ACBL - District 9 • www.district9acbl.org Volume 11 - Number 4 May-June 2015

Jeff Meckstroth

Florida Players Set the Standard in 2014

John Bella Beverly Edward Sanford Kevin Brady Ionis-Sorren Slaski Rauch Robbins Dwyer This month: Take Survey on pages 31-34

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SBN MAY-JUNE-2015-Final.indd 1 4/8/15 9:48 AM NABC Fundraiser Week May 4-10 Contact Shirley Seals with questions: [email protected]

2 Sunshine Bridge News

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SBN MAY-JUNE-2015-Final.indd 3 4/8/15 9:48 AM Interested in a Free* Trip to Reno?

Do you love to play duplicate?

Do you have one favorite partner who also loves the game?

Do you often do well together, routinely scoring above average in many sessions?

Do you like to travel?

Do you like to have your travel expenses subsidized?

Do we have an idea for you?!

During June, July and August, your local club will be hosting some (NAP) qualifying games. If you and your favorite partner both get qualified, either together or separately, you will then be eligible to move on to the District Finals, to be held at the St. Petersburg Bridge Club in Pinellas Park and at the Mandel JCC in Palm Beach Gardens, October 24th and 25th. Points won in club qualifying games are half red, half black.

Three pairs in the unlimited flight (any player may compete) will earn the right to represent District 9 in the Flight A event, to be held (tentatively) March 9-10 at the Spring 2016 North American Bridge Championships (NABCs) in Reno, Nevada. THE FLIGHT A DISTRICT FINAL ON OCTOBER 24-25 WILL BE HELD ONLY AT THE ST. PETERSBURG BRIDGE CLUB IN PINELLAS PARK.

Four pairs will earn the right to represent District 9 in the Flight B event (players with fewer than 2500 as of the May 6, 2015 masterpoint cycle) and four pairs will earn the right to represent District 9 in the Flight C event (players who are not life masters and who have fewer than 500 Masterpoints as of the May 6, 2015 masterpoint cycle). Those two flights will have split-site district finals on October 24-25. You may play either in Pinellas Park or in Palm Beach Gardens. The Flight B and Flight C events in Reno are expected to be played on March 13-14, 2016.

Points won in district finals in all three flights are gold and red.

And now the best news of all. ACBL supports the winning players from each district in each flight with a $700 per person stipend to attend the event finals. Also, the event carries no fee. Yes, a free bridge event! ACBL supports the second place players from each district in each flight with a $300 per person stipend to attend the event finals. And adding to the good news: District 9 supplements the financial subsidy to the second, third and fourth place finishers in Flights B and C.

Do we have an idea for you!!! Qualify at the club level so you can compete at the district level.

Shouldn’t YOU have an opportunity to be one of the players to play in a free bridge event in Reno, Nevada, having flown there, and staying in a hotel there, using funds earned for your success at the district level?

*Your trip may not be free, but you could have up to $700 to subsidize your travels. 4 Sunshine Bridge News

SBN MAY-JUNE-2015-Final.indd 4 4/8/15 9:48 AM Sectional and District 9 GNT Final at St. Petersburg Bridge Club May 1-3, 2015 Sectional Friday May 1 10:30 AM Stratified Open Pairs Intermediate Pairs (NLM) 3:00 PM Stratified Open Pairs Intermediate Pairs (NLM) Saturday May 2 10:30 AM Stratified Open Pairs Intermediate Pairs (NLM) 3:00 PM Stratified Open Pairs Intermediate Pairs (NLM) Sunday May 3 10:30 AM Stratified Swiss – play through NLM Swiss – Play through District 9 GNT Finals Saturday May 2 1:00 PM Round 1 – Flights A, B, and C 7:00 PM Round 2 – Flights A, B, and C Sunday May 3 10:30 AM Final – Flights A, B, and C Team members must all have qualified at a club qualifying session. Sectional Strata: A=2000+; B=750-2000; C-0-750 NLM Strata: A=200-NLM; B=100-200; C=0-100 GNT Strata: Championship: unlimited; Flight A: 0-6000; Flight B: 0-2500; Flight C: 0-500 (NLM only) Championship Flight: for info on date and time of your event, you MUST contact Marshall Hall at (561) 445-9982, or [email protected] Free coffee, orange juice and snacks at all sessions Lunch during Sunday’s Swiss Teams game. La Quinta Hotel, 5000 Lake Blvd., Clearwater 727-299-9800 ($69) For more information or Partnership requests Charles Gill 727-363-1136 [email protected] St. Petersburg Bridge Club is located at 9103 US Highway 19 N., Pinellas Park, FL 33782 727-544-5040 St. Petersburg Bridge Club is located just off I-275 From I-275, take Exit 28 and drive west on Gandy/Park approx 1-1/4 miles to US Highway 19 N. Turn north (right) on US Highway 19 N. 9103 is approximately 1 mile up on the right in Mainlands Plaza.

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SBN MAY-JUNE-2015-Final.indd 7 4/8/15 9:48 AM May 25-31, 2015 DoubleTree by Hilton Tampa Airport-Westshore 813-879-4800 • 4500 W Cypress St., Tampa FL 33607 Use DS9 Bridge/District 9 as the code for room reservations.

