Next regional: 2021 TRUMPETTHE DISTRICT 20 www.ACBLD20.org

Vol. 16, No. 2 Bridge Across the District Summer 2020 Virtual program throws clubs a lifeline By Chip Dombrowski Partnering with Bridge Base Online and Calif.; and Honolulu and Kailua Kona, allow districts to run online regionals. For The Trumpet former ACBL president Jay Whipple, the Hawaii. More joined in late May. the time being, virtual clubs are the only ACBL launched the virtual clubs program Meanwhile, the district canceled the game in town. Within days of the cancellation of the March 25. District 20 clubs began on- Bend regional on April 13, the Treasure The program offers clubs a way to gen- Columbus NABC on March 12, clubs boarding in early April, with all the Port- Valley Regional on May 4 and the Seaide erate income during the shutdown while across the district shut down. Most of Dis- land area clubs offering online club games Regional on May 24. The ACBL canceled offering players the opportunity to com- trict 20’s large clubs had already made the the first week of that month. the Montreal NABC on April 15 and this pete in a familiar, friendly environment. decision to close by the time the ACBL By the end of the month, there were 15 year’s North American Pairs and Grand BBO returns the larger share of the play- sent out a recommendation to cease all virtual clubs operating in areas all over National Teams on May 4. The ACBL has ing fee to participating clubs. club and tournament operations on the district, including Boise, Bend, Eu- held one online regional and has another March 16. gene, Medford; Eureka and Penn Valley, in the works, but doesn’t currently plan to Continued on Page 11 ACBL takes Eyer: Thank measures to you, and you reduce costs and you!

I would like to thank those who I hope this finds you, your family voted for me for their support. I hope and friends safe and well. What a to represent all of our district well. long, strange journey we are all on. As you know the board was sup- Everyone has been socially dis- posed to meet in Columbus for four tancing, reaching out to those we days prior to nationals starting. know and care about. The bridge Meetings via conference calls were community is tightly connected by a being held prior to the scheduled shared, secretly coded language, and meeting. When the Ohio governor by friends and partners worldwide; outlawed meetings of large groups, those we already know and those we the ACBL was able to get out of our will know. Yes, we can still talk of contracts without penalty. If we had intra-finesses and backwash canceled prior to the governor’s di- Top row: Ellen McCumsey, Lee Brackhahn, Eric Sieg; middle row: Eileen Boal, Jeff Jacob, squeezes; unfortu- rective, it would Toni Heitkamp; bottom row: Zack Woodbury, Karen Boss and Bill Jones. nately, we now have have cost the ACBL to know about $2.2 million. How- COVID toes and ever, the ACBL still travel bubbles. lost money because All of you are of lost revenue. Life and bridge making a difference The board met every minute, every online for five days Mike Eyer day. I’d like to offer and in that time ap- special thanks to Laurie Rowe D20 President proved a resizing of the behind-the- D20 District Director in a time of corona the board from 25 scenes folk, the un- members to 13. Dis- sung heroes, who have enabled us to trict 20 will combine with 21 to form How players across the district are coping with quarantine play the game we love. one region (see story, page 3). Al- Thanks to District Director Laurie By Jen Smith people’s weekly routines. And we aren’t though this will take three years to Rowe, ACBL President Georgia Heth just talking about your regular TP run. implement, it will save the organiza- The Trumpet and all the other directors and ACBL Bridge clubs have been forced to shut tion about $150,000 annually. staff for so promptly setting up BBO It seems you can’t go five minutes these down around the country. So how our Covid-19 has wreaked havoc in the as an alternative for our needed fixes. days without hearing or seeing some players in District 20 coping with this new world, affecting all kinds of businesses To the district officers: Vice Presi- headline about the novel coronavirus. normal? We talked to a handful of players and organizations, including the ACBL. dent Jon Gustafson, Treasurer July Stay-at-home orders went into place to find out. , Secretary , area It is unclear when we will be able to around the country around mid-March, Ratley Rich Carle Continued on Page 10 which meant a big disruption to many Continued on Page 8 Continued on Page 10 The rise and rise of McKenzie Myers By Don Marsh cess at the highest level as a player, bidder to a phantom sacrifice. He “For a couple of years, I averaged The Trumpet playing professional, educator and started playing online and soon saw at least eight hours a day of bridge national-level director. that he was one of the better players activities, if you include playing live, To describe McKenzie Eugene It all began when Mac received a on now defunct sites like Playsite reading and practicing online,” he Myers’ story as local boy makes good copy of Eddie Kantar’s “Bridge for and MSN Games. Locally, he found a said. “I’m sure it wasn’t healthy, but would be a little like describing 7NT Dummies” for his 21st birthday in home at the Emerald Bridge Club. it sure was a good way to get good redoubled making as a good result. 2000 from his father, Chris. Mac was His job called for lots of travel that at the game.” What Mac has accomplished is un- not a bridge dummy for very long. afforded him the opportunity to play precedented. He has achieved suc- He took to the game like an over- at many clubs with many partners. Continued on Page 10 McKenzie Myers Page 2 The District 20 Trumpet Summer 2020 All this time with nowhere to go? Time to get a dog On an unseasonably warm, sunny day in day with no school, so we did. The most fun March, I met a friend for tennis. Irving Park dog was there, an enormous shaggy beast was unusually full of people for a midweek that was leaping and bounding and happy. late afternoon. Luckily, I got there early and We asked what kind of dog it was and we was first in line for a court to open. were told that it was a Bernedoodle, a cross I brought my son Noah with me so he between a Bernese mountain dog and a could play in the park. He spent the entire poodle. That was acceptable to Noah. But time chasing dogs in the off-leash area. He they’re like $3500 and not readily available. has been wanting a dog for a long time. We arranged for Noah to meet a full- Never having had a dog before, I grown standard poodle so that was nervous about the idea. I’ve he could have an informed opin- tried to hold him off with a cat, ion. As you might have guessed, fish and two different kinds of Noah loves all animals and this geckos. But you know what hap- poodle was on exceptionally good pens when you do that? You end behavior. Noah acquiesced to the up with a cat, fish, two different idea of the breed. Noah and Bucky kinds of geckos and a dog. We spent Friday googling and OK, but what kind of dog? I saw a breeder in the Corvallis FaceTime, Amazon Prime and Disney+. I the tournament. I can assure you that the knew essentially it was going to area with a few puppies left. I am able to work from home. Even though players are cared about and everyone be my dog, too, and that I would Amy Casanova wanted a female, Noah wanted a there are plenty of frustrations, I know hopes that soon the league can run live be taking care of it. A lot. Noah Managing Editor male. I wanted apricot, I don’t that we are among the lucky ones. bridge games for us all. goes to his dad’s house most think Noah cared. Maybe worrying about how we are going What do we miss? Getting dressed in weekends. We drove to Corvallis March to play bridge is low on the priority scale, nice clothes. Wearing a new piece of jew- Noah really wanted a blue heeler, which 21 and left with Bucky, an apricot, male, but nonetheless it is an important part of elry or a shirt that gets noticed and com- is in the Australian sheep-herding family, curly-haired, long-legged bundle of love many people’s lives and still our job here plimented. Celebrating birthdays, having a very high-energy and loyal, sometimes only and fun. He’s practically a neighborhood in the district and beyond. piece of cake. Trying a new recipe. Ex- to one person. I feared it would be too celebrity, making friends everywhere he Live bridge is on indefinite hiatus. It changing books. Discussing movies, TV hyper and maybe like only me. goes. He is truly irresistible. may never be the same. shows, plays. The puzzle table. Smiles. My partner was lobbying for a standard On March 23, Oregon issued the stay-at- I’d like to point out that whether to can- Hugs. There is more to bridge than cards. poodle because they are smart and hypo- home order. I had planned to be playing cel tournaments, and the timing of those I’ll “see” you on BBO. My name is allergenic. Noah said, “I don’t like curly- bridge at the NABC in Columbus, Ohio, decisions, was not only determined by con- Cricket75. In the background the dog is haired dogs with long legs.” I thought that week. I knew I wasn’t going anywhere cern for players’ health, but also by busi- playing with the cat. The fish swim around. some kind of golden- or labra-doodle for a while, which is why I finally relented ness concerns. Delaying the cancellations The geckos don’t do much of anything. would be a good compromise. and got the puppy. until government mandates were issued The next day Noah wanted to go to the So here we are, at home — a lot. We do saved hundreds of thousands if not mil- Amy Casanova can be reached at dog park again, and it was another beautiful Zoom, Google Hangout, BBO, YouTube, lions of dollars, depending on the scale of [email protected].

