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For Your Information… The Fall season brings changing of the leaves and this year it also brings the change of a new CEO at the ACBL. We will miss Jay Baum, who is retiring after ten years as ACBL’s CEO, but we are excited to welcome Robert Hartman – who has been appointed by the of Fall Edition • September 2011 Directors to serve as our new CEO beginning November 7th, 2011. Youth NABC — More than 150 youth from three different countries played in ACBL’s fourth annual Youth NABC this summer during the Toronto NABC. Plan now to bring your students to next year’s Youth NABC in Philadelphia, July 26-28, 2012. Look Mobile Phone Apps — The free “ACBL mobile”– “Find a Club”–app – is now live and available for download in the iTunes App Store for those with the following devices: iPhone, What’s iPod touch, and iPad. If you have one of these devices, go to the App Store, conduct a search Inside … for “ACBL” and download the “ACBL Mobile” app. A “Find a Teacher” option and a version of the apps for the Android are in development. The Business of Bridge – Be sure we have your email address — Beginning in 2012, the Bridge Teacher newsletter will no longer be sent by regular mail. Send your email address to Education@ Tips and Short Lectures ...... 2 acbl.org to be sure you receive the electronic version of the newsletter. ACBL 75th Anniversary Highlights of the Toronto — Next year ACBL will celebrate its 75th Anniversary. We have many fun and exciting things planned – starting with the Spring NABC in Memphis ABTA Convention...... 3 TN. Make plans now to join us! ABTA Master Teachers — Congratulations to Wendy Dewell; San Jose CA; Laurie The Bridge Teacher’s Ann Levin, San Antonio TX and Pat Peterson, Hernando FL, for successfully passing their Bookshelf...... 4–5 tests to become ABTA Master Teachers. If you would like to apply go to the ABTA web site for more information, www.abtahome.com. 2011 ABTA Teacher ABTA and TAP — We are excited to announce the ABTA will hold its conven­tion during of the Year ...... 6 the Spring NABC in Memphis to help the ACBL celebrate its 75th Anniversary. Current ABTA members are invited to take the ACBL Mobile Apps — ACBL Teacher Accreditation Program (TAP) Find a Teacher...... 6 in Memphis for free. Vicki Campbell Director of Marketing and Education ABTA Applebasket Award .....7 Dear Bridge Teacher, Facebook...... 7 First off, thank you. Teachers are a critical element in getting people excited about play and ACBL membership. A Message from the CEO...... 8 We appreciate your dedication to our great game. To that end, I look forward to working with you to provide the tools and resources for you to be as successful as possible. To give you a brief history about myself, I’m currently the Vice President and General Manager of Golden Gate Fields race track in American Contract Northern California. Prior to this position I was the Associate Athletic Director for the Bridge League University of California, Berkeley and the Vice President of Marketing for Pallotta 6575 Windchase Blvd. Horn Lake MS 38637-1523 Teamworks. I’m eager to begin on my first official day at the ACBL on November 7. 662-253-3100 Thank you for providing so many with an avenue to participate in the greatest game on www.acbl.org Earth! Through our combined efforts, we can continue to grow the game of bridge. I look forward to meeting each of you during my tenure as your CEO.

