Bridge Buff March/April 2009

Bernie and Dick Czarnecki, Editors - Phone: 731-1707 A Publication of Unit 116, Buffalo, New York Email: [email protected]

President’s Message 1000 to 2500 MP's 1 12.05 Judith Padgug As we enter the Spring Season, (at 2 6.65 Robert Olin least according to the calendar) there is a 3 6.13 Michael Ryan lot going on in Unit 116. In addition to our recently completed Sectional, we have an 2500 + MP's increased amount of unit games 1 19.10 John Kilmer scheduled for the year as shown in the 2 17.72 Jim Mathis 3 13.46 Randolph Seidenberg Jr Buff.

Also in April is the Toronto SINGLE SITE UNIT GAMES RUN - 2009 Regional (April 7-12 at the Doubletree 5/17 Bridge Center 1:00 PM J. Bailey 636-6148 Hilton). In May (2-3) there is the Grand P. Rasmus 649-4634 National Teams in Pittsburgh (with the 6/9 Zion Church 7: 00 pm S. Benz 838-3654 winners to Washington in July) and the 7/18 Bridge Center 7:00 pm J. Toy 885-5364 Regional in Independence (Cleveland 11:00 – Knights of Lunch / (May 19-23). Columbus- Union 12:00 So lots of opportunities for all of 12/6 Rd mtg you to accumulate Master Points and move up in the various rankings. Good luck to all. UNIT SECTIONALS – 2009

6/12-14 ‘299er-Bridge Ctr Kathy Pollock – 834-3654 Jay Levy, Main & Transit Fire Your President 9/11-13 Hall - Williamsville Judie Bailey – 636-6148

UNIT 116 - Presidential Masterpoint Race Your 2009 Unit 116 Members

0 to 100 MP's Editorial error: Luke Danielson’s e-mail is 1 4.50 Florence Boyd [email protected] 2 2.44 Robert Kaprove Bailey, Judie 636-6148 [email protected] 3 2.34 Franklin Kidd Czarnecki, Dick 731-1707 [email protected]

Danielson, Luke 632-5309 [email protected] 100 to 300 MP's 1 4.85 Tova Reinhorn Lederhouse, Bob 625-9443 2 4.43 Dorothy Soong Levy, Jay 689-2110 [email protected] Metz, Betty 773-7398 [email protected] 3 3.61 George Donsky Rasmus, Pat 649-4634 [email protected]

Rieker, Bill 692-2900 [email protected] 300 to 1000 MP's Toy, John 885-5364 [email protected] 1 6.36 Fred Yellen 2 5.08 Rita Sofia 3 4.50 Faith Perry

