UNIT 446 NEWSLETTER AUGUST/SEPT 2006

SEATTLE LEAGUE

TOURNAMENT UPDATE: VERONA SEATTLE UNIT ELECTION DAN ROMM & HELEN ABBOTT LINDA MAMULA

Dan, Helen, Steve Sidell, Shirley Jabon, and Barbara Nist recently returned from The Seattle Unit Board elects six board members the World Bridge Championships held in Verona, Italy. each fall. The Unit Board is responsible for plan- ning and conducting our four sectionals, the That we were fish out of water at the WBF championships became imme- monthly unit game, the I/N sectional, the team diately apparent in our first set of boards. When I asked our opponent for round robin and other bridge events and services her she presented me with one that was thorough and to our members. The Board is also responsible for neatly typed, but written entirely in Turkish! Next, we were given a ma- the financial well-being of the unit. The Board chine called “Bridgemate” with which to enter our scores (incidentally, this meets about eleven times a year, usually on the machine is a significant improvement over the current methods used in the first Monday of the month. US, but it takes a little getting used to). Since Helen had never used screens or bidding racks before, she kept pushing the rack all the way If you are interested in running for a two year through thereby knocking the Bridgemate machine and my off term (2007-2008) on the board, please contact the the table and onto the floor. As a result, I fell behind on time. The French Chair of the nominating committee, Beth director went into a tizzy and threatened to penalize me for being late. McCaslin. Beth’s e-mail address is When I explained what was happening and asked her to tell Helen to stop, [email protected] and her phone number she refused to help. Fortunately, I was declarer on the next board and is (425) 889-9507. could claim at trick one so that I was able to finish within the sixty seconds The final deadline for declaring your candidacy, as the director had given me to complete the board without penalty. Later, well as providing a short statement (100 words) of one of my opponents, a European, was told by the director that he had one why you would like to serve on the unit board, is minute to finish the hand. He proceeded to completely ignore the warn- September 10th. If there are more candidates than ing, thinking for seven minutes before playing a card. By the time the positions available, ballots and voting instructions board was over, 12 minutes had elapsed and the director merely walked will be mailed with the October newsletter. away without saying a word! con’t on page 8

SEATTLE KNOCKOUT SECTIONAL

The Seattle KO Sectional over the Memorial Day weekend was incredibly well attended, with local bridge players eager to team up and try the various Knockout, Swiss, and IMP Pairs events throughout the tournament. Please check the District 19 website at http://www.d19.org/competitions/RegSects/d19Trail06.html for full tourna- ment results. Don’t miss our upcoming Seattle Sectionals: the Seattle Suntan Sectional at the Boeing Machinist’s Hall, and the Seattle’s Fall Sectional at the Spirit of Washington Event Center in Renton (new venue!)

Father and son pairing Beau and Ed Kelley Stanford Christie and Craig Zastera Marcin Kislow and Laurent Chavet take Andy Sherrill, Yayoi French, Kevin Bolan, came in 1st in C in the Friday Evening “IMP”ishly smile for their 1st place win in 1st in B and C in the Saturday Evening and Paul Schwaighart celebrate their IMP Pairs. the IMP Pairs. Open Pairs. Bracket 1 KO win. PAGE 2 UNIT 446 NEWSLETTER CLUB NEWS

EASTSIDE BRIDGE CENTER JUNE SHAWN HUSMANN 10.46 – Jim Scavone 10.09 – Yoko Barnett It isn’t too late to qualify for the NAOP. We have a num- 10.08 – Ruth Rugh ber of games scheduled in early August. In addition, we 9.88 – Frank Alexandro have a GNT game scheduled, so please check the calendar 9.12 – Jeremy Gulley or our website at www.eastsidebridgecenter.com/events.asp for these and RAINBOW BRIDGE CLUB other specials. CHRIS PURPUS Our lessons program starts up again in September. If you The Rainbow Bridge Club is a GLBTQ are interested in taking any of our classes, check our web- bridge club serving the members and friends of the site at www.eastsidebridgecenter.com/lessons.asp for GLBTQ community. We are inclusive and diverse in a descriptions of the classes. You can also register on-line. variety of ways, but we share the desire to make a safe If you would like us to send you a brochure, please send space for the GLBTQ community, while enjoying a an email to [email protected]. great game. Bridge is the medium we use in a fun envi- August will be a busy month in the Seattle area for tourna- ronment to build community, to support each other, ments. Good luck to those people who will be playing at and to have an uproariously good time. A relaxed game the Sectional and Regional. Eastside Bridge Center will be in a relaxed atmosphere safe for all is our goal. We don't open during both tournaments, and running all of our just tolerate diversity, we embrace it! regular games. We have games 3 nights each week, Tuesdays, Thurs- Please join us in congratulating our Masterpoint winners: days, and Saturdays at 7pm. Rainbow Bridge will be moving to a new home on Beacon Hill in August. We MAY will be closed the first week in August and re-open in 10.94 – Yoko Barnett our new home on August 8th! As always, reservations 9.53 – are required. If you have questions or want to make a 6.59 – Joe McDonnell reservation, please contact Chris at: 6.30 – Ruth Rugh [email protected]. 6.12 – Dick Carter

