Orlando Daily Bulletin 4
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March 7 - March 17, 2002 45th Spring North American Bridge Championships Houston, TX Vol. 45, No. 1 Friday, March 8, 2001 Editors: Brent Manley and Henry Francis “Spider” Harris stories are as Daily Bulletincolorful as the man himself Today is John “Spider” Harris day, honoring one sity. He had a life-long romance with the English lan- of the best-loved, most colorful tournament direc- guage and had little tolerance for those who misused tors ever to make a ruling or sell an entry. Harris or abused it. died nearly eight years ago in a Houston hospital of His talent for selecting accurate words to express liver failure and pancreatitis. He was 63 and was precisely what he wanted to say and his logical and two years into retirement after more than 30 years intelligent thought processes gave clarity and accu- as a TD. racy to his writing. This was noted in many “Ruling As you can imagine, Spider Harris stories are the Game” articles he wrote for The Bridge Bulletin plentiful — many of them even printable. in the years before his retirement. Born in Pecos TX and raised in Mississippi, Har- The first story relates to Spider’s insistence on ris earned a degree in math from the University of the proper use of English. Houston and a degree in physics from Rice Univer- Continued on page 4 Make sure you have Mad scramble worth the hassleIf not for duct for tape, Patron Alice Leicht mightMember have missed 2Each convention player is required to have cards!a convention card legibly filled out and on the table throughout the ses- her date with Larry Cohen Thursday night. As it was, the sion. Both cards of a partnership must be identical and San Diego resident just barely made it to the Westin Gal- include the first and last names of each member of the leria in time to play with Cohen in the Educational Foun- partnership. dation Stratified Open Pairs. If a director determines that neither player has a Leicht, a Patron Member, won the drawing to substantially completed card, the partnership may play play with Cohen. She had told all her friends of her only Class A conventions and may use only standard good fortune, so she really didn’t want to miss the carding. This restriction may be lifted only at the be- opportunity. ginning of a subsequent round after convention cards Leicht, a retired English teacher, left San Diego at have been properly prepared and approved by the di- 10 a.m. Pacific time, expecting to land in Houston about rector. Further, the partnership will receive a 1/6th-board 5:30 p.m. She made a connection in Dallas. The flight was late arriving in Dallas, and then the matchpoint penalty for each board played, commenc- JoAnna and Lew Stansby ing with the next round and continuing until the re- aircraft she was taking to Houston developed a problem. striction is lifted. In IMP team games penalties shall One of the overhead bins wouldn’t close, and the air- be at the discretion of the director. plane could not take off until it was fixed. A repair crew If the director determines the partnership has at was summoned but had no luck with the job. Passengers least one substantially completed convention card but Stansbys surge to were becoming tense, and it was looking as though Leicht has not fully complied with ACBL regulations, then was going to miss the game. Finally, one of the repairmen pulled out the duct tape the director may give warnings or assign such penal- “I would have gladly settled for second when victory in NAOP-A and sealed the bin shut. Once the paperwork was com- ties as he deems to be appropriate under the circum- we sat down for the final session,” said many-time pleted, the plane took off. stances. world champion Lew Stansby. But he wouldn’t have Leicht arrived at the playing area just before game The objective of these warnings and penalties is settled for second as he and his wife JoAnna took time. Fortunately, she already had a card filled out, so the encouragement of full compliance with ACBL regu- their places for the last round of Flight A of the North she and Cohen could sit right down to play. lations. American Pairs. They were far enough ahead that Cohen was impressed with Leicht’s demeanor. “She they could cinch the championship with an average was very composed, especially considering that her plane last round. was so late,” he said. They had the average round they needed and A Silver Life Master who plays bridge three or four more to wind up as winners of this event for the Playing venues first time. They finished with