Tuesday, March 17, 2015 Volume 58, Number 5 Daily BulletinMarch 12-22 58th Spring North American Bridge Championships [email protected] Editors: Sue Munday and Brent Manley Tie a Silver Ribbon around Noda and Ralph Bruce Noda and Mark Ralph produced three excellent sessions of card play to win the Leventritt Silver Ribbon Pairs. Noda, from Corte Madera CA and Ralph, from San Francisco, turned in back-to- back 59% games on Sunday to enter the second day in ninth place. A blazing 63% first final session kept them at the top of the roster despite a merely average evening. Finishing second with 2423 points –only 15 Richard and Andrew Jeng, winners of the matchpoints behind (77 was top) – were Charles Golder North American Pairs Flight B. Durrin of Madison AL and Rebecca Rogers from Henderson NV. Jengs take NAP This is the first NABC title for Ralph, a retired Flight B title federal investigator. With the win, he becomes a Richard and Andrew Jeng saved the best for Grand Life Master. last in the Golder North American Pairs Flight B – Noda, a retired benefits consultant, won the and it was good enough to earn them a win. Bruce Noda and Mark Ralph won the Silver Truscott/USPC Senior Swiss in 2004. Continued on page 10 Ribbon Pairs. Remembering, honoring Goodwill ambassadors Remembering those who are no longer part of the bridge family is on the agenda when members of the Aileen Osfosky Goodwill Committee gather for a reception three times a year at the NABCs. No one doubted that the late Jeff Johnston, ACBL’s senior director of bridge operations, touched all facets of the organization , and Goodwill Committee Chair Sandy DeMartino affirmed that at the outset of the meeting. “Jeff was a fine man who did so much for the organization,” DeMartino said. “He made it a better place for all of us. I will always remember Blake Schwartzbach and Adam Gann, NAP-C his quiet manner and great smile.” winners. DeMartino led the standing crowd in a round District 6 pair earn of applause for Johnston, who died unexpectedly in Memphis on Dec. 29. NAP Flight C win DeMartino then acknowledged co-chairs who Blake Schwartzbach and Adam Gann, the were present: Marilyn Vilhauer, Sandy Arlinghaus, leaders after two qualifying sessions in the Kathy Swaine and Janise Saul. President’s Cup North American Pairs Flight C, fell Robert Hartman, ACBL’s chief executive, to second after the first final session but rallied to praised DeMartino for helping to enliven a Continued on page 10 James Flesher, Goodwill Member of the Year, Continued on page 11 with Goodwill Chair Sandy DeMartino. r r r r r 10K knockout enters Nickell out to defend second day of play The 0-10,000 Knockout Teams enters the Vanderbilt championship Happy St. second day of play with 24 teams, with some teams The No. 1 seed in the Vanderbilt Knockout eliminated in three-way matches. Teams, captained by Nick Nickell, begin their The event was put on the NABC schedule quest for a second straight win in the event, one of Patrick’s Day last year to run concurrently with the Vanderbilt the most prestigious on the ACBL calendar. Nickell, Ralph Katz, Bobby Levin, Steve Limerick contest winner Knockout Teams. Dave Johnson of Calgary AB is invited to visit Weinstein, Eric Rodwell and Jeff Meckstroth The 10K knockout pays 10% platinum the Daily Bulletin office today between sessions rallied last year in Dallas to defeat Team masterpoints for overall placement. to collect his prize for first place in the Limerick Monaco 127-125. The runner-up – captain Pierre Contest. About 65 limericks were submitted by 50 Zimmermann, Franck Multon, Geig Helgemo, Tor This town gives the National spice people. Here’s the winner: With its gumbo, and red beans and Helness, Fulvio Fantoni and Claudio Nunes – are the No. 2 seed this year. rice. On Tuesday I dressed up in green Nickell has captained three teams to victory in Go wild in the streets, And entered the nearest canteen the Vanderbilt. Monaco, fielding virtually the same But when in your seats, The fifth hurricane team (Michel and Thomas Bessis played instead of For the love of the game, please Must have gone to my brain Fantoni and Nunes), won the event in 2010. play nice! ‘Cause now I can’t count to 13 Greg Michaels, Cleveland OH See page 10 for the second- and third-place submissions. Those authors can also pick up their ATTENDANCE through Monday 5290 tables prizes today between sessions. Page 2 Tuesday, March 17, 2015 Daily Bulletin SPECIAL EVENTS MEETINGS / SEMINARS / RECEPTIONS