Editor: Arlene Port 220 N Dithridge #404 Unit 142 Pittsburgh, PA APRIL 2019 WEBSITE AT www.pittsburghbridge.org Pgh.PA. 15213 c President: Chris Wang Tel: 412-521-3637 [email protected] Vice President: Craig Biddle Secretary: Mary Paulone Carns Treasurer: John Alioto Associates: Phyllis Geinzer……. Memoriam Post mortem Club Manager: Mary Carns Chris Wang………...First At The Post Unit Recorder: Judi Sonon ([email protected])

All the news that fits in print BRIDGE BYTES ……….by arlene port ………………...By Ernie Retetagos

I think it’s time to make Ron Franck retire from his duties at the PBA. NICE PARTNER - WHAT SHOULD I DO NOW? The problem is ,he has set such a high standard of excellence working for the PBA, if he doesn’t stop soon, no one will want to have to be judged by his A reader asked how to ask for Aces in this partnership auction, 1D- many skills. Ron was the tournament chair for the PBA Sectional and, it was 2C-3C-3NT. Should the Gerber or Blackwood convention be used in spectacular. As a matter of fact he was invited to come to a tournament not in this sequence? Whenever a no bid is raised to 4 no trump, it is our unit, all expenses paid, just to show them how to do what he does. I don’t always natural and quantitative. 4 NT in this auction should be natu- know everything, but I do know the first thing he does is choose the very best ral. Likewise, 1 NT-4NT is like a raise to 3 NT, but with more high people to help him. There were so many, so enthusiastic and so wonderful to cards. In the absence of any partnership agreements, the Gerber conven- help make our tournament, as usual, a smash hit. What is his secret? It’s tion should only be used after a 1 or 2 no trump opening or rebids. By obviously his wife, Shirley, who not only prepares many of our refreshments, but also allows Ron to leave the house. GOOD JOB SHIRLEY!! Thank you agreement, 4 clubs can also be Ace asking after a Stayman or transfer Ron and all of those who support you, for doing such a wonderful job for us. sequence. An example would be 1NT-2H-2S-4C. Any use of Gerber over anything other than directly over NT, should be discussed by regu- Congratulations to Craig Biddle and Bernie Greenspan (from Cleve- lar partnerships. land) who came in 2nd overall in the Leventritt Silver Ribbon Pairs at the Na- tionals in Memphis. Coming in overall in a national event is quite a . There is an Ace asking convention called Kickback. When Kickback Competition at the nationals is very impressive. is only used over minor suits, it is called Redwood. Whatever the agreed upon suit is, a bid at the 4 level in the next highest suit is asking Bridge Lessons will be at Temple Rodef Shalom in April. See page 5 for Aces. If clubs is the agreed upon suit, 4 diamonds would ask for for information. We have a difficult time reaching students for our beginning Aces. There is information available online for partnerships that would class, so if you know anyone who many be interested, please tell them about be interested in using this convention. our beginning class.

We have 4 championship events at the PBA game in April and don’t There should be a way to invite slam, but still play in no trump if forget about the Swiss Team Unit Charity Championship came on April 12. partner is not interested. In the auction 1D-2C-3C-3NT, I play that 4 C These are all special point games, so come on out and get more points. is a natural slam try. Partner should their cheapest Ace, and you will cue your cheapest Ace. Instead of asking for Aces, cue bid Aces. AND FINALLY, APRIL FOOLS DAY IS When either partner subsequently bids 4 NT, that would be natural, and UPON US…………..SO can be passed. This way you are not committed to the choice between 3 HAPPY APRIL FOOLS DAY NT and 6 clubs. Usually if you have enough for 3 NT and have extras, you can take 10 tricks. If you happen to go down one in 4 NT, just be ready with a good explanation.

