ACBL Gets Tough on Opening 1NT with a Small Singleton by Marty Hirschman You Shouldn’T Open a Minor Table Talk Editor And, When Partner Responds

Home , Board (bridge), English Bridge Union, Laws of Duplicate Bridge, Masterpoints, Negative double, Overcall

VOL. 60 No. 1 JUNE 2019 ACBL Gets Tough On Opening 1NT With a Small Singleton By Marty Hirschman You shouldn’t open a minor Table Talk Editor and, when partner responds

Here is the latest example 1♠, rebid 1NT. That would of our omniscient and omnipo- show just 12-14 HCPs, and tent ACBL’s efforts to impose you have 16. You could open its bridge judgment on the 1♣ and reverse into dia- players… monds, but that overstates the If you wish, you can open strength of the hand and the 2NT (or open 2♣ and rebid suits. You could open 1♦ and 2NT) with a hand containing a rebid 2♣, but that doesn’t small singleton. show 16 points, plus partner You can open one of a suit will sometimes take a prefer- and rebid 1NT or jump rebid ence to 2♦. 2NT with a small singleton. But no matter how much You can overcall 1NT or you may think opening 1NT is 2NT with a small singleton. clearly right on that hand, you But you can never, ever cannot do it. open 1NT with a small single- This past winter, Willie ton…or even singleton jack or Winokur inquired about this 10. situation to the Rulings de- And, if you do choose to partment of the ACBL. He re- open 1NT with a singleton ceived this response from other than ace, king or queen, Lynn Yokel, ACBL Tourna- it may become a disciplinary ment Director and Rulings matter subjecting you to a Box Associate. procedural penalty or perhaps “Up until the new Conven- worse. tion Charts came into effect How would you bid this hand: last November, opening 1NT ♠J ♥AQ8 ♦A842 ♣AJ743? (Continued on page 20) JOINT MBA/SOMBA SECTIONAL June 20-23, 2019 SITE: The Bridge Connection 26776 Twelve Mile Road, Southfield MI Just west of Northwestern Highway 248-356-6254

THURSDAY, JUNE 20 Stratified Open Pairs ...... 10 a.m. Stratified 0-500 Pairs...... 10 a.m. Stratified Swiss Teams ...... 2:30 p.m. Stratified 0-500 Swiss Teams ...... 2:30 p.m. Stratified Open Fast Pairs (5 minutes per board) ...... 7 p.m. FRIDAY, JUNE 21 Stratified Open Pairs ...... 10 a.m. Stratified 0-500 Pairs...... 10 a.m. Stratified Open Pairs ...... 2:30 p.m. Stratified 0-500 Pairs...... 2:30 p.m. Stratified Open Fast Pairs (5 minutes per board) ...... 7 p.m. SATURDAY, JUNE 22 Stratified Swiss Teams Playthru (7 matches) ...... 10 a.m. Stratified Open Pairs ...... 10 a.m. Stratified 0-500 Pairs...... 10 a.m. Stratified Open Pairs ...... 2 p.m. Stratified 0-500 Pairs...... 2 p.m. SUNDAY, JUNE 23 BRACKETED Swiss Teams Playthru (7 matches) ...... 10 a.m.

Stratified events: A=unlimited; B=0-3000; C=0-1000 0-500 Stratifications: 0-100, 100-300, 300-500 as attendance warrants. Average masterpoints will be used to determine stratifications.

All pair events are single session. Light lunch will be provided on Saturday and Sunday. No smoking in the building.

Tournament Chairs: Satish Shah, [email protected], 586-944-6708 Richard Temkin, [email protected], 248-568-6599

Partnership Chairs: Bill Goodman, [email protected], 586-243-9918 Marilyn Crane, [email protected], 734-591-3431, cell: 734-536-1731 Jane Gardner: [email protected], 248-719-2941

District website: www.district12bridge.org

PAGE 2 TABLE TALK Michigan Bridge Association’s RUSSELL ROOSEN SECTIONAL August 15-18, 2019 SITE: The Bridge Connection 26776 Twelve Mile Road, Southfield MI Just west of Northwestern Highway 248-356-6254

THURSDAY, AUGUST 15 Stratified Open Pairs ...... 10 a.m. Stratified 0-500 Pairs...... 10 a.m. Swiss Teams Lesson for New Players ...... 2:10 p.m. Stratified Swiss Teams ...... 2:30 p.m. Stratified 0-500 Swiss Teams ...... 2:30 p.m. Stratified Open Fast Pairs (5 minutes per board) ...... 7 p.m. FRIDAY, AUGUST 16 Stratified Open Pairs ...... 10 a.m. Stratified 0-500 Pairs...... 10 a.m. Stratified Open Pairs ...... 2:30 p.m. Stratified 0-500 Pairs...... 2:30 p.m. Stratified Open Fast Pairs (5 minutes per board) ...... 7 p.m. SATURDAY, AUGUST 17 Stratified Swiss Teams Playthru (7 matches) ...... 10 a.m. Stratified Open Pairs ...... 10 a.m. Stratified 0-500 Pairs...... 10 a.m. Stratified Open Pairs ...... 2 p.m. Stratified 0-500 Pairs...... 2 p.m. SUNDAY, AUGUST 18 BRACKETED Swiss Teams Playthru (7 matches) ...... 10 a.m.

Stratified events: A=unlimited; B=0-3000; C=0-1000 0-500 Stratifications: 0-100, 100-300, 300-500 as attendance warrants. Average masterpoints will be used to determine stratifications.

All pair events are single session. Light lunch will be provided on Saturday and Sunday. No smoking in the building.

Tournament chair: Richard Temkin, [email protected], 248-568-6599

Partnerships: Marilyn Crane, [email protected], 734-591-3431, cell: 734-536-1731, and Jane Gardner: [email protected], 248-719-2941

District website: www.district12bridge.org

TABLE TALK PAGE 3 TABLE TALK MBA Officers Official publication Owen Lien ...... president of the Michigan Bridge Association Richard Temkin .... ….president-elect 4504 Knollcrest Road Bob Ondo ...... chairman Ann Arbor MI 48108 Stacey Tessler .... recording secretary 734-585-5759 Bob Webber ...... treasurer e-mail: [email protected] Board of Directors MARTIN HIRSCHMAN, Editor Julie Arbit, Shelley Boschan, Brenda Associate editor: Marcia Abramson Bryant, MBA Corresponding & Mem- bership Secretary: Paul Pomeroy, Owen Lien, 34069 Hathaway St., Livonia MI Marilyn Nathanson, Bob Ondo, Grant 48150, [email protected], 734- Petersen, Richard Temkin, Stacey 421-0193 Tessler, Allan Tushman

MBA CLUB DIRECTORY Evangelical Lutheran Church, 375 Lothrop, Grosse Pointe Farms. Tony Faint, 586-649- 3575. Friday 12 p.m. Ann Arbor Genesis, 2300 ■Neighborhood Club, St. Paul Packard, Ann Arbor. Stuart Col- Evangelical Lutheran Church, lis, 734-678-5549. Tuesday 7 p.m. Tony Faint, 586-649-3575. Thursday 12 p.m. ■Plymouth Community DBC, Cultural Center, 525 Farmer, Plymouth. Jim & Cheryl Perna, 248-887-9283. Tuesday 11:30 a.m., Wednesday 11:30 a.m. ■Trenton DBC, 2700 Westfield, Trenton. Bob Ondo, 313-320- 5173. Thursday 7 p.m. ■War Memorial, 32 Lakeshore, Grosse Pointe. Judith Thomas, 313-372-4218. Monday 12 p.m. ■Young Center BC, R.A. Young Recreation Center, 5400 McKin- ley, Dearborn Heights. Joyce Koz- ma, 313-274-5587. Wednesday ■Friendly Friday BC, St. Paul 11 a.m.

PAGE 4 TABLE TALK IT’S YOUR BID By Marty Hirschman

Congratulations to Gene Benedict who scored a perfect 500 to lead all expert panelists this issue. Also congrats to Val Enache who had the high reader score. You, too, can try for perfection by sending in your answers to next issue’s hands, found at the end of this article.