Robert Hartman Incoming ACBL CEO have questions about how to fill out their own cards. The Business of Bridge The ACBL has a marvelous on- line utility on filling out the card. Feel free to download and use it— Tips and Short Lectures I get at least 18 weeks out of this theme, since some boxes take more By Lynn Berg than one week to discuss. Provide a handout on the proprieties of filling out the card. It could also Twice most weeks for the past week and be ready to field questions show a card filled out for the simple twenty years I have given a 20- about the topic. Standard System most newcomers minute bridge tip before our local If you get questions that are and intermediate players use. club’s limited games. Sometimes I off-topic, you’ve been provided Another theme that would be answer questions, but usually I have with new lecture material. Take useful to your students is, “What is some idea prepared. Since I’ve had advantage of it. If the question is a ?” Again, there’s more to come up with over a thousand asked during class, tell the group than enough for several lectures: “tips,” I’m pretty shameless about that the topic will be discussed soon ❖ How does opener force borrowing (not so shameless that I — with a specific date if possible. the bidding? don’t give credit where it’s due). Then remember to write down the ❖ How does responder force If you want to see a master of the question and note the date you’ve the bidding? short impromptu lecture, catch Larry proposed. Keep a list of questions ❖ What’s forcing in a Cohen doing what he calls the “real and check your handout stash. competitive auction? deal.” He has someone shuffle and The handout can be a lot more ❖ What’s forcing after deal, then call the cards for the board. detailed than your tip, and the extra partner ? Then Larry talks about whatever the information will be viewed as value deal reveals. And he always has an added by the recipients. ❖ What’s forcing when interesting, witty and informative That stash I mentioned is a lot partner ? take on what he sees! Most of us more manageable in these computer Two-suited hands are a great can’t do that. We aren’t quick enough days. I have extensive collections source for a series of talks. How thinkers or we don’t have the wealth at home and on the bridge club do we open such hands and rebid? of bridge information he has. So we computer, and I e-mail them from How do we respond with them? have to prepare. one to the other as needed. The What if the opponent has opened Of course, preparation is one of collection is also on the laptop the bidding? the dangers if we forget to keep tips I take on trips. I teach bridge on If I am lazy on a Monday, I take simple and straightforward, very cruises a few times a year and like advantage of the Goren bridge quiz limited in scope. If there’s a topic to have access to materials. Take that appears in our local papers over that’s too complex for a short talk, the time to organize and edit your the weekend with the answers on break it down into its components handouts. They are valuable. Save Monday. There’s almost always an and take all month with the topic articles from the Bridge Bulletin, answer which bears more discussion as a theme. You can announce the too, when they have information than the brief blurb in the paper. We theme, promise a handout at the end, you can incorporate. are lucky enough in our club to have and use the lectures as an advertising When you are doing a series hand records for every game, and device to attract students to your of these short classes, a theme is these are a rich source of materials. game. For instance, considering most helpful. One I repeat every And don’t forget your own mistakes the three hand patterns that might few years is all the boxes on the and dilemmas. It is reassuring to be expressed by a negative double, . While a lot of those hear that you, too, err and are baffled devote one lecture to each. red boxes allude to conventions my at times. Your own table experience You should have at least two 0-299 players won’t use, they like can be a rich source of material.  examples for them to consider each to know what’s there and they often

ACBL — The Bridge Teacher Newsletter 2 Fall Edition, September 2011 Highlights of the Toronto ABTA Convention