11:00-1:00 Free Lesson for those with fewer than 20 MP HOSTS MON 2:00 0-20 Relaxed Game (no entry fee) Shannon Cappelletti MAY 2:00 Charity Open Pairs (one session event) (888) 360-2590 25 2:00 & 7:30 Mon-Tues Bracketed KO (cont’d 10:00 & 2:30 Tues) [email protected] 7:30 Charity Open Pairs (one session event) 7:30 Two Session Swiss Teams (cont 7:30 Tuesday) Ray Wise (813) 215-6623 10:00 & 2:30 Tues-Wed Bracketed KO (cont’d 10:00 & 2:30 Wed) [email protected] 10:00 & 2:30 Stratified Open Pairs (2 Sessions) 10:00 & 2:30 299er Pairs (Single session games) TUE PARTNERSHIPS 10:00 Morning Side Game Series (1st of 5) Peggy Higginbotham MAY 2:30 Stratified Swiss Teams (single session) 26 (904) 334-5272 2:30 Afternoon Side Game Series (1st of 5) [email protected] 7:30 Stratified Swiss Teams (2nd of 2, cont’d from Mon) --or-- 7:30 Stratified Swiss Teams (2 sessions, cont’d Wed 7:30) Visit the District 9 Online 7:30 Evening Side Game Series (1st of 5) Partnership Desk at: bridgenesse.com/D9PDeskIndex 9:15 - 9:45 Guest Speaker 10:00 & 2:30 Wed-Thurs Bracketed KO (cont’d 10:00 & 2:30 Thur) HOSPITALITY 10:00 & 2:30 Gold Rush Pairs (2 sessions) (Lim to 750 MP) WED Coffee; Tea; Orange Juice; Apples 10:00 & 2:30 A/X/Y Open Pairs (2 Sessions) Snacks after the evening sessions MAY 10:00 & 2:30 299er Pairs (Single session games) Subsidized Sunday snacks 27 10:00 Morning Side Game Series (2nd of 5) 2:30 Stratified Swiss Teams (single session) STRATA 2:30 Afternoon Side Game Series (2nd of 5) Open Events 7:30 Stratified Swiss Teams (2nd of 2, cont’d from Tues) A=2500+; B=1000-2500; C=0-1000 7:30 Evening Side Game Series (2nd of 5) Florida Gold Strats: 9:15 - 9:45 Guest Speaker A=300-750; B=100-300; C=0-100 10:00 & 2:30 Thurs-Fri Bracketed KO (cont’d 10:00 & 2:30 Fri) A/X/Y Strats: THU 10:00 & 2:30 Stratified Open Pairs (2 Sessions) A=5000+; X=2500-5000; Y=0-2500 MAY 10:00 & 2:30 299er Pairs (Single session games) 299er Events 28 10:00 Morning Side Game Series (3rd of 5) A=200-300; B=100-200; C=0-100 2:30 Stratified Swiss Teams (single session) 299er Strata May Be Changed at 2:30 Afternoon Side Game Series (3rd of 5) Director’s Discretion 7:30 Thurs-Fri Compact KO (1st of 2 sessions, cont’d Fri 7:30) 7:30 Evening Side Game Series (3rd of 5) All Pairs Games Stratified by Masterpoint Average of the Pair 9:15 - 9:45 Guest Speaker (both players must fit under upper 10:00 & 2:30 Fri-Sat Bracketed KO (cont’d 10:00 & 2:30 Sat) limit of the event). All KOs and Sat. FRI 10:00 & 2:30 Gold Rush Pairs (2 sessions) (Lim to 750 MP) 2-Session B Swiss are MAY 10:00 & 2:30 A/X/Y Open Pairs (2 Sessions) Bracketed. Other Swiss Stratified 29 10:00 & 2:30 299er Pairs (Single session games) by Masterpoint Average (all 10:00 Morning Side Game Series (4th of 5) players must fit under upper limit 2:30 Stratified Swiss Teams (single session) of the event). Top Bracket of KOs 2:30 Afternoon Side Game Series (4th of 5) May Be Handicapped. 7:30 Thurs-Fri Compact KO (2nd of 2 sessions, cont’d) 7:30 Evening Side Game Series (4th of 5) DIRECTIONS: The southbound I-275 exit ramp 10:00 & 2:30 Stratified Open Pairs (2 Sessions) SAT (Exit 40A) to West Shore Boulevard 10:00 & 2:30 Bracketed Swiss Teams (2 Sessions) MAY is closed for reconstruction with a 10:00 & 2:30 299er Pairs (Single session games) projected reopen date of May 2015. 30 10:00 Morning Side Game Series (5th of 5) 2:30 Stratified Swiss Teams (single session) Call the hotel at (813) 879-4800 for 2:30 Afternoon Side Game Series (5th of 5) the best updates. SUN 7:30 Evening Side Game Series (5th of 5) MAY 31 10:00 Gold Rush Swiss - 2 session playthrough 10:00 A/X/Y Swiss - 2 session playthrough 8 Sunshine Bridge News

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SBN MAY-JUNE-2015-Final.indd 9 4/8/15 9:48 AM District 9 President’s Message by Betty Sandifer [email protected]

As Spring left us, so did our friends latest news about D9, find partners online, returning to their homes and families find your representatives, meetings, in Northern states, Canada and other upcoming events, and more. countries. We miss you already and look forward to seeing all of you next season. How much do you like reading the Sunshine Bridge News? Receiving it every San Destin, our second regional in January two months? Would you like to read it had 1,578 tables, followed with the Sarasota- only online? Please go to page 31, read and Manatee Regional in February with 3,148 participate on the survey. We need YOUR tables. April took us to beautiful Fort input. We need to know how you feel about Lauderdale for the Southeasterns Regional the articles and information imparted and if you attended it, then you enjoyed the in each of the editions. We are trying to beaches, as well as the amenities provided find ways to subsidize the Sunshine Bridge by Unit 128. And we will continue with our News and will take all of your opinions into District 9 Regional in Tampa, May 25-31 consideration. at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel, a new venue for us and hope to see many of you If you ever doubted that bridge was less there. than fantastic in Florida, just look at the cover page. The caliber of players we have While playing at different games and in our State is mind blowing and when we sectionals I was frequently asked where in see and talk to all of these “big shots” we FL, District 9 was. Was I surprised, not a bit. feel at ease because we are among friends. As it happens, many of our bridge players Of course, that is, away from the table. are not aware that ACBL is divided into districts, units within the districts and areas See you at the next regional. within the units. Do you know who your representatives are? Please go to our site: district9acbl.org. You’ll be impressed with the information we have at hand. Find the Remember May 1-3 June 1-30 GNT District Finals NAP Club Qualifying

