Next online regional Fall Into Bridge: Oct. 15–18 TRUMPETTHE DISTRICT 20 www.ACBLD20.org

Vol. 16, No. 3 Bridge Across the District Fall 2020 Pandemic Extended online GNT is a hit The summer-long round robin team keeps ACBL event that took the place of the District 20 Grand National teams proved to be popular, drawing significant participation in all four flights and winning praise board busy from many competitors. Teams competed in a round-robin phase from late June through early Au- Club policy modified; gust. The top four teams in each flight advanced to a knockout. reorganization passes The extended format provided a regu- I can assure you that your national lar activity during a time when many board has been busy. While we have were lacking the ordinary stimulation of not met in person, I continue to be life as we used to know it. impressed with my fellow board Amy Casanova, Paul Wrigley, Rick Prouser and Ray Robert won the Open Flight GNT. For more on the event, see page 3. members and ACBL management. When the virtual clubs began, the idea was for the local clubs to have an opportunity to make money since many clubs have District looks at overhead expenses such as rent and in- surance. when regionals It was also impor- tant that clubs be able to charge ap- should return propriately. A New York City club has How far into 2021 Laurie Rowe significantly higher D20 District Director rent than Eugene, before bridge is safe? and so the guest policy was created that in order to We on your district board miss play in a virtual club you had to have you. We’ve especially missed seeing played in that club within the last you at regionals. year. An allowance was made for 5% Bridge playing is social – seeing to be from elsewhere. friends from all around the country, It turns out that some want to play talking, sharing stories, laughing and with a longtime friend or relative, so An unfamiliar sight to most ACBL members: a room full of mostly people of color playing bridge. commiserating. Face-to-face is the we voted to increase the guest policy The American Bridge Association is home to most of the Black bridge-playing population in the U.S. best by far, but now we’re in different to 15%. I would like feedback from time. BBO isn’t F2F, our members on whether we need to but it is much better increase or decrease this amount. than being without. About $800,000 was raised by The other bridge world In my case, for the clubs for The Longest Day, including first 10 weeks of the $24,000 in District 20 (see page 6). ABA provides community for mostly Black members pandemic I was The board has finalized the reor- dealing with an an- ganization plan with Districts 20 and cient computer that By Chip Dombrowski and Jen Smith toric divide persists 53 years after the 21 being combined. District 20 will wouldn’t support ACBL banned racial discrimination. While Mike Eyer continue to operate as District 20, The Trumpet BBO. the ACBL does not keep data on mem- D20 President but only one person will represent It is extremely sad It’s been a while since any of us were in bers’ race, observational estimates suggest both districts on the national board. that so many people a room full of bridge players, so let’s try that less than 0.5% of its 160,000 mem- This will save the organization about – players and others – have lost their this as a thought experiment. Recall a bers are Black. $150,000 per year. With this change lives or become very ill. With good time when you were at a bridge event of The ACBL isn’t the only bridge organi- the board has been looking at tasks leadership, we could have been back any level in the ACBL — club, sectional, zation in the United States. Let’s learn that should just be managed by paid to the tables sooner. regional, national. Look around the room. more about the American Bridge Associa- staff at the ACBL. This will not be Your board has been working hard How many people of color are there? tion, which serves primarily African Amer- fully implemented for three years. I on tournaments, personnel recruit- You can count them on one hand, right? ican players. supported the plan. ment, reaching out to players and Bridge is segregated and has been since sharing lessons learned with other Continued on Page 6 the game was invented in 1925. The his- Continued on Page 7 districts. Special thanks go to GNT/NAP co- ordinator Hal Montgomery and D20 secretary Rich Carle for a very good job in developing and coordinating a Mastering the etiquette of online bridge D20-only GNT series. Although the By Amy Casanova whether I should even be there in the first thought that was sufficient. Another time I winners (see story, page 3) aren’t eli- gible for next year’s nationals, every- The Trumpet place. left my shopping cart a foot away in an In the beginning, when I inadvertently empty Trader Joe’s aisle and a store one deserves applause. There are a lot of new rules these days, broke a rule and was corrected, I felt kind worker told me I was to stay with my cart Special accomplishments everywhere you go. My going places is lim- of angry, like how could I follow or not fol- at all times. Congratulations to Connie Marfell ited to the bank, grocery store and pet low a rule I wasn’t aware of? I wasn’t being I have to remind myself about the rules who was second in the world (!) in store mostly, but even at those places a jerk on purpose. frequently when playing on BBO. There the World Bridge Federation’s spring there are many signs to read detailing What kind of rules? Once I didn’t step are many that people new to BBO might online women’s tournament. Connie where I am supposed to stand or how I back behind a taped line at the bank, but am supposed to enter an aisle, and the teller was behind plexiglass so I Continued on Page 7 Continued on Page 6 Page 2 The District 20 Trumpet Fall 2020 Amid unhappy times, play online and reach out to someone Playing bridge has always been some- doing just that — supporting your clubs. players at a table have thumbnail video for all tournaments through February thing of a respite from the world for me. Even the online regionals, which get a bad feeds of each other. I find this to be very 2021. For D20 that is a calendar year with It’s a way to escape for a few hours and rap as “cash grabs” for the league, help to fun and kind of wish that the virtual clubs no regionals. With the reorganization of just play a game. support the organization that supports could do the same. Not everyone chooses districts, who knows how that will impact At times I can remember feeling almost the clubs. I don’t know about you, but I to have their camera on and it kind of de- our schedule and sites in the future. physically relieved walking through the am sure spending a lot less money on not feats the purpose of self-alerting (everyone There is a little bit of good financial door of the club, my spirits lifting. It’s not only table fees but travel, lodging and can see or hear if you are typing an alert news for the district. The GNT event that quite the same opening my lap- meals for every game I play at out) but if everyone got on board, I sup- was running all summer was very success- top and logging in to BBO, but home. It’s not such a bad deal pose you wouldn’t need to self-alert, you ful and generated income. there is still some excitement and I am thankful that so many could go back to alerting your partner’s Our finance committee is now without and anticipation — I get to play rallied and worked hard to get us bids. Both of those games are social Roger Thomas, who volunteered many bridge! I get to chat with friends. playing together again. games not affiliated with the ACBL and hours and whose thoughtful advice helped I usually try to keep things This evolvement also shines a award no masterpoints. us to maintain solid footing throughout light and bridge-related here at light on a somewhat curious The other time I used video technology these changing times. Good luck in your The Trumpet, but the outside question that has been debated with BBO was in the ACBL Premier KO. My next endeavor, Roger. world has most definitely come quite a bit in my time at the vari- team made it only to the second round, but Finally, in this issue you will read about crashing in and there is just no ous unit and district board meet- the rules were you had to have a camera three extraordinary women. They all loved denying it anymore. We are sad, ings I have attended: technology going with what was essentially your the game and were loved by many. As we we are struggling, and we have Amy Casanova and how best to employ it. There “screenmate,” one opponent from the other approach the dark days of fall and winter, lost so much, including the thing Managing Editor is little doubt now that we all pair, and you could monitor one another let’s reach out to one another. that keeps us together. The know how to use the internet and explain your agreements. I thought Drop a note or call someone you change is scary. We don’t know and maybe our phones, too. Yes, that worked out pretty well. My only issue haven’t seen for a while. Host a virtual what our bridge world will look like in the there are frustrations and technical diffi- with both platforms was that if there were cocktail party. Compliment an opponent’s future. Uncertainty is unsettling. There is a culties to be sure, but it’s a process. technology problems, trying to play and bid or play on BBO. Use the chat line for helpless feeling. I have played in a few games that used sort them out simultaneously was difficult. the last few minutes before the new round And yet, there are still so many ways to live video in conjunction with the game. The district board will be meeting virtu- starts. Stay safe, be well. I really can’t wait help, in your loungewear from your couch You may have read about both the Mercer- ally soon after this issue is published. One to see everyone again. or home office or dining room table. The crest game in the Seattle area and Zack question that was decided for us was seemingly small act of playing in an ACBL Woodbury’s game in Portland. Both use whether to cancel the Oregon Trail Re- Amy Casanova can be reached at virtual club or Support Your Club game is Zoom breakout rooms so that the four gional. The ACBL has canceled sanctions [email protected].