By Joyce Penn

oronto was an incredible looking down through a glass floor, 13–16, at the Memphis Marriott site for the ABTA enjoying the sites. Downtown Hotel. Conference in July At the Thursday evening It is the ACBL’s 75th anniversary 2011. Our host hotel, gala banquet, Betty Starzec, and they invite us to share in Tthe Fairmont Royal York, was membership credentials committee the festivities. Thus our annual elegant in every respect and chairman, presented our new conference will take place early, hosted our Thursday evening master teachers. Wendy Dewell, instead of preceding the Summer awards banquet. One hundred San Jose CA, Laurie Anne Levin, NABC. In celebration of their and five teachers attended this San Antonio TX and Pat Peterson, anniversary, the ACBL offers 54th Annual Conference and Hernando FL received their master ABTA teachers the one-time were treated to excellent speakers teacher pins after success in the opportunity to take the TAP designed to enhance our teaching testing and interview process course free of charge. There are experience and improve our bridge sponsored by the ABTA. Maggie many excellent reasons to join knowledge. Steve Nellissen, of Sparrow, book-software committee the American Bridge Teachers Ramsey NJ, spearheaded our chairman, presented awards Association, but this may provide program, highlighted with bridge to Mary Ann Dufresne, Weeki you an incentive to do so now. Send celebrity speakers: Audrey Grant, Wachee FL and Marion Ellingson, $35 for a one-year membership or Jerry Helms, Julian Laderman, Spring Hill FL, friends who co- $90 for a three-year membership to John Rayner and Mel Colchamiro. authored Bridge With Bells and Kathy Rolfe, 490 North Winnebago Friday morning’s pro panel chaired Whistles. You won’t want to miss Dr, Lake Winnebago MO 64034- by George Jacobs was very this intermediate level book with 9321. Checks may be made payable entertaining with Lisa Berkowitz, concise explanations of some of to ABTA.  Haig Tchamitch, David Lindop, and bridge’s most confusing areas. Mel Colchamiro. Barbara Seagram, The book is valuable for students * Barbara Seagram Bridge Toronto ON, planned a relaxing and and also explains key ideas for Studio; ; Baron educational trip to Niagara on the the teacher to use in classes. Larry Barclay Bridge Supply; Audrey Lake and Shaw Festival, along with Cohen’s intermediate and advanced Grant Better Bridge; John Rayner, dinner and entertainment via an level “Real Deal” DVDs won Canadian National Champion and amphibious bus and Toronto tour software of the year. Teacher; ACBL Unit 166; and the one evening. Audrey Grant, along Looking forward to a new year, ACBL Educational Foundation. with several generous benefactors*, with Brenda Simpson, president treated all the teachers to wine and and Chuck Hodel, vice president, lunch at a downtown private club. at the helm, we hope to surpass this Our Thursday luncheon found year’s record attendance in Toronto. us at the top of the CN Tower, Mark your calendars for March

ACBL — The Bridge Teacher Newsletter 3 Fall Edition, September 2011 The Bridge Teacher’s Bookshelf

By Pat Harrington

Here’s what I look for. is no excuse for not doing so when ❖ Lesson deals that don’t reward possible. When a lesson includes bad bids or plays. For example, more than four deals, it’s best for an off-beat choice of opening each position to declare one of lead shouldn’t set a contract we the first four hands. Equalizing want declarer to make. declarers when I write my own lesson plans is time consuming. ❖ Don’t give the opponents a Some teachers solve the problem ow many bridge reasonable or takeout teaching manuals by having South declare all hands. double when the auction is Students rotate the table card one are on your meant to be non-competitive H position clockwise with each new bookshelf? My shelf is filled with – especially when it changes deal. Don’t let the need to make manuals: all the ACBL texts as well things so that the intended revisions in a teaching manual as the Modern Notrump Bidding lesson no longer applies. and Raises I and II Play negate its usefulness. Just be sure ❖ Courses (all free downloads from More play and chances to prepare far enough in advance to for student involvement, www.acbl.org); Audrey Grant’s allow time to make the changes you experimentation and Bridge Basics I and II; Shirley want. The Dealmaster Pro software self-teaching. Silverman’s Five Card Major (www.dealmaster.com) makes it Complete Teacher’s Manual; Dee Two of the greatest innovations easy to create replacement tabletop Berry’s Cuebids in a Nutshell for bridge teachers were coded hand records. and Two Over One in A Nutshell; cards like the ACBL EZ Deal cards Now for those manuals (new and Val Covalciuc’s Two-Over-One and large tabletop printed hand older) that I’ve just discovered. Game Force; plus several more no records that allow students to make First up is the Easybridge! 2 longer easily available. All of the up their own lesson deals. (All Workshops, ten two-hour lessons above are available from www. three of the manuals I will discuss designed for Easybridge! 2 players. baronbarclay.com. I also have include tabletop printouts.) Topics are: opening leads, , Eddie Kantar’s manuals and have Don’t let these time savers lull rule of 20, the power of trumps, just mailed him my order for his you into a false sense of security so long suits, negative doubles, rule latest Volume V lesson set that you fail to prepare in advance. of 11, getting to game and cuebids (www.kantarbridge.com). Analyze the lesson plan and deals and . Ten more basic I want to tell you about three before class to make sure they meet lessons are offered in, Easybridge! new manuals I just added to my your standards. Look for typos as 1 Workshops. Each lesson includes collection but first, let’s talk about well as analysis errors. the presenter’s mini-lesson where teaching manuals in general. I Do your students express two deals are played and discussed think we all want lessons that are disappointment when they leave as a class, and player’s bonus sheets ready to teach as is, but that might class because they haven’t declared with exercises as well as analysis not be the case when there are so a single hand? If so, check the of four more deals for tables to play many issues to consider. What do distribution of declarers in those at their own pace using the tabletop you want in a manual? (Email me lesson plans. It’s not always easy to hand records and bonus sheets. at [email protected] to equalize declarers — especially in After the mini-lesson, the presenter share your ideas.) competitive auctions — but there stays available in the background,

