Vol. LIV No. 1 March 2012

WINTER IN WESTCHESTER WOWS!

The Winter in Westchester Tournament, held the weekend of January 6-8, was a huge success. In addition to well attended pairs games on Friday afternoon and all day Saturday, there was a team game at Sleepy Hollow Country Club on Sunday. Perhaps the real highlight was the Roy Hill Master/Non-Master Tournament on Friday evening. The entire unit came together to make the event the best attended in recent history, with twenty-six tables. The consumption of over forty pizzas that night may have broken yet another record. Please join us next year for this special weekend.

Left: New life masters receive plaques at Sleepy Hollow (with Jill Marshall at rear). Below: Farley Mawyer & Joyana Rosenthal announce the Roy Hill Master/Non-Master winners.

Left: Alan Primason, who won his direction and was 4/5 overall in the Roy Hill Master/ Non Master. Right: 2nd overall winners Farley Mawyer and Herb Jacobs.

VISIT US ON THE WEB AT WWW.BRIDGE-WCBA.ORG Page 2 Bridging the Counties

UNIT 188 - PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

It is my honor weekend. It started with a pro-am on Fri- them for another year. The last thing that I and pleasure to day night with more than 50 ams playing would like to see accomplished this year serve again this with an equal number of pros. I want to before I turn the reins over at the end of year as President thank all of the pros who volunteered their this year would be to have a sectional tour- of the Westches- time. On Saturday we had two pair events. nament again in Westchester. Cost, space, ter Contract Then, on Sunday, we had a wonderful parking, lightning, Fri.-Sun. availability, Bridge Associa- event honoring our new life masters at the and numerous other obstacles have pre- tion. gorgeous Sleep Hollow Country Club. My vented us from offering one recently. In special thanks to all of the people on the order to restore a sectional to Westchester, Last year was a WCBA who made that the Winter- we need a committee of people who are fantastic year for in-Westchester such a great event. Right willing to create a master list of possible bridge in after the Winter-in-Westchester, we had locations, contact them, and cross them off Michael McNamara Westchester. We the regional tournament here in Rye. This one-by-one until a place is found. It is a furthered our tournament was punctuated by a youth difficult task, but many hands make light efforts with youth bridge by adding Fox game on the final Monday where 34 kids work. If you think that you have the time Meadow School to the list of schools offer- played an event. This is the second year for to call and/or visit even one place per ing bridge programs in Westchester. We this event and we saw a more than 50% week, your help would be greatly appreci- set up a 501(c)3 charity facility to take increase in attendance over last year. ated and I ask that you contact our Tourna- donations to help support youth bridge. We ment Chair, Farley Mayer. also had many great events for players at This group of hardworking volunteers on all levels. the WCBA Board has done so much to I am looking forward to a great year and to improve and promote bridge in Westches- seeing everyone at the Mini-McKenney 2012 is already off to a great start. We had ter that I am honored to serve along with Swiss in March. a magnificent Winter-in Westchester

Master/Nonmaster (No Event in 2011) Acct. Payable 0 2011 Financial Statement Total Net Income 10,309 EQUITY WESTCHESTER OPERATING EXPENSES Opening Balance 36,402 ASSOCIATION—UNIT 188 (Unaudited) Bridging the Counties 7,668 7,668 2011 INCOME/LOSS 58 Ad Income 0 TOT LIAB &EQUITY 36,460 INCOME AND EXPENSES Directory 0 0 ACBL Membership Inc. 5,287 Ad Income 0 District 3 Distribution 2,025 Committee & Bank Interest 4 Officer Admin 437 BRIDGING THE COUNTIES (ISSN 1059- 3586) is published four times a year in March, Sectional Income Mini McKenney Awards 91 (No Event in 2011) 0 0 June, September and December by the LM Trays 588 Westchester Contract Bridge Association, 190 Expense 0 Website 290 March STAC Income 3,908 1,591 East Post Road, White Plains, NY 10601. $1 of Promotions 600 yearly membership fees shall be applied to Expense -2,317 Supplies 513 yearly subscription for the publication. Periodi- July STAC Income 5,216 2,186 Bank Charges 65 cals postage is paid at White Plains, NY. Expense -3,030 Total Operating Exp. 10,251 POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: October STAC Income 4,616 1,840 Net Income/Loss 58 Bridging the Counties, 190 East Post Road, White Plains, NY 10601. Expense -2,777 WESTCHESTER CONTRACT Winter West. Income 4,388 -2,603 Financial Statement 2011 BRIDGE ASSOCIATION Expense -6,991 ASSETS www.bridge-wcba.com Jane Hill Income 2,828 -265 CURRENT ASSETS District: www.bridge-district3.org Expense -3,093 JPMorganChase Acct 12/31/11 36,460 Double KO Income 576 316 President: Michael McNamara TOTAL ASSETS 36,460 Editor: Ellyn Plato Expense -260 Unit Swiss Income 1,092 10 Contributors: Glenda Calkins, Henry Deutsch, LIABILITIES & EQUITY Jason Fuhrman, Mike McNamara, Sylwia Expense -1,082 Charity Pairs Income 165 -80 McNamara, Marjorie Murstein, Cliff Nebel, CURRENT LIABILITIES Bernard Schneider, Ethan Stein Expense -245 March 2012 Page 3

THIS N THAT

It is an honor for me to succeed Joan as Full Service Clubs, Internet, and Volunteer put my experience to work in that area. District Director. She is truly one of a kind Internet and Full Service Clubs will be and we are fortunate that she has been our open areas for me, and I hope that I can Director for the last 26 years. Thank you GLENDA add to both Task Forces. I do not play Unit 188 for sharing her with the entire bridge on line, but am well aware that it is District. CALKINS an important area for the Board, and of My term began on January 1, but by then I course I look forward to interacting with already felt quite involved. I was invited District 3 local clubs where the action begins. to attend the National Board meetings in I will be leaving on March 8, for Memphis. Seattle in November as an observer; it was Director First I will have an orientation period at great to be able to observe all the action headquarters in Horn Lake, MS, before the and interaction. I think that tradition is a Board meetings start on March 12, my first good way to assure that the newly elected Development and Recognition. I look for- venture as a full voting member. Directors have an opportunity to become ward to getting involved in all of these I hope to have much to report to you in the familiar with Board procedure and to start important areas. I have already been hard next “Bridging the Counties” after I have getting to know the other Directors. at work on the Junior Task Force, which gotten my feet truly wet. I am impressed with the new CEO Robert also covers Youth Bridge. As you know, I very much look forward to serving all of Hartman and look forward to working with this has been one of my main thrusts dur- District 3 to the best of my ability, and him, the new president Sharon Anderson, ing my tenure as District President. I also appreciate the confidence shown by elect- and all the other Board members. have been very intent on helping develop ing me to this important post. My current assignments are Junior Bridge, volunteers within the District and hope to CLIFF’S NOTES by Cliff Nebel

