VOL. 53 No. 3 FALL 2012 Meet Michigan’s winning mini- squad Editor’s note: A team of five 20-something Ann Arbor players won the 0-1500 mini- Spingold KO, a multi- day limited national championship, at the summer North Ameri- can Bridge Champion- ships in Philadelphia. A month earlier, they also won the Sunday Winners of the mini-Spingold 0-1500 Swiss Teams at the KO Teams: (front) Jin Hu and Jonathan Fleischmann; (back) Max Glick, Zach- Toledo Regional. ary Scherr and Zachary Wasserman. Here are their stories:

Jonathan Fleischmann ter. I'm an attorney less than a year out of law school. I'm 24 years old and live in I started playing in 1999 Bloomfield Hills with my fa- (Continued on page 22) ther, two brothers, and a sis-

DON’T FORGET TO VOTE

The annual election for MBA of Directors will be held during the last four days of the October regional. If you cannot be there on one of those days, you can still vote by complet- ing and sending in an absentee ballot. See page 5. Candi- dates’ pictures and statements appear on pages 6 and 7. Michigan Bridge Association Unit #137 2012 VINCE & JOAN REMEY MOTOR CITY REGIONAL October 8-14, 2012 Site: William Costick Center, 28600 Eleven Mile Road, Farmington Hills MI 48336 (between Inkster and Middlebelt roads) 248-473-1816

Intermediate/Newcomers Schedule (0-299 MP)

Single-session Stratified Open Pairs: Tue. through Fri., 1 p.m. & 7 p.m.; Sat., 10 a.m. & 2:30 p.m.

Stratified Swiss Teams: Sun. 11 a.m. & TBA (single-session events)

Side Game Schedule

Side Game Series 1: Tues. through Thurs., 1 & 7 p.m. Side Game Series 2: Fri., 1 & 7 p.m.; Sat., 10 a.m. & 2:30 p.m. To be eligible for gold points and overall awards, a player must play in two sessions of the same event.

—— NOTE EARLY SATURDAY START TIMES ——

Stratifications Stratified events: A=unlimited; B=0-2,000; C=0-750 Sunday stratiflighted Swiss team: A=unlimited; AX=0-3,000; B=0-2,000; C=0-1,000, D=0-500 I/N: 0-20; 20-50; 100-200; 200-299 as attendance warrants Average MP will be used to determine strat in stratified pairs and team events.

ACCOMMODATIONS Comfort Inn, 30715 W. 12 Mile Road, Farmington Hills MI, 248-471- 9220. Bridge rate: $69.99 per room, plus tax (includes continental breakfast)

Chairmen: Don Rumelhart, 734-474-2539, [email protected] Robert Katz, 734-669-2091, [email protected]

Partnerships: Marilyn Crane, 734-591-3431, [email protected]

PAGE 2 TABLE TALK MOTOR CITY REGIONAL SCHEDULE OF MAIN EVENTS

MONDAY, OCTOBER 8 Handicap Bracketed KO Teams #1...... 7 p.m. (continues Tuesday at 9 a.m., 1 p.m. & 7 p.m.) Charity Stratified Open Pairs (one session) ...... 7 p.m.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 9 Stratified Open Swiss Teams...... 1 & 7 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 10 NEW EVENT: Gold Rush Pairs ...... 1 & 7 p.m. (0-300, 300-750 MP) Sylvia Stein Stratified Open Pairs ...... 1 & 7 p.m. Handicap Bracketed KO Teams #2...... 1 & 7 p.m. (continues Thursday at 1 & 7 p.m.) Stratified Open Swiss Teams (single session) ...... 7 p.m.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 11 Stratified Open Swiss Teams...... 1 & 7 p.m.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 12 NEW EVENT: Gold Rush Pairs ...... 1 & 7 p.m. (0-300, 300-750 MP) Stratified Open Pairs* ...... 1 & 7 p.m. *Winners’ names will be inscribed on the Ray Jacobstein Trophy Handicap Bracketed KO Teams #3...... 1 & 7 p.m. (continues Saturday at 10 a.m. & 2:30 p.m.) Stratified Open Swiss Teams (single session) ...... 7 p.m.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13 NEW EVENT: Gold Rush Pairs ...... 10 a.m. & 2:30 p.m. (0-300, 300-750 MP) Stratified Open Pairs...... 10 a.m. & 2:30 p.m. (All Saturday pair events will consist of two 24-board sessions)

—— NOTE EARLY SATURDAY START TIMES ——

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 14 Stratiflighted Swiss Teams...... 11 a.m. (Playthrough) Seven 7-board matches; light food will be served

Handicapping for bracketed knockouts: Teams that average more than 5000 MPs will be handicapped at 5000 MPs

District 12 website: www.district12bridge.org

TABLE TALK PAGE 3 TABLE TALK MBA Officers Official publication Robert Katz ...... president of the Michigan Bridge Association Richard Temkin ...... president-elect 30660 Woodgate Dr., Jerry Thornton...... chairman Southfield MI 48076 Stacey Tessler ... recording secretary 248-646-3967 Bob Webber ...... treasurer e-mail: [email protected] Board of Directors MARTIN HIRSCHMAN, Editor William Arlinghaus, Shelley Boschan,

Production editor: Marcia Abramson Terry T. Brown, Marilyn Crane, Kurt MBA Corresponding & Member- Dasher, Jonathan Fleischmann, Martin ship Secretary: Paul Pomeroy, Hirschman (non-voting), Robert Katz, 34069 Hathaway St., Livonia MI Grant Petersen, Paul Pomeroy, Don 48150, [email protected], 734-421- Rumelhart, Richard Temkin, Stacey 0193 Tessler, Jerry Thornton

MBA CLUB DIRECTORY OPEN GAMES Neighborhood Club, 375 Lothrop, Ann Arbor BC, Walden Hills Club- Grosse Pointe Farms. James house, 2114 Pauline, Ann Arbor. Schmidt, 586-463-9835. Sunday Stacey Tessler, 734-623-8050. 1:30 p.m. Neighborhood Club II, Wednesday 7 p.m. Barbara Jur, 586-264-5177. Satur- Burns Center Bridge, 1320 Bald- day 7:30 p.m. Neighborhood Sen- win, Ann Arbor. Dick Fortune, 734- iors, Judith Thomas, 313-372-4218. 677-5674. Wednesday 12 p.m.. Thursday 12 p.m. Burns Park Bridge, 1320 Baldwin, Plymouth Community BC, 525 Ann Arbor. Mike Crane, 734-981- Farmer, Plymouth. Jim & Cheryl 1038. Thursday 12 p.m. Perna, 248-887-9283. Tuesday Dearborn Recreation Dept. BC, 11:30 a.m., Wednesday 11:30 a.m. 15801 Michigan Ave., Dearborn. Thursday Evening Bridge, 1830 Stacey Tessler, 734-623-8050. Fri- Washtenaw, Ann Arbor. Dorothy day 6:30 p.m. Kuhn, 734-761-6691. Thursday 7 Downriver BC, Southgate Civic p.m. Center, 14700 Reaume Pkwy., Trenton DBC, 2700 Westfield, Tren- Southgate. , 519-969- ton. Carl May, 734-301-3872. Thurs- 4441. Tuesday 10:30 a.m. day 7 p.m. Ford DBC, Ford Motor Company War Memorial, 32 Lakeshore, World Headquarters, Michigan Ave., Grosse Pointe. Judith Thomas, 313- Dearborn. Stacey Tessler, 734-623- 372-4218. Monday 12 p.m. 8050. Tuesday 7 p.m. Young Center BC, R.A. Young Rec- Huron Valley Bridge Club, 9525 E. reation Center, 5400 McKinley, Highland Rd., Howell. Jim & Cheryl Dearborn Heights. Elaine Reininger, Perna, 248-887-9283. Thursday, 6 734-287-3067. Wednesday 11 a.m. p.m.