EVERGREEN BRIDGE CLUB GEORGINE FAGERLUND Note: Evergreen Bridge Club is com- fourth was a player they picked up. midst! Al Stipe will be competing in pletely handicap accessible. Other winners of Gold were Marge the Pacific Crest Triathlon at Sun home.comcast.net/~emudd/bridge.html Blunt, Darrel Davis and Jack Tanczac. River Bend, OR which requires a one-mile swim, 28 mile bicycle ride Come and join us on Monday if you’re a Laurie Wilson has outdone herself – and and six-mile run. Good Luck, Al! new player, switching from party bridge everyone else at Evergreen — by scor- or wanting to improve your game. Every- ing two 70% games, one top score of Club Championship Winners one is friendly and helpful. Georgine 68.5% and not surprisingly was the Top Week of May 23rd gives a 15 minute “lesson” on play, bidding Scorer for the month of May. or defense before the game. Join us for a Monday—½: Tony Brekken, David warm atmosphere. Visitors and newcom- The March/April Newsletter for Unit Jones ½: Linda Kelley, Tony Peder- ers are always welcome. 446 listed the Seattle Unit Members of sen 3: Betty Collins, Dalyce Christner Silver Life Master or Greater Rank: Tuesday—1: Laurie Wilson, Iris Tuesdays and Thursdays are Open games Regulars at Evergreen include Wes West 2: Bud Schafer, Carmen Flak 3: – all are welcome. Want to play but don’t Kuhlman with 2,287.98 points ; Sharon Bernice Clark, Joyce Backman have a partner? Call Georgine at Gaunt 1,300.71; and Ira Quint 253/927-0244, 253/941-3668. 1,165.25. Congratulations! Wednesday—1: Bernice Clark, Yvonne Olsen 2: Larry Lerner, Paul Ed Kelley and his sons Beau and Ed took We have a triathlon athlete in our first place in Knockouts in Portland. Their Howell 3: Laurie Wilson, Judy Hyde JUNE/JULY 2006 PAGE 3

SEATTLE BRIDGE CENTER MARK & PATTI MCCALLUM Email [email protected] be on and all your slams make! We will be closed again Fri- Web site http://seattlebridgecenter.tripod.com day September 1st through Monday September 4th, for the Labor Day weekend. Special thank you to Don Christensen for conducting a sur- qualifying sessions will be vey to help boost the attendance for the evening games. We held again in August. Check our calendar or web site for have made a few changes and are willing to take suggestions. dates and times. Lots more (half red and half We now have hand records with deep analysis every black) for each session. Friday evening session. We would like to encourage new- comers, as this is a great learning tool. Friday evening come SEPTEMBER MONTHLY UNIT GAME is at SBC on Sun- and have dinner on us. Salads or hot soup are served every day September 10th at 6PM. Reservations please. Friday at the 7:30 game. Thanks in advance to anyone who INSTANT MATCHPOINT GAME is Thursday September would like to bring something to share. 14th at 7:00PM. One GOLD point will be awarded to the Our fee is still just $6 with a 12 game punch card first place finish. available for $60. Monday and Tuesday morning games are May High Masterpoint winners were: Rose Bolson, ½ price, just $3. We are the best bargain in the Puget Bernie Alfred, Warren McGee, and Phil Mitchell. Sound area. We have unlimited free parking with easy handicap access and a clean, friendly atmosphere. June winners were: Rose Bolson, Bob Moore, Clay Sun- dermeyer, Nada Sundermeyer, and Bob Seki. BEGINNING BRIDGE CLASSES will begin on Monday September 16th The charge for the 8 week session will be $80. It will be a 2 ½ hour class from 7 until 9:30. The class will cover bridge basics and you will start to play in the first session. Please call or email your reservations. Thursday morning Mark serves lunch with a variety of sal- ads, bread and home baked cookies at no extra charge!!! SBC will be closed Friday August 4th through Sunday August 6th for the Suntan sectional and again Monday August 21st through Sunday August 27th for the Seattle regional in Lynnwood. Good luck to everyone. May all your