A journey almost into the ABA Deaths Diane Cullen — 87, of Beaverton OR I learned to play bridge in Coos County, ner, Tony Greene, on Tuesday evenings, another route. When you consider that died Aug. 9, 2020. Ore., where the population was 92% white. but after we got tired of that, we started the organization as a whole has fewer Marc Franklin — 88, of Portland OR It wasn’t surprising that I never saw any looking for a game at the same time. members than the smallest ACBL district, died July 5, 2020. black people at the bridge club because I There are no virtual clubs based in Mem- it’s easier to understand why the infra- Bob Freeman — 94, of Eugene OR rarely saw any elsewhere in the area. They phis, but the largest club in the area pools structure isn’t there. died July 1, 2020. were 0.4% of the local population. with one in New Orleans. We tried to play I was hoping by the time we published Mary Hovda — 81, of Sandy OR died After a few years, I started traveling there for a few weeks, but found that the I’d be able to say an ABA member, but I’m Aug. 24, 2020. around the the state for tournaments, it Tuesday evening game was frequently can- not. Cristal Nell — 42, of Seattle WA died was the same. Again, maybe not that sur- celed due to too few players. Even with all I haven’t done especially well in the July 24, 2020. prising for Oregon (85% white), but after a of New Orleans, all of Memphis and a cou- ABA’s online games, but did win one in Rosella Wilde — 84, of Klamath Falls few more years it seemed strange: I had ple other clubs they pool with, they have a July. Here’s a hand from that game. OR died May 6, 2020. never seen a Black person playing bridge. hard time fielding three tables in the I wondered if there were any. I hadn’t evening. So we gave up on that and Dlr: South ´ K 9 8 6 4 heard of the ABA. moved to the ABA game, where there are Vul: E–W ♥8 5 4 It wasn’t until the 2014 Summer NABC always 40+ tables. © K 2 in Las Vegas, nearly eight years after my So now I’ve been playing twice a week ®A 10 2 first bridge lesson, that I finally in ABA games for a few months. ´ A J 7 3 ´ Q 10 5 www.acbld20.org encountered an African Ameri- When you play online in a game ♥ J ♥A Q 9 7 3 2 The District 20 Trumpet can bridge player. And then in that doesn’t use a video chat © 9 7 6 4 3 © Q 8 Vol. 16, No. 3 • Fall 2020 2015, a local one when I met platform, you can’t see your op- ®7 6 4 ®9 5 © 2020 D-20 Organization Sam Jones at the Oregon Trail ponents and they can’t see you. ´ 2 Regional. Although I’ve undoubtedly en- Official publication of the ♥K 10 6 American Contract Bridge League I shared this background with countered many more African © A J 10 5 District 20 Eunice Patton when I was talking Americans in these games, I ®K Q J 8 3 6512 SW Midmar Place to her for our story on the ABA, can’t say that I’ve seen any more West North East Chip Portland OR 97223-7517 and then she told me her story: than before. Phone: (503) 244-5733 1® How she was the only Black Every time I register for one of www.acbld20.org Pass 1´ 2 Pass player at the club in Champaign, Chip Dombrowski these games, I get a notice that ♥ Pass Dbl All Pass The District 20 Trumpet is published four Ill., for 20 years before she went Editor at Large they don’t have an ABA player times a year in March, June, September and to her first ABA tournament. I number on file for me. A couple The field played this in 3NT from my December. It is distributed free to clubs in was surprised to hear her say, “I of times directors have messaged Oregon and Northern California and small side, making five on a heart lead. The auc- had the same experience as you!” me to ask if I have one. A couple months parts of Washington and Idaho. tion usually started the same, but almost Five years ago I moved to Memphis, a ago, it occurred to me I should join. I’m All sectional announcements are free. everybody bid with my hand at their sec- city that is 63% Black (including the sub- playing in their games regularly, so why ond turn, either 2NT or the other minor Managing editor: Amy Casanova urbs, the metropolitan area is about not support the organization? (some opened 1©). I was alert to the vul- Designer/Editor at large: Chip Dombrowski 50/50). But the bridge clubs here don’t I went to their website, ababridge.org, Copy editor: Jim Flint nerability and hoped to score a big look much different from those in Oregon. and looked for a way to join. There was a Senior writer: Jen Smith penalty on defense. I passed 2 and I have come across a few more people of page suspiciously labeled “join-test” (which ♥ Ads: Susan Chambers, Sunset Bay Media hoped my partner could find a double. He color playing bridge here, for sure, but not has since been taken down) where I filled Printing: Oregon Lithoprint, did. many more. Maybe six or seven all to- out a form that went nowhere. A couple McMinnville OR We took two clubs, two diamonds, a gether. weeks later, I mentioned to Linda that I Deadlines: The deadline for the Winter spade, a spade ruff and my natural trump The one I see most often is Linda Dunn, was interested in joining and she said she 2020-21 issue is Oct. 19 for free sectional ads trick for down two and a top board. the ACBL’s in-house counsel and one of would contact someone who could help and advance articles. The deadline for unit It’s mostly a coincidence that my in- my regular partners. Pre-pandemic, we me. A couple weeks after that, I men- reports is Friday, Oct. 30. The deadline for volvement with this majority-Black organi- had been playing on Saturdays about tioned to Eunice that I was interested in front-page articles is Nov. 9. Please send to zation happened at the same time that managing editor Amy Casanova. Email once a month when I wasn’t too busy with joining and she said she would get me an racial justice issues have once again come [email protected]; phone 503-753-9395. the Trumpet. When bridge moved online, application. to the forefront of our nation’s politics. she asked me about having a regular Two months in, I still haven’t found any- New Life Masters: Please send a photo for The ABA recently added a pair of games game. We settled on Saturday evenings one in the organization willing to take my publication by email. to support the cause of racial justice. and found that the game that best fit our money. It’s a lot different from the ACBL These take place at 11:30 a.m. Pacific time schedule was the ABA game at 7 p.m. At for sure. The ABA doesn’t have a staff that Saturday and Sunday. $2, it’s a nice choice for budget too. handles these things. It relies on clubs to The Trumpet on Facebook For a few months I was playing in a ca- process memberships, and when the clubs Chip Dombrowski can be reached at sual foursome with another regular part- are shut down, there doesn’t seem to be [email protected]. www.facebook.com/d20trumpet Fall 2020 The District 20 Trumpet Page 3 NAP and GNT District 20 holds a summer-long bridge party in online GNT By Hal Montgomery D20 North American Events Coordinator D20 GNT winners Championship We played 173 separate matches with a 1 Paul Wrigley, Troutdale OR; Amy Casanova – Rick Prouser – total of 3248 boards in our online GNT on Ray Robert, Portland OR BBO. We had 46 teams representing all 2 Chris Gibson, Tigard OR; Chris Wiegand, Portland OR; Mark Bennett, Honolulu HI; Everett Fukushima, Aiea HI parts of the district. We had many players Flight A who had never played online before but 1 Don Tofte, Portland OR; Mark Smith, Milwaukie OR; decided to try out BBO. Dave Green, Sherwood OR; Ed Lee, Portland OR When we started in late June, we were 2 Don Lowry, Wilsonville OR; Bob Johnson, Beaverton OR; the only regionally sanctioned team event Flo Savage – Irene Pickett, Portland OR Flight B in the country. Except for the online na- Championship winners: Amy Casanova captain Paul Wrigley, Rick Prouser, Ray Robert tional KO, we were the largest sanctioned 1 Greg Fowler, Beaverton OR; Don Herring, Lake Oswego OR; Tim Rilling, Vancouver WA; Kevin Marnell, Portland OR team event this summer. 2 Rick Prouser – Ray Robert – Jamie Sparks – Leslie We didn’t get permission to contest our Kelinson, Portland OR GNT online without monitors until mid- Flight C June. We decided to charge about one- 1 Deanne Takasumi, Tigard OR; Bonnie Scheeland – Ginger third of what the ACBL was charging for McCarthy – Sheryl Williams, Portland OR 2 Cary Wirth, Nevada City CA; Kurt Browning, Grass Valley CA; games. We promised every team that Jeff Heyser – Deanna Heyser, Penn Valley CA signed up at least six matches. We held our breath hoping that we would get and Prouser also made the finals in flight enough entries. B, finishing second. Rick and Ray won and I bounced ideas off the Rich Carle more points than anybody else — 74.98. North American Events Committee, mak- Other players entering multiple flights ing it up on the fly. How should we run a were Deanne Takasumi who won Flight C flight with five or six teams? What about Flight A winners: Dave Green, Ed Lee, Mark Smith, captain Don Tofte and competed in B, Dileep Bal and John seven or nine? We settled on a flexible Cissel in B and A, Leslie Kelinson and Paul round robin format. Penland in B and the open, and Craig With a flight of fewer than 10 teams, we Jones in A and the open. These players would play a complete round robin and and teams are an example to all of us. We qualify the top four teams for KO matches: don’t have to stay in our safe point-range semifinals, consolation and finals. With events if we don’t want to. We can try our more teams, we would break the flights luck against more credentialed players and into two brackets for round-robin play teams. We can win against anybody. and qualify the top two teams from each Another pleasing aspect of this sum- bracket for the KO. mer’s bridge party was that players who The entries started to come in, slowly at hadn’t played and areas that hadn’t been first and then they picked up. We ended represented in our online GNT in prior up with nine teams in the open and 12 years participated. Dileep Bal told me it teams in each of flights A, B and C. One of Flight B winners: Kevin Marnell, Tim Rilling, Don Herring, captain Greg Fowler was the first time that players from Kauai the teams dropped out and was replaced, had played. Eileen Boal was the first player giving us a total of 46 teams that played. from the Albany-Corvallis area for some There were some hiccups at the begin- time. Everett Fukushima reminded us all ning. BBO has a secret policy of not allow- that he is one of our top players as he has ing newish players to start team matches. been for more than 40 years. People would get the lineups wrong and We had three teams from the Ashland start out playing themselves. Sometimes area, three teams from Boise, and three we played the wrong number of boards, or teams from Hawaii. We had two teams allowed kibitzing, or barometer scoring. with players from Eugene. We had teams Rich and I had to set up several matches from all corners of the district. for others. The league has announced it is making There were fewer problems with conven- our format available for all districts to use tion cards this time around. Our players Flight C winners: captain Deanne Takasumi, Bonnie Scheeland, Ginger McCarthy, Sheryl Williams in the 2021 GNT. We will be starting our are more experienced and I think BBO had planning soon. improved its program. However, convention hadn’t made the playoffs. Eighteen teams B. They made the playoffs in C, finishing Perhaps we could get to 60 teams, with cards and self-alerting are still different on- out of 24 non-finalists played in an addi- fourth. They kept playing after the round players from areas unrepresented recently. line and caused some ruffled feathers. We tional round robin with only match awards robin in B by entering the continuation We need your best ideas about how to created a big library of helpful topics and at stake. We played IMP matches all sum- matches, where they won the most victory make our contest better. Please send them posted it on our website. We kept adding to mer long. points of any of the six B teams. to me. We need some more help to im- it as problems were exposed. Problems got We put on this bridge extravaganza to Amy Casanova and Paul Wrigley play- prove our customer service. With ideas fixed and players were flexible. It will be give players a place to play IMP bridge. It ing with Ray Robert and Rick Prouser en- and help from new participants we can easier every cycle going forward. was particularly pleasing to me when tered both A and the open. They didn’t do make our party even better. Players had so much fun playing that we teams entered multiple flights. Kristin so well in A but smashed their way into ran some additional continuation matches Steinmetz along with Paul Walker and the open finals and won. Playing with Hal Montgomery can be reached at in flights A, B and C for the teams that Fran and Mark Jansa entered both C and Jamie Sparks and Leslie Kelinson, Robert [email protected]. In Memoriam