1. MTPTs. Both vul. As response, I’ll bid 6♦ asking for SOUTH, you hold: third-round diamond control. ♠A ♥942 ♦AKJ653 ♣A75 Morrie Kleinplatz (4NT): WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH What’s the problem? ------1♦ Pass 1♥ 1♠ Dbl* Well, there is a problem. Pass 4♥ Pass ? Partner could easily have a *3 hearts fair amount of his hand in clubs or even spades, leaving Action Score Votes him with relatively weak 4NT 100 14 hearts. Even if partner’s 4♠ 60 3 hearts are as good as KQxxx 5♥ 50 1 or AQxxx, we’ll only make 6♥ 30 0 with 3-2 hearts and the miss- Pass 20 0 ing key card onside, about a 34 percent chance. And part- With a hand that evaluates ner could easily have worse to about 18 or 19 points with hearts than that. Roman Key all the controls and a partner Card Blackwood won’t tell us who is advertising opening if partner has AQxxx or values, a large majority of the AQJ10x or something else. panel saw no particular diffi- And, as Joe Chiesa points culty. out, if you are playing regular Jonathan Fleischmann (4NT): RKC, where a 5♦ response Partner can’t have too much shows 1 or 4 key cards, there besides good trumps for his won’t be room below 5♥ to jump to game. I should know ask whether partner has the what to do with the answer to queen of trump (which is ac- keycard, and we should be complished by bidding the pretty safe at the five level. next step up that is not the Over a two-with-the-queen trump suit).

TABLE TALK PAGE 5 SCORES EXPERTS: Kerry Lafer ...... 390 Gene Benedict ...... 500 Irv Hershman...... 380 Bob Brent ...... 460 Seymour Mandell ...... 360 Morrie Kleinplatz ...... 460 Neil Manley ...... 360 John Koschik ...... 460 John Silberholz...... 360 Kurt Dasher ...... 450 Patty Becker ...... 340 Bob Webber ...... 450 Margaret Carden ...... 320 Steven Garland ...... 310 READERS: John Reed ...... 310 Val Enache ...... 440 Jerry Jefferies...... 300 Morris Swiger ...... 430 George Pope ...... 280 Gerald Wahl ...... 410 Doris Jefferies ...... 270 HOW THE PANEL VOTED 1 2 3 4 5 Gene Benedict 4NT 2♠ Dbl 2♠ 1NT Bob Brent 4NT 2♠ Dbl 2♠ 2♥ Chuck Burger 5♥ 2♠ Dbl Pass Pass Suzy Burger 4♠ 2♠ Dbl 2♦ 1NT Joe Chiesa 4♠ 2♠ Dbl 2♠ Pass Kurt Dasher 4NT 3♣ Dbl 2♠ Pass Jonathan Fleischmann 4NT 2♠ Abs Pass 1NT Dennis Kasle 4NT 2NT Pass 2♥ Pass Sheldon Kirsch 4NT 2♠ 5♠ 3♦ 1NT Morrie Kleinplatz 4NT 2♠ Pass 2♠ Pass John Koschik 4NT 2♠ Dbl 2♠ 2♥ Myles Maddox 4NT 3♣ 5♠ 2♦ 1NT Linda Perlman 4♠ 2♠ Dbl 2♠ 2♥ Irv Rosenstein 4NT 3♣ 5♠ 2♦ 1NT Don Rumelhart 4NT 3♣ 5♠ 2♠ 1NT Richard Temkin 4NT 3♣ Pass Pass Pass Bob Webber 4NT 3♣ Pass 2♠ 1NT Willie Winokur 4NT 2♠ Pass Pass 1NT

CANDIDATES WANTED

The annual MBA board election will be held at the Motor City Regional in October. If you are interested in running, contact election co-chairs Jane Gardner, [email protected], 248-719- 2941, or Shelley Boschan, [email protected], 248-225-1700.

PAGE 6 TABLE TALK Joe Chiesa (4♠): Perhaps to use the raise or jump to 5 Rodwell, who gave birth to of your agreed major to ask this abomination, should an- for control in the opponent’s swer for me. Playing 1430, I suit, not about trump quality. would bid RKC and gamble if On the other hand, if partner partner confesses to one key has the near-solid trump hold- card and Her Ladyship. Play- ing we need, he probably ing alternative RKC, no room should be able to figure out for the Queen ask. 5♥ is not a that we are not making a slam trump ask, but rather a spade try with bad trump and no inquiry. 6♦ exposes me to a spade control. heart ruff. Hoping partner can Maybe the problem is just make a small noise over 4♠. unsolvable with normal meth-

That answer raises many ods, in which case we are issues. First of all, I’m not back to bidding RKC and hoping for the best. sure how we can blame Eric Rodwell, inventor of support Gene Benedict (4NT): I am doubles, for this problem. The going to check to see if we support double worked well to are off two key cards. locate the 8-card heart fit. It is Bob Brent (4NT): If partner hard to see how we would be responds 5♠ [two key cards better off without it. Mean- plus the Q of trump] I’m bid- while, Chiesa’s choice of 4♠, ding the grand. while showing a spade control, won’t really solve our Suzy Burger (4♠): Hoping problem. Partner probably will partner with solid hearts will think we are focusing on bid slam or will cue with club clubs, the unbid, uncuebid king and just one loser in hearts. suit. Perhaps he will cuebid the king of clubs if he has it, Linda Perlman (4♠): I would but how does that help us with like to bid 4♠ as key card for hearts? Indeed, it might be hearts. I think it is important better if he doesn’t have the for all serious partnerships to club king; then he is a little play this. Partner can have more likely to have good any heart holding, so I might hearts. judge this hand better if I Chuck Burger proposes that knew more about his hearts. I 5♥ will ask about trump. The can still get out at 5♥, and standard approach when the sometimes bid a grand. opponents have bid a suit is

TABLE TALK PAGE 7 The advantage of using 4♠ to bid one of them. We could as RKC for hearts is that the pass, but we probably can’t second step response – 5♣ – come close to beating 2♥. still leaves room for 5♦ to ask 2NT would be natural, and we for the Q of hearts, with a don’t have a heart stopper. chance to stop in 5♥ if partner 2♠, the majority choice, could doesn’t have it. (Panelist Den- be a six-card suit with 14 nis Kasle also plays 4♠ as HCPs, which may get us to RKC for hearts in his regular the three-level in a 5-2 fit if partnerships.) there is more bidding.

Irv Rosenstein (4NT): Hard Kurt Dasher (3♣): Not rebid- to imagine a hand he can ding the bad spade suit. Part- jump to 4♥ that does not give ner asked me to bid a minor. a good play for slam. Don Rumelhart (3♣): Partner How about ♠xx ♥A109xx rates to have both minors or ♦Qx ♣KQJx? That would one long minor. 3♣ caters to make 6♦ and 6NT virtually either, and should we end up cold, while 6♥ has no play. So defending, I am showing maybe we should forget about something in clubs. a grand slam and just jump to 6♦ over 4♥ to offer partner a Bob Webber (3♣): With no choice of slams. heart raise, partner may have length there. 2♠ could be bad. So could this. 2. MTPTs. E-W vul. As SOUTH, you hold: Irv Rosenstein (3♣): Hope it’s ♠KQ862 ♥J2 ♦Q76 ♣K54 not a 3-3 fit! Wish 2NT was WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH pick-a-minor instead of natu- -- Pass Pass 1♠ ral. 2♥ Dbl Pass ? Dennis Kasle (2NT): You Action Score Votes choose.

