Friday, March 11, 2011 Volume 54, Number 1 Daily Bulletin NABC National Tournament • Louisville • March 10-20, 2011 54th Spring North American Bridge Championships Editors: Brent Manley and Dave Smith Welcome, bridge players By Hannah Davis On behalf All the Intermediate/Newcomer activities and of Unit 117 games will be on the first floor of the Suite Tower. and District Verna Goldberg, Diane Huguenard and Jo Ellen 11, welcome Amrine have a lot of wonderful things in store, and to the 2011 you do not want to miss a minute of the special Spring NABC activities. in Louisville, There will be a special partnership desk for the Kentucky. To help Intermediate/Newcomer area, and if you go to the you find your way, partnership desk, you will be guaranteed a partner. here are a few All hospitality and entertainment will be pointers. located in the Fountain Room in the Rivue Tower. On the second Today we have Kentucky Blue, a bluegrass band, floor of the performing. You will tapping your toes before the Suite Tower, you will find the Registration Desk, evening is over. the Information Desk, the Prize Desk and the On Saturday, Rose Meltzer is hosting her Partnership Desk in front of the Grand Ballroom. famous “Breakfast with the Stars”. Tickets are We will host a second Information Desk in the still available, but are going fast. Don’t miss this Winners of the Baldwin North American Pairs, Rivue Tower in front of the Archibald Cochran great opportunity to sit with your favorite “Star!” Flight A: Shane Blanchard and Joe Grue. Ballroom for your convenience. continued on page 5 Patty Tucker named Goodwill Grue, Blanchard Member of the Year win Baldwin Patty Tucker, Meltzer. founder of Atlanta The honor, announced on Feb. 28, was the NAP Flight A Junior Bridge second bit of good news for Tucker in the space Joe Grue and Shane Blanchard overcame and the Youth of three days. On Feb. 26, she was elected to the a poor start in the second final session, putting NABCs, has been George State Unit 114 Bridge Hall of Fame, a together a string of big boards midway through the selected as the group that includes Margaret Wagar, Lou Bluhm event to win the Baldwin North American Pairs 2011 Goodwill and Richard Freeman. Flight A by 19 matchpoints (13 top). Member of the Meltzer said of Tucker, "I can't think of a better In second were Joel Wooldridge and Kevin Year. The selection person for the Goodwill award. No one has been Bathurst. is made by the more dedicated to bridge, and she has hit where It was the first North American championship ACBL Goodwill we need it most, with the young people." for Blanchard, whose bridge heritage is stellar. His Committee, now Tucker said she was "overwhelmed" on being mother, Jill Levin, is a many-time world champion, chaired by Rose continued on page 6 as is his grandmother, Gail Greenberg. Blanchard’s father, Bob, is a two-time North American Opening ceremony Slow players, Alert! champion. Don’t miss today’s “Call to the Post” If you are a habitually slow player, be aware Blanchard is a part-time student and part-time opening ceremony for the 2011 Spring NABC. that there are new rules governing your conduct at employee of his father’s manufacturing business. It’s scheduled for 12:30 p.m. outside the Grand the bridge table. These new, stricter rules will be Grue plays bridge for a living. His two other major Ballroom in the Suite Tower. applied at this tournament. titles are the Reisinger Board-a-Match Teams and What the ACBL Board of Directors approved the North American Swiss Teams. Platinum Pairs renamed unanimously is based on references to slow play in continued on page 5 The ACBL Board of Directors has unanimously the Laws of Duplicate Bridge – 103-49: Slow Play approved the renaming of the Platinum Pairs to the Regulations. Norman Kay Platinum Pairs. The three-day event This is the language of the motion approved by Daylight saving will be played starting today for the second time. the ACBL Board in their meetings In Orlando last The decision means that the names of both fall: time coming members of one of the best-known pairs in bridge When a pair has fallen behind, it is incumbent Daylight saving time officially annals – Edgar Kaplan and Norman Kay – are now on them to make up the time lost as quickly as begins Sunday at 2 a.m. local time. on two of the ACBL’s premier pairs events. The possible whether at fault or not. All players are If you don’t plan to be up at that hour, turn your Blue Ribbon Pairs was renamed the Kaplan Blue expected to make a concerted effort to catch up clocks and watches ahead one hour before you go Ribbon Pairs several years ago. when they have