PAGE 4 TABLE TALK MBA BOARD OF DIRECTORS ELECTION OCTOBER 2012

(Ballot deleted)

TABLE TALK PAGE 5 SHELLEY BOSCHAN I am running for re-election to the board. I have found the members of this board to be a group of very dedicated bright people who work dili- gently to address the needs of the MBA com- munity. It has been an honor to serve with them, which I hope to continue for two more years. As an architect, I try to bring as much creativity to the committee as possible. In addi- tion, my extensive experience working with numerous non-profit organizations has also proved helpful.

GRANT PETERSEN Earned a business degree from the Georgia Institute of Technology. I have been an ACBL member for just over seven years and have attained the rank of Silver Life Master. I’m a certified ACBL instructor and director. I took up the game online and soon discovered there was so much more to it than I realized. This realization turned into a passion for the game and its community. This passion has led me to start a not-for-profit company that teaches youth bridge and, most recently, the ownership of the Bridge Connection.

BILL ARLINGHAUS Bill Arlinghaus represents District 12 on the ACBL Board of Directors. He is a 5-time Presi- dent of the MBA. He has served on the MBA Board for over 25 years total. He was co-chair of the 2008 Detroit NABC. Bill is Professor Emeritus of Mathematics at Lawrence Tech. He has been married to Sandy for 46 years. He enjoys contributing to bridge and requests your vote to continue.

PAGE 6 TABLE TALK TERRY T. BROWN During the past several years, while being privileged to serve as a member of the MBA board, I have come to appreciate how, despite being part of a larger community, the most im- portant aspect of the game still occurs here at the local level. Home is where the hearts, as well as the spades, diamonds, and clubs are. We have an excellent board, and I hope to continue to be a part of it. Thanks!

WILLIE WINOKUR A vote for me would be appreciated.

PATTI STONER I learned to play bridge in college, and fell in love with the game. Have played for over 47 years. “Kitchen table bridge,” as a working mother, all I had time for. In the last four years, have started playing competitively. I play club bridge, in Plymouth, and play in every tourna- ment I can find. I am a big fan of BBO; it has introduced me to players from all over the world. I would like to give something back to the wonderful game that I play, so I would like to be considered for a place on the board.

TABLE TALK PAGE 7 IT’S YOUR BID By Martin Hirschman

I try to stay away from problems that involve a guess as to what conventions are being played, but I largely failed in this regard on Problem 5, and somewhat failed on Problems 1, 2 and 4. I will try to be more careful in the future. (But the prolif- eration of conventions has made this more difficult.) Congratulations to Don Rumelhart who had the high score among our expert panelists, and to Sarah Lampert who had the highest reader score. Thanks to Bert Newman for submitting problem 2, Ed Her- stein for problem 3, and Mark Leonard for 4 and 5. Join the growing number of readers who are sending in their answers. Next issue’s problems appear at the end of this arti- cle. 1. MTPTs. None vul. As HCPs, while 3 ♥ surely should SOUTH, you hold: show six of them with invita- ♠4 ♥KQJ64 ♦K762 ♣Q43 tional values. That leaves the WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH panel (and my) choice of 2NT, Pass 1♠ Pass 1NT* which should show about 10+ Pass 2♦** Pass ? to 11 points without overstat- *Forcing, usually 5-11 HCPs ing any particular distribu- **Three or more diamonds tional feature.

Action Score Votes Bryant (2NT): Not perfect but 2NT 100 9 a value bid. ♥ 2 80 6 Kirsch (2NT): Right on ♥ 3 60 3 strength, and I have a source Pass 50 1 of tricks. 3♦ 20 0 2♠ 10 0 Myles Maddox (2NT): Shows the strength of my hand. Playing Standard, we could ♥ raise to 3 ♦, but in 2/1 Game Marilyn Maddox (2NT): 2 Force partner could have just would not show the strength ♥ of hand. three diamonds. 2 would tend to show 6 hearts (or 5 Winokur (2NT): Looks like an very good ones) and just 6-10 ad (commercial) for “Bart.”

PAGE 8 TABLE TALK SCORES Kerry Lafer...... 380 Experts: Margaret Carden...... 370 Don Rumelhart...... 480 Jerry Jefferies ...... 370 Suzy Burger ...... 470 Bob Solomon ...... 370 Howard Perlman ...... 460 Jim Hill ...... 360 Bob Webber ...... 460 Gerald Wahl...... 350 Mary Smith...... 450 Barb Reed...... 310 Willie Winokur ...... 450 Morris Swiger...... 310 Clarke Cunningham .... 290 Readers: Joe Schillmoeller...... 290 Sarah Lampert ...... 440 Jim Reed...... 280 Sam Hirschman...... 430 Patti Stoner...... 270 Neil Manley ...... 430 Harold Monet ...... 260 Patty Becker...... 400 Brenda Fortunate...... 240 Vali Enache...... 400 Doris Jefferies...... 200 Irv Hershman...... 390 HOW THE PANEL VOTED 1 2 3 4 5 Gene Bendict 3♥ Pass 3NT 4NT 4♥/5 ♦ Norm Bolton 2♥ Dbl Dbl 4♦ 3♥/5 ♦ Bob Brent 3♥ Pass 3NT 4NT 3♥/5 ♦ Brenda Bryant 2NT 2♥ 3NT 4NT 3♥/4 ♣ 2♥ 2♥ Dbl 4NT 4♥/5 ♦ Suzy Burger 2NT Pass 3NT 4NT 4♥/5 ♦ Joe Chiesa 2♥ Pass 4♣ Pass 4♥/4NT Bob Crafton Pass Dbl Dbl 4NT 3♥/4 ♣ Bob Katz 2♥ Pass Dbl 6♦ 4♥/5 ♦ Sheldon Kirsch 2NT 2♥ 3NT Pass 3♥/5 ♦ Marilyn Maddox 2NT Dbl Dbl Pass 3♥/5 ♦ Myles Maddox 2NT Dbl Dbl 4NT 3♥/6 ♠ Bert Newman 2♥ 2♥ Dbl 6♦ 3♥/4 ♣ Howard Perlman 2♥ Pass 3NT 4NT 3♥/5 ♦ Don Rumelhart 2NT Pass Dbl 4NT 3♥/4 ♣ Mary Smith 2NT Dbl 3NT 4NT 4♥/5 ♦ Dick Temkin 3♥ Dbl Dbl 6♦ 3♥/5 ♦ Bob Webber 2NT Pass Dbl 4NT 4♥/4NT Willie Winokur 2NT Pass Dbl 4NT 4♥/5 ♣

TABLE TALK PAGE 9 Not really. The Bart conven- heart. Give me the heart 10, tion gives responder a way to or vul. at IMPs, and I would try show five hearts and invita- 3♥. 2 ♥ is wimpy but should tional values, but only after a get me a plus in a high-paying 2♣ rebid by opener after the strain.

Forcing NT response. It does ♥ ♥ ♦ Katz (2 ): Options are 2 , not apply after a 2 rebid. 2NT, and 3 ♥ in my opinion. How will we find our 5-3 Too risky not to get hearts into heart fit if we have one? play at matchpoints. Just a Smith (2NT): If partner ac- tad short of a 3 ♥ bid. ♥ cepts, she bids 3 with 3 Perlman (2 ♥): Seems auto- hearts. matic. Might strike gold (5-3- Rumelhart (2NT): Right on 4-1) or even 5-3-3-2. If 5-2-4- values and shape. 2NT allows 2 should be very playable. partner to bid 3 ♥ with 3 or re- With a singleton heart partner bid diamonds with long dia- can retreat to 2 ♠ and I can monds. correct.

