the sun Unit 446 Seattle Unit Newsletter June/July 2009
MAY KO SECTIONAL THIS WEEKEND! Come join us this weekend for 4 days of fun & bridge; there will be lots of knock out events as well as pair games at all levels. We’re at our usual site for this sectional; the Renton Community Center on Maple Valley Highway. If you don’t have a partner, email [email protected] and provide your total masterpoints, your system approach, and what events you need a partner or team (do this as soon as you can; time is running out!). We hope to see you at the table (see event schedule on page 11). Heads Up: Remember to bring home-made cookies, muffins and bread for a hospitable May Knockout. Volunteers can help out at many of our functions. They can contact Julie at [email protected]. Special Thanks to those who are helping. --Julie
MAKE A DIFFERENCE Do you have an idea or want to volunteer your talent/skill to improve bridge in the Seattle Unit? We are looking for enthusiastic volunteers to serve on the Unit 446 Board. If you are interested but don’t know what’s invovled, speak to one of our current board members. There are two & three year terms; the deadline isn’t until this fall so we hope you’ll consider becoming a candidate. ' What is it? It is an opportunity for you to play on a Swiss team captained by one of Seattle’s best bridge players. When is it? Sunday, Sept 20, 2009. Be there at 5 PM for team organization. Bring a potluck dish to share. Where is it? The Eastside Bridge Center, 8151 164 Ave NE, Redmond; entry fee is $7. How does it work? 24 of Seattle’s finest bridge players have volunteered to be the team captain. At 5 PM on the 20th of September, the captains will gather in a room and take turns picking their teams. It’s just like the NFL draft. After the teams are selected and announced, you will play one match partnered with each person on your team including the captain. Who can participate? You! Bridge players of all experience levels from beginner to expert are welcome! But you do need to sign up at ESBC (425-881-6110) or email Balusu Rao ([email protected]) to reserve your space. Don’t miss out on this fun event! If you’ve signed up but find that you can’t make it, please contact Rao as soon as possible.
Organized and sponsored by Seattle Bridge Unit 446. PRESIDENTS CORNER Pat Dunn One of the perks of serving as president of Captains’ Teams at the Eastside Bridge Center the Seattle Unit is the opportunity to converse in September. This event had a widespread periodically with the membership through this popularity in years past when run as part of forum. Our year is off to a promising start, with a club competitive program. It provides for a a wide range of upcoming activities including great opportunity for players to meet, partner, some new sites for the sectional tournaments. and compete with a wide range of players in a team event. Contact Balusu Rao or other unit By the time you read this, we will be board members for details. commencing the Memorial weekend sectional, at the familiar venue of the Renton Community Each year there are unit elections to fill Center just off of I-405. For the time being, positions on the Seattle unit board as positions we will be losing access to this site as their become vacant. Term length is now for three management has determined to not rent their years. The board is comprised of a broad facility out for Sunday events (a cost matter cross section of the unit membership and we from their perspective, I believe). Thus, in look forward to interest from a wide-ranging the last year or so, we have lost use of two group of new aspirants. Contact any current of our most popular and accessible tournament board member or simply submit in writing sites (Renton and the Boeing Aeromechanics your desire to serve on the unit board. Hall in the Georgetown area of Seattle). In an While the current board membership has been effort to give some geographic balance to our identified in previous publications, the board tournament sites, the August Suntan sectional is comprised of Mary Ruth Blustein, Pat Dunn, will be held in the Shoreline community to better Julie Godefroy, Steve Kasner, Linda Mamula, accommodate the north Seattle population – Beth McCaslin, John McCaslin, Chris Moore, since over the past decade the vast majority Barbara Nist, Curt Peterson, Balusu Rao, and of our tournaments have been held in the Laurie Sayer. Please provide input to any southern or eastern sections of the unit. We member on matters of interest and concern are always receptive to ideas for new sites, so to you. We are best served when we are able please communicate any thoughts and ideas consider the desires of the broadest range of you have for future tournament possibilities. the membership. We look forward to seeing, In addition to our unit tournament and monthly speaking with, and playing against you at our unit game calendar, we will be sponsoring upcoming tournaments.