MERCERCREST BRIDGE CLUB MARSHA RAYTON

Summer greetings from the Mercercrest Bridge Club! Just Hal Antonson were the north-south winners, while Tom like the weather, our players have been red hot! We con- Hammond and Ken Christiansen took the top east-west hon- tinue to have great turnouts for our one game a week, Tues- ors. day evenings at 7:00pm. We frequently have two sections It wouldn’t be the Mercercrest Bridge Club without newcom- and our games are stratified. ers. Since the last newsletter, we have welcomed Dave May Winners – Rich Atwater and Chris Pesce amassed the Grubbs, Bill Hagen, Jonobie and Jeff Ford, Libby Seaton, Anne most masterpoints in May, 3.35 each. Chris Jarvis was Whitehead, Nancy Bass, Ann Lever, Jerry Paulukonis, Leo right behind them with 3.34. Elaine DeShaw and Jim Ait- Egashira, Lorraine and Irwin Dreiblatt, Mary Meisch, Hugh ken each earned 2.90. Wallenfels, Daneel Kuzaro, Marianne Timmins, and Kathy Hauck. June Winners – Top winners in June were Dennis Heller with 2.90, John Stafford with 2.52, Cornel Galer with 2.40, We play in the lower level of the Mercer Island Congregational and Craig Barkhouse with 2.26. Church on Island Crest Way. For further information, please contact Marsha Rayton at 206 232-6464 or at We held a Charity Game on May 30 and Dennis Heller and [email protected]. PAGE 4 UNIT 446 NEWSLETTER

NORTH SEATTLE BRIDGE CLUB VICKY PETERSON & MARILYN SHELTON

145th and Lake City Way (206) 363-0422 Count.” (LTC has been around since 1935.) LTC may be used independent of partnership, but partnerships that prac- HAPPENINGS: tice LTC will thrive. Marilyn Shelton, ACBL accredited The ACBL bestowed the following six North Seattle bridge instructor and winner of 2005 Unit 446 Ace of Clubs and club players with the Golden Age Master certificate: Victor Mini-McKinney for Life Master instructs. Handouts. In- David, Fred Guptill, Vivian Kries, Jim Retka, Bob Rice and formation: Call Vicky at 206-363-0422 or Marilyn 206- Barbara Riggins. 368-9419, [email protected]. Special notice should be given to all whose photographs GENERAL INFORMATION The North Seattle Bridge appear on the bridge club bulletin board for earning the Club emphasizes fun, friendliness and a willingness to help highest overall percentage in a game. In May, Raji Raman beginners. We strive to enforce the "no tolerance" ACBL and Peggy Moen earned a 68% with a close second by Mary policy. The Lake City Elks club feels bridge is an important Jo Boarman and Bill McBurney. In June, Glenna Monson community service offering to Senior citizens and low in- and Gerry Solberg earned a whopping 69.96% with a close come people. Parking is free and several handicapped spaces second by Kay Schrader and Donna Gerard. are near the door on the Eastside of the Elks building. There are no stairs. We are committed to providing as many sta- Congratulations to new Life Master Yat Sing Ma. tionary positions as needed. If you need driving directions, a At the end of the month, bonus master points are awarded N-S table reservation, or help with a partnership, call the to those players who have accumulated the most master club at (206) 363-0422. points for each day of the week. Since the last bulletin fifty GAME TIMES: players have earned bonus masterpoints. The big winners were Jo Ann King, Harry Spizman and Pat Bacus. 10:30 Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, all $5.00, all stratified, free coffee, and snacks! CLASSES: In June twenty-four people studied the Klinger 12:00 Wednesday, a limited (2000) masterpoint game point count method. Don’t miss the next class which is a $1.50! novel way to bid - “Count those Losers and Win” starting 7:00 pm The Friday Fun game has been canceled for the September 9, 10:30-12:30, 8 weeks, $75. This class is summer. modeled after Ron Klinger’s modern “Losing Trick

WEST SEATTLE DUPLICATE BRIDGE CLUB SUE THOMAS

Seattle has a new bridge club! Come and visit the West Seattle Duplicate Bridge Club, 4217 Oregon St SW, Seattle, WA 98116, which is the West Seattle Senior Center. For more information, contact Sue Thomas at 206-938-0179. The club meets on Monday afternoons from 1pm - 4pm. Our West Seattle Bridge Club got off to a great start, we had 6 tables, the players were very congenial, the facilities are all new and very pleasant. Our Director Chris Purpus was challenged a few times, but she handled it like a champ. Every one had lots of fun. I can only see our Club grow into a really fun loving group. Please pass the word every one is welcome, come and join us for fun fun fun! JUNE/JULY 2006 PAGE 5