Webber (2NT): Hope partner Temkin (3 ♥): All bids are will bid a 3-card heart suit on flawed, but this one has the the way to game. most upside, especially at matchpoints. The heart bidders: Benedict (3 ♥): You must in- Chuck Burger (2 ♥): Can’t vite game with 11 HCPs. ♠ ♦ hide this suit. Over 2 : 3 . ♥ 2NT doesn’t do the job. Brent (3 ): Best if partner has

Bolton (2 ♥): Get plus score. Overheard... Go low on likely misfit. ...at the Bridge Connec- Chiesa (2 ♥): All bids brook tion (Southfield MI): disaster. Pass is exceedingly A woman yelled at her cautious, even by FDA stan- left hand opponent: “I can dards. 2NT shows the values see your whole hand.” but suppresses hearts, and LHO replied: “Then tell you may lack a sufficient club me how to bid it!!” stopper. 3 ♦: You should have another diamond, and you --Reported by Deedie Holtzman give up hearts. 3 ♥: I lack a

PAGE 10 TABLE TALK a heart fragment. 2NT a close suspect we have such a big second, with 3 ♦ a distant third! hand. This keeps 3NT still viable! Temkin (Dbl): Must start with Your problems are tougher a double with this big hand. than (and Too much to pass and try to often better). catch up later.

2. MTPTs. None vul. As Smith (Dbl): What’s the prob- SOUTH, you hold: lem? Have to bid. ♠ ♥ ♦ ♣ AQ10 KQJ104 6 AJ102 Bolton (Dbl): Spade game is WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH still possible. 1♦ Pass 1♥ ?

Action Score Votes Marilyn Maddox (Dbl): Part- Pass 100 9 ner needs little to make part Dbl 80 6 score: 5 small clubs or ♥ spades. 2 70 4

Many readers will be sur- The plurality of the panel prised to find out that the ex- passes now, hoping to pick up pert consensus is that a 2 ♥ a penalty or figure out what to bid here is natural . do later.

Chuck Burger (2 ♥): Natural. Benedict (Pass): The oppo- Will double later if possible. nents may be in trouble if they Values to double now but lack a diamond fit. I plan to spades may not be playable double a NT contract to de- with diamond taps, and sub- mand a heart lead. Bidding sequent heart bid ambiguous. now lets them off the hook.

Bryant (2 ♥): If I have an un- Brent (Pass): Will come in derstanding with my partner later (maybe). If West bids 1 ♠ that hearts here is natural...if or 1NT and it goes pass to not I would double. me, I have an easy 2 ♥ bid. If

♥ opener psyched, he got me. Kirsch (2 ): I certainly have my bid and then some. Katz (Pass): If auction dies at It seems normal to do either 1NT or 2 ♦, I will double. something right away. If we For now, I will sit and wait to pass now, partner will never see where this is headed.

TABLE TALK PAGE 11 Chiesa (Pass): I suspect I tive double, the panel choice, could double or bid 2 ♥ natu- but if partner has no 4-card ral, but there is no rush to in- major, we’ll miss 3NT, which sinuate myself into their forc- is our most likely game. Or we ing auction at this point. For can bid 3NT, and give up on me 1NT would not be natural game or slam in spades or and I would not employ it in diamonds. I’ll let the panel any event. fight it out...

Perlman (Pass): No rush to Benedict (3NT): Spades or enter the auction yet. Will diamonds might be better, double a NT rebid if the op- they might run the heart suit, portunity presents and weigh but Hamman’s rule applies other options accordingly. with a choice of bids, bid 3NT.

Rumelhart (Pass): I see no Bolton (Dbl): Can bid NT later reason to rush into this auc- over hearts or raise spades. tion. Brent (3NT): We may have a Webber (Pass): No reason to diamond or NT slam, but I be involved yet. want the lead coming to me.

Winokur (Pass): Pass for And partner hasn't passed now, decide on what to do 3NT yet (although he probably will). next round. Bryant (3NT): It’s match- 3. MTPTs. N-S vul. As points...who knows? SOUTH, you hold: Chuck Burger (Dbl): Must ♠K543 ♥Q5 ♦A10652 ♣AQ see what pard does. Over 3 ♥, WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH 3NT now easy. Over jumps or -- 1♦ 3♣ ? spades, I will move toward Action Score Votes slam. The [immediate] match- Dbl 100 11 point bid of 3NT too lazy for 3NT 80 7 me. 4♣ 50 1 Chiesa (4 ♣): There are only 5♦ 40 0 two viable bids. 3NT is not 3♠ 20 0 one of them. If that is my pre- 4♦ 20 0 ferred contract I should dou- We could start with a nega- ble first, then bid 3NT over 3 ♥.

PAGE 12 TABLE TALK It costs nothing to attempt to Smith (3NT): Used to double. find a 4-4 spade fit. Double is Too many accidents. fine if I discover 4-4 spades, ♥ Temkin (Dbl): Will bid 3NT if but over 3 it is not possible response is 3 ♥. to set diamonds as and try for a diamond slam. 4 ♣ Webber (Dbl): Converting does that in one bid. heart bids to NT.

Katz (Dbl): Thanks to Ed Herstein for brings spades into play. If submitting this problem. Ed partner bids hearts, then I can writes: “I didn’t want to hear bid 3NT. something uncomfortable such as 4 ♦ or 4 ♥ over a dou- Kirsch (3NT): Games before ble, so I bid 3NT which was slams. passed out. That didn’t work Marilyn Maddox (Dbl): Will out too well when LHO played bid 3NT over 3 ♥ bid. his seven hearts from the top. Pard held ♠AQJ10 ♥xx Perlman (3NT): Negative ♦AQxx ♣xxx.” double might work best if a spade slam is on. However 4. MTPTs. Both vul. As the real problem comes when SOUTH, you hold: ♣ LHO subtly raises to 4 . I ♠AJ65 ♥AQ2 ♦4 ♣AQJ105 can't bid NT naturally now and WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH have probably endplayed my- -- 1♦ Pass 2♣ self. The double stopper along Pass 2♦ Pass 2♠ with extra values and big fit Pass 3♦ Pass 3♥ makes this probably the saf- Pass 3NT Pass ? est game. Sure we might make a diamond slam, but we Action Score Votes still need a lot from partner 4NT 100 12 who is not barred from bid- 6♦ 60 3 ding. Pass 60 3 4♦ 50 1 Rumelhart (Dbl): Partner’s 6NT 30 0 next bid will tell me in what 4♣ 20 0 direction we should head. If ♦ ♠ I don’t agree at all with this: he bids 3 or 3 , I will ; over 3 ♥, I will bid 3NT. Kirsch (Pass): Partner has

TABLE TALK PAGE 13 heard me pushing for envi- Perlman (4NT): Clearly con- rons far and beyond, and has structive and non-forcing. basically refused. Partner knows my pattern per- fectly. He can move if his dia- Or this: monds are good enough Chiesa (Pass): I have shown (KQJ10xx(x)). my pattern and a hand with Rumelhart (4NT): I clearly slam interest. Partner does have extras, but I am reluctant not have solid diamonds (else to insist on slam without a 3♦/2 ♣). second diamond. Partner will Or this: continue on with solid dia- monds. Marilyn Maddox (Pass): Part- ner doesn’t have solid dia- Smith (4NT): Can’t give up on mond suit. slam.