The 1965 in Buenos Aires was marred by cheating. The culpable pair was Boris Shapiro and of Great Britain. During their match against the U.S., it was noticed by the U.S. pair of B. J. Becker and Dorothy Hayden that the British pair was holding their cards differently on each deal. , the NY Times reporter in the room, noticed this too. As they compared the deals to the manner in which Reese and Shapiro were holding their cards, it was determined that they were - ing the number of hearts they held: two fingers together for two and two fingers spread apart for five, three together and three spread for three and six respectively. This was brought to the attention of John Gerber (npc) for North America, who in turn told Ralph Swimmer (npc) for Great Britain. He brought it to the attention of Geoffrey Butler, head of the British Bridge League. Butler was also a member of the Executive Committee of the , and head of its Appeals Committee. After an independ- ent study, he called a meeting of the Appeals Committee, and informed Reese and Shapiro of the charges. Of course, they both de- nied their guilt, and the matter was sent on to the WBF Executive Committee. The twelve member committee found the pair guilty (10-0, with 1 absentee, and 1 abstention: Carl’Alberto Perroux), and referred the matter to the British Bridge League for further ac- tion. Swimmer forfeited the match against Argentina which G.B. had won, and the match against North America in which G.B. was winning handily with twenty boards to go. The affair now crossed the Atlantic where the British Bridge League set up their own inquiry headed by Sir John Foster and General Lord Bourne. They were assisted in the technical aspects by and Alan Hiron. In 1966, after more than ten months the pair was found not guilty. This did not sit well with the WBF. To paraphrase, President Charles Solomon of the WBF said “it was doubtful that this verdict would be accepted by the WBF. The pair was found guilty by the WBF, and the matter was referred to the BBL only for punitive measures”. This was what apparently became final, because when Reese and Shapiro applied to participate in the 1968 Olympiad, they were denied acceptance by the WBF Credentialing Committee. Two books and one complete issue of The Bridge Journal were devoted to this affair. Further reading, if interested, would be Terence Reese’s Story of an Accusation, Alan Truscott’s The Great Bridge Scandal, and Jeff Rubens’ Volume 2 # 6 of The Bridge Journal. Jeff’s opening line of that too short-lived periodical sums the matter up perfectly: “Monday, May 24, 1965 will be remem- bered as the Black Monday of Bridge.” And, so it was!! Page 4 Bridging the Counties

2011 MASTERPOINT RACE RESULTS

There are two masterpoint races in Unit 188. The Westchester Contract Bridge Association Medallion is awarded based on total points won during the 2011 calendar year in all games. The Westchester Contract Bridge Association Ace of Clubs is awarded based on all points won during the 2011 calendar year at the level with the exception of those won in STaCs, NABC fund-raiser events, the North American Open Pairs and the . The winners in each of the thirteen masterpoint categories were honored as part of the Winter in Westchester Tournament at Sleepy Hollow Country Club on January 8th, 2012. Mini-McKenney Medallion Winners 0 to 5 MPs 100 to 200 MPs 1,000 to 2,500 MPs Over 10,000 MPs 1. Bob Drake 38.85 1. Khalid AlDoori 163.58 1. Jill Marshall 555.12 1. Laura Brill 495.79 2. Carol Weiss 22.26 2. Ann Van Dyke 153.79 2. Farley Mawyer 278.7 2. Rick Goldstein 490.49 3. Carlo Vittorini 20.14 3. Joyce Kaplan 134.94 3. Barbara Loprete 268.23 3. 357.65

5 to 20 MPs 200 to 300 MPs 2,500 to 5,000 MPs 1. Norma Rollins 54.22 1. Ellen Tilzer 123.61 1. Michael McNamara 591.5 Additional Results 2. Michael Miller 53 2. John Grosz 118.67 2. Mark Gordon 581.69 Oct. 2011 STAC 3. Eugene Donovan 49.37 3. Fali Rubinstein 109.4 3. Heidi Klein 479.3 Wed. Oct 26

20 to 50 MPs 300 to 500 MPs 5,000 to 7,500 MPs Siwanoy Bridge Club 1. Susan Pfeister 157.39 1. James Maffucci 157.97 1. Tania Reyes Hiller 811.49 1. Marcia Lee - Nancy Hand 2. Rory Millson 120.88 2. Judy Gruenberger 147.17 2. Faye Marino 401.28 2. Susan Pfeister - Sara 3. Sara Bellesheim 84.42 3. Anna Rosanelli 132.21 3. Nancy Molesworth 372.49 Bellesheim

50 to 100 MPs 500 to 1,000 MPs 7,500 to 10,000 MPs Distr. 3 Regional, 1. Ray Pfeister 430.69 1. Robert Krissoff 248.43 1. Dan Hertz 426.63 Danbury, CT 2. Guy Hochgesang 78.44 2. Stephen Blau 164.23 2. Natalie Hertz 398.41 Sat. Oct 29 Senior Pairs 3. Joyce Hochgesang 78.1 3. David Katzman 155.21 3. Warren Rosner 246.66 2. Genevieve Hewitt

Ace of Clubs Winners 0 to 5 MPs 100 to 200 MPs 1,000 to 2,500 MPs Over 10,000 MPs 1. Carol Weiss 21.47 1. Joyce Kaplan 91.06 1. Jill Marshall 217.41 1. Laura Brill 425.55 2. W John Zygmunt 19.56 2. Khalid AlDoori 80.62 2. Barbara Loprete 210.47 2. Rick Goldstein 419 3. Carlo Vittorini 19.3 3. Sonia Sasson 67.79 3. Clifford Nebel 200.14 3. Kay Schulle 294.59

5 to 20 MPs 200 to 300 MPs 2,500 to 5,000 MPs 1. Eugene Donovan 43.16 1. Linda Reavis 68.91 1. Heidi Klein 363.71 2. Norma Rollins 30.34 2. Neil Beck 67.61 2. Linda Otness 236.34 3. Michael Miller 29.12 3. John Grosz 67.31 3. L. Christianson 223.87

20 to 50 MPs 300 to 500 MPs 5,000 to 7,500 MPs 1. Rory Millson 68.72 1. James Maffucci 115.02 1. Tania Reyes Hiller 322.55 2. Sara Bellesheim 55.59 2. Harold Kelvin 95.86 2. Halina Jamner 300.17 3. Susan Pfeister 53.17 3. Judy Gruenberger 89.39 3. Nancy Molesworth 280.5