SAMMAMISH DUPLICATE BRIDGE CLUB MEMBERSHIP UPDATE HERMAN XIAO MAUREEN SCHRODER

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sammamish A warm welcome to our new members and transfers in to Unit 446. bridge Congratulations on those advancing to a higher level, and see you at the Email: [email protected] bridge table! Cell: 425-681-0822 New Members—Janice Garvey, Jeanne Hess, Annick Impert, Helen In May/June, we welcomed the following fine Stusser, Dan Woo, Zachary Gottlieb, Dana Lawrence, Patricia McDon- players into our club: Rama Kini, Craig Bark- nell, Mitzi Moore, Sally Passette, Bob and Carol Shelley, Joanne Stone, house, Sihai Du, Kevin Huo, Howard Liu. The Don Verhulp, Sholeh Winters summer attendance is low as everybody is Transfers in—Louise Arnold, Jeff and Jonobie Ford, Clarence Kerlee, vacationing, enjoying life other than bridge. Sarah Callicoat-Yates, Ralph Colpitts, Helen Griffith, Howard Liu, Friday/ Saturday sessions had been canceled Jeannie McGregor, Mona Lee Smith during the summer. Only Thursday night at 7:30pm game is still going. Congratulations to all those with Rank Advancements To help players improve their bridge bidding Junior Master—James Green, Janet Green, Cheri Magnuson, Morgan skills, the club launched a self-study series, Oslake, Judith Sherr, Stanley Sherr, Antoinette Pederson based on the late Max Hardy's two classic Club Master—Robert Giffin, Gao Li, Curt Peterson, Edward Xu, books on 2/1 bidding: Standard Bridge Bid- Christine Ding, Hayyim Grossman ding for the 21st Century and Advanced Bridge Bidding for the 21st Century. Many Sectional Master—Cristal Nell, Stanley Roberts, Kim Eng, Will players bought the books and started to apply Fox,Kathy Gilman, Maureen Henderson, Leo Wolfe their newly acquired skills in their Convention Regional Master—Eugene Kukhlman, Wenjie Deng Card. NABC Master—Becky Chapman, Krishna Rustagi Masterpoints leaders for May: Edward Xu, Jinlong Li, Zheng Fang, Lichen Jing, Peter Life Master—Clint Hattrup, Frances Evans Hubbard Bronze Life Master—Theodore Hwa, Mary Neuman, Elaine Vona Masterpoints leaders for June: Jimmy Gold Life Master—Mike Bovarnick Ren, Gao Li, Rama Kini, Jinlong Li, Henry Hu Platinum Life Master—(camera shy) Steve Mansfield

TROPHY RACES/ROUND ROBIN UPDATE PAT DUNN Here are the current Microsoft and Jabon trophy race stand- 3.45 ings [through the Memorial Day sectional]. In the Microsoft, Stan Christie had a HUGE tournament over Memorial Day to break into the Zastera-Carter-Blustein- MICROSOFT: [1] Craig Zastera 42.92 [2] Stan Christie Blustein team hold on the early lead. Craig has opened a useful 37.74 [3] Mary Ruth Blustein 35.04 [4] Dick Carter 34.46 lead, but many remain poised to gain the advantage in the Sun- [5] Maury Blustein 34.04 [6] Ole Godefroy 30.59 [7] Dick tan events the first weekend in August. In the Jabon, two fixed Yarington 28.43 [8] Emery Selymes 28.20 [9] Paul partnerships hold the first four spots [ties for 1-2 and 3-4 re- Schwaighart 27.02 [10] Jackie Buroker 26.85 [11] Janet spectively]. Will partnership solidarity hold sway or will the Daling 26.70 [12] Steve Mansfield 26.36 [13] Julie Gode- pairs play with others during the closing events? froy 25.23 [14] Yayoi French 24.90 [15] Jingsong Liu 24.31 The Round Robin competition is progressing, with 20 teams in

three brackets. The teams have until October to complete JABON: [1&2] Christine Ding & Rigel Berg 8.53 [3&4] their matches. For more information on the Round Robins, Gao Li & Jianmin Jim Ren 8.03 [5] Stanley Sherr 4.48 contact event coordinator Marci Knipschield – [6&7] Morgan Brassfield & Shawn O'Brien 4.24 [8] Linda [email protected] – (360) 629-2334, or log on to the Armstrong 3.76 [9&10] Pauline Fox & Jason Nowakowski Seattle Unit 446 website. PAGE 6 UNIT 446 NEWSLETTER

