Sunday, March 12, 2017 Volume 60, Number 3 Daily Bulletin 60th Spring North American Bridge Championships [email protected] Editors: Paul Linxwiler and Chip Dombrowski Gates wins 10K Swiss The team finished with 126 victory points, 1.75 ahead of Ellen Kozlove’s squad. Kozlove played with Ralph Letizia, Lee Bukstel and Michael Wolf. “We’ve never done this well before,” Gates said. “We had a really good day Friday.” Wins in the first six rounds of Friday’s qualifier propelled them into a lead that held on through the end of the day. On Saturday, the Kozlove team, who had been second after qualifying, Bill Gates, Sharon Osberg, Richard Friesner and Eric Robinson won the 0–10,000 NABC Swiss Teams. led six of eight rounds, but Winners of the Lebhar IMP Pairs, Chen Zhao Gates recaptured the lead and Jing Liu Microsoft chairman Bill Gates likes to keep a on the last round of each session. “We led every low profile when he plays in bridge tournaments. session,” Gates noted. Chen, Jing grab That became impossible Saturday when his team Spending more time practicing with partner won the 0–10,000 NABC Swiss Teams. Gates Osberg helped, he added. “Bill doesn’t have a lot of IMP Pairs title China’s Chen Zhao and Jing Liu won the four- played with Sharon Osberg, Richard Friesner and time for bridge,” Osberg explained. session Lebhar IMP Pairs, holding off a challenge Eric Robinson. It was a first NABC win for Gates With a round to go, Kozlove led by 6 VPs, 118 by runners-up Fred King and Barry Bragin. Chen and Friesner. continued on page 5 and Jing’s margin of victory was 1.8 IMPs. For Chen, a PhD student at the University of Maryland in computer science, and Jing, who plays Peter Rank 1938–2017 for China’s national team which made it to the Grand Life Master Peter Rank of Palm The meeting with quarterfinal round of the last two Bermuda Bowls, Springs CA died at his home Feb. 11. The three- Crane proved pivotal. it was their first North American title. The duo has time NABC champion was 78. Rank served as Rank won two of his been playing together for less than a year, but they League Counsel for the ACBL from 2001 until his three NABC titles have been practicing extensively online because retirement last August. sitting across the table of distance: Chen is a first-year doctoral candidate Home-schooled in bridge by his mother (with from Crane: the 1966 living in College Park MD, while Jing lives in the aid of a Culbertson book), Rank started learning Wernher Open Pairs Beijing. the game at the age of 4. By 9, he was playing and the 1977 Silodor Jing praised his partner, saying, “Our new high-stakes bridge at the country club. Open Pairs. (He won system is very complicated, but [Chen] is very “It was neat to be able to play with the adults,” the Rockwell Mixed smart: He learned it in just two months.” he said in an interview for the Daily Bulletin in fall Pairs with Marilyn The winners qualified in 34th place in Friday’s 2015. “I was always better than the people who Johnson in 1968.) In opening round, but had took control of the lead in taught me, and I don’t know why. I guess it was 1965, Crane swung the first final session. They finished with a four- just intuitive.” his support to Rank in the annual McKenney session total of 120.07 IMPs (a strong 84.09 in the It was on the Stanford college campus that competition for the most matchpoints, which first final, including carryover, and 35.98 in the Rank discovered the duplicate form of the game. boosted Rank to No. 1 in the Top 500 masterpoint second) to edge out King and Bragin who scored While a college sophomore, Rank traveled to race. (The annual contest is now named for Barry 118.27. Denver to attend his first regional. Crane.) “I arrived at the old Albany Hotel where the Rank retired from full-time play in 1978, but tournament was being played,” he said, “handed returned to more active tournament play in 2010. Grossacks maintain slim my suitcase to the bellman and went off to play in A graduate of the UC Berkeley School of the men’s pairs.” Law, Rank was the former California State Health lead in Platinum Pairs During the game, Rank found himself facing Director and the former director of the California Brothers Adam Grossack and Zachary the bellman. “We took them for 1100 and 800. Employment Department. (He didn’t miss a Grossack finished the semifinal round of the Kay I told my partner, ‘I really feel bad for that Cal vs. Stanford football game in 50 years.) In Platinum Pairs with a narrow lead over Alan bellman.’ ” 1968, he was recruited to work for the Reagan Sontag and David Berkowitz. Rank’s partner replied, “That wasn’t the administration, after which he opened his own law The carryover scores for the top four pairs bellman, it was Barry Crane.” When Rank returned practice. going into today’s two-session final are separated to the lobby, his suitcase was just where he left it. continued on page 5 by a fraction of a masterpoint: The Grossacks have 22.89; Sontag-Berkowitz have 22.68; Jeff Meckstroth and Thomas Bessis have 22.50; and Tournament Announcements Dror Padon and Zia Mahmood stand with 22.35. Twenty-eight pairs survived the cut in Spring ahead? Pre-registration required yesterday’s semifinal round. Did you remember to set your clocks forward for national knockouts Goodwill Message last night? Daylight Saving Pre-registration for the Vanderbilt Knockout Maintain a courteous attitude Time went into effect – Teams is required before by 6 p.m. Sunday, March toward both your partner and don’t be late for your first 12. Teams entering the 0-10,000 Knockout Teams opponents. Treat others as you session! must pre-register no later than 10 a.m. Monday, would like to be treated. March 13 (the day of the event). Pre-register in the Sandy DeMartino, Chair Century Ballroom with TD Matt Smith. Aileen Osofsky ACBL Goodwill Committee Page 2 Sunday, March 12, 2017 Daily Bulletin SPECIAL EVENTS MEETINGS / SEMINARS / RECEPTIONS Sunday, March 12 6:30-9 pm Learn Bridge in a Day?™ Teacher Accreditation. Teacher 8-10 am Audrey Grant’s Modern Techniques for Bridge training includes information on organizing and marketing Teachers. Audrey Grant’s hands-on approach and creative LBIAD as well as maximizing retention rates, writing use of the table, cards and bid boxes keeps students effective grant requests and the presentation of the seminar. engaged, excited and focused. She will share these teaching (Empire, Mezzanine, Sheraton) techniques in this breakfast seminar. Fee: $20 covers breakfast and materials. (Empire, Mezzanine, Sheraton) Monday, March 13 9:30 am-12:30 pm WBF Meeting. (Northrup, Mezzanine, Sheraton) 9 am-Noon Teacher and Club Owner Roundtable with Patty 10-11:30 am Board of Governors. All members of the ACBL Board of Tucker. Need some ideas for expanding your club? Governors are invited to attend the Spring NABC meeting. Want some help in managing lessons? The ABTA, the This meeting is also open to the general membership of the Educational Foundation and the ACBL are partnering ACBL. (Century Ballroom, Ballroom Level, Westin) to present an informal meeting where new and potential 10 am-Noon Free Bridge Lesson with Audrey Grant. followed by teachers and club owners can brainstorm with veterans. a special game for newer players. (Empire, Mezzanine, (Empire A, Mezzanine, Sheraton) Sheraton) 10 am-Noon Competition and Conventions Committee. (Board Room, Noon-2 pm BridgePlus+ Game. A special game for newer (0-20 MP) Mezzanine, Westin) players. 14 boards, no card fee. (Grand Ballroom, Ballroom 11 am-Noon USBF Board meeting. (Northrup, Mezzanine, Sheraton) Level, Sheraton) 5-7 pm Goodwill Reception. Aileen Osofsky ACBL Goodwill 1-6 pm Learn Bridge in a Day?™ This popular session is Committee members only. (Empire, Mezzanine, Sheraton) designed especially for true beginners, those returning to bridge after long absences and those merely wanting to Tuesday, March 14 “test the waters” before committing to formal classes. The 9 am-Noon Club Director Refresher Course. A continuing education concentrated course includes both class instruction and course for club directors to increase their skills. Participants coached play. No pre-registration required. Fee: $20 covers must attend both sessions. Fee: $15 covers both days. Sign textbook and door prizes. (Empire, Mezzanine, Sheraton) up at the door. (Chouteau B, Mezzanine, Sheraton) CELEBRITY SPEAKER PROGRAM Don’t miss these free lectures by some of the best-known players in the Monday, March 13 game! Talks will be held in the Grand Ballroom at the Sheraton. 9:15 a.m. Joshua Donn Holding Up in Suit Contracts 6:45 p.m. Emily Harrell Mental Skills Training Sunday, March 12 Tuesday, March 14 9:15 a.m. Eddie Rose The Key to Winning Defense 9:15 a.m. Harriette Buckman Rights and Responsibilities 6:45 p.m. Audrey Grant Point of View 6:45 p.m. Jeff Hand Play these Trump Contracts HOSPITALITY Food will be served nightly following the evening session, at both the Westin outside the Century Ballroom and The Terrace at the Sheraton. Tonight’s special will be vanilla yogurt parfait with berries and granola trail mix. Parking discounts Discounted daily parking tickets are available Food and drink See who’s hanging for $10 at the Prizes and Parking desk located at specials in the out at the new the Sheraton, mezzanine level (same level as The Westin and Sheraton Link sky bridge).