Friday, November 23, 2012 Volume 85, Number 1 Daily Bulletin 85th Fall North American Bridge Championships Editors: Brent Manley and Paul Linxwiler Bessis leads Player We’re glad you came! By Jim Leuker of the Year contest NABC Chairman, 2012 Fall NABC As play gets underway at the Fall Welcome to San Francisco and the Fall 2012 North American NABC, Thomas Bridge Championships. We’re so happy that you’re here! We’ve Bessis of Paris, ordered perfect weather for your stay. And we’ve planned a great France, holds the lead tournament for you. in the 2012 Player of It’s been five years since many of you were here for the previous the Year contest. The Fall NABC. Welcome back! The local planning committee and Player of the Year I have been at work for many months to prepare an even better honor is bestowed tournament for you. We have a great lineup of events and guest annually on the speakers, plus a great Intermediate/Newcomer program. We know player who earns the you’ll love the hospitality, food, entertainment and other surprises we most platinum points have planned. Our hundreds of volunteers are ready to help you with — awarded for the all your needs. very tough NABC+ Photo courtesy Jonathan Steinberg. Good luck at the tables. Enjoy these next 10 days in our contests — in a calendar year. wonderful city. Bessis tops the leader list with 578.44 platinum points. Almost half of this total (250.00) came from his victory at the Spring NABC in Memphis Welcome I/N players! in the 2012 Vanderbilt KO Teams as part of Les By Terry Terzian Amoils’s squad. (Bessis was also on the winning 2012 SF NABC I/N Chairman Vanderbilt team in 2010.) The Spring NABC was It’s show covered. Single-session 299er, 199er, 99er, 49er, very successful for Bessis: He also finished second in time! ACBL’s 0-20, and 0-5 pairs games are scheduled each day in the Kay Platinum Pairs playing with frequent partner District 21 and the I/N room at 10 a.m., 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Want to Ishmael Del’Monte of Australia for another 150.00 San Francisco play some Swiss Team games? No problem. We have platinum points. The duo shared the Mott-Smith extend a hearty single-session Stratified 299er Swiss Teams every Trophy for their Memphis performances by earning welcome to night at 7:30 p.m. more masterpoints than any other players. the under-300 Craving an opportunity to win some gold Bessis earned another 178.44 platinum at the crowd. Years points? We’ve got that covered as well. Today, the Summer NABC in Philadelphia to put him just ahead of preparation Manfield Non-Life Master Pairs is being contested of Del’Monte for the 2012 race. have gone into (two sessions, at 1 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.), and on Nov. Leaders in the 2012 Player of the Year: ensuring that you 28, another nationally rated event, the National 99er 1. Thomas Bessis, Paris, France 578.44 have a fabulous Pairs, will take place. Both award gold points for 2. Ishmael Delmonte, New South Wales, time at our overall finishes. Australia 573.34 NABCs, and we Desirous of sprucing up your game with some 3. John Diamond, Boca Raton FL 487.50 stand committed contemporary instruction? You’ve come to the right 4. Zia Mahmood, New York NY 453.96 to that end. place! Starting Saturday, three of the world’s finest 5. Joe Grue, Las Vegas NV 423.52 Looking to play a lot of bridge? We’ve got you continued on page 6 6. Eric Greco, Wynnewood PA 422.96 Geoff Hampson, Las Vegas NV 422.96 master’s degree from Johns Hopkins University. He 8. Brad Moss, San Anselmo CA 406.22 Marty Chaitt started to work part-time for ACBL in the Sixties. 9. Alan Sontag, Gaithersburg MD 398.71 Under TD Jerry Machlin, he continued to work 10. Martin Fleisher, New York NY 380.31 1929 — 2012 mostly in the Mid-Atlantic area and at NABCs. 11. Darren Wolpert, Thornhill ON 378.58 Chaitt considered Machlin his “adopted father.” 12. Jeff Meckstroth, Clearwater Beach FL 370.36 Retired Tournament Chaitt retired from the U.S. Department of 13. Leslie Amoils, Toronto ON 369.71 Director Marty Chaitt Energy in the late Eighties and began working full 14. Eric Rodwell, Clearwater Beach FL 369.40 died on Nov. 10 at a time for ACBL in 1994, retiring in 2005. Chaitt 15. Brian Platnick, Evanston IL 362.50 hospital in Palm Beach moved to Florida in 1996 and started working 16. Fred Gitelman, Las Vegas NV 358.23 FL. He was 83. Chaitt regional and sectional tournaments. Even after his 17. Joel Wooldridge, Astoria NY 351.89 worked as a TD for retirement as a full-time employee, Chaitt continued 18. Curtis Cheek, Las Vegas NV 338.46 more than 40 years and to work at tournaments. Said Ellasue Chaitt, his wife, 19. Chip Martel, Davis CA 331.37 was a successful player, “He kept trying to retire, but continued