A NEWSLETTER FOR JUNIOR PLAYERS THE GRAPEVINE USA takes Gold in Australia; Canada wins Bronze by Paul Linxwiler A six-man squad from the U.S. and Gavin Wolpert of Thornhill ON. won the 10th World Youth Team Bridge Jonathan Steinberg was the NPC. Championship held Aug. 7–17 in Players from 18 countries Volume 17 • No. 3 • Sept. 2005 Sydney, Australia. The team members participated in the championship were Joe Grue of New York NY, John which featured an age limit of 26. Kranyak of Bay look Village OH, Joel Wooldridge What’s of Buffalo NY, John Hurd of Inside Charleston SC, Ari Greenberg David Banh 2005 of Malibu CA King of Bridge...... 3 and Justin Lall of Plano TX. School Students Bob Rosen and Campers was the non- Rosen (NPC), Greenberg, Kranyak, Woodridge, Hurd, Grue and Lall in Atlanta ...... 4 playing captain. The team, USA1, Teams from four nations — the earned the gold medal by defeating U.S., Poland, Canada and France College Poland in the final. — survived a week-long round- Championship ...... 5 The U.S. trailed Poland for much robin which eliminated the other 14 Beginner's of the match, once by as much as 30 countries. The U.S. defeated Canada Corner ...... 5 IMPs, but rallied in the last quarter to in the semifinal round, while Poland tie it. In a dramatic overtime, USA1 beat France. Junior Corps prevailed. The winning squad included Inductees...... 6 The U.S. won the eight- some familiar names. Wooldridge, Bill Gates overtime match by the score of 15–0. 26, is pursuing a B.A. in elementary Playing for the silver-medal Polish education from Buffalo State in Atlanta ...... 6 team were Konrad Araskiewicz, University. Hurd, also 26, plays bridge Play Contest ...... 7 Krzysztof Buras, Jacek Kalita, full time, traveling to numerous ACBL FYI ...... 7 Krzysztof Kotorowicz, Piotr Madry and events. He received a B.A. in geology Wojciech Strzemecki. Poland’s NPC from the College of Charleston. was Marek Markowski. Greenberg, 24, received a B.A in The ACBL had another medal- computer science from Stanford and is winning squad in Australia as Canada currently earning his master’s. Lall, 18, took the bronze. The Canadian lineup is the youngest member of the squad. featured Tim Capes and Charles He is currently a software designer Halasi of Toronto ON, Vincent Demuy assistant for SCA, a prize promotion AMERICAN CONTRACT of Montreal QC, David Grainger of company in Dallas owned by another BRIDGE LEAGUE 2990 Airways Blvd. Etobicoke ON and Daniel Lavee bridge great, . Grue, 23, Memphis TN 38116 www.acbl.org  Check out our new web site at:  www.bridgeiscool.com moved to New York after graduating from high school and now competes full time in bridge tournaments. Kranyak, 21, is a senior studying mathematics at Columbia University in New York. This is the second gold medal for Wooldridge, Hurd, Kranyak and Grue. They were members of the winning squad from the 2001 championship in Brazil. That team also included Kent Mignocchi and Brad Campbell. In Paris in 2003, the U.S. team made it to the final of the championship against Italy (with Kevin Bathurst replacing Steinberg, Demuy, Wolpert, Halasi, Grainger, Capes and Lavee Campbell), but lost by the frustrating margin of a half IMP. They went on to take the bronze Lall heard his partner make a negative double and medal that year. In 2005, Lall and Greenberg was sufficiently impressed that he checked on aces were added to replace Mignocchi and Bathurst and then bid the diamond slam. Buras led a spade who, at the advanced (!) age of 27, are too old to the queen and ace and Lall led his club. It would to participate in Youth events any longer. have done Buras no good to go up with his ace. If he This deal from the final match (taken from the switches to a heart, declarer has a club trick and two on-site Daily Bulletins by Brian Senior and spade ruffs in dummy. A lead reduces the spade Ron Klinger) swung 11 IMPs to USA1: ruffs to one, but now declarer can out the clubs and has the A in dummy as a late to cash Dlr: North  10 them. Buras actually played low on the club, but Lall Vul: None  A 9 4 2 went up with the king and took his two spade ruffs for  9 3 plus 920.  K J 8 7 6 5  K J 9 6 5  Q 4 3  Q 8 3 N  K J 7 6 5 W E  8 6 S  10 7 2006 USA Youth  A 10 3  Q 4 2 Team Trials  A 8 7 2  10  A K Q J 5 4 2  9