As far as partner knows, 3 ♥ Webber (4NT): Hope we can simply meant that I don’t have make it if partner passes.

a stopper (or enough stopper) Benedict (4NT): Quantitative. to bid 3NT, possibly with a I won’t criticize passing, but partial stopper (Qx, Jxx) or partner might have a nice dia- perhaps Ax(x). mond suit and the king of We have 18 quite good clubs. You should invite slam HCPs, and partner could have with 18-19. up to 15 and/or solid or almost solid diamonds. So we cer- Other ideas: tainly need to make another Temkin (6 ♦): Could make a move. 4NT is the obvious slam try with 4 ♦, but I'm not choice, a “quantitative” raise, sure what that's going to ac- inviting bigger things. complish. Even if partner has Brent (4NT): Quantitative of only a 6 or 7-card solid suit, course. One last shot at slam. slam is likely to have some I have certainly described my play. Put it in diamonds in- mitt. stead of NT in case we need a ruffing in clubs. Chuck Burger (4NT): Quanti- tative. Give him/her one more Katz (6 ♦): I don’t like the auc- chance. 6 ♦ likely playable. tion. I would have bid 4 ♦ mi-

PAGE 14 TABLE TALK norwood at my previous turn, 5A. IMPs. None vul. As allowing more room to deter- SOUTH, you hold: mine the right final contract, ♠KQJ10432 ♥764 ♦ ♣KQ7 likely either 6NT or 6 ♦. If part- WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH ner has the wrong distribution Pass 2NT Pass ? and opponents make their 5B. Assuming you transfer at best lead, we may go down, some level and partner takes but I have too much to pass. the transfer, what do you bid

♦ next? Bolton ( 4 ): Blackwood. Eight diamonds and a king would Action Score Votes be nice. 3♥/5 ♦ 100 6 ♥ ♦ I would have liked to see 4 /5 90 5 ♥ ♣ more discussion about 6 ♦ vs. 3 /4 80 4 ♥ 6NT. It’s matchpoints, after 4 /4NT 60 2 ♥ ♠ all, and on some layouts 3 /6 50 1 ♥ ♣ clubs, not the diamonds, will 4 /5 50 1 be the principal source of All other 30 0 tricks. Should we be trying to pro- Thanks to former Michigan tect against bidding 6 ♠ without player Mark Leonard, now liv- a heart stopper or off two ing in Long Beach CA, for cashing aces? Or should we sending in this problem. He focus on getting to 7 when bid 4NT and partner bid 6NT partner has a healthy hand ♠ ♥ ♦ with Kx xxxx AKQxxx with the aces of spades, ♣K. 6NT was excellent, with th hearts and clubs? Do we al- many chances for a 12 trick, ways want to be in 7 if partner one of which came home at has the missing aces in those the table. (However, 6NT is three suits? And, do we have even better if declared from some way to ask for the aces South, protecting against an other than the ace of dia- opening heart lead through monds, e.g. Exclusion Black- the AQx. Should we have wood, and, if so, which is ex- ♦ bashed out 6NT over 3 ? clusion: 3 ♥ () What would 4NT have meant then 5 ♦ or 4 ♥ () ♦ over 3 ?) then 5 ♦? Questions, ques- tions, questions.

TABLE TALK PAGE 15 Myles Maddox (3 ♥/6 ♠): Op- losers (and they cash them) ponent has to make a blind this game is getting too tough lead. Good chance to make for me. even missing two aces other Marilyn Maddox (3 ♥/5 ♦): than the ace of diamonds. Should be Exclusion Black- Rumelhart (3 ♥/4 ♣): Then 5 ♦. wood.

Partner should get the picture Bolton (3 ♥/5 ♦): Exclusion when I return to spades. Blackwood. That’s what it’s

♥ for. Webber (4 /4NT): and one king makes 7NT. Brent (3 ♥/5 ♦): Exclusion: It Four aces and no kings should be clear to pard. Look- makes 6NT. Anything less ing for a grand. If partner has and we play 6 ♠. Ax QJx AKQJ Axxx, I am in

Chiesa: (4 ♥/4NT): Obviously trouble, but if it’s my lucky day they will lead a club. a good hand for exclusion Blackwood. Surely partner But, should declare here to protect Temkin (3 ♥/5 ♦): Pinpoint dia- his hand. Since I will not likely mond shortage to let partner stop short of 6 ♠ in any event I evaluate his hand. This bid 4NT (RKC for spades) should imply no more than a [after the Texas transfer]. If one-loser suit since opener partner reveals four aces, I could have two small spades. can either bid 5NT (then 7NT If he cues clubs or hearts, will if he shows one king), or bid 6 ♦ to show the void. shoot out 7 ♠ on a finesse if I need a board. If partner Two of the five experts who shows three aces, I will sub- bid 4 ♥, then 5 ♦ said they side in 6 ♠. A scientific 5 ♦ over thought that was Exclusion 4♠ evinces no easy road to Blackwood:

7♠. ♥ ♦ Chuck Burger (4 /5 ): Exclu- Four of the six experts who sion RKC because I’m an op- bid 3 ♥, then 5 ♦ said they timist. thought it was Exclusion Katz (4 ♥/5 ♦): Exclusion Black- Blackwood. wood with spades as trump. If Kirsch (3 ♥/5 ♦): Exclusion partner bids 5 ♠ (showing one RKCD! If we have two heart key card) then we play 5 ♠. If

PAGE 16 TABLE TALK partner bids 5NT showing two 3. MTPTs. Both vul. As key cards, we play 6 ♠. If part- SOUTH, you hold: ner shows all three, then I can ♠KJ5 ♥AJ75 ♦AQ1043 ♣J count 12 tricks with partner WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH still having plenty of cards left -- -- Pass 1♦ and so I next bid 6 ♦ on the 1♥ Dbl Pass ? way to either 7 ♠ or 7NT. (6 ♦ means we have all the keys 4. MTPTs. Both vul. As and the queen of spades and SOUTH, you hold: I am looking for 7.) ♠7532 ♥4 ♦KQ7654 ♣95 WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH But, 1♥ 1NT 2♥ ? Smith (4 ♥/5 ♦): Cuebid. Wish Please assume that 2NT it was exclusion, but it isn’t. would be (relay to ♣ Benedict (4 ♥/5 ♦): Partner 3 , usually with just competi- might have wasted diamond tive values). values opposite a void. Over Also, for informational pur- 5♥, I will try 6 ♣. poses, how do you usually play 2NT here? Thanks to Mark Leonard for submitting this problem. At the 5. E-W vul. As SOUTH, you table, the 2NT opener had hold: ♠ ♥ ♦ ♣ Ax AKx Axxx Axxx, so ♠void ♥QJ74 ♦AQ985 ♣A1042 ♠ 7 and 7NT were cold. WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH -- Pass 4♠ ? NEXT ISSUE’S HANDS Also, for informational pur- poses, how do you play dou- 1. MTPTs. Both vul. As ble and 4NT here? SOUTH, you hold: ♠Q ♥A10982 ♦J1096 ♣A64 Mail your answers to: WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH Table Talk Magazine 3♣ 3♠ Pass ? 30660 Woodgate Dr. Southfield MI 48076 2. MTPTs. Both vul. As Or email to: SOUTH, you hold: [email protected] ♠KQ2 ♥Q32 ♦AK654 ♣74 WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH -- -- 1♥ ?