May 4-10 June 5-6 NABC Fundraiser Week World Wide Pairs

May 13 June 8-14 International Fund Game #2 Unit 128 STaC

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SBN MAY-JUNE-2015-Final.indd 10 4/8/15 9:48 AM Table of Contents

District 9 President’s Message by Betty Sandifer 10 District 9 Director’s Message by Jay Whipple 12 Communicating by Muriel Altus 14 All the Masterpoints 16 Weak Twos by Larry Cohen 20 Counting by Barnet Shenkin 21 The Kibitzer is Shirley Wright by Jon Shuster 22 Splinter Bids by Michael Donnelly 23 Director’s Corner by Lynn Berg 25 The Common Game 26 Cover Photo of Jeff Meckstroth by Jonathan Steinberg March Rank Changes 28-29 District 9 Tournament Calendar 30 Survey 31-33 PAGE 16 Our Readers Write 34 Unit 102 36 D9 Players Set Unit 128 40 Unit 219 50 the Standard Unit 240 55 Unit 243 59 April Rank Changes 62-63 19,751 District 9 Members! TOURNAMENTS

GNT FINALS & Special Sectional 5 District 9 TAMPA REGIONAL 8 Membership JACKSONVILLE REGIONAL 9 by Unit as of Sarasota Sectional 39 3/31/2015 Jacksonville Sectional 47 The Villages Sectional 48 Unit Name Members Bridge Deck Sectional 49 102 ACBL Unit 102 1228 Tallahassee Sectional 53 128 Florida 14638 219 NW Florida 676 Pensacola Sectional 54 240 Central Florida 2170 Orlando Sectional 58 243 Gold Coast 1039 Total Members 19751

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SBN MAY-JUNE-2015-Final.indd 11 4/8/15 9:48 AM ACBL District 9 Director by Jay N. Whipple III [email protected]

As we wind down the “Season” we want to 3) Strategic Plan initiatives of Tournament thank all our snowbird friends for another Director University and technology related strong season of bridge. Our membership strategic projects. There is also a growing in Florida hit an all time record of 20,731 interest in re-examining our strategic at the end of February with no sign of direction and related projects. snow or winter storms. Charles Gill The final day closed with an open chaired our largest regional on the West Technology Forum attended by over 80 Coast, Sarasota-Manatee, and attracted a people. (The full video is available on nice crowd with over 3,000 tables in play BridgeWinners.) Technology Oversight (thank you Ontario – our second largest Committee scaled back capital expenditure snow-bird “state”). Come join us at our requests for technology from $600K to a season finale in Ft Lauderdale at the South- more focused $130K. Thanks to incredible Easterns : while we have some of the most work by our outside advisors(Greg competitive bridge in the country there are Humphrey, Uday Ivatury, and Ralph Lipe), events for all levels. we were able to take a fresh look at the Report from NABC in New Orleans: ACBL technology direction. Work is still in Attendance was up 15%. In spite of the progress but there is hope we can salvage venue busting at the seams, the hard some of our investments and accelerate working ACBL staff was able to pull off our efforts to move us into the 21st century. another great tournament and handle the Stay tuned. usual curve balls with aplomb. Our most To all of you who reached a new rank of recent ACBL Board meeting was held over ACBL achievement and sent in your stories four days just prior to the tournament. and pictures: congratulations again and Board motions that passed included the thank you. These stories are filled with following: (Sometimes I wonder if we wonderful perspectives and insights that should just adopt a form of the Hippocratic help guide my work at the ACBL Board Oath – “First do not harm”.) level. In the coming months of summer, Reduction in Master point awards for consider taking time to help mentor a KO players that do not play all matches. rising player: Someone probably did this (First Reading) for you along the way. Master point corrections and changes No matter where you are on your to increase awards for side games (First journey know that we care and want to Reading) know how we can do things better. Do not Imposition of a tax that may be in excess hesitate to call or email me with thoughts/ of 10% on grass roots funds suggestions and yes, even complaints. Updating and clarification of procedures for the creation of new units (Shirley Seals had requested this before her departure) CEO Review Committee reviewed progress toward the three goals for this year: 1) Day-to-day operations, 2) Mitigating the risk of floods given HQ is located in the middle of an old riverbed, 12 Sunshine Bridge News

