A NEWSLETTER FOR JUNIOR PLAYERS THE GRAPEVINE Poland Triumphs

t appears that Michal Nowosadzki of Poland has a brilliant bridge future ahead of him. The 21-year-old youngster won VOLUME 16 • NO. 3 SEPT. 2004 Itwo world championships in New York. Nowosadzki won the first World Junior Individual and he was a member of the Polish team that took first place in the World School look Championship. His teammates in the school competition What’s were Marcin Malesa, Piotr Nawrocki, Filip Niziol, Prezmyslaw Piotrowoski and Jan Inside Sikora, with Leszek Nowak as non-playing captain. Nowosadzki stood second after Juniors win Scholarship the first two sessions of the four-session Michal Nowosadzki in NYC ...... 2 Individual, but he climbed into the lead during Seventh graders arrive the third session. at Summer NABC...... 2 The highest ranking female was Meike Wortel of the Netherlands, who finished third. America’s top finisher was Robert Glickman, who placed fourth. MIT Wins College Nowosadzki has been playing bridge a long time — 15 years — even though Championship ...... 3 he is only 21 years old. His father is an avid bridge player and started his son Winners of USBF on his way at just about the time Michal could hold 13 cards. Michal is now Team Trials...... 3 studying economics at the university level. World Junior Bridge Camp in NYC ...... 4-6 Beginner's Corner ...... 6 FYI ...... 7 2005 College Championship ...... 7 Youth & Junior Races ...... 8

AMERICAN LEAGUE 2990 Airways Blvd. Memphis TN 38116 www.acbl.org

The Polish School Bridge Team Donn & Pahk Win Scholarship Josh Donn and Joon Pahk were winners of the Stratified Junior Scholarship at the New York City Summer NABC. They each will receive $500 scholarships as winners of Strat A. The Strat B winners, Gregory Ingolia and Jason Chiu of Cambridge MA, will receive $375 each. Pahk is a student at Stanford University. Donn just graduated from Rochester University in New York and plans to move to Los Angeles. They had played only once previously in person, although they do have experience as online partners. They play a with relays. Donn and Pahk Never too young – Seventh graders enjoy summer NABC Saundra Jones, a science teacher The seventh graders played in a “I’m still a baby bridge player,” she at a middle school in Queens, likes couple of Bridge Plus+ games and says, “but I love the game.”All her bridge so much that she talks about couldn’t wait to do it again. Says talk about bridge made her students it all the time. It was no surprise, of Sophia Liu, 12: “It’s fun to beat at Middle School 158 take notice. course, that her students eventually people.” Vivian Xu, 13, was also She now conducts bridge classes wanted to know more about the enjoying herself, noting that bridge for them after school for four hours game she loves so much. They, too, “helps me with my math, and it’s a week in her regular classroom. are now smitten, and Jones has fun when I don’t have anything to “They’re having a great time,” Jones an after-school bridge class of 32 do.” Jones has been playing bridge says. The youngsters back her up students. She brought eight of them about seven years. She learned the on that. to the 2004 Summer NABC for their game at a public library in New York, “I like bridge because it’s like a first exposure to tournament play moving into duplicate practically hobby, and it helps me in logic,” – and they had a blast. right away. says Julie Kim, 13. Angel Yim, 12, shows wisdom beyond her years in pronouncing: “It’s mostly about partnership, and it’s fun to work together – plus, it’s cool to win.” Michael Zhang, 13, adds: “It helps my memory and it’s really fun.” Zhang, attending his first tournament, noted: “It’s really exciting.” Besides teaching bridge, Jones is also involved in bridge administration. She is a member of the Nassau Suffolk Bridge Association of directors. She sells bridge whenever she can. “The game,” she says, “allows you to be in control. When you are bidding and playing, your mind can’t be anywhere else.” In her bridge classes, she notes, “all of life’s lessons are learned there.” Saundra Jones (back center), surrounded by students from MS158 in New York.