NORTH AMERICAN PAIRS

The North American Pairs is your event - a grassroots effort 2. Chris Pesce, Rich Atwater, Chris Jarvis, Cassy Beekman, starting at your club and leading all the way to a North Greg Fleming, International Turkish Star Gorkem Kuter- American Championship! The ACBL has made changes to dem make the NAP more affordable and accessible for players at C Flight all levels. Be sure to check with your club managers for dates of qualifying games. Your NAP partner can be any other 1. Tao Feng, Sam Lai, Jack Lee, Kam Tang club-qualified player from your district. 2. Dong Yan, Eugene Tan, Wenjie Deng, Yong Cao The Unit 446 Final will be on Sunday, September 24, Thanks to all who made the hospitality of our May tourna- 2006, at the Redhook Brewery, Woodinville, in the ment such a success. Besides the usual suspects (the in- Weatherman’s Room. There will be two sessions, with the comparable Tom Land, and the members of the Board) I first session beginning at 11 AM. want to thank the cookie and coffee brigade: The District 19 Final will be on Saturday, October 21, Kay Adams 2006, at the Spirit of Washington Event Center, Ren- Elaine Vona ton. Curt Peterson First-Place District Winners in Flights A, B, and C win a Mary Muller roundtrip airfare and three nights lodging to the Spring North Paulette Hauck American Bridge Championships in St. Louis. Second-Place John Givins Winners in Flights A, B and C win roundtrip airfare. Third- Sharon Irwin Place Winners in Flights A, B and C are invited to participate. Sue Johnson Mary Romeo Kenlynn Gilbert CHICAGO NABC Cindi Sacks

Did you know you could keep tabs on the Chicago North We can use more treats for the Suntan Sectional (August American Bridge Championships on the ACBL website by 4-6), so keep us mind! Please contact Ann Romeo at reading the Daily Bulletins? If you couldn’t travel to the [email protected] or 425-641-5988. Summer NABC, reading the Daily Bulletin is the next best thing! Check out their website at http://www.acbl.org/ MUG REPORT nabc/Chicago2006/bulletins.php BECKY CHAPMAN The next two Monthly Unit Games will both be the second Congratulations to our Unit 446 members who traveled to Sunday of the month, due to nearby Sectionals. They will Chicago to play, in particular: Patrick & Polly Dunn, 23rd in be August 13 at the Eastside Bridge Center, and Septem- the ; Dick Yarington & Ruth Nakano, ber 10 at the Seattle Bridge Center. Both games will begin 3rd in the Carole La Barge Open Pairs; Rod Caldwell & Stan at 6 PM. Please remember to make a reservation for the Christie, 2nd in the Qualifying Round of the NABC+ Fast game in Seattle, 206-282-6414. Pairs; Craig Zastera, 2nd in the Bruce LM Pairs; and Dan Romm & John Maki, 7th in the Bruce LM Pairs. June Results [12½ tables]: Strat A: (1) Ken Christiansen – Pat Dunn (2) Fan Zheng – Min Zheng (3) Congratulations also to our winners Ken Elliott – Nelson Davis who represented District 19 in the NABCs: Strat B: (1) Fan Zheng – Min Zheng (2) Ken Elliott – Nel- Championship Flight son Davis (3) Brian Zaugg – Jingsong Liu 1. Dick Yarington, Bryan Maksymetz, Doug Fraser, Michael Gamble 2. Pat Dunn, Jim Aitken, Hack Fuller, Steve Sidell, Strat C: Only two C pairs entered, and one of them took Ray Loftis 5th in their section: Herman Xiao – Jinlong Li A Flight July Results [13 tables ]: Strat A: (1) Tom Land – Bob 1. Rose Bolson, Yayoi French, Kevin Bolan, Paul Getz (2) Neil Ballard – Dave Grubbs (3) Karen Epley – Schwaighart 2. Dell Berg, David Binner, Edith DeShaw, Howard Epley Sharon Miller B Flight Strat B: (1) Tom Land – Bob Getz (2) John Stafford – 1. Mike and Vicki Moffatt, Ping Ding, Jane Fyfe Richard Morey (3) Herman Xiao – Jinlong Li AUGUST 2006 CLUB DIRECTORY BRIDGE EVENTS EBC Eastside Bridge Club 8151—164th Avenue NE (425) 881-6110 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat EVGC Evergreen Bridge Club 1346 SW Dash Point Federal Way ,WA 1 2 3 4 5 (253) 941-3668 Seattle Suntan Seattle Suntan MCBC Mercer Crest Bridge Club Sectional Sectional 4545 Island Crest Way SBC Closed SBC Closed Mercer Island, WA 98040 (206) 232-6464