SBN MAY-JUNE-2015-Final.indd 12 4/8/15 9:48 AM District Board of Directors OFFICERS BETTY SANDIFER Unit 102 Bette Cohn [email protected] Unit 102 Carol Hamilton [email protected] District 9 President Unit 128 Jackie Altschuler [email protected] Mobile Ph: 386-795-7423 Unit 128 Shannon Cappelletti [email protected] [email protected] Unit 128 Charles Gill [email protected] Unit 128 Bruce Greenspan [email protected] BRUCE GREENSPAN Unit 128 Marshall Hall [email protected] District 9 Vice President Unit 128 Harriet Morris [email protected] Phone: 617-510-8405 Unit 128 Adrienne Muslin [email protected] [email protected] Unit 128 Jeff Overby [email protected] Unit 128 Charlene Predmest [email protected] SHIRLEY SEALS Unit 128 Dale Rands [email protected] Tournament Committee Chair, Unit 128 Betty Sandifer [email protected] Secretary & Treasurer Unit 128 Shirley Seals [email protected] Home Ph.: 904-285-7767 Unit 128 Marianne Timmons [email protected] Unit 128 Jay Whipple III [email protected] Mobile Ph.: 904-563-0470 Unit 128 Ray Wise [email protected] Fax: 904-285-7783 Unit 219 Jeri Edge [email protected] [email protected] Unit 219 Kay Huke [email protected] P.O. Box 1534, Unit 240 Candace Griffey [email protected] Ponte Vedra, FL 32004 Unit 240 Susan Rowley [email protected] Unit 243 Keith Gellman [email protected] Unit 243 Peter Jargowsky [email protected] PUBLICATION STAFF MARGARET TOMINOSKY Unit 102 Liaison The Sunshine Bridge News is mailed six times a year to Phone: 941-223-3712 households of paid-up members of District 9 of the ACBL. [email protected] The mailing list is prepared about a month before the publication arrives in your mailbox. Mailing is by bulk MURIEL ALTUS mail.ACBL members of other districts and non-members SBN Editor & Unit 128 Liaison residing anywhere in the U.S. may subscribe. Phone: 813-810-9067 Subscriptions to the SBN are available at a cost of $15 for [email protected] six consecutive issues. A check made out to Sunshine Bridge MICHELLE CRANE News should be sent to Shirley Seals, P.O. Box 1534, Ponte Unit 219 Liaison Vedra, FL 32004 with address information. Subscription Phone: 850-748-4714 issues will be mailed by first class mail, a few days after the [email protected] full District 9 mailing list goes to the Bulk Mail Office for distribution. Address changes for subscriptions may be JAN GREENE sent by email to Shirley at [email protected]. Unit 240 Liaison 772-299-4301 ©2015 by Sunshine Bridge News (aka ACBL District 9). All rights reserved. Contents of this magazine may not [email protected] be reproduced in any manner without written consent DWAYNE HOFFMAN from the publisher. Mention of any product does not Unit 243 Liaison constitute endorsement by the SBN. The publisher assumes [email protected] no responsibility for return of unsolicited manuscripts, photos, art, or cartoons, and reserves the right to reject any For more contact information editorial or advertising materials. look on the District 9 web site, www.District9ACBL.org.

District 9 Online Partnership Desk Look for partners and teammates at bridgefinesse.com/D9PDeskIndex or http://bridgefinesse.com/D9PDeskIndex

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SBN MAY-JUNE-2015-Final.indd 13 4/8/15 9:48 AM Communicating by Muriel Altus [email protected]

Dear, dear reader, in the future.

We have such decisions to make when While we’re at it, I will tell you that we believe we ready your Sunshine Bridge News for these authors (among many others) can publication! be trusted for their high bridge standards and knowledge: Larry Cohen, Paul Dennis, What shall we write about for the cover Mike Donnelly, Barnet Shenkin, Jon Shuster. story? Will it appeal to everybody? Nobody? These are our current columnists and they are here to help you, with some basics from Sometimes we have too many pages. What Mike Donnelly up through practical bidding shall we cut? from Larry Cohen and Paul Dennis, on to something thought-provoking, sometimes Sometimes we have extra space. What shall on a higher level, from Barnet Shenkin and we add? Jon Shuster. They all welcome your emails if you have questions. Sometimes guest authors send submissions. This is a good news/bad news situation. Don’t forget to go to www.District9ACBL. Often we get guest submissions, exactly org to complete the survey that will help us when we have extra space. This is still a good continue to give you an SBN of which we can news/bad news situation, because these extra all be proud, or send it by snail mail. submissions are often not without their own challenges. The viewpoints expressed by And be sure to grab your teammates (as long them are near and dear to the hearts -- of as you all qualified) to compete on May 2-3 in the authors! The rest of us might find them the GNT () Finals for worthless, annoying or even unethical. our district, and then play in June, July and That’s extreme, I know, but I have rejected August for your chance to compete in the submissions that treat ethics as a joking District Finals of the NAPs (North American matter, which I will never publish; and not Teams) on October 24-25. All of these events, everybody has been taught the very same except the Championship flight of the GNTs, basics about the proprieties of the game, so carry a stipend to help you attend the ACBL submissions sometimes seem as though they Finals of the respective events. Help us put are advocating something controversial. the best teams and pairs into the events! Good luck to all. In this issue, we originally thought we’d be able to publish three guest authors. If any of them make it into print, please watch for editor’s notes at the end of them, because I can tell you right now, my editorial committee was not consistently approving of my decision to publish two of them. I hope you will find something to enjoy; please don’t take any of the articles as having been endorsed by District 9. If they don’t get into this issue, I hope to include them some time 14 Sunshine Bridge News

SBN MAY-JUNE-2015-Final.indd 14 4/8/15 9:48 AM District News Congratulations to District NABC+ Fast Pairs 1st: Irina Kislitsyna, Ellenton 9’s members who finished in 3rd: Bernace De Young and Sean Ganness, the top five places in NABC Miami Machlin Women’s Swiss events at the Spring NABC in 1st: Kerri Sanborn, Delray Beach New Orleans, LA 3rd: Janice Seamon-Molson, Hollywood 4th: Shannon Cappelletti, Delray Beach Leventritt Silver Ribbon Pairs 5th: Jenny Wolpert, Palm Beach Gardens 2nd: Gloria and Les Bart, Bradenton Jacoby Swiss 1st: Richard Schwartz, Aventura 3rd: Lewis Finkel, Palm Beach Gardens, and 3rd: Michael Becker, Boca Raton, Richard Janice Seamon-Molson, Hollywood Coren, Highland Beach, Michael Kamil, Delray Beach, Warren Spector, Palm Beach Silodor Pairs 4th: Paul Street, Delray Beach 4th: Jeff Meckstroth and Eric Rodwell, 5th: Mike Cappelletti, Delray Beach Clearwater Beach 5th: Richard Coren, Highland Beach, and Vanderbilt Knockouts Michael Kamil, Delray Beach 2nd: John Diamond, Boca Raton 5th-8th: Michael Seamon, Boca Raton Smith LM Womens Pairs 5th-8th: Kevin Bathurst, Palm Beach 4th: Rhoda Kratenstein and Kerri Sanborn, Gardens Delray Beach