2 MIT Wins College Championship young squad from the championship, he and Massachusetts Institute of Hopkinson played together for A Technology took a big lead only the third time. at the halfway point and fought The MIT squad opened off a determined foursome from a 69–13 lead at the break Stanford to win the Collegiate Team against Stanford, represented Championship (held during the New by Samuel Leong of Menlo York NABC) 123–82. Park, Ho-Lin Chen and Joon The winners are Ljudmila Kamenova, Pahk of Stanford and Eric Jason Chiu, John Hopkinson, all of Mayefsky of Chappaqua NY. Cambridge MA, and Kevin Chu of Semifinal Somerville MA. Stanford 54 42 96 Chu is studying financial These are the College Team champions of Dartmouth 24 8 32 economics at MIT. The others are MIT: Ljudmila Kamenova, Kevin Chu, Jason studying math. Chiu and John Hopkinson. UCLA 24 42 66 Kamenova, 25, came to the U.S. MIT 54 41 95 three years ago from Bulgaria. She presented the $500 scholarship checks was on a fellowship and had a lot to the MIT college team. A record of 18 Final of free time, so she gravitated to teams participated in the qualifying stages Stanford 13 69 82 bridge. She has been playing with for the tournament online. Mahaffey MIT 69 54 123 Chu for about two months. promised to double the $500 scholarship Chiu takes credit for assembling During the Board of awards for next year if the number of total the team, doing so in a week Governors’ meeting on the teams entering the online qualifying stage after finding out about the event first Sunday of the New could be doubled. That’s a great incentive at the last minute. In the college York NABC, Jim Mahaffey to start forming your team now. USBF Junior Team Trials Junior Team Trials held during the Wheaton MD is 23 and is a part-time New York NABC. tournament director. The finish guarantees that they Shore, 23, lives in Charlottesville will be on one of the two U.S. VA and is a grad student in teams, but one of the pairs could be computer science at the University selected to play with the first team of Virginia. Garrod, 25, is also a grad – John Hurd, Joel Wooldridge, Joe student in computer science. He Grue and John Kranyak. If so, the attends Carnegie Mellon University second team will be the top two in Pittsburgh. remaining pairs from the trials. In third place were Brad Campbell of Smyrna GA and Jason Feldman of Champaign IL. Winners of the USBF Junior Team Trials in New York, Tim Crank and Should the first team select a pair Andrew Hurd. not in the top three of the trials, Hurd–Crank and Shore–Garrod will he complicated process of be the second team. They will select selecting two U.S. teams a captain and choose a third pair Tfor the World Junior Team from among the other competitors in Championship next year in Australia the event. advanced a step when Andrew Hurd of Charleston SC is 22 and Hurd–Tim Crank and Noble Shore– has just graduated from the College Charlie Garrod finished first and of Charleston with a degree in Second in the Junior Trials were second, respectively, in the USBF business administration. Crank of Noble Shore and Charlie Garrod. 3 nce every two years, Juniors from the United States, World Camp Arrives In Nyack, NY OCanada and across the world congregate in North America for Francesco bridge camp. On July 17, 2004, the Ferrari of Italy camp opened at Nyack College on the led the K to Hudson River just north of New York dummy’s ace. City. This time 94 Juniors from 17 Simone Pisano countries traveled to Nyack for the 6th then let the 9 World Junior Bridge Camp just after run and continued the Summer NABC in New York City. with another The Juniors enjoyed a program heart. South full of bridge tournaments, bridge hopped up with lectures, physical sports and outings. the ace to play There was plenty of free time for back a club. unofficial games, too, and indeed North’s Q took many were organized here and there. the trick and he Three meals a day were provided in played a third playing bridge. From Battery Park it the dining hall and a fourth “snack” club. Now declarer played the A was on to midtown Manhattan where was provided at midnight in the and a diamond to the jack, queen and campers were given some time to recreation room of the dorm. In king. Thomas Schonfeldt switched shop at such stores as the NBA Store. addition, participants enjoyed meeting to a spade, but West won, ruffed a Then it was on to Yankee Stadium to a number of top players including, spade and played high diamonds see the Yankees prevail yet again. George Jacobs, Dave Berkowitz, through South to justify his redouble. On Friday, staff member Kevin Chris Willenken and Mike and Still, there had been a chance to Wilson organized a very intricate Shannon Cappelletti, who provided beat this contract. After South had treasure hunt for the campers. The bridge lectures and showed their won the K he should have led a weather provided a wet defense to the support for Junior bridge. heart. West will have to win this trick event. But many Juniors decided that There was certainly a surfeit of in his hand, can’t get to dummy to they would not melt and braved the interesting deals during the 11 enjoy his diamonds and therefore will rain. sessions of bridge during the camp. have to lose two spades in the end. Saturday marked the final event - Of course, this being a Junior event, The camp outing was a full day the Crazy Pairs. This is a truly unique not all the bidding was what one in New York City. The first stop was event in which the rules of bridge might normally expect. Here is an Battery Park, where everyone boarded are perverted, sometimes cruelly but example from the week of play: the ferry to take a tour around Ellis almost always amusingly. Here are During the Sunday afternoon IMP and Liberty Islands to see the Statue some of the interesting rules that went pairs, Simone Pisano of Italy brought of Liberty. Blue skies prevailed and a with particular boards: home this redoubled contract, much cool breeze over the Hudson waters Board 8: There will be only one to his partner’s delight: helped to mitigate the one hot day round of bidding Board 24. Dealer South. All vul. during the camp. The campers had Board 12: Partner’s Lead! The the luck to receive the heat on the partner of the player winning each  Q 9 8 4 3 only day they would not be inside trick will lead to the next trick. Leads  8 out of turn may not  J 6 be accepted.  K Q 10 7 5 Board 16: No  A K 7 5  J passing below  K J 10 5 2  9 7 3 game. No player  A 4  Q 10 7 5 3 2 may pass unless  J 2  A 9 4 the current bid is  10 6 2 a game contract.  A Q 6 4 You may pass  K 9 8 a double of 2  8 6 3 or higher or a redouble of 1 West North East South or higher, since Pisano Ferrari de Donder Schonfeldt these are game Pass contracts. 1 1 2 Pass 4 Pass Pass Dbl Continued pg. 6  Rdb All Pass 4 World Junior Bridge Camp 2004