2♠ 100 11 Jonathan Fleischmann (2♠): 3♣ 70 6 Nothing looks too attractive, 2NT 40 1 so I’ll take the cheapest way This was a normal non- out and see what happens. vulnerable third-seat opener, Sheldon Kirsch (2♠): Staying but it has wound up putting us low. in a difficult spot. Partner’s negative double showed the Morrie Kleinplatz (2♠): My minors, and we could guess suit is just strong enough to

PAGE 8 TABLE TALK survive a 5-1 fit. Perhaps I Action Score Votes can scramble eight tricks if Dbl 100 8 they force me. I’m not going to Pass 80 5 guess which minor to bid. 5♠ 70 4 Abs 0 1 Bob Brent (2♠): Ugly hand. This is why I like to open We have a lot more high- those hands 2♠ in third seat. card strength than we might have had for our jump to 4♠. Chuck Burger (2♠): By de- We can advertise that by dou- fault. Truly ugly. I expect pard bling now. Partner can’t have to bid again with a stiff spade. more than four points in Willie Winokur (2♠): Violating spades, so he must have a Hirschman axiom: 2♠ some defense to justify his (supposed to usually show overcall. And partner can pull if he deems it appropriate. six). Yeah, yeah, I know North was 1-2-5-5, but if I bid 3♣ Gene Benedict (Dbl): If part- North will be 2-3-4-4. ner has either an ace or a key

Gene Benedict (2♠): This is king, we will beat this con- the weakest response I can tract. Partner should have something for his overcall. make. Partner should be aware I could have opened Bob Brent (Dbl): Expect at light in third seat. The oppo- least one defensive trick from nents are unlikely to double partner. me. Chuck Burger (Dbl): Despite Staying low has this ad- favorable vulnerability and vantage: If we bid 2♠, and the having five spades, because auction continues Dbl-Pass- partner has values for an un- Pass, we can redouble for passed-hand overcall. It sug- partner to pick a minor. But if gests two defensive tricks de- we bid 3♣ right away, we can’t spite the likelihood of a spade go back to 2♠. void. It’s matchpoints, not IMPs, and I don’t think we can 3. MTPTs. E-W vul. As make 5♠. SOUTH, you hold: ♠AQ1096 ♥8 ♦A105 ♣10853 Joe Chiesa (Dbl): At IMPs: 5♠ WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH to avoid the big swing. My 1♥ 1♠ 2♠ 4♠ suspicion is that the four-level 5♥ Pass Pass ? is the limit for both sides. I double as opposed to pass to

TABLE TALK PAGE 9 protect part’s heart queen. Jonathan Fleischmann (Ab- Partner can pull with some stain): I’d have splintered with unlikely holdings. 4♥ the first time. Then I would- n’t have to worry about how to Kurt Dasher (Dbl): I have two catch up here. I guess I’d bid aces, and maybe partner can 5♠ if I were asked to fill in for supply a trick. I would have the ill person who left the auc- bid 3♥ instead of 4♠ on my tion to me. first bid to let partner know I have a good hand. While our 4♠ bid understat- ed our defensive values, a Morrie Kleinplatz (Pass): It’s splinter or cuebid would have a total guess as to who can overstated them, particularly make what. They might be by not showing the fifth missing 6 or down in 5. 5♠ is spade. Then we would pretty very anti-percentage and much have been endplayed gives them a fielder’s choice. into bidding 5♠ over 5♥. 4♠ Irv Rosenstein (5♠): Not too followed by double shows five happy about defensive pro- spades and some defense, spects. which is what we have.

Dennis Kasle (Pass): I have John Koschik (Dbl): I would two tricks, maybe. have bid 4♥ at my first call to help partner with his decision Don Rumelhart (5♠): Likely over a possible 5♥ bid. Now we aren’t getting spade tricks I’m guessing, but the five-level on defense. 5♠ should not be belonging to the opponents is too expensive. often the truth. Dick Temkin (Pass): A close call, but going plus on de- 4. MTPTs. None vul. As fense seems more likely than SOUTH, you hold: making 5♠. ♠KQ942 ♥K10942 ♦7 ♣54 WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH Bob Webber (Pass): Maybe a Pass 1♦ Pass 1♠ spade will cash. Pass 2♣ Pass ?

Willie Winokur (Pass): Deep- Action Score Votes ly ingrained bias about telling 2♠ 100 9 the same story twice. Pass 60 4

Sheldon Kirsch (5♠): Did I 2♦ 60 3 really fail to splinter? Can’t hit 3♦ 50 1 2♥ 50 1 this.

PAGE 10 TABLE TALK There is a convention – 5-5 invitational) is under- “Rodwell” – that would have strength in the face of a likely avoided this problem. In that misfit. method, jumps to 2♥ and 2♠ in John Koschik (2♠): I could response to partner’s 1♣ or 1♦ overbid with an invitational 3♥, opening bid show five spades but I think it’s more important and four hearts, or 5-5, with to keep the auction low. Part- limited values. But most of us ner could still bid 3♣, and are not playing that. that’s where we’ll play it. Dennis Kasle (2♥): This is a Linda Perlman (2♠): I’m too system problem. I would have major-heavy to pass, allowing bid 2♥ over 1♦ (Rodwell). partner no more choices. Here I bid 2♥ and pass what- ever my partner bids. Morrie Kleinplatz (2♠): As in Problem 2, I hope to scramble 2♥ now would be an artificial th eight tricks. game force (4 Suit Forcing), which would vastly overstate Kurt Dasher (2♠): Do not our values while not showing want to pass with only two hearts. Bidding 2♠, the panel clubs. choice, shows six spades; partner will pass with a single- Dick Temkin (Pass): Hope ton spade, leaving us in a bad that partner is 5-5. Hope the spot. Meanwhile, passing or opponents balance. If it’s dou- bidding 2♦ will usually leave bled and comes back to me, I’ll bid 2♥. us in a six-card “fit.” Argh!

Don Rumelhart (2♠): Argh! I Willie Winokur (Pass): My would like to bid 2♥ natural opponents always balance. ☺☺☺ and nonforcing, but 2♥ would be an artificial game forcing Chuck Burger (Pass): I hope call. At least 2♠ shows five partner has five clubs. spades and some values. Partner can always check (Pass): back with a 3♥ bid if he has When the partnership has the right hand. minimal values and an appar- ent misfit, it’s usually best to Joe Chiesa (2♠): Unappeal- get out before the doubling ing, but the best of a bad lot. th starts. 2♥ (4 Suit Forcing) is unten- able, and 3♥ (which I play as Irv Rosenstein (2♦): Keep it

TABLE TALK PAGE 11 low on a misfit. from the stiff diamond, looks right. May find hearts if we be- Suzy Burger (2♦): Really ug- long there. ly. Jonathan Fleischmann (1NT): I Surprise: My personal have too much to pass, and choice is 2NT. Yes, it is an my hearts are awful. The mi- overbid by a queen or king, nors have a way of sorting but it will often be the best themselves out, since partner spot, and it keeps the auction rarely transfers there with few- open in case partner has 15 er than six. to 17 HCPs, in which case we might even bid and make a Gene Benedict (1NT): If the game. opponents later compete in spades, double for penalty. 5. MTPTs. None vul. As Your spade spots are good. SOUTH, you hold: You may be able to show the ♠AK109 ♥K5432 ♦4 ♣KQ4 heart suit later. If you bid WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH hearts and later double, that -- Pass 1♠ ? double is takeout.

Action Score Votes Don Rumelhart (1NT): Right 1NT 100 9 on values, and my hearts are Pass 80 6 so weak that it looks like a 2♥ 60 3 four-card suit. Dbl 30 0 Irv Rosenstein (1NT): Not We could pass, but we’ll perfect, but right on values. never catch up later. We Cannot bid 2♥ on this lousy could overcall 2♥, but the suit suit. is so so so bad: We could have a game in notrump and Linda Perlman (2♥): 1NT is still go for a number in hearts. tempting, but 2♥ could be Meanwhile, we have the val- great or awful. Since I have ues and stoppers for 1NT, such nice hearts ☺☺, I bid 2♥. and bidding that now will get it off our chest. We might get to Bob Brent (2♥): Toughest of bid hearts next if the auction the set. 1NT has merit. Can- continues. That will leave not “trap pass” with 15 HCPs. partner better placed to make a good decision. John Koschik (2♥): It’s a dreadful suit, but 3NT, 4♥ and Suzy Burger (1NT): Apart even 5♣ are games we might

PAGE 12 TABLE TALK bid and make despite part- 2. MTPTs. N-S vul. As ner’s initial pass. SOUTH, you hold: ♠J43 ♥KJ7 ♦108 ♣K8654 Morrie Kleinplatz (Pass): If WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH East had opened in third seat, -- -- 1♣ Pass I might risk 2♥ or even 1NT. Pass 1NT* Dbl Pass But with a full opener on my 2♦ Pass Pass ? right and partner a passed *Usually 11-14 hand, I will wait and see where this goes. If they find a 3. MTPTs. None vul. As diamond fit, I might reconsid- SOUTH, you hold: er, but this hand mostly smells ♠AQJ10 ♥AJ985 ♦10 ♣Q105 like defense. WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH 3♦ Pass 4♦ Dbl Chuck Burger (Pass): Pass Pass 4♥ Pass Pass for now. I expect to be in- 5♦ Dbl Pass ? volved later.