Diane Cullen held in Portland. “When I moved to Portland, I knew no On a personal note, I shared a home in one. My first day at the Ace, 10 years ago, Aug. 20, 1932 – Aug. 9, 2020 Gearhart with her, Flo Savage, Laverne Diane welcomed me, made sure I came to By Jim Wheeler Kittilson and Dwayne Brackhahn for the ice cream social after the game, and The Trumpet every Seaside sectional and regional tour- brought me into the Ace family right away.” nament for about the last 15 years. – Ellie Hood D20 lost one of its icons Aug. 9, just a Comments from some of Diane’s many “Diane was our party girl. She loved life few weeks shy of her 88th birthday. friends: and enjoyed every minute of it. During the Diane Cullen passed away peacefully at “She had the biggest heart of anyone I last few years, I did get to partner with her home, surrounded by her two daugh- ever knew. Her laugh was distinctive and Diane, never forgetting who was in control. ters and her beloved dogs. An Emerald contagious.” – Staci Christian, owner, Ace Her favorite words to me were ‘and where Diane Cullen Life Master, she will be remembered as a of Clubs did that bid come from, young lady’ and I mentor to many players and a willingness down because she wouldn’t leave her fam- “She was extremely loyal and committed am older than she. We will sorely miss to help out at any event at the Ace of ily, Portland and her bridge family. to her friends. She could get really angry you, Diane. You left a void in our lives.” – Clubs, her home base. For many years Diane held several of- with you, but it never lasted long before Marie Pinch Before retiring, Diane was the executive fices and chaired the auction for the she was telling you she loved you.” – Flo “Diane was always fun to play with. She administrator to the CEO of U.S. Bank in American Business Women’s Association. Savage had an infectious laugh and outsized per- Portland. When the CEO was tapped to As part of that effort, she helped many “She filled the lives of people around her sonality. She was the queen of the penalty become the head of Visa International in young people obtain college scholarships, with her energy. She was a happy warrior double. Her presence at the clubs and San Francisco, he offered Diane “a for- raising $1 million for scholarships. with a sharp tongue.” – Hal Montgomery elsewhere will be greatly missed. We are all tune” to go with him. She turned him Diane chaired the 1986 Spring NABC “I will miss her so much.” – Tuba Unlu saddened by her loss.” – Jerry Wershba Page 4 The District 20 Trumpet Fall 2020 In Memoriam

Mary Hovda minute’s notice. was bound to have a large pot stored away Advice flowed freely, even if we did not somewhere. Sure enough, we found a big Oct. 30, 1938 – Aug. 24, 2020 ask, and it was good advice. When we spaghetti pot. We turned it into a stepping Mary Hovda, a longtime director at the took a vacation, she always had our back. stool. Mary held on to me and got into Eastside Bridge Club and later Portland We spoke to her by phone a few days bed. Bridge club, died Aug. 29. Several players before she went to bridge heaven. As Next thing I knew Mary was getting out shared tributes to her. usual, her spirits were high. The bridge of her bed. I said, “Mary, what are you world has lost one of its most valued and doing?” And she said, “Well, I have to see if By Dave Brower loved players. I can do this by myself in case I have to Mary Hovda was a pillar of the Portland get up in the middle of the night.” And, in- bridge community for many years and her By Leslie Kelinson deed, she could. Problem solved. Thursday game was long one of the best Although Mary was a fixture at the local Such a heart of gold. I miss her. games in town. club she did travel to tournaments, even She was gruff and loved calling people when health issues started to limit her By Amy Casanova names. The more she liked you, the more mobility. For me, there is no history of bridge often she called you an a**hole. It was Several years ago, Mary and I went up without Mary Hovda. when she started calling you honey or dar- to Bellingham to spend the week with When my dad and I started playing at ling that you had to be careful because Paul and Ouida. We thought we were re- what was then the Eastside Bridge Club, you were in her bad books. ally clever (and economical), so we took she was there doing her thing. She had a Mary Hovda She was so loved by the community that the BOLT Bus. remarkable ease with all of the players. when she retired from actively directing be a part of the Portland Bridge Club. I Well, it was so awful. The seats were de- She made you feel welcome and cared her game, we had 34 tables come out on know how much she cared about the club, signed for infants. By the time we arrived about and she meant it. a Thursday for her party. the players and the game. Getting to be a at our destination, I was permanently ce- She was encouraging and never conde- Her voice could be heard booming part of her multi-decade commitment to mented into the fetal position from being scending. As a player with a tremendous throughout the room wherever she was supporting the game and having her in such a tiny space. amount of skill, she did not give advice playing. She was a lady who knew her watch as the club flourished in recent On the other hand, little Mary was com- without being asked first. What restraint. mind and wasn’t afraid to speak it. For years was a treat, and getting her nod of fortable as a clam. She had more than When I knew I was approaching Mary’s good or for ill you knew where you stood approval for how things were enough room. I almost could not uncoil table, it was with dread mixed with joy. I with her. running made me proud. my body to get off the bus. It was so miser- knew I was going to get clobbered but She loved to laugh and her laugh was In this time of quarantine, I miss many able. Needless to say, we came home on have so much fun in the process. I can’t infectious. I couldn’t help but laugh along of my friends and my bridge family. I know Amtrak. tell you how many times she “got” me and, with her whenever she got going. that she passed away peacefully and when and, with a twinkle in her eye, let me When she was directing a game, you I spoke to her, she made sure that I knew By Jean Johannson know she loved me and that was how I knew who was in charge and as a player that she was ready to go. I miss her. My favorite Mary story is about one of would get better. that made me feel secure. In my early days our tournament stays. When I did start to improve, she shared as a player in the Portland area, I very By Ouida McCullough with Paul O’Brien We were staying in a motel with a kitch- something I’ll never forget: her good friend much enjoyed her partnership with Bill Paul and I owned the Portland Bridge enette at Seaside. Bedtime came and Mary and partner Peggy Johnson had told her, Kotts. The two of them were strong com- Club for seven years and worked very said, “Oh dear! That bed’s too high!” So, “She will be a player one day.” petitors and played the game to enjoy closely with Mary during that time. There we looked around. Couldn’t use a chair; I carry those words, and when I feel themselves (and to win!). Whenever I came was never a cross word. they were all on wheels. Couldn‘t use a down about my game, they keep me going. to their table, I knew that I would have She ran her Thursday game, played in suitcase; we’d each taken small overnight Thank you, Mary, for listening and being both good bridge and a good time. many of the other games and was avail- soft side bags. supportive, but also willing to put every- It was a great honor having Mary Hovda able to direct any of our games on a Then it came to me. The kitchenette one in their place when needed.

Cristal Nell July 7, 1978 – July 24, 2020 By Meg Craig

Ever since my friend Cristal Nell passed away in late July, the tributes have poured in. She was an Ivy League grad, an NABC cham- pion, and a stunningly beautiful young woman. It’s easy to praise her. She had so many great qualities and accomplishments. In my decade- long friendship with Cristal, her heart made the greatest impression on me. She was one of the kindest people I’ve ever known. When I was going through difficult times in my life and took a step back from bridge, Cristal was the first to reach out and invite me back to the table. She could have her pick of partners, and would be a favorite to win most events she entered, but she always made it a point to offer a game to new players, to friends and to people who needed a friend. When my mind was everywhere but the card table, and we fumbled our way to a barely-aver- Cristal Nell 2017 Rockwell Mixed Pairs winner age result, Cristal never once showed frustration. She talked to me about everything, we laughed deeply for her friends and we always knew that at nonsense, and at the end, she thanked me for because her heart was so open. She loved deeply accepting her invitation, and said, genuinely, “It – her friends, bridge, Roger Federer, her partner was great to play with you today.” Brad – but more than anything, she loved her The only times I ever saw Cristal get upset at children. Cristal was a devoted mother who had the bridge table were when an opponent was nothing but praise for her son and daughter. unkind to a partner. Whereas, most of us sit qui- She raised them to be kind like she was. etly and uncomfortably while an angry player be- Shortly after we’d all gotten together in Port- rates a partner for a mistake, Cristal always land, I received a card in the mail from her kids. stood up for the abused player. “Hey! It’s not OK On the card was a seahorse – she knew I loved to talk to your partner like that.” She would them – and inside was a drawing and a thank then turn to the other opponent with a reassur- you note for playing with them. It was a deeply ing “you’re doing fine.” thoughtful gesture. Cristal was very proud of her It was important to Cristal that others enjoyed kids’ strong minds, but developing their kind the game we’d all come to play. She greeted hearts was just as important to her. everyone she played against, and if she didn’t It’s difficult to accept that I will never sit across know them, she tried to get to know them. If they the bridge table from my friend again, but we were new to the game, she gave them her num- can all keep her spirit alive by choosing kind- ber and offered a game. She was always kind. ness and empathy instead of anger and frustra- Cristal was the first friend of mine to normal- tion at the card tables, and also in life. I love ize saying, “I love you,” platonically. She cared you, Cristal. Fall 2020 The District 20 Trumpet Page 5 The IN! Crowd For Intermediate/Newcomer Players Helpful opponents and auctions that were fun

Sherry Squirrel is dancing and so happy when you got kicked off a couple of times No one vulnerable, I pick up a weak but to be playing online. It is the only bridge before you start playing the hand and the shapely hand: Owl’s Advice game in town. She can dance and play director is at the table when you get back. ´ J 10 4 3 ♥10 7 6 5 4 3 © J 6 ®3 Plan your rebid when you open your bridge at the same time. Harry Belafonte, What is your plan when you pick up this My partner, Franny Fox, opens 1 and I hand. Caro Emerald and Big Bad Voodoo Daddy hand? How often does partner hold hearts ♥ am planning on bidding 4 as a weak The auction frequently changes your are happy music. and clubs when you hold the pointy suits? ♥ freak support for the Fox. But my RHO hand evaluation; where the points are She does her happy dance whenever bids 2´, so I change my mind (I thought is as important as how many you hold. she remembers to self-alert her bids. She Dlr: East ´ K 9 3 she might be short in spades) and splinter, Listen to the auction and figure out turned on the option to confirm bids and Vul: E/W ♥A 5 3 bidding 4®, pass on my left, partner bids if your hand is going up or down with cards, so she has to work to misbid, but still © 10 4 2 4© (she is interested in more than game). I the auction. misclicked on the wrong card when she ®Q 10 6 5 put her into 4 and East bids 4´, 5 by Frequently animals bid on shape meant to trump a ´ — ´ A Q 8 5 4 ♥ ♥ the Fox. Seems likely partner is void in and not HCP. That is why the rule of loser and didn’t. (And ♥ J 10 9 7 4 2 ♥6 spades. It goes around to East who bids 20 is so important on opening, espe- she was doubled: © A 7 3 © K Q J 9 6 5 5´. I hope we can get a couple of dia- cially not vulnerable. guess one can still be ®K 9 7 4 ® J monds and one spade so I double and If you are going to overcall with nervous online when ´ J 10 7 6 2 lead the © J. I am surprised to see ´A K Q J–10–x–x–x, you had better have a doubled.) ♥K Q 8 in the dummy. pretty good hand outside of your suit. Sherry still gets un- © 8 And if you make a weak jump overcall, ´A K Q A 9 ©8 ®K J 9 8 6 4 2 happy when she gets ®A 8 3 2 ♥ partner is going to assume that you kicked offline. One Franny North Sherry South Gosh they found their 5–3 fit. East have a six-card suit, and that A–K–Q is time she dithered 1© 1 ´ missed a lovely opportunity to double my a fine support and not unreasonable to about whether to open Margi Redden Dbl 2 ´ Dbl Pass clubs. Maybe he was drooling and thinking assume that you might hold the jack. 1® or 1© with A–x–x D20 I/N Coordinator 3♥ 3 ´ Dbl Pass I would play clubs. in both suits. She bid While I am sitting there in shock at the Pass Rdbl All Pass So much of playing bridge is that you are 1© and then got trump, my partner overtakes my © J and trying to figure out what your partner holds kicked off, so she frantically tried and tried Sherry is highly excitable, opens 1© and shifts to the ♥K and Rosey Rabbit runs and understanding how they bid. And then to get on, only to find out that she was plans to rebid spades twice to show her her top three spades after pitching a dia- the opponents online can be so much playing 1© in her 3–2 fit and her partner hand pattern. But then the foregoing auc- mond on the ♥A. I trump her second club more helpful than at the club. One time had six clubs to the king but not enough tion comes back to her before she gets a and lead the diamond to partner so we those opponents were so helpful that I to bid and no four-card major. They also second bid in. take three diamonds and a spade for a wanted to adopt them. I even got to play had a 4–3 heart fit, but those broke 4–2 Even though I expected my partner to plus 300. We cannot make 4♥, let alone against Dear Billy and his client. and the opponents ruffed a heart. be void and the king on my left, it sounds 5♥. And they can make 6®, but after the It is always painful to play in your 3–2 like the misfit I was concerned about. weak jump, they are never going to find D20 I/N Coordinator Margi Redden can fit. Especially vulnerable, and especially We got a lovely plus 1600. the lovely club fit. be reached at [email protected].