Irina Kislitsyna Kerri Sanborn Richard Schwartz

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SBN MAY-JUNE-2015-Final.indd 15 4/8/15 9:48 AM All the masterpoints earned by Florida players might be causing the sea to rise

District 9 players earned a right, has beaten out sensational amount of masterpoints in all other contenders 2014. If you’re concerned about Florida’s in the silver point coastline, it might be because the land mass race. John earned is sinking under the weight of all those 677.26 silver points in masterpoints! Well, ok, maybe not; still, the 2014, and perennial number is mind boggling. high scorers Patricia We’ll start by congratulating Jeff and Adrian Dovell Meckstroth of Clearwater Beach, who won of Gainesville were more masterpoints in 2014 than any other third and fourth player. His total of 3098.24 was about 70 overall respectively, ahead of his usual partner, Eric Rodwell, with 484.63 and Clearwater, who was second overall. Many of 468.45. John Brady you have no doubt read the article about Jeff Kevin Dwyer of in the March ACBL Bulletin. Featured in that Melbourne won more article was Jeff’s wife, Sally Meckstroth, who masterpoints than was fifth overall in the 5000-7500 category any other player who in 2014 with 885.88 masterpoints earned. started the year at Also in the 5000-7500 category, Stan age 25 or younger. His Tulin of Boca Raton was second overall total? 1723.54. with 1268.55 and Bjorgvin Kristinsson of We know that Boynton Beach was third with 930.96. our members have Jay Whipple III, of Boca Grande, earned mixed feelings 806.06 masterpoints in 2014, to place him about playing bridge fifth overall in the 2500-5000 category of online, but we report the Mini-McKenney. As many of you know, this news to you Kevin Dwyer Jay is our District Director, representing us nonetheless. In 2014, of players who started on the ACBL Board of Directors and helping the year with 500 to 1000 masterpoints to ACBL run smoothly as past District Directors their name, Paul Zebrowski of Naples beat have also done. out all the competitors in online points In the 500 earned, with a total of 684.04. Joel Banks to 1000 category, of St. Petersburg was second in the same Edward Rauch of Fort category, with 569.39. Lauderdale finished And now the races in which our players third overall with tend to excel. If Floridians can’t win the 622.46 masterpoints. Helen Shanbrom Ace of Clubs awards, it’s The next category not for lack of trying, as we’ll soon find out in which a District 9 when we hear the number of tables of bridge player finished in the played in the top Florida clubs. Here are our top five across all of most successful players in each category. ACBL was the 50-100 Edith Denenberg of Pompano Beach Edward Rauch category, where Faisl was second overall of all players who started Kayali of Orlando finished third with a total the year with more than 10,000 points. She of 218.02, and Lee Weiner of Fernandina earned 463.73 in club games that counted Beach finished fifth with 211.73. towards this race. A big repeating congratulations goes Bella Ionis-Sorren of Fort Lauderdale to John Brady of Jacksonville who, for the continues to earn the largest masterpoint fourth consecutive year, if we are counting total in club games in her category, helping 16 Sunshine Bridge News

SBN MAY-JUNE-2015-Final.indd 16 4/8/15 9:48 AM her to advance to a 100-300 masterpoints were in the top five higher category. She of their category at club games. Boots Van started the year with Nostrand of Vero Beach was second with between 7500 and 173.18; Elaine Swanson of Coral Gables 10,000 masterpoints was third with 169.62; Tom Mookas of and earned 685.31 Tallahassee was fourth with 165.86. qualified club game When Faisl Kayali was doing so well in points. Third in this the Mini-McKenney of his 50-100 category, category was Martin 129.75 of his points were putting him in Robins of Delray fourth place in his category of the Helen Beach with 456.40 Shanbrom Ace of Clubs competition. and fifth was Harry Bella Ionis-Sorren Ned Daughdrille of Hudson (yes, Kaufmann of North Redington Beach with Florida) began the year with 20-50 398.96. masterpoints and finished the year having Beverly Slaski of earned 114.09 in club games, second in his Bradenton won more category across all ACBL. club masterpoints Of the players who had between 5 than anybody else in and 20 masterpoints on January 1, 2014, her category of 2500- Gretchen Jack of Cape Canaveral earned 5000 masterpoint 73.09 club points, putting her in fourth holders, with a total place in her category. of 406.70. Third in We hope you’ve enjoyed reading about that category was our highly successful members, among T. Fitzsimmons of a membership full of highly successful Davie, with 345.74. Beverly Slaski players. If you’d like to see how you’re doing In the 1000-2500 category, District in 2015, go to www.acbl.org and click on the 9 players won the top three slots of the Masterpoints and Results link. You’ll find all Helen Shanbrom kinds of interesting things there, if you take Ace of Clubs. a few minutes to look around. Sanford Robbins of Lauderdale Lakes Photos of Brady, Ionis-Sorren, Slaski, Rauch, was first, with 441.49. Robbins, and Dwyer courtesy of ACBL. Larry Lazarow of Highland Beach was Curious how our players are doing in the second with 394.17. 2015 ACBL-wide masterpoint races? Overall, Eric Kenneth Wagner Jr. Rodwell is now ahead of Jeff Meckstroth by almost of Hollywood was 52 points, currently in 7th and 11th places. John third with 367.42. Brady, Adrian Dovell and Patricia Dovell are in A good part of Sanford Robbins first, second and third places in the silver point race. Edward Rauch’s masterpoints that put him George Murray of The Villages is leading the in third overall in his category of the Mini- 50-100 Helen Shanbrom Ace of Clubs race. Ned McKenney were in club games, enough to be Daughdrille of Hudson is leading the 100-200 at the top of the 500-1000 Helen Shanbrom Helen Shanbrom Ace of Clubs race. Sanford Robbins Ace of Clubs category with 372.12. and Edward Rauch are now first and second in the Brett and Helen Goldstein of 1000-2500 HS Ace of Clubs race! Robert Ramos of Hallandale Beach either played every single Fort Lauderdale is leading the 2500-5000 HS Ace of club game session with each other in 2014, or Clubs race. Edith Denenberg and Shelly Salvi, both only scratched when they played together! of Pompano Beach, are first and second in the over They each earned 184.91 eligible club game 10,000 HS Ace of Clubs race. points to put them tied for first in the 300- Some of you are second through 10th, right 500 masterpoint category. Paul Boisvert of now, in your categories! Look it up. Enjoy your Tallahassee was fifth in this category with pursuit of the top spot. We do play bridge for 154.49. enjoyment first and masterpoints second -- don’t Three players who started the year with we? May/June 2015 17