1 2 PITTSBURGH FALL SECTIONAL PITTSBURGH FALL SECTIONAL (cont. from pg.3 TOP 15 MASTERPOINT WINNERS Fri. AM Strat. Open Pairs Sat. Morn. Strat. Pairs Saturday Aft Swiss Team - A B C Names A B C Names A B C Names Total : 1164.78 earned 1 Bernard Fudor, Frank Cymerman 1 Jack Goodykoontz - Vicki Goody- 1 Ronald Franck - Jane Marshall by 283 players. 2 Arlene Port - Harold Haffner Marcella Retetagos - Ernie Retetagos koontz Total attendance: 278 tables. 3 1 Gloria Moser - James Gump 2 1 Summer Rifkah - Tudor Trifan 2 Frank Cymerman - Craig Biddle 2 Ronald Ambrose - Susan Israelson Fred Schenker - Jan Assini 3 2 1 John Regan- Clyde Bruce Baldwin 1 40.17 Bernard Fudor ```3 Thomas Jolly Jr - Vin Mehta 3 Thomas Jolly Jr- Carol Stonis 3 1 Marilyn Painter - Marjorie Mazer 1 Robert Kleinmann - Bharat Shah 2 Diana Beaver- Leida Milazzo Alan Colker - Lynne Colker 2 27.00 Frank Cymerman 2 June Drennen - Franklin Powers 3 Robert Kleinmann- David Kresh 2 Jean Livingston - David Livingston 3 20.46 Phillip Becker 3 Leida Milazzo - John Regan Leroy Hackenberg II- Angela Agnello Sat. Morn. 499r Pairs 4 20.46 Fleur Howard Fri. AM. 499r Pairs A B C Names Sunday 499er Swiss Teams 5 19.16 Sandra McCall A B C Names 1 1 1 Denise Dufour - Mary Kirsch\ A B C Names Score 6 19.16 Bud McElhaney 1 Donna Trust - Sheila Brotherton 1 1 Charles Weber II- William Stewart 2 Gale Perez - Virginia Volponi 7 18.80 Ernie Retetagos 2 Mahendra Patel - Remo Gritz 3/4 2/3 Linda Wright - Sheila Brotherton Richard Laird - Patricia Rambasek 3 1 1 Jean Chess - Nolly Gibbs 3/4 2/3 2 Thomas Black- Roy Reese Sr 2 Betty Weightman - Gerry Oconnor 8 18.65 Philip Goulding Judy Lorigan- Juanita Allison 2 2 Tris Thorne - Marilyn Crawford 3 Marcia Taylor - John Burton 9 18.26 Alan Leaver 3 Jeannie Desmone - Mary Tseng 3 2 1 Paul O'Neill - Denise Dufour 3 Dennis Roth - Elaine Kirshenbaum Steven Thomas - Bunny Hoffman 10 18.07 Kenneth Bergman Sat. Aft. Open Pairs 3 Marge Kasper - Donald Wyke Fri PM Swiss - A B C Names 11 16.89 James Fox A B C Names Carol Pattison - Marilyn Crawford 1 1 Sandra McCall- Bud McElhaney 2 Phyllis Mellor- John Driscoll 12 15.57 Asim Ulke 1 Bernard Fudor - Frank Cymerman 2 2 Summer Rifkah - Tudor Trifan Bryan Dematt- Sheila Catz 13 15.38 Robert Zimmermann Jan Assini - Fred Schenker 3 3 1 John Regan- Clyde Bruce Baldwin 3 Alice Hand- Mary Taylor 14 15.13 Harold Haffner 2 1 Donald Turacy Sr- Bud McElhaney 2 Ildiko Baxter- Linda Fried Brenda Donald- Caryle Glosser Sandra McCall- Curt Woodhead 3 Joann Szymecki- Gary Marcus 15 15.12 Jan Assini 3 John Killmeyer - Judi Sonon Sunday Open Swiss Teams Barbara Belardi- Cecilia Powell Saturday Aft 499 Pairs A B C Names Above are the top 15 . So…… A B C Names 1 1 Philip Goulding- Robert Zimmer- 2 Gloria Moser - James Gump- CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF John Doyal- David Collura 1 1 Nancy Kosmala- Kathleen Splane mann 2 James Liacos- Karl Sokalski James Fox- Alan Leaver THOSE WHO PLAYED SO WELL AT 3 1 Hugh McMaster - Suzanne Morgan 3 2 1 Marcia Taylor - John Burton Denise Dufour - Celine O'Neill 3 2 Charles Weber II-Judy Karnes 2 Fleur Howard- Phillip Becker OUR TOURNAMENT. YOU ALL Ernie Retetagos- Bernard Fudor Fri. Aft Open Pairs 3 Esther Burstin- Shirley Smith DID A GREAT JOB. A B C Names 3 Kenneth Bergman - Patricia Anders 1 Henry Nelson - Kenneth Bergman Sat Compact KO 1 Catherine Caplan - Paul Caplan 2 1 1 Robert Kleinmann - Bharat Shah Rank Names 2 Daniel McKinley - Kathleen Mulligan 3 Judy Haffner - Harold Haffner 1 Fleur Howard- Phillip Becker Marilyn Burke - Steven Nolan 2 David Livingston - Jean Livingston Bernard Fudor- Asim Ulke 3 Sandra McCall- Bud McElhaney 3 Raymond Kramer - Judit Bardi 2 Ami Elis - Joanne Zambroski Curt Woodhead- Donald Turacy Sr 2 John Regan - Leida Milaz Richard Krauland- Carl Bonfiglio 1 Dennis Jacobs- Carol Henderson 3/4 Arlene Markey - Paula Rabinowitz Sat Compact KO 2 3/4 Gary Marcus - Kathleen Dolegowski Judith Perman- June Threlkeld 2 Thomas Dillon - Margaret Ball Fri. Aft. 499r Pairs 1 Donald Averbach - Bharat Shah A B C Names Hugh McMaster - Suzanne Morgan Mahendra Patel- Martin Cohen 3 Jean Livingston - Rameshwar Srivastava' 1 1 Elizabeth Patton - James Patton 2 Lynne Ostrow - Vicki Kane 2 Rick Klapthor - Marian Smith George Spine Jr - Beverly Ann Spine Jagdish Somani- John Regan 3 2 1 Thomas Black - Roy Reese Sr 3 David Collura- James Gump 3 Jane Slagter - Kathleen Splane Gloria Moser- John Doyal 2 Debbie Roth - Caryle Glosser 3 Sunil Desai - Navin Kadakia 4 3 IN MEMORY SPRING LESSONS - RODEF SHALOM CONGREGATION Seven Mondays, April 22, 2019—June 10 (no class June 3) Vincetina "Vinnie" Simak died March 10 following a courageous battle LEARN HOW TO BECOME THE BEST with lung cancer. She was a retired nurse from the McKeesport area. Vinnie BRIDGE PLAYER YOU CAN BE was active in our bridge world to the last, playing at the Wilkins game on Friday, March 8. She didn’t feel well and left the game. She passed away probably thinking about how she did at the game. “Vinnie, your were in the overalls Rest in peace.” Vinnie achieved Gold Life Master status in 2015. TWO OVER ONE This course is an introduction to the We shall miss her sharp wit and acumen at the tables. Condolences from the Pittsburgh bridge community are extended to her husband, Richard, her that is designed to take you to the next level in bid- ding. It is a highly structured system that allows you children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and extended family. We will to easily understand partners opening bids and all miss her terribly. She was a respected and revered member of our bridge responses. community. What will we do without her? Seven Wednesdays, April 10, 2019 Taught by Arlene Port Jean Parker Stanhagen, a regular at the South Hills non-life-master games, ACBL Certified died suddenly in late March. Jean spent her working years in the military Beginning Bridge—: Bridge Basics #1. A and as a nursing instructor. Jean had a number of friends who were also class for those who wish to learn how to play bridge partners. The friends and partners travelled to tournaments and bridge or reacquainting themselves with the bridge cruises together. Jean will be sorely missed by all her friends and partners in the bridge circles game and achieve a solid foundation. This course will use Bridge Basics #1 by Audrey Grant. Cost for Textbook $12.00. if needed Gary Goetz, one of our unit directors who lived with his mother Nora, Seven Consecutive Mondays April 22, 2019 suffered a great loss when she passed away in March. Gary, our entire Taught by Paul Caplan bridge family extends our condolences to you. We hope that remembering ACBL Board Certified how wonderful she was will bring you comfort.

