Saturday, May 29, 2004 Editor: Lance Shull “America’s Favorite Memorial Day Regional” WELCOME TO THE MABC TARHEEL REGIONAL RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA 2004 Intermediate-Novice Speakers for Saturday 12:15 – Jerry Helms – “Jerryisms” 6:45 – Jeff Roman – Game Tries ******************************** New Life Masters Congratulations to the following players who achieved Life Master Status! • Ross Andresen – Charlotte, NC – Ross made LM playing in the Tuesday/Wednesday morning KO with Mary Lou Schull, Barbara Little, and Shirley Dean • Carolyn Pinckney – Wilmington, NC ******************************** *Corrected e-mail address for Steve Robinson: If you want bridge news and problems, send your name and e- mail address to Steve Robinson at [email protected]. Additionally, if you know someone who wants to learn to play bridge, point them to www.acbl.org for wonderful free downloadable learning software. ******************************** WOMEN’S TEAM TRIAL UPDATE ROUND ROBIN 2 - U.S. WOMEN'S BRIDGE CHAMPIONSHIPS 6 Teams 1 Q Gail Greenberg - Jacqui Mitchell - Amalya Kearse, New York NY; Irina Levitina, Fair Lawn NJ 140.20 2 Q Lynn Baker, Austin TX; Kerri Sanborn, Stony Point NY; Lynn Deas, Schenectady NY; Beth Palmer, Silver Spring MD; Hjordis Eythorsdottir, Huntsville AL; Debbie Rosenberg, New Rochelle NY 128.02 3 Nadine Wood, Silver Spring MD; Terry Michaels, Prairie Village KS; Claire Tornay, Palm Beach Gdns FL; Ellasue Chaitt, Palm Bch Gdns FL 100.30 4 Lynne Schaefer, Rochester Hills MI; Ellen Melson, Chicago IL; Martha Katz, Hinsdale IL; Cecily Kohler, Washington DC 96.70 5 Ginny Schuett, Riverwoods IL; Chris Benson, Le Roy IL; Susan Torrey, Chapel Hill NC; Janet Neel Fleenor, Bowling Green KY 70.03 6 Barbara Heller, Decatur GA; Nancy Hetsko, Cumming GA; Annalee Gault, Raleigh NC; Sue Cooper, Winston Salem NC 64.75 SEMI-FINAL PAIRINGS - U.S.WOMEN'S BRIDGE CHMPSHPS The semi-finals will be composed of ninety-six boards, played in three sessions Saturday Afternoon, Saturday Evening, and Sunday Afternoon. ----------------------------- Valerie Westheimer - Judi Radin, New York NY; Mildred Breed, Austin TX; Shawn Quinn, Richmond TX; Cheri Bjerkan, Elmhurst IL; Stasha Cohen, Glen Ridge NJ vs Gail Greenberg - Jacqui Mitchell - Amalya Kearse, New York NY; Irina Levitina, Fair Lawn NJ ----------------------------- Carlyn Steiner, Seattle WA; Marinesa Letizia, Las Vegas NV; Jill Meyers, Santa Monica CA; Randi Montin, Napa CA; Tobi Sokolow, Austin TX; Janice Seamon-Molson, Hollywood FL vs Lynn Baker, Austin TX; Kerri Sanborn, Stony Point NY; Lynn Deas, Schenectady NY; Beth Palmer, Silver Spring MD; Hjordis Eythorsdottir, Huntsville AL; Debbie Rosenberg, New Rochelle NY ALL THE STUFF YOU WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT THE TARHEEL REGIONAL, BUT WERE AFRAID TO ASK In no particular order, here is a pile of information including tournament policies, ACBL policies, hotel policies, and even Southern policies. You will also find good stuff, like how to collect your prize for winning an event, or maybe the fact that there will be a keg of beer served after the game. This portion of the bulletin will be repeated every day, but if you see an asterisk by a heading, you are being alerted to a change or addition to that section. You may see duplicate statements regarding some policies, and this is due one of three reasons - its importance, its relevance to more than one subject, or my lack of editing skills. About the Hotel: Ballrooms are located in both the front and the back of the hotel. The newcomer/intermediate area is located in the Boxwood and Dogwood rooms in the rear of the hotel, open play will be both in the front and the rear of the hotel. We have been guests of the North Raleigh Hilton for many years and would like to continue our good relationship so please help us with keeping the area neat, and friendly. The Skybox, the North Raleigh Hilton’s Restaurant, will be serving sandwiches after the morning session each day. Patrons of the Hotel – Please use your ‘door clean-up’ and ‘do not disturb’ signs so that hotel staff is able to do their jobs efficiently. *Prizes The Prize Desk outside the Grand Ballroom will be open 1 hour before afternoon sessions and _ hour before and after evening sessions. Mid-Atlantic free plays are awarded for overalls for events of 2 or more sessions. Strata prizes are awarded for all events. Novice and Intermediate prizes are picked up in the Novice/Intermediate area. Stop by and get your photo taken for 1st places and/or making Life Master. Entry Fees The entry fee is $10 per player per session for all events. The entry fee for Late Night Zip KOs is $10 per team per match. Youth and Novice Discounts The MABC offers a $5.00 discount on each full session at each Regional for contestants ages 21 and under. Pairs of players with 0-20 Masterpoints each who are playing in the Intermediate/Novice