West North East South Wooldridge Kalita Hurd Kotorowicz Pass Pass 1 Join us for the 2006 World Youth Team 1 1NT (1) 2 3NT Trials in Denver CO. Win a trip to All Pass represent the United States! (1) Transfer to clubs. Junior Team Trials are set for Friday and After the 1 , Kalita transferred to clubs Saturday Nov. 25 and Nov. 26 at the Denver and that did not encourage Kotorowicz to look beyond NABC. Times will be at 1:00 pm and 7:30 pm. If game. It seemed likely that North had some heart more than eight teams enter, the event will extend length, so Kotorowicz punted 3NT, ending the auction. through Sunday. Teams must consist of four U.S. Hurd led a heart to the queen and ace and Kalita residents born in 1980 or later. cashed his nine tricks for plus 400. The winning team will qualify to play in the 2006 World Youth Team Championship. West North East South If you need a partner or a team, please Buras Greenberg Araskiewicz Lall contact [email protected]. Pass Pass 1 For more details about the 2006 World Youth 1 Dbl 2 4NT   Team Championship, please visit the WBF web Pass 5 Pass 6 site at www.worldbridge.org. All Pass

2 time, lunch and before school. for newcomer pairs with 0-5 Because of this, the students love . their bridge.” Banh now is Leo Cardillo, a freshman at the president of the University of Virginia Northern Virginia with plans to major Bridge Association, in math and physics. helped Banh Although he is proud establish the free of his achievements in lesson series bridge, he says, “My King David and run the club. academic record is crowned He said Banh my most impressive David Banh is responsible for recently has asset.” In high school, a 16-table club at a high school. been contacting he completed 84 No wonder his commitment to the other nearby college credits in game both at and away from the school boards to courses from Brigham table has earned him the crown as encourage them to Young, Stanford and the 2005 King of Bridge. promote bridge as David Banh George Mason universities and The award for the King or an extracurricular activity. Advanced Placement tests. Queen of Bridge is presented Banh, 17, who holds the rank Banh also plays the piano and each year to an ACBL member of NABC Master, also serves on is involved in chess. His high who is a graduating high school the Northern Virginia unit board as school chess team won the Virginia senior and has been cited for the youth representative. Due to state championship. promotional contributions to bridge his input, the Washington Fourth of Banh learned to play bridge four as well as outstanding tournament July Regional had special games (continued on page 4) performances. A graduate of Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in his hometown of Starting early Annandale VA, Banh spent the Youngsters who play bridge at an early age often become some of our top past four years developing his high players. Each year a high school senior is named the King or Queen of Bridge. school bridge club and its players. The award is given by the ACBL Educational Foundation to a high school Besides being the organizing force, senior who has contributed to bridge and done well in tournament play. he teaches and plays with his fellow Where are they now? students. Here is an update on a few of the recent King and Queen of Bridge title “I work to maintain a pleasant holders. environment for the other players Robert Glickman, of Woodland Hills CA, was awarded the title in 2004. to enjoy,” he says. “Bridge, though He is a student at the University of California, Berkeley, where he is majoring it may be a most complicated, in computer science and economics. He has been chosen for the ACBL enjoyable yet challenging game, Youth Team for bridge players under 21. As a member he is expected to is still just that, a game.” His club compete in the World Schools Team Championship next year at a venue to promotion, which he described be decided. as “very aggressive,” was more Scott Waldron, of Cockeysville MD, is a student at Johns Hopkins successful than he expected, with University. The 2003 award recipient is majoring in computer science and is a table count that has grown to treasurer of his school’s local chapter of ACM, an organization for computer 16 and the recruitment of several persons. He still plays bridge, but not as much because of his studies. dozen young ACBL members in the John Kranyak, of Bay Village OH, won the World Youth Team Champion- process. ship in 2001. He also took the NABC Mixed Pairs in Pittsburgh with his High school history teacher and mother, Laurie, earlier this year. Kranyak was King of Bridge in 2002. advisor to the club Jay Lamb wrote, Erin Anderson, of Regina SK, was the 2001 recipient and has just “David has provided uncountable graduated from the University of Regina with a bachelor’s degree in hours of bridge instruction and education. She is teaching French in an elementary school in her hometown. advice to our students during club Anderson actively plays bridge both at her local clubs and in tournaments. 3 Young players wowed Patty Tucker with participants in the special game by first look at an NABC she organized for her bridge camp youngsters. Marie Majarov and her grandson, Jake Branch, drove 12 hours from Winchester VA to attend the Atlanta NABC. On the fi rst Thursday afternoon, Majarov spent her time taking photos of her young bridge prodigy as Jake played in a special game organized by Atlanta player and teacher Patty Tucker. It was worth the trip for Jake, who came in fi rst East-West playing with 15-year-old Mandy Lowell, who lives in Louisville but spends her summers in Atlanta. North-South winners were identical twins Marcus and DeMarcus Jenkins of Lithonia GA. The special game was the culmination of a week-long bridge camp Tucker put together to try to introduce more young people to bridge. Ten of the 11 youngsters who participated in the camp how-to project in which he taught his class how to played in the special game, a three-table affair. evaluate a bridge hand. Majarov and her husband, Milan, came to Tucker started the bridge camp for the Atlanta so that he could take the Teacher youngsters so they could see how duplicate works. Accreditation Course and she and Jake could play She brought them to the NABC so they could some bridge. They taught him to play at home in experience the atmosphere at a big tournament. Jake Virginia, starting about two years ago when he was was impressed, but then he has already developed 10. He plays at the Winchester bridge club and with an affi nity for the game. “It’s exciting, it’s challenging friends in person and online. At school, Jake did a and you have to think a lot,” Jake said. “It’s just fun.”