Online play is tedious, until you try it this way Deaths Eva Hogan – 94, of Jacksonville OR The NABCs are a lot of hard work for What a difference Zoom makes! The ´ J 5 ♥9 5 3 ©K 10 9 8 6 5 ®Q 7 died April 15, 2020. Ray Sjoblom – 96, of Hood River OR me without much reward, so I generally third game is the one Zack Woodbury 2´ goes down three for minus 500 — died March 11, 2020. don’t look forward to going to them and hosts on Fridays. It’s nice to have the op- the only way they can improve on their 450. Francis O’Connor – 86, of Lake am happy to get out of it when I can. portunity to play with friends in Portland, It’s a zero. Funny, 3© is only down one. Oswego OR died April 5, 2020. Columbus was an exception. and even nicer that we can talk to each Not the worst bid I ever made by any George Watts – 86, of Bend OR died It’s a short flight, so I rated to escape the other during the game. Those five minutes means, but it sure took the wind out of our Jan. 10, 2020. usual travel snafus, and only an hour and a at the end of every round go by so much sails. The second session was reasonably half from where my mom and brother live, faster when you’re at a “table” with other good until another disaster in the penulti- so delaying my return a couple days would people you can talk to. mate round. I’ll save that one for Facebook. give me a chance to see them. I didn’t realize how important the social I knew from producing the restaurant aspect of bridge was to me until it was How remotely? guide you never saw that there was not gone. The social experience makes play- In early March, the ACBL posted a job opening in my department in anticipation much in the way of Thai food, but still the ing in Zack’s game far superior to any www.acbld20.org American and Mexican restau- other game on BBO. I hope this of a retirement coming later in the year. The District 20 Trumpet rants looked more gluten- and practice of pairing BBO with Critics on Bridge Winners questioned the Vol. 16, No. 2 • Summer 2020 vegetarian-friendly than usual. Zoom becomes widespread in requirement that the candidate be willing © 2020 D-20 Organization As questions about its safety the coming months. For those to relocate to the Memphis area. Certainly mounted, I found myself in a rare who hate playing online, it miti- the limited pool of interested candidates Official publication of the situation. I really wanted to go. gates just about every drawback would expand without such a require- American Contract Bridge League We were lucky Columbus was you can find. ment, and people reasoned that editing District 20 can be done remotely. 6512 SW Midmar Place our destination for spring this Many reluctant online players Portland OR 97223-7517 year, as opposed to, say, Tampa. carry constant suspicion border- Those more familiar with our operations Phone: (503) 244-5733 Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine was a ing on paranoia that their oppo- defended the condition, but I wondered www.acbld20.org great leader early on during this nents are cheating. While Zoom whether it was necessary to live here after Chip Dombrowski The District 20 Trumpet is published four pandemic, consistently making hardly makes it impossible to all. If not, maybe I could move back to Editor at Large times a year in March, June, September and moves ahead of other states to cheat, being able to see one’s op- Oregon someday and bring the job. December. It is distributed free to clubs in close things down that were soon ponents and hear any conversa- There is a slight difference in working Oregon and Northern California and small copied elsewhere. I’m grateful to him and tion does much to melt that suspicion. remotely 2 miles from the office and work- parts of Washington and Idaho. Ohio health director Amy Acton for mak- Online regional ing remotely 2000 miles away. Although All sectional announcements are free. ing the decision easy and timely for us. I’m not there most days, I still go into the I played one day in the online regional Managing editor: Amy Casanova Within a week of that cancellation, I office two or three times a month. We cir- last month. I was sitting on almost a 70% Designer/Editor at large: Chip Dombrowski was working from home. I didn’t think it culate a paper copy of the magazine going into the last round of the first ses- Copy editor: Jim Flint would work out as well as it has, but boy (twice) in the two weeks before it goes to sion when this happened. Senior writer: Jen Smith do I like it. press. That wouldn’t work cross-country. Ads: Susan Chambers, Sunset Bay Media ´ A K 10 9 3 ♥10 © J 7 3 2 ®8 6 5 The Zoom difference From my own experience, I know I find Printing: Oregon Lithoprint, Partner passes and RHO opens 1NT. more errors if I’m reading a paper proof McMinnville, OR For the past two months, I’ve been play- LHO bids Stayman and opener shows than I do looking at a screen. I insist on ing three times a week in unsanctioned Deadlines: The deadline for the Fall 2020 hearts. I can see they’re about to get to printing out all of the Trumpet’s pages be- games. I have a practice match on Tues- issue is July 10 for free sectional ads and 4 , which rates to be good. If they’re min- fore finalizing them, and it’s likewise nec- days with my regular partner and a pair ♥ advance articles. The deadline for unit imum for game, there’s room in partner’s essary to have a printed copy of the reports is Friday, July 24. The deadline for from Arizona. We get through 20 boards in hand for, say: Bridge Bulletin. But my old home printer front-page articles is Aug. 3. Please send to two hours, and the pace feels awfully slow. I doesn’t handle modern documents very managing editor Amy Casanova. Email want to give my partner as many opportu- ´ Q x x x ♥x x x © K Q x x ®x x. well, so most of my trips to the office are [email protected]; phone 503-753-9395; nities as possible to learn our conventions, We’d have a great sacrifice in 4´, but mail: 2310 NE 8th Ave. #7, Portland OR 97212. to use equipment. but I sure wish our opponents would move partner will have no idea unless I bid now. New Life Masters: Please send a photo for on to another table after several boards. It’s not without risk when the opponents I do know, though, from four years of experience, that it’s possible to produce a publication by email. I play in an ABA game on Saturdays have the strength, but I expect they’ll go on publication with colleagues who are as re- with another partner, and that’s more typi- to 4♥ regardless of what I do, so I bid 2´. mote as Portland and Ashland. With better cal of the BBO experience. We’re both fast They double. When that passes back to players and frequently have five to eight me, I give fleeting thought to running to equipment, I know now my job can be done minutes left on the clock when we finish 3©, but that seems like a crapshoot. I’m anywhere. That’s a promising thought. The Trumpet on Facebook each round. It is truly agonizing waiting not embarrassed by my spade suit, so I Chip Dombrowski can be reached at for that time to expire. pass. Partner’s hand: [email protected]. www.facebook.com/d20trumpet Summer 2020 The District 20 Trumpet Page 3 ACBL Board NAP/GNT Reorganization plan approved Grass roots Board will be cut to 13 pending final votes by board, BOG 2020 events By Chip Dombrowski The Trumpet A plan to reduce the size of the ACBL are canceled board of directors cleared its first hurdle when it was passed by the required two- Look for new online team thirds vote in a teleconferenced meeting of the board March 16–20. matches this summer The reduction has long been sought by some on the board and in ACBL manage- Normally in my North American events ment who believe 25 members are too report for the summer issue, I would be many to be efficient, a view widely held in telling everyone of our players’ successes the corporate world, where board sizes in the NAP finals at the spring nationals. I tend to be much smaller. A smaller board would be extolling the winners of our dis- also would reduce travel costs. trict GNT online finals, and promoting the The plan will be voted on again by the club qualifying games for next year’s NAP, board in its July 13–16 meeting and then normally scheduled to start in June. by the board of governors on July 19. If it Because of the virus, this year’s spring passes those votes, it will go into effect in and summer nationals have been can- the 2021 election cycle for terms begin- celed, along with the NAP and GNT events ning in 2022. to be held there. There was no NAP. We For the purposes of board representa- didn’t contest our district GNT finals, tion only, the plan creates 13 regions by even though it would have been online. combining existing, neighboring districts. We don’t know yet what qualifying for For all other purposes, districts will re- future NAP or GNT will Those who quali- main intact and independent. fied last year to represent us in the NAP District 20 would join with District 21 to are now qualified to form Region 12, beginning in 2023. Dis- compete in St. Louis in trict 20 Director Laurie Rowe’s term lasts spring 2021. through 2022. That summer, when an However, bridge con- election for her district director seat would tinues and is thriving. normally be held, there would be an elec- Players are playing on tion for regional director from the com- BBO. The league and bined districts. local clubs are offering Directors whose terms are not complete smallest district. The reorganization plan Each district would have five board of gov- multiple sessions of on- as of the beginning of the regional direc- would reduce this disparity, bringing 12 of ernors representatives. Hal line bridge each week. tor’s term will have the option to remain the 13 regions within 2,000 members of At the March meeting, the plan passed, Montgomery Local clubs offer lessons on the board until the end of their terms. the average size, about 11,500. 20–4–1. Rowe voted for it, as did her NA Events Coordinator and chat sessions over This would apply to the District 21 direc- District 20 is the ACBL’s fifth smallest, predecessor, Merlin Vilhauer, when it was the Internet. The ACBL tor, who will be elected this year to a term while District 21, with about twice the presented last fall and failed by one vote even hosted a nationwide online regional. that extends through 2023. population, is the fifth largest. Region 12 short of the required two-thirds majority. Although there is no GNT at the na- Under the current organization, there is would be the median. For more information on amendments tional level this year, D20 has decided to a great disparity in the number ACBL The plan eliminates the positions of to the ACBL Board of Directors bylaws run the equivalent of its GNT finals in a members represented by each board first and second alternate district direc- that would implement these changes, see similar manner. Players will play from member, with the largest district having tors. These officials would be reclassified page 62 of the May Bridge Bulletin or their homes without monitors. We will about eight times the population of the as members of the board of governors. acbl.org/bylawschanges. crown a D20 GNT virus champion in each of the four flights and award substantial gold points for the overall finishers. The D20 board approved the formation of districtwide round-robin teams. We will play flighted teams all summer long, start- The Sectional Section ing play in June. Registration information will be on the miles north of Boise. See ad Phoenix D20 website. The 16-board matches will Possible sectionals? page 4 for details. cost $5 per person per match. Teams will The Rogue Valley Fall Sec- have about a week to schedule and play All events are subject to can- tional is scheduled to be held Vancouver Eureka their matches. The matches are region- cellation or postponement. Sept. 18–20 at the Dan The Vancouver Summer The Eureka Sectional is ally rated and pay red points. The overall Check acbl.org for the latest Voorhies Bridge Center in Sectional is scheduled to be scheduled to be held Sept. awards pay gold as follows: 48 points for information. Phoenix OR. See ad page 6 for held Aug. 14–16 at the Wash- 11–13 at Humboldt Area Foun- the open, 40 for flight A, 33.5 for flight B details. Ace of Clubs ington School for the Deaf in dation in Bayside CA. See ad and, for flight C, 10 gold and 10 red. The Ace of Clubs Sectional, Vacouver WA. See ad page 4 page 5 for details. Boise We hope that every club and unit will scheduled for June 26–28, has for detals. sponsor multiple teams in each flight. We been canceled. Portland The Boise Fall Sectional is are planning to share a portion of the fees McCall The Portland Fall Sectional scheduled to be held Sept. with our sponsoring clubs and units. Salem The Nampa-Caldwell Spring is scheduled to be held Sept. 25–27 at the Red Lion Hotel I plan to award a prize for the most in- The Salem Sectional, sched- Sectional is rescheduled for 11–13 at the Milwaukie Elks Downtowner in Boise ID. See teresting hand reported in each bracket. uled for July 10–12, has been Aug. 26–27 at Idaho First Lodge in Oak Grove OR. See ad page 6 for details. I will post submissions on the D20 web- canceled. Bank in McCall ID, about 100 ad page 5 for details. site and call for voting from within each bracket to help determine the winners. For this year only, there will be no club qualification needed. Any member of SECTIONAL RESULTS good standing in D20 can play in the on- line finals. We want everybody to play. 18.86 Kathy Dowen, Boise ID 6 11.22 Marlene Sabo, Kailua Kona HI Maui (88 tables) Matches will be posted on the D20 web- 1 20.29 Christopher Young, San Diego CA 5 13.90 Clyde Coon, Boise ID 7 10.87 Walter Knox, Kamuela HI 13.90 Bill Cook, Twin Falls ID 10.87 David Dodson, Pahoa HI site and the teams will have about a week 2 18.41 Gary Donner, Bluffton SC to play and report the outcome. If there 3 15.55 Ronald Resnick, Portland OR 7 12.32 Duane Christensen, Boise ID 9 10.70 Eileen Hayes, Sacramento CA 4 15.29 Satish Gupta, Reno NV 12.32 Carol Christensen, Boise ID are more than 10 teams in a bracket, we 5 14.05 Jack Patnode, Kula HI 9 11.73 Larry Chase, Boise ID Honolulu (120 tables) might have to play a match every five days. 6 13.01 Gordon Hepperle, Summerland BC 11.73 Carol Holmes, Meridian ID 1 26.65 Thomas Lum, Honolulu HI You can enter in more than one flight. 13.01 Carol Gutsell, Summerland BC 11 11.56 Ian Martindale, Boise ID 2 22.07 Godfrey Chang, Honolulu HI A team from Eugene could play against 11.56 Charlene Martindale, Boise ID 8 12.72 Mari Livingston, Portland OR 3 19.89 Everett Fukushima, Aiea HI the Corvallis hot shots one week and 12.72 Leon Joseph Grafe, Kihei HI 4 18.76 Martie Wright, Honolulu HI Big Island (94 tables) 5 16.14 Ronald Wong, Honolulu HI laid-back Hawaiians the next. Boise (129 tables) 1 19.03 Dean Jenkins, Kailua Kona HI 6 15.30 Marion McLaren, Honolulu HI Get your teams together. Sharpen your IMPs play. Check the D20 website for reg- 1 27.94 John Cissel, Boise ID 2 17.98 Richard Leach, Laguna Beach CA 7 14.78 Steven Johnson, Honolulu HI 27.94 Craig Jones, Boise ID 3 14.71 Jim Cheney, Hilo HI 8 13.99 Leo Williams, Honolulu HI istration information. Let’s have some fun. 3 18.86 Suzanne St. Thomas, Boise ID 4 12.05 Penny Kallaus, Holualoa HI 9 13.58 Joseph Bussen, Kailua HI 5 11.79 Robert Hope, Honolulu HI 10 13.08 Iku Donnelly, Honolulu HI Hal Montgomery can be reached at [email protected]. Page 4 The District 20 Trumpet Summer 2020 Chris’s Corner The IN! Crowd Continued from Page 14 For Intermediate/Newcomer Players dependent on those other calls. But those will be South’s choices, not yours. Your only choice is whether you would like to accept this call or not. Would you Sherry’s unexpected bids test Franny’s trust like to accept it?” Assuming West does not accept, it is Sherry gets excited! Dlr: North ´ K 8 6 Dlr: West ´ A 10 9 5 3 North’s turn. I would turn to North and Sherry Squirrel is pacing and so happy Vul: All ♥K J 6 3 Vul: None ♥K J 4 say, “You are the dealer and need to to be playing online. It is the only game in © 9 4 © J 10 6 3 2 make your normal opening call. You may town, but it is better than life with no ®A J 10 2 ®— make any call you wish but if you are try- bridge. ´ J 9 7 5 2 ´ Q 10 3 ´ Q 8 6 ´ 7 4 2 ing to choose between two calls and one She does her happy dance whenever ♥A 8 7 4 ♥9 5 2 ♥A Q 10 9 8 7 ♥6 5 3 has become more attractive by the fact she remembers to alert herself. And she © 8 © J 6 © K 5 © Q 8 7 4 that your partner tried to open 1´, you plays her partner’s convention card. ®6 5 4 ®K Q 9 8 7 ®Q 10 ®8 6 2 would have to choose the other option.” ´ A 4 ´ K J [Sherry’s POV] North opens 1®. East passes. Time for a ♥Q 10 ♥2 conversation with South (away from the Franny enjoys play- © A K Q 10 7 5 3 2 © A 9 table, bring the hand along). You need to ing weak notrump ®3 ®A K J 9 7 5 4 3 get a firm grasp of the methods of the and we both agree to partnership. If 1´ is the normal 4+ no singletons even West North East South West North East South Franny Sherry Franny Sherry spades, 6+ points, it is not comparable to though ACBL allows an opening of 1´ (5+ spades, 12+ them. When you play 1NT Pass 2® 1♥ 2♥ Pass 5® points). (The new call, 1´ response, is systems over notrump, Pass 2♥ Pass 4NT Pass 5© Dbl All Pass not a subset of the withdrawn 1´ one needs to remem- Pass 5♥ Pass 6 © opener.) If 2´ is a strong jump shift ber that the opener All Pass sponse to Michaels, you bid 2NT, that Margi Redden asks, what is your minor? If you don’t showing 5+ spades and a game-forcing, has described her around hearts. Franny answers two key D20 I/N Coordinator bother to ask but jump in one of the mi- slam-interested hand, that would be com- hand and responder is cards which can be the A K or the ®A ♥ nors, that should be a self-sufficient suit, parable. South might choose to make in charge. The Owl in- and one of the heart honors. Sherry does not caring what your partner has. If I had that call even if he has only 12 points, sists that when I am not care which one, and bids 6©. Franny bid 3®, that would be pass or correct. I just to keep the auction alive, with part- going to bid, I think before I bid and try thinks and thinks, wondering if this is a remember the time I bid 2´ over 1´ ner bidding. It is very possible that South not to get too excited before the auction choice of slams and decides that it is not (Michaels) and Franny thought and simply does not have a comparable call. in over. What a concept, working out a and passes. Whew! If so, advise him of that. He may still plan! thought and finally passed. make any call that he wishes, but he What is your plan when your partner ® © ♥ ´ ® © ♥ ´ She had seven spades and I had a void. Boy is it hard to play a hand from the void does so with the knowledge he must pass opens a 12–14 HCP hand 1NT with the All vulnerable, I pick up a lovely hand side. Or in my case it was easy to misplay at his next turn. South may choose 3NT North hand (see next column)? as South (see next column). that hand from the void side. or 4´ or maybe still only 1´. These are Sherry is highly excitable and tries to Franny has shown spades and a minor. I On the first hand she trusted me and completely valid choices and may be calm down and make a plan. She will ask just bid what I think I can make. on the second hand she was upset with made with full knowledge that partner Stayman, and bid 3©, knowing that her Franny is truly annoyed and thinks that me and did not stop to think what I could will have to pass at his next call. If the partner will not pass her there and that is I want her to correct if that is not the right have had. I was not a passed hand and I opponents keep the auction open, part- slam interest and game forcing. So, Sherry minor. They double to her left and I think had the best hand at the table. So, have ner may choose something other than makes her plan and bids 2®, Franny I should bid 6®. But, like the wuss I am, I pass at subsequent turns. fun and trust your partner. shows the hearts, just like that Sherry passed. In 6®, if they lead the ♥A, I make Ruling Questions for Chris? Email gets excited and makes a key card ask. six, if they lead a diamond, I make five. D20 I/N Coordinator Margi Redden can [email protected]. She is only missing three key cards This is a trust-your-partner bid. If, in re- be reached at [email protected]. Vancouver USA Summer Sectional Join us at the Nampa-Caldwell Downgraded Sectional Washington School for the Deaf, Rescheduled fr om 611 Grand Blvd. (entrance on Evergreen Blvd.) the spring! Vancouver, Wash. Idaho First Bank Aug. 14-16, 2020 475 E. Deinhard Ln. McCall, ID 83638 (208) 634-1000

Friday, Aug. 14 8FEOFTEBZ
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"VH
 NLM Pairs (0-500 strati昀ed)...... 3 p.m. McCall Lodge and Suites ▪ Stratified Swiss Teams – 10 a.m. (2 Session Play Through) Saturday, Aug. 15 211 S. 3rd St. McCall, ID 83638 (Six 7-Board Matches - Victory Points) Bob Turkisher Strati-昀ighted Open Pairs (AXY & BCD) ...... 10 a.m. (208) 634-2230 Novice Pairs (0-100 strat昀ed, # of tables permitting)...... 10 a.m. Masterpoint Ranges: A = 1000+; B = 300-1000; C = 0-300 Strati-昀ighted Open Pairs (AXY & BCD) ...... 3 p.m. Third Street Inn Stratification: By average masterpoints, pairs & team games Sunday, Aug. 16 415 N. 3rd St. McCall, ID 83638 Memorial Strati-昀ighted Swiss Teams (AXY & BCD) ...... 10 a.m. & TBA &OUSZ
'FFT
(208) 634-6300 *Strati昀ed Fast Pairs (single session) ...... 10 a.m. ▪ Wednesday: *Field strati昀ed by director based on entries o $10 per person (ACBL members) Open strats NLM strats Stratiflighted events No fragrances please o $14 per person (lapsed ACBL members) A=2000+ A=300-500 A=5000+ ▪ Thursday - $100 per team – Includes Lunch! B=1000–2000 B=100-300 X=3000-5000 C=0–1000 C=0-100 Y=0-3000 Information B=750-1500 Chair: C=300-750 Anita Hansen, (208) 697-9435, D=0-300 [email protected] All pair strats determined by average MP of pair, but AXY, BCD, & NLM limits apply Co-chair: Duane Christensen, (208) 362-6553, A team or pair with any player over 1500 MPs plays in Flight AXY [email protected] Fees: Partnerships: $10 for members, $14 for lapsed ACBL members. Temporary Duane Christensen, (208) 362-6553, memberships available. New ACBL members (0-5 MP) play free! [email protected] McCall Partnerships: Ruth Bingaman, (208) 634-5622 Head Director: Jeff Jacob Free co昀ee, tea and snacks! Tournament Director: Duane Christensen Tournament Chair: , [email protected] Sanction No. 2008905 Partnership Desk: , [email protected]