a powerful 71% for Continued on page 5 the session to outdistance runners-up Joseph for all the games Godefrin and Ed Schulte by a board and a half. Mike Polowan and Adam Wildavsky, leaders go- J.W. Marriott will host the North Ameri- ing into the final session, were third, only a point can championship games and Flight A of and a half behind second. flighted regional events. The playing areas in- “This is the tenth time we have played in this clude the Exhibit Hall (building alongside the event, and we’ve been among the leaders several hotel) and the Grand Ballroom (inside hotel on times,” said JoAnna. “But this is the first time we’ve second level. won.” Westin Galleria will host the regionally It’s the third North American victory for the rated team and pair events. The playing areas Stansbys as a partnership. They won an Open Pairs include the Woodway I, II and II (fourth level) event and their team took the Mixed Teams crown as well as the Plaza I and II (third level (for in Toronto last summer. games with 10 a.m. starts). Unlike many North American champions, nei- Westin Oaks will host the Senior games in ther Lew nor JoAnna makes a living from the game. the Consort I Ballroom and the Intermediate- Lew dabbles in commondities trading and JoAnna Newcomer (299er) events in the Consort II is a pharmacist. They play a system that is akin to Ballroom (third level). Kaplan-Sheinwold, complete with weak notrumps Continued on page 5 Larry Cohen and Alice Leicht Page 2 Daily Bulletin To heightenQuiz awareness of# the 1 World Champion- SPECIAL EVENTS ships in Montreal this summer, the organizers are of- 9:00 a.m. B Noon Teacher Accreditation ProgramFriday, (TAP) Marchwith Betty 8 Starzec. Westin Oaks, Embassy Room. fering a daily problem. There will be a drawing among 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Easybridge! Stages A & B, with Easybridge! Field Coordinator Marti Ronemus. (Stage A in the those who turn in the correct answer to the Daily Bul- morning, lunch break, Stage B in the afternoon.) Westin Oaks, Directors Room. letin, Consulate Room, Westin Oaks third level. Noon - 12:45 p.m. Joan Pleason plays show tunes and golden oldies at the Marriott. « A Q 9 12:15 p.m. Intermediate/Newcomer Speakers Program: Audrey Grant, Improving your Judgment. Westin A J 8 7 6 Oaks, Consort II. Grant, Toronto, is the author of the ACBL Beginning Bridge books: the ª Club, Diamond, Heart and Spade Series. © Q 7:15 p.m. Intermediate/Newcomer Speakers Program: Tricks Galore aka Toni Snow: Take All Your ¨ Q 4 3 2 Tricks — Play That Queen. Westin Oaks, Consort II. Snow, Houston, is Associate Chairperson of the Houston NABC. She is a Diamond Life Master. « 10 7 2 After the evening Pizza will be served at the Marriott and the Westin Galleria Plaza Ballroom, third floor. Join us at the ª K 10 9 session Westin for Arsenic and Old Ace, a murder mystery skit written by Toni Snow. Former national champion A 10 3 2 John Zilic is dead at the bridge table. Whodunit? Shawn Quinn? Chris Compton? Tex Hardy? © ¨ A K 5 The contract is 3NT by South. West leads the «6. Assuming you were playing this contract for your life, Saturday, March 9 how would you play to ensure nine tricks? Thanks to 9:00 - 10:00 a.m. Marketing for Club Development. Westin Oaks, Embassy Room. Join — Marti Ronemus, creator of Eddie Kantar for the problem. Easybridge! and the ClubACBL I/NManagers Program to learn Morning more about how to promote your club. 9:00 a.m. - Noon Teachers and Cruises. Westin Oaks, Oak Room. Arlette Schutte offers tips on becoming a successful teacher/game director on a cruise ship. $25 fee (certificate to participants). 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Easybridge! Stages A & B, with Easybridge! Field Coordinator Marti Ronemus. (Stage A in the morning, lunch break, Stage B in the afternoon.) Westin Oaks, Directors Room. 10:00 - 11:00 a.m. Coffee with Carol Robertson, Westin Oaks, Embassy Room. Robertson, manager of the ACBL Club Put on the pressure! Membership Department, and other ACBL staff members will be on hand to answer questions and Lyle Poe found Bya niceBarry play Rigal to make his slam on to let you know about new opportunities and programs for clubs. this deal from the second qualifying session of the 10:00 a.m. - Noon Free bridge lesson with Audrey Grant. Westin Oaks, Consort II. 10:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Easybridge! Stage C. Westin Oaks, Consulate Room. Easybridge! coordinator Marti Ronemus North American Open Pairs. presents an Accreditation Update Seminar. Dlr: East « Q 9 2 11:00 a.m.