Concentration at the bridge table  King David crowned starts at a young age, as seen on the face of (continued from page 3) Hunter Smith, 10, of Alpharetta GA. Hunter is one of several advanced math years ago from friends. He did not take lessons, and students being taught the game by his when asked about reading bridge books, he says, “I grandmother, might have read one or two, but basically I learned by Carolyn Eckert. playing.” Besides playing in clubs and tournaments, Atlanta-area he plays online. One of his favorite partners there is teachers Eckert, fellow member Jeremy Fournier of Knoxville TN. Barbara Heller The list of past winners of the award reads like and Patty a who’s who of bridge, including Jeff Meckstroth, Tucker brought Robert Levin, Martha Benson (now Katz) and Eric their students Greco. to a Youth When he learned of his award, Banh modestly bridge game said, “I’m not really that good a bridge player.” His as the Summer record, however, says otherwise. At the recent NABC NABC in Atlanta in Atlanta, Banh won more than 42 masterpoints, the began. Several most for a player in his category. In March 2004, he returned for played in the Reno NABC representing District 6 in the , Flight C. the 0–5 games The King or Queen of Bridge award is presented during the week. by the ACBL Educational Foundation and includes a $1000 scholarship. 4 The Yale victory came during the North American BULLDOGS NIP BEAVERS Bridge Championships (NABC) held during July in The teams had played tough for a total 16 hours Atlanta. over two days, only to be faced with yet another hour Playing for Yale were Marc Glickman, 22, of to determine the winner in an overtime match. At the Woodland Hills CA, a 2005 graduate in economics; end, Yale prevailed over MIT to become the 2005 Jonathan Bittner, 20, of Chappaqua NY, a junior in North American College Bridge Team Champions. physics; Christina Craige, 26, of Pomona NY, a law and business student; and Randall Rubenstein, of Cincinnati OH, a senior in environmental engineering. “The competition was great; the camaraderie was great,” said Glickman. “Some of us have played together online, so it was fun to meet in person.” Yale, MIT and teams from Stanford, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, UCLA, University of Toronto, Harvard and University of Michigan qualified to play in the event during an online game in February. The top eight teams received a free trip to Atlanta, and members of the winning team received $500 scholarships. Glickman comes from a bridge family. His father, James, is a Gold Life Master and brothers Robert, a student at the University of California, Berkeley, and Steve, a graduate of Columbia Law School, also are Yale — 2005 College Champions: Marc Glickman, accomplished players. Marc and Robert both have Jonathan Bittner, Randall Rubenstein and Christina represented the United States in international Youth Craige. competitions.