ACBL — The Bridge Teacher Newsletter 4 Fall Edition, September 2011 keeping an eye on things but ready amazon.com and as an Honors passing where a bid or double will to help when asked, allowing the eBook from www.masterpointpress. affect the use of a convention. players to teach themselves as com where you can also view a You’ll have some work to do if much as possible. The workshops complete table of contents. you want to equalize declarers and do a good job of maintaining I got a nice surprise when I was you might opt to split some lessons the philosophy stated in the researching Bridge With Bells into two, but you can judge for introduction, “The more you want and Whistles — there is a teacher yourself by going to www.master to have learned, the less material manual that serves as a companion pointpress.com to take advantage you should cover. The more you for some of the material! The of a great deal — the splinter want your students to return to you, six available lesson plans cover: bid lesson plan from the manual, the less material you should cover.” control bidding and 1430; Jacoby The Magic of Singletons, can be Each presentation includes a joke 2NT; splinter bids; Bergen raises; downloaded for free! Purchase or story and many of the tabletop major suit raises with three trumps, individual plans or the entire set of hand records have fun sayings on and end with a set of slam bidding lesson plans for only $19.99. them. While Easybridge! is geared practice deals. Teach them as stand- When visiting Masterpoint Press, to helping clubs build duplicate alone lessons or follow the authors’ check out the authors’ first book games, the workshops are great for suggestions for combining lessons for beginners. We Love The Majors all teachers and also work well on to make four-week courses on slam describes bidding and play start- cruises. Each ten-lesson set sells bidding or major-suit raises. ing from scratch. A teacher manual for $100. Contact Marti Ronemus The authors use a technique that is provides plans for the authors’ six- [email protected] or highly effective in setting the stage lesson beginner course based on the 717-699-5222. for presenting a new convention to first seven chapters of the book. The The winner of the 2011 ABTA intermediate students. They pique last three chapters of the book cover Book of the Year Award was the students’ interest at the start of competitive bidding and high-level Masterpoint Press’s new offering, the lesson by having the class play openings and are not included in the Bridge With Bells and Whistles, a deal where they are not likely to first course. Most lessons include written for intermediate players by reach the ideal spot without the new four deals plus another four to be bridge teachers Mary Ann Dufresne bid. Suggested reading references used for home practice guided by and Marion Ellingsen. The authors and homework exercises using an analysis using the book. The re- expand and refine standard the book are included. If your curring theme—we love the majors; bidding and describe common students don’t have the book or if notrump is okay; and we hate the conventions used at duplicate in a you choose to revise the suggested minors — helps students focus on highly readable style. Each chapter methods, you will need to create reaching the best game contracts. includes a summary and quiz but no your own handouts. As the authors Lesson one introduces tricks, complete deals. point out, what we prefer to teach counting points, playing as declarer The book is not intended to and treatments of conventions vary. in suits and notrump and concludes be read straight through. The For example, in the Jacoby 2NT with dummy points. Lesson six authors suggest starting with the lesson opener’s rebids of three of a advocates opening 1NT with bal- first three chapters covering hand major and 3NT were different from anced or semi-balanced hands and evaluation, notrump openings and any I’ve seen before. Lesson plans teaches both Stayman and transfers. forcing bids. I particularly like the use cards on the table rather than a The book and manual are available section on forcing bids entitled blackboard to make various points. as Honors eBooks or in paperback. The Controversial Stuff. Not However, there are some problems. With our busy teaching season many books address bidding after The tabletop hand record of Deal 5 upon us, we welcome the help partner’s opening bid is doubled for of the Jacoby 2NT shows the wrong that teacher manuals provide. To takeout or rebids in a standard two- deals, which results in a completely paraphrase the above, “We Love the over-one auction. At under $20, this different auction without the use Manuals” and we love the authors book can be purchased in paperback of Jacoby 2NT. Another deal has who provide them!  from bridge supply houses or an opponent with a clear-cut action