Sanction No. 1908045 Summer 2020 The District 20 Trumpet Page 5

DISTRICT 20 RANK CHANGES Lucky break JUNIOR MASTERS This deal was played in an online Kay Abramowitz, Portland OR club game. David Beaudoin, Ashland OR New Life Masters Dlr: North ´ — Andrew Chodelski, Bend OR Vul: E–W ♥J 9 7 3 2 Colette Cobb, Waikoloa HI © 10 4 Susan Ford, Philomath OR ®K Q J 6 3 2 Gary Hansen, Ashland OR ´ Q 6 2 ´ A K 10 9 5 4 Steve Hawkins, Ewa Beach HI A Q K 10 8 6 4 Ronna Hoffman, Portland OR ♥ ♥ Anne Jantzi, Medford OR © Q 8 6 5 © — Charles Jenney, Portland OR ®10 9 8 7 ®5 4 Veronique Johnstone, Portland OR ´ J 8 7 3 Barbara Lorentz, Redding CA ♥5 © A K J 9 7 3 2 Shirley McGinnis, Redding CA Bruce Backup Dee Fulton Mary Hanni Judy Huston Barbara Nelson Stacey Melnick, Portland OR Portland OR Holualoa HI Eagle ID Vancouver WA McMinnville OR ®A Brian Morgan, Portland OR West North East South Lynne Patzel, Beaverton OR Chip Cynthia Quackenbush, Portland OR Pass 1´ 2© Kathy Richmond, McCall ID 3© Pass 3´ 5© Maya Schimpf, Boise ID Dbl All Pass Julie Snyder, Portland OR

Joyce Trawle, Eugene OR Poor West. He’s holding an ace and Catherine Watkins, Brookings OR a natural trump trick opposite a Hank Werner, Woodburn OR Congratulations! partner who opened in second seat David Wood, Redmond OR vul. Pretty hard not to double when CLUB MASTERS Carol Schmid Walt Thies your opponent bids 5©. On a good Mary Brandt, Honolulu HI Lake Oswego OR Corvallis OR day you might get it down three. Nancy Calkins, Chico CA West led his partner’s suit. I ruffed Lynda Campf Weinstein, Portland OR in dummy, came to my hand with a Dorsie Glen, Kihei HI Jane Crane, Boise ID SECTIONAL MASTERS SILVER LIFE MASTERS club and ruffed a second spade. I Ashok Hargunani, Portland OR Richard Crist, Marylhurst OR Margaret Bechard, Redding CA Deanna Birch, Portland OR cashed the ®K, shedding my lone Kathleen Hart, Portland OR Maureen Dion, Chico CA Donald Branton, Eagle ID Don Gile, Boise ID heart. Then the ®Q, perplexed when Jim Kahan, Portland OR Mary Ellen Dolan, Kihei HI Gary Haynie, Kailua HI Ellie Hall-Pitzer, Salem OR East discards a heart. David Ouyang, Waianae HI Peggy Edgerton, Nampa ID Michael Keeney, Salem OR Alan Stewart, Vancouver WA Why didn’t he ruff? Yes, he knows Sharon Sandell, Waianae HI Randy Forrest, Kelso WA Tara McMahon, Portland OR Inez Weiss, Portland OR I’m overruffing, but surely killing the Beth Unger, Portland OR Jared Jenkins, Boise ID Michael Rohm, Meridian ID Nancy Wetherson, Keizer OR entryless dummy is worth spending Jane Urban, Portland OR Amy Lowes, Portland OR Larry Zgonc, Boise ID Jack Wetherson, Keizer OR his worthless trump. Oh well, poor Pamela Matheson, Portland OR ADVANCED NABC MASTERS novice. I pitch a spade and continue Mary Oparowski, Penn Valley CA REGIONAL MASTERS RUBY LIFE MASTERS the ®J, pitching my last spade as Fran Henry-Jansa, Portland OR Debra Platt, Portland OR Patty Crispe, Portland OR Beth Aronoff, Corvallis OR East once again fails to ruff. Vern Katz, Eugene OR Sterling Smith, Middleton ID Barbara Durkin, Honolulu HI Judy Davis, Beaverton OR I need to get back to my hand to Janice Smith, Portland OR Dana Terhune, Tualatin OR Rachel Frame, McMinnville OR Barry Sorenson, North Bend OR pull trump, so I ruff a heart, and the Kristin Steinmetz, Portland OR Jill Thach, Kailua HI Ronald Holbrook, Portland OR Linda Tubbs, Vancouver WA ♥Q falls. Finally all is revealed when I Steven Vegdahl, Portland OR Roma Johnson, Kailua Kona HI BRONZE LIFE MASTERS cash the ©A. East didn’t ruff because Dennis Viner, Princeville HI Ernest Ludington, Salem OR GOLD LIFE MASTERS James Anstine, Vancouver WA he didn’t have any. Luann Ward, Vancouver WA Sue McMullen, Eugene OR James Flint, Ashland OR And, thanks to my partner’s golden Jacqueline Webster, Kihei HI Carl Scheffler, Eugene OR Steve Colmer, Vancouver WA Loring Harkness III, Kilauea HI Ronald Foerster, Bend OR ©10, the diamond suit is coming in Wanda Wynne, Lake Oswego OR Patrice Stewart, Vancouver WA Terrance Hill, Corvallis OR for one loser. Making six. Jean Zoeller, Kailua Kona HI Michael Hollins, Redding CA Diane Mackenzie, Portland OR SAPPHIRE LIFE MASTERS Normally a 4–0 trump break would NABC MASTERS be cause for cursing, but this one For definitions of ranks, see Joan Spence, Eugene OR Robert Hope, Provost AB Patricia Baham, Beaverton OR proved quite lucky. acbl.org/masterpoints-results/ Susan Carter, Portland OR masterpoint-ranks/ — Chip Dombrowski

• Maritime climate Unit 458 Presents Portland Fall Sectional (Escape the heat!) Eureka California Sectional Get your SILVER Sept. 11-13, 2020 • Free lodging Sept. 11-13, 2020 sectional points! (Limited; reserve early) FRIDAY, Sept. 11, 10:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Playing site: Stratiflighted Open Pairs, two-session playthrough Montgomery Elks • Full meals! Humboldt Area Foundation 13121 SE McLoughlin Blvd. • Grand finale dinner (single session entries welcome) 363 Indianola Road, Eureka, CA Flight AX (plays separately), A=3000+, X=0-3000 Oak Grove, OR 97222 503-654-9580 at oceanside home Flight BCD: B (1250-2000), C (750-1250), D (0-750) Single session events (10:30 a.m. & 3:30 p.m.) Friday, Sept. 11 Non-LM pairs (0-500, Stratified), one session events 11 a.m. — Strati昀ed Open Pairs, Novice pairs (0-100, stratified,# of tables permitting) single session SATURDAY, Sept. 12, 10:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. 4 p.m. — Strati昀ed Open Pairs, Stratiflighted Open Pairs, two-session playthrough single session (single session entries welcome) Flight AX (plays separately), A=3000+, X=0-3000 Saturday, Sept. 12 Flight BCD: B (1250-2000), C (750-1250), D (0-750) Eligibility for Single session events (10:30 a.m. & 3:30 p.m.) flighted events 10 a.m. & 3 p.m. — Strati昀ed Non-LM pairs (0-500, Stratified), one session events based on Open Pairs, double session Novice pairs (0-100, stratified,# of tables permitting) top player’s total. play through with option of Thereafter, strats playing only one session SUNDAY, Sept. 13, 10:30 a.m., 2nd session TBA and brackets Flight A/X Swiss Teams, VPs determined by Sunday, Sept. 13 Flight A=3000+, X=0-3000 average of Bracketed 0-2000 Swiss Teams, VPs pair or team. 10 a.m. & TBA — Swiss Teams One Session Teams (Non-LM, 0-500) — win/loss Note: A team with any player over 2000 plays in Flight A/X. Cost: $10 per session; All brackets determined by average masterpoints of team $14 for lapsed ACBL members Strati昀cation — A: open, Sunday lunch available New ACBL players (0-5) B: 500-1500; C: 0-500 for purchase between play FREE! sessions. FREE C Director in Charge: Steve Kaessner Please, no scents or o昀ee & Snacks Tournament Chair: Host Motel: perfume Mark Phelps, 707-443-9029 Holiday Inn Express Suites Head Director: Jeff Jacob email: [email protected] 3107 Concorde Dr. Tournament Chair: Alan Johnson, 971-998-4261, [email protected] Partnership: Jon Gassaway, 503-530-8583, [email protected] McKinleyvillle, CA 95519 Partnerships: $12 per session. $16 for lapsed ACBL members. Suzanne Cook, 707-499-7790 707-840-9305 $5 for students under age 26 with student I.D. and ACBL membership email: [email protected] Ask for bridge rate Sanction #2009366 Sanction #2009375 Page 6 The District 20 Trumpet Summer 2020 Play of the Hand VBC player fighting cancer Judy Huston of Vancouver, Wash., be- came a Life Master during the Oregon Opening 1® wasn’t so convenient after all Trail Regional in February. About two months later, she was diagnosed with The lexicon of bridge includes the Dlr: South ´ K 8 5 Some will open a 4=4=3=2 hand lymphoma. She will be undergoing phrase, “short club,” a popular but often Vul: Both 9 3 with the better major, but you’d bet- ♥ chemotherapy through August. misused term. Many players mistakenly Lead: ®J © J 10 8 5 2 ter be sure it’s a solid one. Other- The Vancouver Bridge Club sent out believe it applies to opening a three-card ®9 7 6 wise, with minimum opening points, an email with the news relayed by Judy’s club suit. However, as defined by ACBL, ´ A Q J 7 6 ´ 10 9 4 just pass and see what develops. husband, Jim Anstine. “He wants every- the promise of at least three is natural A 6 5 4 Q 10 8 That’s the long and short of it. ♥ ♥ one to know that Judy is doing well and and completely normal. The definition of © A Q © 6 3 Jim Flint can be reached at looking forward to when she can play a “short” club is a suit of two or fewer. ® J 3 ®K 10 8 5 4 [email protected]. bridge at the club again,” the email said. In Standard Ameri- ´ 3 2 can and 2/1 systems, it ♥K J 7 2 is common practice, © K 9 7 4 with a four-card major, ®A Q 2 HAWAII REGIONAL RESULTS to open a three-card West North East South club suit in search of a Total masterpoints: 5788.46 earned by 391 players. Total attendance: 801 tables. 1® 1 71.11 Susan Schnelwar, New York NY 48 34.72 Alan Kosansky, Kailua HI 105 14.64 Claudia Maddalena, Honolulu HI major fit. But in ... Dbl All Pass 71.11 John Kranyak, Las Vegas NV 106 14.29 Marion McLaren, Honolulu HI 50 33.45 Bruce Martin, Paia HI ... today’s hand, played at 71.11 John Hurd, New York NY ... 53 32.62 Mark Bennett, Honolulu HI 109 14.01 Jean Choi, Honolulu HI Bridge Base Online, 71.11 Iulian Rotaru, New York NY 110 13.98 Martie Wright, Honolulu HI 54 31.54 Loring Harkness III, Kilauea HI ... 5 70.45 Ron Smith, Chicago IL ... South misapplied the clubs and no four-card major was to con- 115 13.73 Greg Manchuk, Kihei HI 70.45 Joshua Donn, Las Vegas NV 57 30.07 Howard Co, Honolulu HI ...... concept by ignoring vert the takeout double into a penalty 70.45 David Grainger, Etobicoke ON 118 13.52 Kirsten Melcher, Honolulu HI 60 28.75 Will Williams, Honolulu HI ... Jim Flint his four-card diamond double. 8 69.34 Wenfei Wang, Shanghai China 61 28.75 Shelly Hershberger, Kailua Kona HI 125 13.00 William Georgi, Stayton OR ... Play of the Hand I knew either declarer or dummy would 69.34 Peter Weichsel, Carlsbad CA 126 12.96 Leo Williams, Honolulu HI suit and got into a 63 25.44 Anna Sung, Honolulu HI 10 69.25 Gary Soules, Elk Grove CA ... be short in clubs, maybe both, so I led the 64 25.28 Dileep Bal, Kapaa HI 129 12.58 Susan Owens, Salem OR heap of trouble. ... 11 65.82 Michael Hargreaves, Victoria BC 65 25.21 Carolyn Adams, Steilacoom WA 65.82 Gordon McOrmond, Vancouver BC 133 12.53 Ed Ulman, Portland OR North/South have no 4–4 major fit, but suit, hoping to deny declarer the ability ruff 25.21 Bert Adams, Steilacoom WA ... they’ll never find their diamond fit if losers in either hand. South was soon out 13 64.63 Kevin Dwyer, Melbourne FL 67 25.20 Patricia Berg, Princeville HI 143 11.54 Nancy Baker, Honolulu HI 14 63.52 Godfrey Chang, Honolulu HI 144 11.53 Wallace Young, Honolulu HI South opens a club. of clubs and the hand collapsed like, well, 25.20 Lisa Derock, Princeville HI ... 15 63.43 Barbara Kasle, Boca Raton FL 69 25.07 Wilfred Motokane Jr., Honolulu HI 146 11.48 Daniel Berman, Honolulu HI With play unavailable at the local clubs a house of cards. Down four, minus 1100. 16 62.96 Nancy Cord, Sun Valley ID ... 71 24.23 Lily Johannessen, Honolulu HI 147 11.46 Kathleen Manchuk, Kihei HI because of the covid-19 shutdown, many The short club has its place in Preci- 62.96 Brenda Keller, Palm Springs CA 148 11.15 Francesca Luzuriaga, Koloa HI 18 62.01 Joe Grue, New York NY 72 23.55 Ronald Wong, Honolulu HI ... of us began feeding our bridge habits at sion or similar systems. However, if you’re 62.01 Brad Moss, Denver CO 73 23.20 Yasuko Shrenzel, Honolulu HI 154 10.80 Busaba Williams, Honolulu HI 74 22.63 Martin Leftik, Honolulu HI BBO playing SAYC or 2/1, most experts will tell 20 58.73 Nanette Noland, Baton Rouge LA 155 10.74 Ann Bernson, Honolulu HI . Partner Bob Scott and I favor the 22.63 Gail Yap, Honolulu HI 156 10.70 Mary Farrell, Honolulu HI 58.73 Mike Passell, Plano TX ... ACBL speedball tournaments — 12 you opting to play a short club is a poor 157 10.53 Susan Frieder, Wailuku HI 58.73 Marc Jacobus, Las Vegas NV 77 21.27 Vicki Sutton, Honolulu HI ...... hands in about an hour for $1.25, with choice that is systemically inferior. 58.73 Geoff Hampson, Las Vegas NV 87 19.30 Catherine Hess, Kaneohe HI 160 10.08 Walter Knox, Kamuela HI 24 56.77 Morris Chang, Santa Clara CA 88 18.67 Sandra Ohara, Honolulu HI 10.08 Gail Buck, Pahoa HI masterpoints awarded the winners. Log But what about the “convenient” club ... 56.77 Allan Graves, St. Johnsbury VT on about two hours before to assure a opening with three in the suit? 89 18.64 Larry Denneau Jr., Honolulu HI 164 9.91 Hazel Theodore, Honolulu HI 26 56.55 Sheila Sache, West Vancouver BC 90 18.56 Joseph Bussen, Kailua HI 165 9.82 M. Gay Conklin, Honolulu HI spot in the tourney. They fill up fast. With opening count, if you are 56.55 Donald Sache, West Vancouver BC 91 17.93 Bev Drill, Kaneohe HI ... 168 9.74 A Acey, Honolulu HI 28 55.93 Yoko Sobel, Brooklyn NY 17.93 Arnold Drill, Kaneohe HI In this BBO tourney hand, after I made 2=4=4=3, open the diamonds. If you’re 169 9.71 Edwina Moscatelli, Honolulu HI 29 54.66 Jack Patnode, Kula HI 93 17.46 Robert Hope, Honolulu HI 170 9.58 Keith Kalway, Honolulu HI a takeout double and partner let it stand, 4=4=3=2, you could hazard an off-system 30 53.66 Everett Fukushima, Aiea HI 94 16.93 Laurie Carr, Honolulu HI ... 171 9.45 Joseph Habeich, Portland OR South had no idea where else to go with- diamond opening, but doing so is fraught 95 16.88 Patti Moore, Kalaheo HI ... 36 51.56 Ronald Resnick, Portland OR ... 174 9.38 Thomas Lum, Honolulu HI out possibly getting into even more trou- with danger, especially with lousy dia- 37 50.10 Harjinder Ajmani, Kula HI 97 16.68 Steven Johnson, Honolulu HI ...... 179 9.35 Robert Pfeffer, Bend OR ble. So, he passed with hope. monds. Even with good diamonds, part- 45 39.12 Maurice Fujimoto, Honolulu HI 99 16.21 Arun Savara, Honolulu HI ... 46 38.27 Robert Liu, Honolulu HI 100 15.74 James Keefe, Honolulu HI 190 8.80 Suzanne St. Thomas, Boise ID ner is expecting you to have four, so ... Even though Bob had a weak hand, he 47 36.31 Iku Donnelly, Honolulu HI 8.80 Steven Bruns, Honolulu HI figured the best action with a stack of things can go wrong. 104 15.42 Mary Phillips, Honolulu HI