Responding to Openings When partner opens the bidding 1 or 1, what are your priorities as responder? As a partnership you are always looking for at least an eight-card fit in a . To move toward this goal, the first priority is to respond with a four- card or longer major suit. In order to do this, one must have at least 6 points, but there is no upper limit because bidding either 1 or 1 is forcing (all 10 points with five or more cards and a bid of three new suits by responder are forcing). If there is not a of the minor would show an invitational hand with four-card major suit, the second priority is supporting 11-12 points and five or more cards. With 13 or more partner’s minor. Since partner could have as few points even with support for partner’s minor suit, as three cards in the suit, one needs five cards to bid a new suit first or jump to 2NT, these bids are support. A bid of two of the minor would show 6 to forcing. Any questions? No? Okay, on to the quiz.

Partner opens 1, over to you: Total Points Your Bid 1 )  K J x  A x x  A Q x x x x  x ______2 )  A x x x  KQJ  x x x  x x x ______3 )  J x x  Q x x x  A  K J x x x ______4 )  A K J x x  A J x x x  x x  x ______5 )  AKQJ  K J x x x  K  KQJ ______6 )  J x x  A Q x  Q J x  K J x x ______7 )  x  K x  J x x x x  K x x x x ______

5 Three new members drawing students to his club. He also sponsored a 299er sectional inducted into Junior Corps that introduced the campus players to tournament play. The ACBL Junior Corps graduate in December with a David Banh, 17, of Annandale officially welcomed its three newest degree in industrial engineering VA, is a freshman at the University members at the Junior Reception and psychology. When Amrine of Virginia. He plans to major in at the Summer NABC in Atlanta. visited the campus bridge club as math, physics and law and find Andrew Dubay, Patrick Amrine a freshman, he found one table time to play some bridge, too. and David Banh were presented in play. He volunteered to help Banh learned to play four years with pins from their ACBL Board of promote the club and he soon ago from friends (neither of his Directors representatives. They also became the club manager, game parents play) and began working had the chance to to start a bridge club at his high chat with Microsoft school. His promotions, which he Chairman Bill describes as “very aggressive,” Gates, who visited were more successful than he the reception and expected. By his senior year, the congratulated the club was hosting 16-17 tables new members. every Friday afternoon, and he The youngest developed a mailing list of more new Corps member than 130 students who either play is Andrew Dubay, in the club or have expressed 15, of Voorheesville serious interest. David is also the NY. He learned to 2005 King of Bridge. (See page 3.) play bridge from his The Junior Corps was started parents about two Amrine, Banh and Dubay by Hall of Fame member Bobby years ago, and Wolff to acknowledge players age he’s working to establish a club at director and campus bridge teacher. 25 and younger who are active in his high school, where he will be Today, the club averages eight promoting bridge to other young a junior this fall. Atlanta was his tables per session and is the only people. There are about 50 current second NABC. club in District 15 to have earned members. More information Patrick Amrine, 22, of Tulsa two-star status from ACBL. Amrine about the Corps is available on OK, is a senior at the University stressed the importance of the www.acbl.org or by e-mail from of Oklahoma in Norman. He’ll free lessons and free entry fees in [email protected] Microsoft chair drops in Microsoft Chair Bill Gates Asked about surprised participants in the Junior his interest Reception at the Atlanta NABC in bridge, when he dropped in for a brief chat. Gates told the Gates was grilled by the young youngsters, “It’s players on his system – he told a fun game and them it’s 2/1 – and online play. He it makes you was complimentary of the Bridge think.” Before Base web site, created by Fred he left the Gitelman, one of Gates’s bridge reception — he mentors. Gates also posed for was playing in a photos with the young players. knockout team — Gates was made Bill Gates poses with several He was in Atlanta for a Microsoft an honorary member of the ACBL players during the Junior Player conference, so he stopped in to Goodwill Committee by Aileen reception Saturday. the NABC to play some bridge. Osofsky, chair of the committee. 