ACBL - District 9 • www.district9acbl.org July-August 2014 Volume 10 - Number 6

13 Clubs in the Top 50 CLUB NAME CITY # OF TABLES The In Between DBC Sarasota 13,552 ½ Jourdan's BC Delray Beach 12,753 Vero Beach Bridge Center Vero Beach 10,907 ½ Boca Raton DBC Boca Raton 9874 ½ Naples Bridge Center, Inc. Naples 9324 ½ The Villages DBC The Villages 8887 Fort Lauderdale BC Fort Lauderdale 8831 ½ Bonita Bridge @ Wiggins Naples 7775 McGregor Point BC Fort Myers 7481 Pompano Beach DBC Pompano Beach 6727 ½ Temple Sinai DBC Delray Beach 6371 WIN “The Bridge Club” Boca Raton 6228 Hollywood BC Hollywood 6179 ½

PAGE 14 Retired & Playing Bridge! Check out District 9 Online: Wealth Management, Investments & Income o A Partner You Can Trust o

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Member Member ACBL SIPC. Since 1973 Wealth Management, Investments & Income Go Away Travel Bridge Cruises o A Partner You Can Trust o Western Caribbean Panama Canal January 18–25, 2015 April 14–May 1, 2015 with Eddie Wold & Bob Morris Sectional at Sea (NC) on the RCCL Navigator of the Seas on the Regent Seven Seas Navigator Round-Trip Galveston Miami to San Francisco

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South leads the ♠6 and wins Western Caribbean Canada & East Coast all the tricks in NT March 1–8, 2015 Oct. 18–Nov. 12, 2015 Peter Jargowsky with Mike Lawrence with Larry Cohen Vice President, Investments on the Holland America Ryndam on the Regent Seven Seas Navigator www.PeterJargowsky.info Round-Trip Tampa NY to Montreal & Montreal to Miami 954-278-8099 Complimentary Assessment! Call Today to Improve Your Investment Portfolio