TABLE TALK PAGE 17 Shartsis rules at Detroit District Jack Shartsis won three events THURSDAY NIGHT PAIRS and led the masterpoint race at FLIGHT A: 1, Jack Shartsis, Mi- the Detroit District Sectional, held chael Giordano. 2, Kathy & Bert June 21-24 at the Livonia K of C Newman. 3, Zachary hall. Wasserman, Ed Herstein. Here are the results of the tour- FLIGHT B: 1, Arthur Wasserman, nament: Robert Rasmussen. 2, Peter Bol-

MASTERPOINT LEADERS: gar, Barb Marti. 3, Jonathan 1, Jack Shartsis, 32.99 Fleischmann, Jin Hu. FLIGHT C: 2, Lynne Schaeffer, 26.92 1, Fleischmann, Hu. 2, Miriam & 3, Robert Cappelli, 20.08 Alfred Shaw. 3, Daniel Schiffer, Rita Rubin. 4, Michael Alioto, 18.50 5/6, Debra Eaves, 17.33 FRIDAY AFTERNOON PAIRS 5/6, Norman Bolton, 17.33 FLIGHT A: 1, Lynne Schaeffer, 7, John Buchheister, 17.23 William Winokur. 2, Kurt Dasher, 8, Martin Hirschman, 16.80 Jack Shartsis. 3, Michael 9, Michael Giordano, 15.83 Giordano, Richard Becher. 10, Robert Katz, 15.68 FLIGHT B: 1, Scott Miller, Harry

THURSDAY OPEN SWISS Jagtiani. 2, Margaret Sellgren, FLIGHT A: 1, Norman Bolton, Neil Manley Jr. 3, David Gillespie, Debra Eaves, Jack Shartsis, Mor- Larry Simon. FLIGHT C: 1, Paul rie Kleinplatz. 2, David Gillespie, Chirgwin, Patti Stoner. 2, Ellen Marilyn Crane, Larry Simon, Wes Silverest, Lakshmi Vora. 3, Geraldine Spilman, Cydnie Reich. Burgar. 3, Lynne Schaeffer, Susan Parnes, Gordon Parnes, FRIDAY NIGHT PAIRS FLIGHT Suzy Burger. FLIGHT B: 1, Gil- A: 1, John Buchheister, Beverly lespie team. 2, James Hill, Joyce Gardner. 2, Michael Giordano, Bell, Carolyn & Mitchell Simmer. Richard Becher. 3, Jack Shartsis, 3, Peter Bolgar, Rita Rubin, Barry Lippitt. FLIGHT B: 1, John Daniel Schiffer, Barb Marti. Reed, Robert Chekaluk. 2, David FLIGHT C: 1, Mildred & James Gillespie, Larry Simon. 3, Clarke Bourdow, Dennis Waniolek, Rich- Cunningham, Sandy Birnholtz. ard Cantley. 2, Harrison Fletcher, FLIGHT C: 1, Reed, Chekaluk. 2, Anthony Savant, Sook Wilkinson, Larry Lewis, Naresh Kapila. 3, Kathy Simpson. William Niemczyk, Ronna Galin.

PAGE 18 TABLE TALK SATURDAY SWISS TEAMS SUNDAY SWISS TEAMS FLIGHT A: 1, Martin Hirschman, FLIGHT A: 1, Robert Cappelli, Lynne Schaeffer, Jerrold John Buchheister, Michael Alioto, Grossman, Jack Shartsis. 2, Rich- Robert Katz. 2, Marilyn & Myles ard Temkin, Irving Rosenstein, Maddox, Michael Crane, Bob Michael Alioto, Robert Cappelli. 3, Webber. 3, Martin Hirschman, Norman Bolton, Debra Eaves, Lynne Schaeffer, Joe Chiesa, Christine & Gene Owens. Gordon Parnes. FLIGHT B: 1, FLIGHT B: 1, J. Morris Swiger, Robert Raf, Michael McGaw, Ste- David Aderente, Ellen Hsi, Elmer ven Jacob, Sandy Birnholtz. 2/3, Johansen. 2, Margaret Davis, Corey Powell, Julie Arbit, Michael Margie Ried, Jane Edson, Wilma Bastedo, Cassandra Hall. 2/3, Jin Swayze. 3, Max Glick, Jin Hu, Hu, Max Glick, Zachary Was- Zachary Scherr, Jonathan serman, Jonathan Fleischmann. Fleischmann. FLIGHT C: 1, Davis FLIGHT C: 1/2, same as B 2/3. 3, team. 2, Glick team. 3, Ellen Tom Shellberg, Gretchen Dietz, Silverest, Lakshmi Vora, Dennis Wilma Swayze, Rosemary Waniolek, Richard Cantley. Sharland.

SATURDAY AM PAIRS FLIGHT 199er Winners A: 1, Chris Wiggins, William THURSDAY SWISS TEAMS: Landrum. 2, Barbara Kalnick, Constance Jones, Joan Wentz, Marlene Gouth. 3/4, Michael Robin Myles, Susan Meneilley Kraut, R. Bloom. 3/4, Allan & THURSDAY NIGHT PAIRS: Patricia Becker. FLIGHT B: 1 & 2, Richard Durham, Judy Schmidt, same as A. 3, Kraut, Bloom. tied with Diane Pasik, Lori Briscoe FLIGHT C: 1, Wiggins, Landrum. FRIDAY AFTERNOON PAIRS: 2, Kraut, Bloom. Daniel Vecchioni, Frank Pysz

SATURDAY AFTERNOON FRIDAY NIGHT PAIRS: Kenneth PAIRS FLIGHT A: 1, Barbara & Arlene Geisler Kalnick, Marlene Gouth. 2, D. SATURDAY AM PAIRS: Glenda Abraham, James Gruenberg. 3, Herb, Mary Scharff st Miriam & Alfred Shaw. FLIGHT 1 SUNDAY SWISS TEAMS: B: 1, Abraham, Gruenberg. 2, Ilene Fowler, Flo Lanthier, Lois Shaws. 3, Nancy Stein, Mary Beyer, Jean Klarich nd Scharff. FLIGHT C: 1/2, Con- 2 SUNDAY SWISS TEAMS: stance Jones, Joan Wentz. 1/2, Constance Jones, Joan Wentz, Ann Schimelpfenig, John Aoun. Kenneth & Arlene Geisler

TABLE TALK PAGE 19 Russell Roosen Sectional Here are the results of the THURSDAY NIGHT PAIRS Russell Roosen Sectional, held FLIGHT A: 1, Michael Giordano, August 23-26 at the Livonia K Richard Becher. 2, Cono of C hall: Emanuele, Kurt Dasher. 3, Zach-

MASTERPOINT LEADERS: ary Wasserman, Joe Monro. 1, Robert Crafton, 17.38 FLIGHT B: 1, Wasserman, 2, Michael Giordano, 17.18 Monro. 2, Clarke Cunningham, 3, Michael Alioto, 16.31 Sandy Birnholtz. 3, Ellen Silver- 4, Leonard Melander, 15.69 est, Cheryl Kreger. FLIGHT C: 1, 5, Robert Cappelli, 15.58 Silverest, Kreger. 2, Stu Cohen, 6, Frank Treiber, 13.77 Ange Jaffrelot. 3, David Arm- strong, Stephen Rosenquist. 7, Gordon Parnes, 13.72 8/9, Jonathan Fleischmann, FRIDAY AFTERNOON PAIRS 13.55 FLIGHT A: 1, Frank Treiber III, 8/9, Jin Hu, 13.55 Joe Monro. 2, Ruth Metevier, 10, Joe Monro, 13.16 Charlotte Kartsonis. 3, Brenda

