Ron team sponsor Pierre Zimmer- Schwartz, and Italians (playing mann, , Tor the last several years for Mon- Helness and – aco) and Clau- will lose their second-place dio Nunes – had been cheat- finish. ing for a long time, using ille- However, the Israeli pair’s 2014 gal pre-arranged signals. Spingold teammates – team The controversial decision sponsor Richard Schwartz, Allan by the Appeals and Charges Graves, and Committee to allow team- – will keep their mates to keep their titles, ex- title and masterpoints. Their cept in the 2015 Spingold, names will appear in any list overruled decisions by the of past winners – minus the Ethical Oversight Committee Israeli pair. (To their credit, (EOC) last summer that the these teammates have disa- teammates would lose their vowed their title. And it was titles won with the cheaters for Brogeland’s courageous “outing” the preceding four years. of the cheating by the Israeli pair Teams including the two of- that led to their expulsion from fending pairs had faced off in

PAGE 24 TABLE TALK bridge and inspired the inves- 4.1.8) in Fall 2015. That rule tigation and disciplining of became effective January 1, Fantoni-Nunes.) 2016. Because of that effec- Similarly, the “Monaco” tive date, A & C took the posi- teammates of the Italian pair tion that the prior 4.1.8 ap- will keep their second-place plied to cases of cheating in finish and masterpoints in the 2015 and before. The prior 2014 Spingold. They also 4.1.8 provided that team- will keep their Spingold mates and partners would wins in 2011 and 2012, lose only those titles and mas- their wins in 2012 terpoints from the events in and 2013 and their second- which the cheating was found place finish in that event in to have occurred. 2011 – all of which were ac- The decision on the complished with Fantoni- teammates issue was criti- Nunes on their team. cized in a number of posts Cayne, Seamon, Versace on BridgeWinners.com. and Lauria – now stripped of Boye Brogeland wrote: their 2015 Spingold win be- “Land of the free, home of the cause of their Israeli team- brave – what happened? mates – will keep the 2007 Bridge craves integrity, not Reisinger title they won with lawyering and money talks. Fantoni-Nunes. (Yes, they Shame on us who allow this had the pleasure over the to happen.” years of playing and winning Fred Gittleman wrote: with both of these cheating “1) It is completely unjust that pairs.) these people should benefit in No reasons were given by any way from playing on the EOC or the Appeals and teams with convicted cheats. I Charges Committee for their believe that they should also decisions on the teammates have all of the seeding points, issue. Subsequently, two masterpoints, and titles they ACBL officials – District 12 won (when playing on teams director and A & C committee with FN and FS) forfeited. member Dennis Carman, and “2) It is ridiculous that FN and ACBL in-house counsel Linda FS caused so much damage Dunn – explained that the over so many years to all of EOC incorrectly applied the the participants in all the four-year rule adopted by the events that they played in EX- Board of Directors (in CDR CEPT for those that hap-

TABLE TALK PAGE 25 pened to be their teammates/ who don't want to lose their accomplices. precious NABC titles. Sadly, “3) Severely punishing the that's what NABCs are fast teammates/accomplices of becoming...playgrounds for the convicted cheats might well super wealthy and their cli- be an effective deterrent. In- ents.” stead these decisions effec- Other sports also have had tively say ‘if you team with to deal with the teammate is- cheats you don't risk anything sues. Early this year, re- more than a slap on the wrist.’ nowned sprinter Usain Bolt “About my use of the term and his Jamaica teammates ‘teammates/accomplices’...I had their gold medals for a would guess that only some of the 2008 Olympic relay taken teammates of FN and FS either away because a retest of an knew or strongly suspected old sample showed that one that these pairs were cheat- of Bolt’s teammates had been ing. These people should be using a banned stimulant. seen as accomplices and Unlike the Olympics, ACBL punished severely.” has no mothballed blood tests Former ACBL Board of Di- for cheating to go back and rectors member Jonathan reexamine. Presumably there Steinberg of Toronto wrote: is no video of the players in “A disgraceful cop-out by the ACBL events before the 2015 ACBL Appeals & Charges Spingold, so no direct evi- Committee. Clearly, a fear of dence of cheating in those pri- lawsuits from mega-millionaires or events.

NAP Correction

Last issue Table Talk reported the incorrect results for Flight B & C of the District Finals. Here are the correct results: FLIGHT B: 1, Eugene Kales, Ben Bomber. 2/3, Rene & Cameron Shunta. 2/3 Bob Rasmussen, Arthur Wasserman. 4, Robert Christensen, Jagit Singh. FLIGHT C: 1, Chuck & Garty Theis. 2, Henry Zhang, Yanping Zhang. 3, Nancy Spence, Jane Roeser. 4, Carrie Osborne, Maria Conti.

PAGE 26 TABLE TALK SOLUTION TO as long as East has all the AT THE WHEEL outstanding high cards. From back page After winning the opening lead, you must cash your two NORTHs aces. Then run ♠54 hearts. With one heart to go, ♥AKQJ1098 this will be the position: ♦J5 ♣J5 NORTH WEST EAST ♠5 ♠6 ♠QJ10987 ♥8 ♥7654 ♥3 ♦J ♦9876 ♦KQ10 ♣J ♣9876 ♣KQ10 WEST EAST SOUTH ♠ ♠QJ ♠AK32 ♥ ♥ ♥2 ♦98 ♦K ♦A432 ♣98 ♣K ♣A432 SOUTH ♠K32 You only have 11 top tricks, ♥ but you still have a way home ♦ ♣4

WELCOME, NEW MEMBERS On the last heart, East is Celeste Batchev squeezed in three suits. If he Marie Brady pitches a spade, you have two Pamela Freeman extra spade tricks. If he pitch- Angela Katz es a club or diamond, you Michael Madden Frank Rhodes III next cash the jack of that suit, Nicholas Rifel squeezing East between Annemarie Shorter spades and the other minor. Ruth Tobias This repeating Triple Robin Wagner Squeeze does not work if you Patricia West fail to cash your minor suit aces before running hearts. WELCOME, TRANSFERS Try it. Andrew Hagen Ironically (?) West can de- William Niemczyk feat the contract by leading a Jeffrey Selbst heart at trick one. So much for Coieann Sheehy leading partner’s suit!

TABLE TALK PAGE 27

AT THE WHEEL By Marty Hirschman

IMPs N-S vul. NORTH ♠54 ♥AKQJ1098 ♦J5 ♣J5

SOUTH ♠AK32 ♥2 ♦A432 ♣A432

WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH Pass 4♥ 4♠ 4NT Pass 5♠* Pass 7NT Pass Pass Pass *2 key cards and Q of hearts

Opening lead: 6 of spades Plan the play Solution, page 27