DailyNovember 28-December 8, 2002 Bulletin76th Fall North American Bridge Championships Phoenix, Arizona Vol. 76, No. 8 Friday, December 6, 2002 Editors: Henry Francis and Jody Latham Levine victorious in Senior KO again Sidney Lazard and Bart Bramley, Blue Ribbon winners Lazard, Bramley win Blue Ribbon Sidney Lazard and Bart Bramley – one of the most respected partnerships in the bridge world – won the Blue Ribbon Pairs last night – the first victory in this event for both players. It was a hugely popular win as Lazard and Bramley were surrounded by well-wishers. “For an old guy, you do okay,” said a smiling Bob Hamman as he gave Lazard a big hug. “Well done,” said Zia who also had a big smile. For Lazard, this victory marked six decades of win- ning national events. His first: the Spingold in 1958. The The winners: front, P.O. Sundelin, Bobby Wolff and Dan Morse; rear, Zeke Jabbour, Mike Levine and Arnie Fisher. Blue Ribbon Pairs is his 12th North American champion- ship. He has represented the United States in international Mike Levine and Co. successfully defended their extremely well in Senior competition, with at least one play. His team was second in the 1959 Bermuda Bowl Senior Knockouts Teams title against the Mel victory in each of the three Senior team events. and third in 1969. He is a member of the Bridge Hall of Colchamiro squad yesterday. The score – 140-106 – Joining Colchamiro were Bernie Miller, Dan Continued on page 4 seems to indicate that it was a relatively easy victory, Colatosti, John Malley, John Stiefel and Lewis Finkel. but nothing could be farther from the truth. Several The Levine team led all the way. They took a 31- times Colchamiro’s team got to good contracts, played 18 lead in the first quarter and increased their lead by 9,610 tables so far the hands well, and suffered losses because of unhappy 6 in the second to go out front by 67-48 at the half. A Sometime early this afternoon, the 10,000th table distribution. good third quarter gave them a comfortable 125-83 lead for this tournament will be sold. The total prior to last Playing with Levine were P.O. Sundelin of Swe- going into the final 16 boards. Colchamiro made some- night’s midnight games was 9,610 tables. This makes den, Zeke Jabbour, Arnie Fisher, Bobby Wolff and Dan what of a comeback near the end, but it was too little it likely that as many as 12,500 tables will have played Morse. All but Wolff and Morse were on the victori- too late. when the tournament closes Sunday evening – a very ous squad a year ago. In fact, Levine’s teams have done Continued on page 11 healthy turnout indeed. Morse tops 20,000 Jo Morse of Palm Beach Gardens FL, a World Bridge Federation World Life Master and former world champion, has topped the 20,000-masterpoint plateau. Morse, who won the World Mixed Teams in 1974, was non-playing captain of the winning Venice Cup team in 1993. She was also npc of the Venice Cup team that finished second (by half an IMP) to the Netherlands in 1999 and npc of the team that won a “rematch” with the Dutch team in 2000. She has won nine North American championships and, in recent years, has di- vided her play among women’s, open and senior events. Eddie Wold, left, prepares to slam the ball at defense-minded Eddie Kantar in their special exhibition match. Morse reached the milestone plateau while playing with longtime partner Kantar, Wold duke it out in table tennis: Eddie wins Kyle Larsen in the Life Master Open Pairs Longtime friend Rose Meltzer threw a party to Eddie Kantar and Eddie Wold practiced all shorts and t-shirts to play. celebrate the success attained by “Jo-Jo.” Meltzer says week for their table tennis duel and they didn’t Kantar won the first game 21-14 but Wold Morse is “the best friend ever. The classiest thing about disappoint more than 200 bridge players who gath- claimed the next three games 21-11, 21-17 and 21- Jo is that we won the Women’s Swiss Teams in Reno ered to watch them play last night at the Phoenix 19. Both players were energetic, extending rallies in 1998. My team – my open team – became available Civic Plaza. with