5 World Camp Arrives In Nyack, NY continued The WBF Youth Awards were presented at the Closing Dinner Saturday evening. The awards aim at rewarding aptitude, dilligence and international spirit shown by participants at the Junior Camps. The winners do not receive any material prize, but earn the honor of enabling their countries to have a free and ex quota place in the next Junior Camp. This year the four awards were presented to: Sunisa Chodchoy (Thailand) Though this was her first camp, Chodchoy fit in immediately. She was always smiling and happy. She left everybody with a positive The Dangerous Opponent impression and not just because she passed Quite often while playing in notrump, on to so many of us those little presents from making your contract comes down to her native country. setting up your long suit for the extra tricks She was always charming and polite, she that you need. In order to set up the suit thanked the organizers, had a pleasant word you will often need to lose the lead to the for everybody, she played with partners of opponents. Sometimes, you have a choice different abilities and became one of the most about which opponent you want to put in popular and sought after partners. the lead. Take the following example:  A J 9 6 Josh Donn (USA) This camper has been a regular attendee  K 10 8 3 at bridge camp, during which time his bridge You have the option of finessing either has improved and he has remained a cheerful your left- or right-hand opponent for the entertainer. Though Donn has become a queen in this suit. If you examine this suit in good player, he plays bridge and socializes isolation, it is a complete guess about which with everyone and is always outgoing and way to . But bridge is not about friendly. His ability to laugh at himself makes single suits. Let’s look at the deal: him popular with everyone – whether they are  A Q 2 laughing at him or with him.  5 4  A J 9 6 Catalin Lazar (Romania)  K 8 7 3 This may have been Lazar's first camp, but K it was clear that this player fit into the ideals  K 4 3 of the camp spirit as if he had been an old  A 6 3 hand. This player was successful at the table  K 10 8 3 and an avid participant in the bridge activities,  A 10 2 but more to the point though this player had a The is the K against your quiet manner he was friendly and cooperative, 3NT contract. You and do not take demonstrating the right camp spirit. the ace until the third trick. East follows all three times. As declarer you should still be concerned that the opponents hearts are Bjorn Sorling (Sweden) splitting 5-3. If this is the case, then if the Although Sorling might have appeared on opponent with the long hearts gets the lead the surface to be a quieter influence, he was before you set up your diamonds, he will equally influential at every level. He appeared be able to take enough hearts along with always to be in a good mood at the table, the Q to set you. Given the opening lead, polite and smiling to everyone. He participated if anyone has 5 hearts, it is probably West in all the sporting activities, the treasure hunt since he is most likely leading from length. and the late games, and encouraged everyone Since you don’t want West to get the lead, else to do the same. He was also a good finesse him for the Q by playing the K player but did not emphasize his own ability. and then the 10. If East wins this trick with the Q, he will most likely be out of hearts, Sunday morning marked the departure of but even if he has another, it is likely that the buses back to New York City. Phone numbers, e-mails and hugs they are split 4-4 and you will still make your were exchanged as campers promised to stay in touch and were contract. If the finesse succeeds, you make already anxiously awaiting the next camp which will be held in Europe an overtrick … a fitting reward for playing in 2006. the hand correctly! 6 JUNIOR MONTH February is ACBL Junior Month. Clubs across North America are encouraged to hold special games that allow players to earn at sectional rating for an increased fee of $1 per player. This year, a total of 10,095 tables raised $40,380 for Junior programs in the U.S. and Canada. For seven consecutive years, District 7 (North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and East Tennessee) led all other ACBL The ACBL Junior Corps inducted three new members districts by hosting 221 Junior Fund games that attracted 1746 tables. Remember – Junior Fund Games may be during the New York NABC: Dan Recht of Mount Kisco held every month except April and September. Encourage NY; Charles Halasi and Tim Capes of Toronto, pictured your club to hold Junior Fund Games to support Junior with ACBL Goodwill Chairman Aileen Osofsky. Programs! NEW JUNIOR CORP MEMBERS JUNIOR MEMBERSHIP RATES CHANGE The two Canadians are students at the University of Junior membership will go from $12.75 to $14 starting Toronto. Recht attends Princeton University, where he has January 1, 2005. School memberships for those who started a bridge club and teaches the game. The Junior have completed a school bridge class and are under 20 Corps acknowledges Junior players who promote bridge to years of age will remain at $5. School memberships may other young people. not be processed without the name of the school and the applicant’s date of birth on the membership renewal NORTH AMERICAN BRIDGE form. $5 memberships also require the name of the bridge CHAMPIONSHIPS teacher in whose course the student is participating or has Make plans to attend one of the three NABCs held each participated. Please note that school memberships do not year. Meet bridge players from across the world! Play include a subscription to The Bridge Bulletin. bridge or watch some of the best players play! The first Saturday of each NABC is designated as JUNIOR DAY. ATTENTION COLLEGE STUDENTS! During the Fall NABC in Orlando, a special reception will be held Saturday, Nov. 20, 5–7 p.m. Come and meet some of WIN A TRIP TO ATLANTA your fellow Junior players!

