Tuesday, December 3, 2019 Volume 92, Number 5 Daily Bulletin 92nd Fall North American Bridge Championships [email protected] | Editors: Paul Linxwiler and Chip Dombrowski Weinstein wins Mitchell BAM Lopsided results in Howard Weinstein’s team had a Soloway Rd. of 16 Most of the matches in yesterday’s round in monster first final session to win the Soloway KO Teams featured blowouts, an unusual Mitchell Open BAM by nearly three outcome in a top-level event. boards. Weinstein played with Michael The top-seeded Warren Spector team had a fairly Becker, Bob Hamman, Peter Weichsel, even match against Daniel Korbel (No. 16) and Liam Milne and Andy Hung. company through the first three quarters of play, but No one was more surprised to learn Spector treated Korbel to a 55-9 pummeling in the last they’d won than Hung, who thought it set to win the match by 42 IMPs. was a three-day event and that they still Team Lavazza, the No. 2 seed, trailed No. 15 had a day to play, Becker said. Andrew Rosenthal for the entire match, and Rosenthal It’s the first NABC win for stayed in control to win 121-100, the closest match of Australians Milne, 31, and Hung, 32. the round. “It feels good,” Milne said. The No. 3 seed led by Nick Nickell stayed just “They played unbelievably,” out of reach of Hemant Lall’s squad, the No. 14 seed, Weichsel said of his young teammates. through the first three quarters, but as is their habit, Becker has now won this event the Nickell poured it on in the last set to win by 53 IMPs. Winners of the Mitchell Open BAM: Andy Hung, Liam Milne, last three times it’s been played in San Michael Becker, Howard Weinstein, Peter Weichsel and Bob John Onstott (No. 4) was manhandled by Blass Hamman. continued on page 4 npc (No. 13), as Blass won by 83 IMPs. The No. 5 seed led by Edward Xu was shown the door by the No. 12 seed captained by Laurence McMurdie, Jones win Super Senior Pairs Lebowitz, 130-59 in just three quarters of play. Veronica McMurdie and Dick Jones, a couple No. 11 Peter Crouch sent No. 6 Chen Zhao to the from Sacramento CA, won the Super Senior Pairs, a sidelines, as they won their match by 60 IMPs. four-session contest limited to players 70 and older. No. 10 Pierre Zimmermann defeated No. 7 Paul McMurdie and Jones, who finished with a score of Street by 48 IMPs, and Juan Carlos Ventin (No. 9) 1233.93 matchpoints, edged out Joseph Viola III and took the measure of Jimmy Cayne and crew, 113-70. Om Chokriwala of California who scored 1231.52 (38 was top). McMurdie and Jones, who qualified eighth in Schreiber, Feldman lead Sunday’s qualifying round, scored 55.56% in the first 10K IMP quals final session and 61.23% in the second to grab the Californians William Schreiber and Ron Feldman win. had the best score in Monday’s opening round of This was the first NABC win for McMurdie and the 0-10,000 IMP Pairs, and they lead the list of Jones, although the contest does not confer Grand qualifiers in today’s two-session final. Schreiber and Life Master eligibility. Feldman have a carryover of 17.00 IMPs. Jones rarely attends NABCs. In fact, this is the In second with 15.04 IMPs are Pablo Lambardi first NABC that Jones has played in since 1964(!). of Buenos Aires Argentina, and C. Valerie Gamio of Winners of the Super Senior Pairs: Veronica Palos Verdes Peninsula CA. continued on page 9 McMurdie and Dick Jones. Third place is occupied by Craig Kavin of Newbury Park CA and Susan Miller of Boca Raton Goodwill honors volunteer, brings the fun FL with a score of 14.55 IMPs. The Aileen Osofosky Goodwill Committee held its fall meeting Monday night. ACBL President You ought to be in pictures Russ Jones told a story about some hotel guests who Players who attain the rank of Life Master in San wandered into the convention area, not knowing what Francisco are invited to stop by the Daily Bulletin was going on there. “When they found out the people office to get their photos taken. in the ballrooms were playing bridge, they said, ‘It The office is located in Foothill F on the second doesn’t look like they’re having any fun,’” he said. floor of the Marriott. About 120 committee members attended Players who attain higher the reception and listened to the presentation by ranks such as Bronze, committee chair Sandy DeMartino and the other Silver or Gold Life speakers. No one was playing bridge at the time, but Master are also they looked like they were having fun. welcome to get Jones talked about how social bridge players are their photos taken. a prime market for recruiting, but duplicate bridge The office is has a perception problem. “They say, ‘You guys are open at noon each so mean,’” he said. “We want them to look at the Goodwill Committee Chair Sandy DeMartino, day. duplicate game and say, ‘They’re having fun.’ We’ve left, and District 21 Director Jackie Zayac, right, got to treat people nice.” present a special award to Marion Robertson, a longtime local volunteer. The main event of the meeting was the Goodwill Message presentation of a special award to a volunteer in experience?” Zayac said. “At unit games she would the host district. District 21 Director Jackie Zayac make lunch for 30 tables.” You can be competitive and still be friendly, presented the award to Marion Robertson of San Robertson served as District 21 president in caring and ethical. Francisco, who has been a volunteer in the local 2002–03 and as vice president the two years before. Sandy DeMartino, Chair bridge community since 1990. “I got to be president for three years,” Robertson Aileen Osofsky Goodwill Committee Robertson got her start in volunteering while her said, “because the previous president moved away husband was attending Harvard, when they realized while I was vice president.” their neighbor was Julia Child, Zayac said. Robertson According to Zayac, since Robertson’s term ATTENDANCE asked her neighbor if she needed any help with expired, she has been a member of the executive anything, and she was asked to help with washing advisory committee for every district president since. through Monday dishes. “How many bridge players benefitted from that continued on page 5 4240 tables Page 2 Tuesday, December 3, 2019 Daily Bulletin SPECIAL EVENTS MEETINGS / SEMINARS / RECEPTIONS Tuesday, December 3 Participants must attend both sessions. Fee: $15 covers both 9 am–noon Club Director Refresher Course. A continuing education days. (Pacific D, level 4) course for club directors to increase their skills. Participants 10 am–noon Unit/District Disciplinary transition meeting. District must attend both sessions. Fee: $15 covers both days. Sign up and unit presidents, district recorders and disciplinary chairs at the door. (Pacific D, level 4) are invited to meet with National Recorder Robb Gordon to 10 am–6 pm World Bridge Federation meeting. (Pacific E, level 4) discuss the transition to district control of the disciplinary 10 am–6 pm World Computer Bridge Championship. (Sierra H, level 5) process. (Pacific F, level 4) 10 am–6 pm World Computer Bridge Championship. (Sierra H, level 5) Wednesday, December 4 9 am–noon Club Director Refresher Course, session 2. A continuing Thursday, December 5 education course for club directors to increase their skills. 10 am–6 pm World Computer Bridge Championship. (Sierra H, level 5) CELEBRITY SPEAKER PROGRAM Don’t miss these free lectures by some of the best-known players in the game! Wednesday, Dec. 4 Talks will be held in the SoMa Room, level 2. Speakers and topics are subject to 9:15 am GS Jade Barrett Law of Three Even and Three Odd change. 6:45 pm Donna Compton Guard the 4 Tuesday, Dec. 3 Thursday, Dec. 5 9:15 am Jerry Helms Preempts 9:15 am Bruce Greenspan Top 10 Tips 6:45 pm Cris Barerre Bridge Maxims 6:45 pm Jennifer Kuhn Finesses HOSPITALITY AND ENTERTAINMENT Food will be served after the evening session through Saturday, Dec. 7. Wednesday, Dec. 4 Tuesday, Dec. 3 Clam chowder soup. It’s It ice cream. Thursday, Dec. 5 Cheese and crackers. STEM contacts needed App developers look to increase The ACBL Educational Foundation is searching for ACBL members who have may have bridge content, services Teachers and players can also check out www.bid72. contacts with national STEM (science, technology, As players increasingly look to digital platforms com to find a wealth of interesting stuff on bidding. engineering, mathematics) accreditation bodies. The to provide instructional bridge content as well as Ed Foundation’s plan is to create bridge modules that opportunities to play, developers of these platforms can be integrated into STEM curriculums at schools are on the lookout for ways to attract potential BridgeBee in the U.S. customers by providing unique, interesting material. A collaboration between Baron Barclay Bridge Members with information or leads should Bridge teachers also rely on digital platforms more Supplies and Pianola (the bridge club website contact Project Committee Chair Barbara Heller at and more to help their students learn about the game. platform), the BridgeBee app is still in beta testing, [email protected]. Two developers – Bid 72 and BridgeBee – are but its goal is to offer interactive bridge lessons, looking to expand their content by asking teachers curated by renowned authors such as Marti Ronemus and other contributors to upload lesson material and Frank Stewart.