50 to 100 MPs 500 to 1,000 MPs 7500 to 10,000 MPs 1. Ray Pfeister 165.83 1. Robert Krissoff 214.56 1. Dan Hertz 222.45 2. Renee Kaplan 52.24 2. Mort Amstel 134.83 2. Natalie Hertz 202.28 3. Roonie Kennedy 50.45 3. Stephen Blau 129.92 3. Warren Rosner 181.52

March 2012 Page 5

CONVENTION HALL DEFENSIVE SIGNALING PART 2 by Jason Fuhrman

The has been made according to whatever this: “High means aye, low means no.”) For example, you’re de- your lead agreements are, and now it’s time for the rest of the fending a 4H contract. Playing A from AK, partner leads the SA, defense to kick in. Very few contracts are claimed after the open- and you’re holding S82. You may see the potential for a heart ing lead, and even fewer claim all 13 tricks. So you and your , if partner continues with the SK and a third spade. You play partner need to communicate with each other to maximize your the 8, followed by the 2 to encourage partner to keep leading the defensive trick taking. suit. If instead you’re holding S832, you would play the 2, be- There are two places to signal your partner what is going cause you have no high spade to help partner and no chance of a on: both when following suit and when discarding. There are also ruff. And if you’re holding SQ82, you play the 8 to signal en- three types of signals: attitude, count, and suit preference. As I couragement not for a ruff, but to try to get your SQ to win a mentioned in the December 2011 column, there are conflicts be- trick. tween the various signaling conventions, so you and your partner A count signal tells partner if you have an even number need to be on the same wavelength. The types of signals can be or odd number of cards in the suit. It is up to partner to decipher the same whether they are in following suit or discarding. The how many you have. (Counting distribution to figure the exact examples that follow are from following suit. number of cards is logic, not conventional. That topic must be Generally, the rarest of the signals is the suit preference saved for a different column, or an entire book.) Using the exam- signal. Typically, this would come up when partner leads an A ple in the last paragraph, when you played the S8 from S82, you from AK (or K from AK, if that’s your agreement), and there is a also gave a count signal of an even number. But from the SQ82, singleton on the board, so there is no future in continuing the suit. the conflict in signaling convention arises. You might play the S8 In a suit contract, when playing a suit you don’t want continued, to encourage, followed by the S2 to continue encouragement, and you play a high card to ask for the higher of the other suits not give a count signal at all. Or you might play the S2, S8, SQ to (excluding ), and low card to ask for the lower suit. For give count, not attitude. example, defending a spade contract, you need to give a suit pref- So how do you know what type of signal it is, since it erence signal using diamonds. A high diamond would ask for a can’t be everything? Start with a basic agreement: what is your heart shift, while a low diamond would request a club shift. primary signal? There’s even a place on the to Against no-trump contracts, the theory is similar (although it indicate it. Almost universally, it will be either attitude or count. would not apply on the lead of a top honor against a singleton in For beginning players, attitude is probably the better primary dummy), but there may be all three side suits in play. If so, then signal, as counting is harder work! You also need to recognize you have to judge your spots to high-middle-low to correspond to that suit preference (unless it’s your primary signal) will be the the highest suit-middle suit-lowest suit. rarest signal, and you’d only apply it such as where partner leads An attitude signal indicates whether you would like the a top honor and there is a singleton on the board, so it can’t be suit continued. Using standard signals, you would play a high anything else. card to indicate you want the suit continued or a low card to dis- courage the continuation. (Rhyming memory tip to remember NEXT: BASIC DEFENSIVE SIGNALING FOR DISCARDS

Congratulations to new Life Masters Beverly and Don Jacobson

Beverly writes: Although we played in the early to mid 1970s, because of work and family obligations, we did not play duplicate for another 25 years. When we decided to resume the game, we found that it had changed, that we needed to learn many new theories and conventions. After taking lessons and reading many books, we decided we were ready to try the game again. It is truly a game of challenges and we are thrilled we reached the level of Life Master. We know, however, that the challenges will continue. Page 6 Bridging the Counties

2012 WCBA DOUBLE KO

Come join the hundreds of event runs from April fies for a lower bracket club for any match they people that play the annu- until October with each can also choose to simul- play at a club. Teams al Westchester Double team playing one match taneously play in one or must have at least four KO. The event is a brack- per month. The two teams both higher brackets. The players and are strongly eted double KO. This schedule their match at a event is sectionally rated encouraged to have five or event works similarly to time and place that is con- and the points count to- six players to make sched- the type of knockouts that venient for them, allowing ward the Player of the uling easier. Entries are are run at regional tourna- a lot of flexibility. There Year race. You can view due by 3/30/2012. Please ments with a few differ- will be three brackets (one the full conditions of con- mail form to: ences. First, it takes two top bracket, one for play- test, brackets and results losses to get knocked out ers under 2,500 mps, and for last year at http:// of the event, not one. Se- one for players under www.bridge-wcba.org. Jason Fuhrman cond, instead of being 1,000 mps). Any team can The entry fee is $48 per 21 Alkamont Avenue played in one or two days request to play in a higher team. Teams will also Scarsdale, NY 10583 during a tournament, the bracket. A team that quali- have to pay a fee to the

DOUBLE KO ENTRY FORM

Captain: Assistant Captain:

Phone # Phone #

Email Email

Masterpoints

ACBL # ACBL #

Player 3 Player 4

Masterpoints Masterpoints

ACBL # ACBL #

Player 5 Player 6

Masterpoints Masterpoints

ACBL # ACBL #

Bracket choice: Bracket 1 __ Bracket 2 __ (each player <2,500MPs) Bracket 3__ (each player <1,000 MPs) March 2012 Page 7

WCBA DOUBLE KO WINNERS

BRACKET 1 BRACKET 2 BRACKET 3

2008: (Tie) Rick Goldstein, Laura Brill, 2008: Robin & Larry Brown, Ed & Karen 2008: Fran Altman, Martin Barschi, Bert Joan Gerard, Steve Shane, Seth Cohen, Zuckerberg, Cliff Nebel, Jeff Allen Haber, Genevieve Porti, Alice Neild, Bill Richard Gertner; and (Tie) Fred Hawa, Hamilton Tom Simon, Jack & Dianne Bonney 2009: Roberta Meadow, Rick Zucker, 2009: Jason Fuhrman, Rick Rosenthal, Jay 2009: Vivian Wu, Jill Marshall, Mort Am- Mike & Sylwia McNamara, David Yates Sloofman, Tim Baird, Rob & Melissa stel, Robert Krissoff, Linda Green, Dexter Baker Senft

2010: Rich Laufer, Faye Marino, Fred 2010: Jason Fuhrman, Rick Rosenthal, Jay 2010: Wendy Sklar, Alice Neild, Norman Hawa, Tom Simon Sloofman, Tim Baird, Rob & Melissa Gleicher, Raymond Myers, Jill Weinstein, Baker Betty Heller 2011: Rich Laufer, Faye Marino, Fred 2011: Farley Mawyer, Jill Marshall, Bill 2011: n/a Hawa, Tom Simon Palmer, John Gropp, Steven Lockwood, Vivian Wu DISTRICT 3 SPRING REGIONAL Page 8 Bridging the Counties