New Requirements for Life Master What are the new requirements? As of January 1, 2010, the requirements for attaining Life Master status will change from 300 to 500 total masterpoints: 50 must be gold or platinum, 50 red, gold, or platinum, 75 silver and 75 black. What does this mean? If you are not a Life Master and your ACBL membership is not active as of Dec. 31, 2009, you will be required to fulfill the new Life Master requirements. It also means that if you let your ACBL membership lapse after January 1, 2010, before you become a Life Master, the new requirements will apply to you. Help spread the word and let anyone not currently an ACBL member know that now would be an excellent time to join! The Cloud with the Lead Lining Dick Yarington Partner was sick. Not the usual mental stuff but the flu. In fact, he may have been the first victim in Canada with the Swine Flu. During the Victoria Regional, in an auction too stupid to recount, I became the declarer in 5 clubs from the short side. Dummy: void A K x x x K Q 10 x x A Q x Declarer: xxx Q 10 x x J x x x 10 x Partner had bid 4NT which was Blackwood and cashed the King of hearts and that was it for then in a fog passed my 5 club response. The me. 5 Clubs down 6 for -600. opening lead was a high spade. Shock was The next day one of the opponents said to replaced by fury as I looked things over. If the partner “Remember that crazy hand? Would King of clubs is onside we are cold for a small you believe that you scored well above average slam in either red suit. After I regained my on it?” It turns out that East/West is cold for composure, I ruffed the spade and played the 620 in spades. The King and Jack of clubs sit King of diamonds; RHO won and returned a over our A Q combination so that we can only diamond which LHO ruffed. He returned a club take 2 hearts and 1 club trick on defense. In and I decided to go up with the Ace. I crossed fact, Ray Miller was plus 850 East/West when to my hand with a heart to the Queen and the opponents didn’t get their 3 defensive then ruffed a spade with the Queen of clubs. I tricks.
MEMBERSHIP NEWS (MARCH/APRIL 2009) Julie Godefroy New ACBL members receive one free play at each club. If you’re having fun, invite your friends! NEW MEMBERS(15) Bill Cornelius, Susan Cornelius, Amy Csink, Patricia Dennis, Judith Dubester, Pam Ashelman, Nancy Friehauf, Andrew Gove, Sylvester Hill, Sally Jarvis, Felix Leeb, Sherrie Liebsack, Roger Morse, Margo Shute, Petty Taylor NEW TRANSFERS IN (5) Jan Ellis, Leah Gershaw, Paul Hoskin, Marietta Larson, Helen Taucher RANK ADVANCEMENT Junior Masters (5): Travis Keeler, Kent McNall, Ann Mead, Robert Reaber, Dr. Otto Spoerl, Rich- ard Wasser, Toshiko Watson Club Masters (20): Receive 4 free plays at any Seattle Sectional. Congratulations! John Kirsch, Melvin Mackey, Luciana McCants, Maxine Montgomery, Jack Randles, John Simon, Richard Thompson, Rona Visser Sectional Masters (50): Sue Chen, Rajendra Gokhale, Renae Gunstone-White, Kevin Hop- ton, Donna Larson, Larry Li, Mark McWiggins, Lynn Morgan, Dianne Tucker, LaNita Wacker, Tim White Regional Masters (100): Edwin Baker, John Impert, Curt Peterson NABC Masters (200): John Kehoe, Maxine Linial, Huang Zeng Life Master (300)**: Annette Allen, Ada Frenock ** Starting January 1 2010 Life Master Requirements change to 500 total masterpoints for new ACBL members Bronze Life Master (500): Cynthia Sacks Silver Life Master (1000): David Hildebrand, David Roselle Karen Westerlund, Tom Williams
Congratulations on your achievements! As of April 30, 2009: 1329 Members (& Growing) Club News Eastside Bridge Center 8151 164th Ave NE (425) 881-6110 http://www.eastsidebridgecenter.com
Congratulations to Our STaC Winners We had a total of 119 tables and averaged nearly 12 tables per session. Thanks for participating in our STaC Week. Of note, two pairs had 70% games during our STaC Week. Tim White and Renae Gunstone-White led the way with a superb 74.77% game on Tuesday evening. The other pair, Dave Hildebrand and Julius Budos, scored back to back 70% games and won nearly 28 master points for their efforts.
Pre-dealt Hands and Hand Records ESBC is now the proud owner of a “Duplimate Machine” -- a fancy piece of equipment that can randomly deal cards and generate hand records! We plan to use the “Duplimate” to prepare boards and hand records for special events as well as many of our regularly scheduled games, beginning with Thursday nights. You may notice that the cards have “bar codes” so the “duplimate” can distribute the correct cards to each hand! Enjoy. NEW GAME Our Thurs. night game now has a new limit - 0-3000
Need a Partner? Give Us a Call at 425-881-6110 We will gladly try to make partnership arrangements for you. Please call the night before or at least 1 hour ahead of game time so we can accommodate your request.
