71st Fall North American Bridge Championships • November 20-30, 1997 • St. Louis, Missouri DailyVol. 71, No. 5 Tuesday, November 25, 1997 BulletinEditors: Henry Francis and Brent Manley 6 7 Womens Board-a-Match Teams champs: Happy winners of the Open Board-a-Match seated, Connie Goldberg and Sue Picus; Teams: from left, Doug Doub, Jim standing, Rozanne Pollack and Lisa Krekorian, John Rengstorff and Bob Berkowitz. Jay Brown selected as Blanchard. Jay Brown98 of Northridge Goodwill CA will spades. Member Krekorian puts Picus quartet be the 1998 Goodwill Member of the Of course Aileen would have pre- Year. The announcement was made ferred to tell Jay by phone from the captures by Aileen Osofsky, chairman of the meeting so he could hear all the ap- together ACBL Goodwill Committee, yester- plause. But since that proved to be WomensSue Picus has again Teams captained a day at the Goodwill meeting. impossible, she talked to him person- It Openall started winnerlast year when Jim winner in a major women’s team This honor is given annually to a ally earlier in the day so she could Krekorian fixed up a couple of event, only this time she was play- player who has given of himself or tell her audience about his reaction. friends to play in the Open Board-a- ing. herself so that other people can have “It’s not often you catch me Match Teams and the Blue Ribbon Picus, Lisa Berkowitz, Connie a good time playing our favorite speechless,” said Jay after he was told Pairs. They came in sixth in the BAM Goldberg and Rozanna Pollack out- game. Jay fulfilled this condition in Continued on page 4 but bombed in the Blue Ribbon. distanced the field with a strong sec- The two -- Doug Doub and John ond final session to win by nearly Rengstorff -- made up for it this year four boards. by helping Krekorian and Bob Earlier this month, Picus took the Blanchard to an impressive victory stage in Hammamet, Tunisia, as non- SeniorMost of the KOtop seeds enters in the Se- quarterfinalround. The upset victim round was the #2 in the Open Board-a-Match Teams. playing captain of the winning team nior Knockout Teams won Monday seed, headed by Jim Kirkham, who The foursome scored 18.5 in the Continued on page 7 to make it to today’s quarterfinal Continued on page 7 Continued on page 7 Ruth McConnell honored as Grande Dame of Bridge Ruth McConnell was called the Grande Dame of North American bridge by Chairman Aileen Osofsky as Ruth was honored yesterday at the Goodwill Committee meeting. Ruth was called out of town and was not able to be present, but the proceedings were captured on video. Ruth made history in 1974 when she became the ACBL’s first woman president. In 1985 she became the first woman to be elected 1 to the World Bridge Federation Executive Council. She served for several years as the treasurer of that organization. Ruth also was one of the powers behind the start of the Venice Cup world competition. Carol Sanders, in 1974 a member of America’s Carol Sanders, second from left, joins other former Venice Cup champions as she reads first Venice Cup team, called all Venice Cup players present to come a tribute to Ruth McConnell, who was instrumental in getting the event started. With Continued on page 4 Sanders are Kathie Wei-Sender, Jacqui Mitchell, Dorothy Truscott and Gail Greenberg. Page 2 Daily Bulletin ABoard neat 19 from thelittle second qualifying hand session SPECIAL EVENTS of the Board-a-Match Teams gave many top play- ers a chance to analyze in search of a way to de- 9:00 a.m. - Noon Club Director’sTuesday, Course, Director’s Nov. Row 25 48 feat 3NT. 11:45 a.m. Intermediate/Novice Speakers Program -- Jim Kirkham: Negative Doubles, Board 19 ♠ K Q 6 3 St. Louis Ballroom F-G-H ♥ 6:45 p.m. Intermediate/Novice Speakers Program -- Michael Huston: Playing with Dlr South 10 4 ♦ Finesse, St. Louis Ballroom F-G-H Vul E-W 10 5 4 ♣ 11:30 p.m. Player Hospitality, Rose Garden Room 10 8 6 4 ♠ J 7 5 2 ♠ A 8 ♥ 8 7 3 ♥ A 5 2 ♦ K J 6 ♦ A Q 9 8 2 9:00 a.m. - Noon Club Director’sWednesday, Course, Director’s Nov. Row 26 48 ♣ A 9 3 ♣ Q 5 2 11:45 a.m. Intermediate/Novice Speakers Program -- Max Hardy: Overcalls, St. Louis ♠ 10 9 4 Ballroom F-G-H ♥ K Q J 9 6 6:45 p.m. Intermediate/Novice Speakers Program -- Curtis Cheek: Interstate Bidding, ♦ 7 3 St. Louis Ballroom F-G-H ♣ K J 7 11:30 p.m. Player Hospitality, Rose Garden This