Wednesday, March 20, 2013 Volume 56, Number 6 Daily Bulletin 56th Spring North American Bridge Championships Editors: Brent Manley and Sue Munday Greenberg, Hardy latest Two high Vanderbilt seeds on the sidelines Form prevailed in most of the matches in the first additions to Hall of Fame full day of play in the Vanderbilt Knockout Teams, Gail Greenberg, Hall of Fame electors, but two of the higher seeds are wishing the event had who has done just no player received do-overs. about everything in sufficient votes for Those would be the No. 14 seed, captained by bridge, and the late election. Richard Schwartz, and No. 18, led by Bob Hamman. Tournament Director The von Zedtwitz Schwartz, with a strong, multi-national squad, Max Hardy will be Award is given to a fell to No. 51, captained by Daniel Korbel 102-92. added to the ACBL player for service to Schwartz was playing with Allan Graves, Norwegian Bridge Hall of Fame bridge along with stars Boye Brogeland and Espen Lindqvist plus Thor this summer via two expertise as a player. Jonsson and Jon Baldursson from Iceland. awards recognizing The Blackwood Korbel, of Waterloo ON, played with three other their long and Aware is also given Canadians – Jonathan Steinberg, Bob Todd and meritorious service to for service, not Douglas Fisher, plus Tom Carmichael of Kennesaw the game. necessarily including GA and Drew Hoskins of Burlingame CA. In ceremonies on Aug. 4 during the Summer bridge expertise. Hardy was an expert player but he In the other upset, David Grainger over Hamman, NABC in Atlanta, Greenberg will receive the von made his mark as a TD and author. the margin of victory was as unexpected as the Zedtwitz Award. The Blackwood Award will go to Greenberg owns two bridge clubs in New victory itself. Grainger, playing with Roger Lee, Josh Hardy posthumously. The ceremony will take place York City – Honors and Hartes. She has 17 North Donn and Greg Hinze, clobbered Hamman 155-105. after the 3 p.m. session. American championships to her credit along with Hamman played with Justin Lall, Bob and Shane Greenberg and Hardy were selected by the Hall five gold medals, a silver and a bronze in women’s Blanchard, Joel Wooldridge and John Hurd. of Fame Committee. In the balloting submitted by continued on page 5 The top-seeded Nick Nickell team was one of several high seeds with easy wins, Nickell Women’s team events are shrinking? dispatching the Dennis Ryan squad 243-97. There were six withdrawals after three quarters in What to do? runaway matches. Last year, under Sharon Anderson’s presidency, encourage pairs to Last year’s winners, captained by Les Amoils, the ACBL Board of Directors formed a task force to merge into teams for and with all but one of the players from 2012, won in look closely at meager participation in two particular the two-day Machlin a breeze 234-96 over the Albert Shekhter squad. NABC+ women’s team events and study ways to Women’s Swiss Teams No. 3 John Diamond team trailed No. 62 Jim bolster interest. Up for discussion is whether these at the end of the week. Hall at the halfway point of their match, but they contests are worth keeping as NABC+ rated events. Anderson explains higher seed proved too much for their opponents. “I’m a believer that people who are affected that ACBL policy Another mismatch involved No. 34 Barry Rigal by a decision should have a voice,” Anderson says. calls for the board to and No. 31. Robert Hollman, Rigal winning 158-90. To create that opportunity, the task force will host review continuation The Lou Ann O’Rourke squad, seeded No. a reception on Thursday between sessions of the of NABC+ events 10, struggled with the Marius Agica squad before women’s pairs. whenever entry is winning 119-105. Tobi Sokolow District 13 Director Suzi Subeck chaired the fewer than 30 tables for task force with hopes, too, that the gathering will continued on page 4 DC-area players The true spirit of St. Louis By Glenn Eisenstein lead Rockwell There’s always a was the incredible young man who donated bone very special reason marrow so a young woman he didn’t know – or know Mixed Pairs I look forward to anything about – could have a second chance at life. Less than six points (top on a board is 63) visiting St. Louis, and At the 2007 Spring NABC in St. Louis, Abbie separate the first, second and third qualifiers in the it’s a story that goes Cole and I had dinner with Eli and Christine, along Rockwell Mixed Pairs. Sylvia Shi of Baltimore MD back nearly 12 years, with Eli’s parents “Petey” and Bob. A few months and Alexander Prairie of Washington