Rainbow Bridge Club 115 16th Ave (425)387-2610
We are right in the middle of Seattle, close to The cost to play is $4.00 except for special everything! We host three games per week, games. Rainbow Bridge Club is a GLBT based on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. group but all friendly people are welcome! Rainbow Bridge Club welcomes players of Visit our website at RainbowBridgeClub.org for all levels and we make fun a priority. New directions, announcements, scheduled games, to duplicate bridge? We’re the club for you! and posted scores! Questions? Email us at The weekday games are always 7:00pm; [email protected]. We are always Saturday games are at 6:00pm. The 1st and looking for friendly new faces to come and 3rd Saturdays are limited games, 0-299. All join us and we aim to keep Rainbow as “the other games are open to all levels. There is friendliest game in town!” no game on the 2nd Tuesday of the month due Running late? Call Nick to reserve your spot to scheduling conflicts with our host facility. in the game at (425) 387-2610. Upcoming events * Every Saturday is a Charity Game for the same $4.00! * 1st Tuesday of the month is a Club Championship. Also $4.00. * Charity Swiss Teams on Saturday, May 30th and Saturday, June 27th at 6:00! * No game on Saturday, May 23rd (Memorial Day weekend). Club News Mercercrest Bridge Club Mercer Island Congregational Church 4545 Island Crest Way, Mercer Island Tuesday 7 PM The most exciting news for the Mercercrest We recently participated in the Western Bridge Club is that we’re now using a web site Regional Spring STaC game and Al Peters and created by Randy Corn for the Unit. The Bill Breeze were the big winners with a 62.92% web site, http://www.BridgeInSeattle.org is still game. They were 17th in Flight A among all undergoing improvements but we’ve been the clubs who participated in the Tuesday night able to add our results to the Mercercrest open event. Congratulations to Al and Bill. section which saves all the emailing. Also, It was a pleasure to get to know Kingsley Jar- those interested can see who won even if they vis as he played at our club for several months. couldn’t play at our club that week. We sin- Our thoughts are with Chris and Cassy. cerely thank the Unit Board and Randy for set- ting up a site that will have information on all Once again, our club will be participating in the Seattle and Eastside clubs in one spot and the NAP games. We will hold three, one each that will provide a uniform site for the smaller month in June, July, and August. The first one clubs. Eventually, we’ll be able to change our will be June 9. Other dates have yet to be de- home page to have upcoming events listed termined. Also, we will hold our 2nd quarter but we’re not quite there yet. club championship game in June. The date will be available soon on our web site. On March 17, our club participated in a na- tionwide Charity game held on a Tuesday eve- For more information about the Mercercrest ning throughout the country. Jim Aitken and Bridge Club, please contact Marsha Rayton via Marion Nelson were first overall at our club email: [email protected] or [email protected]. with a 65.40% game and earned 4.33 master Cell phone is 206 601-5211. We meet every points. Scott Martin and Pete Cowles were Tuesday night in the lower level of the Mercer first overall for both flights B and C witha Island Congregational Church. Start time is 59.23% game and won 3.25 master points. 7pm. We average 18 tables and are strati- Boards were premade with hand records. fied. Partnerships are available with advance Since this was also St. Patrick’s Day, we cel- notice. The cost for regular games remains at ebrated the Irish with “green” treats. $5.00. Please join us. March Winners Rose Bolson (3.12), Dick Yarington (3.00), Ray Miller (2.77), Ruth Bunin (2.60), John Feo (2.56). April Winners Ray Miller (3.23), Cornel Galer (2.85), Ken Christiansen (2.82), Elaine DeShaw (2.69), Edith DeShaw (2.69), Dan Romm (2.58).