hand came to us from three different sources. One told us how well Judi Cody played it in the Women’s Board-a-Match. Another explained 9:00 a.m. Special regionally-ratedThursday, two-session Nov. International27 Fund Pairs (second George Mittelman’s line of play. And Bart Bramley session Friday morning). Entry fee: $40. told us about Michael Rosenburg’s successful line. 10:30 a.m. - Noon ITT Meeting, Director’s Row 48 All three were the same! 11:45 a.m. Intermediate/Novice Speakers Program -- Billy Miller: Dear Billy, Live!, St. In each case South led the ♥K and continued Louis Ballroom F-G-H with a second heart to the ace. Declarer then ran 6:45 p.m. Intermediate/Novice Speakers Program -- Alan Truscott: First Trick, St. Louis five diamonds, putting a tremendous discarding Ballroom F-G-H burden on South. South didn’t want to sluff any hearts -- they were all good. Spade discards might help declarer in that suit. And a club discard might set up an endplay situation. In all three cases South discarded a club and two spades. In each case the declarer read the situ- Edgar Kaplan memorial ation -- they cashed the ♠A and put South in with any friends of the late Edgar Kaplan instead of something else. He would have excelled a heart. South of course was able to cash the hearts gathered yesterday for a memorial ser- at anything he tried. I was impressed by his hu- vice. Various speakers quavered mility -- he won 28 North American titles but he’d but then had to lead away from the king-jack of with emotion as they talked about their old friend. always point out how many more he lost. He also clubs. 3NT making in each case. MHis long-time partner Norman Kay was not in always had great respect for his close friends Can declarer still make the hand if South keeps town, so Judy Kay, his wife, spoke in his stead. BART BRAMLEY: I remember Edgar as a all three clubs? South can’t pitch all three of his Here’s what she had to say: player. I never could beat Edgar. He had an aura spades -- declarer could set up a spade trick on It is impossible for me to imagine a North at the table. I finally played in a Reisinger with power with the 8 and 7. American tournament not graced by Edgar’s pres- him -- if you can’t beat him, join him. He was What if South keeps one spade and sluffs a ence. He fought with every ounce of strength un- magnificent last spring in the Swiss Teams, his last heart? Then declarer throws South in. South cashes til the very end. And as his good friend Andy Arkin championship. three hearts but then must lead the ♠10. This is astutely observed at the memorial in New York, AMALYA KEARSE: Edgar had more effect on covered the jack and queen and won with the ace. “He didn’t give in, he didn’t give up -- he simply bridge players than anyone before or since. He also Declarer then can lead the ♠8 to drive out the king, gave out.” had a great effect on the world of bridge as a writer setting up the ♠7 as the game-going trick. A neat Sadly, Edgar’s death has resulted in a double and as a creator and guru of the laws of the game. He little hand. loss for the bridge community. Norman predict- was at home all over the world. ably has decided to retire from active bridge com- ALAN TRUSCOTT: I’m going to talk about petition. I can think of no greater testimonial to the private faces of Edgar Kaplan. He was a prac- this beautiful partnership that flourished with love tical joker. Once Peter Levintritt was moaning and respect for nearly half a century. However, about all the work he had to do to get good hands Gene Simpson heads Edgar was always quick to point out that, despite ready for his classes. Edgar said there’s nothing to their modest success, they undoubtedly held the it and showed a hand that was perfect. “And you EducationalGene Simpson of Foundation record for losing more North American champi- can use the same hand to illustrate another point - Redlands CA has been onships than any other twosome in history. - just transpose the North and East hands.” Levintritt elected president of the No one can refute the fact that Norman has was astounded that Edgar could do this so easily. ACBL Educational been duly spoiled. Sitting across the table from Edgar never did tell him that he had spent an hour Foundation. Jonathan Edgar was the quintessence of bridge fulfillment. and a half setting up this hand.