ACBL — The Bridge Teacher Newsletter 5 Fall Edition, September 2011 2011 ABTA Teacher of the Year

athie Walsh, from Hilton Head SC, won the 2011 K ABTA Teacher of the Year cash award and trophy for her many contributions to bridge (L to R) Joyce Penn, ABTA President, Kathie Walsh, Barbara Seagram teaching and bridge itself. Master Point Press annually sponsors this South Carolina because they had who can’t or don’t want to take prestigious award with Committee visited there previously and were an eight-week course. “I tell Chairs Marilyn Kalbfleisch, Marti favorably impressed. people that even if the class is too Ronemus, Barbara Seagram, Linda Kathie became a bridge teacher easy or too hard they will learn Lee and Brenda Simpson. in 2002, taking the Better Bridge something,” Kathie says, and she “For a long time,” Kathie says, Accreditation Program taught by notes that “I’m still learning.” “I thought I knew how to play Audrey Grant at the bridge club in Kathie is the second teacher from bridge.” She found out differently Hilton Head. Her plan to improve South Carolina to earn Teacher of when she moved to Hilton Head by teaching paid off in 2003, when the Year honors following 2010 SC in 1999. she became a Life Master. winner Tina Radding of Charleston. Just retired, she started playing Her classes started with slightly Gerry La Chance of Collingwood duplicate in Hilton Head. more than a dozen people, but ON received special recognition Determined to improve her game, now often exceed 100. She teaches for service to the game and she hit upon a plan. “I decided the bridge three times a week. She the profession.  best way to learn was to teach,” designs the classes for people says Kathie. ABTA President Joyce Penn notes that Kathie’s students gave ACBL Mobile Apps – Find a Teacher her high recommendations, “and her teaching material is great.” The ACBL is in the process of creating a “Find a Teacher” Barbara Seagram has visited mobile app. The app will work like the “Find a Club” app that in Hilton Head and seen Kathie is currently available. Users will be able to conduct searches for bridge teachers by using the device’s GPS tracking in action. “She has built such an capability or manually by city/state or zip/postal code. enormous bridge community there. If you are currently listed in the online Teacher directory She nurtures her students and has your information will automatically be available on the mobile app. If you such charm and grace.” are not currently listed in the online directory but would like to be listed, go Kathie lived in the Philadelphia to the following link and fill out the online teacher listing application: http:// area before retiring to South Caro- fs3.formsite.com/acbl/form142291791/index.html lina. She taught in high schools and Teachers will also have the option of adding their phone number and colleges before retiring in 1998. web sites to the directory. If you would like to make your phone number She and her husband moved to available, please let us hear from you.

ACBL — The Bridge Teacher Newsletter 6 Fall Edition, September 2011 2011 ABTA Applebasket Award

