Tricks Are For Kids A monthly newsletter for youth bridge players in the GTA (Toronto) July 2011, Volume 3

Washington D.C. when Sanders played 2011 King of Bridge his first session with his step-father.

“I really started paying attention to the game in D.C. when my step-father was in the Mini-,” Sanders said. “We partnered for a midnight session and from then on I was hooked on bridge.”

At 18, Sanders has been playing competitively for just over a year and has already earned more than 250 . While in school, Sanders played weekly at his local club and tried to play in one tournament a month. During the summer months he plays in a tournament nearly every week. Blake Sanders “You have to give yourself the chance (Photo/Article courtesy of the ACBL) to really learn and be competitive,” Earning the American Sanders advises other youth players. League’s (ACBL) highest youth honour, “Even lower-level players can compete Blake Sanders of Jonesboro, Ark. has against the professionals at the NABC’s been named the King of Bridge 2011. and it’s cool to get to play with and The honour is given out annually to a learn from the pros.” graduating high school senior and ACBL member who plays and promotes First established in 1973, previous bridge. The award is accompanied by a winners of the King/Queen of Bridge, $1000 scholarship provided by the such as , Bobby Levin, ACBL Educational Foundation. Brad Moss and Joel Wooldridge have all moved on to become full-time players Sanders’ first exposure to the game of and leaders in the game. bridge came by way of his step-father, Russ Jones, and he began caddying at “I was really shocked to receive the the North American Bridge honour,” Sanders said. “I hope I’ll be Championships (NABC) in St. Louis able to do as well as the former Kings during spring 2007. It was two years of Bridge, and that the honour brings later at the summer NABC in me as much success.” Tricks Are For Kids - July 2011 - Page 1

Kids Can Bid!

Opening the bidding with one-no- (1nt) shows 15-17 points and a (4443, 4432, or 5332 distributions). Finding an 8-card fit in ♥’s or ♠’s is responder’s priority so they may bid 2♣ (Stayman) to ask if their partner has 4♥ or 4♠. Opener bids 2♥/♠ with 4 of them and bids 2♦ to deny a 4-card-major (the major suits are Hearts & Spades).

Remember: 25 combined points are needed to bid game (best games are 3nt, 4♥, 4♠)

After your partner opens 1nt and you bid 2♣ (Stayman), you hear your partner bid 2♥ to show a 4-card-heart-suit. What do you re-bid with the following hands?

1.

2.

3.

4. 1. We have a heart fit (at least 8 combined cards in the suit) so we can raise hearts. Since we have 13 points and our partner has a minimum of 15, we have over 25 combined points and we can bid 4♥ to get the “game” scoring bonus. 2. Once again we have a ♥ fit, but this time we only have 9 points. Our partner’s range is 15, 16, or 17 points so sometimes we will have only 24 combined points, and other times we will have 25 or 26 points which is enough to bid game. Therefore, we can bid 3♥ to ask partner to pass with a minimum and bid 4♥ some extra values. 3. We do not have a heart fit, but our 13 points is enough to bid a game. We promise 4♥, 4♠, or both when we bid 2♣ Stayman. As a result, if we do not support partner’s hearts, we imply 4♠. Therefore, we can jump to 3nt and partner will pass or bid 4♠. 4. Our maximum combined points is only 22 (partner has no more than 17), so we want to stay as low as possible. Bidding 2♣ Stayman allows us to play with a trump suit and we can pass whatever partner bids - whether its 2♦, 2♠ or 2♥ in this case. Tricks Are For Kids - July 2011 - Page 2

BRIDGE4 IDS.ca After-School Programs (Starts: 3rd week of September 2011)

Partner’s Bridge Club Fridays from 4:30-6pm Leaside Area. 416-422-2582 www.partnersbridge.com

Hazel’s Bridge Club Centerpoint Mall. 416-221-0069 www.hazelsbridge.com

Thornhill Woods Area TBA www.Bridge4Kids.ca

Please contact Daniel with any inquires. Daniel Lavee is Canada’s [email protected] youngest World Champion and he has a passion for teaching Canadian youth. Daniel is an ACBL Accredited Teacher and You Will Have FUN! has graduated many students teaching bridge at schools in st Toronto and York Region. Your 1 session is Visit Bridge4kids.ca and keep up to date with current events FREE in the GTA… and much more. Tricks Are For Kids - July 2011 - Page 3

Tricks Are For Kids - July 2011 - Page 4

WIN a game with Canada’s youngest School Bridge League World Champion, Daniel Lavee! Championships Held Dummy Declarer by Mike McNamara, SBL Championship ♠K932 ♠AJ54 Tournament Chairperson How would you play the ♠ suit to win 4 tricks? The first-ever School Bridge League How would you play the ♠ suit to guarantee 3 Championships were held Sunday May 15 on tricks? Bridge Base Online. Only Canadian youth players (u20) are eligible to Congratulations to our 2011 School Bridge win. All correct responses will be put into a draw. League Middle School Champions: Please email [email protected]

1. Piper Ziebarth & Nassem Yousef ______(Lamplighter Montessori School, Cordova, TN) 2012 King or Queen of Bridge 2. Ruth & Mary Wexel (Georgia Cyber Academy) If you are a graduating high school senior and an ACBL member who plays and promotes bridge, you Congratulations to our 2011 School Bridge may become the 2012 King/Queen of Bridge. League High School Champions: Recent winners have been cited for outstanding tournament performances plus administrative, recreational and promotional activities related to 1. Linda Cai & Kevin Peng (Stuyvesant bridge. The ACBL Educational Foundation will High School, NYC) present a $1000 scholarship to the King/Queen of 2. Hanson Lin & Dickson Lo (Stuyvesant Bridge. High School, NYC) This competition was established in 1973 by Homer The third place pair are high school students Shoop, an Indiana banker, and is administered today from Toronto: Brandon Yang and Quincy by the ACBL Educational Foundation. A list of Lam (Marc Garneau Collegiate Institute). previous winners reads like a who’s who of bridge: They were the top finishing Canadian pair. Jeff Meckstroth, Bobby Levin, , Brad Moss, Martha (Benson) Katz, Joel Wooldridge The University Division Championship is a and Eric Greco. Knock-Out Team event that is still underway. Winners will be announced when that event is To enter the contest, e-mail your personal information and qualifications, along with the name completed. of your school and school principal, the school address and phone number to [email protected] Next year, the SBL Championship Tournament no later than April 2012. will be expanded to include the Mini-Bridge Division & Grade School Division ______Championships. Editor: Daniel Lavee Thanks to everyone who helped make this Email: [email protected] inaugural School Bridge League Championship Tournament such a success. Website: www.Bridge4Kids.ca Tricks Are For Kids - July 2011 - Page 5