ONLY ENTROPY COMES EASY by Bernard Schneider Is Bridge an easy game? Of course it is. All get to play and to meet all those interesting 2- Double. Get partner involved, so you can you have to do is make the right bids and play people from around the world you read about in have someone to blame afterward. Double does the right cards at the right time, and the rest will the newspapers. The first time we played in the bring the  suit play, but what is your plan if take care of itself. event in Nashville in 2007, we were exactly partner bids 4. or 4? All seriousness aside, and having given some average after four rounds. In the fifth round, we 3- 4. Certainly a possibility. Step right up to thought to the matter, I would maintain that the played a foursome of Italian world champions. the plate, swing for the fences, and begin mak- core of the discussion is the difference between We lost that match, and in the fifth round, de- ing up an excuse as you wait for the dummy to “simple” and “easy.” Because the rules of spite having fallen further in the standings, we come down. If you are even moderately com- bridge are so simple, we fool ourselves into played Mike Passell and three other nationally- fortable with risk, well worth considering. ranked players. The logic is inescapable. Even thinking that it is an easy game. 4- 3NT. Who needs (.) stoppers? Bob Ham- if everyone in the field is an expert player, then In chess, for example, each side has 16 piec- man’s Rule: “If 3NT is a possible alternative, it somebody still must have below average scores. es which move in different ways. At every turn, is the choice you should make.” Give up on s, And this brings us back to the discussion of you can move any of the pieces, and may have with likely bad breaks. As little as upwards of 30 choices; and the pieces can move whether Bridge is an easy game. It is New Orle- xx, Qxxx, Qxx, .J109x will bring the backwards, forwards and sideways, and return ans in 2011. Through great skill and effort game home. at any time to a previously-occupied space. (possibly), or through a cataclysmic alignment Experts are highly competitive by nature, and Consider, by contrast the play/defense at of the stars (the opponents’ odds-on slam goes their stock in trade is aggressive bidding to bridge. There are thirteen tricks and therefore down because of a bad break, which the Bridge push the opponents around. Frances consults only thirteen choices for an entire hand. Most of Gods have determined will happen at our table th Meckstroth’s Rule: “When faced with a choice, the time you are following suit or discarding. for our benefit), we have qualified 25 out of always bid, never pass” and bids 3NT. But (no) On many hands, you have no decisions to 250 teams. Tomorrow, anything is possible. surprise, the vulnerable opponents aren’t make; generally perhaps one or two. And eve- Sunday morning we walk into a room full of through, despite your 20 gilt-edged points. ryone plays in order; you wait your turn, and the bridge elite. We belong. We sit down for the anyone who is rude enough to bid out of turn first round, and Marty Fleisher is my right, and Fleisher bids again—4.; partner bids 4; gets punished. And if that wasn’t enough, the Mike Kamil is on my left. Marty is from New Kamil bids 4. What now? The correct ap- game has a dummy; 13 cards are spread on the York, Mike from New Jersey. They are an es- proach generally is to be aggressive, but what table to make everything easier for everyone, tablished partnership in their late 40s with many do you do with all this bidding? Frances (no and declarer gets to play two hands. national titles to their credit. They are polite and shrinking violet she) Xs and everybody passes. The rules of bidding are also very simple. real gentlemen. Mike has been awarded the East is the Dealer; E-W Vulnerable. Unlike football for example, where 22 players ACBL’s 2012 Sportsman of the Year. It doesn’t East South West North are running around simultaneously in (dis) get any better than this. 1♦ 3 pass pass organized confusion, in bridge everybody gets a Board one of the day and Frances picks up: 3NT 4♣ 4♦ 4 turn to bid, in order. No interruption is allowed; KQ6, AK72, AKJ106, .2. In first seat at X pass pass pass you just have to wait your turn politely. And favorable vulnerability she bids 1 and Marty your choices are always highly limited. For Fleisher bids a vulnerable 3, which is fol- ♠875 The play goes ♥Q109 quickly. I lead a ; example, once the auction reaches say 3s, all lowed by 2 passes back to her. Now what? levels and suits below that are taken off the But first a theological diversion. It is a truism ♦842 Frances cashes a  table. that higher-level bridge players bid a lot. You ♣AQ64 and a , and ♠4 ♠KQ6 Convinced? Well, maybe. The devil is, as can count on it. To explain this phenomenon, Fleisher ruffs the ♥J8653 ♥AK72 they say, in the details. But “easy” is another you can either take a religious or an atheistic second . He leads matter. Anyway, let’s leave this theoretical view. The religious view is that the better you ♦Q973 ♦AKJ106 a .to dummy, exercise behind and get back to the real world. are, the Bridge Gods reward you with more ♣753 ♣2 plays the 8, thinks Perhaps Frances’ and my favorite event, right hands that allow you to bid rather than pass. I ♠AJ10932 for a short bit, and ♥4 at the top of our list, is the two-day Al Roth am more inclined to the atheistic view: “Every rides it. When it Swiss Teams on the final weekend of the sum- hand, no matter what you hold, is a good hand ♦5 wins, he claims. mer nationals. Earlier on in the nationals there on which to make a bid.” ♣KJ1098 are competing events every day so that experts OK; I have given you some time to think it There is not much point in discussing the and world class players are dispersed some- over. What do you do? Here are the choices: hand at that moment. Partner made a pure judg- what. Not so on the final weekend. The hustle 1- Pass. Surprised? When I later discussed this ment call. Interestingly enough, minus 790 is and bustle of the tournament are in the past, and hand with experts, this choice was strongly duplicated at the other table for a push board. everyone, and I do mean everyone, shows up. considered. A likely outcome, their opponents’ The rest of the boards are, however, not good, It is a four-session event and 250 teams enter. being vulnerable, is down two, or plus 200. If and we rack up a solid loss. The rest of the day Saturday is a two-session qualifier (8 rounds), you have a game, and assuming you can find isn’t much better. When we get home I laminate with half the field qualifying, and Sunday is a the right game, you score plus 400. Thus, pass- the Daily Bulletin showing how we stood at the two-session final. Our goal is single and un- ing pretty much guarantees you a plus score and end of the first day. shaken—to qualify for the second day. If we the worst possible outcome that is likely by On the plane home, Frances and I discuss the can, the rest is gravy, however well we eventu- passing is minus 200 or negative six Imps. (For hand. I intrude the notion that Fleisher (no fool ally do. those mathematicians versed in Game Theory, he) must have a boat load of black cards, and so The better we do, the more good teams we the minimax outcome.) the double is not so clear cut. She has already March 2012 Page 9