Richard Braunstein of Lancaster beautiful crystal apple prize for an must be available to you and you PA was the winner of the 2011 ingenious teaching tip. need a way to access your money. ABTA Applebasket Award. Here is To his students, Richard describes Similarly, you need to establish Richard’s tip: long suits with money symbols, long suits and you need an to Because long suits bring us instead of small card symbols. the hand with the long suit to cash much success, prosperity and Instead of A K x x x, or Q J x x x x, your tricks and reap the rewards. rewards playing bridge hands, he uses A K $ $ $ and Q J $ $ $ $ When you establish long suits, all Richard Braunstein coined when he outlines how to cash in on of the remaining cards that you the savvy phrase “Money in a long suit’s useful source of tricks. hold in a suit become winners. the Bank,” to describe He tells his students that you need He follows this explanation with long suits to his students. two things to turn checks into cash illustrative hands in which students at the bank: checks clearing and practice establishing long suits and Submitting this concept in the either using an ATM or going to the cashing winners. annual ABTA’s Applebasket Award bank when it’s open, to obtain the Congratulations, Richard!  contest, Richard took home the money. In other words, the money

Facebook There are two types page at https://www.facebook. of pages on Facebook, com/help/?page=904 provides pages for individuals and fan information about managing pages. Individual pages are for your page, including choosing a people who can then “friend” other username, assigning individuals on people. Fan pages, on the other Facebook the right to administer hand, give your business, company, your page, and much more. or organization a presence on Some ways you might use Do We Have Facebook for your benefit: Facebook. People can choose to Your Email become a “fan” of your page. As ✤ Communicate upcoming a bridge teacher, you will want class information. Address? to create a fan page rather than ✤ Congratulate students on Beginning in 2012, the an individual page. People who outstanding achievements and Bridge Teacher newsletter become fans of your page will see advances in masterpoint ranks. will no longer be sent by your posts in their Facebook “Most ✤ Upload photos from your regular mail. An electronic Recent” timeline, along with their classes and games. Members version will be emailed to all friends’ status updates. who are your fans will be able teachers. If you would like To create a fan page, go here: to tag themselves in the photos. to continue to receive the https://www.facebook.com/pages/ ✤ Link to relevant information on Bridge Teacher, please be create.php your unit website. sure we have your current Choose “company, organization or ✤ Link to local news articles email address on file. institution” from the choices pro- about bridge. vided and Facebook will walk you Send your email address to ✤ through the creation of your page. Link to relevant information on [email protected].  The Facebook Fan Page help the ACBL’s website.

ACBL — The Bridge Teacher Newsletter 7 Fall Edition, September 2011 AMERICAN CONTRACT BRIDGE LEAGUE PRSRT STD 6575 Windchase Blvd. • Horn Lake, MS 38637–1523 U.S. POSTAGE EditorS PAID Vicki Campbell & Dana Norton HORN LAKE, MS DESIGN & LAYOUT Permit No. 11 Cindy Hill & Linda Harris Contributors

Lynn Berg • Joyce Penn • Pat Harrington

— The Bridge Teacher Newsletter Teacher Bridge The — ACBL Fall Edition, September 2011 September Edition, Fall

Jay Baum, CEO Baum, Jay

Kindest regards, Kindest

classes. You will always be the lifeblood of our League. our of lifeblood the be always will You classes.

happen. My sincere appreciation and best wishes for continued success and growth with your bridge bridge your with growth and success continued for wishes best and appreciation sincere My happen.

the ACBL’s success of the last ten years has been largely due to the efforts by all of you to make things things make to you of all by efforts the to due largely been has years ten last the of success ACBL’s the

a “regular” continues for many years. My role as CEO with the ACBL is coming to a close and I realize realize I and close a to coming is ACBL the with CEO as role My years. many for continues “regular” a

I hope the satisfaction you get from seeing a new player progress and become become and progress player new a seeing from get you satisfaction the hope I

and bring new faces into our league. our into faces new bring and

in the last few years has been a direct result of your efforts to promote bridge bridge promote to efforts your of result direct a been has years few last the in

that you have recruited and trained for many years. The growth in membership membership in growth The years. many for trained and recruited have you that

tremendous support you have given the ACBL and the thousands of members members of thousands the and ACBL the given have you support tremendous

I want to take this opportunity to say “Thank You” to all of you for the the for you of all to You” “Thank say to opportunity this take to want I

Dear Teachers, Dear A Message from the CEO the from Message A