2009 MUG Schedule The Monthly Unit Game (MUG) begins at 6pm and alternates between the Seattle Bridge Center (SBC) and the Eastside Bridge Center (ESBC). The November MUG game is a charity game and December’s MUG is a potluck gathering that will begin at 5pm before the MUG game. June 7th ESBC Sep 13th SBC July 12th SBC Oct 4th ESBC Aug 2nd ESBC Nov 8th SBC Dec 13th SBC Club News Emerald Bridge Club (at Belmor Country Club) 2101 S 324th St, Federal Way. (253) 939-0733 http://www.bridge.here.ws/ http://home.comcast.net/~emudd/bridge.html Open Pairs Stratified Among the Emerald Bridge Club winners Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10:00am were, Sharon Gaunt and Judy Hyde Second in Need a partner? Call Dennie Dye 253.939.0733 a 24 table on Friday. In the Saturday 199ers, Judy Johnston and Kayel White were Second. Emerald Bridge Club held a Pro/Am game; The Swiss Team of Wes and Shirley Kuhlman, partners were chosen by drawing a name from Barbara Kolppa and John Emmerson tied for a hat. Dennie furnished hot dogs and buns and First, Second and Third in a 33 team event. all the trimmings to add to the fun. We had NICE going! the opportunity to play with someone new. And everyone had a great time. Wes Kuhlman, the author of “Bridge Maxims for Serious Bridge Players,” offers this month’s Pro/Am Winners tip: “Remember that your long suits suggest N/S 1st Beverly Rioux & Wes Kuhlman 59% similar distribution in the other three hands 2nd Marge Blunt & Deana Chapman 56% 3rd Carmen Flak & Lana Lu Hull 55% and lead to contracts that most do not fulfill but also leads to penalty doubles that are rarely E/W 1st Darrel Davis & Judy Johnston 61% penalized. And, remember, our aim is not to 3rd John Eastman & Ozzie Dalam 56% 4th Lester Elijah & Sally Shdo 52% penalize but to establish EQUITY; a position I cannot justify nor explain satisfactorily.” The pair who placed 2nd E/W was not Pro/Am Come and join us at the friendly Emerald We welcomed first time visitors Barbara Kolppa, Bridge Club – it’s a Gem of a game! Jim Eberle, Larry and Judy Bengtson, Tom Murray and Bud Winders. We also welcomed March Winners April Winners back Hank Nishizaki who has recovered from a Bud Schafer Marge Blunt broken arm. Y’all come back! Ralph Eley Judy Hyde Many of our players participated in the Tacoma Shirley Kuhlman Bernice Clark Daffodil Sectional. In the overalls out of 198 Judy Hyde David O’Harrow players, Shirley Kuhlman was Third, Barbara Henry Flak Laurie Wilson Kolppa Fourth and Wes Kuhlman Fourteenth.
Des Moines Bridge Club Des Moines Community Center (425) 277-1864 Fri 10:30 am Come and join us in Des Moines! We have grown from six or seven tables to between 10 and 12. We have a wonderful mix of people at all levels of play. There’s plenty of competition for ‘A’ players and we have enough ‘C’ players to make it a comfortable game for all. Since the game starts at 10:30 am, we have a wonderful pot luck atmosphere. We do not take a lunch break so you can nibble throughout the game. Bringing food is not mandatory but if you partake and enjoy it’s nice to contribute something now and then. We emphasize a friendly game and have been very successful in accomplishing this goal. The staff and the facilities are top notch. The entry fee is $4.00. Jan Sluga, Manager and Director Club News Seattle Bridge Center 1539 NE 145th, Seattle (206) 282-6414 M-F 10:30am, Fri 7:30 pm, Sat noon, Sun 1pm email: [email protected] website: http://seattlebridgecenter.tripod.com Make Reservations now for the WORLD-WIDE PAIRS Friday June MARCH TOP 5th at 7:30PM and Saturday June 6th at Noon. Come play the MASTERPOINT WINNERS same hands that are played in clubs around the world. See on Rose Bolson the internet how you compare and see who is playing in other Lorraine Leach countries. Corrine Joinette THE MONTHLY UNIT GAME IS AT SBC Sunday July 12th at 6PM. Bob Kirk Reservations please. APRIL TOP NORTH AMERICAN PAIRS are being played at the club level at SBC MASTERPOINT WINNERS many times in June, July and August. Check our calendar or the Rose Bolson web site for dates and times. Mackie Ogino INT’L FUND GAME Friday July 24th at 7:30PM. Suzanne Sax BRIDGE CLASSES started new sessions in April with Nick Tipton, Corrine Joinette the director of Rainbow Bridge club, as the instructor. Nick is a friendly, low-key guy who will make everyone comfortable while making learning fun and exciting. Beginning classes are Monday evening at 7PM with intermediate classes on Saturday mornings. Please contact Nick by email at [email protected]. Marilyn Shelton is teaching a class for intermediate players on Wednesday evenings and has lots of info to give for the advancing players. Contact Marilyn at [email protected] if you would like to join her sessions. You may also call or email the club. HALF PRICE GAMES ($3.50) every Tuesday and Friday mornings at 10:30AM. UNLIMITED FREE PARKING with handicap access. A PARTNER IS ALWAYS AVAILABLE