#PJTF
6OJU
 www.boisebridge.club Boise Fall Sectional 2020 Southern Oregon Sept. - 00 Friday-Sunday Red Lion Hotel Boise Downtowner 100 airview Ave. Sept. 18-220 Dan Voorhies Bridge Center 4149 S. Paci昀c Highway, Phoenix, Oregon Boise Idaho 30 SCHEDULE (0) 3-691

Friday, Sept. 18 (single sessions) Friday, September  299er Pairs* ...... 10 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.: Stratified Open Pairs Stratified Open pairs ...... 10 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.: 0-199er games Saturday, Sept. 19 (single sessions available) Saturday, September  299er Pairs* ...... 10 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.: Stratified Open Pairs Stratified Open pairs play through ...... 10 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.: 0-199er games Sunday, Sept. 20 4VOEBZ
4FQUFNCFS
 Swiss Teams, stratified by avg. MPs ....10 a.m. and TBA 10 a.m.: Stratified Swiss Teams *299er games depend on player availability Masterpoint Ranges Taco feed at the Sunday Swiss! A=unlimited B=750-1500 C=0-750 HOSTS AND INFORMATION DIRECTIONS • Stratification by team or pair average. - Stratification by team or pair average. From north or south, take • $10/session for ACBL members, $16/session for lapsed ACBL Director: Steve Kaessner - $10/session for ACBL members $16/session for lapsed ACBL members; exit 24 off of I-5 near members; non-ACBL members will be required to join. Temporary Chair: John Cowles Medford, go west on Fern - Non-ACBL members membershipswill be required will to join. be available.Temporary memberships Partnerships: Gee Gee Walker, Valley Road, turn right at will be available. 541-292-3474, [email protected] S. Pacific Hwy., go one block • - $10 $120 per per Swiss Swiss team team Sunday Sunday includes includes lunch. lunch. to bridge center on the right. PLAYER FEESCANCELED Tournament Chair: Art Crawford; [email protected]; 0-01-10 $10 per player per session ($14 for lapsed ACBL members); Partnership Chair: Leslie uir; [email protected]; 0-01-106 $9 for less than 50 MPs. Temporary memberships available. STRATIFICATIONS Tournament Director: John Gram A = 1500+; B = 750-1500; C = 0-750 Sanction No. 2009365 Sanction No. 2009372 No co昀ee will be provided at this event Summer 2020 The District 20 Trumpet Page 7 The Oregon Coast Regional SCHEDULE at Seaside MONDAY September 28 THURSDAY October 1 (continued) 7
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...... Seaside Bracketed KOs 1
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...... Afternoon Side Game Series (3 of 5) (winners continue at 9, 1 & 7 on Tues.) 1
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...... ........ 299er Stratified Pairs Sept. 28-Oct. 4, 2020 7
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...... Stratified Charity Swiss Teams 1
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...... ...... 99er Stratified Pairs 7
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........... Stratified Open Charity Pairs 7
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...... ...... Stratified Swiss Teams Seaside Convention Center (part of Evening Side Game Series) (1 of 6) 7
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...... ....Evening Side Game Series (4 of 6) 415 1st Ave., Seaside, OR 7

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...... ...... 299er Stratified Charity Pairs 7
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...... ...... 299er Stratified Pairs TUESDAY September 29 FRIDAY October 2 9
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...... Morning Side Game Series (1 of 5) INTERMEDIATE/NEWCOMER 9
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...... Morning Stratified Swiss Teams 9
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...... ...... 299er Stratified Pairs (continues at 9 on Sat.) PROGRAMS 1

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...... ...... Gearhart Bracketed KOs (winners continue at 7; and at 1 & 7 on Wed.) 9
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...... Morning Side Game Series (4 of 5)  Saturday prize games. 1 & 7

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...... Three Strat Open Pairs 9
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...... 299er Stratified Pairs  Between sessions party. 1pm...... Sand Dollar Bracketed KOs 1 & 7

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...... Razor Clam Gold Rush Pairs  Tips for Tops: Daily speakers 6:15 pm. (winners continue at 7; and at 1 & 7 on Sat.) 1
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...... .....Afternoon Side Game Series (1 of 5)  Mini-Classes: Wed - Sat. 12 - 12:30 pm. 1 & 7
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...... ...... Three Strat Open Pairs 1
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...... ...... 299er Stratified Pairs  Morning 299er Pairs Tues - Sat. 1
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...... ...... 99er Stratified Pairs 1 & 7
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...... ...... Oyster Gold Rush Pairs  Afternoon 299er Pairs Tues - Sat. 7
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...... ...... Stratified Swiss Teams 1
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...... ...Afternoon Side Game Series (4 of 5) 7
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...... Evening Side Game Series (2 of 6) 1
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...... ...... 299er Stratified Pairs  Evening 299er Pairs Mon - Sat. 7
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...... ...... 299er Stratified Pairs 1
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...... ...... 99er Stratified Pairs  Afternoon 99er Pairs Tues - Sat. WEDNESDAY September 30 7
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...... ...... Stratified Swiss Teams  Gold Rush Pairs daily Tues - Sat. 9
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...... Morning Stratified Swiss Teams 7
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...... ...Evening Side Game Series (5 of 6)  Gold point opportunity on Sunday in (continues at 9 on Thur.) 7
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...... ...... 299er Stratified Pairs the lower brackets of the 2-session 9
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...... Morning Side Game Series (2 of 5) SATURDAY October 3 Bracketed Flight B Swiss Teams. 9
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...... ...... 299er Stratified Pairs 9
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...... Morning Side Game Series (5 of 5)  Prize beads. 1 ...... Astoria Bracketed KOs
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 9
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...... 299er Stratified Pairs D20 I/N Coordinator (winners continue at 7; and at 1 & 7 on Thur.) 1 & 7
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...... Jellyfish Bracketed Swiss Teams Margi Redden, cell 503-805-2103 1 & 7
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...... Two Strat Open Pairs 1 & 7
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...... Three Strat Open Pairs [email protected] 1 & 7
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...... ....Mid-Flight Pairs (Under 3000) 1 & 7
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......  Steelhead Gold Rush Pairs 1 & 7
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...... ...... Coho Gold Rush Pairs 1 ...... Afternoon Side Game Series (5 of 5) YOUR HOSTS 1
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..........Afternoon Side Game Series (2 of 5)
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1
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...... ...... 299er Stratified Pairs 1
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...... ...... 299er Stratified Pairs DIRECTOR IN CHARGE: Matt Koltnow 1
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...... ...... 99er Stratified Pairs 1
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...... ...... ...... 99er Stratified Pairs D20 TOURNAMENT M ANAGER: 7 ...... Stratified Swiss Teams 7
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...... Stratified Swiss Teams
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 Jim Wheeler, 503-860-0563 7
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...... ....Evening Side Game Series (3 of 6) 7
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...... Evening Side Game Series (6 of 6) [email protected] 7
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...... ...... ...... 299er Stratified Pairs 7
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...... 299er Stratified Pairs THURSDAY October 1 SUNDAY October 4 LOCAL CHAIRS: Gil & Ann Gramson 9
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...... Morning Side Game Series (3 of 5) 10
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& TBA
..Strati-Flighted A/X/Y Swiss Teams 503-861-1133; cell 503-440-7363 9
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...... ...... 299er Stratified Pairs 10
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& TBA
...*Bracketed Flight B Swiss Teams [email protected] 1
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...... ...... Lewis and Clark Bracketed KOs 10
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& 1
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...... Stratified Fast Pairs PARTNERSHIP S: Sue Kroning (winners continue at 7; and at 1 & 7 on Fri.) 503-738-7817; cell 503-739-0264 1 & 7
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...... ...... Two Strat Open Pairs All two session events but single session  299er [email protected] 1 & 7
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...... ...... Mid-Flight Pairs (Under 3000) teams accommodated. CADDY CHAIR: Sandra Baker 1 & 7
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...... ...... Chinook Gold Rush Pairs *Lowest brackets will include 299er and 0-750 (Thursday continues - see next column) teams. Gold points in every bracket! HOSPITALITY CHAIR: Jan Amend STRATIFICATIONS ACCOMMODATIONS/TRAVEL

Stratified Open Events  299er Events (Under 300) • THE INN AT SEASIDE: Across the street; free Open/2000/750 300/200/100 breakfast; $109-$129. 800-699-5070; 503-738-9581. • RIVER INN AT SEASIDE: Riverfront; 2 blocks; Three Strat Open Pairs  99er Events (Under 100) Open/3000/1500 100/50/20 $119-$129. 503-717-5744. • BEST WESTERN PLUS OCEAN VIEW RESORT: Two Strat Open Pairs Strati-Flighted A/X/Y Swiss Teams Open/4000 Oceanfront; 4 blocks; cafe; indoor pool; fitness center; Open/4000/2500 (plays alone; 20 VP). $105-$155. Cut-off date 8/28/2020. 1-800-234-8439. Mid-Flight Pairs (Under 3000) Bracketed Flight B Swiss Teams • RIVERTIDES SUITES: Riverfront condo hotel; ½ block; 3000/1500 0-2000 (no player over 2000); teams free breakfast; evening reception; indoor pool; fitness  Gold Rush Pairs (Under 750) play in groups of 7-9 by MP average; center. $129-$209. Cut-off date 8/28/2020. 877-871-8433. 750/300/200 CANCELEDgold points in each bracket; (20 VP). • HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS: Riverfront; ½ block; free breakfast. Call for rates. 503-717-8000. SCHEDULE NOTES • SHILO OCEANFRONT RESORT: Oceanfront; 3 blocks. qy gp $100-$140. 800-222-2244; 503-738-9571. • Eligibility for flighted events based  Indicates I/N events. • SHILO EAST: ½ mile; Continental breakfast. Call for on top player’s MP total. (Intermediate/Newcomer). rates. 503-738-0549. Thereafter, strats determined by • OTHER CHOICES: Seaside has many charming small hotels, bed & breakfasts, condos and houses to rent. average of pair or team. TABLE FEES www.SeasideOR.com. • One bracket KO may be ACBL members $13 handicapped. Unpaid ACBL members $17 • By rail & coach: MAX train from Portland Airport (PDX) to Portland Union Station connects to twice daily Amtrak • Play 2 times in side game series Under age 26, $6 coach service to Seaside; 1-800-USARAIL or to qualify for overall gold points. www.amtrak.com.  • Cab service: Alpha Shuttle (Seaside); 503-440-7777. Page 8 The District 20 Trumpet Summer 2020 Time of corona: How players around the district are dealing with changes