6 BRIDGEISCOOL.COM JUNIOR MEMBERSHIP The ACBL launched a new and RATES CHANGED TO $14 exciting web site for Junior players Just a reminder: Junior membership on Sept. 16. Check it out. We hope is now $14/year. School member- you will enjoy this new Junior online ships for $5 are still available for meeting place. those who have completed a school 2006 WORLD YOUTH PAIRS bridge class and are under 20 CHAMPIONSHIP years of age. Please note school and 2006 WORLD JUNIOR memberships do not include the BRIDGE CAMP Bridge Bulletin. The 6th World Junior Pairs (for players born in 1981 or later) and SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE the 1st World Schools Pairs (for reception will be held between FOR ACBL JUNIORS A scholarship program is players born in 1986 or later) will be sessions. Check the daily schedules available to college and high school held June 30 – July 2 in Piestany, and come meet and fraternize with bridge players who actively seek to Slovakia. The World Junior Camp will your fellow Junior players! teach bridge to others. It is open to be July 3 – 10 in Piestany, Slovakia. JUNIOR ENTRY FEE any or all Juniors still involved in the Detailed information will be available PLAYER POLICY educational system. The program through the The ACBL policy for entry fees will award $500 scholarships to internet site www.worldbridge.org for Junior players at the NABCs those who teach a class of at least beginning in October 2005. To apply remains a great deal! The entry fee eight students under 26 years of contact [email protected]. The ACBL for all players who have not yet age the equivalent of the ACBL will not be offering subsidies for reached their 16th birthday will be Bidding Series (Club Series) or 16 these events. $1 per session, except in NABC- hours of lessons. NORTH AMERICAN BRIDGE surcharged events. At all NABCs, The ACBL Educational Founda- CHAMPIONSHIPS the entry fee for paid up ACBL tion and the ACBL Education Make plans to attend one of members in good standing who Department will provide books, the three NABCs held each year. have not reached their 26th birthday T-shirts and an additional stipend Meet bridge players from across will be no more than 50% of the of $350 for teaching the course. the world! Play bridge or watch regional-rated event entry fee. The scholarship is payable only to some of the best players play! The ACBL encourages all an accredited college or university The first Saturday of each NABC districts, units and bridge clubs for high school graduates. Contact is designated JUNIOR DAY. On to consider similar policies for its Charlotte Blaiss at [email protected] November 19 during the Fall regional tournaments, sectional to register classes for the school NABC in Denver, a special informal tournaments and club games. and scholarship programs. Play contest Contract: 3NT  A 2 : ♦8  A J 9 5 4 The Challenge: Continue from here double dummy  7 6 5 to guarantee nine tricks for North/South against any  Q 10 4 defense. Please be specific and give the best defense  K 9 7 6 5  J 10 8 and how declarer should overcome this. N  K Q 6 W E  10 8 7  8 S  A K J 10 9 The Reward: Win free entries to all events at the  J 8 7 3  6 5 Dallas NABC in March 2006 by submitting a correct  Q 4 3 detailed play analysis to [email protected]. All  3 2 submissions must be made by Oct. 16. All contestants  Q 4 3 2 must be ACBL Juniors members (under 26). A drawing  A K 9 2 from correct submissions will take place on Oct. 19 to West leads the 8. determine the one winner.

7 AMERICAN CONTRACT PRSRT STD BRIDGE LEAGUE U.S. POSTAGE 2990 Airways Blvd. PAID Memphis TN 38116–3847 MEMPHIS, TN EDITOR Permit No. 854 Harley Bress CONSULTING EDITOR Charlotte Blaiss DESIGN & LAYOUT

Latrescia Goss

Results as of Sept. 12, 2005 12, Sept. of as Results

159 ON Ottawa Veale, Keith 32. IL Joliet Dajwlowski, Michal 32. 38 S

172 SC Charleston Hurd, Andrew 31.

Jeremy Koegel, Los Angeles CA Angeles Los Koegel, Jeremy 31. 38

S

174 FL Gainesville Meckstroth, Matt 30. James Sundstrom, Wyckoff NJ Wyckoff Sundstrom, James 30. 39

E 202 CA Stanford Mayefsky, Eric 29. Benjamin Kelley, Federal Way WA Way Federal Kelley, Benjamin 29. 49