Joe Chiesa (Pass): 1NT is 4. MTPTS. None vul. As not in my repertoire. 2♥ when SOUTH, you hold: I may have zero heart tricks ♠AKQ972 ♥Q85 ♦1053 ♣J and four spade tricks frightens WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH me. Moreover, I am not fore------1♠ closed from entering the auc- 3♣ Pass Pass ? tion anon. 5. MTPTS. Both vul. As Bob Webber (1NT): Pass is a SOUTH, you hold: very close second. ♠Q104 ♥KQ42 ♦K6 ♣10643

Myles Maddox (1NT): Has WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH worked for me in the past. -- -- 1♦ Pass 3♦* Dbl 3NT ? *Weak NEXT ISSUE’S

HANDS Mail your answers to: 1. MTPTs. N-S vul. As Table Talk Magazine SOUTH, you hold: 4504 Knollcrest Road ♠52 ♥543 ♦AJ10852 ♣75 Ann Arbor MI 48108 WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH Or email to: 1♥ Dbl Pass 2♦ [email protected] Pass 2♥ Pass ?

TABLE TALK PAGE 13 Prof. Wasserman tops at Ann Arbor sectional University of Michigan thur Wasserman. FLIGHT B: Emeritus Math Prof. Arthur 1, Carpman team. 2, Richard Wasserman won one team Bauman, Klaus Brondum, event and James Egan, Graham Put- was third nam. 3, Wilbur Argersinger, in the oth- David Graff, Clark Malcolm, er to top John Koschik. FLIGHT C: 1, all master- Bauman team. 2/3, Arlene point win- Geisler, Kenneth Geisler, P. ners at the Oates, W. Oates. 2/3, Stuart Michael Collis, Guy Conti, Matthew Graham Evett, Susan Evett. Ann Arbor Sectional. Here are the results SUNDAY BRACKETED of the tournament, which was TEAMS BRACKET 1: 1, Da- held Jan. 26-27. vid Harty, Bob Rasmussen, Arthur Wasserman, Donald MASTERPOINT LEADERS: Rumelhart. 2/3, Rhonda Mon- 1, Arthur Wasserman, 23.79 ro, Joe Monro, Frank Treiber 2/4, Owen Lien, 22.55 III, Song Lin. 2/3, Steven 2/4, Bob Webber, 22.55 Winokur, Owen Lien, Bob 2/4, Sheldon Kirsch, 22.55 Webber, Sheldon Kirsch. 5/7, Bob Rasmussen, 17.60 BRACKET 2: 1, Gail Geiger, 5/7, Donald Rumelhart, 17.60 Stephen Carpman, Walter 5/7, David Harty, 17.60 Magee, Eric Holder. 2, David 8/9, Michael Crane, 15.68 Armstrong, Martha Toon, 8/9, Richard Temkin, 15.68 Pamela George, Klaus Bron- 10/12, Frank Treiber III, 14.50 dum. 3, Duaine Benard, Gary 10/12, Rhonda Monro, 14.50 Luoma, Jane Gardner, Barb 10/12, Joe Monro, 14.50 Ferrera.

SATURDAY SWISS TEAMS 0-500 Winners FLIGHT A: 1, Owen Lien, Bob At Ann Arbor sectional Webber, Sheldon Kirsch, Lin- SATURDAY AM PAIRS: Da- da Perlman. 2, Richard Tem- vid Johnston, Charles Raeder kin, Joseph Ernsthausen, SATURDAY PM PAIRS: Gary Brinker, Michael Crane. Ronald Bishel, Mike Bishel 3, Stephen Carpman, Gail Geiger, Jeffrey Lagarias, Ar-

PAGE 14 TABLE TALK President wins big at Michigan State Sectional MBA President Owen Lien 3, Richard Bauman, Stephen won over 37 masterpoints to Carpman, Arthur Wasserman, lead all players at the Michi- Nathan Banker. FLIGHT B: 1, gan State Sectional, held April Bauman team. 2, Carolyn 4-7 at the Bridge Connection Simmer, Richard Menczer, in Southfield. Philip Smith, Susan Woodrow. Here are results of the tour- 3, Thomas Bonfils, Bob Ondo, nament. Peter Bolgar, Joyce Bell.

MASTERPOINT LEADERS: FLIGHT C: 1, James Korte, 1, Owen Lien, 37.93 Carrie Osborne, Pearl Lim, 2, Jerrold Grossman, 33.97 Paul Chirgwin. 2, Jerrie Sas- 3, Irving Rosenstein, 31.74 son, Paul Schneider, Latika Mangrulkar, Sheldon Dulberg. 4, Martin Hirschman, 29.41 5, Edward White, 27.80 THURSDAY NIGHT FAST 6, Bob Webber, 27.36 PAIRS FLIGHT A: 1, Jona- 7. Sheldon Kirsch, 27.16 than Fleischmann, Kurt Dash- 8, Richard Temkin, 24.25 er. 2, Philip Smith, Susan 9, Michael Crane, 24.03 Woodrow. 3, Peter Mal- 10, Frank Treiber III, 23.42 colmson, Margaret Carden.

THURSDAY AM PAIRS FLIGHT B: 1, Smith, Wood- row. 2, Malcolmson, Carden. FLIGHT A: 1, Song Lin, Joe Monro. 2, Ruth Metevier, FRIDAY AM PAIRS FLIGHT Dolores Bright. 3, Kathy New- A: 1, Irving Rosenstein, Mi- man, Shelley Boschan. chael Crane. 2, John Dreifus, FLIGHT B: 1, Lin, Monro. 2, Michael Kaleel. 3, Martin Marilyn Crane, Jane Gardner. Hirschman, Bob Webber. 3, Richard Cantley, Dennis FLIGHT B: 1, Dreifus, Kaleel. Waniolek. FLIGHT C: 1, Can- 2, Patricia Becker, Allan Beck- tey, Waniolek. 2, Thomas er. 3, Grant Petersen, Sandy Bonfils, Dan Sutherland. 3, Birnholtz. FLIGHT C: 1, Susan Yester, Richard Muntz. Thomas Bonfils, Denise

THURSDAY SWISS TEAMS Brown. 2, Carolyn Thurman, FLIGHT A: 1, Robert Mendel- Elizabeth Baer. 3, Carrie Os- born, Beth Kordt. son, Samir Zeine, Bert New- man, Edward White. 2, Ste- FRIDAY AFTERNOON PAIRS ven Winokur, Frank Treiber FLIGHT A: 1, Frank Treiber III, III, Owen Lien, Linda Perlman. Owen Lien. 2, Martin Hirsch-

