Tomorrow Is Good Will
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70th Fall North American Bridge Championships November 21 - December 1, 1996 San Francisco, California Volume 70, Number 3 Sunday, November 24, 1996 Editors: Henry Francis and Brent Manley SecondRon Smith of Chattanoogatime theand Walter charm Schafer for LM Open champs Jr., who played together only once previously, stormed to a huge lead after the first final session of the Life Master Open Pairs to win handily despite a mediocre final session. At the three-quarter mark, Schafer and Smith were 174.4 matchpoints ahead of second place. Their final score was 2525.73. Runnersup, with 2498.45, were Michael Schreiber of Los Angeles and Curtis Cheek of Huntsville AL. Schafer, of Bloomingdale IL, and Smith played together for the first time as a last-minute partnership in the Open Swiss Teams at the Spring NABC in Philadelphia. Playing with Marshall Miles and David Sacks, they came in third. Walter Schafer and Ron Smith Leaving nothing to chance this time, Schafer and Smith -- who stood seventh after two qualifying ses- ent players filled in for Lazard over the four-session Barbara Sion and Suzy Burger sions -- posted a 67.33% game in the first final set to event and somehow the team scrambled in with a lead by more than two boards. Their 51.99% game in victory. In the Official Encyclopedia of Bridge, the second final session was more than enough for seven players are credited with the win. the win. Smith, a math professor at the University of Ten- Burger-Sion triumph The victory was the second North American nessee at Chattanooga, said he and Schafer took ad- championship for each player. Schafer and Tom Fox vantage of a lot of luck during their run to the title. “I inSuzy LMBurger Womens of West Bloomfield Pairs MI and Bar- won the IMP Pairs at the 1994 Summer NABC in don’t think I’ve ever been dealt bigger games in three bara Sion of Las Vegas had very fine sessions when San Diego. Smith was a member of the winning squad straight sessions,” he said. “We whittled two of them it counted most -- in the final two sessions of the in the Men’s Board-a-Match Teams in 1977. down, but not the third.” Life Master Women’s Pairs. They now reign as That victory was one of the most unusual in the After he and Smith mounted their huge halftime champions after outdistancing runnersup Linda history of ACBL tournaments. Smith, the late Lou lead on Saturday, a confident Schafer suggested to Lewis of Las Vegas and Judy Randel of Albuquer- Bluhm and Richard Doughty were set up to play with Smith that he might want to change shirts to have his que by 18 matchpoints on a 25 top. Another three Sidney Lazard as a four-man team. photo taken that evening. points further back in third place were Susan Evans Lazard, however, became ill during the first ses- “I’m not having a 67% game,” said Smith, “and of Sacramento CA and Shirley Blum of Fresno CA. sion and eventually was unable to play. Three differ- changing shirts.” Burger and Sion have been playing as a part- nership for only two years -- and only at NABCs. Their basic system is two-over-one game forcing. “We are very forgiving,” said Burger, “and that al- ways helps when you’re in competition like this. Saito, Kondo win We try not to let bad boards bother us.” This was Sion’s third North American triumph Yoko SaitoNon-LM of Kanagawa, Pairs Japan, and Michiko -- she won the Mixed Teams twice. Burger’s pre- Kondo of New York edged out two players from vious win was in the Women’s Board-a-Match California to earn the championship in the Non- Teams. Life Master Pairs. Both winners got started in duplicate in unusual Saito and Kondo declined to be interviewed or ways. photographed. Burger, who played a lot of bridge in college, Their final score of 353.45 was good enough wasn’t having as much luck finding a game when to best Anthony Hurwitz of Los Angeles and Adam Sandy Levine and Dr. Yang Xiao Yin she got out into the business world. So she did what Barron of Beverly Hills, runnersup with 352.57. that famous telephone company says to do -- she Barron, a physician doing residency at West looked up Bridge Clubs in the yellow pages. Later What are the odds? Los Angeles Veterans Hospital, is studying pathol- she met Chuck at the bridge table and now they’re andy Levine was