Monday, March 16, 2009 Volume 52, Number 4 Daily Bulletin Houston, Texas 52nd Spring North American Bridge Championships Editors: Brent Manley and Dave Smith Agnes Gordon chosen for Vanderbilt round of 64 begins today Bridge Hall of Fame Seventy-one teams entered the Vanderbilt Agnes election, “There was no better female bridge player Knockout Teams. Forty-three received byes Gordon, one of in North America (including Helen Sobel) than yesterday. The remaining 28 teams played in four- ACBL’s top Agnes and very few male players her equal. She way matches with three survivors out of each. The players for three achieved remarkable success frequently playing with 21 who advanced join those with byes to begin decades, has been mediocre partners.” straight knockout play today. chosen for the The two had a record 78% game in the final The defending champions are Jerzy Skrzypczak, von Zedtwitz session of the Rockwell Mixed Pairs, which they Boguslaw Gierulski, Krzysztof Martens and Award by the won in 1963. Wrote Murray: “Agnes never came Krzysztof Jassem. The top seed is the Nickell team: ACBL Bridge close to touching a wrong card or making a Nick Nickell, Richard Freeman, Bob Hamman, Jeff Hall of Fame questionable bid. Everyone who played with Agnes Meckstroth, Eric Rodwell, Bob Hamman and Zia Committee. The marveled at her perfection. She unquestionably Mahmood. award is given to ranks with the all-time very best.” Coverage of the Vanderbilt Teams will be on the a deceased person Gordon, who died in 1967, won seven North Internet and begins Tuesday on Bridge Base Online. who has made American championships, including the Chicago The Vanderbilt is the premier event of the outstanding Board-a-Match Teams (now the Reisinger) in 1948; Spring NABC. The history of the contest stretches contributions to the Mixed Board-a-Match Teams in 1951, 1952 and back to 1928 when the man who invented contract the game as a player or in some other capacity. 1962; the Women’s Pairs in 1961; the Mixed Pairs bridge, Harold S. Vanderbilt, put the trophy bearing Eric Murray, who played with Gordon and the Womens’ Teams in 1967. She had numerous his name into play. frequently, wrote in support of her Hall of Fame Continued on page 10 Simpson-Bennett The pairs champs’ lead Silver Ribbon Californians Gene Simpson and Hamish secrets of success Bennett will take a slim lead in the Leventritt Silver Ribbon Pairs into today’s two final sessions. Larry Cohen bottom decisions,” says Berkowitz. “We try to keep Simpson, of San Rafael, and Bennett, of Menlo figures that he and the ball in play.” Park, will start play today with a carryover of 256, David Berkowitz That’s right, says Cohen. “We try not to get bad just ahead of the 250.52 amassed by Nancy and have played in boards,” he says. “You’re going to get gifts. We try Alan Popkin of St. Louis MO. more than 70 not to give them. We don’t mind a 40% board, but Right behind them are Jeff Hand and Gail high-level pairs we don’t take an action that turns it into a 5% board Greenberg of New York City. events over the 18 or a zero.” One hundred thirty pairs made it through the years that they Berkowitz says he and Cohen know the two qualifying sessions. have been inclinations of most of the players they see a lot, but partners. The two nowadays everyone bids aggressively and some are have 11 pairs wins unknown quantities. in that span, and “People don’t put a sign on their chest that says Cohen figures it they’re crazy bidders,” Berkowitz says. “Sometimes works out to you have to take advantage of people’s hyperactivity about one in every seven events they entered. in the bidding.” One for seven might not cut it in baseball, but Wild bidding is not their thing, says Berkowitz, it’s an enviable record in tournament bridge, offering this hand from the first final session of the especially considering that the victories were won Silodor as an example of his bidding style. In second against many, if not most, of the top players in the seat after dealer passed, Berkowitz held world. ♠ 3 2 ♥K J 10 9 5 2 ♦Q 10 4 2 ♣7. So what is the secret? Surely it’s more than just Even at unfavorable vulnerability, most players being in the right place at the right time, although would not consider it a “wild” action to open 2♥ that is obviously a key element to success in pairs with the hand, but Berkowitz passed, knowing that games. he was going against the grain. “We don’t like to make life or death, top or Continued on page 4 Meet ACBL’s newest members Ray Alexanian receives a check for $5000 from ACBL for the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. The ACBL has four new members. The