THURSDAY OPEN SWISS Jaffe, Margaret Moore . FLIGHT FLIGHT A: 1, Jeffrey Starr, B: 1, Michael Kaleel, Neal Howard Perlman, Charles Fed- Strand. 2, George Stankovich, erman, William Winokur. 2, Sardarsinh Gohel. 3, Larry Robert Cappelli, Dennis Kasle, Lewis, Naresh Kapila. FLIGHT Michael Alioto, Robert Crafton. C: 1, Kaleel, Strand. 2, Lewis, 3, Cono Emanuele, Richard Kapila. 3, Julie Herman, Bar- bara Button. Temkin, Irving Rosenstein, Kurt Dasher. FLIGHT B: 1, Satish FRIDAY NIGHT PAIRS Shah, Charles Schiff, Thomas FLIGHT A: 1, Gary Brinker, Hunt, Ross Weinstein. 2, An- Kurt Dasher. 2, Michael Alioto, thony Savant, Harrison Robert Cappelli. 3, Michael Fletcher, Sook Wilkinson, Kathy Giordano, Jack Shartsis. Simpson. 3, Ellen Silverest, FLIGHT B: 1, Marlene & Sey- Larry Lewis, Lakshmi Vora, mour Mandell. 2, Stu Cohen, Cheryl Kreger. FLIGHT C: 1, Ange Jaffrelot. 3, Jin Hu, Jona- Savant team. 2, Silverest team. than Fleischmann. FLIGHT C: 3, Shelley Boschan, Joel 1, Cohen, Jaffrelot. 2, Hu, Grossman, Beth Gursky, Ste- Fleischmann. 3. Margaret Da- ven Kaplan. vis, Wilma Swayze.

PAGE 20 TABLE TALK SATURDAY SWISS TEAMS Treinen, John Vollmayer. 3, FLIGHT A: 1, Wiliam Rouse, Miriam Shaw, Marti Kaftan.

Bert Newman, Leonard SUNDAY SWISS TEAMS Melander, Daniel Suty. 2, Jona- FLIGHT A: 1, Martin Hirsch- than Fleischmann, Jin Hu, Ed man, Lynne Schaeffer, Gordon Herstein, Yi Ouyang. 3, Robert & Susan Parnes. 2, Michael Cappelli, Robert Katz, Sheldon Alioto, Brenda Bryant, Robert Kirsch, Morrie Kleinplatz. Crafton, Frank Sensoli, Robert FLIGHT B: 1, Fleischmann Katz. 3, Norman Bolton, Debra team. 2/3, Satish Shah, Charles Eaves, Christine & Gene Schiff, Thomas Hunt, Ross Owens. FLIGHT B: 1, Kevin Weinstein. 2/3, Grant Petersen, Fay, Ed Herstein, Jin Hu, Jona- Michael McGaw, Michael than Fleischmann. 2, Lakshmi McDonald, Robert Raf. FLIGHT Vora, Deepak Dighe, Venkates- C: 1, Richard Cantley, Dennis wara Mannapra, Shobhana Waniolek, Kenneth & Arlene Joshi. 3, Marilyn Nathanson, Geisler. 2, Deepak Dighe, Larry Rita Levin, Marvin Bookstein, Lewis, Shobana Joshi, Lakshmi Phyllis Schwikert. FLIGHT C: 1, Vora. Vora team. 2, Nathanson team. SATURDAY AM PAIRS FLIGHT 3, Tom Shellberg, Gretchen A: 1/2, Michael Giordano, Rich- Dietz, Margaret Davis, Wilma ard Becher. 1/2, Jeanine Dow, C. Swayze.

Arthur Nevins. 3, Milton Siegel, 199er Winners Gordon Parnes. FLIGHT B & C: THURSDAY SWISS TEAMS: 1, Miriam Shaw, Mari Kaftan. 2, Adrienne Kanter, Linda English, Calvin Waisanen, Flora More. 3, Gerald Grueter, Margie Ried William Landrum, Chris Wiggins. THURSDAY NIGHT PAIRS: SATURDAY AFTERNOON Albert Sayed, Martha Toon PAIRS FLIGHT A: 1, Murray FRIDAY AFTERNOON PAIRS: Bloom, Roslyn Holtz. 2, Richard Thomas King III, John Borden Becher, Michael Giordano. 3, FRIDAY NIGHT PAIRS: Doug- Jeanine Dow, C. Arthur Nevins. las Sweeder, William Ahlstrom FLIGHT: B: 1, Ellen Silverest, SATURDAY PAIRS: L. Nicho- William Gregg. 2, Margaret las Treinen, John Vollmayer Carden, Glenn Groustra. 3, 1, SUNDAY SWISS TEAMS: William Landrum, Chris Wig- Jerry Bernadotte, John Voll- gins. FLIGHT C: 1, Carden, mayer, L. Nicholas Treinen, Groustra. 2, L. Nicholas George Christian TABLE TALK PAGE 21 Mini-Spingold points. I went to high school at (Continued from page 1) Lahser in Bloomfield Hills from when I saw my grandmother, 2001-2005. I did my under- Leah Snider, host a biweekly graduate degree in economics Howell at her house. She with a minor in philosophy at U taught me the basics, and I of M. I continued on to U-M started kibitzing her at the Law School in summer 2009. I game at Temple Israel. There I graduated in December 2011, ran into Zach Wasserman, took the Bar exam this Febru- who was already playing with ary, and passed. I have a tem- his grandfather, David Buskirk. porary job and I'm looking for I played with Zach for the first work as a prosecutor, but am time in the summer after we willing to consider anything finished 7th grade, and we've litigation-related. been playing together ever At Michigan, Zach and I met since. He and I have devel- many wonderful bridge play- oped a strong partnership and ers, including Kevin Fay, Mark an enduring friendship. I now Leonard, and the math gradu- have just shy of 1,000 master- ate students. We played with

TOURNAMENT CALENDAR

Oct. 8-14: MOTOR CITY Mar. 1-3: Toledo sectional REGIONAL, Farmington Hills Mar. 9-10: Ann Arbor sectional Oct. 19-21: Toledo sectional April 1-7: District 12 STAC Oct. 26-27: Bloomfield Hills April 13-14: District 12 GNT 299er sectional finals Nov. 8-11: Farmington Hills April 25-27: Grand Rapids sectional sectional Dec. 3-9: District 12 STAC May 13-19: FARMINGTON HILLS REGIONAL 2013 May 31-June 2: Kalamazoo Jan. 12-13: Jackson sectional sectional Jan. 24-27: Livonia sectional June 10-15: BAY CITY (MBA) REGIONAL Feb. 14-17: Farmington Hills June 20-23: Livonia sectional sectional (MBA)

PAGE 22 TABLE TALK some of them in the National down by 20 IMPs, we fought Collegiates, and later in the hard to pull out the win. The . I finals were relatively effort- qualified with Max, both less, as the opponents with- Zachs, Ben Weiss, and Brian drew after a 96-1 second- Wyman in the 2009 Flight C quarter thrashing in which I GNTs, which they went on to did not participate. win that summer, while I was My teammates have be- starting law school. come my close friends. I'm In September 2010, Jin Hu saddened that many of them started attending the weekly are graduating and moving college bridge club in the away, and I hope we continue Michigan Union. I had no to get together regularly to regular partner for the game play bridge and spend time at the Ann Arbor City Club, so together. I asked Jin to play. We hit it off instantly, and I quickly Zachary Wasserman pulled to have her join our I am 24 years old. I gradu- GNT team for the coming ated from the University of year. Max, both Zachs, Ben, Michigan in 2009 with a Jin, and I then qualified for bachelor of music (French Flight B, and we went on to horn performance). I have make it to the round of eight in played in a number of profes- Toronto. sional orchestras at the local For the 0-1500 mini-Spin- level and additionally have gold, we worked out a lineup taken interest in working at where we could each play my family's business, “Henry with two other teammates. I the Hatter.” The store, played with Zach W. and Jin, founded in 1893, is the oldest Jin played with Max, Max traditional men's dress hat played with Zach S., and the store still in existence in the Zachs played together. country. It is located in down- We had a relatively easy go town Detroit. of things through the first I recently moved to Detroit three days of knockouts. Our myself and have been work- semifinals were difficult, and ing at the store on and off for we lost the middle two quar- the past three years. My fu- ters. Starting the final quarter ture may include some combi-