Sail Away with Go Away and experience the Best Bridge At Sea! 1451 W Cypress Creek Road • Suite 204 • Fort Lauderdale FL 33309 For more details or reservations, call John Sobel at Go Away Travel Main: 954-334-3450 • Fax: 954-229-9937 954-349-2800 or 1-800-721-5927 Investment Advisory Services offered through Newbridge Financial Services Group, Inc., an SEC Registered Investment Advisor www.BestBridgeAtSea.com Member Member ACBL To participate, reservations must be made with Go Away Travel. SIPC. Since 1973 PGA National Resort & Spa PALM BEACH GARDENS 400 Avenue of Champions Palm Beach Gardens, FL REGIONAL TOURNAMENT (800) 633-9150 August 18-24 (561) 627-2000 MON 10 am Free Novice Lecture - Shirley Levy HOSTS 1 pm Free Relaxed Rules 0-25 Stratiÿed Pairs AUG 1 pm Stratiÿed Open Charity Pairs Shannon Cappelletti 18 7 pm Stratiÿed Open Charity Pairs 888-360-2590 7 pm Bracketed Open Knockouts, Round 1 (cont'd Tues. 9 am, 1 pm, 7 pm) [email protected] TUE 9:30 am Morning Stratiÿed Open Fast Pairs Series (1 of 5) 10 am Stratiÿed 49er Pairs (one session, if attendance warrants) Charlene Predmest AUG 10 am Stratiÿed 299er Pairs (one session) 888-360-2590 19 10 am & 3 pm Stratiÿed Senior Pairs (two-session event) [email protected] 1 pm Stratiÿed Open Side Game Series I (1 of 6) 1 & 7 pm FLORIDA GOLD PAIRS, 0-750; 300-750 Strat Pays Gold (two-session event) 1 & 7 pm A/X Open Pairs, X=0-5000 (two-session event) PARTNERSHIPS 1 & 7 pm Primetime KOs I, Rounds 1&2 (cont'd rounds 3&4 Weds. 1&7 pm) 3 pm Stratiÿed 299er Pairs (one session) Peggy Higginbotham 7 pm Stratiÿed Open Side Game Series (2 of 6) 888-360-2590 7 pm Stratiÿed Swiss Team (one session event) [email protected] WED 9:00 Compact KOs I, Rounds 1&2, 4-person teams (cont'd rounds 3&4 Thurs. 9 am) --or-- 9:15-9:45 Guest Speaker AUG 9:30 am Morning Stratiÿed Open Fast Pairs Series (2 of 5) Visit the District 9 Online 20 10 am Stratiÿed 49er Pairs (one session, if attendance warrants) Partnership Desk at: 10 am Stratiÿed 299er Pairs (one session) 10 am & 3 pm Stratiÿed Senior Pairs (two-session event) bridgeÿnesse.com/D9PDeskIndex 12:15-12:45 Guest Speaker Marty Bergen 1 & 7 pm FLORIDA GOLD PAIRS, 0-750; 300-750 Strat Pays Gold (two-session event) HOSPITALITY 1 & 7 pm A/X Open Pairs, X=0-5000 (two-session event) Co° ee & Orange Juice Daily 1 pm Stratiÿed Open Side Game Series I (3 of 6) 1 pm & 7 pm Primetime KOs II, Rounds 1&2 (cont'd rounds 3&4 Thurs. 1&7 pm) Monday-Friday Evenings 3 pm Stratiÿed 299er Pairs (one session) Open Hospitality Room 7 pm Stratiÿed Open Side Game Series I (4 of 6) Everyone Welcome 7 pm Stratiÿed Swiss Team (one session event) Ice Cream and/or Desserts THU 9:00 am Compact KOs II, Rounds 1&2, 4-person teams (cont'd rounds 3&4 Fri. 9 am) 9:15-9:45 am Guest Speaker Subsidized Sunday Snacks AUG 9:30 am Morning Stratiÿed Open Fast Pairs Series (3 of 5) 21 10 am Stratiÿed 49er Pairs (one session, if attendance warrants) 10 am Stratiÿed 299er Pairs (one session) STRATA 10 am & 3 pm Stratiÿed FLORIDA GOLD PAIRS, 0-750; 300-750 Strat Pays Gold (two-session event) 10 am & 3 pm A/X Open Pairs, X=0-5000 (two-session event) Open & Senior Events 1 pm Stratiÿed Open Side Game Series I (5 of 6) A=2000+, B=750-2000, C=0-750 1 & 7 pm Stratiÿed Open Pairs (two-session event) 1 & 7 pm Primetime KOs III, Rounds 1&2 (cont'd rounds 3&4 Fri. 1&7 pm) Florida Gold Strats: 3 pm Stratiÿed 299er Pairs (one session) Top=300-750, Bottom=0-300 7 pm Stratiÿed Open Side Game Series I (6 of 6) 7 pm Stratiÿed Swiss Team (one session event) A/X Strats: A=5000+, X=0-5000 FRI 9:00 Compact KOs III, Rounds 1&2, 4-person teams (cont'd rounds 3&4 Sat. 9 am) AUG 9:15-9:45 Guest Speaker 299er Events 9:30 am Morning Stratiÿed Open Fast Pairs Series (4 of 5) A=200-300, B=100-200, C=0-100 22 10 am Stratiÿed 49er Pairs (one session, if attendance warrants) 10 am Stratiÿed 299er Pairs (one session) 299er Strata May Be Changed at 10 am & 3 pm FLORIDA GOLD PAIRS, 0-750; 300-750 Strat Pays Gold (two-session event) Director's Discretion 10 am & 3 pm A/X Open Pairs, X=0-5000 (two-session event) 1 pm Stratiÿed Open Side Game Series II (1 of 4) Top KO Bracket May Be 1 & 7 pm Stratiÿed Open Pairs (two-session event) Handicapped 1 & 7 pm Primetime KOs IV, Rounds 1&2 (cont'd rounds 3&4 Sat. 1&7 pm) 3 pm Stratiÿed 299er Pairs (one session) All Pairs Games Stratiÿed; All KOs 7 pm Stratiÿed Open Side Game Series (2 of 4) and Sat. 2-Session B Swiss are 7 pm Stratiÿed Swiss Team (one session event) Bracketed; All Other Swiss 9:30 am Morning Stratiÿed Open Fast Pairs Series (5 of 5) Stratiÿed by Masterpoint Average SAT 10 am Stratiÿed 49er Pairs (one session, if attendance warrants) AUG 10 am Stratiÿed 299er Pairs (one session) 23 10 am & 3 pm Stratiÿed Senior Pairs (two-session event) DIRECTIONS 1 pm Stratiÿed Open Side Game Series II (3 of 4) From I-95, take Exit 78B onto 1 & 7 pm Stratiÿed Open Pairs (two-session event) 1 & 7 pm Bracketed Flight B Swiss Teams, no player over 3000 MPs (two-session event) PGA Blvd., travel west 2 ˛⁄˙ 1 & 7 pm A/X Swiss Teams, X=0-5000 (two-session event) miles then turn left onto 3 pm Stratiÿed 299er Pairs (one session) Avenue of Champions. 7 pm Stratiÿed Open Side Game Series (4 of 4) From Florida’s Turnpike, take 10 am FLORIDA GOLD Swiss Teams, two-session playthrough with short break, top strat pays gold SUN 10 am A/X Swiss, X=0-5000, two-session playthrough with short break, six 8- matches Exit 109 to Palm Beach Gardens AUG and turn right, a mile, turn left 24 into resort. SOUTHWEST FLORIDA REGIONAL TOURNAMENT Waldorf Astoria Naples • 475 Seagate Dr, Naples, FL • 888-722-1270 September 15 - 21 HOSTS MON 10 am-noon Free Bruce Greenspan Lecture 1 pm-3:30 pm Free 0-20 MP Pairs Game, Relaxed Rules Shannon Cappelletti – (888) 360-2590 SEP [email protected] 15 1 pm Stratiÿed Open Charity Pairs 7 pm Stratiÿed Open Charity Pairs Bruce Greenspan – (888) 360-2590 7 pm Bracketed Open Knockouts, Round 1 (cont’d Tues. 9 am, 1 pm, 7 pm) [email protected] TUE 9:30 am Morning Fast Pairs Series (1 of 5) TOURNAMENT CHAIR SEP 10 am Strati ed 49er Pairs (single session, if attendance warrants) Bruce Greenspan – (617) 510-8405 10 am 299er Pairs (1 session event) [email protected] 16 10 am & 3 pm Stratiÿed Senior Pairs (2 session event) 1 pm & 7 pm Stratiÿed Open Pairs PARTNERSHIPS 1 pm & 7 pm Primetime KOs I, Rounds 1 & 2 (rounds 3 & 4 cont’d Wed. 1 pm & 7 pm) Peggy Higginbotham – (904) 334-5272 1 pm Side Game Series I (1 of 6) [email protected] 3 pm 299er Pairs (1 session event) Need a partner or teammates? 7 pm Side Games Series I (2 of 6) 7 pm Stratiÿed Swiss Teams (1 session event) Visit the District 9 Online Partnership Desk at: bridgeÿnesse.com/D9PDeskIndex WED 9:15 am-9:45 am Guest Speaker AND again at 12:15-12:45 HOSPITALITY 9:30 am Morning Fast Pairs Series (2 of 5) SEP 9 am Compact KOs, Rounds 1 & 2 (rounds 3 & 4 cont’d Thur. 9 am , 4 person team only) Co° ee & Orange Juice Daily 17 10 am Strati ed 49er Pairs (single session, if attendance warrants) Monday–Friday Evenings 10 am 299er Pairs (1 session event) Open Hospitality Room 10 am & 3 pm Stratiÿed Senior Pairs (2 session event) Everyone Welcome 1 pm & 7 pm FLORIDA GOLD PAIRS, 0-750, 300-750 Strata Pays Gold (two session event) Ice Cream and/or Desserts 1 pm & 7 pm A/X Open Pairs, X=0-5000, A=Unlimited (two session event) Post-Game Snacks 1 pm & 7 pm Primetime KOs II, Rounds 1 & 2 (rounds 3 & 4 cont’d Thur. 1 pm & 7 pm) Subsidized Sunday Snacks 1 pm Side Game Series I (3 of 6) 3 pm 299er Pairs (1 session event) STRATA 7 pm Side Games Series I (4 of 6) Open & Senior Events 7 pm Stratiÿed Swiss Teams (1 session event) A=2000+, B=750-2000, C=0-750 THU 9:15 am-9:45 am Guest Speaker AND again at 12:15-12:45 Florida Gold Strats: 9:30 am Morning Fast Pairs Series (3 of 5) Top=300-750, Bottom=0-300 SEP 9 am Compact KOs, Rounds 1 & 2 (rounds 3 & 4 cont’d Fri. 9 am , 4 person team only) A/X Strats: 18 10 am Strati ed 49er Pairs (single session, if attendance warrants) A=5000+, X=0-5000 10 am 299er Pairs (1 session event) 299er Events 10 am & 3 pm Stratiÿed Senior Pairs (2 session event) A=200-300, B=100-200, C=0-100 1 pm & 7 pm Stratiÿed Open Pairs 299er Strata May Be Changed at 1 pm & 7 pm Primetime KOs II, Rounds 1 & 2 (rounds 3 & 4 cont’d Thur. 1 pm & 7 pm) 1 pm Side Game Series I (5 of 6) Director's Discretion. 3 pm 299er Pairs (1 session event) 49er Pairs: 7 pm Side Games Series I (6 of 6) A=25-50, B=10-25, C=0-10. 7 pm Stratiÿed Swiss Teams (1 session event) 49er Strata May Be Changed at Director's Discretion. FRI 9:15 am-9:45 am Guest Speaker Top KO Bracket May Be Handicapped. All 9:30 am Morning Fast Pairs Series (4 of 5) SEP 9 am Compact KOs, Rounds 1 & 2 (rounds 3 & 4 cont’d Sat. 9 am , 4 person team only) Pairs Games Stratiÿed by Masterpoint 19 10 am 299er Pairs (1 session event) Average of the Pair (both players must ÿt 10 am & 3 pm Stratiÿed Senior Pairs (2 session event) under the upper limit of the strat or 1 pm & 7 pm FLORIDA GOLD PAIRS, 0-750, 300-750 Strata Pays Gold (two session event) event); All KOs and Sat. 2-Session Swiss 1 pm & 7 pm A/X Open Pairs, X=0-5000, A=Unlimited (two session event) are Bracketed; All Other Swiss are 1 pm & 7 pm Primetime KOs IV, Rounds 1 & 2 (rounds 3 & 4 cont’d Sat. 1 pm & 7 pm) Stratiÿed By Team Masterpoint Average 1 pm Side Game Series II (1 of 4) 3 pm 299er Pairs (1 session event) DIRECTIONS 7 pm Side Games Series II (2 of 4) I-75 to exit 107, go west on CR 896/Pine 7 pm Stratiÿed Swiss Teams (1 session event) Ridge Road about 4 miles. Pine Ridge Road becomes Seagate Drive; go less 9:15 am-9:45 am Guest Speaker SAT than half mile into resort on the right. SEP 9:30 am Morning Fast Pairs Series (5 of 5) 20 10 am 299er Pairs (1 session event) RESERVATIONS 10 am & 3 pm Stratiÿed Senior Pairs (2 session event) (888) 722-1270 1 pm & 7 pm Stratiÿed Open Pairs (2 session event) Ask for the ACBL group rate or ask for group 1 pm & 7 pm Bracketed Flight B Swiss Teams, no player over 3000 MPs (two-session event) 1 pm & 7 pm A/X Swiss Teams, X=0-5000 (two-session event) code ACBL14. See listing in calendar at 1 pm Side Game Series II (3 of 4) www.FloridaUnit128.org for link to make 3 pm 299er Pairs (1 session event) hotel reservations. Our rate is not subject to 7 pm Side Games Series II (4 of 4) the $30/night Daily Resort Charge. Our discounted room rate is $145 until the SUN 10 am Stratiÿed Senior Swiss Teams, room block is ÿlled or until the cut-o° da te SEP Two-session Playthrough with short break 10 am Stratiÿed Open Swiss Teams, of Sept. 1st, whichever comes sooner. 21 Two-session Playthrough with short break SECTIONAL AND DISTRICT 9 NAP FINAL AT ST. PETERSBURG BRIDGE CLUB 9103 US Highway 19 N. • Pinellas Park, FL 33782 October 24-26, 2014 SECTIONAL Friday Oct. 24 10:30 AM Stratified Open Pairs Intermediate Pairs (NLM) 3:00 PM Stratified Open Pairs Intermediate Pairs (NLM) Saturday Oct. 25 10:30 AM Stratified Open Pairs Intermediate Pairs (NLM) 3:00 PM Stratified Open Pairs Intermediate Pairs (NLM) Sunday Oct. 26 10:30 AM Stratified Swiss – 2 session play through NLM Swiss – Play through DISTRICT 9 NAP FINALS Saturday Oct. 25 1:00 PM Round 1 – A, B & C 7:00 PM Round 2 – A, B & C Sunday Oct. 26 10:00 AM Round 3 – A, B & C (if necessary) TBA Round 4 – A, B & C (if necessary) Sectional Strata: A=2000+; B=750-2000; C-0-750 NLM Strata: A=200-NLM; B=100-200; C=0-100 Free coee, orange juice and snacks at all sessions Lunch during Sunday’s Swiss Teams game. Hotel: La Quinta Hotel, 5000 Lake Blvd., Clearwater 727-299-9800 For more information or Partnership requests: Charles Gill 727-363-1136 [email protected] St. Petersburg Bridge Club is located just o I-275. From I-275, take Exit 28 and drive west on Gandy/Park approx 11/2 miles to US Highway 19 N. (34th Street). Turn north (right) on US Highway 19 N. 9103 is 3/4 mile up on the right in Mainlands Plaza.. DAYTONA REGIONAL November 3-9 Daytona Beach Plaza Resort & Spa 600 N. Atlantic Ave. • Daytona Beach • 866-500-5630 MON 10 am-noon Free Novice Lesson NOV 1 pm-3:30 pm Free 0-20 MP Pairs Game, Relaxed Rules HOSTS 3 1 pm Stratiÿed Open Charity Pairs Shannon Cappelletti – (888) 7 pm Stratiÿed Open Charity Pairs 360-2590 7 pm Bracketed Open Knockouts, Round 1 (cont’d Tues. 9 am, 1 pm, 7 pm) [email protected] TUE 9:30 am Morning Fast Pairs Series (1 of 5) Ray Wise – (813) 215-6623 10 am 299er Pairs (1 session event) [email protected] NOV 10 am & 3pm Stratiÿed Senior Pairs (2 session event) 4 1 pm & 7 pm FLORIDA GOLD PAIRS, 0-750, 300-750 Strat Pays Gold (two session event) TOURNAMENT CHAIR 1 pm & 7 pm A/X Open Pairs, X=0-5000, A=Unlimited (two session event) Betty Sandifer – (888) 360-2590 1 pm & 7 pm Primetime KOs I, Rounds 1 & 2 (rounds 3 & 4 cont’d Wed. 1 pm & 7 pm) bsandifer@c˜.rr.com 1 pm Side Game Series I (1 of 6) 3 pm 299er Pairs (1 session event) PARTNERSHIPS 7 pm Side Games Series I (2 of 6) Peggy Higginbotham – (904) 7 pm Stratiÿed Swiss Teams (1 session event) 334-5272 [email protected] WED 9:15 am-9:45 am Guest Speaker AND again at 12:15-12:45 NOV 9:30 am Morning Fast Pairs Series (2 of 5) Need a partner or teammates? 5 9 am Compact KOs, Rounds 1 & 2 (rounds 3 & 4 cont’d Thur. 9 am , 4 person team only) Visit the District 9 Online Partnership Desk 10 am 299er Pairs (1 session event) at: bridgeÿnesse.com/D9PDeskIndex 10 am & 3 pm Stratiÿed Senior Pairs (2 session event) 1 pm & 7 pm FLORIDA GOLD PAIRS, 0-750, 300-750 Strat Pays Gold (two session event) HOSPITALITY 1 pm & 7 pm A/X Open Pairs, X=0-5000, A=Unlimited (two session event) Co˛ ee & Orange Juice Daily 1 pm & 7 pm Primetime KOs II, Rounds 1 & 2 (rounds 3 & 4 cont’d Thur. 1 pm & 7 pm) Monday–Friday Evenings 1 pm Side Game Series I (3 of 6) Open Hospitality Room 3 pm 299er Pairs (1 session event) Everyone Welcome 7 pm Side Games Series I (4 of 6) Ice Cream and/or Desserts 7 pm Stratiÿed Swiss Teams (1 session event) After-game Snacks THU 9:15 am-9:45 am Guest Speaker AND again at 12:15-12:45 Subsidized Sunday Snacks NOV 9:30 am Morning Fast Pairs Series (3 of 5) 9 am Compact KOs, Rounds 1 & 2 (rounds 3 & 4 cont’d Fri. 9 am, 4 person team only) STRATA 6 10 am 299er Pairs (1 session event) Open & Senior Events 10 am & 3 pm Stratiÿed Senior Pairs (2 session event) A=2000+, B=750-2000, C=0-750 1 pm & 7 pm FLORIDA GOLD PAIRS, 0-750, 300-750 Strat Pays Gold (two session event) Florida Gold Strats: 1 pm & 7 pm A/X Open Pairs, X=0-5000, A=Unlimited (two session event) Top=300-750, Bottom=0-300 1 pm & 7 pm Primetime KOs III, Rounds 1 & 2 (rounds 3 & 4 cont’d Fri. 1 pm & 7 pm) 1 pm Side Game Series I (5 of 6) A/X Strats: 3 pm 299er Pairs (1 session event) A=5000+, X=0-5000 7 pm Side Games Series I (6 of 6) 299er Events 7 pm Stratiÿed Swiss Teams (1 session event) A=200-300, B=100-200, C=0-100 FRI 9:15 am-9:45 am Guest Speaker AND again at 12:15-12:45 299er Strata May Be Changed at NOV 9:30 am Morning Fast Pairs Series (4 of 5) Director's Discretion. Top KO Bracket 7 9 am Compact KOs, Rounds 1 & 2 (rounds 3 & 4 cont’d Sat. 9 am, 4 person team only) May Be Handicapped. All Pairs Games 10 am 299er Pairs (1 session event) Stratiÿed by Masterpoint Average of 10 am & 3 pm Stratiÿed Senior Pairs (2 session event) the Pair (both players must ÿt under 1 pm & 7 pm FLORIDA GOLD PAIRS, 0-750, 300-750 Strat Pays Gold (two session event) the upper limit of the strat or event); 1 pm & 7 pm A/X Open Pairs, X=0-5000, A=Unlimited (two session event) All KOs and Sat. 2-Session Swiss are 1 pm & 7 pm Primetime KOs IV, Rounds 1 & 2 (rounds 3 & 4 cont’d Sat. 1 pm & 7 pm) Bracketed; All Other Swiss are Stratiÿed 1 pm Side Game Series II (1 of 4) By Team Masterpoint Average 3 pm 299er Pairs (1 session event) 7 pm Side Games Series II (2 of 4) DIRECTIONS 7 pm Stratiÿed Swiss Teams (1 session event) From I-95 Northbound or SAT 9:30 am Morning Fast Pairs Series (5 of 5) Southbound: Take exit 261 to NOV 10 am 299er Pairs (1 session event) eastbound US 92, east through 8 10 am & 3 pm Stratiÿed Senior Pairs (2 session event) business district to A1A. Turn left 1 pm & 7 pm Stratiÿed Open Pairs (2 session event) (north) and hotel will be 1 pm & 7 pm Bracketed Swiss Teams (2 session event) approximately 1.2 miles on the right. 1 pm & 7 pm A/X Swiss (X=under 5000 avg. per player) 1 pm & 7 pm B Bracketed Swiss (no player over 3000) RESERVATIONS 1 pm Side Game Series II (3 of 4) Our discounted room rate is $109 3 pm 299er Pairs (1 session event) until the room block is ÿlled or 7 pm Side Games Series II (4 of 4) until the cut-o˛ da te of October 3rd, whichever comes ÿrst. SUN 10 am FL Gold Swiss Teams, 0-750, top strat pays gold points, NOV Playthrough with short break 9 10 am A/X Swiss Teams, X=0-5000, Playthrough with short break District 9 President’s Message Bill Rauld, District 9 President - [email protected]