POST CARDS

COMPETITIVE BIDDING— THE NEXT LEVEL –a class for the If you are interested, you can accomplished bridge player. register online or call Arlene Port at 412-521-3637. Jean, Jean, where have you bin? This course deals with advanced bidding We’re gonna say this once agin strategies and includes different conventions, We’re sorry, but we must persist , penalty doubles—the whole But you must know you’re awfully missed. story, comprehensive bidding over opponents no trump - doubles; support, responsive and Get well and come back to us soon. maimal (Just in case you’re wondering whose picture this is, this is all of us about 55 years ago)

5 6 PBA EVENTS 3-MONTH CALENDAR 2019 UP THE LADDER POST

JUNIOR MASTER April

5 Unit Championship

12 Swiss Team Unit Charity Championship (for ACBL) & PBA Craig Carter Darlene Emanual Board Meeting

THANKFOR YOU PARTBEING A OFCOMMUNITY BRIDGE OUR 19 Open Pairs M (Peg) Fischer

Ginny Perry 26 Unit Championship

CONGRATULATIONS FOR ALL US TO HAVING MANY SO T CLUB MASTER

May .

CONGRATULATIONS!! 3 Club Championship

BRIDGE PLAYERS ALENTED Kathryn Powell 10 Unit Championship Swiss Teams Timothy Redmond 17 Unit Grass Roots Fund Game

SECTIONAL MASTER 24 No game—Cleveland Regional

31 Unit Championship

Nolly Gibbs June

Phyllis Mellor 2 (Sunday) Bergman-Joseph Swiss Teams Paul O’Neill 7 NAOP QUALIFIER Barbara Starr 13 STaC Pairs - Special Thursday Game

14 STaC Pairs & PBA Board Meeting

REGIONAL MASTER 21 Unit Championship

28 Unit Championship Swiss Teams Jean Chess

NABC MASTER INTERNET POST, CONT. from page 9 Dennis Jacobs Richard Laird Trudy Cohn ,. 5S I will bid 5 spades which asks partner to bid 6 with Hugh McMaster second round Club control. Trudy Cohn Barbara Wechsler Jack Hawthorne:3D I think 3D should be the 1st step. 2nd round RUBY LIFE MASTER control is acceptable as a cuebid. It emphasizes the club weakness while keeping the bidding below game in spades Mary Lou Flach Charlotte Ludwig Paul Caplan: 4NT I am bidding slam if I am not off 2 aces. If partner ` Joseph Secka Sr. has both aces I will ask for kings. If partner has the club king I will bid 7 based on the state of the match and I will play in spades.

7 8

Steve Nolan .. 3D. Showing a king INTERNET IMP’s; e-w vul. You, south, hold: Jane Marshall 4NT (1430 keycard). Part- HOW EXPERTS VOTED or ace in diamonds and bypassing clubs to show I have nothing ner must have some good club cards to put on S A K Q 4 3 a game force. I am looking for slam in H A K 7 6 Steve Beratty 5S there. Eventually, if partner doesn't spades. The problem is in the spade suit D K bid Blackwood, I will. A small David Berkowitz 3C C J 9 6 (because partner does not have 4-card support slam is all but guaranteed and it (or he would have bid 2NT (Jacoby) with as Augie Boehm 3S THE BIDDING IS: won't take all that much extra from his initial response). If we have all the Aces, I SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST partner for a grand. will bid 6 spades. Bart Bramley 2NT 1S pass 2D PASS Larry Cohen 2T 2H PASS 2S* PASS Bill Holt: 3H. Spades are set as Stanley Ruskin: . 2NT. While there are, ? What do you bid trumps, so I’ll Q-bid my cheapest of course, a number of bids you can make, the Billy Eisenberg 3C • Game force only one that makes sense to me is 2NT control, hoping to hear 4c from Russ Ekeblad 3D partner. which, in this case, is temporizing and doesn’t Richard Katz 3C I bid three clubs, waste bidding space. At this point, we have Mark Feldman 3S allowing partner to bid n t from her side. Bob Zimmermann3 D. I'm look- agreed that some number of Spades is the final Robert Friend 3D Figuring 13 opposite twenty, I bid six n t contract so south is asking north to start cue gambling it has some play. ing for slam, but of course clubs are bidding and also implying that his distribution Ross Grabel 3H problematic. At this point, I'm go- O k at match points, could ruin entire imp is 5/4/1/3. Allen Graves 3D day. ing to show the diamond King - which has to be an important Gail Carns: 3S asking partner to Q-bid Joe Grue 3C Asim Ulke . I bid 3D. King of diamonds has card. Over partner's inevitable if they bid 3D I will bid 5S asking for 2nd Barbara Haberman 3D 3NT, I will be 4NT (quantitative) to be an important card for partner to decide round control of C Carl Hudecek 3H what contract to play. If partner bids black- and abide by his decision. At that wood than I can show the diamond king point, I will have shown my values. Bernie Fudor: 3S It seems that we ‘Sami Kehela 3D