TABLE TALK PAGE 23 nation of music performance, National Teams Flight C. The teaching music, and Henry other two were Ben Weiss the Hatter. I may continue on and Brian Wyman. in school to get a master’s de- gree at some point, most Max Glick likely related to music per- I am 27 and originally from formance or music theory. Pittsburgh. My Dad taught me My grandparents Dave and to play bridge when I was in Judy Buskirk started teaching high school. I was about 16 me bridge when I was about 8 when I first played in a club at years old. I started playing in the Jewish Community Center club games with them at age in Pittsburgh. I played there 9 and have very much en- pretty regularly during high joyed the game ever since. school and during breaks from My grandparents had a friend, college at Rice, and I still Leah Snider, who also played make it back to the club once duplicate in this area. Leah or twice a year. I played at the happened to have a grandson school club at Rice, and also who was only one month some duplicate, but I didn't apart in age from me: Jona- really start playing tourna- than Fleischmann. ments until I got to Michigan. The two of us met and be- I came to Ann Arbor in 2007 gan playing together at age for math grad school. I met 11. We both started at U of M other bridge folk in the math in fall 2005. In college we met department and through the several other friends and university bridge club which played at the University bridge Jonathan was running at the club on a regular basis. We time. I currently have 650 represented the University in points. I would estimate I collegiate events in the Las earned at least 500 of these Vegas Summer nationals playing with Zach Scherr (2008). That was when my since getting here. friends and I started playing in I just completed my degree. national tournaments more I am moving to the University often and took the game to of California-Berkeley where I the next level. In 2009, Max, will be a math postdoc in com- Zach and I were part of a five- binatorics. man team that won the Grand

PAGE 24 TABLE TALK Zachary Scherr have been a regular partner- I am 26 years old and grew ship since then, and I have up in Great Neck NY. I went been very fortunate to learn to Cornell for undergrad and from his brilliance over the am now a 5th year Ph.D stu- past five years. I have almost dent in math at the U of M. My 500 . area of specialization is num- Only after getting serious ber theory. about bridge did I learn from My first experience with my parents that my deceased bridge came in my senior year grandfather used to be an ex- of high school. I took a com- ceptional bridge player. My puter programming class, and father told me that my grand- one day all of the computers father used to partner regu- in my school stopped working. larly with , be- My teacher, Mr. Weisswange, fore Sam became a profes- didn't know what to do with us sional. Unfortunately my dad in the meantime so he de- never learned the game, and I cided to teach us all the ba- never got to talk to my grand- sics of bridge. A few friends father about his experience and I started a bridge club to- before he passed away. gether at the high school, and I have one more year left in we played and learned to- my studies, so I’ll still be in gether nearly every day. Michigan for that time. I plan In college I had trouble find- on going into academia by be- ing people to play bridge with, coming a math professor and so I abandoned the game. researcher. I will continue to Only when I got to graduate play the game that I love, and school in 2007 did I pick the I hope that even though the game up again. Fellow team- members of our mini-Spingold mate and friend, Max Glick, team will be going off in differ- heard that I used to play ent directions, we will still be bridge, and he asked me to able to meet up and compete be on his collegiate team. I at future nationals together. was skeptical at first, since I hadn't played in four years, Jin Hu but he took me under his wing I will be 28 in October. I and patiently helped me im- was born in Jinan, China, prove my game. He and I [about 270 miles south of Bei-

TABLE TALK PAGE 25 jing] and my family shuttled take). At that time, I received between Jinan and the Yellow an email from Max Glick, stat- Sea port city Qingdao [about ing that he was reviving the 250 miles to the east]. I came University of Michigan Bridge to the U.S. shortly before my Club. So I decided to go. 6th birthday. We stayed in I was fortunate enough to Lansing for a few years be- meet Jonathan, and for the cause my parents were doing next year and half, he was graduate work at MSU. After- nice enough to stick with me wards, we moved to Ft. as a partner despite some Collins CO for a few years, pretty terrible results. He was and eventually settled in Des patient, and taught me a lot of Moines. what I know now. Our partner- I went to Northwestern in ship now is very strong, and I Evanston, and am currently couldn't imagine playing with finishing up my Ph.D in Com- anyone else during the critical puter Science at Michigan. I semi-final quarter. am planning on defending my Along the way, I also dissertation sometime in Oc- picked up Max as a semi- tober. Starting in November, I regular partner. He taught me am going to work for IBM in a lot about declarer play. In Fishkill NY. general, I am very grateful to I learned to play bridge in find these guys. Not only did college and I was lucky that I they take a (random) chance had a very enthusiastic on a person they hadn't teacher/friend. In fact, I was known for very long, they scared to go play duplicate, were also supportive in teach- but after a year or so of play- ing and mentoring to help me ing casually, he convinced me improve my game. to go. Of course, my fears By the end of 2011, I had were completely justified, be- about 250 points, and cur- cause it took us over a year to rently have around 400. How- finally scratch. I played off and ever, due to my mistake on since then, but nothing too (letting my membership serious until the fall of 2009. lapse), under the new rules, By that point, I had about 80 achieving life master requires masterpoints, and had let my 500. In fact, I was the only membership lapse (big mis- non-LM on the mini-Spingold

PAGE 26 TABLE TALK team. The running joke is that places in championship events I, the “client,” will just let my at Philadelphia: four or five LM “pros” carry me for the foreseeable future. SENIOR SWISS TEAMS: 2, I am a fan of slams. In an Howard Perlman, Jeffrey Starr early round of the mini- & team. 3, Robert Cappelli, Robert Katz & team. Spingold, I held this hand in third seat at favorable vul: MIXED BOARD-A-MATCH ♠x ♥AK8x ♦Kx ♣AQ1098x. TEAMS: 4, Martin Hirschman, Partner, Max, opened 1 ♠. Lynne Schaeffer, Gordon & Well, I got excited, and we had Susan Parnes. 5, Brenda Bry- the following auction (opps ant & team. passing throughout):

Max Me Schaeffer leads 2012 1♠ 2♣ Stein trophy race 3♣ 3♦ Compiled by Bill Arlinghaus 3♠ 4NT 5♦ 7♣ With just the Motor City All Pass Regional to go, Lynne Schaeffer leads this year’s 3 ♦ and 3 ♠ were cue bids. Edward F. Stein Memorial 4NT was 1430 RKC, and 5 ♦ race. The trophy goes to the showed 0 or 3 key cards for MBA player who wins the clubs. most masterpoints in overall The king of spades was led, placings in our tournaments. and partner tabled: ♠Axxxx Here are the current ♥109 ♦AJ ♣Kxxx. Clubs split standings: 3-0, but 7 ♣ still came home. 1, Lynne Schaeffer, 72.13 +1440 for the good guys. At 2/3, Marilyn Maddox, 63.50 the other table, they stopped 2/3, Myles Maddox, 63.50 in 3NT (1 ♠-2♣-3♣-3NT), so 4, Marty Hirschman, 61.40 +14 IMPs for us. I like 28 HCP 5, Mary Smith, 54.11 grands. 6, Sheldon Kirsch, 53.93 ALSO IN PHILLY... 7, Norm Bolton, 45.29 In addition to the winning 8, Mike Giordano, 35.88 mini-Spingold team, several 9, Kurt Dasher, 33.59 Michigan and former Michigan 10, Bob Katz, 31.56 players snared high overall