NSBC North Seattle Bridge Club Lake City Elks Lodge 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 14540 Bothell Way NE Seattle Suntan SBC NAP 10:30 SBC NAP 10:30 EBC NAP 7pm EBC CC 10am SBC NAP 10:30 EBC NAP 1pm Seattle, WA 98155 SBC NAP 10:30 (0-1000) & 7:30 (206) 363-0422 Sectional (206) 915-3427 (emergency) SBC Closed

RBC Rainbow Bridge Club [email protected] 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 SBC Seattle Bridge Center 1539 NE 145th Street EBC MUG 6pm EBC NAP 10am EBC CC 10am SBC NAP 7pm SBC NAP 10:30 SBC NAP Noon Seattle, WA SBC NAP 1pm EBC CC 7pm (0- (0-1000) (206) 282-6414 500)

SDBC Sammamish Duplicate Bridge Club Herman Xiao (425) 681-0822 20 21 22 23 24 25 26

ABA Bill Breeze Puget Sound (425) 641-3286 Regional SBC Closed LKBC LeEtta King Bridge Club 500 30th Avenue South Seattle, WA 98144 (206) 226-9732 27 28 29 30 31

WSDBC West Seattle Duplicate Bridge Puget Sound Club Regional 4217 Oregon St SW SBC Closed Seattle, Wa. 98116 (206) 938-0179

CLUB SCHEDULES Sunday SEPTEMBER 2006 1:00 SBC Open

Monday BRIDGE EVENTS. 10:00 EVBC Novice 10:00 EBC 0-2500 10:30 SBC Open 10:30 NSBC strat. Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1:00 WSDBC Open 7:00 EBC 0-500 7:00 SBC lessons + play 1 2

Tuesday SBC Closed SBC Closed 10:00 EBC 0-1000 10:00 EVBC 10:30 SBC Open 10:30 NSBC strat. 7:00 RBC Open 7:00 SBC Open 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 7:00 EBC 0-100 7:00 MCBC SBC Closed SBC Closed EBC Int’l Fund EBC Int’l Fund SBC CC Noon 10am Open 10am (0-2500) Wednesday 10:00 EBC Open 10:30 SBC Open 11:45 NSBC 0-1500 7:00 SBC Open 7:00 EBC Open 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 SBC MUG 6pm SBC CC 10:30 SBC CC 10:30 EBC GNT 7pm EBC ACBL Instant Thursday SBC CC 10:30 MP Game 7pm 10:00 EBC 0-1000 SBC CC 10:30 10:00 EVBC SBC ACBL Instant 10:30 SBC Open (free lunch) 10:30 NSBC @ Elks MP Game 7pm 7:00 LKBC 7:00 RBC Open 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 7:00 SBC Open (mentoring) SBC CC 1pm EBC Int’l Fund SBC CC 10:30 & EBC CC 1pm (0- 7:00 EBC 0-1000 7pm Open 7:30 1000) Friday SBC CC 7pm 10:00 EBC 0-2500 10:30 SBC Open 10:30 NSBC strat. 7:30 SBC Open 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

Saturday 9:30 EBC “Fun Bridge” 12:00 SBC Open 1:00 EBC 0-1000 1:00-3:00 NSBC strat. (3:00 pm hand reviews by pro) 7:00 RBC Open SEATTLE’S FALL SECTIONAL OCTOBER 20-22, 2006

NEW VENUE! SPIRIT OF WASHINGTON EVENT CENTER 233 BURNETT AVENUE SOUTH, RENTON NAP District Final Friday 1:30 PM & 7:30 PM Saturday Noon & 6:00 Single Session Events NAP District Chair: Tom Hansen Stratified Open Pairs and Stratified 199er Pairs [email protected]

Saturday Noon & 6:00 PM From I-405, take Exit 4 Two– Session Events, Single Session Entry OK (From SB-405, this puts you on Sun- Stratified Open Pairs and Stratified 199er Pairs set Blvd N, Southbound, keep Right on Local Roads, Bear Right) Sunday 10:30 AM & TBA (From NB-405, turn Right, under fwy) Stratified Swiss and Stratified 199er Swiss (West) onto Bronson Way N (SR-900) te Bear Right onto S 2nd Street bsi we nts Turn Left onto Burnett Ave S Stratification: A=1500+, B=500-1499, C=0-499 our me ck ce The Event Center is on the Right, at he oun rs. C nn ake Burnett & 3rd or a pe Tournament Schedule, Updates, Information f ut s abo http://www.sbu446.org TOURNAMENT CHAIR: LAURIE SAYER 425-226-7521 http://www.d19.org PARTNERSHIP: http://acbl.org [email protected] Seattle Unit 446 PAGE 8 UNIT 446 NEWSLETTER