Summer is finally here, and it appears with a vengeance. While it is oppressively hot outside, it is a great time to be indoors, playing our favorite game. Just think how much faster it is to get to your local club for a game now that the students are not in school. By the same token, it should be much quicker to attend a local Sectional or Regional in District 9. I wanted to take this opportunity to explain some changes you might have noticed in the scheduling and locations of regionals in Florida. You may have noticed that some of the tournaments that you were used to attending aren’t there any more, or conversely, there is a new tournament in your area. As I have mentioned before, District 9 has nine regionals every year. While we are glad to have so many tournaments, we also have to try to plan where to hold them and when. One of District 9’s goals is to support our players in the best way we can. It is not an easy task to coordinate tournaments, as the planning that goes on several years before the tournaments is quite involved. Hotels tend to get booked around the dates we have Regionals so we have to plan way in advance. We also realize that many of our players are on a tight budget, and so we try to find venues that are not cost prohibitive and at the same time, have good playing space and lighting. Based on your attendance at the tournaments we currently have, we try to manage the locations the best we can. Your attendance at these tournaments will dictate where and when we hold them, so please support the Regionals in your area. We have many new players to our game, and many are very enthusiastic and want to learn the game. It is the responsibility of the more seasoned players to encourage the newer players to continue playing and be a positive influen e on them. We also need to be mindful of those players who might not be as mobile as we are, or as fast at bidding or playing. Please show the same consideration that you would wish to have if you were in the same position. See you at the bridge table soon!!!! Stay cool.