agrees it was the right thing to do. Ellen McCumsey “I think it would be irresponsible of This player from Junction City, Ore., ACBL to allow for any kind of tourna- went into action when the covid-19 crisis ment until there is a vaccine,” she says. began, working to ensure her bridge “Who, in all conscience, could partici- community would go on even in quaran- pate in an activity where an older popu- tine. “I’m the member of my club who lation plays at a table with four people has been pushing for years to get people sitting 2 feet from each other, handling to play online, which is where I learned cards that at least half the people in the to play,” Ellen McCumsey says. room have handled?” “When our club closed, I set to work She does hope that it’ll be possible to getting as many members as possible play tournaments online by the summer, onto BBO. I was lucky in that I have di- but knows that as long as we’re in this rector privileges on BBO, plus I am an virtual world, she’ll be missing the people ACBL club director, so setting up daily most of all. tournaments for the club was fairly easy.” “We do often Skype while playing on- McCumsey says many people stepped line but that is not the same as seeing up to help, and they now have a cadre of teered to do one-on-one sessions. She friends in person,” McCumsey says. “My seven, which is enough to cover the en- says they did all of this because they feel partner, Judy, and I used to play twice a Lee Brackhahn tire week. keeping their bridge community together week, meeting for an hour before the Lee Brackhahn says she’s pretty much “We printed out copious instructions is extremely important. game over coffee to discuss conventions been housebound since the end of the about playing on BBO, and cajoled/whee- “People who live alone are given the and interesting hands. We still do that regional in Vancouver in February. The dled over 100 of our members into join- chance to interact daily, and friendships but it is not quite the same.” Lincoln City, Ore., woman says she ing us,” she says. And since many of the are sustained.” The one bright light: McCumsey says misses her bridge friends terribly. “While members had little experience with tech- While McCumsey was disappointed she’s probably playing more bridge now most of us don’t have to deal with the fi- nology, McCumsey says people volun- about regionals being canceled, she than before the virus. nancial impact, and it is easy for us to stay home, the lack of our bridge games is a great loss,” she says. She’s playing plenty of bridge online, and enjoys it, but says it’s just not the same. “We still spend time with each other, “Playing at a real table with real peo- Eric Sieg but with no one else. This seems to fol- ple is not easily replaced,” she says. “Sit- Eric Sieg, a self-described extrovert, low the spirit of stay-at-home while keep- ting at the table, the camaraderie, says covid-19 has made a huge dent on ing people, and me especially, from going watching the struggle and the victory his personal life. The Issaquah, Wash., crazy completely,” he said. when a hand is played or defended well, resident was working from home before With a vaccine still months away, what perfect auctions which get you to slams the quarantine started, so playing bridge does Sieg think are the long-term effects that others have missed — those are in the evenings and on weekends was a of this virus? some of the things I miss.” big social outlet. “As this continues on longer and The covid-19 outbreak hasn’t im- “I’m playing some online and we use longer, I think people will start to lose pacted just her daily routine. Travel is Zoom so we can see the other people at their patience and take risks that might something Brackhahn also misses. the table which helps,” he says. “It’s a lot not be smart,” he said. “However, the “I probably will never get to attend an- better than no bridge or no social con- mental cost of remaining isolated is not other tournament as I have underlying nection, but I definitely miss in-person zero as well, so I can understand the will- conditions and can’t afford to get sick,” bridge and activities.” ingness to risk it.” she says. “I was planning on taking a The thing he misses most about play- Sieg, who lives in District 19, says there cruise through the inland passage in ing in a club is just being around people. are talks of moving his district’s local June, a trip I have wanted to take for a “I can play somewhat serious bridge the right call, since back then I would GNT qualifiers online. long time. Now I doubt if I will ever get online for now, especially with games have gone if they held it, and I’m sure “I would expect that over time, the to do it.” hosted by Tom Reynolds, but there’s no many other people would have as well. In ACBL and/or BridgeWinners and/or BBO Yet, despite all of that, she still counts substitute for the social connection. It’s retrospect, probably wouldn’t have been in some combination might also start or- her blessings every day. what helped draw me back into playing a good idea.” ganizing more serious online events that “I am fortunate that I dodged this ill- bridge when I started my own company With many more tournament cancella- are played with partners instead of ro- ness. I am fortunate that I have fabulous and by far what I miss the most right tions in the works, it’s the NABCs he bots,” he said. “They can’t replace an friends, many of them in their 80s and now.” misses the most. “That’s when I see the NABC, but there’s plenty of opportunity 90s, and none of us has suffered from it. Sieg says he would have gone to the most friends who aren’t local and play between the random club games that I am sure I will get to direct the Monday Columbus tournament, but, in hindsight, the biggest events,” he says. exist and a full-blown NABC equivalent, game again within a month or two and he thinks canceling it was probably for On the bright side, Sieg is stocked up and hopefully we’ll see more serious that we will all be at the table as soon as the best. on Clorox wipes and TP, thanks to a events in between those two extremes possible. We have much to be thankful “I don’t think the ACBL had a choice in Costco connection. He also has a tight cir- become available. Regardless, I’ll con- for, one of the greatest of which is the matter,” he said. “It’s also probably cle of what he calls quarantine buddies. tinue to play in Tom’s team matches.” bridge.”

suits Heitkamp more than playing in Toni Heitkamp person. Zack Woodbury The biggest change to Toni Heitkamp’s “My doctors always insisted that I go Zack Woodbury is a player who not daily life is doing housework — some- out to play bridge,” she explains. “It was a only runs his own club, but who also is thing she hasn’t done in 40 years. The hardship, and I am glad to have an ex- creative about how to connect with his Portland woman says she’s doing just cuse not to go out. Turns out I didn’t fellow bridge players in quarantine. The fine, despite the covid-19 outbreak. need that social interaction.” Portland resident has been hosting on- “It’s not different from my regular life, While she will miss going to Seaside line games with a twist. He holds simul- as I am disabled,” she says. “I was going tournaments, that type of travel was also taneous Zoom meetings so players can out to play bridge twice a week and difficult for her. Plus, she missed her see and talk to the players at their table, had an average of three doctor’s ap- pups when she was away. which makes the game feel much more pointments a week. I prefer the tele- Heitkamp doesn’t think life will ever social than just using the chat function health option, except I need my body really go back to the way it was. on BBO. work with the DO or chiropractor. I do “I think that it is a segue to another Woodbury says his group has gotten miss that.” way to live our lives,” she said. “I am sur- together every Friday since 2012 to play a But there’s no lack of things to do in prised at what a consumer I have been private duplicate pairs bridge game. quarantine for Heitkamp, who says she’s — gas, packaging, makeup, clothing, etc. “When the shutdown order took place, very busy and volunteering for a non- But that doesn’t leave quite as much Americans are spoiled and need to be I had everyone in our group sign up on profit. time for bridge. less consumptive.” BBO,” he said. “We then play played a “I am able to use my experience with “I had to get everything else organized, And now that she’s cleaning her own previously played tournament and scored clinics to expedite orders for face shields but I am starting to make some regular home, she’s found it’s actually cleaner it. Simultaneously, all 20 of us were on and masks for health care facilities. I find games so I don’t get rusty,” she says. than it’s ever been before — another sil- Zoom. It was a total disaster since you it very rewarding,” she said. And it seems at-home bridge actually ver lining. had to pass out hands to get to the ones you were supposed to play,” he explains. Woodbury says it was fun to be fum- bling along together in a Zoom chat, but it wasn’t sustainable. “After that game, Dave Brower reached Summer 2020 The District 20 Trumpet Page 9 to their lives and bridge routines amid the coronavirus pandemic

Eileen Boal Eileen Boal lives in a semi-rural area in Albany, Ore., so social social- distancing outdoors hasn’t been a problem. She says she’s been using a daily walk and her hobby of garden- ing to fill the hours, along with play- ing a lot of bridge online. “It’s not quite as satisfying as play- ing at the club with friends, but it’s real bridge, and it does provide inter- action with your partners and oppo- nents to some extent,” Boal says. “I loved it a couple of days ago when, while waiting for a game to start, peo- ple started posting ‘good morning from NM,’ ‘Hi from Nebraska,’ and “As things stand, it would be selfish, Jeff Jacob ‘Hello from northern Virginia.’” and probably foolish, to go ahead Karen Boss As a tournament director, Jeff Jacob of Online bridge may be the next best with tournaments,” she says. “It would Karen Boss of Boise, Idaho, has man- Vancouver, Wash., has a unique perspec- thing, but she misses playing at the be too great a risk to our players, who aged to not visit the grocery during the tive on the current quarantine situation. local club. What she misses most: “No are mostly high-risk. entire shutdown, choosing instead to have He was furloughed by the ACBL in early question: being able to see and talk “I hope things can be loosened up everything she needs delivered. She says May as a result of the covid-19 outbreak. to my friends.” fairly soon, but even then, how long she’s doing great, despite the pandemic, So what’s it like to be a tournament And while the current situation and will we have to wait to reopen the and feels lucky to be mostly retired, so director when there are no tournaments the cancellation of many tourna- clubs? I don’t know. I hope it’s soon she’s not stressing about getting back to to direct? Jacob says he deeply misses ments is a disappointment, Boal enough that we don’t kill some of our work. She does miss the warm interaction the travel. whole-heartedly agrees with the deci- clubs. But we don’t want to kill our of her bridge friends at her local club. “With Columbus, I was going to visit sions that have been made. members!” “I miss very much seeing my friends in Michigan, making it my 46th state to person but I’m glad knowing they are visit,” he says. staying well,” Boss said. She’s playing He agrees with the decision to cancel bridge online, but less than when she was upcoming regionals, but it’s still difficult playing at the club. “I am reading more, to adapt to the new normal. taking long walks, and enjoying craft and “Safety first, but I want to see bridge art hobbies,” Boss says. players,” Jacob says. Bill Jones Boss was looking forward to the re- With the shift to online play, Jacob is An active player, Bill Jones gional tournaments, but feels canceling able to put his efforts into helping others of Grass Valley, Calif., isn’t was the right decision. get acclimated to that style of bridge. coping with the pandemic too “It’s unfortunate, but in the scope of this “I miss directing at my local club. At well. He misses hugs. pandemic it’s a small sacrifice,” she says. first, I wasn’t getting much done, but “I miss the human contact,” Boss canceled tournament and personal since the end of March, I have been Jones says. “I’m continually trips to France, Spain, Italy, Gatlinburg, spending a lot of time getting bridge thinking about touching Santa Fe, Sacramento, Portland and Bend. clubs trained to play on BBO,” he said. “It things that could be contami- What she misses most is spending time has helped me keep my sanity by staying nated.” with her nearly 90-year-old mother. busy helping others.” He is also struggling with “My mom is in assisted living and I’m Online play has its pros and cons, ac- the closure of his local club not allowed to visit — only windows vis- cording to Jacob. and filling that void, missing its,” Boss said. “The facility is very accom- “I miss not being able to play across his bridge community. Of all the regionals and sections modating, so I can visit every day, but I the table, but I am interacting with He is playing online to keep up that have been canceled as a result of get there three to four times a week. We bridge players across the nation,” he with the game and pass the time. the coronavirus situation, Chico and also email and video chat.” says. “I have helped clubs on the East “Our president, Bob Shuken, has Orangevale are the ones he was most As for the future, Boss knows she won’t Coast, Canada, Alaska, Hawaii, as well as arranged three club games a week looking forward to. be rushing back to her local club right clubs on the West Coast.” with BBO and ACBL,” Jones said. “I hope we can have our sectional away. So how does he think things will “And Kurt Browning has organized a in Nevada County in October,” he “I personally won’t consider returning change within the bridge community as team game once a week.” said. to in-person play before a proven and this goes on? Still, all of the online play just isn’t Whether it happens by then or safe vaccine is widely available,” Boss says. “Mckenzie Myers has said the tooth- quite the same. Jones says he misses later, Jones is eager to get back to “It’s important to set priorities and as paste is out of the tube,” Jacob jokes. the “wonderful family of caring mem- playing in person and spending qual- much as I love the game and my bridge “Some things are going to change, some bers” at his local club. ity time with the bridge community. friends, our demographic and the close will be the same. We are going to have to proximity required of the game render it adapt.” a very risky endeavor.”

future for bridge? “My concern is that the typi- cal bridge player is in a higher risk cate- gory due to age. As the stay-at- home orders come to an end, I fear that we Using Zoom gives Woodbury’s games a social feel. In-game you see the players at your table; afterward everyone returns to the main session. may not see the same size room each round. At the end of the game, those in our group who live alone, have no games at the clubs again, especially as they all return to the main meeting, an- family in the Portland area, and might not they get more comfortable playing at nounce scores, and then hang out and so- handle this isolation very well,” he said. home,” Woodbury says. For that reason, he out to us and offered to set us up with cialize, sometimes until 3 a.m. Combined with the fact that many people feels the community must continue initia- tournament director Mike Weber on a “It’s the closest we can come to actually in his group had lost their jobs due to the tives aimed at getting younger people to BBO tournament that was restricted to our being together,” Woodbury says. “What we virus, he knew it was time to take action. take up the game. group. We gave that a try and it worked enjoy so much about bridge is the social “Our bridge group has become a very On a positive note, encouraging all play- flawlessly,” Woodbury says. “The critical aspect. I also love the game, so bridge is tight group of friends,” Woodbury said. “I ers to take up online bridge has likely ex- piece to make this work is using Zoom in what enables me to see my good friends felt it was my duty to find a way for our tended the game for many who were close conjunction with BBO.” at least once a week.” Friday game to continue and give every- to the age of staying home. Even Wood- They all start together in one Zoom What was the impetus that inspired one something to look forward to each bury’s mother started playing online. meeting and socialize. Then they go to bridge on Zoom? week. It was more important than ever to So for many, regardless of what the next “breakout rooms” that correspond to their “When the shutdown order got put in figure this out.” several months bring, bridge can still go table numbers, moving from room to place, it occurred to me that there are What does he think is the foreseeable on, just not quite in the same way. Page 10 The District 20 Trumpet Summer 2020 Rowe Eyer: Canceled regionals impact district finances Continued from Page 1 Special thanks to Jim Wheeler for require us to take steps to continue liq- working above and beyond on the can- uidity if we fall below certain reserve lev- Frequent meetings reps , , Lorraine Rodich Merle Stetser celed Bend regional this year and trying els. At the board meeting in February, the , and . Continued from Page 1 Sam Asai Pete Grice Dennis Harms to find a date for 2021. Our new host board foresaw declining revenues and To the ex-officio personnel: Rich Carle, hotel in downtown Bend was unable to voted to raise regional entry fees to $15 gather and play bridge again. I for one Amy Casanova, Hal Montgomery, Nancy work with the week we had available for per session starting next February at the miss the live games. I am impressed with , , . Jonske Roger Thomas Marilyn Vilhauer 2021. Nancy Jonske put in oodles of Oregon Trail Regional. ACBL management for several things they To the tournament managers: Amy, hours to arrange for Barbara Seagram to have accomplished. They have worked Most of our district monies come from Angela Jacobs and Jim Wheeler. lead a series of classes at Nampa. our regionals; canceling Bend and Nampa overtime with BBO in getting games on- And, of course to the one who keeps Nampa, like Bend, is now canceled. line that benefit players, local clubs and will have an impact. The cancellation of the district running, Marie Ashton. Hal Montgomery has been working our biggest (and one of the top 10 na- ACBL. They have achieved a 20% reduc- Thanks especially to those running hard trying to schedule the GNTs. With tion in headquarters operating costs. tionally) regional, Seaside, will definitely the newer and intermediate online both the GNTs district events and NAPs have an impact. ACBL President Heth By meeting virtually, ACBL saved about games, the ones I know and all the oth- now canceled for this year, I know his ef- $70,000 and ended stipends of $25,000 was scheduled to visit with us at Seaside. ers: the two Davids, Flo, Irene, Kent and forts will help produce a better response for board members. We continue to meet Please feel free to contact me or your Rich. And applause to the club owners, for next year. Amy deserves double at least every two weeks. I’m proud to area rep with concerns. As soon as deci- managers and directors navigating the kudos, writing and editing the Trumpet, serve with this group of dedicated board sions are made regarding future tourna- boards through these uncharted, new to and being a tournament manager. members and hope to meet them in per- ments, and especially the possibility of everyone, shoals. Like all organizations, the pandemic son soon. reopening, we will let you know. To those who graciously feed we starv- shutdown is having an impact on our fi- While I wish I could see you soon at One of my goals this year was to play ing players at every game: Heather, Jan, nances, tournaments and staff. Thanks to the tables, we are saving lives by not in every one of our eight areas. I hope to Marie and those in your games. years of prudence by the past and present gathering. Please stay safe. see you soon. And to all of you who faithfully support boards and finance committees, we have District director Laurie Rowe can be each other, your clubs, unit games and a reserve that can carry us for a while. District president Mike Eyer can be reached at [email protected]. sectionals, district regionals, NAPs/GNTs. The district has financial guidelines that reached at [email protected].