in China to tour and to ogy. Hurwitz is a CPA who works for a small ac- married. Chuck, like Suzy, is a big winner at bridge. attend a conference on Jewish studies at counting firm in Brentwood. Sion was approached by a woman in her office SNanjing University. As the result of an The pair, who have playing together about two one day who asked if she played duplicate. “Dupli- amazing coincidence, she wrote the following years, earned their first gold points in the Non-LM cate? What’s that?” was the response. When she letter to Kathie Wei-Sender. Pairs. heard what it was all about, she decided to try it. Hi Kathie, They were introduced by a mutual friend and She played with Betty Perkins in Atlanta, had av- In October I went to China to tour and hit it off immediately as bridge partners and as erage the first time and was the winner the second to attend a conference on Jewish studies at friends. time. “I was hooked then,” said Sion. Nanjing University. We then traveled with Although slightly disappointed to miss first place the conference group to Kaifeng. There we by less than one matchpoint, the two were delighted saw the stiles which had the true history of to have done as well as they did. “I’m thrilled,” the Kaifeng Jews. said Hurwitz. On the site where there had been a temple YesterdayA big was a bridgebig bridge day day -- 1656 tables in the 12th and 13th centuries, there is now a were in play. The afternoon session drew 792 tables hospital. We went in, and some of the group -- even the morning was huge with 96. stopped to talk to a woman doctor. The total to date is 3260.5 tables, well ahead of They called me over because this doctor Tomorrow 1990 San Francisco, which had 2853 at this point. was explaining to them that her sister is a The novice turnout has been exceptional. Twenty- famous bridge player in America. Of course eight teams showed up for the morning novice Swiss. I said your name. is Good There were 96 tables of novices at the afternoon ses- Continued on page 4 sion. Will Day 2 Daily Bulletin SPECIAL EVENTS JanSecond Martel found herself thoughts caught in a stepping- stone squeeze on this deal from the first final session of the Life Master Open Pairs. 9:00 a.m. Education Liaison Meeting,Sunday, Pacific Nov.I. Audrey 24 Grant conducts the first session. Board 19 K 10 4 2 9:30 a.m. Board of Governors meeting, Club Bar, 2nd floor. « Dlr: South K 6 10:00 a.m. TAP Update Seminar, Pacific H. A continuing education program with Peggy Tatro. ª Vul: E-W K 11:45 a.m. Intermediate/Novice Speakers Program -- Lowell Andrews: Long Distance © A K Q 8 7 5 Overcalls. Golden Gate Hall A. ¨ J 9 8 5 3 A 5:00 p.m. Accredited Teacher Dinner Meeting, Club Room. $10 fee. Accredited teachers only « « A 5 4 J 10 9 8 7 2 -- no guests please. ª ª Q 8 J 10 9 6 3 6:45 p.m. Intermediate/Novice Speakers Program -- Howard Piltch: Weak NTs! Why You Hate © © J 6 2 10 Them! Golden Gate Hall A. ¨ ¨ Q 7 6 11:45 p.m. The Secret Life of Walter Biddy, encore presentation of this year’s bridge musical, « Q 3 starring Joel Hoersch and the usual suspects. Golden Gate Hall C. ª © A 7 5 4 2 ¨ 9 4 3 West North East South Monday, Nov. 25 Chip Ross Jan Zia Goodwill Day Pass 9:00 a.m. Club director’s course, Session 1, Pacific J. Pass 1¨ 1ª 1NT 9:00 a.m. Education Liaison Meeting, Pacific I. Betty Starzec conducts the session. 2ª 3NT All Pass 11:00 a.m. Bridge Cruise Meeting, Pacific C. Chip led his lowest heart, and the 7 forced the 11:45 a.m. Intermediate/Novice Speakers Program -- To be announced. Golden Gate queen. Zia had nine tricks at this point, but no way to Hall A. take them -- he couldn’t get back to his ©A. He be- 5:00 p.m. Goodwill Reception, Club Room. gan by leading out dummy’s clubs, and both Chip and 6:45 p.m. Intermediate/Novice Speakers Program -- Kathie Wei-Sender: Championship Bridge. Jan had to find lots of pitches. Chip knew he had to Golden Gate Hall A. save his two hearts, so he discarded two spades and 11:45 p.m. Dance to the DJ! Boogie the night away! Golden Gate Hall C. a diamond. Jan meanwhile was in terrible trouble. She had to save two diamonds, so she had to pitch two hearts. Zia cashed the ©K, then led a spade. After win- 9:00 a.m. Club director’s course,Tuesday, Session 2, Pacific Nov. J. 26 ning the ace, Jan was able to lead a heart to partner’s 9:00 a.m.