REMEMBER July 1-31 • NAP CLUB QUALIFYING August 11-17 • DISTRICT 9 STaC AugustBill 1-31 • NAP CLUB QUALIFYING 8 ACBL District 9 Table of Contents

District 9 President's Message by Bill Rauld...... 8 PAGE 14 District 9 Director’s Message by Jay Whipple ...... 10 District Board of Directors...... 11 Retired & Communicating by Muriel Altus...... 12 Playing Our Readers Write/Survey Sez ...... 13 Cover Story: Retired and Playing Bridge ...... 14 Bridge! Tournament Trail...... 17 KISS! What Should We Play? by Larry Cohen...... 18 The Kibitzer is Shirley Wright by Jon Shuster...... 20 The Phantom Split (Sweet Deception?) by Michael Donnelly. . 21 Trials and Tribulations by Barnet Shenkin ...... 22 Director’s Corner by Lynn Berg...... 23 TENSION Transfers by Peter Jargowsky...... 24 The Common Game...... 25 You passed a 30-Pointer!!! by Jim Somma...... 26 Overcoming the odds...... 27 Unit 102...... 28 District 9 Tournament Calendar...... 32 Unit 128...... 34 17,930 Unit 219...... 44 District 9 Members! Unit 240...... 49 Unit 243...... 55 Rank Changes...... 59 Olin Hubert’s Retirement Party...... 63 District 9 Membership TOURNAMENTS by Unit as of PALM BEACH GARDENS REGIONAL...... 4 05/31/2014 SOUTHWEST FLORIDA REGIONAL...... 5 Sectional and District 9 NAP Final at St. Petersburg...... 6 DAYTONA REGIONAL...... 7 Ft. Myers McGregor Point Sectional...... 39 Unit Name Members St. Petersburg Bridge Club Labor Day Sectional...... 40 102 ACBL Unit 102 1108 WIN "the bridge club" Silver Sectional...... 41 128 Florida 13110 Daytona Beach Fall Sectional...... 42 219 NW Florida 678 Citrus Bridge Sectional...... 43 Tallahassee Summer Sectional...... 48 240 Central Florida 2026 Orlando Sizzling Summer Sectional...... 53 243 Gold Coast 1008 Brevard County Labor Day Sectional...... 54 Total Members 17,930 www.District9ACBL.org 9 ACBL District 9 Director All Quiet on ACBL National board front. We are between our March Meeting in Dallas and our upcoming meeting in July at the Vegas NABCs. This is a time when agenda items are proposed and preliminarily vetted by board committees for consideration by the full board. Stay tuned for updates. Robert Hartman, the ACBL CEO, reports that Sectionals are still seeing a notable decline. Average Regional table count is down 4% (total Regional table count is up 14%), Average Sectional table count is down 8% (total Sectional table count is down 5%), and average StaC table count is up 1% (total StaC tables up 5%). The new ACBL.org website was launched June 5th with a focus on marketing to new players. The new internet-based Learn to Play Bridge formal launch is expected by the end of the summer. The ACBLScore+ development effort is undergoing a complete review process to determine the next step. Meanwhile, back in Florida, our latest Regional Tournaments attracted a wide range of dignitaries and HQ staff. The hotel accommodations may have been lacking in Ft. Lauderdale but the world-class competition was not. Silvia Hardin, head of HR from ACBL HQ, was on hand to interact with tournament directors and tournament sponsors as part of the tournament director strategic project. She was impressed by our support and recognition of the critical role our tournament directors play in providing a great experience for all players. With our snow birds back north, Tampa Regional had a relatively small turnout but attracted many VIPs including current ACBL Board President Phyllis Harlan and her husband Bill, Past ACBL Board President Harriette Buckman, fellow District 7 Director Bob Heller, and former ACBL CEO Jay Baum. The wonderful stories from our players achieving new ranks continue to light up my district director web page : https://sites.google.com/site/district9director/. Come and read the stories and be inspired. Have you reached out recently and started a new player along the road to gold? Sincerely Your Representative, Jay Jay N. Whipple III, [email protected]

New, for your enjoyment. District Director Jay Whipple has invited our members who are celebrating rank changes to send him a note about their bridge experience. Read them here: https://sites.google.com/site/district9director/home/stories-from-rank-changers

IF YOU RUN A SECTIONAL! All changes to sanctioned sectionals require approval from the District 9 Tournament Committee as well as our District Coordinator, Patty Johnson. If you change anything, whether it be your dates or the type of sectional or the location, or if you decide to cancel an already-sanctioned tournament, please let Patty Johnson know immediately by emailing her at [email protected]. Information should also be sent to Shirley Seals, Chair of the Tournament Committee, at [email protected].