Meetings are at the Marriott unless otherwise noted Wednesday, March 18 Tuesday, March 17 9 am-Noon Club Director Refresher Course, session 2. A continuing 9 am-Noon Club Director Refresher Course. A continuing education education course for club directors to increase their skills. course for club directors to increase their skills. Participants Participants must attend both sessions. Fee: $15 covers must attend both sessions. Fee: $15 covers both days. Sign both days. (St. Charles, 41st floor) up at the door. (St. Charles, 41st floor) Friday, March 20 11 am-Noon History of Bridge. (Lafayette, 41st floor) 11 am-Noon History of Bridge. (Lafayette, 41st floor) 11 pm-Midnight Women’s International Team Trials meeting. (Jackson, 5th floor) Sunday, March 22 Peter Pender Memorial Vugraph. (Room TBA) CELEBRITY SPEAKER PROGRAM Don’t miss these free lectures by some of the best-known players Wednesday, March 18 in the game! (Mardi Gras Ballroom, 3rd floor) 9:15 am Harold Feldheim So You Think You Play Blackwood Speakers and topics are subject to change. 6:45 pm Emily Harrell Mental Skills Training Tuesday, March 17 Thursday, March 19 9:15 am Phillip Alder Play the Right Card 9:15 am Lisa Berkowitz Signaling 6:45 pm Donna Compton Let the Opponents do the Work 6:45 pm Tom Carmichael New-Minor Forcing HOSPITALITY Late-night snacks will be served at 10:15 pm at the Marriott in the Wednesday, March 18 Preservation Hall lobby (2nd floor) and Grand Ballroom lobby (3rd floor). Meatball sliders Tuesday, March 17 Thursday, March 19 Jambalaya Muffulettas, assorted po’boys Building tricks Too much information Be Scent-sitive! By Barry Rigal Some people have an extreme sensitivity to By Barry Rigal fragrances (colognes or perfumes). Many ACBL Dlr: South ♠ A K 7 3 This deal comes from the Leventritt Senior clubs, units and districts have adopted policies that Vul: Both ♥ Q 9 6 2 Pairs. Sally Wheeler and Buddy Hanby took prohibit players from wearing fragrances. The ♦ K 10 9 3 advantate of an overly talkative opponent and ACBL has not issued an official policy on the ♣ 4 helpful lead. matter, preferring instead to appeal to the goodwill ♠ 6 5 4 ♠ J 9 8 2 Dlr: West ♠ K 10 8 5 of its members to refrain from using fragrances. ♥ J 7 ♥ K 10 5 3 Vul: E-W ♥ K 9 Because duplicate bridge requires players to ♦ Q 8 6 ♦ J 7 ♦ K 7 6 3 be in close proximity to each other, individuals ♣ A Q 10 9 6 ♣ 8 5 2 ♣ Q 9 4 who suffer from fragrance-related reactions ♠ Q 10 ♠ Q ♠ J 9 7 6 cannot avoid those who are wearing them. Among ♥ A 8 4 ♥ Q 10 8 5 3 ♥ A 6 2 the commonly reported symptoms are intense ♦ A 5 4 2 ♦ 10 9 5 2 ♦ Q J 4 headaches (indeed, fragrances can frequently be a ♣ K J 7 3 ♣ K 10 5 ♣ 8 6 2 trigger for migraine sufferers) or breathing-related West North East South ♠ A 4 3 2 problems. For these individuals, the issue is much 1♦ ♥ J 7 4 more serious than simply disliking a particular Pass 1♥ Pas 1NT ♦ A 8 smell — it’s a real health problem. Pass 3NT All Pass ♣ A J 7 3 The ACBL asks everyone to give this issue the Against 3NT by Pablo Lambardi, West started West North East South consideration it deserves. Please, if you’re going to with the ♣10: 4, 2, jack. He played a diamond to Hanby Wheeler play in a club or a tournament, don’t wear cologne, the king, following with the 10 to the jack and ace. Pass Pass Pass 1NT perfume or scented lotions. A third diamond went to West, East discarding a 2♥ Dbl Pass 2♠ low club, suggesting a heart shift. Back came the Pass 3♠ Pass 4♠ ♥J, which Lambardi ducked in both hands. He won All Pass Opt in for electronic the next heart and exited with a club to reach this West’s 2♥ showed hearts and a minor. position: West led a low heart, ducked by Wheeler. results notification ♠ A K 7 3 East took the ♥A to shift to the ♣2, which went Would you like to be notified as soon as ♥ Q 9 to West’s king. The ♦10 went to the ace. The ♠A results and Daily Bulletins from the NABC are ♦ 9 revealed the expected bad trump break. Wheeler posted online? Do you want information on your ♣ — knew her left-hand opponent had diamonds from performance in the events you played in? ACBL ♠ 6 5 4 ♠ J 9 8 2 the low club shift at trick two, so she cashed two has introduced features that do just that. ♥ — ♥ K 5 club winners, played the ♥K and ♦K, ruffed a heart When you opt in to these notification systems, ♦ — ♦ — and reached this ending: you will receive two emails each night with links ♣ A Q 9 6 ♣ 8 ♠ K 10 that go directly to the information you’re looking ♠ Q 10 ♥ — for.