Newcastle Bridge Club 7454 Newcastle Golf Club Rd Day of game phone: 425-956-3708 Newcastle Bridge Club is the newest and nicest During the month of May we will be offering facility in the area. We are slowly growing as games benefitting the ACBL Educational more players become familiar with the facility. Foundation and in June the games will benefit We play Tuesdays at noon and Thursdays the ACBL International Fund. All games will at 7pm. Lunch or dinner is provided free of award triple masterpoints. charge. Menus are provided the week of each Congratulations to Stan Roberts, one of our game, so if you want to be included please, regulars, who became a Life Master. Good notify me. work Stan! The last Thursday in April was pizza night. Newcastle Bridge Club will be closed the week Serving homemade pizza was a great hit and of June 15th. Hope to see you in Penticton. we are going to continue with the last Thursday of the month as pizza night. If you are not If you haven’t attended our game yet, give us a regular and are planning to attend, please a try. notify me so I can guarantee enough pizza for Barbara Nist, [email protected] everyone. 206-824-7788, 425-351-2464 A Hand of Interest Ray Miller You are playing in a close 32 board knockout partner’s grand slam try, but you still don’t match when you pick up: know where. So you bid 7 clubs, leaving Ax KQ9 8xxx KQJT all possibilities open to partner. Partner finishes the auction by bidding 7 spades. You are vulnerable, the opponents are not. His hand: KQJTxx AJTx void Axx You hear the bidding proceed one spade, by your partner in first seat, 3 diamonds As you can see 7 spades is lay down. on your right. You have no good bid at So, in the match, did one of the teams this point. The player who held these cards achieve this fine contract? Well, no, not made a negative double. This seems like exactly. At our teammates table, they the best bid to me. You don’t have 4 hearts, arrived in 6 clubs and the opponents but everything else is even less descriptive. sacrificed in 6 diamonds, which went for Now it goes 5 diamonds on your left, and -1400. At our table, the auction went as your partner bids 5 hearts. RHO passes suggested through 5 hearts, but my LHO and it’s back to you. raised to 6 hearts and was in the precarious What should you do? You have plenty of 4-3 fit, getting tapped in the long hand values to bid a slam, but where? Partner is at trick 1. Double dummy 6 hearts can very likely void in diamonds. He could be make. You ruff the opening lead and cash 5-4-0-4 in which case you belong in clubs. two clubs in dummy. LHO pitches a spade He could be 5-5-0-3 and hearts is right. on the 2nd round of clubs. You now cash He could be 6-4-0-3 and spades may be 3 spades, LHO pitching diamonds on the best. How can you tell? Which slam do you 2nd and 3rd round. With 5 black winners bid? The expert way to handle this kind of in the pot, you can now finish with a high a problem is that you pass the decision to crossruff, and make 12 tricks. If at any partner. You do that by bidding 5NT which time LHO ruffs in from his 4 card heart asks partner to pick the best slam. This holding, win the return, pull trump and convention is certainly a savior here. cross back to your hand with the ace of clubs. Over your 5NT bid, your partner bids 6 diamonds. What is this? I think that the Fortunately for our team, declarer at proper interpretation of this bid is that our table came up with a line to play partner is looking for a grand slam. He is the diamond preemptor for short hearts, willing to play 6 of a major, or a suit at the instead of long and ended down 3 for a 17 7 level. Your hand is appropriate to accept imp gain in a match that eventually went to overtime and a win in a 4 board playoff.