DISTRICT 20 RANK CHANGES JUNIOR MASTERS Niki Aberle, Portland OR Kerry Ach, Kailua HI New Life Masters Congratulations! Brian Anderson, Springfield OR Glenda Anderson, Springfield OR Cristin Babcock, Creswell OR Summer Barham, Ashland OR Robin Berman, McKinleyville CA Jan Burnham, Chico CA Christine Donchin, Ashland OR William Dreyer, Redding CA James Elliott, Portland OR Ann Endicott, Honolulu HI Judy Grodahl, Portland OR Chris Aaberg Brenda Biermann Mark Hickman Claudia Maddalena Beverly Walker James Weider Mary Ann Gum, Medford OR Lake Oswego OR Roseburg OR Bend OR Honolulu HI Vancouver WA Portland OR Brad Hammill, Trinidad CA Flora Henningsen, Medford OR Judith Hoevet, Jacksonville OR Michael Holman, Vancouver WA Lenelle Kwong, Honolulu HI John Howe, Portland OR Michelle Nordyke, Honolulu HI Janet Landesberg, Vancouver WA Sue Isaak, Jacksonville OR Mark Lance, Chico CA Susan Hughes, Hilo HI Care Parker, Portland OR Wendy Mednick, Portland OR Jasper Katz, Ashland OR William Lide, Vancouver WA Jared Jenkins, Boise ID Rebecca Pelissero, Kula HI Joan Peres, Portland OR Layne Keeler, Trinidad CA Janet Lide, Vancouver WA Vijay Karai, Keaau HI Stephen Prokop, Brookings OR Donald Pitt, Salem OR Dave Knoyle, Longview WA Dana Luedtke, Portland OR Marna Knoer, Eugene OR Helen Pyne, Bend OR Daniel Rogers, Albany OR Jeanne Krier, Albany OR Joseph Macturk, Eureka CA Susan Koenig, Medford OR Shirley Sakoda-Long, Hilo HI James Weider, Portland OR Blythe Lasley, Ashland OR John McCole, Eugene OR Amy Lowes, Portland OR Karen Schoessow, Medford OR Sandra Wilson, Beaverton OR Janet Lide, Vancouver WA Stacey Melnick, Portland OR Mary Ann Martini, Boise ID Hedy Schoonover, Ashland OR Randy Miltier, Ashland OR John Nies, Portland OR Rochelle Mathieu, Hilo HI Thomas Shaffer, Beaverton OR SILVER LIFE MASTERS Eric Poland, Kailua HI Mary Nies, Portland OR Gus Pappelis, Sherwood OR Pamela Torres, Wahiawa HI Barbara Ball, Portland OR Barbara Pope, Eugene OR Russell Oberther, Kaneohe HI Debra Platt, Portland OR Elliot Wahba, Portland OR M.A. Beutick-Warren, Lahaina HI Bob Russell, Portland OR Gus Pappelis, Sherwood OR William Pryor, Portland OR Jane Waldron, Volcano HI Patricia Douglas, Bend OR Charlie Seagraves, Grants Pass OR Lynn Poole, Bend OR Donna Rennick, Bend OR Stephen Wanderer, Kelso WA Ira Grifel, Lake Oswego OR David Soderquist, Redmond OR Andrzej Proskurowski, Eugene OR Greg Schweizer, Redmond OR Louise Johns, Portland OR Wendi Wolfard, Lincoln City OR Carole Robinson, Milwaukie OR Mary Sewell, Portland OR NABC MASTERS JoAnn Marks, Portland OR Judie Rubert, Neskowin OR Peter Suriano, Portland OR Edward Celnicker, Milwaukie OR Judith Mason, Honolulu HI CLUB MASTERS Marylyn Russell, Portland OR Judith Wehenkel, Longview WA Susan Frieder, Wailuku HI Dorothy Mayes, McMinnville OR Roy Abramowitz, Portland OR Helen Slaughter, Honolulu HI Carol Holman, Portland OR Mark McKechnie, Medford OR Dean Alterman, Lake Oswego OR Kazumi Westacott, Beaverton OR REGIONAL MASTERS Patricia Jacob, Wilsonville OR R. Peel, Milwaukie OR David Beaudoin, Ashland OR Leigh Zerboni, Truckee CA Ali Amory, Eugene OR Allen Jones, Kula HI Sandy Syrett, Corvallis OR Bill Blatt, Kailua Kona HI Marilyn Brown, Boise ID Yoonji Kim, Honolulu HI Steve Tubbs, Vancouver WA Pam Briggs, Portland OR SECTIONAL MASTERS Perry Brown, Boise ID Paula Koeller, Portland OR Gail Yap, Honolulu HI Meda Brown, Honolulu HI Candy Baunsgard, Bend OR Richard Brown, Portland OR Frederick Lam, Kamuela HI Robert Cassell, Honolulu HI Cheryl Blatt, Kailua Kona HI Alexander Davie, Medford OR Linda McCalla, Kalaheo HI RUBY LIFE MASTERS Carolyn Chapman, New Meadows ID Helena Cence, Honolulu HI Christine Ellis, Portland OR Richard Rountree, Lake Oswego OR Peter Galbraith, Blakely Island WA Michelene Cloney, Ashland OR Donald Claeys, Kamuela HI Alice Kaye Guyer, Boise ID John Seibert, Portland OR Catherine Hess, Kaneohe HI Keith Crudgington, Eugene OR Cheryl Cullen, Ashland OR Gary Haynie, Kailua HI William Stevenson, Honolulu HI Anne Niethammer, Honolulu HI Robert Derbyshire, Keaau HI Judy Dauble, Lake Oswego OR Krista Kabacy, Vancouver WA Candace Taylor, Honolulu HI Carole Schmitz, Eugene OR Janet Dowty, Portland OR Thomas Davis, Nevada City CA Gretchen King, Ashland OR Randy Wentross, Kailua HI Jeff Taggart, Caldwell ID Kathy Esposito-Mason, Kailua HI Robert Demaster, McMinnville OR Harley King, Ashland OR Cornelia Wonham, Eugene OR Dorothy Tokerud, Bend OR Gary Fuller, Kailua HI Allison Drew, McMinnville OR Diane Knudsen, Portland OR Lorna Glubb, Corvallis OR Chris Dunfield, Corvallis OR David Larsen, Honolulu HI ADVANCED NABC MASTERS GOLD LIFE MASTERS Douglas Goelz, Long Beach WA Sandra Emmons, Newberg OR Chuck Lunson, Aiea HI Beverly Fraser, Boise ID Mark Smith, Milwaukie OR Kay Hallmark, Portland OR Gay Gale, Honolulu HI Kay Mattison, Eugene OR Leon Joseph Grafe, Kihei HI Charles Jenney, Portland OR Mary Gilbert, Beaverton OR Victor Meyers, Kailua HI SAPPHIRE LIFE MASTERS Jasper Katz, Ashland OR Terry Green, Eugene OR Marie Muller, Longview WA BRONZE LIFE MASTERS Brian Breckenridge, Tigard OR Michael Kerner, Portland OR Denise Gudger, Eugene OR Ali Nice, Eugene OR G. Sherley Blodgett, Lahaina HI Jeff Jacob, Vancouver WA Mary Kessler, Lake Oswego OR Valerie Hanseth, Bend OR Martin Nice, Eugene OR Jan Hart, Redmond OR Dean Jenkins, Kailua Kona HI Page 6 The District 20 Trumpet Fall 2020 Rowe The Longest Day Eyer Guest membership District 20 raises $24,000 Two positions open Continued from Page 1 District 20 clubs and units raised about Continued from Page 1 $24,000 for the Alzheimer’s Association Top 10 fundraisers in D20 Another change is we are initiating a won the event three in events for The Longest Day in June. new guest membership policy. A person Unit 461 Grass Valley CA $5736 years ago and came Thirteen clubs and units participated, Boise Unit 394 $4469 may become a guest member for free if within a trick of repeat- helping the ACBL raise more than Ace of Clubs, Lake Oswego OR $3360 they have never been a member of the ing this year. She finished $828,000. Vancouver (WA) Bridge Club $3333 ACBL before. 0.12 points behind Mar- It was a strange year for the event. The Portland Bridge Club $2374 jorie Michelin. This will be a short-term membership, lack of in-person gatherings at bridge Cascade DBC, Bend OR $1333 Other district players up to 120 days, and allow someone to clubs made it hard to hold the kinds of Virtual club sanction fees $1292 Mid-Valley Online Bridge, Corvallis OR $860 have also done well: see the Bulletin online and accrue up to fundraisers clubs typically do: silent auc- Longview (WA) Bridge Club $794 Louis Beauchet won a Connie Marfell 20 masterpoints which will post when tions, raffles, dinners, etc. There were no Honolulu Unit 470 $720 BBO tournament; Rick they become paid members. wall posters indicating who donated what. Prouser was a winner in the ACBL I was unsure about this policy change, In this environment, overall fundraising fundraisers this year, Bev Britton came Bridge Bulletin’s “It’s Your Call” section. but after listening to a number of peo- for the Alzheimer’s Association was down up with the idea to hold a drive-by dona- Most of all, thanks to all the junior and ple’s arguments in favor of it, decided it about 60%, and the ACBL outperformed tion event. It was such a hot day – in the intermediate players whose large, contin- was a great idea. It allows someone a the charity’s other partners even though high 90s – but Deanna Heyser and her ued presence at the local virtual clubs is chance to learn more about the organi- raising 37% less than last year. crew manned two donation sites, raising keeping them going. To paraphrase song- zation and get a chance to earn some District 20’s fundraising stayed about over $3000 for Alzheimer’s research,” writer Pete Seeger, “Where have all the A masterpoints before joining. There are a the same, down only 4%. While only 10 Newman said. players gone?” I do see some playing, but great number of folks playing on BBO teams out of about 300 in the ACBL It was the first time since 2016 that the there should be more. who are not ACBL members and live in raised more than last year, three of them district’s top team wasn’t Boise Unit 394. Thanks to all the district and unit North America. were in District 20. Boise was second with $4469. board members for going above and be- Unit 461 in Grass Valley, Calif., led the There was an extremely thoughtful The Ace of Clubs was up 20% to yond. And thanks always to Marie Ash- district with $5736, a 61% increase. and interesting presentation about mas- $3360. Owner Staci Christian did ton for being our district’s go-to person “Although we’re small in members, terpoint modification at tournaments fundraising on Facebook, drawing support on many fronts. we’ve run four bridge games for The based on strength of field. It’s another from her personal friends outside the Longest Day each year for seven years OTR 2021 in question idea I disliked at first but now find in- bridge community in addition to the triguing. running,” Jamie Newman said. The board will be meeting (virtually) to club’s regular contributors. determine, among other items, if next I hope to return to face-to-face bridge. “Although we couldn’t run traditional Unit 452’s Vancouver year’s Oregon Trail Regional can be safely When the next NABC occurs, any flighted Bridge Club also saw an in- held. It is scheduled for Feb. 15–21. We national event or senior national event crease of 18% to $3333. The are grateful for the work Trumpet editor will be on a 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. schedule. club was aided by a corpo- Amy Casanova as OTR tournament man- This was a request from hosting districts. rate sponsor, When the Shoe ager is doing. My personal feeling is that Most districts struggle to find volunteers Fits shoe stores, which gave the U.S. will have a proven, effective vac- for the 1 and 7 p.m. schedule. $1000. The club also raised cine by early January. Whether people Concerns regarding online cheating $442 from a jewelry auction will take it and be willing to gather is dif- have been raised. Your play is being in February, before things ficult to forecast. watched as you play on BBO. If you are shut down. The board is recruiting for the posi- playing with someone with whom you re- All virtual clubs holding tions of tournament site manager and side, please play in separate rooms. games June 20–21 were au- education liaison. If interested, please I would like to give a shoutout to Hal tomatic participants insofar consider applying. as sanction fees from those Montgomery. I was not in favor of our Please email me at leela.tardis@gmail games were contributed by summer GNT, but did decide to play in .com or your area representatives with the event and really had a fun time. the ACBL. Games in D20 ac- any concerns or news. counted for $1292 of the District director Laurie Rowe can be Jeff and Deanna Heyser and Jim Hook stand in the heat collecting ACBL’s contribution. BBO District president Mike Eyer can be reached at [email protected]. donations for Unit 461’s The Longest Day team in June. also donated its share. reached at [email protected]. Navigating BBO – reporting a deal