along with my aces. I intent to correct 7D to should be in slam, Best way I is to bid 3 Danny Kleinman 5S Ernie Retetagos: 3 Diamonds. I sp that requires a cue bid if my pd bids 4c 7NT. Eric Kokish 3C bid 3 diamonds so that I can show I will bid 4h my partner the King. Partner is Chris Wang: 3H As I have 20 hcp and 5 Sidney Lazard 3D marked with the Ace or King of losers, opposite an opening hand, I am inter- INTERNET POST RESULTS: Mike Passell 3C clubs, so the only question is wheth- BID Nat. Pgh Award ested in slam. As I am lacking in club con- I will bid 5 spades which asks partner to bid 6 with er or not we can bid a grand 3D 9 6 100 Pratap Rajadhyaksha 3D trols, I will bid my controls, First I bid 3H slam. If I subsequently bid 4 NT 3C 6 1 90 Arthur Robinson 3D to show I have first round control of hearts, 3S 5 2 80 followed by 5 NT, showing all the and don’t have first round control of both 3H 3 2 70 David Roundtree 3H Key cards in spades, partner may be clubs and diamonds. Hopefully partner will 2NT 2 1 60 able to bid 7 with long strong dia- 5S 2 1 50 3S either bid 3 spades or 4 clubs. Then I will monds and the A K of clubs. With 4NT 0 2 20 Ira Rubin 3D bid 4 diamonds to show I have second round 6S 0 0 10 that hand partner should bid 7 NT, Robert Wolff 3S control of diamonds. If partner then stops in 2 NT 0 0 N/A I am bidding slam if I am not off 2 aces. If partner which could make even if spades Kit Woolsey 3S 4 spades, I will bid 5 hearts to show partner I has both aces I will ask for kings. If partner has the club king I will bid break badly. have second round control of hearts and Zia 3C

leave the decision regarding slam to part- Herb Sachs: 3DThree diamonds; ner. I will not use Blackwood as I have an partner hopefully will bid four open suit, clubs. This approach may be too clubs; if I hear three spades I bid conservative and we may miss a grand slam. four spades; Could partner have

9 10

FIRST AT THE POST

70 % Games

Sun

28 21 14 7 Pittsburgh Bridge Bridge Pittsburgh Assoc APRIL2019

Sam Hoenstine & Bernard Fudor 70.92 Export Mon

Sidney Metzger & Estill Duggins 70.00 South Hills Tues Gail Carns & Asim Ulke 71.43 Glenshaw Sat Ernie Retetagos & Asim Ulke 74.54 Rodef Mon Harold Haffner & Judy Haffner 72.92 Rodef Tues

Nick Tredennick & Raymond Kramer 87.50 Butler Thurs

29 8 22 15 1

Arlene Port & Trudy Cohn 71.85 Rodef Wed

Hazel Allen & Thomas Black 70.83 New Castle 750er Mon Mon

FOUR IN A ROW

30 23 16 9 2

Robert Zimmermann PBA Unit Fri Arthur Henry South Hills NLM Tues Marie Henry South Hills NLM Tues Tue

THREE IN A ROW

3 1 MAY MAY 1 24 17

Marcella Retetagos Glenshaw Sat Ernie Retetagos Glenshaw Sat Pa- 10

Wed

tricia Cunkelman Greensburg Thurs Judit Bardi Natrona Heights MonRaymond

Kramer Natrona Heights Mon

TWO IN A ROW

4 2 25 18 11

Peggy Shivetts Greensburg Thurs Joseph Secka Sr Chartiers-Houston Fri

Sam Hoenstine Export Mon Bernard Fudor Export Mon- Thu Paul Rosenberg Houston Mon Kenneth Bergman Glenshaw Wed-

Sue Israelson Greensburg Wed Alice Hand Woodridge Mon Mary Taylor Woodridge Mon Harold Haffner Rodef Wed

Gail Stoner Edgeworth Wed` Peggy Shivetts Greensburg Thurs

3 3 CHMP UNIT PBS CHMP PBA CLUB CHMP CLUB PBA 26 - MEETING ARITYBD CHP. 12 5

PBA OPEN PAIRSPBA

Joseph Secka Sr Chartiers-Hstn Fri Sam Hoenstine Export Mon 19

PBA UNITPBA PBA PBA SWISSCH

Bernard Fudor Export Mon Paul Rosenberg Houston Mon

Kenneth Bergman Glenshaw Wed Sue Israelson Greensburg Wed Fri

Alice Hand Woodridge Mon Mary Taylor Woodridge Mon-

Harold Haffner Rodef Wed Gail Stoner Edgeworth Wed Leroy Hackenberg II Greensburg Fri Peter Howell PBA Unit Fri

Jean Chess Lebo Fri Nolly Gibbs Lebo Fri

Caryle Glosser Rodef 299er Mon William Geiger Rodef 299er Mon

6 4 27 20 13

Patricia Cunkelman Export Mon Henry Nelson O'Hara Tues

Sat Kenneth Bergman O'Hara Tue Bharat Shah South Hills Tues

Mahendra Patel Temple Emanuel Wed Thomas Black New Castle 750er Mon

Suzanne Morgan Edgeworth Wed Barbara Belardi Greensburg Wed Cecilia Powell Greensburg Wed Ed Collins Greensburg Fri Carol Bolen Allegheny CC Fri

11 12