TABLE TALK PAGE 27 In Memoriam Mini-McKenney races almost every year from 2004-2011. Rob was very well liked and respected in the metro Detroit area as both a player and a director at clubs in Plymouth, Southfield and Dearborn. Rob directed online at the Total Points Tournament Club on Bridge Base with the moniker of TD_Rob. He was working toward his goal of becoming an ACBL tournament director. Well known for his great sense of humor, gentle ways, big smile and distinctive laugh, Rob was always the optimist. He was very willing to lend a ROBERT BOUGHTON helping hand with his com- Local player and club direc- puter expertise, setting up tor Rob Boughton, 33, passed tournament rooms, or storing away suddenly on May 19 MBA’s bidding boxes. from multiple pulmonary em- Rob was one of those lucky boli. people who was truly happy Rob was a graduate of with what he was doing for a Livonia Churchill High School living and managed to pass and Michigan Tech University that happiness on to those with dual degrees in Computer who were fortunate enough to Science and Secondary Edu- know him. Our deepest sym- cation. He started his duplicate pathy goes out to his family bridge career in 2004 and had along with the assurance that reached the milestone of he will long be remembered by Bronze Life Master. the many friends he made in A member of the MBA, he the bridge world. placed at or near the top of his --Judi Amatangelo masterpoint category in the

PAGE 28 TABLE TALK RAY FELDMAN the article “Cue-bid Splinter,” Ray Feldman was a well- which was published in Bridge known club player and was World in March 1987. He au- the brother-in-law of Willie Wi- thored the Mydloski conven- nokur. tion, which uses transfers by responder after opener jumps to 2NT at his second turn. A member of the MBA board in the 1980s, Dick served as coordinator for the Grand National Teams event and wrote occasionally for Ta- ble Talk. He was a frequent lecturer at local tournaments. Although he struggled to walk with braces, and was wheelchair-bound in his last years, Dick remained upbeat. Dick Mydloski (bottom right) He had a wry wit, sometimes with teammates (clockwise) Cristina Tita, Timur Aydin and sporting T-shirts emblazoned Barry Lippitt after a 2006 win with off-color jokes that at the Ann Arbor sectional. started “Bridge is like sex...” “Dick was a great friend and bridge partner, one of the RICHARD MYDLOSKI best players in Michigan,” Well-known Detroit area writes Jerry Grossman. “We expert Dick Mydloski died in will miss his insight at the May following a lifelong strug- bridge table and his great gle with polio. The native De- sense of humor.” --M.H. troiter lived in Taylor and had worked as an accountant and ROSEMAY SMITH auditor for Blue Cross/Blue Rosemay Smith was the Shield. He was 69. wife of Ron Smith, who directs Dick had a strong record of some games at the Trenton wins in local tournaments, Bridge Club and at the Bridge particularly pair games. He Connection in Southfield. invented and wrote about bid- ding conventions, including

TABLE TALK PAGE 29 MOVING UP...

JUNIOR MASTER CONGRATULATIONS, Michael Fant NEW LIFE MASTERS Margaret Gerometta John Drake Cassandra Hall Flora More Donna Hay

Thomas Hay Yi Ouyang ADVANCED NABC Jack Hyatt Ann Salot MASTER Janis Lemon Susan Smith Jin Hu Norma Nichols Bruce Ridley REGIONAL BRONZE Sue Ternes MASTER LIFE MASTER Constance Wood Michael Bastedo William Gregg Hizir Yenigun Paul Chirgwin Ross Richardson Beth Gursky CLUB MASTER Robert Hatto SILVER Sue Moll Constance Jones LIFE MASTER Anita Watson Tim Romlein Julie Pehlke Grant Petersen SECTIONAL Albert Sayed MASTER Steven Stewart DIAMOND Julie Arbit Gail Terry LIFE MASTER Kirsten Bentzen- NABC MASTER Don Rumelhart Bilkvis Patricia Carson Sondra Schubiner Inderpal Bhatia Rose Dunholter Delinda Boylan GRAND Sandy Lipford LIFE MASTER Klaus Brondum Martha Toon Mike Levine Pamela Morse DIRECTORY UPDATE Anniversary Barbara Anderson .. 248-859-2275 Michael Bastedo..... 408-655-2141 This issue marks my Axaybabu Dave...... 248-697-2100 25 th anniversary as editor Linda English ...... 248-330-6588 of Table Talk. Robert Green...... 734-255-6187 I’m out of space in this George Roley ...... 734-282-2337 issue, so look for a long Susan Royer...... 313-881-1040 self-indulgent article or articles next time. –M.H.

PAGE 30 TABLE TALK WELCOME, NEW MEMBERS Ami Rosenthal... 734-665-0941 Phyllis Alvarez ...810-227-9137 Barbara Ruth..... 734-433-3000 John Aoun ...... 734-795-6522 Craig Ross ...... 734-663-0998 Gail Bernstein....734-667-2647 Pam Sackett...... 734-429-3166 Catherine Bolton.734-995-2605 Ann Solomon .... 248-855-5369 Lucy Chin...... 734-665-3321 Paul Temple...... 248-231-3387 Dennis Ebendick.734-284-4931 Faye Varga ...... 734-998-0692 Cecile Frogh ...... 734-663-1267 WELCOME, TRANSFERS Mark Hugger...... 810-231-9247 Carl Leffler ...... 717-840-9669 Daisy Manis...... 734-975-0172 Christine Leffler. 717-840-9669 Mary Martin...... 313-561-2213 Casper Peek ..... 248-888-0913 Ronnie Morris ....734-676-8111 Linda Perlman... 561-329-1866 Diane Petchell ...517-546-0419 Murray Rosenthal Jill Rastelli...... 313-881-1119 ...... 734-864-6750

SOLUTION TO West must lead precisely the DOUBLE DUMMY 10 of hearts at trick one! Assuming declarer wins the From back page jack and plays on diamonds, NORTH East can win and lead the ♠ 3 queen (or 9) of hearts, finess- ♥ 3 ing against declarer’s remain- ♦ KJ106 ing K82. If declarer covers, ♣ AQJ10754 East gets back in with the 9 of WEST EAST hearts to lead a spade through ♠ ♠ AQJ5 9642 the king. Alternatively, declarer ♥ ♥ A1075 Q964 ducks the queen of hearts, ♦ ♦ 983 A742 and East then shifts to spades. ♣ ♣ 82 6 If declarer ducks the open- SOUTH ing lead, East simply plays a ♠ K1087 spade through when in with ♥ KJ82 the ace of diamonds. ♦ Q5 Either way, the defense ♣ K93 gets two spades, two hearts The defense needs to lead and one diamond. twice from the East side, but On any other lead, declarer East has only one . How- cannot be defeated. ever, there is an answer.

TABLE TALK PAGE 31 DOUBLE DUMMY TABLE TALK Official publication of PRESORTED STANDARD By Marty Hirschman the Michigan Bridge U.S. POSTAGE PAID Association Southfield, MI NORTH Martin Hirschman, Editor Permit 242 ♠ 3 30660 Woodgate Drive ♥ 3 Southfield MI 48076 ♦KJ106 ♣AQJ10754 WEST EAST ♠AQJ5 ♠9642 ♥A1075 ♥Q964 ♦983 ♦A742 ♣82 ♣6 SOUTH ♠K1087 ♥KJ82 ♦Q5 ♣K93

Deep Finesse says East-West can defeat 3NT by South. Can you see how? Solution, page 31