Here is the full deal: Ax KQ9 8xxx KQJT
xx 8xxx KQJxxx x xxx xx Axx xxxxx
KQJTxx AJTx Void Axx GRAND NATIONAL TEAMS Congratulations to the following teams who won their respective flights at the District 19 finals that were held in Vancouver, BC. The first place winners of each flight is eligible to represent our district at the Nationals this summer in Washington, D.C. GNT CHAMPIONSHIP FLIGHT 1st Ray Miller, Seattle WA 2nd Larry Pocock, New Westminster BC Craig Barkhouse, Redmond, WA Gerry McCully, New Westminster BC Stanford Christie, Federal Way WA Joel Martineau, Vancouver BC Rod Caldwell, Snoqualmie WA Martin Henneberger, Coquitlam BC Dave Setterholm, Issaquah WA GNT “A” FLIGHT 1st Dave Grubbs, Seattle WA 2nd Sandra Robson, New Westminster BC; Kevin Bolan, Snohomish, WA Gene Fomin, Glacier WA John Maki, Bothell WA Michael Dodson, Bellingham, WA Bill O’Brien, Mountlake Terr WA Ron Beall, Bellingham WA
GNT “B” FLIGHT 1st Brian Liu, Vancouver BC; 2nd Andrew Nalos, Vancouver BC Long Xie, Burnaby BC Grant Gayman, Vancouver BC Eric Pan, Burnaby BC Anne Smith, Burnaby BC Kai Zhou, Burnaby BC Kenneth Ramsay, West Vancouver BC GNT “C” FLIGHT 1st Roy Li, Burnaby, BC Ann Hung, Vancouver, BC Amy Gao, Richmond, BC Xiangdong Meng, Vancouver, BC
intermediate/novice corner
Bidding Box Protocol & Scoring Do not touch your bid box until it is your turn to bid and you know what your bid is going to be. If you make a bid and realize it is not the bid you meant to make, make an immediate announcement to the table then call the director before doing anything more. You still have this option even if your left hand opponent has made their call... this option is available as long as your partner has not made a bid (pass is a bid). If partner has made their call when you realize that you’ve made an erroneous bid, leave your bid on the table without gasping, wincing, or twitching. We have all done this at one time or another. Accidents happen and can actually have some interesting unique results as I’ve learned from personal experience. Scores for each bid are listed on the back side of each bid card (1 Club, 1 Diamond, etc). Turn it over to find the all the scores. FLORENCE BEAIRD LEADS MICROSOFT TROPHY RACE A strong and consistent series of performances at the Seattle Winter Sectional over Super Bowl weekend placed Florence Beaird in the lead for the Microsoft Trophy – awarded at year’s end to the Seattle unit member who accumulates the most masterpoints in Seattle sectional tournament events for the year. Florence accumulated 28.97 points during the tournament and has roughly a three-and-a-half point lead over 2007 winner Rod Caldwell. The top 20 at the quarter-pole are as follows: 1. Florence Beaird 28.97 11. Ken Christiansen 12.99 2. Rod Caldwell 25.40 12. Jude Ballard 12.37 3. Dave Setterholm 25.16 13. Pat Dunn 11.66 4. Emery Selymes 18.52 14. Jim Aitken 11.58 5. Ray Miller 18.14 15. Henry Lortz 11.54 6. Steve Mansfield 17.93 16. Yayoi French 11.17 7. Stan Christie 17.84 17. Cindy Glad 11.09 8. John Swanson 16.56 18. Barbara Nist 10.54 Don Christensen 19. Linda Stix 9.88 10. Balusu Rao 15.26 20. Neil Ballard 9.21 Marilyn Breeze
LEEANNE CREECH LEADS JABON TROPHY RACE Each year the Seattle unit awards the Joe Jabon trophy to the unit member who starts the calendar year with fewer than 20 masterpoints and wins the most points in the Seattle Unit sectionals which include the 0-200 tournaments. After the conclusion of the Winter sectional and the March 0-200 event, LeeAnne Creech holds the lead by 61 fractionals over Susanna Hunter. Leaders going into the Memorial Day sectional are as follows: 1. LeeAnne Creech 4.37 5. Lawrence Watson 2.24 2. Susanna Hunter 3.76 6. Raynor Christianson 2.23 3. Don Montgomery 2.57 7. Shawna Cheney 2.10 Maxine Montgomery 8. Toshiko Watson 2.04
NORTH AMERICAN PAIRS It’s time again for the race to win the North American Pair Event. Each year, we attempt to qualify at the club level in order to compete for one of three spots at the district level. If we are successful, then we are off to the Nationals; this year the Spring NABC (North American Bridge Championship) will be in March 11-21 at the Grand Sierra Resort & Casino in Reno, NV. Club level games are held in June, July and August. You earn half red/half black points. There will be no unit finals for this event. All players that qualify at the club level are eligible to play in the District Final, November 14, 2009 during the Surrey Regional in British Columbia. Eligibility: Flight A Open to any player * Flight B Players with less than 2000 MPs as of the June masterpoint cycle. * Flight C Non-Life Masters with fewer than 500 MPs as of the June masterpoint cycle.* * The June masterpoint cycle is run by ACBL data processing between May 1 and May 15. Any points won but not included in this cycle do not affect masterpoint eligibility.
