Who Is This Man? By Muriel Altus graduating, Jeff moved to Miami where be nothing”, he says. Jeff’s been he practiced general law, specializing eligible to play in Seniors events in insurance defense. Jeff was involved in plenty of bridge, including unit and for about a year, and he smiles with district politics. The photo on our cover this announcement. Jeff is looking shows Jeff from the old Florida Bridge forward to entering his first senior News (Unit 128’s publication). At that event. However, Jeff still has time, Jeff was president of both Unit 128 and District 9, although in his early more than 15 years of catching up 30s, considerably younger than most before reaching the average age in of the rest of the board members. District 9! In 1982, Jeff fell in love, found a job in Key West, and relocated to be with Jeff is now president of District 9 his “significant other”. Jeff was hired and Unit 128 again, as well as by the Public Defender’s Office and chairing the ACBL Disciplinary helped reinvigorate the Conch Bridge Appeals Committee. Thank you, Club, where he first directed. Later, he involved other players interested in Jeff, for all of your devotion to J. Jefferson Overby was born learning to direct. Living in Key West organized bridge, in Florida as in Newport Beach, California, where and the traveling time to the mainland his dad was stationed as a Marine well as at the National level. President Overby and Goodwill Chair Carol made tournament bridge playing less Hamilton congratulate Marietta Huggard of aviator. His parents moved back to Sarasota (Unit 102) practical, so Jeff took a 15 plus year St. Augustine, where they had met, hiatus from tournament bridge. Jeff and Jeff was raised there until he went worked as the Chief Circuit Judge to prep school in Jacksonville. When in Monroe County from 1988-1995, Jeff went to Vanderbilt for college, originally appointed by then Gov. Bob his bridge career was started. Jeff Bob Martinez; in private practice; remembers reading Alfred Sheinwold’s and as Chief State Attorney, all in Five Weeks to Winning Bridge at the Key West. A few changes in Jeff’s President Overby and Goodwill Chair Carol beginning of his becoming hooked on Hamilton congratulate Ann Canterbury of life opened the door for Jeff’s return bridge. Tommy and Carol Sanders Tallahassee (Unit 219) to bridge, and now he’s gone from and Chuck Said, the very well- possessing 1000 Masterpoints to 6000. known, very successful bridge players At the recent Palm Beach Gardens in Nashville, mentored Jeff, who even Regional, Jeff earned his 150th Blue took off a summer term while in law Ribbon qualification. Jeff says he’s school to play bridge professionally. been blessed with many great partners, Jeff went to University of Florida and in fact, he credits all of his success College of Law, where he continued President Overby and Goodwill Chair Carol to his partners. Without them “I’d Hamilton congratulate Mary Bushawn of to attend duplicate games. After SBNx Weston (Unit 243) 22 ACBL District 9 www.District9ACBL.org 23 THE REST ARE MINE---OR NOT? allow the trump to be drawn—but it Sometimes, after a bad experience by Harry Falk • [email protected] surely would have been much easier if in a claim situation, a player states mention of the outstanding trump had “I’m never going to claim again”, and been made. now plays out all of his winning tricks, Many of the most contentious One of the criterions that the forcing the opponents to fidget in their loose. Sometimes players just don’t see situations a director has to face involve director should use in adjudicating chairs trying to figure out which card what the claimer sees, and what should claims. What should often be a great claims is whether declarer has made a to discard. This is not only unnecessary, be a simple curtailment of play becomes timesaver turns into a prolonged “good claim that was badly stated” or a contentious moment that leaves hard dispute over what hasn’t yet occurred a “bad claim”. Occasionally, declarer Claims are a vital part of feelings on both sides. So when you may get a bit tongue-tied in making a the game, and they should in the play of the hand. Let’s take a claim, state your line of play! It’s the claim and make a misstatement, but if be employed regularly. Just look at some of the basics of the claim. proper thing to do, and it makes life the director is convinced that declarer be sure to make a complete First, let’s look at the definition of a much easier and more pleasant for the has the remaining tricks, he should statement when you make claim. Law 68A says a claim is “Any players and the director. And, if you rule that way. For example, if declarer a claim. This simple act statement to the effect that a contestant are a defender, please allow declarer a holds: will save lots of time and will win a specified number of tricks”. moment to make his statement. Just Kx AQx make everyone’s game a It is also a claim when a contestant because he faces his cards while you’re x little more enjoyable. suggests that play be curtailed, or sitting with a trump in your hand when he shows his cards. Conversely, doesn’t necessarily mean that declarer a concession is, in essence, the opposite and states that “I have the Ace, King is unaware of that trump. Listen but a violation of Law 74 B4, which of a claim—the contestant makes a and Queen”, which by playing them to the statement, and summon the states that a player should refrain from statement that he will lose a specified director after the statement if there is in the order stated would result in a blocked suit and a loser—the director “prolonging play unnecessarily (as in number of tricks. a problem. playing on although he knows that all When a claim is made, play ceases. When a claim is made with a trump should not force declarer to lose a trick—it’s clear that declarer knows of the tricks are surely his)”. An opponent cannot require that the outstanding and no statement is made Claims are a vital part of the claimer continue play. It is important about the trump, in many cases, but what’s going on, even though he might have stated that he’s going to play the game, and they should be employed for the claimer to make a statement as not all, declarer may be presumed to regularly. Just be sure to make a King first. To award a trick to the to how he is going to play the remainder be unaware that the trump remains complete statement when you make a opponents would be rather unfair. of the hand. So, if you plan to draw outstanding. It seems to be automatic claim. This simple act will save lots of When adjudicating a claim, the trumps and run all your winning cards when a claim occurs and an objection time and make everyone’s game a little director should not force declarer to in a side suit, you should state this so is lodged that declarer now states “Well more enjoyable. the opponents may have a chance to I knew the trump was out there and I make an irrational play. So if the 10 of evaluate your statement. If there is an was going to draw it before running trump is outstanding and declarer is on SBNx objection to any portion of the claim, all my winners”. However, without a lead holding the Jack and 8, declarer is the director should be summoned to statement, the director should look at presumed to play the cards from the the table to hear the objection and the prior play to see if declarer was likely top down—it would be irrational to adjudicate the result. aware of the trump and had a valid play the 8 before the Jack. Harry Falk’s web site is harrybridge.com and it contains information about the lo- When a claimer does not make a reason for failing to draw the trump cal duplicates in his area as well as tournaments at which he officiates. statement, often, all hell can break earlier. In such a case, the director may 24 ACBL District 9 www.District9ACBL.org 25 by Harry Ross Barnet Shenkin’s Ideas about Logical Thinking DISCUSS A PROBLEM… Martha, “They doubled me!” wants his partner to bid, George, “They doubled you?” that is when he smiles , I Martha, “Yes” suppose.” George, “Forgive them, for they know George, “You can ask, you know…” not what they do.” Martha, “Hrumph…” Martha, “Quit kidding me, I get George, “So what happened to you, doubled a lot.” why are you so angry?” George, “Not for penalties, surely not Martha, “Who’s angry?” for penalties” George, “You is angry, because Martha, “That is what I am getting at, someone doubled you.” you never know if it is for penalties or Martha, “Oh yes…I held has some other hidden meaning. I am ♠Ax ♥Qxx ♦A10xx ♣KQ Jx confused!” My RHO opened 1♣ and I called Your partner leads the ♠9 against 3NT. What are your thoughts? George, “You are right there are lots 1N T…OK? ” You have 14 HCPs, dummy has 11, declarer has 15.