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as well as Christy Kellogg hand Notice! analysis sessions after Monday’s games. Members who have e-mail addresses are • Her favourite bridge memory is from a requested to go to Unit 116 website tournament in Cleveland with Eugene www.arejayare.net/u116off Harvey in a knockout event. They And enter their names so Unit Games and were NV against V and after two Sectional flyers can be e-mailed to them passes Eugene opened 2H. RHO electronically. You can also download the doubled. Linda raised to 3H with 7 Bridge Buff from this website. HCP and 3 hearts. LHO passed, Eugene passed and RHO doubled. Linda passed, LHO bid 3S and her partner raised to game. When the doubler’s hand went down, she had 28 The editor interviewed an HCP! As the hand played out, Linda energetic bridge player named Linda realized Eugene had made his bid with Burroughsford. 1 HCP and six of the worst hearts you ever saw. Their opponents made 6 Bridge: but they prevented them from finding • Linda started playing bridge in 2005 the slam that Linda and Eugene’s when a golfing friend encouraged her partners found at the other table. to do something over the long golf-free They went on to win the knockout winters. The women were all really event and Linda got her first gold good cooks and throughout the points. summer, their bridge teacher had • When the Director of the Fort Erie several delicious barbeques and Club (non- taught the women as well as their sanctioned) wanted to retire in 2006, husbands. she asked for a volunteer among the • In October 2005 Peter Patterson and players to take over the game. She Linda were at a golf club’s closing was told she had to buy the snacks, dinner seated with Claire and Irv unlock the doors, make the coffee, set Gareleck. Another couple asked what up the Mitchell (no matter how many they did in the winter months and tables!), collect the $1.00 fee, do Linda told her she started to learn the manual scoring on the recap bridge. A connection was made with sheets and lock the doors after the Claire and Claire invited her to play at game. When nobody volunteered, the Bridge Center for lessons and Linda did. One of the first things she mentoring. Much to their surprise the did was purchase bidding boxes and bridge she learned from her friend at she took a Director’s course in the Bridge Centre was not the same December. The only calls she ever her friend taught her. Claire Gareleck gets are for established . and Judi Fischer were patient and They average approximately five answered all questions regarding tables throughout winter and about Duplicate Bridge. Peter and Linda seven in summer. She’s currently earned their first master points in 2006 reading the Laws Book and the Bridge and they LOVE the game! Director’s Companion in preparation • She has many favorite players among for her Director’s exam. Good luck to them Chris Urbanek, Judy and Bob you Linda! Padgug. • As for bridge goals, she hopes to • Eugene Harvey’s lessons on doubling become a life master sometime in and basic conventions were invaluable 2009. 2

• Peter and Linda received formal term as President of the Women’s Golf permission from the ACBL to be a part Association of Western New York. of Unit 116 instead of their ACBL- • When Linda finds spare time, she assigned home unit of 166 in Canada. would love to resume her piano Both consider Unit 116 their “home” lessons, which she abandoned when she took up bridge. Personally: • Linda met Peter in high school in Nova The editor interviewed a knowledgeable and Scotia and have been married for 26 hardworking individual. This person is Pat years and have a 16 year old son Rasmus. named Casey. Casey is interested in volleyball and basketball and Peter Bridge: and Linda are able to attend his • Pat was introduced to bridge by her games. Linda is the oldest of eight cousin Cathy Majewski, so she could children while Peter is the youngest of fill-in for Cathy at her social bridge three. club. • They both graduated from St. Mary’s • When Pat started playing bridge she University in Halifax with Bachelors of received help from Mickey Lenzer Commerce and moved to Ottawa. and Sue Ganley. • Linda worked for the Revenue Canada • Her first partner was Bob Olin, who on projects that include the was kind enough to play with her. In computerization of Customs her 35 years of playing bridge, she processes, data mining for Customs had many partners but her favorite Intelligence, the introduction of the was Dr. Vidi, Pat never knew Free Trade Agreement and the whether you would win or lose but you introduction of the Goods and always knew it would be an adventure. Services Tax. • At present, Pat is a Unit 116 Director. • They moved to Fort Erie where they For many years she was on the bought the McDonald’s restaurants in District V Board serving as Secretary, 1998. Peter oversees the daily Vice President and President. Pat operations and Linda takes care of the served as the Coordinator for books and deals with the Government. Newcomer Events at the 2005 These are full-time jobs and allows Pittsburgh Nationals. Pat has worked them to create their own work very hard to promote bridge events in schedules and be available to play the past and will continue to do so in bridge, golf and attend to their son’s the future. activities. She does her paperwork • Her goal for Unit 116 is to have more mostly between 8:00 pm and 2:00 am people involved in the Unit. People • Both Peter and Linda are avid golfers. need to volunteer to help the Board Linda started in 1998 and she shot her with Unit Games and Sectionals. Nine lowest round last season – a 71, 1 people on the Board can’t do under par. She had the honour of everything. Pat also hopes that being named “Female Golfer of the players would support Unit games Year” for the Niagara Region regardless of where they are held. If (Canada) in 2007. She plays on three they are held at an existing club, women’s amateur golf tours – Western players should attend the game to New York, Buffalo District and Niagara support the Unit and not worry about Region. She was “Club Champion” where it is being held. five years in a row while she was a member of Bridgewater Country Club and has just begun serving a two-year 3