worked out that 5s, likely undoubled, is down one. A big part of her decision at the table is that I may (likely) have a . trick. TOURNAMENT RESULTS Not the first bad board I have ever had or will have, and it is best not 2011 WINTER IN WESTCHESTER to dwell on it but to put it aside and move on. But there is something about the board that nags at me from deep inside. I get the feeling that I have been missing something. There is nothing in the play, and the bid- Friday Afternoon Open Pairs: Stayman ding is transparent enough, so I think; but I can’t let go of it. A: Ellen Bierman-Hope Furth 4/5 Carol Weiss-Steven It takes me a full week, but at last I finally see it. The randomness of B: Robert & Linda Friedman Huhman bridge. Look at my 4 bid. I’m not going to defend it here—it was a Saturday Morning Open Pairs choice amid uncertainty. I had made the slightly incorrect assumption C: Anne Walker-Harold Samu- that Frances was bidding on a long  suit, and I wanted to alert her to els A: Dan Wolkowitz-Steven the fact that she shouldn’t count on cashing  tricks. On the positive Friday Afternoon NLM Pairs: Huhman side, I did have 4s and ruffing values. Forgetting high card points, I A: Randall Sapadan-Joseph B: Melissa Baker-Robert Baker reckoned my hand as being worth two and possibly three tricks in a  DiBenedetto;Lois Lenzer- C: Peter Bittle-Neal Rechtman contract. Note, for example, that if Frances had the Ace instead of the Linda Reavis (tie) King, game would be cold, and slam would be made on a 2-2 break, or Saturday Afternoon Open Pairs if the Queen fell singleton (a 56% percent slam). B: Ines Kunreuther-Ruth Els- A: Daniel Raz-Patrick Calahan ner But the quality of my bid is not the point. My 4bid had the wholly B: Ray Pfeister-Rory Millson random effect on this hand of fortuitously revealing every card in every- C: Susan Blatt-Janet Braun body’s hand. If I had passed, and Kamil had bid 4, Frances would Sunday Open Swiss Friday Eve. Roy Hill ProAm know absolutely nothing about his hand, not a single card, except that he A: Maeve Lucey-Lawrence preferred s to .s. He could have, theoretically, 3 low s and 3 low .s. 1 John Zygmunt-Victor Mel- Lau-Harold Feldheim-Brett But once I had bid, the landscape had changed dramatically. Kamil’s man Adler opponents were in a part score, and he was vulnerable. He knew he had 2 Herb Jacobs-Farley Mawyer the better pair at both tables and, inevitably in these matters, the better B: Karin Meyers-Burt Meyers- team could be expected to make a better bid or play on this hand or that. 3/4 Leslie San Marco-Henry Martha Rosen-Ricki Gardner No need for him to go speculating vulnerable. Kamil had passed 3s on Deutsch C: Wayne Olson-Sandra Miller the first round without much thought; so what would cause him to bid 3/4 Howard Bindelglass-Jason -Rosemary Kindler-Beverly again—when, because of my bid, he didn’t have to? Fuhrman Jansen There could be only one reason: visualizing his partner’s hand, Kamil 4/5 Alan Primason-Bobby must hold solid . values in his partner’s second suit. We have reached the end of our story. Working backward, and looking at the diagram, both opponents and partner (now that we know he cannot have anything Edgar Kaplan Regional 12-26/12-30 in .s), have exactly what they told you they had in the bidding. Well, maybe I was wrong, after all. Bridge is actually an easy game. Monday Jim Becker A/X Pairs It’s all right in front of you; all you have to do is know how to look. A X Not without interest is what happened at the other table, with Chip 1 Ruth Grant Martel and Lew Stansby, already members of the Bridge Hall of Fame 2 Jason Fuhrman-Richard Rosenthal sitting North-South. Martel opened 1 and North bid 2NT—the Tuesday 3:30 Side Game “colorful 2NT” showing length specifically in the black suits. I have never encountered anyone else on the planet who plays this convention, A B and it seems a less valuable use then the unusual 2NT for the lowest 2 1 Nora Stonehill-Fran Columbus unbid suits, but what do I know? The Bridge Gods have arranged, in a Tuesday Compact KO, Bracket 2 major event, to give my teammates the exact hand that would make this 1 Jill Marshall convention useful. South, no shrinking violet he, has a pretty much per- Wednesday RR Teams, Bracket 12 fect picture of his partner’s hand, vulnerable, and bids 4s. 1 Robert Blau Poor Chip Martel. He has no idea who his opponents were; he has Thursday 11AM Side Game certainly never played against them in winning all his 40 (!) national 1 Michael McNamara-Rory Millson titles. This suggests to him that, by definition, they are not high-level Thursday 11AM 199er Pairs players. Looking at his hand, he has no doubt that one or both of them 1 Renee Kaplan has made a serious error of judgment. He has not had the fuller auction 2 Thursday 3:30 Swiss Side Game that occurred at our table to suggest otherwise and, even if he had, he may well have doubled anyway. “Double” he says, and minus 790. A B C In the end, a tale of uncertainty, randomness, human wisdom, and 2 Stanley Weiner human frailty. And it is, after all, just a single hand. I conclude. As a Thursday Compact KO, Bracket 4 chess player, I can well understand how you can program a computer to 1 Diane Rosenkranz-Roberta Lowell-Merle Lewis- beat any chess player. In chess, everything is there in front of you—no Ruth Menken uncertainty, randomness, no human element. Eventually, through sheer 2 2 Juanita Leff brute calculation you can identify the objectively best move. I submit Friday B RR Teams, Bracket 1 this hand as Exhibit A, that Bridge is another matter entirely. 1 Ralph & Gloria Tamlyn Page 10 Bridging the Counties