TABLE TALK PAGE 15 man, Bob Webber. 3, Jerrold SATURDAY AM PAIRS Grossman, Sheldon Kirsch. FLIGHT A: 1, Larry Cohen, FLIGHT B: 1, Marilyn Na- Steven Kaplan. 2, Michael thanson, Geraldine Spilman. Giordano, Richard Becher. 3, 2, Steven Winokur, Michael Ronald Horwitz, Anastasia McDonald. 3, Gary Luoma, Tessler. FLIGHT B: 1, Cohen, Rosemary Bailey. FLIGHT C: Kaplan. 2, Paul Pomeroy, 1, Tyrone Loving, Pearl Lim. Harry McKinney. 3, Fran 2, Daniel Schiffer, Raj Patil. 3, Wigod, Gerald Wigod. FLIGHT Rita Levin, Lilo Dare. C: 1, Wigods. 2, Irving Hersh- man, Paul Stunkel. 3, Thomas FRIDAY NIGHT FAST PAIRS Bonfils, Dan Sutherland. FLIGHT A: 1, Jonathan Fleischmann, Brad Dracka. 2, SATURDAY PM PAIRS Kathy Newman, Bert New- FLIGHT A: 1, Samir Zeine, man. 3, Susan Woodrow, Pe- Judy Hocher. 2, Grant Pe- ter Bolgar. FLIGHT B: 1, tersen, Alan Cohn. 3, Gerald Woodrow, Bolgar. 2, Ralph Wigod, Fran Wigod. FLIGHT Gurganus, Janice McHale. B: 1, Petersen, Cohn. 2, Wigods. 3, Harry McKinney, SATURDAY SWISS TEAMS Paul Pomeroy. FLIGHT C: 1, FLIGHT A: 1, Michael Crane, Wigods. 2, Irving Hershman, Sheldon Kirsch, Jerrold Paul Stunkel. 3, Thomas Bon- Grossman, Henry Shevitz. 2, fils, Dan Sutherland. Phyllis Cohn, Owen Lien, Jon- athan Fleischmann, Julie Ar- SUNDAY BRACKETED TEAMS bit, Sandy Goller. 3, Richard BRACKET 1: 1/2, Edward White, Temkin, Mary Smith, Myles Martin Hirschman, Susan Maddox, Irving Rosenstein. Parnes, Gordon Parnes. 1/2, FLIGHT B: 1, Ronna Galin, Richard Temkin, Jerrold Robert Raf, Cheryl Bloom, Grossman, Debra Eaves, Ir- James Bloom. 2, Katherine ving Rosenstein. 3, Owen Jernigan, Michael Swift, Greg- Lien, Linda Perlman, Sheldon ory Perkowski, Kathy Stepa- Kirsch, Bob Webber. BRACK- novich. 3, Dennis Waniolek, ET 2: 1, David Graf, Bob Ras- Richard Cantley, Lakshmi, mussen, Grant Petersen, Mi- Vora, Arnold Gottlieb. FLIGHT chael McDonald. 2, Sandy C: 1, Jernigan team. 2, Birnholtz, Robert Raf, Michael Waniolek team. 3, Bob Ondo, Kaleel, John Dreifus. 3, Gra- Michael Koscielski, Renata ham Putnam, Ed Herstein, Wasserman, Corey Powell. Donn Dotson, P. Steven Dot-

PAGE 16 TABLE TALK son. BRACKET 3: 1, Pamela Douglas Sweeder, Ryan Radike, Laurence Schiff, Bar- Sweeder bara Schiff, Mary Jo Camp- Grand National Teams bell. 2, Randy Walker, John Pouget, James Peresta, Ste- Here are the winners of the phen Leist. 3, Matthew Evett, Grand National Teams district Susan Evett, Stuart Collis, finals, held April 14 in South- Guy Conti. field. These teams will repre- sent District 12 in the national 499er Winners finals at the summer NABC in at April Sectional Las Vegas. THURSDAY AM PAIRS: Bar- OPEN FLIGHT: Michael bara Schiff, Laurence Schiff Crane, Richard Temkin, Den- THURSDAY AFTERNOON nis Carman, John Koschik SWISS TEAMS: Ronald Zuril- FLIGHT A: Robert Houtrow, la, James Bayson, Lois Wodi- Lowell Seyburn, William ka, Bedford Embrey Jr. Northrop, David Whitehouse FRIDAY AM PAIRS: Norman FLIGHT B: Ching-Po Wang, Wechsler, George Pope Xingyu Zhang, Henry Zhang, FRIDAY PM PAIRS: James Yanping Yang, Cristina Tita, Egan, Ronald Zurilla Timur Aydin SATURDAY AM PAIRS: FLIGHT C: Thomas Bonfils, Jean Grande, Alan Hassoun David Satwicz, Tengyun Tony SATURDAY PM PAIRS: Cao, Anne Ye

TOURNAMENT CALENDAR June 20-23: Joint MBA- final, Lansing SOMBA sectional (Southfield) Sept. 21: Lansing I/N sectional June 22-23: Petoskey I/N Sept. 27-29: Petoskey sec- sectional tional June 24-30: STAC week Oct. 3-5: Holland sectional July 7-12: FLINT REGIONAL Oct. 14-20: MOTOR CITY Aug. 9-11: Lansing sectional REGIONAL, Farmington Hills Aug. 15-18: Southfield sec- (MBA) tional (MBA) Oct. 25-26: Bloomfield Hills Aug. 19-25: GRAND RAPIDS I/N sectional REGIONAL Oct. 25-27: Toledo sectional Sept. 6-8: Traverse City sec- Oct. 28-Nov. 3: STAC week tional Nov. 14-17: Southfield sec- Sept. 15: N. Am. Pairs district tional

TABLE TALK PAGE 17 2018 MBA Mini-McKenney 2018 MBA Mini-Ace of Clubs Note: Categories denote points held at the beginning of 2018.

0-5: 1, Eric Wiedmayer,19.92. 2, 0-5: 1, Eric Wiedmayer, 18.38. 2, Mike Andrews, 11.48. 3, Elie Chidi- Mike Andrews, 11.48. 3, Elie Chidi- ac, 10.18. ac, 8.54. 5-20: 1, Naoko Wada, 25.35. 2, Lar- 5-20: 1, Larry Trager, 17.85. 2, Julie ry Trager, 20.48. 3, Julie Grygotis, Grygotis, 13.48. 3, Robin Wagner, 15.04. 13.17. 20-50: 1, Susan Royer, 31.99. 2, 20-50: 1, Shirley Lindberry, 17.98. Shirley Lindberry, 22.80. 3, Guy 2, Eleni Lambrecht, 12.19. 3, Rod- Conti, 19.22. ney Guest, 11.46. 50-100: 1, Charles Royer, 55.92. 2, 50-100: 1, Brian Morton, 29.90. 2, Mary Robinson, 47.25. Jill Rastelli, Charles Royer, 29.47. 3, M. New- 43.76. man, 23.18. 100-200: 1/2, Joyce Close, 65.17. 100-200: 1. Barbara Schiff, 40.20. 1/2, Rosalyn Monticciolo, 65.17. 3, 2, Julian Prince, 36.63. 3, Bruce James Egan, 60.07. Ridley, 36.09. 200-300: 1, Maria Conti, 120.32. 2, 200-300: 1, Beth Kordt, 47.93. 2, Beth Kordt, 112.33. 3, James Patty McCracken, 45.74. 3, Maria McNamara, 71.51. Conti, 44.57. 300-500: 1/2, Henry Zhang., 300-500: 1, Craig Ross, 65.61. 2, 152.58. 1/2, Yanping Zhang, Pamela Morse, 65.33. 3, Pearl Lim, 152.58. 3, Carrie Osborne, 135.71. 54.79. 500-1000: 1, Barb Ferrera, 136.35. 500-1000: 1, Dana McWilliams, 2, Jane Gardner, 114.47. 3, Paul 83.61. 2, Gail Terry, 78.73. 3, Mar- Chirgwin, 104.79. tha Henkel, 74.91. 1000-1500: 1, Steven Winokur, 1000-1500: 1, Gail Geiger, 100.78. 235.19. 2, Jordan Kaye, 182.88. 3, 2, Steven Winokur, 98.49. 3, Judith Penelope Rudolph, 137.85. Gessner, 88.24. 1500-2500: 1, James Walter, 1500-2500: 1, Michael McDonald, 396.76. 2, Wilbur Argersinger, 131.83. 2, James Walter, 122.01. 3, 344.46. 3, David Aderente, 272.43. Carolyn Simmer, 121.11. 2500-3500: 1, John Koschik, 2500-3500: 1, Margaret Moore, 334.52. 2, Grant Petersen, 326.40. 153.21. 2, James Smyth, 130.70. 3, 3, Joe Monro, 237.93. Grant Petersen, 126.74. 3500-5000: 1, Charlotte Miller, 3500-5000: 1, Charlotte Miller, 254.90. 2, Dennis Kasle, 169.35. 3, 128.64. 2, Dennis Kasle, 66.01. 3, Cono Emanuele, 139.88. Arthur Golumbia, 53.38. 5000-7500: 1, Jonathan Fleisch- 5000-7500: 1, Lynne Cook, 211.22. mann, 886.92. 2, Sheldon Kirsch, 2, Jonathan Fleischmann, 171.44. 516.06. 3, Robert Katz, 443.09. 3, Richard Becher, 145.46. 7500-10,000: 1, Robert Brent, 7500-10,000: 1, Robert Brent, 436.53. 2, William Winokur, 294.49. 200.56. 2, William Winokur, 155.81. 3, Allan Falk, 274.65. 3, Brenda Jaffe, 150.55. Over 10,000: 1, Owen Lien, 975.65. Over 10,000: 1, Bert Newman, 2, Bert Newman, 632.92. 3, Martin 200.26. 2, Martin Hirschman, Hirschman, 551.49. 149.00. 3, Linda Perlman, 147.09.