Personally: Saturday Morning- Stratified – 22.5 tables • Pat is married and has two sons and MPs A B C Names five grandchildren. Her oldest son, Jeffrey and his family live in Buffalo 5.50 1 John Toy - Dan Gerstman, while her younger son, Michael and 4.13 2 James Gullo, Eugene Harvey, his family live in Michigan. 3.09 3 John Kilmer, Dian Petrov, • Pat is a retired elementary school teacher. 2.74 6 2 1 Gary Schmitt, George Donsky, • Since she has retired, she does a lot 2.05 3 Judith Padgug,; Kathy Pollock, of traveling and enjoys spending time 1.63 4 2 Ross Markello - Shirley Cassety, with her grandchildren. 1.22 3 Shakeel Ahmad - Manju Ceylony, Buffalo Spring Sectional North Tonawanda (Buffalo) NY Saturday Afternoon – Stratified – 20.5 tables April 3-5, 2009 MPs A B C Names

Friday Morning-Stratified – 20 tables Saleh Fetouh - Randolph

3.88 2 Seidenberg Jr, MPs A B C Names 5.00 1 1 Inge Gallant, Paul Libby 2.91 3 Judith Marshall - Sharon Benz, 3.75 2 Sharon Benz - Judith Marshall, 3.37 6 1 Judith Padgug, Kathy Pollock, 2.46 3/4 Beverly Cohen - Jim Mathis, 2.53 2 1 Florence Boyd, Faith Perry, Jay Levy, Randolph Seidenberg 2.46 3/4 1.90 3 2 Ruth Kozower, Robert Padgug, Jr, 1.22 5 3 Gary Schmitt, George Donsky, 2.42 2 Claire Gareleck, Patricia Burns, 1.82 3 Judith Bailey, Dale Anderson, Sunday Stratified Swiss – 20 tables 1.95 4 1 Gordon Crone, George Donsky, MPs A B C Names 1.46 6 2 Marietta Kalman, Carol Bedell, Kathy Pollock, David Hemmer,; 5.63 2 1 1.10 3 Ruth Kozower, Judy Kaprove, James Reineck, Judith Padgug, Jay Costello - Donna Steffan,; Friday Afternoon – Stratified- 20.5 tables 4.22 3 Powhatan Wooldridge - Jill MPs A B C Names Wooldridge, 5.17 1 Beverly Cohen - Jim Mathis, Richard Czarnecki,; Margaret 3.64 4 2 Schomers,; Robert Olin, Carolyn William Rushmore, Arthur 3.88 2 1 Siracuse, Morth, Elizabeth Metz, Franklin Kidd, 2.73 3 1 Jay Levy, Randolph 2.91 3 Peter Shui - Penny Shui, Seidenberg Jr, Peter Patterson - Linda Bernardine Czarnecki - 2.05 4 2 2.42 5 2 Burroughsford, Dorothy Soong,; Richard Czarnecki, Carol Bedell, Gordon Crone, George 1.84 4 1 Donsky,