Congratulations to Flight A Pair Kenny Scholes & Dick Yarington who finished 10th and Flight C Pair Christine Ding & David Taylor who placed 9th at the 2009 Houston NABC. The Meaning of 1NT – 2H – P – P – Double Dan Romm It has always been my you hear my opening bid?” days to open 1NT with contention that many But, alternatively, let’s a five card major)? I current conventions are suppose we get lucky and would certainly like to illogical. Here is one of partner is also short in double with this hand! them: it is fashionable hearts. Now, although True, RHO may run nowadays to play 1NT – 2H partner is short, he elected even though he initially – P – P – double as takeout to pass even though you elected to pass. If he showing shortness in hearts. presumably have some does, partner is likely Now I was raised on the tools at your disposal to be long in whatever following rule: if you have which would allow him suit he runs to and may shown your hand and to bid, i.e., Lebensohl, double (especially at the don’t have something of Rubensohl, or double for three level). In either additional importance to takeout (although this too case, you are likely to tell your partner, you are is a bad convention). So, a get a two trick set. But done unless forced to bid. typical hand would be xxx, even if you only get Clearly, a 1NT opener is xx, Qxxx, xxxx. Holding a one trick set, you pretty descriptive, so is the this hand, although I still are no worse off than fact that you are short in want to puke and punish letting them play 2H hearts an additional fact partner, ethically I must undoubled down two. important enough to force bid 3C instead of 2NT. So True, they may run to partner to act? Let’s see. now I am at the 3-level a makeable part score If you are short in hearts with a combined 17 – 19 for +110 when you had there is a good chance that HCP. If clubs are 4-1 do I +100 defending two partner is long in hearts. want to play 4C doubled? I hearts (the worst case), But, if so, partner chose to don’t think so. But again, but again this is not pass with his heart length suppose we get lucky likely enough to offset instead of doubling. So, and clubs are 3-2 so the the up side of a double. a likely hand (although it opponents take the push So, I strongly could be worse) is xxx, to three hearts. Are we recommend playing 9xxx, Qxx, xxx. If I hold likely to beat this? No, a reopening double this hand and my partner you can’t fight tanks with for penalty, contrary reopens with a double, I pillows, although I agree to current practice. resist the temptation to that this possibility is an up Furthermore, I suggest puke and always bid 2NT. side to the double (albeit you analyze ALL Why? Because I prefer to not nearly likely enough conventions to see if punish partner by making to offset the severe down they are logical. You him play the hand! This side). (but not me) would be will be ample recompense So, should you never surprised how many for the zero he just handed reopen with a double? of them don’t hold up us by essentially saying, Well, suppose you hold under close scrutiny. “Partner, how can you pass AQx, AJ1098, Kx, Qxx (it when I open 1NT? Didn’t is commonplace these
useful websites: acbl website: www.acbl.org d19 website: d19.org seattle website: www.bridgeinseattle.org Seattle Bridge Unit 446 May 22-25 2009
Partnership ACBL, District 19, & Seattle Tournament websites [email protected] http://www.acbl.org/play/tournaments.html http://www.d19.org/competitions/RegSects/d19Trail09.html http://bridgeinseattle.org/shopcontent.asp?type=flyers Day of Tournament Phone 425 533-1355
Friday, August 7 1:30pm 199’er pairs (single session) Stratified Open Pairs 7:30pm 199’er Pairs (single session) Stratified Open Pairs (single session) Saturday, August 8 12:30pm 199’er Pairs (single session) Stratified Open Pairs (1st of 2 sessions) Single session entry accepted 6:30pm 199’er Pairs (single session) Stratified Open Pairs (2nd of 2 sessions) Single session entry accepted Sunday, August 9 10:30am 199’er Swiss (single session) & TBA Stratified Open Swiss (two sessions)