PAGE 18 TABLE TALK Lien takes and the Motor City Regional. Marsee Trophy Points won at the regional are counted at 70 percent. MBA President Owen Lien is the 2018 winner of the 2018 BEVERLY BLUTH Grant Marsee trophy, award- FLIGHT B TROPHY ed to the Michigan player who Final Standings wins the most points in the Compiled by Shelley Boschan 1, Steven Winokur, 72.67 year as counted in the Barry 2, Sandy Birnholtz, 47.60 Crane Top 500 and mini- 3, Michael Kaleel, 46.56 McKenney races. 4, Xingyu Zhang, 38.76. Lien won 975 masterpoints 5, Arthur Wasserman, 32.84 in 2018. He also won the tro- 6, David Aderente, 30.27 phy in 2017 when he chalked 7, Bob Ondo, 24.44 up 931 points. 8, Ronna Galin, 23.42 Second both years was 9, James Walter, 23.07 Jonathan Fleischmann. He 10 Carolyn Simmer, 21.21 won 886 masterpoints in 2018 after winning 895 in 2017. 2018 WILLIE WINOKUR FLIGHT C TROPHY Winokur, Zhangs take Final Standings B and C Trophies again Compiled by Shelley Boschan 1/2, Henry Zhang, 29.06 In 2018, for the second year 1/2, Yanping Zhang, 29.06 in a row, Steven Winokur won 3, James Egan, 24.47 the Beverly Bluth Memorial 4, Jane Gardner, 24.43 Flight B trophy and Henry 5, Michael Fant, 23.37 Zhang and Yanping Zhang 6, Maria Conti, 21.88 won the Willie Winokur Flight 7, Bob Ondo, 21.80 C trophy. 8, Barb Ferrera, 21.02 Both trophies are given to 9, Paul Tilly, 20.57 MBA members who win the 10, James McNamara, 15.10 most points in our sectionals

Arbit replaces Wasserman on MBA Board

Julie Arbit has been named to replace Zach Wasserman on the MBA board. Wasserman resigned because he has moved to Boston to attend nursing school. Arbit will fill out the remainder of Wasserman’s term, which ends this October.

TABLE TALK PAGE 19 OPENING 1 NT 1NT opening bid is: (from page 1) “A NT opening bid or over- with a small singleton could call that contains no voids, no be treated as a deviation or a more than one singleton, psych without rectification for which must be an ace, king, the non-offenders if the part- or queen, and that does not nership had no explicit or im- contain 10 or more cards in plicit agreement that they two suits combined. would make such a call. “The Open Chart (which is “Assuming they had not the chart used for most events discussed the possibility and including club games) states bidding 1NT with a small sin- as disallowed: gleton had not occurred more “A non-Forcing 1NT open- than occasionally, no adjust- ing that does not meet the ment would be made to the definition of Natural. (Each of board -- only a warning that the other charts, which may the pair could not open 1NT be used for different levels of with a small singleton more competition, has similar word- than around once every 6 ing). months as that would estab- “This language taken in lish an implicit agreement. In combination indicates that other words, it was not illegal opening 1NT with a small sin- to open 1NT with a small singleton is illegal and can no gleton absent a partnership longer be treated as a devia- agreement. tion or a psych. “The new Convention “If a player makes an illegal Charts have clarified the is- call and the other side is dam- sue: aged as a result, the score “Bidding Agreements are should be adjusted to a likely allowed unless they are spe- result had the illegal call not cifically disallowed. If an been made. If a player has Agreement would be disal- already been warned about lowed unless it satisfies a opening off-shape hands 1NT specific High Card Point and continues to do so any- or shape requirement, a play- way, not only should the result er may not use judgment to be adjusted if the other side is include hands with fewer High damaged, but a Procedural Card Points or a different Penalty should be given.” shape. Dear Reader, you have “The definition of a natural been warned.

PAGE 20 TABLE TALK MOVING UP... CONGRATULATIONS JUNIOR NEW LIFE MASTERS MASTERS Pearl Lim Linda Brandemihl Carrie Osborne Floreen Halpern Albert Sayed Marlene Johnson Gerald Wahl Kenneth Powell

CLUB MASTERS Mike Andrews REGIONAL BRONZE LIFE Deborah Jackson MASTERS MASTERS Michael Mullin Mike Bishel Jane Gardner Donna Dotson Susan Smith Nancy Mullin Robin Wagner Jill Rastelli Charles Royer GOLD LIFE Eric Wiedmayer MASTERS Anne Swanson SECTIONAL Wilbur Argersinger MASTERS NABC MASTERS Lillian Back Joyce Close Ralph Gurganus SAPPHIRE LIFE Eleni Lambrecht Rosalyn Monticciolo MASTER Brian Morton Joe Monro M.H. Newman Julian Prince Anita Watson Daniel Rose

MBA Treasurer’s Report for 2018

RECEIPTS 2018 2017 Sectional tournaments 4,837 4,419 Motor City Regional 13,181 2,991 NAP (586) (644) Dues 3,438 3,183 Interest 128 148 20,998 10,097

EXPENDITURES Table Talk 5,951 7,289 Honoraria 3,600 4,800 Board meetings 923 1,277 District 12 838 842 Office and postage 692 813 Miscellaneous 1,068 1,258 13,072 16,279

Gain (loss) 7,926 (6,182)

Cash balance beginning of year 26,698 32,880

Cash balance end of year 34,624 26,696

– Robert Webber, treasurer TABLE TALK PAGE 21 Bridge Connection to host Longest Day games on Wednesday, June 19 The ACBL’s annual Longest deductible donations to the Day benefit for the Alzhei- Alzheimer’s Association. mer’s Association will be cele- In addition, there will be a brated by the Bridge Connec- 50/50 raffle with lots of door tion in Southfield on Wednes- prizes, and a bridge book day, June 19. sale. Direct donations to the There will be four games, association through the Con- each carrying high master- nection are also welcomed to point awards. Stratified open help meet a $3,600 challenge pair games will be held at 9 grant from one of our players. a.m. (18 boards), noon (lunch Last year, the Connection will be served) and 7 p.m. raised nearly $20,000 and has There will also be a 0-750 set a goal of $25,000 for this game at noon. year. Players will have the oppor- Come play in all the games tunity to bid to play with an to support this very worthy expert (see the Bridge Con- cause. For further information, nection’s Facebook page for call the club at 248-356-6254 details or check at the club). or send an email to Ron Hor- All winning bids will be tax- witz at: [email protected].

WELCOME, Barbara Snow NEW MEMBERS Errol Soskolne Wayne Adams Zachary Stein-Perlman Linda Kucway Jeanne Van Ochten Gloria Dzielsky James Wares Lynn Eichbrecht William Eichbrecht WELCOME, Jay Flowers TRANSFERS Daniel Hakes Julie Arbit Robert Kienle Norm Kakarala Cynthia Mann Mary Klingel Gerald Poissant Earl Koenig Dennis Rasch Arlene Lewis Archie Sader Robert Nosse William Schott Anne Wyeth Jay Silverman Ruiqi Xing

PAGE 22 TABLE TALK SOLUTION you can immediately cash TO DEFENSE three tricks in the suit and de- From back page feat the contract. A related problem: NORTH ♠Q76 Matchpoints None vul. ♥K98 ♦J105 NORTH ♣AK97 ♠Q76 WEST EAST ♥K98 ♠J1082 ♠3 ♦J105 ♥10732 ♥654 ♣AK97 ♦AQ73 ♦K2 EAST ♣8 ♣J1065432 ♠3 SOUTH ♥654 ♠AK954 ♦42 ♥AQJ ♣J1065432 ♦9864 ♣Q The bidding and play go as in the above problem. But this Based on partner’s play at time, it’s matchpoints and, trick one, declarer started with East does not have the king of AQJ of hearts, and we’ve diamonds. To prevent partner seen her AK of spades. So it from underleading in dia- is time to switch to diamonds. monds and giving declarer an Declarer’s shape is 5-3-4-1, overtrick, East should pitch so partner has just two dia- diamonds at every opportuni- monds. Therefore, you ruff ty. and shift to a low diamond so Time will be on our side

MBA has purchased three round clocks. The word “round” does not describe their shape, but rather their use in showing how many minutes are left in the current round of play. The new clocks will be used in our tournaments to encourage slow players to catch up. MBA also has invested in new bidding cards to replace worn out and missing inserts in 232 bid boxes. MBA member Joyce Bell undertook to clean up the boxes and identify which ones needed new inserts. Thanks, Joyce!