fallen behind, regardless of the to bed Saturday night. reason for their lateness. In the absence of compelling evidence to the Breakfast with the Stars! Goodwill Message contrary, the director should presume that a pair Enjoy breakfast with host Rose Meltzer and Welcome to the 2011 finishing a round late by more than two or three many other bridge superstars at the Louisville Spring North American minutes on more than one occasion during a NABC on Saturday, March 12, from 10 a.m. till Bridge Championships in session is responsible for the lateness. There is a noon. The guest list includes Meltzer and Kyle Louisville. strong expectation that the director will penalize Larsen, Daniella von Arnim and Sabine Auken, Tournament chair such a pair. The size of a penalty will tend to Lisa and David Berkowitz, Shannon Cappelletti Hannah Davis and her and Michael Seamon, Zia Mahmood, Janice increase for subsequent instances of slow play and committees have lined up for chronic or egregious slow play. Seamon-Molson and Alan Sontag, Nancy and Mike a great schedule of bridge While warnings typically will be given before a Passell, Eric Rodwell, and Michael and Debbie events, terrific late-night food, celebrity speakers penalty is assessed, failure to do so in no way limits Rosenberg. and more. the director’s authority to issue a penalty. The cost is $20 with proceeds going to Please join me in saying “thank you” to our An appeal of an action taken by a TD with the ACBL Educational Foundation. Advance hosts. regard to time may be taken to the Director in reservations required due to limited seating. For Rose Meltzer, Chairman Charge of the tournament, and no further. information or to make reservations, contact National Goodwill Committee Helene Katz at [email protected]. Page 2 Daily Bulletin SPECIAL EVENTS MEETINGS / SEMINARS / RECEPTIONS Friday, March 11 12:30 pm Bridge Plus+. Special game for new players. 14 boards, no 9 am-Noon Teacher Accreditation Program (TAP). Second session card fee. Room: Combs Chandler (2nd floor, Suite Tower). of the ACBL’s popular 10-hour seminar for people 1-4:30 pm Better Bridge Teacher Training Seminar (Session 1). interested in learning how to teach bridge successfully. An ACBL-approved teacher training program personally Pre-registration required. Room: Breathitt (2nd floor, Suite conducted by Audrey Grant. Learn her powerful up-to-date Tower). methods that assure successful lessons for the absolute 10 am-Noon ACBL Charity Foundation meeting. Room: Taylor (3rd beginner and those with a wide range of experience and floor, Suite Tower). skill. Fee: $125 for all three sessions and sample texts and 4:30-6:30 pm Reception for Teachers and Club Officials. This is materials. Room: Jones (3rd floor, Suite Tower). the ACBL’s “thank you” reception for the teachers and 5-7 pm Junior Reception. All Junior players are invited to attend. club officials who work so hard to recruit and retain our Room: Breathitt (2nd floor, Suite Tower). members. Room: Combs Chandler (2nd floor, Suite Tower). 7:30-10 pm Better Bridge Teacher Training Seminar (Session 2). 11-11:30 pm National Appeals Committee meeting. Room: Beckham Room: Jones (3rd floor, Suite Tower). (3rd floor, Suite Tower). Sunday, March 13 9 am-Noon Better Bridge Teacher Training Seminar (Session 3). Saturday, March 12 Room: Jones (3rd floor, Suite Tower). 9 am-Noon ACBL Educational Foundation meeting. Room: Beckham 10 am-Noon Board of Governors/ACBL Membership Meeting. All (3rd floor, Suite Tower). members of the ACBL Board of Governors are invited to 9 am-Noon ACBL Laws Commission meeting. Room: Taylor (3rd attend the Spring NABC meeting. This meeting is also open floor, Suite Tower). to the general membership of the ACBL. Discussion will 10-11 am Coffee with Carol/ACBLscore Q&A. Come by for include recent actions of the Board of Directors, reports coffee with Carol Robertson, director of club and member from the CEO and treasurer, and new proposals from the services, and ACBL Tournament Director Ken Horwedel. Board of Governors. Room: Grand (2nd floor, Suite Tower). They will be available to answer your questions on scoring, 10 am-Noon Free Bridge Lesson with Audrey Grant. Grant is one of reporting your games and managing your club. Room: Nunn the best known teachers in the world. Her topic is “The (2nd floor, Suite Tower). Oldest Maxim and Five Exceptions.” Room Jones (2nd 10 am-Noon Free Bridge Lesson with Jerry Helms. Helms, well- floor, Suite Tower). known teacher and Bridge Bulletin columnist, presents a 10 am-Noon Teaching Young People Bridge Seminar. Interested in fun bridge lesson for intermediate and newer players.