10 ACBL District 9 District Board of Directors OFFICERS BILL RAULD Unit 102 Carol Hamilton [email protected] District 9 President Unit 102 Jim Russell [email protected] Phone: 305-219-2800 Unit 128 Muriel Altus [email protected] [email protected] Unit 128 Jack Bonney [email protected] Unit 128 Charles Gill [email protected] BETTY SANDIFER Unit 128 Bruce Greenspan [email protected] District 9 Vice President Unit 128 Marshall Hall [email protected] Mobile Ph: 386-795-7423 Unit 128 Craig Hemphill [email protected] [email protected] Unit 128 Harriet Morris [email protected] SHIRLEY SEALS Unit 128 Adrienne Muslin [email protected] Tournament Committee Chair, Unit 128 Jeff verby Jeff [email protected] Secretary & Treasurer Unit 128 Charlene Predmest [email protected] Home Ph.: 904-285-7767 Unit 128 Betty Sandifer [email protected] Mobile Ph.: 904-563-0470 Unit 128 Shirley Seals [email protected] Fax: 904-285-7783 Unit 128 Marianne Timmons [email protected] Unit 128 Jay Whipple III [email protected] [email protected] Unit 128 Ray Wise [email protected] PUBLICATION STAFF Unit 219 Jeri Edge [email protected] RICHARD FLEISCHMAN Unit 219 Sue Smith [email protected] Unit 102 Liaison Unit 240 Jane Formet [email protected] Phone: 941-580-3719 Unit 240 Susan Rowley [email protected] fleischman@j u.edu Unit 243 Bill Rauld [email protected] Unit 243 James Walker [email protected] MURIEL ALTUS SBN Editor & Unit 128 Liaison Phone: 813-251-0315 The Sunshine Bridge News is mailed six times a year to households of paid- up members of District 9 of the ACBL. The mailing list is prepared about a month before the publication [email protected] arrives in your mailbox. Mailing is by bulk mail. SUE SMITH ACBL members of other districts and non-members residing anywhere in the U.S. may Unit 219 Liaison subscribe. Phone: 850-995-7125 Subscriptions to the SBN are available at a cost of $15 for six consecutive issues. A check [email protected] made out to Sunshine Bridge News should be sent to Shirley Seals, P.O. Box 1534, Ponte Vedra, FL 32004 with address information. JAN GREENE Subscription issues will be mailed by first class mail, a few days after the full District 9 Unit 240 Liaison mailing list goes to the Bulk Mail Office for distribution. Address changes for subscriptions 772-299-4301 may be sent by email to Shirley at [email protected]. [email protected] ©2014 by Sunshine Bridge News (aka ACBL District 9). All rights reserved. Contents DOLLY DELLON of this magazine may not be reproduced in any manner without written consent from the publisher. Mention of any product does not constitute endorsement by the SBN. The Unit 243 Liaison publisher assumes no responsibility for return of unsolicited manuscripts, photos, art, or Phone: 954-484-5006 cartoons, and reserves the right to reject any editorial or advertising materials. [email protected] For more contact information look on the District 9 web site, www.District9ACBL.org. Find us on FaceBook! Look for ACBL District 9 and hit the Like button. www.District9ACBL.org 11 Communicating By Muriel Altus

Who is Muriel Altus really? When you go to www.District9ACBL.org and answer one of our surveys, dear reader, you are sometimes able to leave comments. For our last survey, a respondent asked that question: who is Muriel Altus really? I am really a 67-year-old WJF who has been playing bridge since around 1971. I joined the ACBL in January of 1974 and earned my 300th point, including my last .07 of a gold point, in an event at the Southeasterns Regional in April of 1978, the Mixed Pairs. Actually, husband Phil and I each needed the .07 gold, and he needed 10 any color points to go over 300, while I needed 20. For our second overall in that event, we earned 24 gold points (of course, wouldn’t you know that you’d get 24 when you need .07?) and we both became LMs at the same time. And just to show you how far back this was, there were no stratified events, no flig ted events, no electronic score pads, no silver points, no (so named) black points, and I don’t even think there were bid boxes! Sounds like the dark ages, doesn’t it? And now, allow me to shuck my Sunshine Bridge News hat for a moment and don my Partnership Chair hat. I had the pleasure, and the challenge, of being responsible for partnerships at the District 9 Tampa Regional. In the process, I talked by phone and emailed with many players I wouldn’t ordinarily meet, and some of you were really my “favorites”. I wanted so much to find you good partners or teammates. When I was successful, it was great, but when I failed, I failed abysmally, and for this I request your forgiveness. Also, I’d like to mention that sometimes we answer emails or try to phone you back, but you don’t respond to our emails or, in one frustrating case, your cell phone wasn’t set up for voice mail and I never got you at a time when you could answer the phone! I hope you’re reading this and will get somebody to set up your voice mail for you! or perhaps you saw my number as a missed call, but didn’t know who I was? Anyway, I wish I could help every single bridge player find a g eat partner or teammates. If you ever want to tell me anything, feel free to email me to [email protected], or if you wish to remain anonymous, go onto www.District9ACBL.org and answer a survey! And yes, dear reader, if YOU were the one who asked, who is Muriel Altus really?, I seriously do not know who you are. That’s how anonymous you are when you answer our surveys. Oh! one last thing. Thank you from the bottom of my heart, to those of you who mentioned seeing my letter to the editor in the June ACBL Bulletin. --Muriel

NOTICE From the ACBL Handbook of Rules and Regulations When a sectional (excluding STaCs) or higher rated event is being conducted within 25 miles of a club game’s playing site, the club is permitted to hold only its regularly scheduled club masterpoint games (i.e., no special games). Tournament Attendees Please summon a director should you encounter a deck of cards which is very far past its prime. Every once in a while we miss replacing a really icky deck, but we are happy to do it if we know about it at the time. Please also call about cards which need to be replaced.

12 ACBL District 9 Our Readers Write

When all goes smoothly, players who advance to a new ACBL Rank receive a congratulatory email from District Director Jay Whipple III. Some players respond back by email. The earliest rank a player achieves is Junior Master. Here’s one player’s bridge story.

Jay Whipple, I learned to play Bridge from my mother when I was about 12 (ie, 1945). I later read a paperback on “The Goren Method” in about 1958 and played socially for about ten years until my wife refused to play as my partner any longer. My wife played for fun and I played aggressively (ie, with passion). Bridge kind of fell out of favor with me primarily because I was busy trying to earn a living and because my social circle just didn’t play Bridge. I retired in 1998 and settled in Sun City Center, Florida in an over-fi ty development. In 2013 I thought it would be good for my mind to get back to playing Bridge again; but I found out Goren was “out” and Duplicate was “in.” What a culture shock. Fortunately, Sun City Center had an active club that offered lessons called “EZ Bridge” and I took advantage of that. My major stumbling block was unlearning Goren and . I am still working on this, but with the help of these EZ Bridge lessons and dedicated teachers I’m coming along nicely. (PS- my wife still will not play with me.) Art Swallow Survey Sez Thank you for answering our questions in the May/June survey about how many bridge dates you’ve had to cancel for weather or illness. It was as we suspected, that inclement weather hardly ever gets in the way of our bridge games in Florida, while about 1/3 of our respondents have had to cancel one or more bridge dates due to illness. One of you mentioned that work obligations sometimes mean canceling a bridge date, also. A new group of responses came in about how many family members or loved ones you have who play duplicate, and those of us who are fortunate to have more than two started answering. Some of you have three, four and even fi e loved ones or family members who also play. Good luck to the player who is trying to get a son interested! For the respondent who asked how this info will be used to improve duplicate bridge, I wish we had the answer to that question! Sometimes our surveys are designed to satisfy our own curiosity. We see a comment from somebody and wonder how widespread it is among our own players. Sometimes two of us are having a discussion and we disagree about what is true among Florida players, so we ask you! This brings us to our new survey. At this point in your life, how could District 9, or the individual units, or your local bridge club, improve your bridge-playing experience? Go to www.District9ACBL.org to tell us.