1 During or after a game, you can find your played 2 Once you are in the results of either the current 3 Focusing on the bottom right corner of the screen, deals in the History tab. If it’s during the game, go game or the past game you are looking for, select click the triple bar in this area to access the menu. to My Table. If it’s later, go to Recent tournaments the board you want by clicking on that line. The and find the appropriate game. deal will appear in the bottom of the right panel.

4 From this menu, select Export. That will bring up 5 To flag the deal for BBO to review, click Send 6 If you want to call the director during the game, another menu of export options. abuse report and enter your comments. To file a click the triple bar in the main section of the player memo, click Handviewer link. Copy and screen. From the menu that appears, select paste this link into the form at acbl.org/bbomemo. Call Director. Fall 2020 The District 20 Trumpet Page 7

ABA: Small, close-knit organization brings a social emphasis to bridge events

Continued from Page 1 Berkeley, Ken Cox, Leonard Jefferson, Clarice Reid and Harold Bickham, win- The ABA was founded in 1932, five years ning national titles with some of them. As before the ACBL, which formed through the someone who competes at the highest lev- merger of two previously existing organiza- els in both organizations, he too sees the tions. As bridge popularized and became main difference as social. organized in the late 1920s, the ACBL’s “While the level of play at the highest predecessors excluded African Americans levels of the ABA is certainly exceptional, from their tournaments. At least five south- there is a special social level that is dis- ern states banned interracial cardplay. tinctly our own, and what is sadly lacking It was at a tennis tournament in Hamp- in the ACBL world,” Barrett says. ton, Va., that a group of 20 Black people “The ACBL has its own social joys, but who played both tennis and bridge because of its vast size and existence of founded their own bridge organization. many professional clubs and players, it is The ABA began hosting annual national also very different. The ACBL is a bigger tournaments in 1934. Eunice Patton Jade Barrett is the ABA/ACBL liaison, fostering Bridge professional served as ABA/ACBL business with an enormous membership When the ACBL began in 1937, it main- cooperation between the two organizations. liaison in the mid-’90s when he lived in Portland. that by its size alone creates an environ- tained the racist policies of its predeces- ment far less personal than the ABA in a sors. Integration progressed unevenly in met a friend who introduced her to loved the new player room and educational broader sense. The ABA events feel far different parts of the country in the 1940s bridge, bringing her to the ACBL club in materials as I was learning the game. The more like a family reunion while maintain- and ’50s, and local attitudes toward it var- Champaign, where Georgia Heth (now seminars were open and informative, and it ing a high level of competitiveness.” ied. In 1952 the ACBL formalized a policy ACBL president) became her mentor. was exciting when a top player actually The personal touch is missing from of letting local units decide who could be Patton joined the ACBL in 1995 as the played at your table. The ACBL is educa- ACBL tournaments, Patton says. a member — allowing African Americans only African American member of the tional and competitive with numerous ways “You still have it locally to a degree, but to join in places where they were welcome Champaign club, and she hasn’t seen an- to increase your knowledge.” at the regional and national level, it feels while at the same time allowing many other one there since. Resources Patton says contributed to like a business for profit only.” units to continue excluding them. “I fell in love with the game of bridge in her development as a player include the It’s a lot easier to maintain that personal Following the passage of the Civil Rights the ACBL, where I was welcomed and men- Bridge Bulletin; ACBL tournament direc- feel in an organization the ABA’s size, with Act in 1964, the NABCs were opened to all tored,” Patton says. “I was aware another tors, whom she describes as knowledge- fewer than 2500 members. Even if all of players. Finally, in 1967 the ACBL banned bridge organization existed but I knew able, professional and organized; and them joined the ACBL tomorrow, they would discrimination on the basis of race, color very little about it.” bridge cruises with Mike Lawrence, Larry still be less than 2% of the membership. or creed. Patton retired in 2012, and it wasn’t Cohen and Robert Todd. But they’re not rushing to join. Patton By that time, though, the two organiza- until 2015 that she and Heth attended an In the ABA, the focus is social. “When I cites four reasons that segregation persists tions had developed infrastructure over ABA tournament for the first time. attend tournaments in the ABA, it’s like a in bridge: their 35-year history of separation that “I joined immediately after my first ses- homecoming celebration,” Patton says. © Inertia. “I don’t believe there’s enough would continue propelling them along sep- sion. Quite frankly, it’s been one of my “The tournaments tend to be more re- incentive to have the two organizations arate paths. Players remained loyal to their best decisions in retirement.” laxed and less structured. The mood is come together.” local club and the organization to which G.S. Jade Barrett is a bridge professional often festive away from the bridge table.” © Masterpoints. Each organization has its the club belonged. Little has changed. who was a longtime Portland resident be- She appreciates that care is taken to own system, and they’ve never come up with There are, however, several players who fore moving to South Dakota in 2007. He keep the ABA national tournaments afford- a formula for evaluating each other’s points. are members of both organizations. In joined the ABA in 1988, three years after able and fun. There are banquets with live © Racism. “As an African American, I feel Portland, these include Sam Jones, Clarina joining ACBL, and he held Patton’s posi- entertainment and dancing. Players are en- that racial tension still exists, and unfortu- Boston, Ancer Haggerty and Brenda Polk, tion of ABA/ACBL liaison in the mid-’90s. couraged to dress for the theme of the day. nately many of the players in the ABA re- the vice president of the ABA’s Northwest He was the second player to achieve the On Sundays, a dress-up day for many, there member being excluded from the ACBL as Section (Oregon and Washington). rank of Diamond Life Master in both or- is a memorial service for players who have recently as the mid-’60s.” Eunice Patton of Bloomington, Ill., is the ganizations, and has since become a Plat- died, followed by the mixed pairs. © Loyalty. “For many of us, we have loy- ABA’s ACBL liaison, chairing a committee inum Life Master with more than 30,000 “In the ABA I feel like part of a family and alties to the bridge organization that we that facilitates relations and promotes ac- masterpoints in the ACBL. Though he has- have developed special relationships that I are familiar with.” tivities between the two organizations. Un- n’t won an NABC title, he has won several treasure,” Patton says. “Because we share Players who do cross over with dual like most ABA members, Patton began her national titles in the ABA. many of the same experiences and back- memberships appreciate maintaining a bridge career in the ACBL. Both Patton and Barrett compared and grounds, I feel at home and comfortable.” foot in each world. She had played a similar, simpler game contrasted the two organizations. Barrett joined the ABA at the invitation Barrett finds inspiration in the ABA’s called bid whist with her friends in Michi- “The culture is really, really different,” of a partner when he lived in Boston. He history. “My discussions with Leonard, gan before relocating to work at State Patton says. “In the ACBL, you have access developed partnerships with many of the Larry and Ken, as well as Marshall Han- Farm’s headquarters in 1988. There she to world-class players and professionals. I top players in the ABA, including Larry son, taught me a lot about the society of bridge that has created the world of the game that I both live in and make a living in,” he says. “Those lessons have never left me, and have played a huge part in my de- velopment as a player, trainer and coach.” Patton appreciates the structure the ACBL provided when she was learning the game as well as the community she has found in the ABA. “It was an adjustment for me, but over time I have come to appreciate the differ- ences and I look forward to playing in ABA players are seen playing at the Northwest Section’s 2016 spring tournament in Seattle. both worlds.”