Qualifying college teams will win an expense paid trip JUNIOR FEE PLAYER POLICY to play in the final of the North American College Bridge The ACBL Board of Directors has revised the ACBL policy Team Championship during the Atlanta Summer North for entry fees for Junior Players at the NABCs. Starting at American Bridge Championships July 22-23, 2005. The the Fall NABC in Orlando, the entry fee for all players who zonal qualifying stage will be held on BridgeBase.com have not yet reached their 16th birthday will be $1 per February 19, 2005. To register teams contact Charlotte session, except in NABC-surcharged events. At all NABCs, Blaiss at [email protected] before February 12. the entry fee for paid up ACBL members in good standing Teams must consist of four players born in 1979 or later. Players must attend the same school and must who have not reached their 26th birthday will be no more be currently taking at least seven semester hours of than 50% of the regional-rated event entry fee. The ACBL credit. Members of the winning team will receive $500 encourages all districts, units and bridge clubs to consider scholarships paid directly to their school. Teams placing similar policies for its regional tournaments, sectional first and second will receive 80% regional-rated gold tournaments and club games. points. For more information, check the 2005 North American College Bridge Team Championship Conditions CANADIAN JUNIOR SQUAD of Contest on the ACBL web site. In 2004 18 different Tim Capes and Charles Halasi were added to the schools signed up and six of them qualified to play in the Canadian Junior Team of Gavin Wolpert, David Grainger, finals. Those six teams all received free trips to the Daniel Lavee, Vincent Demuy. These six players will Summer NABC New York City. Next year, the scholarships represent Canada next summer at the World Youth Team could be doubled to $1000 per member of the winning Championship in Australia. District 2 Director Jonathan team if total team participation reaches 36 or more. Steinberg will be the non-playing captain. 7 AMERICAN CONTRACT PRSRT STD BRIDGE LEAGUE U.S. POSTAGE 2990 Airways Boulevard PAID Memphis, TN 38116–3847 MEMPHIS, TN Permit No. 854 EDITOR Harley Bress CONSULTING EDITOR Charlotte Blaiss DESIGN & LAYOUT