ATTENTION - DISTRICT 9 PLAYERS If you serve on an Appeals Committee at any District 9 Regional, you will be thanked with scrip for a free play, good for one year from the date you serve on the committee. www.District9ACBL.org 13 Retired and Playing Bridge! Thirteen bridge clubs in Florida are among the top 50 in the ACBL in total table count for 2013. They seem to have one common thread! It isn’t that they’re all member-owned; it isn’t that they’re all proprietary; it isn’t that they’re all the only show in town; it isn’t that they all have a huge teaching program; it isn’t that they’re all full of social events; it isn’t that they all have charismatic managers/owners. Many of them do have the teaching or the social or the charisma, but the one common thread, in every single case, is that they are all in a community that’s teeming with retirees. Congratulations to the clubs, with their table counts for 2013: CLUB NAME CITY # OF TABLES The In Between DBC Sarasota 13,552 ½ Jourdan's BC Delray Beach 12,753 Vero Beach Bridge Center Vero Beach 10,907 ½ Boca Raton DBC Boca Raton 9874 ½ Naples Bridge Center, Inc. Naples 9324 ½ The Villages DBC Villages 8887 Fort Lauderdale BC Fort Lauderdale 8831 ½ Bonita Bridge @ Wiggins Naples 7775 McGregor Point BC Fort Myers 7481 Pompano Beach DBC Pompano Beach 6727 ½ Temple Sinai DBC Delray Beach 6371 WIN “The Bridge Club” Boca Raton 6228 Hollywood BC Hollywood 6179 ½ These 13 clubs also made the top 50 in 2012! Special recognition to the four clubs whose table count increased from ‘12 to ‘13: Boca Raton DBC, Naples BC, The Villages DBC and Bonita Bridge at Wiggins. For those of you who are not familiar with the geography of our fine state, four of these clubs are all in Palm Beach County! Three are in Broward County! And, those counties are contiguous. Pretty neat, hmmm? We wrote to congratulate the club owners and managers and asked if they’d like to comment on the success of their club. We hope you enjoy their comments. Neil Evangelista, one of the owners of the Boca Raton Duplicate Bridge Club, says: It’s always a joy to be in the “top XX anything” listings (as long as it’s not the FBI’s Most Wanted list.) We feel very lucky to be in the center point of Palm Beach County, as the esteemed Zeke Jabbour once put it “the Bridge Capital of Florida.” We want to thank our loyal patrons who helped us move up from 13th in 2012 to 10th in 2013, even though we are not a full-time duplicate club. However, looking at it from another perspective, if rankings were based on the number of tables PER SANCTION, we would probably be number one. We only have six sanctions, and only run six games a week (and not even every week.) That computes to 1646 tables/year/sanction, and I don’t think anyone else comes close. You do the math and tell me how it works out.

14 ACBL District 9 David Reiter, one of two owners of the Hollywood Jeanni Blume is the manager of the member- Bridge Club, has indeed done the math. owned Pompano Beach Duplicate Bridge Club. 2013 TOP TEN CLUBS BASED ON TABLES PER GAME Jeanni writes: INCLUDE FIVE FLORIDA CLUBS The Pompano Beach Duplicate Bridge 9874 tables/ = 1646 1. Boca Raton 6 games avg per game Club is proud and plans to be in the 10907 tables/ = 1091 top 50 every year. We boast a dedicated 4. Vero Beach 10 games per game group of players who are friendly and 12753 tables/ = 1063 5. Jourdans advancing at Duplicate. We celebrate 12 games per game many milestones, both age and 6371 tables/ = 1062 6. Temple Sinai . We have games every 6 games per game 6179 tables/ = 1030 holiday and serve many meals at our 8. Hollywood 6 games per game club. We have a talented staff who cater David also sent a brief history of his club and a to our valued customers. Pompano photo of him and co-owner Sedat Nassi. has low rates while offering first class teachers, directors and equipment. Our Board of Directors plans to improve Hollywood Bridge Club our clubhouse as we continue to grow. The Hollywood Bridge Thanks for the recognition. Our website Club was founded is www.pompanobridge.com. in May 2009 by two semi-retired bridge players, who knew nothing about running a bridge club,but who Sedat and David were both successful Jamie Portell is the manager of the 1000-member businessmen in their previous lives. We had Vero Beach Bridge Club. She very proudly reports met several years earlier (thru bridge, of course) to us about the success of their club. and it turned out that we had many things in common-we were expert bridge players (Sedat VBBC is very proud to have made it had played internationally for Turkey), excellent on the list of Top 50 Clubs for 2013. tennis players, loved classical music and were We were 8th in 2012 as well and both 70 years old. attribute our success to the many At the start, it was more difficult than volunteers who donate much time we realized. We had both just passed the and energy in making our club the Director’s exams and had no experience, so place in which bridge players in this we hired some seasoned directors to assist area want to play. us. For the last two years, we have been We have many special events one of the top 50 clubs in the country. If throughout the year. Marge Desmery you use an alternate way of measuring, we is instrumental in the implementation were 8th in the country for 2013. In season we average 30 tables a day, while in the of our July 4th party, the Eleanor summer we average 15. We are continuing Baum birthday celebration in to look for ways to grow our business. October, and the season kick-off celebration we hold each November. www.District9ACBL.org 15 Our hard-working Board members, led by President David Garfi ld, are LeAnn Arsenault, Richard Crannell, Dell Hatten, Raleighine Hoppe, Max Hughes, Rob Middleman, Bill Poole, and Nancy Raftery. We are truly blessed to have so many generous volunteers who unselfishly give their time, effort and money for our enjoyment at the Vero Beach Bridge Center. Michelle Golden, owner of the In Between Club Bonita Bridge @ in Sarasota, was featured in the January 2013 ACBL Wiggins Bulletin. At that time, Michelle was being honored Six years ago the Bonita Bridge Club got new as top star recruiter for ACBL and indeed many of owners, JoEllen and Richard (Butch) the other proprietors and club managers of our highly Blandford. Hard working and personable, with successful 13 clubs have also received ACBL checks for a credo of “Customer Service,” they launched one achieving star recruiter status. The In-Between Club of the best games in the Bonita Springs/Estero/ celebrated its 25th anniversary in August of 2012 Naples area. The location at that time was such with a free catered brunch and Swiss team game for that they could only operate Monday through its members. In the beginning (1987), Michelle had Friday, missing all weekends and even having to only one sanctioned game a week, but she started close on Election Days. Despite all this, the club teaching bridge right away, figuring that was how grew to 41st in the country by offering a clean, she’d grow her club. As you can imagine, it worked in inviting room, and providing fresh, delicious a way that Michelle probably never dreamed could complimentary snacks and great coffee. Most happen. Her past students, who have moved on to of all they brought organization, zero tolerance, open games, will tell you what a great teacher she and excellent director’s calls. Their table numbers is. The In-Between Club’s games, like perhaps every grew steadily as did their reputation. single one of the games in our 13 in the top 50, are seasonal. In February 2012, there were 1618 tables; On January 1st of 2013 they moved to a new in July 2012, there were 871 ½. But most importantly, location in Naples. They invested in wonderful as Michelle told the ACBL Bulletin, “There is a constant lighting and a beautiful new playing space. influx of afflu t young retirees [into Sarasota] looking Players from all over the area have floc ed to for something new.” this new club and in just one year Bonita Bridge has moved from 41st nationally We look forward to publishing comments from to number 21. Its friendly and other owners and managers in our September/ hospitable staff make everyone October Sunshine Bridge News. In the meantime, feel at home in this “Club we hope you enjoy adding to the table count at with a Heart.” If you visit, your own favorite club, be it large or small, but one see if you can see why this thing we know (thank you, Jim Walker) is that club has grown with such you’ll enjoy the air conditioned comfort your club speed and acceptance. provides for every game. 1616 ACBLACBL District District 9 9 Tournament Trail

Henry Trautwein of Naples attended the recent From our District 9 Sarasota sectional wearing his Youth Bridge Education Chair t-shirt from last summer. He’s looking forward to this year’s event, in Las Vegas. Have a blast, Henry! This year District 9 is supplementing the expenses for With Henry are his mom and dad, Helena Fine- 22 young people ages 10 to 18 to attend the Youth Trautwein and Lou Trautwein. Nationals in Las Vegas. They come from 6 different counties here in Florida. We can be proud of what our District is doing for these youth. They are the future of bridge. Our District has established a foundation that gives each young person up to $500.00 for expenses. We would love to see that foundation fund grow. Please consider donating to this great bridge 501c.3 cause. If you are attending the NABCs and are there on the 24th, 25th or 26th of July, stop in and see the kids in action. I know you will be awed with their enthusiasm and competitive spirit. Nancy T. Hagerty [email protected] 407-366-0320

