Tuesday, July 28, 2009 Volume 81, Number 5 Daily Bulletin Washington, DC 81st Summer North American Bridge Championships Editors: Brent Manley and Paul Linxwiler Goodwill says thanks to Nadine Top seeds fall in Spingold Two high-seeded teams are out of the action after yesterday’s first round of the Spingold Knockout Teams. The 17th-seeded Michael Moss team (Stephen Bruce Reeve, Landen, Nikolay Demirev and Nicolas L’Ecuyer) Nadine Wood lost in their four-way match with teams seeded 36, and Millard 55 and 74. Nachtwey at A cell phone was the downfall of the No. 22 the Goodwill Committee seed (Brian Glubok, James Rosenbloom, Bill reception. Eisenberg, Connie Goldberg, John Sutherlin and Dan Gerstman). They incurred a 12-IMP penalty for having the phone in the playing area, and those IMPs were the deciding factor in their close loss. The victors in their four-way match were the teams seeded 31, 60 and 69. One of the hardest working and best-known Wagar KO in personalities in District 6, home of the 2009 Summer NABC, received a very big thank you for quarterfinals her years and years of hard work for bridge. And when Nadine Wood was asked by Form prevailed in the Wagar Women’s Goodwill Committee Chair Aileen Osofsky to Knockout Teams, with seven of the top eight seeds approach the podium a second time, Wood received advancing to today’s round of eight. The format for a standing ovation from the gathered committee yesterday’s first round was head-to-head matchups members. and four-way matches, with three advancing from Wood was heading for the microphone to each four-way. respond to tributes from two other stalwarts of the The only casualty among the top eight seeds was Mid-Atlantic Bridge Conference – Bruce Reeve, No. 7 Judi Radin team (Stacy Jacobs, Catherine District 7 representative on the ACBL Board of D’Ovidio, Danielle Gaviard, Victoria Gromova and Directors, and National Tournament Director Tatiana Ponomareva), who played in a four-way Millard Nachtwey, a longtime friend. match with the Nos. 6, 8 and 9 seeds. They lost to Nachtwey said he and Wood began working the No. 8 (Phyllis Fireman, Shannon Cappelletti, with the Washington Bridge League at about the Migry Zur Campanile, Mildred Breed, Heather same time – in the mid-Eighties. He recalled that the Dhondy and Nevena Senior) and No. 9 (Lynne first intermediate/newcomer program took place at Goodwill Committee Chair Aileen Osofsky with Schaefer, Susan Miller, Bronia Jenkins, Kyoko NABC Chair Margot Hennings. the 1984 Summer NABC in Washington. Back then, Shimamura, Martha Katz and Ellasue Chaitt). he said, there was one I/N game during the entire is still in use. tournament. Nowadays, I/N games makes up 20% Reeve said, “It’s wonderful to recognize Nadine Mini-Spingolds of attendance, and Nachtwey credited Wood for a lot in this setting.” Play continues today with head-to-head matches of that growth. He said Wood works tirelessly for bridge, and in Mini-Spingold I (0 to 5000 masterpoints) and II “Nadine went to bat for newcomer games with especially women’s events. “At the trials,” he said, (0-1500). Mini I is in the round of 32 today and ACBL Headquarters,” he said. “She is one of the “whatever they want, she gets it.” Mini II is now down to 16 teams. most fantastic workers and one of the most fantastic Wood is an amazing shopper, always on the go people I know.” buying supplies for tournaments. “Nadine is in the Bisgeier leads Nachtwey said Wood also created an essential Costco and Sam’s Hall of Fame.” and authoritative manual for tournament chairs that Continued on page 4 Senior Swiss quals At the tournament in Atlanta, Abrams says, “I The team captained by Peter Bisgeier topped Youth NABC co-chair was amazed. It was so exciting to see the kids the field in the qualifying round of the expecting excitement coming from all over the country and having a Truscott/USPC Senior Swiss Teams. Bisgeier, playing with Robert Gordon, James Gingrich and Last summer, Suzanne Abrams showed up at chance to meet each other. It was fabulous.” Bob Gwirtzman, scored 124 Victory Points in the inaugural Youth NABC in the Atlanta area to yesterday’s opening round. get a sample of what was to come for her this year In second is the squad of Stephen Lucas, in Washington DC. Lesley Decker Lucas, Laura Brill and Rick She and Patty Tucker and co-chairs of the Goldstein. second Youth NABC, which begins on Thursday. The cutoff score for qualification was 80 VPs. As many as 150 or more players 19 and younger Fifty of the 100 teams that entered the two- are expected for the three-day tournament. Youth day contest qualified for today’s two-session