con’t from page 1 asked, “No diamonds partner?” When I called the direc- News Flash: The US Senate is trying to push a constitutional tor my opponent said, “I didn’t say that and, anyway, my amendment through the states that says “The Supreme Court partner doesn’t understand English.” Her partner then shall have no discretion to interpret the Constitution in cases asserted that she had heard nothing and that she had cor- of extreme injustice.” Fantasy? Compare this sentence rected her own mistake by herself. No penalty was as- (slightly paraphrased) in the WBF Rules of Bridge, “A direc- sessed! tor shall have no discretion to adjust a score based merely on On one hand from the mixed pairs, Barbara and Steve the harshness of the penalty called for in this rulebook.” To Sidell and Dan and I both arrived at six diamonds off two which I say – who needs appeals committees? This draconian Aces plus the QJxx of diamonds in one hand. We visual- clause surfaced against us early in the Mixed Pairs. The Euro- ized the Russian and Italian pairs whom we had played pean declarer led the Ace of spades (which in the deck used against talking to each other after the session and won- for the tournament bears a remarkable resemblance to the dering how Seattle players learned to bid! Ace of clubs). After I followed with a club, declarer called for a spade from the dummy. At this point I realized my er- A special thanks to Steve Sidell for all his wonderful pre- ror, but before I could correct my play, Helen asked “No planning and organizing that led up to our grand adven- spades partner?” In case you don’t know, this is not permit- ture in which we were able to visit so many amazing ted by the WBF even though it is by the ACBL (and I cer- sights in Northern Italy. tainly didn’t know, since it was not included in the rules book given to us upon our arrival). As a result of Helen’s question, Congratulations to Carlyn Steiner and , my play was ruled a full rather than a penalty card and Unit 446 members who also attended the World Bridge the Europeans were awarded an extra trick that would have Championships. Carlyn Steiner, a World Silver Medalist been impossible to take without intervention from the in the Women’s Teams, achieved the Gold Medal in the “discretionless” director. McConnell Cup (Women's Team) Championship. John Ironically, in the second qualifying session of the women’s Schermer, a World Gold Medalist in the Senior Teams, pairs, Barbara Nist was declarer and played a diamond from finished just out of the medals in 4th in the Senior event. her hand. Her LHO followed, Barbara called a diamond from For further information about the WBF in Verona, see the dummy, and her RHO played a club, whereupon LHO www.worldbridge.org/tourn/Verona.06/Verona.htm

A PLAY PROBLEM RAY MILLER

You are playing in a club game, holding your usual awful se- The first thing you should say is wrong question. You lection of cards when you pick up x AKQxxx x AJ8xx. don’t want to tackle clubs yet. The first thing you should Finally you have a hand. You are picturing the complex auc- do is tackle spades. No, we aren’t trying to set up any- tion that will develop when you left hand opponent jolts you thing in spades, we’re just trying to get a count. So you back to reality by opening 3 diamonds. After two passes you cash the Ace and King of spades pitching a club from hand have a decision to make. In some other realities you might and lho shows out. Now you are left with K9xx of clubs have a convenient way to show this hand, but today you settle in dummy opposite AJ8x of clubs in hand. So now how for 4 hearts. Partner thinks for a while and passes. do you handle the clubs? Lho has shown up with 7 dia- monds (assumed) , exactly 2 hearts and exactly 1 spade. Lho leads the Ace of diamonds and dummy tables AKJxx xx That leaves lho with 3 clubs. Admittedly if lho has 8 dia- xx K9xx. You briefly wish you were in 6 clubs and then get monds our count is off. But the carding seems to indicate down to the problem at hand. If hearts split you have only to that he started with 7. So lead a low club off the board to pick up the clubs to make 12 tricks. So you the diamond the ace. Rho produces the ten. Now lead the jack and continuation, noting that rho plays up the line (standard sig- when Lho follows low, confidently let it run. A play nals). So you confirm your initial impression of 7 diamonds problem? Not really, just an exercise in counting the op- on your left. You pull three rounds of and lho pitches ponent’s hands. a diamond on the third round. So now the problem. What now? How do you tackle the club suit? JUNE/JULY 2006 PAGE 9