One Month Down, Two to Go Have you qualified in your club’s Qualifying games? Flights for this year’s event are as follows: Flight A: Unlimited Flight B: Players who have up to 2500 masterpoints as of the June masterpoint cycle (May 6th, 2014) Flight C: Non-Life Masters who have up to 500 masterpoints as of the June masterpoint cycle (May 6th, 2014) Sharlene Tyler and In order to play in the District 9 Finals October 25-26, you must first qualify at a Donald Richards local club qualifying game, between now and August 31st. You must be a member in good standing of District 9. This year we again plan to hold a split-site final , and the more players that play (at both sites), the better the contest. Help us have a good field! elp us send the best players! Play at the finals if t all possible! Try to match the results of Sharlene Tyler and Donald Richards, who earned the right to represent District 9 at the Finals in Dallas in March and then WON THE ENTIRE EVENT! We are pleased to announce the sites for the split-site district finals: Mandell JCC in Palm Beach Gardens on the east coast and St. Petersburg Bridge Club in Pinellas Park on the west coast. Mark your calendar for this event, October 25-26. The site of the ACBL Finals, for those of you who earn the right to represent us, will be the Spring NABC in 2015, New Orleans, LA. www.District9ACBL.org 17 KISS! What Should We Play? By Larry Cohen

I am a staunch advocate of “less is more.” Negative Doubles In this exact auction, the double promises My observation is that at every level of both majors (at least 4-4). With only one The first important double to discuss with 4 card major, the responder simply bids it the game, players are using too many partner is the NEGATIVE DOUBLE. Many conventions. Too often I see players years ago, after we opened the bidding and (promising at least 4). (from beginner to world champion) the opponents overcalled, a double was 1-minor (1♥) X misusing or forgetting their methods. for penalty. This ineffective method was Everyone would benefit if they would On this specific auction, the double overturned when Al Roth invented what was promises exactly 4 spades. With 5 or more, just KISS (Keep It Simple, Stupid). first called Sputnik, named after the Russian the responder bids 1♠. If I had to choose just 4 conventions, this satellite in the late 1950s. Now, when the These 2 auctions cause confusion among would be my list: opponents , our responder’s double inexperienced players. There is no substitute A) is not for penalty. It is “takeout” or “negative” with the focus on the other major. or shortcut for these 2 “special” rules. They 1. Negative Doubles simply need to be studied, studied again, There are two crucial issues to discuss and 2. Blackwood then practiced and memorized. two smaller ones. First the big stuff: 3. Stayman Other 4. Jacoby transfers 1. Through what level? When playing Negative Double, what if If you forced me to choose 4 more, this Many players mark their : the responder happens to have a penalty ♠ ♠ would be the next group: “through 2 ” or “through 3 .” This is not a double? The way to “get them” is to pass (in good agreement. If you are writing “through is a good idea) and hope the opening B) 3♠,” do you mean to tell me that when the bidder can reopen with his own takeout 5. 4th Suit GF opponents overcall, say, 4♣, that you all of double, to be converted for penalties. 6. Methods (I prefer “DONT” ) vs. a sudden expect to have a stack and Opponents’ Notrump want to double 4♣ for penalties? Pretty Wrap-Up: 7. Weak jumps in competition silly. I recommend Negative Double “through There is plenty more on this topic (such as 8. 2NT ask after our Weak 2-bids infini y.” In fact, the higher they bid, the follow-ups by opener and responder)— If you insisted I fill my convention card less likely you are to ever be dealt a penalty but this is your basic starting place. I double. Doubles on any level should NOT with 12 conventions, these would be the couldn’t live without Negative Doubles. show length/strength in the opponent’s suit. next four: Everyone should play them, and they They should all be takeout/cards. So, don’t should be played on all levels (not just the C) Unusual notrump/Michaels, New limit yourselves by marking through 2♠ or 2- and 3-level). In general, the negative Minor Checkback, Jacoby 2NT, Support 3♠. double shows the unbid suits, with the Doubles 2. What suits does the negative double focus on the majors. And, since people just love to learn/play/ show? Blackwood teach conventions, these would be my In general, the other major(s) is promised. D-list -- choices 13-16: Once a partnership is in the slam zone, If responder can’t stand a suit that opener either player might use Blackwood. D) lebensohl, Drury, , selects, he needs to have a backup plan Splinter Bids (often tolerance for opener’s first suit). If the “Regular” (or “Plain”) Blackwood: Honestly, I think it would be opening is 1-of-a-major and they overcall 4NT asks for aces and then: counterproductive for 99% of players to the other major, a negative double typically 5♣ = 0 or 4 aces go any further than this. The memory shows both minors. 5♦ = 1 ace strain is not worth it. Someone once Special Sequences 5♥ = 2 aces said, “The Road to Hell is Paved with The “smaller” issues are the following two 5♠ = 3 aces Good Conventions.” specific auctions, which unfortunately The asker can then bid 5NT to ask Let’s explore these various conventions require memorization: for kings, with the same schedule of one or two at a time. 1♣ (1♦) X replies, one level higher.

Contact Larry: [email protected] – You can join Larry’s email list (www.larryco.com) – You’ll receive a free monthly newsletter to entertain and enlighten you.

18 ACBL District 9 KISS! What Should We Play? By Larry Cohen

This convention has been aroundSo, after 1♠-3♠-4NT, the responder since the 1940s. It is a most helpfulwith each hand below would use the convention, but is often misused and chart above to make the response abused. Blackwood should not be used shown: as a crutch to determine if there is a ♠K 10 9 3 slam, but more to make sure that you This method (1430) is recommended, ♥ don’t reach a slam off two aces (nor a K Q J 2 because the 5♣ response (one ace) ♦ grand slam off one a e). Q 5 comes up much more frequently than ♣7 4 2 A good rule of thumb: the 5♦ response (zero aces). It is best Answer: 5♣ to show 1 Keycard (that to have more room for follow-ups (and If the answer to Blackwood won’t tell “key” card is the ♠K) you if you belong in slam, then don’t to stop in 5♣ if clubs are trump). use it. ♠Q 10 9 3 After the 5♣ and 5♦ response, ♥ What is RKC and why use it? K Q 4 2 Blackwooder can ask for the trump ♦K 5 queen. The most common way is to bid Just as we don’t want to bid a slam off ♣7 4 2 two aces, neither do we want to bid a the next step (5♦ over 5♣, 5♥ over slam off an ace and the trump king. Answer: 5♦ to show 0 Keycards 5♦) to ask. The answerer then signs off Such a slam would be at best 50-50 -- ♠K 10 9 3 in 5-of-the-trump-suit if he lacks the and there is no need to bid it. Also, we ♥A K 4 2 trump queen. With the trump queen, would never want to bid a grand slam ♦J 5 he jumps to 6 of the trump suit (if he off an ace. Nor, would we want to bid ♣7 4 2 has no kings to show). With the trump seven if missing the trump king. RKC Answer: 5♥ to show 2 Keycards (♠K, queen and kings to show, he bids the is used to make sure we never reach a cheapest suit in which he has a king. slam if missing too many “key” cards ♥A, no trump queen) This queen-ask mechanism confuses (aces and the trump king). ♠A Q 10 9 most intermediate-level players. I’d ♥A 4 3 2 RKC stands for Roman KeyCard recommend avoiding it unless you are Blackwood. There are several ♦J 5 quite used to RKC and very experienced. variations, but the mainstream method ♣7 4 2 in use today is : Answer: 5♠ to show 2 Keycards (♠A, 5NT (by the 4NT bidder) asks for kings 4NT asks for “aces” and then: ♥A trump Queen) (aside from the already accounted for 5♣ = 1 or 4 “aces” (note: some players trump king). Some people show the the meanings of 5♣ and 5♦) Notes: number of kings. Others bid the suit 5♦ = 0 or 3 “aces” Some players invert the responses of in which they have the cheapest king. 5♥ = 2 or 5 “aces” (no trump queen) 5♣ and 5♦ (they use 5♣ to show 0 or The former is simpler. The latter is ♦ 5♠ = 2 or 5 “aces” (with trump queen) 3 and 5 to show 1 or 4). This was the more effective, but complex. Also, the Why the “quote” marks? Therein lies the way the convention was first published latter is hard to use unless spades (or (it was more in line with the responses essence of “keycards.” Instead of “aces,” sometimes hearts) are trump--there to “regular” Blackwood). The method RKC is used to ask about keycards. isn’t enough space. What are keycards? The and shown at the top of this article (5♣ = 1 the trump king. So, there are fi e “key or 4, 5♦= 0 or 3) is becoming the more RKC is a useful tool for experienced cards.” What is the trump king? There popular way. Sometimes, it is referred players. It is probably the method that will always be a “trump king.” Common to as “1430” -- because the responses causes the most accidents. Be prepared practice is to assume the trump suit is in order show 1-4 and 3-0. Also, 1430 to have some catastrophes if you use the suit the partnership first agreed is the score for 6♥ or 6♠ vulnerable. this convention. on (bid and raised). If no suit was agreed, it is assumed to be the last-bid suit. (There are several variations and Watch for our future articles on the basic trouble areas, but usually there is no conventions, or go to www.Larryco.com and go to problem knowing which suit contains the link to Bridge Articles to read ahead. the trump king.)

