Monday, November 28, 2011 Volume 84, Number 4 Daily Bulletin 84th North American Bridge Championships Editors: Brent Manley and Sue Munday Better health through bridge Jacobs leading Hugh Ross is in Seattle to play bridge because it’s good for him. in Open BAM There was a time Ross attended NABCs with The team captained by George Jacobs will start great regularity. His record attests to his success: play today in the Mitchell Open Board-a-Match 19 North Americanl titles spanning the years 1963 Teams with a lead of less than half a board. There to 2003, including six wins in the Reisinger Board- will be two final sessions today. a-Match Teams. Nor were his wins confined to this Jacobs, Steve Beatty, Walid Elahmady, Tarek continent; he was on the winning Bermuda Bowl Sadek, Agustin Madala and Norberto Bocchi have team three times---in 1976, 1985 and 1987—playing a carryover of 5, not quite a half board ahead of with three different partners. the Bart Bramley team, who have 4.52. Bramley Despite those achievements, Ross never is playing with Roy Welland, Josef Pikarek and considered himself a particularly good card player, Alexander Smirnov. but what he had, he says, was instinct. “I don’t let Right on Bramley’s heels are James Cayne and myself get trapped in a rule,” he explains. “Things his international squad, including four Italian world happen at the table and I like to seize opportunities champions. when they’re there.” Mike Lawrence (one of Ross’s three winning Bermuda Bowl partners) described the Ross phenomenon this way: “Hugh plays by the seat of his 18 teams enter pants more than any other top player I know.” Ross laughs. “I take that as a compliment. I think Hugh Ross is in Seattle for the NABC that what he means is that I’m good at adapting to table following a stroke eight years ago. With therapy final day of circumstances.” and time, he has been able to recover almost to his That same adaptability has helped Ross to cope pre-stroke physical condition “except that I’m really Women’s BAM with health problems that kept him from the bridge continued on page 9 The team captained by Geeske Joel pounded out back-to-back strong qualifying sessions of 17.50 boards and 17 boards to blaze into the final of the Per Jannersten: Present at the creation Marsha May Sternberg Women’s Board-a-Match He probably didn’t realize it at the time, but Per the boxes. Teams with a 4.50-board lead. The Mancuso team, by Jannersten, age 13, was present for a key moment in On the evening way of a 21-board first session, is not too far behind bridge history – the test of the first bidding box. of the test, Per says with a 4.25 carryover. The scene was his home in Stockholm, Sweden. he overheard the Last year’s winners, trying to make it a three- Per’s father, Eric Jannersten, had invited some experts adults talking and peat, currently sit in seventh place, two boards in to play a two-table team game. One of the guests was pronouncing the back of the leaders. They are: Joyce Hampton, Jenny Gosta Nordenson, who had developed a bidding box project viable. A deal Wolpert, Benedicte Cronier, Sylvie Willard, Sabine prototype. Per remembers that the idea for the box was made. Auken and Daniela von Arnim. was entirely Nordenson’s: “He wanted to eliminate Per remembers spoken bidding because your voice reveals your that it was a feelings whether you like it or not.” complicated Nordenson’s first model was a kind of ledger with arrangement: Senior KO in tabs. By the time of the team game at the Jannersten Jannersten would home circa 1961, Nordenson had come up with a print the cards for semifinals different design, a box that sat below table level so the bidding boxes, Per Jannersten Teams captained by Lou Ann O’Rourke, Reese that a player could not see it if his partner’s hand provide them to Milner, Kyle Larsen and Gaylor Kasle posted moved from one call to another before a final decision Nordenson, who would put them in plastic boxes he impressive victories to make it to the semifinal round was made. obtained from another source and return the finished of the Baze Senior Knockout Teams. At that point, Nordenson had applied for a patent product to Jannersten to be sold. The matchups for today are O’Rourke versus and Eric Jannersten was considering manufacturing continued on page 5 Milner and Larsen versus Kasle. Two of Sunday’s matches were close as O’Rourke fought off a rally by the William Hall team New NABC app to win 129-106. Larsen also had to deal with a ralling opponent, taking a 113-74 lead into the final quarter, A