dramatic saves and drawing applause. that year rather than the next year and Jo was the first The fans got an extra treat as the players Kantar was Minnesota state table tennis cham- one to say ‘you go for it’.” warmed up wearing sweat pants and sweatshirts. pion in 1948 and competed in the World Table Others agree that Morse is one of the most popu- Wild applause broke out as the two stripped to Continued on page 3 Continued on page 4 Page 2 Daily Bulletin SPECIAL EVENTS Bring your A game By Barry Rigal Some people wouldn’t know a good hand if it Friday, December 6 jumped up and bit them on the nose. On the other hand, 12:15 p.m. Intermediate/Newcomer Speakers Program: Alan LeBendig, Balancing. Phoenix Civic when Jay Stiefel gives you a play problem you can be Plaza, Flagstaff 1. sure of two things: first, it will be good material for 6:45 p.m. Intermediate/Newcomer Speakers Program: Allan Mazer, 2¨ or not 2¨ -- That is the the Bulletin and second, you’d better concentrate pretty Question. Phoenix Civic Plaza, Flagstaff 1. hard. 11 p.m. Pianist/singer Dick Haddy at the Hyatt. Ice cream treats. You (South) declare 5ª on the following auction: Saturday, December 7 West North East South 1« Pass 12:15 p.m. Intermediate/Newcomer Speakers Program: George Pisk, Safety Plays. Phoenix Civic 4« Dbl Pass 5ª Plaza, Flagstaff 1. All Pass 6:45 p.m. Intermediate/Newcomer Speakers Program: Lowell Andrews, Long Distance Overcalls. West leads the «J and this is what you see: Phoenix Civic Plaza, Flagstaff 1. « A 7 4 11 p.m. Music and dancing. Ice cream sundaes. Phoenix Civic Plaza. ª K 10 9 6 3 Sunday, December 8 © A 5 Noon - 4:30 p.m. Vugraph. Hyatt Regency, Regency Ballroom. ¨ A Q 2 7 p.m. - Midnight Vugraph. Hyatt Regency, Regency Ballroom. « 6 ª A 8 5 4 2 © K 7 3 What opening leads! Keller revisited ¨ 10 9 6 4 This is the auction you see: By Adam Wildavsky The best approach is to assume that unless trumps West North East South By choice in my partnerships we do not discuss are 3-0, you are cold and if either club honor is right, 1« Pass 3NT All Pass hands during the session. I find this a big help in im- you are in great shape. So prepare for the worst. To make your contract, you have to strip off the and this is your hand as opening leader: proving my results! I named this approach Keller, af- side suits to effect an endplay, but the problem is that « 10 5 4 ter Helen Keller, and I put it on all my convention cards. if you ruff two spades, you run out of trumps. The re- ª A J 5 4 2 It’s a misnomer, since she could speak perfectly well, © ally odd feature is that you don’t mind losing a dia- 9 6 but the name has stuck. ¨ mond overruff to East; if you do, you’ll be able to 10 6 5 My partner Steve Nellissen wrote an article about What do you lead? endplay him later on. Keller which appeared in The Bridge World. « © This was the full deal in the first final session of So win the A, ruff a spade, cash the A, lead a As a reward, or perhaps a penalty, for populariz- the Board-a-Match Teams. diamond to the king and ruff a diamond. Say East ing this approach, friends and acquaintances sometimes ª Dlr: West « K 8 overruffs. Ruff the spade return, cash the K A and seek me out to report especially egregious Keller vio- ¨ Vul: None ª 10 pass the 10 to endplay East. The full layout: « © A J 10 5 lations. This one, board 10 from the Wednesday evening A 7 4 ª ¨ 9 8 7 4 3 2 regionally-rated game takes the cake. K 10 9 6 3 © « A Q J 7 3 « 9 6 2 Your hand is by far the worst I’ve ever seen: A 5 ¨ ª 7 6 3 ª K Q 9 8 « 6 4 3 A Q 2 « « © 7 4 3 2 © K Q 8 ª 5 2 J 10 3 2 K Q 9 8 5 ª ª ¨ A ¨ K Q J © 6 4 3 2 -- Q J 7 © © « 10 5 4 ¨ 5 4 3 2 Q 10 9 6 4 2 J 8 ¨ ¨ ª A J 5 4 2 Partner opens 1© in third seat and you pass. You 8 7 5 K J 3 « © 9 6 6 are not surprised when LHO reopens with a double. ª ¨ 10 6 5 ª A 8 5 4 2 Partner redoubles and RHO bids 1 . It wouldn’t occur © George Rosenkranz led the ¨5! This knocked out © K 7 3 to me to bid here, but at the table the call was 2 . Now ¨ the ace and declarer led a heart to the queen and ace. ª « 10 9 6 4 LHO raises to 2 and partner tries 2 .