www.District9ACBL.org 19 The ibitzer is Shirley Wright By Jon Shuster, Gainesville, FL Staying Awake Can you spot any errors in North’s Here is a hand I watched North play April 22 at bidding and play? the Gator Bridge Club in Gainesville. Bidding errors: Actually, the 2NT bid was a great call Board 4 (Matchpoints) showing 18-19 HCP, and most players would jump to 3NT (also a perfectly good call). Bidding 4♥ over 3♥ ♠Q8 was clearly wrong, and shows lack of trust in South. ♥ Dlr: W AKQ72 South knows the nature of North’s hand much better Vul: Both ♦A93 than North knows the South hand. Although North ♣A65 has 19 HCP, the hand has six losers. On any hand where South has a fit and can cover even two losers, South ♥ ♠752 would bid 4 . North went through a stop sign. ♥109653 Play Errors: North also was not paying enough attention to either the opposition bidding or the ♦87 environment. North even commented that the ♣Q ♣Q108 play was to try to make the hand, but there is no way to make the hand on that play. Let us count HCP from West North East South West, a passed hand: ♠(7), ♥(1) ,♦(2) for a total P 1♥ P 1NT (1) of 10. The ♣K is virtually sure to be in the East hand. P 2NT P 3♥ Good technique is to the ♦ after drawing trump P 4♥ (stripping the hand), and play the ♣8 to the ♣A. (Once in a million a West player might pass with 13 HCP (1) NS play constructive raises so 2♥ would have and the singleton ♣K, in which case declarer actually meant 8-10 support points including distribution. makes 4♥ (5♥, 1♦, 1♦ ruff, and 3♣). But otherwise, East led the ♦5 to West’s ♦K, North ducking. declarer leads a ♣ to the Q, and goes up if East plays West led two top ♠’s getting EW to book, East low (the correct play if East started with ♣Kxx ). playing the ♠4, 5 (regular count). A third ♠ was Lessons: (1) Setting a target is a great strategy. You ruffed by North. North next played the ♥AK, do not have to make 4♥ to get a decent score, as West following with ♥J8 and East sluffing a ♦ you will not only have company, but the opponents might be able to make 3♠, so going down 2 (-200) is on the second. North led the ♥7 to dummy’s sure to be a virtual zero. Even if North thought there ♥10, and led the ♣Q to East’s K♣. East exited was a miracle that could lead to 10 tricks, the risk was ♦ ♣ in and declarer had to lose one more for not worth it if it costs a trick. (2) Counting is extremely down 2. -200 NS was worth 0.5 MP on a 6 top, valuable, not only in suits, but in point count. Late in whereas -100 would have been worth 3.5 (or hands, important cards can often be placed for both half a board better). the declarers and defenders. 20 ACBL District 9 The hantom Split (Sweet Deception?) By Michael Donnelly - [email protected] Phantom: An illusion, of or like an apparition; illusionary. The two hands below are identical except that dummy’s contract depends upon playing the spade suit for two eight of spades has been replaced with the spade ten. winners. In the absence of any signifi ant indications from an opponent’s bid or play, declarer gives himself (Hand A) North (Hand B) North the best chance for two tricks from the spade suit ♠ AJ8 ♠ AJ10 by playing West for the ten of spades, along with at ♥ QJ6 ♥ QJ6 least one of the two missing high honors. Specifi ally, ♦ KQ32 ♦ KQ32 declarer should lead a low spade toward dummy and ♣ KQ5 ♣ KQ5 insert the nine if West plays low. If the nine loses to the ten, declarer is pretty much destined to lose two spade South South tricks, along with his contract. However, if the nine ♠ 432 ♠ 432 forces out a high honor from East, declarer may reenter ♥ AK5 ♥ AK5 his hand in order to repeat the spade finess , playing ♦ AJ76 ♦ AJ76 West for the remaining high honor. By playing the suit ♣ AJ9 ♣ AJ9 in this manner, declarer increases his probability of Experienced declarers appreciate how this seemingly success by 50%. minor alteration signifi antly affects their probability Appreciating how an accomplished declarer is likely of success when declaring a contract of 6NT. With only to approach dummy’s spade holding in Hand C may ten tricks available from the combined holdings in prompt a savvy defender to counter declarer’s tactics hearts, diamonds and clubs, declarer must generate when their spade holding is appropriate. Specifi ally, two tricks from the spade suit in order to succeed. In when declarer plays a spade toward dummy’s AJ9, West the first example, declarer’s probability for success is should play low when holding KQX, expecting declarer 24%, needing to findWest holding both spade honors. to insert the nine, frequently losing to partner’s ten. However, the mere presence of dummy’s ten of spades However, when holding the ten of spades, along with in the second example increases declarer’s likelihood either the king or queen, (K10X or Q10X), West should of success to 76%, as repeated spade will play his high honor, hopefully looking like someone generate an extra trick unless East holds both honors. attempting to secure one trick by “splitting” the non- existent high honor combination. Unless declarer reads (Hand C) North the situation correctly, he is likely to return to his hand ♠ AJ9 in order to “safely” lead toward dummy’s jack. When ♥ QJ6 that loses to partner’s remaining high honor, West’s ten is promoted to a winner. ♦ KQ32 ♣ KQ5 Perhaps a cautionary word is in order. “Don’t bother South making a million dollar play against a dollar-fi ty ♠ opponent.” In effect, sometimes the correct play of your 432 cards depends upon your opponents. If for some reason ♥ AK5 you suspect that declarer is unlikely to appreciate the ♦ AJ76 value of dummy’s nine spot in Hand C, then playing ♣ AJ9 low is likely to be the winning action. However, if you The dummy in Hand C is identical to that found in suspect declarer to be skillful enough to utilize all of Hand A except for the slight upgrade of the eight of dummy’s resources as in Hand C, then the phantom spades to the nine spot. This minor improvement also “splitting” of your high honors may produce a better signifi antly improves declarer’s likelihood of success, result for the defense. although not nearly in the dramatic fashion afforded © 2014 Michael L. Donnelly • Bridge Matters by the spade ten. Once again, making this 6 NT (954) 646-5285 • [email protected] www.District9ACBL.org 21