212 VA Arlington Rajkumar, Prahalad 28. OH Cincinnati Goyal, Rachna 28. 50 E

217 MD Potomac Rosenfeld, Jason 27. Zachary Brescoll, Mansfield TX Mansfield Brescoll, Zachary 27. 51

C

218 TN Knoxville Fournier, Jared 26. Robert Glickman, Woodland Hills CA Hills Woodland Glickman, Robert 26. 52

C 218 CA Cruz Santa Barth, John 25. LA Metairie Beard, Patrick 25. 52

220 NC Hickory Lien, Owen 24. Kevin Sivaneri, Morgantown WV Morgantown Sivaneri, Kevin 24. 59 A

223 CA Park Canoga Donn, Joshua 23. Adam Kaplan, New Port Richey FL Richey Port New Kaplan, Adam 23. 64

A

Tim Crank, Wheaton MD Wheaton Crank, Tim 22. 235 67 AL Birmingham Hollingshead, Daniel 22.

R Andrew Garnett, St Petersburg FL Petersburg St Garnett, Andrew 21. 239 71 OR Portland Flores, Nicholas 21.

Hao Ge, Cleveland OH Cleveland Ge, Hao 20. 240 71 IL Lincolnwood Goldfein, Daniel 20. R

Samantha Nystrom, Burnaby BC Burnaby Nystrom, Samantha 19. 247 72 NJ Riverton Beck, Meredith 19.

Daniel Korbel, Waterloo ON Waterloo Korbel, Daniel 18. 250 76 GA Atlanta Asbury, Andre 18.

Travis Crump, Wyomissing PA Wyomissing Crump, Travis 17. 277

84 VA McLean Brady, Robert 17.

R

Jeremy Fournier, Knoxville TN Knoxville Fournier, Jeremy 16. 313 91 CA Leandro San Vance, Gregory 16.

Kevin Dwyer, Lehigh Acres FL Acres Lehigh Dwyer, Kevin 15. 313 96 IL Hinsdale Katz, Sam 15.

H

Daniel Lavee, Thornhill ON Thornhill Lavee, Daniel 14. 320 115 MA Cambridge Chiu, Jason 14. O

Mike Rice, Winston Salem NC Salem Winston Rice, Mike 13. 323 116 CA Pasadena Berglund, James 13.

Andrew Carver, Edwardsville IL Edwardsville Carver, Andrew 12. 324 116 PA York Zeller, Shane 12. T

I David Grainger, Etobicoke ON Etobicoke Grainger, David 11. 334 116 IL Edwardsville Englert, Ben 11.

Jon Rice, Winston Salem NC Salem Winston Rice, Jon 10. 340 120 OR Portland Stahlman, Matthew 10.

U

McKenzie Myers, Eugene OR Eugene Myers, McKenzie 9. 399 120 VA Arlington Rajkumar, Raghavendra 9.

N

Vincent Demuy, Montreal QC Montreal Demuy, Vincent 8. 543 136 NY Voorheesville Dubay, Andrew 8.

John Kranyak, Bay Village OH Village Bay Kranyak, John 7. 546 148 VA Annandale Banh, David 7.

O

Joel Wooldridge, Buffalo NY Buffalo Wooldridge, Joel 6. 550 159 ON Ottawa Veale, Keith 6. U

Justin Lall, Dallas TX Dallas Lall, Justin 5. 553 174 FL Gainesville Meckstroth, Matt 5.

Gavin Wolpert, Thornhill ON Thornhill Wolpert, Gavin 4. 620 220 NC Hickory Lien, Owen 4. Y

J John Hurd, Charleston SC Charleston Hurd, John 3. 641 313 TN Knoxville Fournier, Jeremy 3.

Will Engel, Freeport IL Freeport Engel, Will 2. 733 313 FL Acres Lehigh Dwyer, Kevin 2.

Joe Grue, New York NY York New Grue, Joe 1. 1058 553 TX Dallas Lall, Justin 1.