Etiquette: What to do when playing online bridge to avoid causing consternation

Continued from Page 1 fill out a card. But if you have the foresight udca, M for major, m for minor). For exam- claim, especially if declarer is claiming fewer to make a game date in advance, you have ple, playing Precision, if I open 2® I might tricks and doesn’t explain it well. I think not know. Of course, there are jerks, too, a few minutes to fill in the basics of a con- not have room to type “11-15 high card BBO could do a better job on the program- but that is a different article. vention card. If you don’t, please see the points either 6 clubs or 5 clubs and a 4- ming of this feature. Sometimes a claim We have written extensively about the next peeve. card major.” But I can write “11-15 hcp 6C isn’t all of the rest of the tricks, so pay atten- self-alerting process and procedures and © Chatting. Pay attention to your private or 5C/4M.” tion to what the claim actually is — read it. will probably continue to do so. If you chat and the table chat. Your opponent(s) © Explain your agreement, not what you We can’t know what live bridge will look don’t feel clear about the subject you might be asking you a question and if you are looking at. And don’t assume your op- like once there is a vaccine. There are too might consider calling a director and don’t answer in a timely manner you ponent knows a convention. Don’t type many unknowns. One can only assume going over it. might run out of time on the board or “Drury.” Say what your agreement is: your that this experience might change the way I have several pet peeves on BBO and I round, not to mention the fact that every- point range and whether or not you prom- we do things in the future. am happy to tell you all about a few in no one is wondering what the heck is going ise three- or four-card support (as per your My least favorite phrase since March has particular order. on. If you chat something to the table, agreement, not what you are looking at). been “the new normal,” but just think © Player profiles. We are practically make sure that it is authorized informa- © Let people know where you are. If you about all of the new rules we could expect anonymous on BBO and I think that’s tion for your partner. need to step away while you’re dummy or when we get back to F2F. great if you’re playing in random games. © Self-alerting. Explain your bids suc- between rounds a “BRB” (be right back) in Can you imagine a bridge tournament However, I feel that any ACBL sanctioned cinctly and without extra color. You have a the chat line can save everyone seemingly right now? There are likely to be lots of game should require players’ first and last limited amount of characters, like a tweet. endless minutes of frustration if a new procedures implemented to keep us safe, names and their ACBL ranking. You might be cutting off important infor- board or round starts while you’re getting not to mention the tournament and facil- © Convention cards. Sometimes you’re mation. Abbreviations are useful, perhaps a snack. ity staff who might be risking their lives so thrown in with a partner you’ve never there should be a helpful document of © Rejecting a claim. I totally understand that we can play a game. We must be played with before and there is no time to universally approved codes (hcp, cd, std, that it can take a minute to figure out a amenable to learning how to adapt. Page 8 The District 20 Trumpet Fall 2020 AROUND THE UNITS