new application specific to any winning despite losing the final set by 20 IMPs. NABC you attend, including the Fall NABC in Seattle, is now available for your iPhone or Android device – and it’s Parking information free. Discounted parking is available at Standard You can use the app to check on your Parking located at 1508 7th Avenue. The cost is $12 scores, review the playing schedule, read for 12 hours with your convention card. Daily Bulletins – and lots more. There is no discounted parking at the Washington You can check on the day’s speakers, State Convention Center. seminars and workshops, view maps of the floors at the Convention Center. Just about anything you need to know about Goodwill Message the NABC can be found with this app. Downloading the app takes only seconds. In your iPhone app store Today is Goodwill Day. We invite members of (Market for Android devices), simply the National Goodwill Committee to join us at a search for NABC or ACBL. reception from 5 to 7 p.m. in room 608/609 of the Convention Center. We look forward to seeing you there. The National Goodwill Committee Page 2 Daily Bulletin SPECIAL EVENTS MEETINGS / SEMINARS / RECEPTIONS Monday, Nov. 28 session about what you need to know to be a successful 8:30 a.m.-Noon Teacher Accreditation Program (TAP). Session three of teacher and bridge host on a cruise ship. Fee: $25 at door. the ACBL’s popular 10-hour seminar for people interested Room: Kirkland (Sheraton). in learning how to teach bridge successfully. Pre-registration 9 a.m.-Noon Club Director Refresher Course. Part 2. Continuing required. Room: 401 (Convention Center). education for bridge directors to increase their skills. 9 a.m.-Noon Club Director Refresher Course. Continuing education for Continued from Tuesday. Must attend both sessions. Room: bridge directors to increase their skills. Continues Tuesday. Medina (Sheraton). Must attend both sessions. Fee: $15, covers both sessions. 10 a.m. Rose Meltzer’s Breakfast with the Stars. This is your chance Room: Medina (Sheraton). to meet Rose and many other of the game’s superstars. The 10:30 a.m.-Noon Competition and Conventions Committee meeting. Room: price for the full breakfast is $25 per person (donation to the Kirkland (Sheraton). Junior Fund). Seating is limited. Register in advance at the 11 a.m.-Noon Get Online with BridgeBase.com. Don’t miss this Information Desk on the fourth floor of the Convention Center opportunity to meet with Fred Gitelman, creator of the ACBL’s to guarantee a spot at the table with the experts you’d like to Learn to Play Bridge program. Get a guided tour of the Bridge meet. Room: Cirrus Ballroom, 35th floor – Pike Street Tower Base web site and its outstanding teaching features. Room: (Sheraton) Issaquah A&B (Sheraton). 10:30 a.m.-Noon Foundation for the Preservation and Advancement of 5-7 p.m. Goodwill Reception. Reception for members of the ACBL Bridge meeting. Room: Leschi (Sheraton). Goodwill Committee. Room: 608/609 (Convention Center). 10:30 a.m.-Noon GNT/NAP Meeting. Room: Issaquah A/B, (Sheraton) Tuesday, Nov. 29 Wednesday, Nov. 30 9 a.m.-Noon Bridge Teachers and Bridge Cruises. Join Marilyn 10:30 a.m.-Noon Open Team Trials meeting. Room: Leschi (Sheraton). Kalbfleisch, experienced bridge cruise host, for an informative CELEBRITY SPEAKER PROGRAM Don’t miss the following free lectures (Convention Center, Room 607): Monday, Nov. 28 Wednesday, Nov. 30 9:45 a.m. Joan Anderson Weak Two-Bids 9:45 a.m. Patti McCallum New DONT (Rule of 8 and 2) 6:45 p.m. Haig Tchamitch Support Doubles 6:45 p.m. Ellen Kent Panic-ville: This Is Not a Zynga Game Tuesday, Nov. 29 Thursday, Dec. 1 9:45 a.m. Mike Flader Ruling The Game 9:45 a.m. Phillip Alder Listen to Place Opposing Honors 6:45 p.m. David Berkowitz Partnerships 6:45 p.m. John Rayner Opener’s Rebids LATE NIGHT FOOD Monday, Nov. 28 Wednesday, Nov. 30 6:30–7:15 pm Music in the Atrium 6:30–7:15 pm Music in the Atrium 11 p.m. – Midnight SeaSharps Quartet 11 p.m. – Midnight Groove for Thought Late night snack: Chicken burgers Late night snack: Turkey wraps Convention Center Ballroom 6A Convention Center Ballroom 6A Tuesday, Nov. 29 Thursday, Dec. 1 6:30–7:15 pm Music in the Atrium 6:30–7:15 pm Music in the Atrium 11 p.m. – Midnight A Taste of Northwest Wines. 11 p.m. – Midnight TBA Late night snack: Wine and cheese. Free tickets to first 500 people. Late night snack: Chili Tickets available on a first-come, first-served basis Convention Center Ballroom 6A starting Sunday at the Information Desk on the fourth floor of the Convention Center.