Cindy Hill

Results as of Sept. 6 Sept. of as Results

SK Regina Dulmage, James 30. 49

195 PA Pittsburgh Garrod, Charlie 30. S

ON Toronto Blagov, Anton 29. 50

201 ON Etobicoke Grainger, David 29.

S

TX Mansfield Brescoll, Zachary 28. 50 201 TX Houston Haddad, (Tony) Anton 28.

E

VA McLean Brady, Robert 27. 52 212 TN Knoxville Fournier, Jared 27.

FL Acres Lehigh Dwyer, Dan 26. 53 E 225 FL Acres Lehigh Dwyer, Kevin 26.

Jeremy Koegel, Los Angeles CA Angeles Los Koegel, Jeremy 25. 59

230 NY York New Feldman, Jason 25. C

OH Burton Bailey, Joshua 24. 59

232 ON Toronto Mason, Matthew 24.

C

MA Newton Grossack, Adam 23. 60 238 OH Cleveland Ge, Hao 23.

A

PA York Zeller, Shane 22. 61 254 NY York New Wilderman, Daniel 22.

62 OR Portland Flores, Nicholas 21. A Tim Crank, Wheaton MD Wheaton Crank, Tim 21. 268

75 MI Arbor Ann Yuan, Xing 20.

Mike Rice, Winston Salem NC Salem Winston Rice, Mike 20. 281 R

86 NJ Kinnelon III, Mann George 19.

Daniel Korbel, Waterloo ON Waterloo Korbel, Daniel 19. 282

R

94 CA Stanford Mayefsky, Eric 18. Robert Glickman, Woodland Hills CA Hills Woodland Glickman, Robert 18. 307

97 AL Birmingham Hollingshead, Daniel 17. Jon Rice, Winston Salem NC Salem Winston Rice, Jon 17. 322

105 ON Ottawa Sabourin, David 16. McKenzie Myers, Eugene OR Eugene Myers, McKenzie 16. 365

R

108 IL Joliet Dajwlowski, Michal 15. Andrew Hurd, Charleston SC Charleston Hurd, Andrew 15. 375

111 NC Hickory Lien, Owen 14.

John Kranyak, New York NY York New Kranyak, John 14. 423

H

112 NY Voorheesville Dubay, Andrew 13.

Joel Wooldridge, Buffalo NY Buffalo Wooldridge, Joel 13. 431 O

119 MA Cambridge Chiu, Jason 12. TX Plano Lall, Justin 12. 456

130 NJ Ridgewood Ohliger, Jonathan 11. T Noble Shore, Charlottesville VA Charlottesville Shore, Noble 11. 459

I

148 IL Edwardsville Carver, Andrew 10. Daniel Lavee, Thornhill ON Thornhill Lavee, Daniel 10. 534

156 BC Burnaby Nystrom, Samantha 9.

Leo LaSota, College Park MD Park College LaSota, Leo 9. 605

U

156 TN Knoxville Fournier, Jeremy 8.

Will Engel, Freeport IL Freeport Engel, Will 8. 617 N

173 MD Greenbelt Rajkumar, Raghavendra 7. John Hurd, Charleston SC Charleston Hurd, John 7. 620

181 MD Greenbelt Rajkumar, Prahalad 6. O Kent Mignocchi, Bronx NY Bronx Mignocchi, Kent 6. 711

U

212 TN Knoxville Fournier, Jared 5. Kevin Bathurst, Mesa AZ Mesa Bathurst, Kevin 5. 752

225 FL Acres Lehigh Dwyer, Kevin 4.

Joe Grue, New York NY York New Grue, Joe 4. 764

Y

307 CA Hills Woodland Glickman, Robert 3. Gavin Wolpert, Thornhill ON Thornhill Wolpert, Gavin 3. 849

J

456 TX Plano Lall, Justin 2. Vincent Demuy, Laval QC Laval Demuy, Vincent 2. 914

534 ON Thornhill Lavee, Daniel 1. Ian Boyd, Calgary AB Calgary Boyd, Ian 1. 969