final. Abrams, a retired school psychologist, has lots NABC of experience with young people and bridge. Co-Chair Before she retired, she started a bridge club at an Suzanne Goodwill Message Abrams elementary school. She taught the youngsters how Today’s opponent may shows off to play and had games once a week after school be tomorrow’s partner! from January to June. one of the tee shirts That’s a good reason to Since her retirement, Abrams has started a for the treat opponents and club at Thomas Jefferson High School in three-day partner with respect and Washington. tournament, courtesy —- the way you “It’s good for the students to learn bridge which expect to be treated. early,” she says. “The elementary kids love the starts on Aileen Osofsky, Chairman social aspect of bridge.” Thursday. National Goodwill Committee Page 2 Daily Bulletin SPECIAL EVENTS MEETINGS / SEMINARS / RECEPTIONS Tuesday, July 28 4:30 - 7 p.m. Youth players: Don’t miss the Youth Lounge Youth players (under 26) are invited to the Youth Lounge, 9 a.m. - Noon Club Director Refresher Course. Continuing education for an informal get-together, on Wednesday, July 29, from 4:30 bridge directors to increase their skills. Part 1 of 2. Fee: to 7 p.m. (between the afternoon and evening sessions). $15. Room: Taft. Meet old friends, make new ones, and meet some terrific, 10 a.m. - Noon Senior Team Trials meeting. Capital Boardroom. top-level players and mentors to talk about bridge. The 10 a.m. - Noon Meeting of the Foundation for the Preservation and meet-up will be held in the Taylor Room, located on the Advancement of Bridge. Room: Jackson. Mezzanine Level near the Thurgood Marshall Ballroom. Wednesday, July 29 Friday, July 31 9 a.m. - Noon Club Director Refresher Course. Continuing education for 10 a.m. - Noon "Start to Play" lesson. Bridge lessons for beginners. Room: bridge directors to increase their skills. Part 2 of 2. Fee: Thurgood Marshall E. $15. Room: Taft. CELEBRITY SPEAKER PROGRAM Be sure to hear these free expert lectures in Washington DC daily in Exhibit Wednesday, July 29 Hall B. 9:45 am Phillip Alder Basic Defense Signals Tuesday, July 28 6:45 pm Gary King Making Close Decisions: 9:45 am Audrey Grant Improving Your Odds at the Big Score Impact Bridge Table Thursday, July 30 6:45 pm David Berkowitz Partnerships 9:45 am Lisa Berkowitz An Intro to Defensive Signals 6:45 pm Ellen Kent Simple is Better LATE NIGHT/ENTERTAINMENT All entertainment will take place in the Thurgood Marshall Ballroom. All Wednesday, July 29 times are approximate. 10:30 pm-Midnight Popcorn and Cracker Jack Tuesday, July 28 11:15 pm-12:15 am Alain Nu: Mentalist and Magician 10:30 pm-Midnight Macaroni and Cheese Bar Thursday, July 30 11:15 pm-12:30 am Ron Smith, Pianist 10:30 pm-Midnight Cheddar Cheese and Apple / Cinnamon Soft Pretzels 11:15 pm-12:30 am Ron Smith, Pianist Be sure to Youth players: Don’t miss ACBL bans electronic stop by the the Youth Lounge devices in national events Tournament Youth players (under 26) are invited to the The ACBL Board of Directors approved a Information Desk Youth Lounge, an informal get-together, on comprehensive ban on electronic devices for all and get your official Wednesday, July 29, from 4:30 to 7 p.m. (between national level events, but not regional or Washington DC the afternoon and evening sessions). Meet old Intermediate Newcomer contests: NABC t-shirt friends, make new ones, and meet some terrific, Electronic devices, excluding health related top-level players and mentors to talk about bridge. equipment, capable of sending or receiving before you leave! The meet-up will be held in the Taylor Room, communication, including but not limited to, Men’s and Women’s styles— located on the Mezzanine Level near the headphones, earphones, cellular phones and lots of sizes, royal blue and navy Thurgood Marshall Ballroom. minicomputers: (1) shall not be allowed in the $15 for Adults • $12 for Youth playing areas, adjacent hallways, restrooms or Life Master News accessible break areas; and (2) shall not be used New Enhancement to Joan Renzoni of Toronto ON is now a Silver during a session. ACBL Web Site: NABC Life Master (1000 or more masterpoints) after her These restrictions shall apply to all pairs, team’s success in the knockouts. She was playing team members, captains, coaches, recorders and Top Winners Directory with Veronica Peacock of Vancouver BC. Their kibitzers and shall apply throughout any actual Are you curious about who has placed first or teammates were Audrey Danocup of Beloit WI and playing session or segment. second in past North American Bridge Laurie Hamachek of Huntley IL.