SBN MAY-JUNE-2015-Final.indd 17 4/8/15 9:48 AM 2014 Mini -McKenney Races

0 to 5 Mini-McKenney Masterpoint Race 500 to 1000 Mini-McKenney Masterpoint Race Rank Location Points Rank Location Points 1 Ann Buchholz Ponte Vedra Bch 106.44 1 Edward Rauch Fort Lauderdale 622.46 2 George Murray The Villages 71.05 2 Won Yang Clermont 374.85 3 Robin Kwiat Delray Beach 65.36 3 Joanne Klare Fort Myers 367.10 4 Barry Orchard Orlando 54.16 4 Brenda Starnes Navarre 362.64 5 James Miller Wilton Manors 53.54 5 Doris Needham Navarre 352.67 5 to 20 Mini-McKenney Masterpoint Race 1000 to 2500 Mini-McKenney Masterpoint Race Rank Location Points Rank Location Points 1 Pratapray Thacker N Palm Beach 99.74 1 Sanford Robbins Miami Lakes 589.59 2 Mark Bruce Ocala 95.74 2 Kenneth Wagner Jr. Hollywood 532.30 3 Amparo Angel Key Biscayne 87.75 3 Terry McHenry Sarasota 529.85 4 Jean Askew Pensacola 83.93 4 Kimberly Whipple Boca Grande 487.38 5 Gilbert Stockton Oakland Park 82.06 5 Bronia Jenkins Vero Beach 443.98 20 to 50 Mini-McKenney Masterpoint Race 2500 to 5000 Mini-McKenney Masterpoint Race Rank Location Points Rank Location Points 1 Ned Daughdrille Hudson 141.85 1 Jay Whipple III Boca Grande 806.06 2 Bruce Maier Tampa 123.32 2 Paul Street Delray Beach 722.78 3 Marjorie Hedinger Naples 98.08 3 David Rogers Naples 461.60 4 Robert Hedinger Naples 96.31 4 Jack Bonney Venice 451.41 5 Michael Scher Tampa 91.29 5 Michael Wolf Coral Springs 438.43 50 to 100 Mini-McKenney Masterpoint Race 5000 to 7500 Mini-McKenney Masterpoint Race Rank Location Points Rank Location Points 1 Faisl Kayali Orlando 218.02 1 Stan Tulin Boca Raton 1,268.55 2 Lee Weiner Fernandina Bch 211.73 2 Bjorgvin Kristinsson Boynton Beach 930.96 3 Betsy Bunting Naples 155.01 3 Sally Meckstroth Clearwater Bch 885.88 4 George Elangical Cape Coral 148.52 4 Adam Kaplan Stanford CA 625.51 5 Ray Duncan Hudson 147.98 5 Jim Russell Sarasota 555.10 100 to 200 Mini-McKenney Masterpoint Race 7500 to 10,000 Mini-McKenney Masterpoint Race Rank Location Points Rank Location Points 1 Tom Mookas Tallahassee 237.88 1 Kevin Dwyer Melbourne 1,723.54 2 Boots Van Nostrand Vero Beach 188.27 2 Bella Ionis-Sorren Fort Lauderdale 792.18 3 Elaine Swanson Coral Gables 178.25 3 Robert Todd Tallahassee 770.70 4 Etta Sklar Sunny Isles Bch 165.75 4 John Diamond Boca Raton 614.76 5 Trixie Dorsett Germer Naples 165.41 5 Martin Robins Delray Beach 570.87 200 to 300 Mini-McKenney Masterpoint Race Over 10,000 Mini-McKenney Masterpoint Race Rank Location Points Rank Location Points 1 Donald Richards Kissimmee 180.84 1 Jeff Meckstroth Clearwater Bch 3,098.24 2 Marlene Flament Oldsmar 161.10 2 Eric Rodwell Clearwater 3,028.01 3 Caroline Tunkel Fernandina Bch 158.63 3 Kevin Bathurst Palm Bch Gdns 2,175.68 4 Susan Pyner Coral Springs 148.86 4 Vincent Demuy Palm Bch Gdns 1,882.94 5 Joan Vanek Lantana 147.96 5 Michael Seamon Boca Raton 1,651.02 300 to 500 Mini-McKenney Masterpoint Race Rank Location Points In order to participate in and receive recognition 1 Paul Boisvert Tallahassee 283.93 for achievement in masterpoint races: 2 Paul Jepson Saint Augustine 231.15 3 Helen Goldstein Hallandale Bch 216.17 1. One must be a member of the ACBL and District Brett Goldstein Hallandale Bch 216.17 9 in good standing. 5 Patricia Booton Fernandina Bch 195.92 2. All membership dues or service fees must be paid.