DISTRICT 3 RYE TOWN REGIONAL (Only unit members are listed in pairs/teams) 2 Fran Columbus-Nora Stonehill Friday Open Pairs Tuesday 7PM Side Game 1 Sara Sheperd A X A B C 2 Debbie Jacoby 2 Michael McNamara 2 2 Janice L Wild Thursday Senior Pairs Friday 7PM Side Game Wednesday 9AM Side Game A B C A B C A B C 1 Carlos Munoz 2 2 2 Janice L Wild 1 1 Jill Marshall 1 Karen Feldman 2 Mimi Bieber 1 Anna Rosanelli Thursday 3PM 199er Pairs Thu-Fri Side Game Series 2 Eric Richelson-Barbara Gold- A B C 1 Jill Marshall berg 1 1 1 Ellen Kramer 2 Arlene Walzer Wednesday 10AM 199er Pairs Thursday 7PM Side Game 2 Martin Walzer A B C A B C Fri-Sat Compact KO 1 Guy & Joyce Hochgesang 1 1 Steven Lockwood 1 H Jay Sloofman-Timothy Baird- 2 Maureen Sabo-Laura Lee 1 Marilyn Donahue-Cynthia Wil- -Jill Marshall Montross liams 2 John Boyer-Robert Stayman Tue-Wed KO, Bracket 1 Thursday A/X Swiss Saturday Senior Pairs 2 Dottie Kovel-Arthur Seelen- A X A B C freund-Natalie Hertz-Dan Hertz 2 Arch McKellar 1 Tania Reyes Hiller Wednesday Senior Pairs Thursday B/C Swiss 2 Nancy Molesworth-Susan Kran- A B C B C er 1 Joanne Marks-Richard Castel- 1 Marcello Gambacorta-Barbra 1 Amy Blecher-Sylvia Stahl lone Arnold-Rene Frayman 1 Joseph Shuldiner 2 Paul Lewis-William Hoffman Friday Senior Pairs 2 Diane Rosenkranz-Alfred Knight Wednesday 1PM Side Game A B C Saturday 1PM Side Game A B C 1 1 Ellen Bierman A B C 1 1 1 Raymond Myers-Dennis Glazer 2 Lester Gottlieb-William Hoff- 1 Daniel Raz 2 2 Dotsy Potter-Joan Wiener man 2 Kenneth Felder-Teri Felder Wednesday 7PM Side Game 2 Joan Vogel-Dorothy Miller Saturday Open Pairs A B C Friday Compact KO, Bracket 1 A X 1 Fred Hawa-Judith Chaice 1 H Jay Sloofman-Susan Duval- 1 1 Michael Prahin-Elena Prahin 2 1 Betty Heller Clifford Nebel-Edward Zuckerberg Saturday 7PM Swiss Side Game Wednesday RR Teams, Bracket 2 2 Heidi Klein-Linda Otness A B C 2 Robert Rubinstein-Rory Millson Friday Compact KO, Bracket 2 1 Janet Lippmann-Mimi Bieber- -Sylwia McNamara-Michael McNamara 1 Steven Lockwood-Jill Marshall Stephen Lippmann-Eileen Paley Wednesday RR Teams, Bracket 6 2 Henry Deutsch-Eileen O'Neill 2 1 Sidney Stayman-Bobby Stayman 2 Beverly Jacobson-Don Jacobson Friday Compact KO, Bracket 4 -Joanne Matthews-Norman Matthews -Harvey Sugar-Richard Weiss 2 Rebecca Margulies-Susan Fisher Saturday Compact KO, Bracket 1 Wednesday RR Teams, Bracket 7 -Jackie Stone Greenwich CT-Ellen Tilzer 2 Jeff Aker 1 Louise Karp-Joseph Dibenedetto Friday 1PM Side Game Saturday Compact KO, Bracket 2 -Charles Hoffer A B C 2 Henry Deutsch-Eileen O'Neill 2 Karin Meyers-Burt Meyers- 1 1 1 Martin Walzer-Arlene Walzer 1 Stephen Sahlein-Nancy Sahlein Martha Rosen-Joan Giardina 2 2 Bobby Stayman 2 Marjorie Vogel-Dottie Kovel Thursday 9AM Side Game 2 Frances Seicol-Helene Winston 2 Judith Lapolla-Douglas Dill A B C 2 Karen Feldman-Estelle Johnston Sunday 11AM Side Game 1 1 Jill Marshall Friday 1PM Swiss Side Game A B C 2 Marilyn Donahue-Cynthia Wil- A B C 1 Idelle Katz-Neil Littmann liams 1 Dan Hertz-Natalie Hertz 2 1 1 Jerry Greenspan-Dorothy Green- Thursday Fast Pairs 2 Susan Sekulow-Hope Furth- span A B C Marian Rubin-Jane Silver 2 Joanne Matthews-Norman Mat- 1 1 Jill Marshall 1 Ray Pfeister-Sara Bellesheim- thews 2 Michael McNamara Susan Pfeister-Khalid AlDoori 2 William Caslin-David Caslin March 2012 Page 11

Sunday 10:30 199er Pairs A B C 2 1 1 Mindy White-Anna Decker A B C 2 Martin Walzer-Arlene Walzer Monday 3PM Swiss Side Game 1 Barbara Gross West-Susan Monday Compact KO, Bracket 1 A B C Shmerler 1 Arch McKellar-Chuck Lamprey 2 2 David Huber-Peter Bittle-Neal 2 Ida Pittman Cardona-Linda 2 Rory Millson-Jill Marshall- Rechtman Hampton Michael McNamara 1 Harvey Sugar-Marie Sugar- Sunday 3:30 Side Game Monday Compact KO, Bracket 2 Richard Stroh-Janet Stroh A B C 2 Jason Fuhrman-Richard Rosen- Monday 3PM 199er Pairs 2 2 1 Lynne Forrest thal-Timothy Baird-Farley Mawyer A B C Sunday 3PM 199er Pairs Monday Compact KO, Bracket 3 1 Lynne Forrest A B C 1 Gloria Tamlyn 2 1 Norman Fraiden-Arlene Fraiden 1 Anna Decker-Linda Walke Monday Compact KO, Bracket 5 Sunday A/X Swiss 2 Byron Nimocks A X Monday Compact KO, Bracket 6 Rye Youth Game 2 Jeff Aker 2 Rebecca Margulies-Susan Fisher Thirty-four kids attended the youth 1 John Boyer-Ellyn Plato-Stephen Monday Open Pairs game in Rye, up over 50% from the first Lippmann-Janet Lippmann A B C ever game held last year. Congratula- 2 Michael Prahin 2 Steven Huhman-L Patrick Cala- tions to Barbara Clark, Betty Cox, Jerry Sunday B/C Swiss han Goodman, Mike McNamara, and every- B C Monday Senior Pairs one else in the district who has done so 2 Joseph Shuldiner A B C much to encourage youth bridge. The 2 Anne Diedrick-Tory Kane 1 Kassie Munoz-Mimi Bieber success at Rye is due to their hard work, Monday Youth Bridge 2 1 Karen Feldman-Ellen Tilzer and the efforts of youth programs like Rich Laufer’s Sunday games at The 1 Amber Yu Lin-Jennifer Ling Monday 3PM Side Game Bridge Deck and the School Bridge 2 Brandon Lin-Alex Sung A B C League. Monday 10:30 Side Game 1 Sylwia McNamara

DISTRICT 3 2011-2012 GRAND NATIONAL TEAMS This year’s Grand National Teams will be held on Saturday March 31, 2012 for all Flights at Saint Gregory’s Armenian Church 1131 North Street, White Plains, N.Y.