players, check is presented by Tournament Co-chair Toni of Clear Lake TX, came and played Saturday and Snow. Alexanian is a renowned multiple Sunday, enjoyed themselves and decided to join myeloma specialist and also an ACBL member. the league. Laura Staples and her partner Bill Britton Goodwill message won .66 masterpoints Sunday. Eva and Michael Today is Goodwill Day and Margle won 1.06 on Saturday and another .16 on my co-chairs and I invite Sunday. members of the National “We are having a wonderful time,” said Goodwill Committee to join us Staples. at a reception from 5 to 7 p.m. in Meeting Room 343 in the Four players joined ACBL yesterday: (standing) Hilton Americas. Laura Staples, Bill Britton and (seated) Eva and We hope to see you there. Michael Margle. All four are from Clear Lake Aileen Osofsky, Chairman TX. National Goodwill Committee Page 2 Daily Bulletin SPECIAL EVENTS MEETINGS / SEMINARS / RECEPTIONS Monday, March 16 Wednesday, March 18 10 am - Noon Competition and Conventions Committee meeting. 5 - 7 pm Junior Lounge. Juniors who attend coaching/lessons on Meeting Room 331. Bridge Base Online are invited to come and meet Lynn 10:30 am - Noon NABC Advisory Committee meeting. Meeting Room 326. Deas, Valerie Westheimer and others. Meeting Room 327. 11 am - Noon Get Online with BridgeBase.com. Don’t miss this opportunity to meet with Fred Gitelman, creator of the Thursday, March 19 ACBL’s Learn to Play Bridge program. Get a guided tour of 10 am - Noon Foundation for the Preservation and Advancement of the Bridge Base web site and its outstanding teaching Bridge meeting. Meeting Room 326. features. Meeting Room 327. 5 - 7 pm Goodwill Reception. Meeting Room 335. Friday, March 20 11:30 pm - 2 am Women’s Team Trials meeting. Meeting Room 331. Tuesday, March 17 10 am - Noon Bridge Sub-committee meeting. Meeting Room 326. CELEBRITY SPEAKER PROGRAM Be sure to hear these free expert lectures in Houston. Monday, March 16 Wednesday, March 18 12:15 pm Phillip Alder Basic Defensive Signals 12:15 pm Kitty Cooper Spoil Declarer’s Plan 6:45 pm Mike Flader Ruling the Game 6:45 pm Barry Harper Hand Evaluation and Revaluation Tuesday, March 17 Thursday, March 19 12:15 pm Haig Tchamitch Support Doubles 12:15 pm John Zilic The Missing Diamond! 6:45 pm Larry Cohen Bidding Over Preempts 6:45 pm Ellen Kent Director – Why Call? LATE NIGHT/ENTERTAINMENT Entertainment will be provided in Lanier Ballroom J at 11:30 p.m. Food will be served nightly in the Lanier Ballroom pre-function area at 11:30 p.m. Monday, March 16 Monday, March 16 Barbershop quartet Sundaes Tuesday, March 17 Tuesday, March 17 Irish dancers St. Patrick’s mashed potato bar ACBL discounted parking New Life Master ACBL restaurant shuttle Please arrive early to take advantage the Gary Hercules, of Stafford TX, achieved Life 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. daily discounted parking. When lots sell out, we are Master playing in the compact KO teams. His unable to offer additional spaces. The discounted teammates, of Houston, were Lauri Haufman and Shuttle Route 1: This bus will circle every 10 parking is provided by the Houston Convention and Nancy and Hans Strohmer. minutes. There will be two buses on this route. Visitors Bureau, not the Hilton Americas. If you make Life Master or achieve a New Stop1: Stopping in front of House of Blues on Discounted parking for the Houston NABC is LM rank during this tournament, don’t forget to Caroline St. available at the following locations: tell the Daily Bulletin about it in Room 339. Houston Pavilions-following restaurants located George R. Brown Convention Center here: (GRBCC) and Hilton Americas garage. Please Barry Harper has House of Blues note there are no in-and-out privileges with the advanced past 15,000 McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood Restaurant discounted parking. A person from the Houston masterpoints. This makes Guadalajara del Centro Convention and Visitors Bureau will be at the him the third-highest Josephine’s Ristorante entrance of the garage from 6 a.m. until 7:30 pm. Canadian masterpoint Stop 2: Stopping on Lamar St. next to Please identify yourself as a bridge player or show holder. He is a Grand Life Massa’s Seafood Grill your convention card. You will be given a parking Master and an accredited Massa’s Seafood Grill. pass that must be presented to the parking attendant ACBL teacher. Harper is a Strip House upon exit to receive the $5 parking. The garage is full-time player who won connected to the Hilton Americas with a skywalk on the NABC Open Pairs in Shuttle Route 2: This bus will circle every 20 the second floor of the hotel.