Myers: Eugene native promoted to national tournament director Continued from Page 1 onship competitions such as the Bermuda Bowl, Venice Cup, and Senior Bowl as well By 2002, Mac’s game began to elevate to as the quadrennial World Team Olympiads. the next level. In what would become a Mac does have a life outside of bridge. A transformative experience for him, he and bout with thyroid cancer in 2017 helped Darius Jackson won the D20 Flight C North focus his priorities. American Pairs. This earned them a trip to “My career with the ACBL is very impor- the 2003 NABC tournament in Philadelphia. tant to me and is something in which I take As Mac describes it, “We did no damage great pride,” he said, “but work can’t be there.” However, it did open his eyes to everything. At that point I started setting the how much fun high-level bridge could be. job and the game aside when possible so I It also was the year he was invited to be could spend more time with my real-life a member of the U.S. Junior National Team, partner and wife, Caitlin, and my family.” which was coached by Jade Barrett. He and He describes himself as now living hap- his partner (and current ACBL colleague) pily in west Eugene with Caitlin and their Tim Crank took first place at the Irish two dogs. Their shared passion is interna- Bridge Union Junior Friendship Cup held tional travel. They honeymooned last year in Dublin, squeaking past a strong Swedish in Japan and Thailand and just got back team in the final match. In just three years, from an enjoyable but frigid trip to Scot- Mac had earned his Life Master rank, won land. They are hoping to get to Uganda the D20 Flight C NAP, and was a member and Greece this year, although the world- of the winning U.S. Junior Team. wide covid-19 pandemic may have some- He also had become quite accom- thing to say about that. McKenzie Myers serves as the director-in-charge for Summer NABCs since last year in Las Vegas. plished as a bidding theoretician. One of “I find the game even more fascinating his proudest accomplishments was devel- He hasn’t looked back. well as from TDs Matt Smith and Charlie than I did when I picked up the addiction oping, along with Garth Yettick, a big club Playing with system co-creator Garth MacCracken, Mac became a TD for ACBL 20 years ago,” he said. system, parts of which have been adopted Yettick, Mac was part of the team that and found new, intriguing challenges deal- When I asked his mother Cindy to pro- by big-time players such as Joe Grue and placed second in the 2009 Mini-Spingold ing with the laws and with tournament lo- vide input, she was brief. Brad Moss. The 300-plus pages of system at the Washington, D.C. NABC. gistics. Eugene is more than just a home for notes verify Mac’s self-appraisal as some- For a while, Mac focused more on play- Mac’s phenomenal rise through the di- Mac. His mother Cindy explains: what of a system geek. ing as a pro. He describes this experience recting ranks in many ways surpasses his “When he was born, we were living in Mac’s appetite for attending the nation- as “interesting.” When asked if he might near meteoric rise as a player. He directed Eugene and so we gave him Eugene as his als was now whetted, and he has missed write a book about being a playing pro, his first sectional tournament in Pocatello middle name,” she said. “When he was 2, only two since 2004. His early trips often Mac used the word again. “That would be in 2011 which maxed out at 15 tables. we moved to Turner, Oregon, and he had to be done on the cheap, which trans- interesting,” he said. “There would proba- He started running bigger and bigger asked us, ‘Is my name now Mac Turner?’’’ lated into sleeping in youth hostels, his ve- bly have to be a lot of names changed to sectionals. His first regional was in L.A. in She says that was a hint that his brain hicle, and even in hotel stairwells. The protect the guilty.” He described his ap- 2015. Since then, he has been the DIC in worked in mysterious ways. He was read- good news for Mac was that beginning in proach as not only trying to win, but also more than a dozen regionals in districts ing at an eighth-grade level in kinder- 2005, he began his career as a playing to educate. He added that hogging the all over the country. garten, so he was not a happy camper at professional which afforded the luxury of contracts was not fun. In the fall of 2011, he was placed on school, she said. He loved bowling but sleeping in a real bed each evening. It was a natural evolution from playing ACBL’s tournament services team, which gave it up when bridge came along. In 2006, Mac emerged as a player on the to teaching. He especially was drawn to handles the huge amount of behind-the- Despite all the fame and good fortune, world stage. He and D20’s Joel Datloff teaching his championship-level peers. He scenes logistical issues at each NABC. In Mac has stayed grounded. Today he is the placed sixth in the World IMP Pairs in finds four-hour seminars the most fun and 2013, the head position opened for the same good guy he was 20 years ago. Let Verona, Italy. The pair was in second place also the most work. I can attest to the team and Mac was the natural choice to fill me share a story from those earlier times. after eight of the nine sessions in the gru- quality of the experience. They are without it. He held that post until 2019. The Emerald Bridge Club was new and eling event. The disappointing finish in the equal. My wife Sherri and I are convinced In 2013, he was given the ultimate com- working with limited funds. Mac was just finals taught Mac two very valuable les- that our 45 minutes of fame was hosting pliment as recipient of the Tom Weeks beginning to offer a few workshops that sons: that poor fortune can play a role in Mac’s first lesson in our living room. Award, voted on by his peers for the direc- provided him a little bit of extra income. the outcome and, despite the best of inten- For most mortals, all these accomplish- tor who most exemplifies the qualities He gave EBC $1,000 from one of those tions, he sometimes does not play to the ments would constitute a remarkable ca- ACBL seeks and promotes in its directors. early workshops just because he wanted best of his ability. Still, a top 10 finish in a reer. McZen, Mac’s BBO handle, is not He was tapped in 2019 to replace the re- to say thanks for the club’s support. At world championship within a few years of most mortals, however. In many ways, tiring Steve Bates as ACBL’s DIC for the that time, Jon Neimand was my partner in taking up the game is, by any standard, a every part of his bridge life was really pro- Summer NABC. His calls that debut at the the running of EBC. It did not matter that very impressive accomplishment. logue leading to what would turn out to Las Vegas nationals as the challenge of his Mac had limited financial resources at The year 2007 was another transforma- be his true calling and his real passion. career. In just nine years, Mac went from di- that time. He did what he felt was the tional one. Up to that point, he had been In 2008, the late National Tournament recting a small-town sectional to an event right thing to do. And he still does. supporting his bridge addiction by serving Director Millard Natchwey asked if he was where the largest room had 725 tables. His graciousness at the table, whether as a contract courier for FedEx. The com- getting tired of “teaching new minor forc- The ACBL mountaintop was reached in as a player or a director, is a model for all pany issued an ultimatum: he had to be- ing for the fiftieth time to little old ladies.” February when he was promoted from asso- of us. He is a great ambassador for the come a full-time employee or sever the Might he be interested in becoming a ciate national director to national director. game of bridge. relationship. The choice was clear. His in- tournament director? Mac also is actively involved with the The bridge world got lucky the day come as a playing pro and from giving les- At that time, Mac was beginning to tire World Bridge Federation, which is the inter- Mac’s dad gave him Eddie’s “Bridge for sons was sufficient to allow him to of the lifestyle of the playing professional. national governing body of contract bridge. Dummies.” Clearly, Kantar’s title was a bit embrace his first love and passion, 24/7. With encouragement from Millard as The WBF is responsible for world champi- of a misnomer in this case. Summer 2020 The District 20 Trumpet Page 11 Clubs: Managers of virtual clubs work to adapt to the new environment Continued from Page 1 weeks after running online games, Chris- players are already used to playing against there is a vaccine,” Cleveland said of the tian still has play- people they don’t know. They may prefer Cascade Club. Unlike other sanctioned games on BBO, ers who call for the protection of a 200-table field. Lim- Even if Lloyd Center were to reopen this these games are open only to players who tech support every ited-game players tend to be younger, fall, Brower doesn’t see PBC going back in have played at that club in the previous day. more adaptable.” 2020. year. Limited exceptions are granted when The same is Despite the shortfall in the open games, “You have to convince people to come,” a club player invites an out-of-area friend true for Portland PBC was getting 80% of its normal atten- he explains. “We don’t have a successful to partner up. While other games on BBO Bridge Club own- dance and rising as of late April. Quaran- business model at 60% attendance. If such as the Support Your Club games fill ers Dave Brower tine has also been a boon for the club’s we open in September, we’d be lucky to up fast about two hours before game time, and David Castles. teaching program. After hosting a lesson hit 60%.” restricted-membership virtual club games “Castles and I are each Saturday for two years that never Social distancing is impossible at a don’t require early registration — though definitely doing drew more than 15 bridge club. Christian laughs about trying it does make things easier on the director more work than people, Brower to explain this point to her landlord. “He if people register at least 10 minutes in Staci Christian we used to,” began seeing wanted us to sit 6 feet apart. Can you advance. Brower said. dozens show up imagine trying to see the cards?” While it is mostly the larger clubs in the when he began Eventually, face-to-face bridge will re- district that have entered the virtual clubs Adapting to change teaching via Zoom turn. program, there are a few small ones, in- Support is available for virtual club — as many as 43. “We appreciate cluding two new clubs that formed just a managers. There are regular Zoom meet- the ability to con- few months before the virus hit, in Corval- He is developing ings hosted by Jay Whipple, who has done tinue to play but lis and Redmond. plans to offer much to get the program running, along much prefer play- In the early weeks of the program, How- Learn Bridge in a with Greg Coles, the ACBL director of ing where we can ell movements were not available, but now Day on Zoom and bridge services; Rick Beye, a national tour- Dave Brower see our partners they are, making it easier for small clubs using the platform nament director; and Don Freeland of and opponents,” to join. to host a social BBO. In the early days of the program, it Cleveland said. For small clubs that don’t want to un- hour before Friday evening games. Even- was held daily. It has since been reduced “The social interac- dertake running their own online games tually, several months down the line, he’d to two days a week. Cleveland called these tion playing bridge but have players who would like to play in like to incorporate Zoom usage into discussions invaluable, though he noted a is as important as them, there are a couple of options. They games to give them a more social feel. Chip Cleveland level of technical knowledge is needed to the challenge of can grant their member list to a larger But that will take time for players to de- understand them and the support docu- bidding and playing.” club in the program, giving their players a ments available. velop more comfort with the technology they’re already using. Christian, mean- In the meantime, the BBO virtual clubs place to play; or several small clubs could Rich Carle runs two virtual clubs on be- while, fields director calls from people who program offers clubs a means to stay form a collective and split the revenue. half of Vancouver, the district’s third- think commonly used BBO chat such as afloat. largest club, and The business of bridge “typ” (thank you partner) and “glp” (good “I have been asked more than once nearby Longview, The financial situation of clubs in the luck partner) is a nefarious code used for what value the ACBL provides to clubs,” one of the small- district during the shutdown varies widely. cheating. Brower said. “Before this, the answer has Many small clubs, and those who rent est clubs to partic- truly been, ‘Not much, but they don’t ipate. He In an effort to cooperate, PBC and the from public buildings such as senior cen- Ace agreed to share each other’s player charge much.’ The best answer I’ve been ters, have no expenses and can afford to requested to join able to give previously was the sense of early after seeing a lists and stagger their schedules so they remain closed indefinitely. Those who rent don’t have any games at competing times, belonging to a larger community. With commercial space generally don’t have it post about the this crisis, we would not have been able to program on with the Ace running at 10:30 a.m. and PBC as easy. at 1 p.m. daily and a few evenings. Both get this running without the ACBL, BBO Clubs in Boise and the Medford area Bridge Winners. and Jay Whipple. I’m very grateful to the Longview’s virtual charge $6 compared to their usual $10. are holding fundraisers to meet expenses. “We want to work well together,” Chris- ACBL for the work they’ve done.” Emerald Bridge Club in Springfield, Ore., club began April Rich Carle Players also appreciate it, Carle says. 2, the second in tian said. “We want this to be successful is paying reduced rent. Vancouver (Wash.) for everyone.” “I’m awed by what they were able to put Bridge Club is drawing from reserves. As a the district, and Vancouver the following together to help the clubs. It seems to be tenant of the Lloyd Center, Portland day. Both charge $2 less than usual. He The future very popular.” There are about 55,000 Bridge Club benefits from an agreement too commends the team holding the sup- The new playing environment is likely players online during peak periods now, negotiated by Macy’s and pays no rent port meetings. to last a long while. The push to reopen compared to about 5,000 before virtual while the mall is closed; the club contin- “Those guys have been amazing in put- going on in other parts of the country is clubs. ues to pay its employees. The Ace of Clubs ting it all together,” Carle said. “How quickly not happening on the West Coast. And But somehow, bridge — clubs and play- in Lake Oswego, Ore., hopes to negotiate a they did it, and getting all those organiza- even if it does, it’s not likely to affect ers alike — will survive. lease extension and avoid rent on the tions cooperating, is just phenomenal.” bridge. “It’s all a big conundrum,” says Chris- months they are unable to use the space, After starting out with five games a “We don’t plan to play in person until tian. “We’re all in this together.” but the outcome remains unclear. week, he’s been expanding the Vancouver The Cascade Duplicate Bridge Club in club’s offerings to more than twice that. Bend is the exception. When he surveyed club members, he The virtual clubs of D20 “We’re coming out ahead financially,” found little interest in holding evening games online; but then Longview’s evening Hiatus Games/week Tables/Week said manager Chip Cleveland. Although Last IRL (1) First OL (2) Then (3) Now (4) Then (5) Now (6) the club’s online games attract about half game became a surprise hit, regularly drawing more tables than most of Vancou- Portland Bridge Club 3/15 4/1 15 14 113 115.5 the attendance of IRL games at the Bend Ace of Clubs, Lake Oswego OR 3/13 4/6 10 8 75.5 64.5 ver’s daytime games. Senior Center, the member-owned club is Vancouver (WA) Bridge Club 3/14 4/3 12 9 61 50 not paying rent. The club charges the min- At the two large Portland clubs and Bridge Cooperative of Boise 3/13 4/15 5 3 46.3 37 imum $3 for virtual games, which many others across the country, a pattern Emerald Bridge Club, Springfield OR 3/15 5/1 7 2 42 21 amounts to $2.15 per person after BBO emerges regarding which games do well. Cascade DBC, Bend OR 3/13 4/22 3 3 31 19 takes 20% and ACBL takes 25 cents. “We’ve both seen a really big drop in Honolulu Unit 3/15 4/12 2 9 21 76.5 One thing the district’s virtual clubs our open games,” Christian said. “The Kona (HI) Bridge Club 3/14 4/20 4 3 19 40 have in common is a heavy workload. games that are going gangbusters are the Jackson County (OR) Bridge Club 3/16 4/17 3 3 14 24.5 Sequoia Bridge Club, Eureka CA 3/16 4/25 4 2 13.5 11 “It’s craaazy,” said Staci Christian, owner limited games. I added two other limited Lake Wildwood DBC, Penn Valley CA 3/11 4/20 2 3 12.8 22 of the Ace of Clubs. “You think, you’re just games to our schedule.” Longview (WA) Bridge Club 3/12 4/2 2 2 11.3 13.3 Brower cites several reasons for the dis- sitting at the computer. You’re not running Nampa-Caldwell (ID) Open Pairs 3/16 4/20 1 1 10.7 9.5 up and down, serving coffee. You don’t crepancy. Central Oregon Hub BC, Redmond OR 3/12 4/16 1 1 4.5 7.5 have the normal calls. But, oh my good- “We’re offering something quite valuable Corvallis New Deal BC 3/2 4/20 1 3 4 17 ness! Not everybody is computer savvy. to the limited-game players,” he said: “the 1. Last in-person game before shutdown 4. April/May 2020 There are many people we’ve had to walk opportunity to play against people of simi- 2. First official virtual club game 5. 2019 average through getting online and onto BBO. lar skill level, and familiarity with the peo- 3. January/February 2020 6. Average from April 27 through May 17, 2020 There’s been a lot of handholding.” Even ple they’re playing against. Tournament