Complimentary Brunch 11:30 am-Event start time 12:30 pm; Championship Flight – No MP Restrictions. Seeded Knockout (survivors continue PM) Flight A: 0-5000 MASTERPOINTS Seeded Knockout (survivors continue PM) Flight B: 0-2000 MASTERPOINTS Swiss Teams (2 sessions) Flight C: NON-LIFE MASTER 0-500 MPS Swiss Teams (2 sessions)

Masterpoint holding as of ACBL’s September 2011 MP cycle; All players must be residents of District 3 Gold points awarded in all flights. Saturday PM start time TBA; Championship Flight and Flight A will continue on KO basis with must play date designated at the conclusion of Saturday event. Flight B and Flight C winner will be winner of Swiss Team event (No KO playoffs).

The team that wins in each Flight will receive a $500 subsidy, plus entry fees for the GNT National Finals at the Summer NABC in Philadelphia, PA. Please direct inquiries to Betty Ann Smith 201-567-6047 [email protected]. Cell: 201-394-5754 for Conditions of Contest. Page 12 Bridging the Counties

Batman Continues by Ethan Stein Having tasted success at the Justice League Team Championships, Bat Girl had caught the Bridge Bug. In addition, since as Bar- bara Gordon she had been seen out and about with rich guy Bruce Wayne, she thought it might be fun to take a weekend off from their alter egos and attend a bridge tournament together. Batman disagreed, as while bridge was important, crime fighting was para- mount. They would have to go as Batman and Bat Girl.

The Friday Pairs Game was uninspiring. Bad luck and rookie mistakes led to two average games. Worse yet, The Joker and The Penguin had taken the top spot. At the bar afterwards, The Joker delighted in belittling the “Caped Boobs” and their bridge results. Bat Girl was near tears and Batman had his hands full convincing her that much of the score was a result of random events and not bad bridge. He assured her that Saturday’s game would be different.

Indeed it was. Batman was hot and Batgirl was taking tricks by accident. As the next to final round approached, Batman was quite certain that winning was within their grasp. Batman noted that his adversaries would be The Joker and The Penguin and he was de- termined that they would not best him twice in one weekend.

♠A5 The first board of the penultimate round was routine and not many match points were up ♥43 for grabs. The second board was anything but. As North [dealer] Bat Girl opened 1. The ♦AKQ9876 ♣32 Joker tried 2 and Batman paused to consider his options. Double stood out because of his ♠432 ♠QJ987 defense, but Bat Girl often got confused when auctions got complex, so Batman ♥2 ♥AKQ987 tried a straight forward 2NT. Bat Girl beamed and placed the 6NT card on the table. The Joker

♦105 ♦- nearly fell off his chair laughing as he doubled. ♣J1098765 ♣K4 ♠K106 The Penguin considered his lead as tears started streaking down Bat Girl’s cheek. The Penguin ♥J1065 reasoned that a  or  lead was normal, so that if Joker wanted and unusual lead, a . stood ♦J432 ♣AQ out. Besides, with the sequential cards, how could it hurt? So the J. was led. Bat Girl nerv- ously placed down the dummy. After some thought, Batman played low and gave Bat Girl a loving wink. A squeeze without the count, thought Batman. Two rounds of .s and seven rounds of s produced a 4 card end posi- tion:

♠A5 He led the 4 establishing the 3 as the twelfth trick. The Joker was beside himself. He screamed at The Penguin ♥43 for letting that twit of a girl escape a horrendous result. Batman, ever gallant, praised her remarkable foresight in ♠QJ9 recognizing the power of her 43 doubleton. He squealed with delight as he finished his remarks. “I am not ♥A amused” barked the Joker. “How Victorian of you” added Batman. He knew his historical reference would be lost ♠K106 on his audience but that was usually the case. ♥10

In the next round, Batgirl was put to the test and this time Batman could not come to the rescue. Batgirl held x, A10987, Q54, .10987. At favorable, Batman opened 3 and CatWoman overcalled 3. A 5 call stood out. The Riddler tried 6. All passed and Batgirl was on lead. She tried the A and saw the dummy:

♠Qxx Batman played the 3, declarer played the 2. What now? Give Batman a ruff, try to give him a .ruff or hope he had ♥KQJ10 the A? All of Batman’s teachings raced through her head. What did she do and why? ♦2 ♣AK765 The hand proved decisive and Bat Girl had won her first regional. Batman thought to himself I hope I don’t see the Bat Signal in the night sky. March 2012 Page 13

WCBA Board Of Directors

Name Title Term Exp. Email Name Title Term Exp. Email Mike McNamara President 2012 [email protected] Ellyn Plato Director 2013 [email protected] Farley Mawyer Vice President 2012 [email protected] Wendy Sklar Director 2013 [email protected] jsloof- Eileen O'Neill Secretary 2012 [email protected] Jay Sloofman Director 2013 [email protected] Dave Huber Treasurer 2012 davidhuber@verizon,net Judy Soley Director 2013 [email protected] Robin Brown Imm Past Pres 2012 [email protected] Carole Tunick Director 2013 [email protected] Abbye Bosses Director 2012 [email protected] Mimi Bieber Director 2014 [email protected] Henry Deutsch Director 2012 [email protected] Joel Goren Director 2014 [email protected] Jason Fuhrman Director 2012 [email protected] Yuiko Hebner Director 2014 [email protected]

Rich Laufer Director 2012 [email protected] Sandy Scher Director 2014 [email protected] Jill Marshall Director 2012 [email protected] Ann Van Dyke Director 2014 [email protected] Marjorie Murstein Director 2012 [email protected] Dan Wolkowitz Director 2014 [email protected] Jeff Allen Director 2013 [email protected]

2012 Committee Assignments Committees & Positions Chair Member Member Member Member

American Bridge Association Liaison Lorraine Hinds Bill Wood Auditing & Financial Nie Lih Kalat Budget Dave Huber Jeff Allen Jeff Allen Dan Wolkowitz Coordinator Ed Zuckerberg Charity Game TBD Conduct & Ethics (disciplinary) Dan Hertz Warren Rosner Arch McKellar Ethan Stein Betty Fleischer Counsel & Parliamentarian Jason Fuhrman Marshall Frank (by-laws) District 3 Representatives Dan Wolkowitz Mimi Bieber Mike McNamara Double KO Coordinator Jason Fuhrman Editorial (BTC) Ellyn Plato Alisan Harte Chris Lebesnik Rich Laufer Marjorie Murstein Education Liaison Rich Laufer Enith Berg Wendy Sklar Marylin Wishnie Dan Wolkowitz Executive Committee Mike McNamara Farley Mawyer Eileen O'Neill Jerry Greenspan Robin Brown GNT Coordinator Mike McNamara Jay Sloofman Sandy Scher Jill Marshall Farley Mawyer Hospitality Abbye Bosses Brad Calcagni Ellen Reller Linda Otness Ann Scott I/N Coordinator (Jane Hill) Sandy Scher Eileen O'Neill Henry Deutsch Ellyn Plato Membership Henry Deutsch Mini-McKenney Swiss Wendy Sklar NAOP Coordinator Mike McNamara Nominating Marjorie Murstein Betty Fleischer Idelle Katz Joel Sommer Dan Hertz Publicity/Marketing Committee TBD Recorder Eileen O’Neill School Bridge League Liaison Mike McNamara Signs & Programs Carol Laufer Robin Brown STAC. Unit Games Coordinator & Tournament Farley Mawyer Jill Marshall Ellyn Plato Henry Deutsch Sunshine Marjorie Murstein Tournament Farley Mawyer Tournament Appeals Farley Mawyer Ethan Stein Webmaster Ed Zuckerberg Jason Fuhrman Marjorie Murstein Winter in Westchester Jill Marshall Dave Huber Melissa Baker Ellyn Plato Page 14 Bridging the Counties