working and 20. David Berkowitz, Boca Raton FL 308.71 winning several regional going to his retirement parties, first at the Orlando 21. Tor Helness, Monaco 300.00 titles and amassing nearly NABC (2010) and then at each regional and finally at Geir Helgemo, Monaco 300.00 5000 masterpoints. his favorite sectionals.” Pierre Zimmermann, Monaco 300.00 Chaitt was born Chaitt is also survived by three daughters and Franck Multon, Monaco 300.00 in Williamsport PA and grew up in Elmira NY. He two grandsons plus two sons, another daughter and Fulvio Fantoni, Monaco 300.00 graduated from Syracuse University and received a five additional grandchildren acquired in marriage. Claudio Nunes, Monaco 300.00 Pre-registration required Notice to players who live Goodwill Message for Senior KO Teams outside North America Teams that wish to enter the Baze Senior Participation in the Life Master Open and Welcome to the 2012 Fall North Knockout Teams event on Friday, Nov. 23 must pre- Women’s Pairs is restricted to ACBL members who American Bridge Championships in San Francisco. register no later than 11 a.m. today. have achieved the rank of Life Master. Foreign Tournament chair Jim Leuker and the San Pre-registration will be located in Ballroom players who do not meet this criterion but feel they Francisco committees have a fantastic tournament Pacific J. are otherwise eligible must receive a waiver prior to planned for everyone. San Francisco will be an the commencement of these contests. NABC you’ll remember for years! Previously granted waivers will be honored. Please join us in saying “thank you” to our hosts. For waiver information, please arrive early and The National Goodwill Committee see the Director in Charge at the selling site. Page 2 Friday, November 23, 2012 Daily Bulletin SPECIAL EVENTS MEETINGS / SEMINARS / RECEPTIONS All meetings are at the San Francisco Marriott Marquis. 10 a.m.-Noon ACBL Charity Foundation meeting. Room: Foothill H. 10 a.m.-Noon ACBL Laws Commission meeting. Room: Foothill G2. Friday, Nov. 23 10 a.m. Free Bridge Lesson with Audrey Grant, followed by 4:30-6:30 p.m. Reception for Teachers and Club Officials. This is the Bridge+, a special game for new players, featuring 14 boards ACBL’s “thank you” reception for the teachers and club and no card fee. Room: Golden Gate B. officials who work so hard to recruit and retain our members. 11 a.m.-Noon Youth Congress. Room: Foothill I. Room: Club Room. 5:30-7 p.m. Junior Reception. All Junior players are invited to attend. 11-11:30 p.m. National Appeals Committee meeting. Room: Foothill G2. Room: Club Room. 11 p.m.-midnight Women’s International Team Trials meeting. Room: Saturday, Nov. 24 Foothill A. 9 a.m.-Noon Teacher Accreditation Program (TAP). ACBL’s popular 10-hour seminar for people interested in learning how to teach Sunday, Nov. 25 bridge successfully. Pre-registration required. Fee: Age 26 and 9 a.m.-Noon Teacher Accreditation Program (TAP). Session two. older, $125; Under 26, free. Continues Sunday and Monday. Continues Monday. Room: Pacific I. Room: Pacific I. 9-11 a.m. Board of Governors/ACBL Membership Meeting. This 10-11 a.m. Club and Teacher Q&A. Come by for coffee and meet with meeting is open to all members. Discussion will include recent Carol Robertson, ACBL’s Director of Club and Member actions of the Board of Directors, reports from the CEO and Services, and Bryan Delfs, Education Program Manager. treasurer and new proposals from the Board of Governors. Special guest Nicolas Hammond will be available to answer Room: Yerba Buena 9-15. questions about the new ACBLscore+ that is in development. 10 a.m. Free Bridge Lesson with Jerry Helms, followed by Bridge+, Room: Foothill G1. a special game for new players, featuring 14 boards and no 10-11:30 a.m. ACBL Hall of Fame Committee meeting. Room: Foothill A. card fee. Room: Golden Gate B. CELEBRITY SPEAKER PROGRAM Don’t miss the following free lecture in San Francisco: 6:45 a.m. Jim Jackson Everything You Always Wanted to Know Friday, Nov 23 About Rules 9:15 a.m. Jerry Helms Ask Jerry 6:45 p.m. Audrey Grant Audrey Grant’s Daily Bridge Column Sunday, Nov. 25 Saturday, Nov. 24 9:15 a.m. Lowell Andrews Are You Preempting Enough? 9:15 a.m. Lisa Berkowitz Play to Trick One 6:45 p.m Ken Monzingo Hand Patterns Your chance to name an Mission Grille Entry fees Players must be ACBL members whose service event – a big one Dinner Buffet Menu fees or dues are current in order to compete in any By Jan Martel The Mission Grille, located on the second floor of the following nationally ranked events: Nail Life The United States Bridge Federation is seeking of the Marriott, offers the following buffet menus for Master Open Pairs, Smith Life Master Women’s sponsors for the three United States Bridge $19 daily.