Directions from Seattle • I-5 North to 145th St (Take Exit 175) • Turn left over the freeway on 145th St • Continue along 145th St to Aurora Ave (Hwy 99) • Turn right onto Aurora Ave • Continue north on Aurora Ave to 160th St • Turn left at 160th St • Continue on 160th St thru one stop light (Dayton Ave) to stop sign at Greenwood Ave N • Turn right onto Greenwood Ave N then a quick angle to left onto Innis Arden Way • Entrance to campus about 50 feet on the right side Directions from Everett • I-5 South to 175th St (Take Exit 176) • Turn right onto 175th St • Continue on 175th St to Aurora Ave (Hwy 99) • Turn left onto Aurora Ave • At 160th turn right • Continue on 160th St thru one stop light (Dayton Ave) to stop sign at Greenwood Ave N • Turn right onto Greenwood Ave N then a quick angle to left onto Innis Arden Way • Entrance to campus about 50 feet on the right side Public Transportation King County METRO Transit with stops right at the front walk of the campus. Service runs thruout the day about every half hour. The routes serving the campus are: Route 330, Route 331, Route 345, Route 355 and Route 5. Monthly Unit Game 0-5 MASTER POINT BRIDGE PARTY
If you had 0-5 master points as of April 30, 2009, the Seattle Bridge Unit has a special invitation for YOU… a FREE Bridge Game! • • •
MINI-BRIDGE (available only to 0-5 players) Play as many hands or as few hands from the main game as you wish Record your personal score inside your convention card Game scores will not be posted with the Open Game scores At the end of the evening, hand records & scores from the Open game are available
MONTHLY UNIT GAME (open pairs) There will be a 199-er section plus an open game. You play all the hands. (3 ½ to 4 Hrs)
If you wish to find a partner in advance, we will be checking email two weeks ahead of the event; please email your request to [email protected]. You will need to complete a survey to find a partner and help us find a way to better serve our bridge community.
NOTE: Non-ACBL members will be charged an entry fee to play and participate (you may join ACBL at time of registration)
Key: CC: Club Championship STAC: Sectional Tournament at Club
2009 Round Robin Teams Balusu Rao We have an open event comprised of two leagues of five teams. Each team will play a 28-board match against the five teams of the other league. IMP scores will be converted to VPs as was done in the past. The top two teams with the most victory points in each league after completing five matches will have a play off. The “leagues” were determined by the average masterpoint holding per team; the first team was placed in the Indian League, then the next two highest placed in the American, then the next two highest placed in the Indian, etc. Here are the complete teams: INDIAN LEAGUE AMERICAN LEAGUE Yarington Christie Bolson Grubbs Deshaw Knipschield Castoriano Baer Eng White Dick Yarington – Ken Scholes – John Schermer – Bill O’Brien – Kevin Bolan – Leo Svarcs Rose Bolson – John Maki – Jackie Buroker – Randy Corn – Balusu Rao Elaine Deshaw – Amy Deshaw – Mary & Marty Mccune – Lisa Fishman – Vic Quiros Joel Castoriano - David Binney –Dell Berg – Theresa Venhuis Pat White - Cristal Nell - Jeff Ford – Adam Ruprecht Stan Christie – Sandi Hart – Ray Miller –Rod Caldwell – Ken Christiansen – Dave Setterholm Dave Grubbs – Barbara Nist – Steve Handley – Howard Epley – Jude & Neil Ballard Marci Knipschield – Steven Lewis - Bob Moore – Linda Stix Kim Eng – David Taylor – John Aslin –Paul Schwaighart Dave Baer – Jim Hamil – Jen Chalfan –Chris Moore
Defending 2008 RR Winner: Yarington Team
HELP MANAGE COST WHILE SAVING TREES $ Thanks to all of you who have opted to read the SUN online. Printing $ & mailing the SUN is the Unit’s major expense; with the cost of $ everything increasing (postage just increased $0.02), the Unit can $ use your help in managing our expenses. $ $ Send an email to [email protected] to read the SUN online. $ The $online$ version is in color, the hyper-links are active, and usually has more content than the printed version since we aren’t limited by space. 2011 NABC SEATTLE VESTS The NABC comes to Seattle in the Fall of 2011; what an honor! The D19 committee is hard at work preparing for this event. One of the items now available for purchase is a souvenir fleece vest. It is available in many sizes and colors.
The SUN is published every other month. Send in your bridge related articles to seattlebridge@hotmail. com. We welcome all articles; they will be published as space allows. Deadline for submission is the 10th of each odd numbered month. Coming soon... a new web site for the Seattle Unit www.BridgeInSeattle.org Still a work in progress -- but by the end of May, look for all Seattle Unit news and information online at the new site.