18 Sunshine Bridge News

SBN MAY-JUNE-2015-Final.indd 18 4/8/15 9:48 AM 2014 Shanbrom Ace of Clubs

0 to 5 Helen Shanbrom Ace of Clubs 500 to 1000 Helen Shanbrom Ace of Clubs Rank Location Points Rank Location Points 1 George Murray The Villages 55.84 1 Edward Rauch Fort Lauderdale 372.12 2 Robin Kwiat Delray Beach 52.36 2 Thomas Lane Lauderhill 207.51 3 Ann Buchholz Ponte Vedra Bch 50.29 3 Ben Lew Boca Raton 182.27 4 James Miller Wilton Manors 46.89 4 Edmund Lundy Cooper City 171.71 5 Barry Orchard Orlando 39.58 5 Frederick Scott Bonita Springs 170.84 5 to 20 Helen Shanbrom Ace of Clubs 1000 to 2500 Helen Shanbrom Ace of Clubs Rank Location Points Rank Location Points 1 Gilbert Stockton Oakland Park 69.78 1 Sanford Robbins Miami Lakes 441.49 2 Val Lopez Coral Gables 64.31 2 Larry Lazarow Highland Beach 394.17 3 Trevor Cha Camp Fort Lauderdale 63.46 3 Kenneth Wagner Jr. Hollywood 367.42 4 Mark Bruce Ocala 63.09 4 Charles Christmas Tallahassee 257.60 5 Vicki Schell Pensacola 57.29 5 Terry McHenry Sarasota 241.19 20 to 50 Helen Shanbrom Ace of Clubs 2500 to 5000 Helen Shanbrom Ace of Clubs Rank Location Points Rank Location Points 1 Ned Daughdrille Hudson 114.09 1 Beverly Slaski Bradenton 406.70 2 Walter Burssens Sunrise 77.67 2 T. J. Fitzsimmons Davie 345.74 3 Bruce Maier Tampa 76.15 3 Robert Ramos Fort Lauderdale 319.10 4 Jeffrey Lefcourt Miami 66.98 4 Ronald Weissberger Fort Lauderdale 279.23 5 Joseph Davis Vero Beach 59.23 5 Francine Feldman Boca Raton 276.94 50 to 100 Helen Shanbrom Ace of Clubs 5000 to 7500 Helen Shanbrom Ace of Clubs Rank Location Points Rank Location Points 1 Faisl Kayali Orlando 129.75 1 Charles Musgrove West Palm Beach 332.87 2 George Elangical Cape Coral 115.38 2 Lita Talus Boynton Beach 311.01 3 Lee Weiner Fernandina Bch 112.38 3 Gene Petrey Fort Lauderdale 307.17 4 Betsy Bunting Naples 100.94 4 Irma Willenborg Fort Lauderdale 305.30 5 Steve Klein Miami 96.27 5 Hank Parker Bonita Springs 287.15 100 to 200 Helen Shanbrom Ace of Clubs 7500 to 10,000 Helen Shanbrom Ace of Clubs Rank Location Points Rank Location Points 1 Boots Van Nostrand Vero Beach 173.18 1 Bella Ionis-Sorren Fort Lauderdale 685.31 2 Elaine Swanson Coral Gables 169.62 2 Martin Robins Delray Beach 456.40 3 Tom Mookas Tallahassee 165.86 3 Harry Kaufmann N Redington Bch 398.96 4 Etta Sklar Sunny Isles Bch 133.16 4 James Willenborg Fort Lauderdale 326.47 5 Trixie Dorsett Germer Naples 120.05 5 Carolyn Sessler Boca Raton 323.48 200 to 300 Helen Shanbrom Ace of Clubs Over 10,000 Helen Shanbrom Ace of Clubs Rank Location Points Rank Location Points 1 Joan Vanek Lantana 110.79 1 Edith Denenberg Pompano Beach 463.73 2 Susan Pyner Coral Springs 104.74 2 Shelly Salvi Pompano Beach 396.70 3 Alvin Kimbrough Panama City Bch 97.29 3 Sean Ganness Miami 360.68 4 Keith Dozier Fort Lauderdale 96.24 4 Bernace De Young Miami 322.50 5 William Cohen Fort Lauderdale 93.59 5 Barbara Sartorius Palm Bch Gdns 215.72 300 to 500 Helen Shanbrom Ace of Clubs Rank Location Points In order to participate in and receive recognition 1 Helen Goldstein Hallandale Bch 184.91 for achievement in masterpoint races: Brett Goldstein Hallandale Bch 184.91 3 Paul Boisvert Tallahassee 154.49 1. One must be a member of the ACBL and District 4 Michael Gibson Sarasota 116.51 9 in good standing. 5 Patricia Booton Fernandina Bch 114.88 2. All membership dues or service fees must be paid.