EDUCATIONAL LISTINGS LOCAL BRIDGE TEACHERS Dee Berry—Master Bridge Teacher rating from Ameri- Chris Purpus—Bridge Instruction, Queen Anne Community can Bridge Teachers' Assn., Emerald Life Master, DINO Center, Wednesdays, 10:00-12:00, eleven week quarters for Education Liaison; Audrey Grant Better Bridge Accred- $35/quarter (contact Tim Pretare, (206) 684-4240). Bridge In- ited Teacher; ACBL Teacher Trainer. Author of “2/1 in a struction, Laurelhurst Community Center, Thursdays 12-1:30, 7 Nutshell”. Classes at The Bellevue Club (call Megan week terms for $45/term (contact Schuler, (206) 684-7529). Clarke at 425-455-1616) and privately—call Dee at (360) 403-8414. Marilyn Shelton—Mini-McKinney and Ace of Clubs Champion (206) 368 9419 [email protected] Lesson series at the Lake Tuesdays, Sept.19, 26; Oct.3, 10,17,24; 10-12 a.m. City Elks Club—contact Marilyn or Vivki Peterson 206 363 0422. “Thoughtful, Winning Bridge” Beginning and Intermediate lesson series at the Bitter Lake Com- Tuesdays, same dates, 4:30-6:30 p.m. Winning Dee- munity Center—Contact Carol Baxter at (206) 233-7138. fense. Steve Sidell—Master Teacher (American Bridge Teachers Thursdays, Sept. 21, 28; Oct. 5,12,19, 26, Nov.2,9; 7-9 Assoc.), ACBL Diamond Life Master (206) 524-0326, probridge- p.m. “Introduction to the World’s Most Fascinating [email protected]. Beginning, Intermediate, and Advanced class- Game: Bridge.” room instruction at TELOS (Bellevue Community College Day- time Continuing Ed.) (425) 564 -4400 www.gotobcc.com/telos Eastside Bridge Center Redmond Senior Center (425) 556-2314. Private Group and Indi- Club Series: vidual instruction available. Classes begin Tuesday, September 19; 8 weekly sessions from 7:30 to 9:30. Teacher: Carol Schroeder Diamond Series: Classes begin Monday, September 18; 8 weekly sessions from 7:30 to 9:30. Teacher: Helene Fornia Course descriptions and on-line registration is available on our website at www.eastsidebridgecenter.com/lessons.asp.

Allan Lazar—ACBL Silver Life Master (206) 781-9099, [email protected]. Supervised play in a home envi- ronment at the beginning level. Beginning Bridge class- Things Your Bridge Teacher Won’t room instruction at North Seattle Community College 206-781-9099. Tell You by Dan Romm—Most books ignore the fact that bridge is a game between opponents, simply teaching players how to strive for theoretical perfection in bidding and play. Dan WANTED – BRIDGE PARTNER isn't interested in that - he's interested in winning, which is something he has done for more than forty years against Ambitious experienced local bridge player the best players around. He has played mostly for money with 480+ master points looking for a part- at the Cavendish in L.A. against many world champions ner. I prefer to play 2/1 with and has been a consistent winner. He has also enjoyed suc- with lots of other bidding gadgets although I cess at tournament bridge during his younger days in L.A. am flexible. I have the time and resources to and more recently in the Pacific Northwest after the clos- play anywhere and anytime including travel to ing of the Cavendish several years ago. Psychology, decep- tournaments. Looking for someone willing to tion, and misdirection are among a host of 'legal' tactics work at developing a winning partnership. that the reader can learn on the way to winning more of- Contact Charles DeMartini at ed- ten. Just released from , $16.95. [email protected] or 206-440-8728. http://www.baronbarclay.com/books/5145.html Seattle Unit American Contract Bridge League Membership: Maureen Schroder 323 7th Ave. S. Kirkland, WA 98033

TOURNAMENT TRAIL Check out www.acbl.org for most current info

8/4-6 Seattle Suntan Sectional 8/13 Monthly Unit Game @ EBC Seattle Unit Newsletter 8/21-8/27 Puget Sound Regional 9/1-9/3 Olympia Pow Wow Sectional • Published every other month in February, 9/10 Monthly Unit Game @ SBC April, June, August, October, and December 9/14 ACBL Instant Matchpoint Game (Gold • If you would like to place a bridge related ad- Points!) vertisement, please contact the editor, Shawn 9/15-17 Evergreen Sectional, Abernethy at (206) 714-3761 or smaber- New Westminster BC [email protected] 10/6-8 Bremerton Fall Sectional • Please email any recent bridge accomplish- 2011 Seattle NABC ments, milestones, or rants and raves. For sub- missions, corrections, comments, please con- tact the editor. Deadline is the 10th of the month preceding the upcoming issue.