NEW ACBL MEMBERS Laureta Almer, Vancouver WA Loma Dies, Medford OR Michael Holman, Vancouver WA Byrne Lovell, Portland OR Carol Ogburn, Meridian ID Andrew Smith, Portland OR Cristin Babcock, Creswell OR Bill Edmonds, Corvallis OR Tom Hussey, Portland OR Mary Betty Lowry, Boise ID Pamela Perkins, Eugene OR David Soderquist, Redmond OR Marjorie Bell, Vancouver WA Zachary Faltersack, Lake Oswego OR Elke Kiva, Portland OR Pablo Lucas Jr., Ewa Beach HI Marianne Perrin, Portland OR Lisa Stecker, Boise ID Milo Bell, Vancouver WA Rochelle Ferran, Truckee CA Caroline Koley Stoner, Wailuku HI Linda Maletis, Portland OR Barbara Phipps, Oakridge OR Robert Stoner, Wailuku HI Jean Benedict, Portland OR Anne Gram, Portland OR Blythe Lasley, Ashland OR Rick Mckay, Corvallis OR Terri Pickard, Portland OR Stirling Tomkins, Portland OR Karen Berky, Bend OR Mark Gram, Portland OR Janet Lide, Vancouver WA Mary McKay, Corvallis OR Gary Rhoades, Portland OR Vickie Van Fechtmann, Pahoa HI George Brandt, Honolulu HI Susan Green, Canby OR William Lide, Vancouver WA Brian Morgan, Portland OR Claire Ryberg, McCall ID Cher Wagner, Bend OR Catherine Burnett, Honolulu HI Judy Grodahl, Portland OR Tyler Lippincott, Portland OR Jeanne Neville, Portland OR Patricia Sanborn, Kailua HI Sharann Watson, Bend OR Karen Chock, Kailua HI Lillian Harper, Kailua Kona HI Carla Santos, Honolulu HI Kathryn Wright, Eureka CA Lori Cooke, Waikoloa HI Nancy Hoadley, Hawaii HI Welcome! Colette Sheehan, Trail OR Mary Beth Yosses, Portland OR Page 12 The District 20 Trumpet Summer 2020 AROUND THE UNITS

Klamath Boise sets up virtual club, seeks donations Falls ♣♦♥♠ Larry Chase; (1000–1500) Pat Coontz; Boise (1500–2500) Bill Wood; (2500–3500) Sandra By Bobby Thompson Watson; (3500–5000) Craig Jones; (5000–7500) www.unit482.com ♣♦♥♠ Ian Martindale; (7500–10,000), Suzanne St. By Jill Wood Thomas; and (over 10,000) Jo Morse. boisebridge.club Promotions No basketball? Congratulations are also in order to Sue “Where are we going, Pooh?” asked Piglet. Hanni for becoming our latest Life Master. “Home, Piglet, we’re going home. Because Also reaching masterpoint milestones in it will keep us safe and keep others we care No bridge? Jill Wood, John Cissel, Kay Alspaugh, Art Crawford, April are Maya Schimpf, Junior Master; Jane about safe, too.” Crane, Club Master; Jared Jenkins, Club The 3-Bs for Bobby T (basketball, I suspect that by the time you are read- Karen Boss, Maryon Evans and Gene Gerard are Master; and Larry Zgonc, Sectional Master. broadcasting and bridge) took an unbe- ing this we will still be hunkering down in members of the Boise Unit Board. lievable hit in early March when the coro- On March 1, John Cissel and our homes and continuing to practice Big game: navirus pandemic hit the United States. Craig Jones had a sizzling 72.4% game. physical distancing. until two hours before the start time. The sports world came to a halt followed By now I hope that you have discovered Grab your partner and show up online to Nancy Feldman and Karen Boss wrote a by closures of schools, restaurants and bridge online. Bridge Base Online has support our club. This is all to help keep limerick and submitted in to the ACBL the loss of many jobs everywhere. games that support our units. Three times the club in business until the virus has re- Bulletin. It did not make the cut: “West I felt for our seniors on the Oregon a day, BBO has Support Your Club games, treated. Your support is appreciated. laughed at vulnerability, East forgot Drury Tech basketball team not getting to finish and most of the fee goes to the clubs. 2019 races with impunity, Paired nonetheless, It wasn’t their careers on the court. For the bas- a mess, They played with suitability.” The owners of the Bridge Co-Op of Congratulations to the winners of the ketball junkies of March Madness who Boise have also started a virtual club 2019 Helen Shanbrom Ace of Clubs A Go Fund Me page for the bridge club feel those three weeks in March and game to be played on Wednesdays and awards in their masterpoint categories: to help with expenses has been estab- early April are the best in college sports, Fridays at 12:30 p.m., also on BBO. Under Ace of Clubs — (0–5) Michael Rohm; (5–20) lished. Please check out the page and do- I agree with you and am sad. But most of “Competitive” click on “ACBL Virtual Larry Zgonc; (20–50) Barbara Harrison; (50–100) nate if you can. Here is the link: all I wanted to see the U of O Duck Clubs.” Our games will be clearly noted as Bruce Hanni; (100–200) Phil Emerson; (200–300) www.gofundme.com/f/help-boise-bridge- women play Baylor and South Carolina Boise Bridge. The games will not appear Karen Boss; (300–500) Paul Penland; (500–1000) cooperative. on the way to the women’s champi- onship. We will never know. The active duplicate bridge world was put on hiatus as well. Tournaments and club games were canceled. It could be Ontario Eureka looks to connect with months before duplicate bridge returns. ♣♦♥♠ For now, we remain in our homes and grab groceries and go right back to our By Billie Willis a virtual club in the district houses. Eventually our normal lives will Here in Humboldt County, we are dis- return, but may never be quite the same. tinguished by having been the first rural Eureka In 2020, we had bridge for two months county in the U.S. to have a covid-19 case. plus five games in March, the last game ♣♦♥♠ Virus halts lessons However, I am proud to say, our officials on the 12th. The first quarter point pa- have been very proactive, shutting down By Frederica Aalto rade leaders were Laila Griffith, Carol Our club had given three Easybridge! the county March 20, days before the www.acbdld20.org/unit458 McClure and Reid Sherwin in the open lessons when covid-19 shut everything state issued similar measures. category. Sherwin, Dale Taylor and down. We were very pleased with the Unit 458 held its last game March 16, nect to clubs in Southern Oregon and Duane Weiss were the NLM leaders. turnout (five to six tables) and the stu- realizing that the games put our club play with them online. Griffith and McClure won the January dents were very enthusiastic. We hope we members at risk. It was a responsible act, It gives us a way to continue having reg- unit game while Randall Paul and can get them all back when we resume. but we miss the structure, camaraderie ular games, which will entertain us and Thompson were February and March win- Our club has been shut down since and intellectual stimulus. We wonder how help keep our small club alive, not to ners. Paul was getting ready for the Rogue early March, so any bridge play has been long this will last and what shape our mention our brains. We now have some- Valley tournament that was canceled. online. small club be in when it is all over. thing new to learn. Big games: Griffith and McClure scored Another great disappointment was the Here’s the good news: as of this writing, Keep safe everyone. Shelter in place, 71.9% and 70% while Doug Higgs and Ed cancellation of our sectional which was no club members have contracted the wear a mask and observe physical dis- McClure nailed a 73%. scheduled for mid-April. coronavirus. Also, our hardworking direc- tancing when shopping, and don’t get dis- Gail Pfrimmer moved to Eugene in We’re looking forward to the time tor, Mark Phelps, is studying how to direct couraged. Until we can get together again, April after joining us in 2018. She moved when we can resume our club activities. BBO games. It appears that we can con- look into Bridge Base Online. here from Nashville where her late hus- band was a songwriter. We will miss her and wish her well. Searching for things to do in Salem Redding No bridge at the clubs? What to do? somes of Marion Hull–Barbara Nelson A few people are trying out the Support Salem and Jack and Nancy Wetherson who ♣♦♥♠ your Club games on BBO. Others are read- picked up strat B wins in side games ear- ♣♦♥♠ By Joan Sullens ing through various online lessons. I’m lier in the week. www.bridgescore.com/redding taking the opportunity to catch up on my By Kevin Kacmarynski Rank changes backlog of Bridge Bulletins and the rest of www.salembridgeclub.org Even with our limited slate of games in the ever-growing stack of bridge literature March (and none in April), several mem- that has expanded beyond its designated ion by claiming first place overall in both bers of the unit acquired the points they In coping mode space in my house. the Friday morning 99er pairs as well as needed to achieve their next masterpoint Whatever you are doing, we hope that the Saturday afternoon 0–750 pairs. It came as a shock to all of us to have milestone, including our newest Life Mas- you are well and staying healthy. Hopefully Unit 490 also had some success at the the Senior Center closed to us, followed ter, Barbara Nelson. we’ll be back to the tables soon. Assuming Oregon Trail Regional in February where by closures everywhere. Additional congratulations go out to that we are, we’ll see you in Keizer July tournament stalwarts Mike Green and Like everyone else, we’ve all had to go Junior Masters Peter Soni and Hank 10–12 for the Salem Sectional. Randy Naef of the Oak Valley Club in into our coping mode. For some of us, it’s Werner; Sectional Masters Anita Caviglia, McMinnville been online bridge. For others, it’s been a Comings and goings Chris Graf and Michael Keeney; Regional joined forces time to catch up at home. In a somewhat ironic twist given all the Master Peg Frame; and Silver Life Master with Neil Swan- We’re all becoming acquainted with vir- illness around us, it is pleasant to note Ellie Hall-Pitzer. son (Monroe tual get togethers. In the meantime, we that there were no reported deaths of Unit Five unit games into the year, Stewart Trimble WA) and James can pore over our bridge books, practice 490 members this quarter. and Wing Yung are tied for the lead in the race Weider (Port- play and/or go online to play. In additional good news, the unit would for the Lewis Award. Tom McGuire is in third land) to win We will definitely see changes in our like to welcome new member Jan Middle- place, less than a half point behind. Bracket 4 of club play as a result of this pandemic. No ton and transfers Susan Hamilton and the Friday-Sat- Randy Naef, Mike Green Results more picking up foods/snacks with our Jane Drevo. We’re glad to have you here urday Jim Elliot Unit Game, Feb. 2 — 1A/C: Dennis & Susan Lee; 2A/B: fingers for one thing. We may even wear with us! KO. Also on Saturday, the foursome of Mabel Polley – Skip Ludington; 3A/B: Stewart Trimble & masks. Washing our hands and using a Tournament tales Kevin Kacmarynski, Henri Jansen (Corval- Wing Yung. sanitizer immediately after playing will be Unit Game, Feb. 26 — 1A: Brian Breckenridge – Ross Hibler; The only area sectional on the calendar lis), Louis Beauchet (Sherwood), and 2A/1B: Shain Oleson – Randy Jordan; 3A: Irva Neyhart – a must. We will wipe down our conven- since the deadline for the last issue of The Gene Hval (Portland) fought their way out Dennis Harms. tion card holder after play. We will defi- Trumpet was the Portland Sectional in of the round robin to salvage first place in Unit Game, March 1 — 1A: Brian Breckenridge – Chris Pou- nitely be more aware. late January. Anita Caviglia and Sandra Bracket 2 of the 0–2500 Swiss teams. los; 2A, Dennis & Carol Harms; 3A/1B/C: Terry Hart – Don Pitt. Meanwhile, stay safe. We look forward Emmons represented the unit in fine fash- Congratulations also go out to the two- The March 18, April 5, and April 15 Unit games were canceled. to our fall sectional. Summer 2020 The District 20 Trumpet Page 13 AROUND THE UNITS

Eugene/ Online bridge feeds habits, supports club Springfield At press deadline, the bridge scene was Bob Scott and I tried to play in a BBO ♣♦♥♠ all about how players were coping with Jackson club-support game early on, but the 600 By Don Marsh the shutdowns attributed to the covid-19 County player slots were sold out early. All game www.emeraldbridgeclub.org crisis. That may have changed somewhat ♣♦♥♠ start times are listed as of the eastern by the time this summer edition of The By Jim Flint time zone. People are going online about Trumpet breaks, but we’ll all remember bridgewebs.com/unit484medford two hours before the game is scheduled how we dealt with the pandemic. in order to get a seat in most midday See bright spots March 16 was the last club game played closed, Walker hosted a foursome at her games. However, since the Unit 484 games in Unit 484 at the Phoenix Bridge Center home for some old-fashioned rubber are limited to locals only, those games in Phoenix, Ore. Games were being played bridge. “That was before social distanc- never sell out, and players can get a seat amid adversity at the center five days a week, and all were ing,” she said, “and we haven’t played face- just a few minutes before game time. To believe in this livin’ canceled until at least May 11, at which to-face since, honoring the stay-at-home Before the virtual club games started, Is just a hard way to go time there would be another assessment. guidelines.” Bob and I played in a speedball ACBL The unit board sent out a plea to mem- Some play at Bridge Base Online, which game (12 boards, completed in about an The late John Prine always seemed to bers for donations to help defray rental offers casual free games and ACBL-sanc- hour). There were hundreds of pairs regis- have the right words. expenses incurred by Mark and Leah tioned masterpoint games. tered and the competition was stiff. We fin- It is easy to see the way in which these McKechnie, who lease a building for the BBO added special games for pairs in ished with 66%+ and didn’t make the are the worst of times. The events speak local bridge clubs. After only a couple support of clubs at a fee of $5 to $6 per overalls, earning a fraction of a masterpoint for themselves. What has caught my at- weeks, more than $7,000 had been raised, player, depending on the format, sending for second place east/west in our section. tention is the way in which these are also with more donations expected. 80% of the fee to your clubs. the best of times. If ever there was a time “It is obvious that we all want to play In mid-April, the McKechnies set up a Status of special games and tourneys that showed the level of caring within the bridge as a community,” said board presi- virtual club on BBO with play at regular Our March 27–29 spring sectional was Eugene-Springfield bridge community, dent Gee Gee Walker. “People have local game times. Only players who are canceled, as was our May 2 unit game. this would be that time. stepped forward in a most effective and part of Unit 484 are allowed to sit. Partici- Also canceled are our Sept. 18-20 fall sec- Once the Emerald Bridge Club shut- touching way.” pating are McKechnies' clubs on Tuesday tional and the Aug. 1 unit game. The unit tered its doors temporarily, Ellen Mc- Meanwhile, players fed their bridge night and Wednesday and Friday at 2 p.m., hopes to be able to go ahead with the Cumsey jumped in and began organizing habits in a variety of ways. and Bob Fox's clubs, also at 2 p.m., on planned unit game on Dec. 5, subject to games on BBO. Dr. McCumsey’s patience The day the local bridge clubs were Monday, Thursday and Saturday. progress on the pandemic. in getting us all up to speed was the stuff of sainthood. Joyce Spence, Betsy Ovitt, Roy Lisi, Denise Cox, Carole Schmitz and Susie Piper all stepped up to help with direct- Seaside players share quarantine journals ing. We all know much of the immediate future of bridge is online and Ellen’s as- Oh, my friends, Seaside/ miles this morning but I really would like sistance has not only provided a wonder- I never knew our closeness to be playing bridge right now. ful diversion during the quarantine, but Until it was gone. Astoria/Ilwaco Monica Taylor also has introduced lots of folks to BBO —Alicia Jo Rabins ♣♦♥♠ When we canceled club bridge, Lew did- and all that incredible site has to offer.