Barbara Landree,; Diane 1.21 6/7 2/3 Jeffrey,

Dorothy Soong - Larry 1.21 6/7 2/3 Soong, 4

Bridge Cruise America (including Helen Sobel) than Agnes and very few male players her equal. She Betty Metz reported the following on the achieved remarkable success frequently cruise: playing with mediocre partners.” The two had Great Time on the Bridge Cruise a record 78% game in the final session of the , which they won in The last week in February, 29 people 1963. Wrote Murray: “Agnes never came enjoyed an incredible week of warm weather close to touching a wrong card or making a in the Caribbean. An absolutely beautiful ship questionable bid. Everyone who played with (the Crown Princess), fantastic food, and Agnes marveled at her perfection. She bridge games run by our own Chris Urbanek. unquestionably ranks with the all-time very We enjoyed mini lessons and sanctioned best.” bridge games. Participants had plenty of bridge mixed with the activities and Gordon, who died in 1967, won seven North entertainment provided by the ship. Old American championships, including the friendship were enjoyed and new friendships Chicago Board-a-Match Teams (now the were made - this was a mighty nice group of ) in 1948; the Mixed Board-a-Match people. Teams in 1951, 1952 and 1962; the Women’s Pairs in 1961; the Mixed Pairs and the Regarding the recent bridge cruise Womens’ Teams in 1967. She had numerous presented by Betty Metz and Chris Urbanek, second-place finishes in NABC events and the editor heard the following: many regional wins. She was on the second- place squad in the World Women’s Teams in • Chris had a lesson prior to the game 1964 and represented the U.S. in two world • There were approximately 5 tables. championships. • Bridge was played while the ship was moving. Born in Ontario, Canada, she moved to • People who attended indicated they Buffalo NY but remained a Canadian citizen. would attend another bridge cruise in the future. Gordon served on the ACBL Board of Directors representing District 2, was a • Only negative comment was that the member of the ACBL Goodwill Committee ship did not announce the activity in and president of Unit 116. She also taught their newsletter or public address bridge and ran a bridge club system. Smile for You So, when Chris and Betty plan another cruise, be sure to sign up and have a good time. By Doanne Jackson

Smiling is infectious; you catch it like the flu, Agnes Gordon chosen for When someone smiled at me today, I started Bridge Hall of Fame smiling too. I passed around the corner and someone saw Gordon, one of ACBL’s top players for my grin three decades, has been chosen for the von When he smiled I realized I’d passed it on to Zedtwitz Award by the ACBL Bridge Hall of him. Fame Committee. The award is given to a I thought about that smile then I realized its deceased person who has made outstanding worth, contributions to the game as a player or in A single smile, just like mine could travel some other capacity. , who round the earth. played with Gordon frequently, wrote in So, if you feel a smile begin, don’t leave it support of her Hall of Fame election, “There undetected was no better female bridge player in North

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Let’s start an epidemic quick, and get the BEYOND BEGINNERS WITH JOAN world infected! Mondays - 2:30- 4:30 Sharon Benz, one of many Bridge players April 20th - May 18th who lend a helping hand FIVE WEEKS FOR $50.00

Designed for players with less than 100

A. counting winners or losers B. declarer's options C. when to (or not) D. dummy reversal E. avoidance plays F. establishing long suits

MINIMUM CLASS SIZE= 12 MAXIMUM CLASS SIZE= 16

SIGN UP AT THE CLUB OR CALL 834-4222

“Yes we can!” by John Marvin Congratulations This hand came up in the Buffalo Bridge Bronze Life Master Center’s Tuesday 299er game. John Kirsits

Sad Tidings ♠-KT84 ♥-K75 If you know of a recent member passing, ♦- please send info to Editor. Thank you. T8654 ♣-J Bridge Club News ♠-9 N ♠-AJ753

Bridge Center of Buffalo ♥-Q6 W E ♥-AT943 Phone # 834-4222 for reser- ♦-A9 S ♦-J7 vations and information. ♣-AKT87653 ♣-Q MENTORING ON ♠-Q62 Tues. & Thurs. @ BCB ♥-J82 ♦-KQ32 Newcomer Games, 0-20 master points, are ♣-942 held on Tuesday morning and Thursday evening, and are "mentored" games running Let’s say W decides to bid 6♣s and gets a ♦5 in parallel with stratified pair games. Both for an . She wins S’s A and plays games are preceded by a free Mini-Lesson a to the ♠A, roughs a ♠, plays low to the ♣Q, half hour before game time on Thursday 1 2 evening or before lunch on Tuesday morning. and roughs another ♠ . She gives up a ♦ , wins the club return (best) and cashes ♣s until reaching the 3 card ending:

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♠-K 11:00 am Stratified pairs competition ♥-K7 2:30 pm *hand discussion 4:00 pm Closing ceremony and awards