pair game also receive a discount of $5.00 per player. Inform the director when purchasing the entry. The Mid Atlantic Bridge Conference is famous for its Intermediate/Newcomer program. Experts and teachers will give informative lectures before the start of most games. There will be lots of prizes, daily bulletins and registration gifts so you won't go home empty-handed. Recorder The recorder for this tournament is Bob White. Recorder forms may be picked up from, and returned to, any director, or in the tournament office, the Judicial Room. Conventions Mid-chart conventions are approved for use at this tournament in Flight A/X pairs or teams, or in bracketed KO events where the lowest team in the bracket has an average of at least 1000 MP per player. If you play mid- chart conventions requiring suggested defenses, please see the instructions about downloading and carrying them. For other events or brackets, the ACBL General Convention Chart (plus any constructive defense to opponents' NT) applies. Players who by agreement lead low from xx must pre-alert their opponents at the start of each round. Bidding Boxes MABC policy is that bidding boxes are used in all events. All players must use them unless they have a vision problem or other physical handicap. Explanatory cards are available in the tournament office for players who are unable to use bidding boxes. Non-ACBL Masterpoints Players with non-ACBL masterpoints must declare them at the time of entry, so they are placed in the correct flight, strat, or bracket based on the appropriate conversion factor. Failure to do so may result in disqualification and forfeiture of any masterpoints earned. Knockouts Knockouts are bracketed based on the average masterpoint holdings of all team members. To receive an overall award, a player must play at least half of the boards his team plays, including half of the boards played in the (combined) semifinal and final matches. He receives only the award earned in the last match of which he has played at least half that his team won. (Example: a player plays in the first match, sits out the second which the team wins (earning _ overall, and then plays again in the third match, which the team loses. This player has earned only the match award from the first match. The rest of the team receives the points for _ overall.) Compact KO teams must be composed of exactly four players. Zero Tolerance policy-- Be nice! To establish an atmosphere which promotes the enjoyment of bridge as both a competitive and social game, the MABC has adopted the ACBL's policy of courteous behavior. For tournaments to be fun, cooperation from all (players, organizers, staff, and volunteers) is necessary. Please report conduct that is unacceptable by calling the director immediately, keeping in mind that we must be tolerant of other people in general and bridge players in particular. Also, please report especially outstanding or refreshing conduct on a player memo form (available from any director or on the information table). Courteous behavior brings out the best in everyone. Please consider the manner in which you been behave. Try to eliminate mannerisms and behaviors that may cause others to be uncomfortable, and increase those which make you a person others wish to be around. We all have in common a love of bridge. We should focus on our similarities, increase our tolerance of one another, and always behave civilly toward other players. The intent in creating this policy is to create an environment in which it is never necessary to issue a penalty. However, the publicity surrounding this new program constitutes your only warning. Serious breaches of good behavior will be penalized at their first occurrence. Disciplinary penalties are not subject to appeal. Please call the director if you run into such a situation; the directors can't do anything about the problem if they is not aware. Commendable Unacceptable . Being a good "host" or "guest" at the table. Badgering, rudeness, insinuations, . Greeting others in a friendly manner. intimidation, profanity, threats, or violence. Praising the bidding and/or play of an . Negative comments about opponents' or opponent. partner's play or bidding. Gloating over good results. Constant and gratuitous lessons and analyses at the table. Loud or disruptive calls for or arguing with the director. Continuing slow play. Ringing cell phones or pagers. Pets and Children Non-participating pets and children are not permitted in the playing area. Tournament Policies Alcohol - Alcohol may not be consumed in the playing area or foyer of the hotel. Attire - Shirts and shoes are required. Please refrain from wearing obviously inappropriate apparel. Sleeping - Not allowed in public areas, subject to disciplinary action. Cell Phones – They should Players who need to leave their cell phones turned on for emergency situations should leave their phone with a director.