May/June 2015 19

SBN MAY-JUNE-2015-Final.indd 19 4/8/15 9:48 AM Weak Twos by Larry Cohen [email protected]

We have reached one of my favorite 1) Can you open a weak two-bid with a ? sections of the . There are so 2) Can you have a side four-card major? many Bubbemeises (“old wives tales”) when 3) Do I need 2 of the top 3 honors? it comes to weak twos. Let’s start with the easy stuff: My answers: In the first 30-40 years of , all two-level openings were strong 1) Absolutely possible. I wouldn’t and natural. Then, sanity prevailed. Now, if the void made the hand too good for 2♣ (artificial) is used for all (rarely-dealt) a preempt (see the first example in this strong hands, freeing up 2♦, 2♥, 2♠ for article). But, if the hand is in range, why not more practical use. Today, only dinosaurs have a void? I can’t imagine not opening 2♠ use strong 2-bids (although and other with, say: ♠K J 10 9 4 3 ♥— ♦Q J 2 ♣9 8 6 4. systems where 2♦, 2♥, and 2♠ have special 2) You can preempt with a side 4-card major. meanings are prevalent in certain areas of But, I wouldn’t open 2♠ with, say: the world). ♠Q J 8 7 6 5 ♥A Q 10 3 ♦5 4 ♣3. We could What should a weak two-bid show? easily belong in hearts, and I’d be afraid of Typically a 6-card suit and about 5-11 HCP. preempting our side out of that suit. Within that definition there is lots of room. I However, I’d proudly open 2♠ with, say, wouldn’t open 2♠ with: ♠K Q J 10 8 7 ♥8 7 4 3 ♦3 2 ♣2. Who cares about the hearts when my spades are so good and ♠K Q J 10 9 8 ♥—♦A 4 3 2 ♣6 5 2–This hand is my hearts are so bad? way too good; it is a 1♠ opening. 3) Not really important. Rather than focus on the top honors, I care more about the Meanwhile, I’d gladly open 2♠ with: intermediate spots. I’d much rather have Q J 10 9 8 7 of a suit than A K 5 4 3 2. The cards ♠K J 10 9 8 6 ♥4 ♦10 8 7 4 ♣3 2, even though it is in the middle are what make the suit of out of the HCP range. “good quality” for preempting. At one point (in the mid-1980’s) the Here are a few examples. Assume you ACBL had the “5-and-5 rule” (some people are playing a “normal” style (not super- called it the “Marty Bergen rule”). You had conservative, not crazy aggressive). In these to have at least a 5-card suit and 5 HCP for a hands, you are dealer with none vulnerable: weak two-bid. That rule lasted only a year or so. Now, “anything goes.” a) ♠10 9 6 5 4 2 ♥A 7 6 2 ♦A 2 ♣2 There is lots of room for judgment. b) ♠6 5 ♥K Q J 8 5 3 ♦7 6 2 ♣5 4 Vulnerability and position are crucial. If you c) ♠8 3 ♥2 ♦8 7 6 2 ♣K Q J 10 8 2 are vulnerable, try to have a good suit and to d) ♠— ♥8 7 2 ♦K J 10 9 8 2 ♣Q 8 7 2 be at the upper end of the HCP range. If you are in second seat (a bad position to preempt Now, you are second seat, red vs white: because the contract could easily belong to your side) be very sound. In all situations, be e) ♠Q 4 2 ♥K J 8 6 5 2 ♦5 4 ♣6 2 aware of suit quality. I don’t think it is a good f) ♠5 3 ♥2 ♦A Q J 10 9 8 ♣10 9 6 2 idea to preempt with a suit of jack-empty-sixth. g) ♠2 ♥K Q 10 9 7 2 ♦K 9 8 2 ♣4 3 Here are the “top-three” questions h) ♠A 10 7 6 5 2 ♥Q 4 3 ♦Q 9 8 ♣J students ask me about weak twos: Please see page 27 20 Sunshine Bridge News

SBN MAY-JUNE-2015-Final.indd 20 4/8/15 9:48 AM Counting by Barnet Shenkin www.shenkinbridge.com

One of the most important facets in 2 You overtake partner’s ♥K with the Ace. defense is counting. This applies to declarers You then play the ♣K to the Ace. Partner distribution, as well as how many tricks you shows an odd number of ♣s by playing the need to set the contract. When the opponents 2. Declarer plays the ♠K to your Ace, partner reach a high level, the defenders have the playing the ♠9. You count Declarer’s hand: opportunity to try and cash a small amount eight diamonds, two spades, one heart of tricks, to beat the contract. They help each and two clubs. Partner has 5 clubs, an odd other by giving partner the information of number. You cash your ♣Q and beat the which winner will stand up, without being contract ruffed by declarer. So if you agreed to defend this way you Here is an example from the World defeated the contract. The French defender Championship. led the ♥K and when that was allowed to hold played a second heart. Curtains! Did ♠ K Q J 7 6 3 you do better? ♥ 9 5 2 So the tip here is, that when you are ♦ 8 cashing your winners to defeat a contract, ♣ A J 7 and there may be a choice of winners, give partner count, so he knows which winners N ♠ A 5 4 will take the trick. ♥ It is also a good idea to play that the King W E A J 8 7 3 ♦ 4 3 asks for count at the five level or higher, and S ♣ K Q 4 the Ace asks for attitude. You may lead an unsupported Ace at a high level and when South West North East you have AK, you want to know if they cash, 4NT* Pass 5C** Dbl so lead the King. 5D Pass Pass Dbl All Pass The entire hand:

* Good minor ♠ K Q J 7 6 3 ** Pass or correct ♥ 9 5 2 ♦ 8 Your partner leads the ♥K vs 5♦x, ♣ A J 7 declarer calls a card, what are you thinking, ♠ 92 ♠ and what should you do? N A 5 4 Declarer usually has 8 diamonds. You ♥ K Q 10 4 ♥ A J 8 7 3 likely will make your ♠A, and you need a ♦ J 7 W E ♦ 4 3 second heart, or a club to beat the contract. ♣ 10 8 5 3 2 S ♣ K Q 4 There are two courses of action, if you have agreed to play the way I suggest. ♠ 10 8 1 You play the ♥3 and hope partner can tell ♥ 6 you have five in the suit. He will then either ♦ A K Q 10 9 6 5 2 cash a winning heart or switch to a club. This ♣ 9 6 will enable you to cash a club when you win your ♠A. May/June 2015 21

SBN MAY-JUNE-2015-Final.indd 21 4/8/15 9:48 AM