Eugene/ Springfield Club pools with small clubs from other states ®©♥´ One innovation dovetailing with the rise commodate future needs of the clubs. By Don Marsh of virtual clubs online is the pooling of Jackson McKechnie plans to begin the approxi- www.emeraldbridgeclub.org small bridge clubs, a move actively pur- County mately two-month build-out process in a sued by Unit 484 clubs. ®©♥´ time frame that will allow him not to take Today, players from Oregon, Arizona, By Jim Flint occupancy too far in advance of a possible As world adapts, California, New Mexico and elsewhere are bridgewebs.com/unit484medford reopening of live bridge. playing with Unit 484 members in virtual “At present, ACBL has given recommen- club games Monday through Saturday. Those who haven’t been contacted and dations for protocols on safely reopening,” look for positives Why pool? who are interested in learning more about said Gee Gee Walker, Unit 484 board “There are many small bridge clubs that online play are invited to talk with club president. “But they are making no recom- “When you have hell to pay, put the are unable or unwilling to have a virtual owners, directors, or unit board members, mendations regarding when clubs should truth on layaway.” — John Prine presence,” said club owner Bob Fox. all whose contact information is posted open, leaving that to local guidelines and “Their members have no virtual club on the unit’s website. owners’ discretions.” Wouldn’t we all like to do that right games of their own and would be blocked Center closed, another secured The unit is cautiously hopeful that by now? We are probably all guilty of taking out unless they could join a pool.” When face-to-face bridge became im- the beginning of 2021 the clubs may be for granted simple pleasures like playing Fox says these players shouldn’t be cast possible during the pandemic, club own- able to reopen. In any case, the final deci- at the club, going to the movies, having aside. “Players from other clubs are like ers were faced with a dilemma: what to do sion will rest with club owners and will de- dinners out, taking those planned vaca- traveling guests who frequently pass about real life club venues. pend on when they believe they can offer a safe place to play. tions, getting together with our grandkids through town and stop by to play at our Some found ways to hold on to venues or our friends, attending games. Oh, for bridge clubs. We’ve always welcomed them so that when in-person games resume, Early in the pandemic, the unit board just feeling normal again. with open arms,” he said. players can go back to their old haunts. launched a funding campaign among There was the time before covid-19 and members to help the building lessees and Unit 484’s position is that pooling can Unit 484’s Southern Oregon clubs held there is now. Rail as we might against liv- club owners with their expenses. More help ACBL survive the cash flow crunch on to the Dan Voorhies Bridge Center in ing in the here and now, living in the here than $10,000 was raised by July 1. due to lack of fees from club games. Ex- Phoenix for a few months, with financial and now is our only option. It is a bit of a Funds were used to help pay rent, inter- cluding players from clubs that are unable support from members. The lease of the bad trump split but folding up the hand net fees, insurance, and other ongoing ex- to run virtual club games online not only Pacific Plaza storefront was not up until is not a viable option. And remember, penses. In the end, even the building owner would hurt those clubs but also ACBL — late fall. Finally, however, because of un- everyone else holding these same cards and Garrison’s Furniture split the rent with and, in the long run, all bridge players. certainty when live play could resume, got the same exact bad trump split. the McKechnies for a short period. And there is the “stale” factor. The only arrangements were made by lessees Mark For now, we do have our virtual club to thing that makes players more stale than and Leah McKechnie with Pacific Plaza After the center closed, the fund’s bal- keep us connected in some way and to always playing against the same players is owners and the neighboring Garrison’s ance of $5,358 was deposited in a separate provide an alternative for our addiction to not playing at all. Furniture to take over the remainder of unit account, along with any new dona- what we know is the greatest game going. “Playing against new people gives play- the lease. Garrison’s planned to incorpo- tions, to be used for storage rental, insur- Because of the income from virtual ers a broadened experience, and playing rate the bridge space into its operation. ance, and other costs to support bridge games, EBC has had to call on the reserve until the transition back to live bridge. against better players helps us sharpen The McKechnies, also club owners, fund that was created by the unit only for and improve our games,” Fox said. along with fellow club owner Bob Fox and Really big game one month’s worth of expenses. Clearly Some players in the unit jumped to vir- several unit members helped pack up and The result posted by Jerry Kenefick and the virtual club is here to stay no matter tual clubs easily. Others lagged behind, move bridge materials and equipment to Mark Matson in a July 4 virtual club game what happens down the road. We are some unfamiliar with online play or uncer- a storage facility in late June. was so good it was worth setting off some scheduling virtual games now with that in tain about how to register and pay for Meanwhile, Mark McKechnie began ne- fireworks. Kenefick, a retired CPA in Ash- mind. It seems like the blend might be day games. Directors and volunteers began gotiations with the owner of a building di- land, and Matson, a former area resident games at the club and night games online. reaching out to those who hadn’t joined rectly across Highway 99 for unfinished who moved to Palm Springs last year, It is total speculation as to when the online play, offering assistance and en- space that can be used as a new bridge scored a whopping 81.5% in the four-table club reopens. And how many folks will couragement. In the process, games have center. McKechnie, an architect, will over- game. “Out of the 18 boards, we had 10 come back if and when EBC does re- grown to as many as 14 or more tables. see the build-out to make sure it will ac- that were 100%,” Kenefick said. open? As of this writing, covid-19 cases are on the rise in Oregon. For some of us, the good news is that our gardens have never looked better. And Sherri and I have been bingeing on series that people were talking about Bend clubs adapt well to online environment years ago. There is some silver lining in As all of us have been challenged with have about eight tables. We have managed being behind the times. staying safe during this pandemic, we are Bend/ to speed up the pace of play to where we Big game: Ginny Stark and Carole proud of all our members who have Redmond can set the clock for six minutes per with Schmitz scored a 77%. begun playing this amazing game online ®©♥´ only a few boards running out of time. Gwen Beaty has a new hip. It has gone with BBO. I’d like to especially congratu- By Candy Baunsgard The feedback has been positive. People well and no doubt this means more late all our directors who have helped www.bendbridge.org seem to be enjoying the games. It is an world travel for Bill and Gwen as soon as their players transition to digital play. You open game, so there are some of the unit’s that is permitted. The last bit of medical are amazing. our snowbird players who may be stuck in best players among its regulars, but lower news is that of our esteemed director, The Gentle Bridge Club plays Fridays at Arizona for the summer. Congratulations ranking players haven’t felt intimidated. Kim Larson: He had heart surgery and is 12:45. Our emphasis is on the gentle. So to Joyce Pickersgill and Ken Hadlock with Overall, the club has been doing well doing very well. In fact, one of the nurses our club is especially well-suited for play- a 72.5% game on June 26 and Ray Teller during the lockdown. I look forward to the in the OR was a friend of Kim’s and re- ers who may not feel entirely comfortable and Lisa Holloway with a 72.5% game on day when we can play in person at the ported back to him, “You are the healthi- with online bridge. July 10. Redmond Senior Center, but for now we est patient we have ever seen in here.” We have just recently decided to go digi- The Central Oregon Hub Bridge Club at least have something fun to fill some of Not a surprise. We even saw Kim making tal on BBO and love being able to include plays every Thursday at 12:15. We usually our afternoons. an appearance in the virtual game. Lastly we want to acknowledge the passing of Bob Freeman. Bob, along with his wife Vi, played duplicate in our area for many years. Along Klamath Falls mourns Rosella Wilde with Jim and Eleanor Rice, they built and ran As you read the fall online version of Laila Griffith and Reid Sherwin are two the Finesse Bridge Cen- the Trumpet, I wish to commend manag- Klamath of our members who are playing online and ter during the 1970s. ing editor Amy Casanova and her associ- Falls enjoying the games very much. Plus, they This was a wonderful fa- ates for the outstanding job they did with ®©♥´ have won more points than anyone from cility and was located on the summer online version. A very impres- By Bobby Thompson our unit since March 12. Maybe by some- Country Club Road. sive performance. Well done! www.unit482.com time next year we can be back at the club. After the couple sold Bob Freeman We lost one of our beloved members in Approximately eight months ago coivd-19 the facility, Bob and Vi May of this year. Rosella When District 20 was still a member of hit us hard and shut down duplicate bridge, moved their games to the basement of Wilde, a Silver Life Master, the Western Conference and our articles possibly changing the game forever. Every- the Eugene Hotel and then to the old lost her battle with cancer. were published in the Forum, I wrote a col- thing came to a standstill around the globe. Elks Lodge on Centennial Blvd. She and her husband umn that came out at the end of 2006 that Many countries are working on finding a When we first opened EBC, we held a Wayne moved to Klamath I just saw on my computer and it seems ap- vaccine. In July at the University of Oxford, special game honoring Bob for all the Falls in 1987 from Elko, propriate to include a portion here: one candidate appears to be safe and in- contributions he had made to bridge Nev., where they had R and R is always thought of as rest and duces immune response. However, coron- over the years. At that time, he was pre- resided for 20 years. relaxation unless you are playing December avirus cases continued to rise, and by the sented with a card giving him lifetime Rosella was one of the Sunday games in K. Falls because you know it July 22, the worldwide death toll was over Rosella Wilde means Ruthie (O’Connor) and Rosella (Wilde). free play at EBC. We would not have the most pleasant people you They won both the unit game and the 606,000. Please wear face-covering masks bridge community we have today without could ever be around and will be missed Christmas game, the second win with a nice when you’re out and about, and use hand the efforts of Bob and Vi Freeman. by all who knew her. 71.42%. sanitizer or soap and water. Stay safe. Fall 2020 The District 20 Trumpet Page 9 UNITS A trap pass that didn’t work – or did it? Play of the Hand Dlr: North ´ Q J 10 9 8 7 2 By Chip Dombrowski Dlr: South ´ J 10 8 Vul: N/S ♥10 The Trumpet Vul: E/W ♥Q © 3 2 Redding Lead: ®3 © Q 8 5 Compare this to the hand I wrote about ®10 9 6 ®A 9 8 5 4 2 ®©♥´ on page 2. Once again I bravely passed an ´ K 6 4 ´ A 5 3 ´ A Q 7 5 4 ´ K overcall by the opponents, this time with ♥K 8 6 4 3 ♥A Q By Joan Sullens ♥ J 8 7 ♥A K 10 9 2 five of their trumps, in hopes of hearing © J 8 6 © Q 10 7 5 4 www.bridgescore.com/redding © 10 7 3 © A 4 2 my partner double. ®K Q ®7 5 3 ®K J ®Q 10 7 6 My alternative is to bid 2NT, hoping ´ — ´ 9 8 3 2 partner can raise. But if we can make ♥ J 9 7 5 2 ♥6 5 4 3 How we spent our 3NT, then we’re probably setting them, © A K 9 © K J 9 6 and at this vulnerability, if they go down ®A J 8 4 2 ®3 more than one doubled, it will be worth summer staycation Chip North East South more than our game. West North East South 1© 1 I would always reopen with a double, but ♥ Pass Many of our players have started using Pass Pass Pass? my partner this time did not. I don’t think Pass Pass 1♥ Pass BBO. We have one virtual club game they were sitting there anyway, with South’s 3♥ Pass 4♥ All Pass going, organized by unit director Ted distributional hand. If South doesn’t bid returned a diamond, declarer ruffed with Marconi. Along with the Chico Club, it is 2® immediately, then surely North will bid the ♥9, and I declined to overruff. I can doing quite well. Ted would like to be 1´ once I pass the double for penalty, and count that I now have more trumps than playing, but as director, can’t. that will prompt South to bid 2®. declarer, so I know I have some tricks Don Jacobs has been hospital-bound On defense, But here we are defending 1♥ not dou- coming. But I still don’t want to be end- (not the virus). Nikki Blum arranged a vir- bled, which is not going to score nearly as played into giving a spade to dummy, so tual bridge game with Don and his part- well as our potential game. What should I this is the time to get rid of my low spade. ner, Kelly Gutierrez, one afternoon. patience can lead? Declarer continued with a club. I ruffed, Several of our players rotated in as oppo- I chose a diamond. It was immediately pulled her last trump and cashed my ´K nents. It was a welcome surprise for Don. clear that fared poorly when declarer for the last trick. That was down one. Many thanks to Nikki for setting it up. cashed the ©A K and ruffed a diamond Down one not doubled scored better pay off well Hoping the next game with Don will be with dummy’s lone trump. She then than I expected – 62% – but top was 3NT with him at home. In this online game, my partner’s play played a spade from dummy and ruffed making. Only four tables got there, two What are our members doing in place was an example of patience and smarts. my partner’s ace. going down and two making. of or in addition to online bridge? Here Bob Scott and I played this hand in an The unexpected spade void and the di- If I’m in 3NT, I’ll need to set up the dia- are some of their covid comments: ACBL-sanctioned game on Bridge Base monds. When South gets in with the first amond ruff have taken away three of our Online and found ourselves defending potential