By David Wigutoff n’t smile for three days, so we started At the same time, the unit board real- Given the physical distancing and the bridgewebs.com/seasideunit491 bridge online and have been inviting ized that EBC would need help with on- lack of in-person bridge, our club mem- friends to join us. We enjoy good food, going costs. President John Wolf and all bers have been occupied differently from the most fantastic experience is the good exercise, good rest, good online board members put together a proposal usual. I decided to ask our unit members beach. Robert takes his chair and walks bridge, good books and movies, sunshine that went out to all the players. The to describe what they are doing, thinking half way to the dunes and sits and reads. I and good endorphins. We are trying to board made the decision to set up a sep- and feeling. walk on to the beach with the two poo- protect ourselves and others. arate account that would be dedicated to Lucy Thorsensten dles. It’s a magnificent feeling. No cars, assisting the club during this time of lost sometimes no folks, no dogs for Clyde to Lew Richardson I miss seeing your faces! Well, my daily revenue. bark at — 30 miles of pure out-of-this- Monica and I are playing online in the routine has not changed too much. This A shoutout is in order here to EBC’s world experience. ACBL Support Your Club tourneys on time of year, I usually spend most of my landlord, Steven Yett, who magnani- BBO four times week. We sure miss the time in the garden, reading, practicing Jim Bernard mously agreed to reduce rent by more local club games. piano, baking and the other thousands (it Cherie and I celebrated my 90th birth- than $1,000 until the games can resume. seems) of things I have deemed “impor- day at home. Thanks to all well wishers. Vern Fowler As of this writing, over $6,600 has been tant.” However, this year has been differ- Kathy Hauswald Cindy and I are living much as we al- contributed. ways have. In place of bridge club, we have Betsy Ovitt and David Partridge also ent. I started a Joy Journal where each day My husband, Herb, and I have to get ventured into the adventure of the Bridge need to be acknowledged for their work I chronicle something that made me smile, dressed every day to go for our walk. And Base Online ACBL tournaments. in getting the Google Group distribution or laugh, or pause with appreciation. one of us gets our mail at the post office. Our dahlias are coming up and we our list updated and functional so that we I think our house arrest, as I call it, has The garage has been too cold for ping- enjoying walking on these wonderful are all able to remain in contact. actually made me reach out to people pong. Occasionally we play dominoes. spring mornings. It also should be noted that EBC is more than I would have otherwise. Nor- Otherwise, we stay in bed to read and about to have an updated website thanks mally, talking on the phone is an anath- watch movies and TV, including “Tiger JoAnn Dawley to the efforts of Doug Berg. Doug’s work ema to me. Now I voluntarily spend time King,” the stupidest series ever. Since I have so much free time now, I will also allow the site to be hosted on a calling people I know who may be some- We miss the gym, shopping, golf and decided at 86 to join the 21st century. I much less expensive server. what vulnerable. bridge! dumped my flip phone and now am the How fortunate we all are to be a part It’s becoming clear to me that what will owner of an iPhone. An old dog can learn Larry Marshall of such an incredible great group of folks. defeat the virus and save lives are caring new tricks! people, friendship, a willingness to help Our daily life has somewhat changed. It is hard to say where things will all be and working together. More projects which are tedious and bor- Terry and Ted Jefferson when this gets published. I just hope that ing will get done sooner than later. Now We have plenty to keep ourselves busy it finds you all safe and well and able to Sue Kroning we clean one window, inside and out, in- around the house and gardens. We still return to the tables soon. I have been painting my old wooden cluding the curtains. Number 7 today, only play bridge in the evenings with Bridge kitchen cabinets. An all-consuming task, it 10 to go. Baron, but really miss our bridge family in has taken four weeks. Now, for the bath- More and longer walks to the beach District 20. As many of you may already rooms. with few or no visitors. Bridge online daily, know, I lost my oldest son, Tom, just two Robert Kroning normally about 8,000 players but yester- weeks ago. We have been overwhelmed I am trying to find happy homes for day it was up to 43,650. Maybe the game and emotionally drained. He was the fa- some of my books. My lockdown tactic is will be reaching new players. ther of five. to stack some in the boot of my car. It is We have been having Zoom calls with Jane and Ray Lowe We placed first of 358 pairs with a 74% our family. One included all 15 grandchil- sitting in the driveway these days because I have to admit that I am getting cabin game on April 20. dren and one great-grandchild. The best Sue is redoing our kitchen and has the fever. I miss having contact with all our Mike Donnelly garage otherwise engaged. My hope is that news was that no one had yet been in- bridge friends and wondering if we will be My 9-year-old grandson is living with us some of you could stop by, pop the hatch, fected. able to travel at all this year. But as every- until school restarts. I play ball with him, take a look and take a book or two. Mary Blake one else seems to say, we are getting a lot and bicycle every day. I play bridge on- Virginia Zimmerman I celebrated my 102nd birthday at done around the house and yard. We have line, too. I’ve lost another nine pounds I usually don’t care much about shop- home, reading old love letters, and remi- been playing some bridge online with and feel great. Manny. It has been all casual bridge and ping, but I am actually thinking of Fred niscing with the assistance of other nos- Betty Evans Meyers and Costco as grand outings. I’m talgic items. not tournament play. Many of you will not know me as I play feeling sad for those who can’t stand shut- Fred Kulczycki Doug West so seldom and don’t do tournaments. I in time and for those who may be ill. I have a cat in my lap and I am doing Playing in the 8 a.m. pair game on have spent more time in prayer. Garden- I am a homebody and not playing my wash. I talked to Jim Briganti and he Bridge Base with long time friend and ing, reading and cooking are my outward bridge is great. I’ve been gardening. But said it was quiet where he was. I ran my 5 partner Susan Parnes from Flint, Mich. relaxation moves. Page 14 The District 20 Trumpet Summer 2020 Chris’s Tournament Corner ACBL tournament director Calendar Chris Wiegand answers your questions on rulings. DISTRICT 20 REGIONALS & SECTIONALS Comparable calls All events are subject to cancellation or postponement. Check acbl.org for the latest information. JUNE 2020 – continued 26 – 28 Ace of Clubs Summer Sectional CANCELEDThe Ace of Clubs, Lake Oswego OR JULY 2020 Last Trumpet, I discussed some of the 10 – 12 Honolulu Sectional Ala Wai Clubhouse, Honolulu HI evolution of changes of the laws and how comparable call was introduced in the 10 – 12 Salem Sectional CANCELED Keizer/Salem Area Seniors, Keizer OR 2017 laws. Per 2017 Law 23.A, a call that July 27 – Aug. 2 TREASURE VALLEY REGIONAL Nampa Civic Center, Nampa ID CANCELED replaces a withdrawn call is a compara- AUGUST 2020 ble call, if it: 14 – 16 Vancouver Summer Sectional Washington School for the Deaf, Vancouver WA 1. has the same or similar meaning as 26 – 27 Nampa-Caldwell Summer Sectional Idaho First Bank, McCall ID that attributable to the withdrawn call, or SEPTEMBER 2020 2. defines a subset of the possible meanings attributable to the withdrawn 11 – 13 Eureka Sectional Humboldt Area Foundation, Bayside CA call, or 11 – 13 Honolulu Sectional Ala Wai Clubhouse, Honolulu HI 3. has the same purpose (e.g. an asking 11 – 13 Portland Fall Sectional CANCELED Milwaukie Elks Lodge, Oak Grove OR bid or a relay) as that attributable to the 18 – 20 Rogue Valley Fall Sectional CANCELED Dan Voorhies Bridge Center, Phoenix OR withdrawn call. 25 – 27 Boise Sectional Red Lion Hotel Downtowner, Boise ID I find that 23A1 has the most “wiggle- Sept. 28 – Oct. 4 OREGON COAST REGIONAL Seaside Convention Center, Seaside OR CANCELED room” to it and is thus hardest to define. OCTOBER 2020 In general, if the new call shows the exact 17 – 18 Vancouver Fall I/N Sectional Vancouver Bridge Club, Vancouver WA same suit length(s) and approximate val- 22 – 25 Central Oregon Coast Sectional Shilo Inn, Newport OR ues or the approximate suit length(s) and 23 – 25 Gold Country Sectional St. Canice Center, Nevada City CA exact values, then it is comparable. An 29 – 31 Nampa-Caldwell Halloween Sectional Elks Lodge, Caldwell ID example: South opens 1♥ out of turn NOVEMBER 2020 (not accepted). North is the dealer and opens 1´. East overcalls 2©. We would 6 – 8 Redding Fall Sectional Win-River Hotel & Casino, Redding CA allow a 2♥ (natural and forcing) call as it 7 Rogue Valley I/N Sectional Dan Voorhies Bridge Center, Phoenix OR shows exactly 5+ hearts just like the 1♥ 7 – 8 Corvallis 299er Sectional Heart of the Valley Bridge Center, Corvallis OR opening bid and is approximate value 13 – 15 Honolulu Sectional Ala Wai Clubhouse, Honolulu HI with the 2♥ response showing 10+ 14 – 15 Vancouver Fall Sectional Washington School for the Deaf, Vancouver WA points instead of the more usual 12+ (or DECEMBER 2020 thereabouts) for an opening call. A nega- 7 – 13 District 20 STaC Local clubs tive double would not be comparable as both the number of hearts and the JANUARY 2021 strength could vary from what is shown 9 – 10 Vancouver Winter I/N Sectional Vancouver Bridge Club, Vancouver WA by a 1♥ opener. TBA Garden Island Sectional Sun Village Condominium Recreation Center, Lihue HI For 23A2, remember that it is the new TBA Portland Winter Sectional TBA, Portland OR call that must be more specific than the Jan. 25–31 HAWAII REGIONAL Prince Waikiki, Honolulu HI withdrawn call. Example: North opens FEBRUARY 2021 1©. East overcalls 1´. South does not see TBA Maui Sectional Maui Bridge Club, Kihei HI East’s call and attempts to respond 1♥ TBA Boise Sectional TBA, Boise ID (insufficient), not accepted. The insuffi- TBA Big Island Sectional Makua Lani Christian Academy, Kailua Kona HI cient call of 1♥ was showing 4+ hearts Feb. 15–21 OREGON TRAIL REGIONAL Vancouver Wash. Hilton, Vancouver WA and 6+ points. If a negative double here would show exactly four hearts and MARCH 2021 8+points, it is a subset of the hands 5 – 7 Heart of the Valley Sectional Benton County Fairgrounds, Corvallis OR shown by the withdrawn 1♥ call and 5 – 7 Honolulu Sectional Ala Wai Clubhouse, Honolulu HI thus comparable. That is, even though TBA Chico Almond Blossom Sectional TBA, Chico CA the shape and points were not exact, the TBA Rogue Valley Spring Sectional Dan Voorhies Bridge Center, Phoenix OR new call is more specific; every hand that wants to make a negative double now would have started with a 1♥ response; no “extra” information is available to TOURNAMENTS IN NEIGHBORING DISTRICTS North with the “knowledge” that partner wanted to respond 1♥. (2♥ would also DISTRICT 19: www.d19.org DISTRICT 18: www.wasumi.org allow North to continue bidding.) June 15–21 Penticton Regional BC CANCELED June 26–28 Salt Lake City Sectional UT CANCELED 23A3 is the easiest to understand. Ex- June 22–28 Anchorage Regional AK CANCELED Aug. 10–16 Edmonton Regional AB CANCELED amples are things like insufficient Stay- July 10–12 Anacortes Sectional WA CANCELED Aug. 14–16 Idaho Falls Sectional ID man may be replaced with sufficient July 24–26 Silverdale Sectional WA Aug. 20–23 Missoula Sectional MT CANCELED Stayman even if they are a different vari- Aug. 14–16 Seattle Sectional, Kent WA CANCELED Aug. 28–30 Saskatoon I/N Regional SK CANCELED ety of Stayman (Puppet versus normal), Aug. 17–23 Puget Sound Regional, Lynnwood WA Sept. 7–13 Great Falls Regional MT because the purpose of the calls (inquir- Sept. 4–7 Olympia Sectional WA CANCELED Sept. 18–20 Salt Lake City Sectional UT ing about opener’s major suit holdings) Sept. 4–7 Spokane Valley Sectional WA DISTRICT 17: www.d17acbl.org are the same even if slightly different Oct. 26–Nov. 1 Leavenworth Regional WA hand types may make them. Similarly, July 31–Aug. 2 Vail Sectional, Avon CO CANCELED DISTRICT 21: Blackwood might replace Gerber (both www.d21acbl.com Aug. 10–16 Phoenix Regional, Scottsdale AZ CANCELED asking for aces). June 27–28 Oakland Sectional CA CANCELED Sept. 28–Oct. 4 Taos Regional NM As a director, how do you handle this? July 8–12 Mountain View Sectional CA Nov. 9–15 Las Vegas Regional NV Here is an example: North is the dealer Aug. 11–14 Reno Sectional NV Nov. 19–22 Tucson Sectional & I/N Regional AZ Aug. 22–23 Sonoma Sectional CA and South has a 1´ card on the table. DISTRICT 22: acbldistrict22.com/d22 Sept. 1–7 All Western Regional, Santa Clara CA Turn to West and say, “If you would pre- Aug. 6–8 San Diego Sectional CA Sept. 11–13 Sacramento Sectional, Orangevale CA fer to be in second chair, rather than Aug. 14–16 Santa Barbara Sectional CA CANCELED Sept. 12–13 Santa Rosa Sectional CA fourth chair, you may accept this call and Sept. 7–13 Costa Mesa Regional CA Sept. 17–20 Carson City Sectional NV take any legal call over it that you wish. It Oct. 26–Nov. 1 Ventura Regional CA Sept. 25–27 Sacramento I/N Sectional CA would be as if South is the dealer and we Dec. 14–20 Palm Springs Regional, Rancho Mirage CA would proceed normally from there. If Oct. 5–11 Reno Regional, Sparks NV you do not accept, 1´ will go back into South’s box. North will make his “nor- mal” call as dealer with no knowledge NORTH AMERICAN BRIDGE CHAMPIONSHIPS that South tried to open 1´. East will take a call. Then South and I will go have Nov. 26 – Dec. 6 Fall 2020 Convention Center, Tampa FL a conversation about comparable calls March 11–21 Spring 2021 Renaissance Grand, St. Louis MO and incomparable calls. I do not know July 15–25 Summer 2021 Convention Center, Providence RI what they will be yet because they will be Nov. 25 – Dec. 5 Fall 2021 JW Marriott, Austin TX Continued on Page 4