DC lead with one that’s familiar to continued on page 5 345.61, followed closely by Margie Gwozdzinsky many of my friends in of Aventura FL and Michael Gamble of Shawnigan the bridge world. Lake BC, with 342.36 points, and Ron and Linda In the summer Smith of Hixson TN with 339.92. of 2001, a search The event attracted 344 pairs, of whom 182 was going on for qualified to play on day two. a potential bone marrow match for my daughter, Samantha Glenn Eisenstein Eisenstein Watson, who needed a bone marrow transplant to battle the myelodysplastic syndromes Goodwill Message (formerly known as pre-leukemia) she had developed as a result of the chemotherapy treatment for bone Accept defeat and victory with grace. cancer. Time was running out. Sandy DeMartino, Goodwill Chair One morning, the doctors came into our room at Memorial Sloan Kettering in New York to tell us they had found a match, and a good one. We knew ATTENDANCE nothing about the anonymous donor, and didn’t learn through Monday his identity until more than two years later, when Samantha was well on her way back to a healthy life. Samantha Eisenstein Watson, right, with bone Eli Karsh, a civil rights lawyer from St. Louis, marrow donor Eli Karsh and his wife, Christine. 5320 tables Page 2 Wednesday, March 20, 2013 Daily Bulletin SPECIAL EVENTS MEETINGS / SEMINARS / RECEPTIONS Wednesday, March 20 Thursday, March 21 9-11 am TourneyTRAX. (America’s Center, Room 232) 4:30-7:30 pm Women’s Reception. (Renaissance, Landmark Rooms 4-7) 9 am-Noon Club Director Refresher Course, session 2. A continuing Friday, March 22 education course for club directors to increase their skills. 11 pm-2 am Women’s Team Trials meeting. (Renaissance, Benton Room) Participants must attend both sessions. Fee: $15 covers both days. (Renaissance, mezzanine level, Benton Room) 11 pm-1 am USBF Board Meeting. (Renaissance, mezzanine level, Benton Room) CELEBRITY SPEAKER PROGRAM Don’t miss these free lectures in St. Louis from expert players. These talks will Friday, March 22 be held in Room 230 at the America’s Center. 9:15 a.m. Mike Flader Ruling the Game Wednesday, March 20 6:45 p.m. GS Jade Barrett Losing and Winning Trick Count 9:15 a.m. Tom Carmichael New Minor Forcing and Saturday, March 23 Friends 9:15 a.m. Mark Ehret How to Execute a Simple 6:45 p.m. Bruce Greenspan Bruce’s Top Ten Tips Squeeze Thursday, March 21 6:45 p.m. Michael Huston Convention Choices 9:15 a.m. Jeff Roman Look Beyond Your High Card Points 6:45 p.m. Barry Harper A Short List of Conventions You Need ENTERTAINMENT and HOSPITALITY — Landmark Ballrooms 1-4 Wednesday, March 20 Friday, March 22 Doggone it! Hot dogs and brats Chinese night: Cajun fried rice and spring roll Friendly Henry’s will keep your toes tapping with bluegrass, folk and a little The Pennsylvania Slim Blues Band has been performing blues, R&B, soul, country. jump swing and rock‘n’ roll from the Forties, Fifties and Sixties for over 15 Thursday, March 21 years. Oldies night: French bread pizza Saturday, March 23 The Pennsylvania Slim Blues Band has been performing blues, R&B, soul, Chili cookoff: Vegetarian chili, turkey chili jump swing and rock ‘n’ roll from the Forties, Fifties and Sixties for over 15 Friendly Henry’s will keep your toes tapping with bluegrass, folk and a little years. country. Life Master news Registration Training offered Brunhilde Baker, of Bluffton SC, earned her The registration desk is located at the America’s gold card playing in the Stratified Day Light Open Center through the end of the tournament. to Juniors Pairs on Monday. Her partner was Sheila Corbett of By Joe Stokes Newburgh IN. Smoking rules With support from the ACBL, the United States Michael Albert, of Cambridge MA, became a Tournament directors have receive complaints Bridge Federation (USBF) has initiated a training Life Master on Tuesday in the Tuesday – Wednesday about players smoking in the stairwells at the program for Junior players who are serious about Compact Knockout Teams. Albert was playing with Renaissance Hotel. Smoking is not permitted bridge and who hope to represent the USA in the his son, Daniel Albert-Rosenberg. Their teammates anywhere on the hotel property and is a violation of World Youth Team Championships. Juniors in the were Nancy and Michael Klemens of Tarzana CA. the law in St. Louis. Players found to be smoking program commit several hours a week to improve in the hotel will be subject to a full board penalty in their bridge skills. Those born after 1988 are eligible Be considerate pairs games and a comparable penalty in team games.