N ♠-J Entry fee: $9 per session ♥-Q6 W E ♥-AT ♣-A S Past Olympiad Winners

Olympiad I Akron Unit ♥-J82 Olympiad II, III, IV, V Cleveland Unit

The ♣A is the squeeze card and N is See the official Olympiad entry form for helpless. He must give up one of his guards Olympiad rules, and if you have any ques- and declarer discards accordingly from tions, contact Dick Early at 330.928.1104 or dummy [email protected] or Sally Veauthier at 330.482.3175 or [email protected] Footnotes: 1. The ♠ plays are for the purpose of shifting OLYMPIAD VI ENTRY FORM all of the guards into N’s hand if possible. Register today! 2. To rectify the count. Name______OLYMPIAD VI

August 15-16, 2009 Address______HOLIDAY INN, 6001 ROCKSIDE RD INDEPENDENCE, OHIO 44131 ______

A Sectionally-Rated, Stratified Pairs Bridge Phone/e-mail______Competition The Olympiad will be held August 15-16, This is a unique tournament where players 2009 at the Holiday Inn, 6001 Rockside Rd, with less than 750 master points have an Independence, OHIO. Mail your entry to: opportunity to represent their units to claim Sally Veauthier, 1804 Timberline Drive, the District 5 Olympiad Trophy. Also, gold, Columbiana, OH 44408 silver, and bronze medals will be awarded to Official Olympiad Rules the top three overall winners of each session.

After each session, hand analyses and • Participant must have less than 750 discussion by Dick Early, Emerald Life master points. Life Masters are welcome. Master, will be provided on an overhead.* He The games will be stratified. will answer any questions you may have • The events are open to all players, but about a particular hand you played, defended, only District 5 members will be qualified or bid. for Olympiad awards. Schedule of Events: • Gold, silver and bronze medals will be awarded to the top three District 5 Saturday, August 15 partnerships in each event. • The Olympiad Trophy will be awarded to 1:00 pm Stratified pairs competition the Unit with the most Olympiad points, 4:30 pm *hand discussion which consist of:

7:00 pm Stratified pairs competition a) Master points won by the medal 10:30 pm *hand discussion winners and b) Master points won by the top B and C Sunday, August 16 pairs, but not a medal winner. 7

• You are not required to play with the same Friday, June 12 partner in each event. However, to qualify Single Session Pairs 9 am, 1:30 pm, 7 pm for Olympiad Awards and Olympiad Points Free Lesson at 6:15 pm in any event, both members of the Food before and between sessions partnership must be from the same Unit. • Advance registration is not required, but Saturday, June 13 would be greatly appreciated by the Single Session Pairs 10 am, 3 pm Planning Committee. Please use this Free Lesson at 2:15 pm form or e-mail. Room reservations at the Food before and between sessions Holiday Inn can be made at 216.524.8050. Sunday, June 14 10 am Single Session Pairs Good luck to all – support your Unit! 3 pm Single Session Swiss Lesson on Team Tactics at 2:15 pm Food before and between sessions

Unit 116 Pro-Am Championship

Bridge Center of Buffalo 3362 Sheridan Drive Stratifications: Amherst, NY 0-100, 100-200 and 200-300

Sunday, May 17, 2009 Game fees: 1:00 pm $8 for ACBL members $9 for non-members and unpaid members Contact Judie Bailey at 636-6148 or [email protected] to sign up. Please Tourney Chairs: provide your ACBL points – partnerships by Kathy Pollock (716) 834-2855 random draw [email protected] Barb Landree (716) 754-7048 [email protected] Entry fee $6.00 per player Partnerships: Kathy Pollock (716) 834-2855 [email protected]

FREE PARKING FREE LESSONS Buffalo Silver Point FREE FOOD 299er Sectional TROPHIES PRIZES June 12-14, 2009 Bridge Center of Buffalo 3362 Sheridan Dr. Amherst, NY, 14226

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