CLUB CORNER

Club Schedule

Mon-Fri: 9:30 AM Open Stratified Mon-Sun: 1:00 PM Open Stratified The Bridge Deck M, W, T, Th: 1:00 PM 0-NonLM Newplicate 313 Central Avenue, Scarsdale T, W: 1:30 PM Supervised Play 949-5853 Wed: 6:30 PM 0-NonLM Newplicate Special Events TheBridgeDeck.Com Mon: 7 PM Open Stratified Thurs: 7:30 PM Imp Pairs w/ Cash Prize Thurs: 7:30 PM Supervised Play March All games are stratified 500/1500/∞. 5 ACBL-Wide Seniors Game (Afternoon), Bridge Deck, Hartes’ The Hartes Club Afternoon games offer a separate 0-500 (NLM) St. Gregory’s Armenian Church 19-25 Charity Week, Bridge Deck section if 5 or more tables. 1131 North Street, White Plains 25 Charity Swiss teams, 1:00 P.M., Bridge Deck M, T: 9:30am, 1:00pm, 6:30pm 285-1230 27 Eight is Enough Swiss Teams, game at 6:30, W, Th, Fri: 9:30am, 1:00pm HartesClub.Com hot dinner at 6:00, Hartes’ Sat: Summers only

Heritage Hills Duplicate Club Tues: 7:20PM Invitational Heritage Hills, Somers Thurs: 12:30 PM Invitational April 16-22 ACBL Charity Week, Bridge Deck 22 ACBL Charity Swiss teams, 1:00 P.M., Bridge Deck 24 Open Swiss Teams, game at 6:30, hot dinner at 6:00, Hartes’ Larchmont Temple Bridge Club Wed: 7:15 PM Stratified 75 Larchmont Avenue, Larchmont (informal mini-lesson starts at 6:55) 261-3974 Club operates from April 1 to December 15th May

Community Bridge Club 10 ACBL-Wide International Fund Game (Afternoon), Bridge Lutheran Church Deck, Hartes’ Mon. 10:30 Corner Rt. 172 & Main St., Mt. Kisco 14-20 Charity Week, Bridge Deck 241-0937 21 Charity Swiss teams, 1:00 P.M, Bridge Deck 22 Eight is Enough Swiss Teams, game at 6:30, hot dinner at 6:00, Hartes’ Changes and Closings The Larchmont Temple Bridge Club is closed December through March. The club reopens April 4th.

News

Hartes’: Classes for new beginners will be starting Tuesday 3/27 and will meet every Tuesday morning from 10 AM-noon. April: all games will be charity club championships with extra points at no extra charge. March 2012 Page 15

Unit 188 Rank Changes

Junior Master (5 MPs) Sandra N Miller Ida Pittman Cardona Marcia R Altabet Carlo Vittorini Susan A Schnur Steven E Bear Richard Sher Wendy J Weinstein Richard H Bower Carol J Weiss NABC Master (200 MPs) John A Corry Sectional Master (50 MPs) Maurine Berkman Joan Denapoli Howard Cohen John P Howard Bob Drake Joseph Dibenedetto Merle Lewis Coryl Fuchs Martin L Fisher Roberta S Lowell Pamela R Furtsch Joanne Frank Ruth Menken Mary R Garber Susan W Freund Susan S Pfeister Paul R Guthrie Carol Katz Robert A Rubenstein Nancy D Hand Minnie Katz Advanced NABC Master Arthur Miller Robert A Kimerling Norman Gleicher Shelley Morrison Linda Negrin Life Master (300 MPs) Toni Rabin Lynda Sloan Khalid R AlDoori Jay M Rosen Etsuko Yamaguchi Richard Lerer Meriel A Rutherford Regional Master (100 MPs) Ray Pfeister Mary Ellen Scarborough Alice Appel Ellen G Tilzer Joan T Scott Barbara Lee Chapnick Bronze Life Master (500 MPs) Richard Sher Douglas W Dill Judy Gruenberger Monique B Storette Martin J Elgarten Ellen Reller Eleanor S Thorp Ida Gianukakis Barbara Worms Carol J Weiss George S Goldstein Silver Life Master (1000 MPs) Club Master (20 MPs) Sandra L Haffner Susan Katz Howard Finkelberg Ilona Kolb Robert L Krissoff Sal Forzano Judith F Lapolla Marian Rubin Yuiko Hebner Phyllis Ossen William L Wood Jr.

New Members

Janet Burnett Angela Penny Bob Drake Bernice Rissenberg Katherine D Elliott Patricia Rudolph Patsy F Elliott Marilyn Schultz Marcy S Fabiani Richard Sher Linda L Gordon Mindy Shulman Sally Kane Michael A Temple Leo Kelmar Barbara Tierney Ruth Kelmar Steve A Van Dyke Ronald Koerner Martin Weinstein Michee A Konner Kenneth J Wilder

Reflects changes recorded by the ACBL by February 1, 2012 BRIDGING THE COUNTIES PERIODICALS POSTAGE 190 East Post Road Paid at White Plains, NY White Plains, NY 10601

Coming Events March

11 Mini-McKenney Swiss, Bridge Deck

15-25 NABC, Memphis, TN

31 Dist. 3 GNT Finals Saint Gregory’s Armenian Church 1131 North Street, White Plains, NY (see details on page 11) May

1-6 Regional, Smithtown, NY

10 International Fund Game

23-28 Regional, NY, NY June

1-2 WBF Worldwide Pairs

4-10 STAC Week

11-17 District 3 Regional, Saratoga Springs, NY (see ad on page 5) July

12-22 NABC Philadelphia, PA

13 Int’l Fund Game Eve.

30-8/5 Dist. 3 Regional Parsippany, NJ

NAP Qualifying June, July and August