TABLE TALK PAGE 23 Dick Fortune murdered in Ann Arbor Well-known Ann Arbor direction in this case and we bridge player and director don’t feel there’s a threat to Dick Fortune was murdered in the community,” said Ann Ar- his home in February. He was bor Police Lt. Earle Fox. 71 years old. Fortune was a retired U.S. Fortune’s body was found postal worker. As a young during a welfare check of man he attended Michigan his residence. Police have State University where he was withheld most details, in- a competitive swimmer. In re- cluding the cause of death. cent years he was involved As Table with social dancing. Talk went He was well-known in his to press in east side Ann Arbor neighbor- mid-May, hood, particularly because he the murder maintained a beautiful garden remained that attracted children and unsolved. families. An article on MLive Ann Ar- three days after Fortune’s bor police death featured his garden, in- detectives visited the cluding color photos of the Thursday afternoon club flowers. game at the Burns Park Fortune had two boarders Senior Center about two living at his home at the time weeks after the killing. of his death. Police said they They were seeking infor- were cooperating in the inves- mation about Fortune’s tigation. whereabouts in the hours before he was killed. No one at the game had any IN MEMORIAM relevant information. There is no reason to be- Dick Fortune lieve the murder had anything Marion Litt to do with bridge. Nancy McCaffrey According to published re- Ann Mercier ports, police said Fortune may Marjorie Vensel have known his killer. They do Thelma Woodson not believe it was a random incident. “We definitely have a

PAGE 24 TABLE TALK North Carolina man charged with 1985 murder of Barry Crane After almost 34 years, the murder of bridge star Barry Crane has apparently been solved. Edwin Hiatt, an employee at an auto repair shop in Burke County, North Carolina, was arrested in early May and charged with bludgeoning and Crane Top 500 in his honor. strangling Crane. Police said A housekeeper found DNA and a confession linked Crane, 57, dead in his garage him to the crime. in his Studio City CA town- Crane was a native of De- house on July 5, 1985. He troit where he was known by was naked and had been his birth name, Barry Cohen, wrapped in bedsheets. He until he moved to Los Angeles had been beaten with a large in the 1950s and changed his ceramic statue and strangled last name to pursue a career with a telephone cord. in the entertainment business. There was no word on a He became a television pro- motive for the killing. Hiatt, ducer, directing dozens of epi- who would have been 18 at sodes of such hit 1970s and the time, has been charged ’80s shows as The Incredible with murder and will be re- Hulk, Hawaii 5-0 and The Six turned to Los Angeles for trial, Million Dollar Man. He also police said. produced the show The Magi- Crane’s murder went un- cian and was associate pro- solved until police said they ducer for Mannix and Mission: matched a fingerprint from Impossible. Crane’s stolen car to Hiatt last At bridge, Crane was known year. FBI investigators then as a hyper-aggressive bidder obtained discarded cigarette and masterful cardplayer. At butts and a coffee cup from the time of his death, he had the parking lot of the au- more masterpoints by far than to repair shop where Hiatt any other player ever, and the worked. ACBL renamed the annual DNA from some items McKenney race as the Barry matched that from cigarette

TABLE TALK PAGE 25 butts found in Crane’s stolen According to the News car, which was discovered Herald’s Morganton.com web- shortly after his death on a site, Hiatt’s criminal history mountain road, investigators dates back to 1985, when he said. was caught in Utah with a sto- On March 8, homicide de- len car. It was not Crane’s, tectives went to North Caroli- but the most notable charge in na to interview Hiatt. “During his criminal history was a the interview, Hiatt admitted to 1997 domestic violence killing Barry Crane,” an LAPD charge, the website reported. statement said. In that domestic violence Video from WSOC-TV case, a witness reported that showed Hiatt, 52, of Connelly Hiatt choked and beat his now Springs being arrested. Hiatt, ex-wife to the point she vomit- with long white hair and ed, according to court records beard, held cited on the newspaper web- his handcuffed site. Hiatt also allegedly hands in front threatened to burn the house of him as he down. was taken to a car.

Hiatt told the James Schmidt station that he Edwin Hiatt didn’t remem- Grosse Pointe area club ber Crane’s director James F. Schmidt name until it was told to him died Feb. 10 after suffer- and had no memory of what ing a stroke. He was 68 occurred so long ago except and lived in Harrison for “bits and pieces that were Township in Macomb brought back to me just by County. suggestion.” Schmidt was retired Asked if he could have killed from teaching science at Crane, he replied: “I don’t re- University Liggett School member the guy… Anything's in Grosse Pointe Woods, possible back then...I was big where he also coached into drugs.” girls softball. He also “I just don’t want to remem- taught at Macomb Com- ber the past,” he said, adding munity College. later: “It’s a different life to- day.”

PAGE 26 TABLE TALK Helgemo suspended I feel for Geir in this situation and hope he will come back for drug violations stronger...when his ban ends.” The World Bridge Federation The Monaco Bridge Federa- in March suspended Geir tion said it “regrets” Helge- Helgemo, the world’s top- mo’s sanction. “Experience ranked player, after he failed shows that anti-doping regula- a drug test. tion cannot be applied without The federation announced discernment to the brain sport that Helgemo, who is Norwe- of mind games,” said the fed- gian but represents Monaco in eration’s president, Gilbert Vi- bridge events, tested positive valdi. for synthetic testosterone and The World Bridge Federa- female fertility drug clomifene tion is recognized by the Inter- at the World Bridge Series national Olympic Committee event in Orlando last summer. and abides by World Anti- After accepting he had Doping Agency rules. It is un- breached anti-doping rules, clear why Helgemo was tak- Helgemo was suspended by ing these drugs. Testosterone the WBF until Nov. 20. He al- is sometimes taken by ath- so had all titles, medals and letes to enhance their physical points from the 2018 World strength, but it is not believed Bridge Series revoked, and to improve mental abilities. must pay about $4,000 to cov- er administrative costs. Italian cheater Kari-Anne Opsal, president readmitted to ACBL of the Norwegian Bridge Fed- eration, said the drugs were In a controversial move, the “not performance enhancing,” ACBL has readmitted expelled adding, “Geir Helgemo...has Italian professional player previously played for the Nor- Massimo Lanzarotti who was wegian national team and is thrown out as a result of a our biggest star. Many within 2005 cheating incident. the bridge community know A statement issued by Geir and respect him. Georgia Heth, chair of the “It is his responsibility not to ACBL Appeals and Charges take substances that are on Committee (A&C), apparently the doping list, even though in with approval from Lanzarotti, this instance they are not per- gave a lengthy explanation of formance enhancing in bridge. the November 2018 decision:

TABLE TALK PAGE 27 “Regulations in effect in the ACBL jurisdiction over its 2005 provided that a player members’ behavior even if it could apply for readmission occurs in a non-ACBL event, after five years if they admit- which this offense did. On ted guilt, provided an appro- Nov. 18, 2005, the ACBL Ethi- priate apology, and were sup- cal Oversight Committee (EOC) ported by their local organiza- found Lanzarotti and Buratti tion,” according to the state- guilty of violating Law 73 of ment. “Current regulations re- the Laws of Duplicate Bridge quire a five-year waiting peri- by deliberately communicating od if the player admitted guilt unauthorized information that prior to the hearing on the was gathered by viewing the charges, and a 10-year wait- unplayed cards of an oppo- ing period if a hearing was nent. Both men were expelled held. All requests are re- from the ACBL. All convictions viewed and decided by the for ethical violations are re- Appeals and Charges Com- viewed by A&C. This decision mittee and reported to the was confirmed by A&C in its Board of Directors. entirety. Mr. Lanzarotti applied “In 2005, a championship for readmission in 2011 and committee [in Europe] found 2014 and was denied. Lanzarotti and his partner, An- “Regulations in effect at the drea Buratti, guilty of cheating time of Mr. Lanzarotti’s expul- by sharing unauthorized infor- sion provided guidelines for mation, specifically that Mr. factors to consider at a read- Lanzarotti [who was dummy mission hearing. These are 1) on the deal] looked in an op- admission of guilt, 2) appropri- ponent’s hand and signaled ate written apology and 3) the trump distribution to his support for readmission from partner. He was originally sus- the player’s local bridge or- pended for 30 months, which ganization. Mr. Lanzarotti was was reduced to 18 months unable to meet the first two upon appeal. He resumed conditions at the first two re- playing bridge at the end of admission hearings, as he de- his sentence in non-ACBL nied guilt. However, the com- events. mittees at both of these hear- “The ACBL brought its own ings thought he had proved charges against Lanzarotti rehabilitation. Two of the cur- and Buratti, as the Code of rent members of A&C served Disciplinary Regulations gives on all four of Mr. Lanzarotti’s

PAGE 28 TABLE TALK hearings before the commit- Heth also noted that tee and were familiar with “Lanzarotti has been very in- what occurred in the three pri- volved in helping train Italian or hearings. Junior bridge players, volun- “A&C was aware that there teering extensively ‘to share had been allegations made his knowledge and experi- prior to the 2005 hearing that ence.’ Italy does not have a Lanzarotti and Buratti were formal training program for cheating. A report from a prior Juniors like the US and Cana- ACBL National Recorder re- da do. He plays and works vealed that he had investigat- with Juniors individually. He ed the pair but found no evi- has worked with at least eight dence of cheating, which was players who have represented part of the evidence at the Italy in Junior championships, 2018 hearing…In the “old some of whom only made the days,” pairs suspected of team after he worked with cheating were kibitzed and them. Mr. Lanzarotti started observed. Results were scruti- this volunteer work after his nized. The widespread vide- conviction.” otaping now in use was not According to the statement available then. Lanzarotti was “Lanzarotti has played again convicted of a one-time viola- [in Europe] for approximately tion, not a pattern of behavior, 11 years since his expulsion and there was no evidence at without incident. This evi- the time of a pattern of behav- dence of rehabilitation is rare- ior. A&C was bound by the ly available as most players evidence provided and the expelled by the ACBL do not scope of the conviction.” have the opportunity to play in At the 2018 hearing, accord- organized bridge elsewhere.” ing to the statement, Pursuant to regulations in “Lanzarotti admitted cheating effect at the time of the expul- and explained what occurred. sion, Lanzarotti’s master- He made a complete disclo- points won during the year sure and full apology. The Ital- prior to his conviction have ian Bridge Federation (FIGB) been removed and replaced supported his application and by eligibility points. He had confirmed that there had been won 450.91 masterpoints in no disciplinary proceedings the year prior to his convic- against him since he had re- tion, the statement said. sumed playing.” The decision to readmit

TABLE TALK PAGE 29 Lanzarotti was condemned by accolades for his ill-gotten some top American players. gains. He cheated numerous Jeff Meckstroth wrote on players out of their rightful Bridgewinners.com: “This is successes. And A&C let him outrageous IMO. Does A&C back in. This is just one of really believe this individual many disgraceful decisions by has been rehabilitated? It was A&C. Time to disband A&C noted there had been no inci- and let EOC do the job.” dents reported by the Italian bridge Federation. Remem- A bridge rant too far ber, when Fantoni returned to Leiv Bornecrantz, 72, swore the Italian pairs championship and was accused of being ag- recently, he was welcomed gressive in an unseemly ex- back with hundreds of likes on change with the tournament social media. director, and has been sus- “This decision is misguided, pended for two years for al- the serial killer analogy is ac- legedly breaching conduct curate. Perhaps it is time for and etiquette rules. new leadership when this ap- It was not the sort of behav- pears to be justified by techni- ior expected at a seniors calities.” bridge tournament in a gen- Bobby Wolff wrote that the teel seaside town. Lanzarotti decision was a The retired businessman “disgrace” which “if continued, has been a keen player of the will do no less than ultimately card game since 1962, win- destroy the high level game ning tournaments in Australia so many of us love and will, in where he lived before moving time, filter down to the lower to England four years ago. levels, rendering the game The dispute centered on his itself incompetent of attracting convention card. Bornecrantz newcomers, much less, world- employed an Australian ver- wide acclaim.” sion and, after being told it JoAnn Sprung wrote: “Mr. was not “legal,” was asked to Lanzarotti admitted cheating use an English Bridge Union and explained what occurred. (EBU) card instead. …[he] sat down with a partner When tournament director (s) and developed a system Kathy Williams asked him to for transmitting information to fill in the new card at a tourna- gain an advantage. He proud- ment in Eastbourne, East ly stood up and accepted the Sussex, he said: “Bull****, I'm

PAGE 30 TABLE TALK not going to do it.” “fatuous” but accepted that if Bornecrantz was then said he had directed a four-letter to have stood up, “snatched” word at the tournament direc- the cards out of the director’s tor it “would have been accu- hand and walked out. rate but aggressive.” He said He was also alleged to have “bull****” was “highly descrip- made “an aggressive move” tive” of the EBU’s attempts to toward her, “possibly causing keep its players in the 1950s. her to feel threatened.” He also told the EBU its in- EBU bylaws state “a player sistence on the use of a par- should maintain a courteous ticular convention card was attitude at all times.” Its disci- “over-prescriptive nanny au- plinary committee found Bor- thoritarian Nazism.” He de- necrantz guilty at a London nied that he “snatched” the hearing he decided not to at- cards. “One man’s taking is tend. He was banned from another man’s ‘snatch’,” he EBU events for two years and maintained. As for the charge fined £150. that he was aggressive, he Bornecrantz, who lives in said: “If just walking towards nearby St Leonards-on-Sea the tournament director is ag- with his wife, Elizabeth, is furi- gressive, the definition needs ous. Central to his case is that an update.” he has been diagnosed as Bornecrantz said autism autistic. He informed the EBU means he “does not smile’' of this, with an accompanying even when playing bridge. He hospital letter, after being added: “I was found guilty by charged. But the EBU's writ- a kangaroo court in a case ten ruling states that it that is essentially about using “decided this should not influ- the wrong stationery,” he add- ence our decision.” ed. “I'm prepared to launch a Bornecrantz, who worked as civil case in a proper court if I a management consultant, have to.” describes himself as “high EBU chief executive Gordon functioning,” but admits his Rainsford said: “The EBU has condition means his “social a comprehensive equalities skills are not always the great- codes, but will not tolerate est,” and confrontations “do abuse against its officials and set me off.” staff.” He wrote to the EBU that – From the Daily Mail.com, the swearing charge was Jan. 13, 2019

TABLE TALK PAGE 31 DEFENSE TABLE TALK By Marty Hirschman Official publication of PRESORTED STANDARD IMPs. the Michigan Bridge U.S. POSTAGE PAID None vul. Association Southfield, MI NORTH Martin Hirschman, Editor Permit 242 ♠Q76 4504 Knollcrest Road ♥K98 Ann Arbor MI 48018 ♦J105 ♣AK97 WEST ♠J1082 ♥10732 ♦AQ73 ♣8

SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST 1♠ Pass 2♣ Pass 2♦ Pass 2♠ Pass 4♠ Pass Pass Pass Trick 1: 2♥-8♥-4♥-A♥ Trick 2: A♠-2♠-6♠-3♠ Trick 3: K♠-8♠-7♠-2♣ Trick 4: Q♣-8♣-7♣-4♣ Trick 5: 4♠-10♠-Q♠-6♥ Trick 6: A♣-3♣-6♦-? How do you defend? Solution, page 23