defensive tricks, so things are diamond, she can lead a low club. Now Jeff Speer: “Finally trimmed my toenails!” against 4♥. when she gets in with the second dia- Marilyn Avey: “BBO saved my sanity.” definitely not going well. I led the ®3 – king, ace, 6. Bob led ® mond, if she guesses to cash the ®A, the Joe Galen: “Two hydroxies and a cup of Declarer next cashed the A and got back a small diamond taken by East with ® suit is running for down two. bleach, I’m ready to go!” out with a club to my Q. I didn’t want to the ace. I admit I was frustrated that part- Most tables played in some number of Susan Haas: “Finally unpacking after give declarer any spades, so I led a trump. ner didn’t return a club for me to ruff. But spades, and a few in clubs. Either black four years in my new home.” Partner won the ace and gave me a club it was online, so he couldn’t hear me cuss. suit is better for them than hearts, so just Pat Ashton: “Getting good at 1000- ruff. I continued another trump and was East cashed the ´K, intending to sluff leaving them in their worst suit turned piece puzzles!” shocked to see partner win the ♥Q. What his two diamond losers on dummy’s top out to be good enough. Gerry Wolfe: “Finally got the garage a garbage suit South overcalled! Partner two spades. But, instead of drawing any and closets cleaned.” trumps first, he decided to go dummy by Leeanna and Larry McGowan: “Prac- leading to the ®J, planning to sluff dia- ticing and playing online.” mond losers immediately, then try a Cheryl Bell: “Having fun with Photoshop.” heart finesse through North. Oops. I Margaret and Dave Bechard: “Redoing Salem joins world online ruffed the club and imagined East with a landscaping burned in the Carr Fire.” very red face. Cindy Huntington: “Just being lazy. Summertime in a covid-19 world finds I cashed the ©K Find I’m good at it!” bridge in Unit 490 to be pretty quiet. So, Salem and led another dia- Michael Hollins: “Scanning old pictures around 20 players from Salem Bridge ®©♥´ mond to partner’s and playing lots of video games.” Club and another 10 from Oak Valley in queen, setting the Bob Wierman: “Monitoring wildlife traffic McMinnville have decided to give online By Kevin Kacmarynski contract a trick for a around my home with wireless cameras.” bridge a go. www.salembridgeclub.org top board. Joanne Weilbrenner: “Watching my Both clubs in the unit have joined the See how brilliant hair grow long!” conglomerate that is the Mid-Valley On- bridge itch. Most of the proceeds from Bob was? He figured Gene Biek: “Biking and wine making.” line Bridge Club on Bridge Base Online. these games go to our local clubs, making that if I got my club Jim Norton: “Lots of fishing.” The online club is coordinated by Den- them a good option for a game that will ruff, all we’d get would We’re all looking forward to face-to- nis Harms with nearly a dozen clubs in support the clubs in our unit. Jim Flint be the ®A and a ruff, face bridge, the sooner, the better. In the the mid-valley and the coast coming to- Even in a world without local face-to- Play of the Hand because he knew meantime, this limerick by Gene Biek is gether for games during the week. More face bridge, a handful of members have dummy’s spades timely and true: information can be found at mvobc.org. still advanced to their next rank. Congrat- might allow declarer to sluff any diamond We distance and mask, It looks like it will be a long time before ulations to new Sectional Masters Robert losers he had. And with the singleton a disagreeable task, face-to-face bridge returns to the Salem Demaster and Allison Drew, Bronze Life ♥Q, he knew trumps were not going to but admire us — no virus, area, so swing by the virtual club to see Master Don Pitt, and Silver Life Master be a problem for declarer. what more could we ask? some familiar names and scratch your Nancy Wetherson. So, after taking the ®A, he smoothly led a diamond, hoping we could develop a trick or two in that suit, and hoping de- clarer would get sloppy. Declarer did not let him down. Giving credit where it is due: Thanks ACBL Declarer should have taken a note from my lead of a small club. It implies No doubt about it. I was late to the local clubs with their ongoing fixed costs. gene-Springfield and Mac’s response was, an honor. But when partner takes the party. We all now know the idea of a quick “It might be a bit of an overbid to say Greg club ace, declarer knows I have no honor. When Sherri Morgan and I closed the turnaround was very, very much wishful Coles saved ACBL, but it wouldn’t be Thus, it is likely a singleton. doors of the Emerald Bridge Club in early thinking. much of one.” Greg Coles is the brains Declarer can afford to lose three tricks March, we actually welcomed the break. A Thanks to David Brower and others, and brawn behind virtual clubs. and still make the hand. If he draws a cou- little time away from the club did Sherri and I belatedly arrived at Of course, nothing of this magnitude is ple trumps and they split 3–2 (the queen not feel like a bad thing. the party. What a party it has the work of just one person. Rick Beye, Sue not falling), he can overtake his ´K with Of course, there were still the turned out to be. Manning, Lynn Chapin, Don Freeland and dummy’s ace, sluff a diamond on the ´Q, rent and other fixed costs to be Historically, I have been a harsh others at ACBL all play major roles. As do and concede a heart and a diamond, mak- covered. (Side note here. EBC’s critic of some of the management Jay Whipple and all the folks at The Com- ing the contract. landlord, Steven Yett, deserves ac- decisions made at the highest lev- mon Game, and last but not least, BBO. If he lays down the trump ace to follow knowledgment. Steven slashed els of ACBL. Well, it is time to give Speaking of Mac, he also shared that he the safe line of play, the queen drops, and our rent by over a $1000.) credit where credit is due. feels like he has probably done more for now he can draw trumps and unblock the As is always the case with our Virtual clubs have saved EBC. ACBL in the past three months than in his spades before going to dummy with the bridge community, folks were im- Don Marsh Given the duration of this pan- previous 10 years of employment. I told ®J to sluff his diamond losers, making six. mediately willing to help. The unit Trumpet Contributor demic, it would not have been him I took exception but I got his point. The pair was so rattled by the careless established a special fund and al- long before the accumulated Clearly this is one of those marker mo- play, they muffed the defense on the next most overnight well over $8000 was col- funds would have been exhausted. How- ments where a seismic shift is taking hand, awarding us another good board. lected. Surely this would be enough to ever, thanks to virtual clubs, we now have place globally. In addition, we know not Two lessons: 1) Don’t get sloppy. 2) If tide us all over until we are able to re- a source of income that allows us to cover where this is all headed. What we do you screw up, put it behind you and open. When virtual clubs first appeared, I our ongoing fixed costs in addition to know is that ACBL has stepped up big move on. was still enjoying the break and expressed catching up on some past expenses. time and that needs to be acknowledged. no desire to participate in this effort put I mentioned to McKenzie Myers that Reach Jim Flint at forth by ACBL and Bridge Base to help the virtual games have saved bridge in Eu- Don Marsh is a club owner in District 20. [email protected]. Page 10 The District 20 Trumpet Fall 2020 Chris’s Tournament Corner ACBL tournament director Calendar Chris Wiegand answers your questions on rulings. How we adjust ACBL-WIDE ONLINE EVENTS SEPTEMBER 2020 What a strange new world we are living 21 – 27 Upgraded club championships Virtual clubs in! We are quite fortunate that the infra- OCTOBER 2020 structure was in place to make a very fast 15 – 18 Fall Into Bridge Online regional transition from brick-and-mortar to virtual 26 – Nov. 1 Club Appreciation Week Virtual clubs clubs. Was that transition perfect? No, but it is viable and a reasonable stopgap for NOVEMBER 2020 the many clubs that would be suffering 21 – 23 NABC Robot Individual Online NABC without a revenue stream in the interim. 23 – 29 Upgraded club championships Virtual clubs I was fortunate that due to my experi- 30 – Dec. 6 NAOBC Premier KO Online NABC ence and position with the ACBL, I was DECEMBER 2020 one of the first to be brought into the vir- 18 – 21 Winter Wonderland Online regional tual club onboarding and therefore able to help our local clubs get involved very early. I have seen quite a lot of transition in that time and I am eagerly awaiting DISTRICT 20 REGIONALS & SECTIONALS the completed checkmarks to be made near more of the items on our wish lists. JANUARY 2021 While we are waiting for improvements 9 – 10 Vancouver Winter I/N Sectional CANCELEDVancouver Bridge Club, Vancouver WA to be made to the software, there are Jan. 25–31 HAWAII REGIONAL CANCELED Prince Waikiki, Honolulu HI things that players can do to help us all FEBRUARY 2021 adjust to this virtual club world. 1. Time: Many clubs have that player Feb. 15–21 OREGON TRAIL REGIONALCANCELEDVancouver Wash. Hilton, Vancouver WA (you know the one), who breezes in at MARCH 2021 one minute past game time every day. 5 – 7 Heart of the Valley Sectional Benton County Fairgrounds, Corvallis OR Then they have to set their things down, 5 – 7 Honolulu Sectional Ala Wai Clubhouse, Honolulu HI grab a cup of coffee, and settle in to play. 19 – 21 Chico Almond Blossom Sectional TBA, Chico CA That is inconsiderate to the director, the TBA Rogue Valley Spring Sectional Dan Voorhies Bridge Center, Phoenix OR partner and the first-round opponents at the brick-and-mortar club, but at least APRIL 2021 the other tables can play on. In the vir- 9 – 11 Redding Spring Sectional Win-River Resort & Casino, Redding CA tual club, being late actually holds up the 10 – 11 Vancouver Spring Sectional Washington School for the Deaf, Vancouver WA entire event, so it affects every player at TBA Ontario Sectional TBA, Ontario OR every table. So please, register well in ad- 30 – May 2 Seaside Sectional Seaside Convention Center, Seaside OR vance. Then be at your computer, logged April 30–May 2 Golden Clam I/N Regional Seaside Convention Center, Seaside OR on and ready to go, with a minimum of MAY 2021 five minutes before game time. TBA GNT Championship & Flight B Online at various locations 2. Education: Take it upon yourself to TBA GNT Flights A & C Online at various locations learn more about BBO and how it works. 14 – 16 Honolulu Sectional Ala Wai Clubhouse, Honolulu HI Do you know how to read the chat and to May 24–30 ORE. HIGH DESERT REGIONAL Riverhouse on the Deschutes, Bend OR chat privately to your opponents? Do you know how to explain bids? Do you know JUNE 2021 how to create and load a convention TBA Eugene Sectional Northwest Christian College, Eugene OR card? There is a plethora of resources out there to help you. Take it upon yourself to learn outside of the hours of the club game. The director, who may or may not TOURNAMENTS IN NEIGHBORING DISTRICTS be tech savvy or familiar with your device, has minimal time to help with the basics DISTRICT 19: www.d19.org DISTRICT 18: www.wasumi.org of the software during a club game. Set Feb. 12–14 Bellingham Sectional WA CANCELED Jan. 14–17 Missoula Sectional MT CANCELED aside time to learn and then pass on your March 26–28 Seattle Sectional, Everett WA Jan. 15–17 Salt Lake City Sectional UT CANCELED tips to friends. April 12–18 Victoria Regional BC March 26–28 Salt Lake City Sectional UT 3. Patience: Not everyone’s BBO experi- TBA Penticton Regional BC April 5–11 Lethbridge Regional AB ence is the same because, unfortunately, June 22–27 Anchorage Regional AK May 10–16 Saskatoon Regional SK BBO can look and feel different depend- DISTRICT 21: DISTRICT 17: ent upon many factors — device used, www.d21acbl.com www.d17acbl.org Jan. 4–10 Monterey Regional CA CANCELED Jan. 18–24 Albuquerque Regional NM CANCELED software used, internet connection avail- Jan. 30–31 Livermore Sectional CA March 1–7 Tucson Regional AZ able, etc. If you ask a question and do not CANCELED Feb. 12–15 Fresno Sectional CA CANCELED May 25–31 Denver Regional CO get a response, don’t assume the oppo- March 6–7 Santa Rosa Sectional CA nents are ignoring you purposefully. DISTRICT 22: acbldistrict22.com/d22 April 30 – May 2 Sacramento Sectional, Orangevale CA Rather, perhaps they are not fast typists Feb. 1–7 Costa Mesa Regional CA CANCELED May 31 – June 6 Sacramento Regional CA or missed your question. Patiently try April 5–11 San Diego Regional CA again, perhaps through a different mecha- nism if one is available. That is, if you clicked on a bid to ask for an explanation, try to send a private chat message in- NORTH AMERICAN BRIDGE CHAMPIONSHIPS stead. If the clock is ticking and you must March 11–21 Spring 2021 Renaissance Grand, St. Louis MO proceed, send a message to the director asking for assistance. Sending the direc- July 15–25 Summer 2021 Convention Center, Providence RI tor a note before you have seen subse- Nov. 25 – Dec. 5 Fall 2021 JW Marriott, Austin TX quent bids or cards has more weight than March 10–20 Spring 2022 Silver Legacy/Circus Circus, Reno NV a statement made with 52-card hindsight. 4. Patience again: Yes, more patience because we need quite a bit. When BBO is having issues, it can be affecting the di- rector’s computer too. Or you cannot see the fact that the director is dealing with NEW ACBL MEMBERS four different issues at four different ta- Bruce Anderson, Eugene OR Peter Osborne, Portland OR bles. Most of us are trying our hardest to Edie Anderson, Eugene OR Lisa Hall, Portland OR Ann Marie Mehlum, Florence OR Michael Peterson, Bend OR deliver the best results we can, given the Patrick Bailey, Klamath Falls OR Gail Handelman, Portland OR Franklin Miller, Corvallis OR Nancy Schwartz, Portland OR limitations of the system. If your experi- Eileen Bullinger, Camas WA Susan Hekimoglu, Florence OR Therese Miller, Corvallis OR Bob Sharp, Wilsonville OR ence can be improved, please mention it, Karen Copsey, Mount Shasta CA Cliff Krawez, Brookings OR Souzie Monshi, Lake Oswego OR Kay Sharp, Wilsonville OR but be prepared to accept results with all Karen Drebes, Portland OR Peggy Lance, Beaverton OR Jean Nels, Mount Shasta CA Craig Sommers, Portland OR the patience and grace you can muster. Clinton Evans, Honolulu HI Roger Lewis, Tigard OR Beth Neumeyer, Mount Shasta CA Bob Speaker, Corvallis OR Ruling questions for Chris? Email Roberta Foxley, Portland OR Susan Sprow, Portland OR [email protected]. William Greenebaum, Portland OR Welcome! Corinne Wisniewski, Portland OR