Sunday, July 15, 2012 Volume 84, Number 3 Daily Bulletin 84th North American Bridge Championships Editors: Brent Manley, Paul Linxwiler and Sue Munday Juniors have a lot to say at reception GNT finalists set For the third straight day in the Morehead Gone are the days when the Junior Grand National Teams, Championship Flight, the Reception attracts more adults than defending champions had an early night of it as teenagers. With the breakthrough their opponents withdrew, this time after the third session at the 2012 Spring NABC in quarter. On the two previous days, their opponents Memphis, word has apparently spread threw in the towel at halftime. that the ACBL is seriously interested The defenders (District 9) are led by Warren in hearing what Juniors have to say Spector. They defeated the Bart Bramley squad about the game and how more of them (16) 107-38. could be attracted to bridge. In today’s final, Spector will face the Jared At Saturday’s meeting, more than Lilienstein team. Lilienstein (24) defeated the 50 Junior players showed up and, Rose Meltzer squad (21) 128-123. Meltzer, with led by Brian Delfs, ACBL’s manager Kyle Larsen as npc, represented District 21. of education, there were lively In the Gold GNT, Flight A, the finalists, by discussions of a number of topics. captain, are Barry Bragin (6) versus Edward Piken The players cheered when Delfs (23). Bragin defeated Richard Blumenthal (8) 115- told them that plans are to redesign 42 when Blumenthal withdrew after three sets. the Youth 4 Bridge website, creating a A group of young players toss around ideas during a Piken defeated John Lewis (9) 165-126. new site from scratch. discussion period at Saturday’s Junior Reception. Many ideas were voiced by reception and gave his approval to the effort. continued on page 11 the players, some of whom were recognized “It’s good,” Weinstein said, “to let the kids get for qualifying to play at the 14th Youth Team together and let them know they’re not alone – and Zia, Fleisher lead Championship, starting later this month in anything we do for the Juniors will pay off in the Life Master Pairs Taicang, China. long run.” Zia Mahmood and Martin Fleisher, in 27th Howard Weinstein, a member of the U.S. Said Delfs, “Our direction for this reception place after two qualifying sessions of the von Bridge Federation Junior Committee, attended the continued on page 7 Zedtwitz Life Master Pairs, zoomed into first after Saturday’s games, just ahead of the first-day leaders, John Kranyak and Vincent Demuy. Zia is bidding for his fourth LM Pairs victory. He and Fleisher posted 61% in the first session and continued on page 11 Laura Watson (right), of Halifax NS, was one of Collegiate final four several dealers during Four familiar college bridge powerhouses Casino Night at the Marriott. graduated from the round-robin phase to semifinal In all, 25 valuable prizes and final action on Sunday. were handed out to the Stanford will face Cal Tech while last year’s players who did the best at champion, the University of Pennsylvania, will blackjack, poker, craps and take on the University of North Carolina. roulette. Playing for Stanford are Samuel Lichtenstein, Pak-Hin Lee and Xuancheng Shao, all of Stanford CA, and Zizhuo Wang of Palo Alto CA. Cal Tech is represented by Dan Emmons, Fairfax VA; Yichi Zhang, Rebecca Wernis and Zhaorong Jin, Pasadena CA. continued on page 11 No rest for busy former Spingold Fantasy bracket coming ACBL board member Gerard If you have ever filled out a bracket sheet for March Madness – the annual collegiate basketball When she was appeals at WBF championships and chairs every tournament – you will appreciate the potential ACBL President in regional in her district, among many duties. fun that awaits you in a couple of days at this 1992, Joan Levy Gerard Former board colleague Craig Robinson, who tournament. wrote a monthly column represents District 4, says he recently spoke to It’s the first Fantasy Spingold Bracket, offered for the Bridge Bulletin. Gerard’s husband, Ron, about his wife’s departure by Bridge Winners, the 2-year-old website for It was called From from the board. “He says Joan has gone from 18- news, scores, social networking and a state-of-the- Pretzels to President, a hour days to 16-hour days,” Robinson notes. art convention card editor. reference to her many Gerard was such a presence on the board that Jason Feldman, one of the co-founders of years of work for it seemed she was born into the role. She actually continued on page 9 bridge in a variety of jokes about it: “My mother wheeled me into my capacities, including first board meeting in a baby carriage.” Pre-registration for hospitality at tournaments (the pretzels). Gerard became interested in bridge as a child Gerard says that when she left the ACBL through her father, Daniel Katz, when the family national KO events board at the end of 2011 – after representing lived in New York City. “He played with Charles Pre-registration for the Spingold Knockout District 3 for 26 years – she had gone full circle: Goren and Lee Hazen,” she says. Teams, the Wagar Women’s Knockout Teams, “From President to Pretzels.” She also played while attending Smith College the 0-5000 Mini-Spingold Knockout Teams and Well, not exactly. in Northampton MA, where she studied education the 0-1500 Mini-Spingold Knockout Teams is Although she no longer represents her district and sociology. For a time after graduating, she required by today at 4:30 p.m. To pre-register, on the ACBL board, the White Plains NY resident taught first grade. please see Tournament Director Steve Bates. Bates is nearly as busy as ever. Gerard is president of the Gerard learned about duplicate in the will be available in the Life Master Pairs playing U.S. Bridge Federation, represents the ACBL at late Fifties and became involved in District 3 area (Marriott, 5th floor) from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 World Bridge Federation meetings, is in charge of continued on page 5 p.m. Page 2 Sunday, July 15, 2012 Daily Bulletin SPECIAL EVENTS MEETINGS / SEMINARS / RECEPTIONS Sunday, July 15 Tuesday, July 17 10 am-Noon Free Bridge Lesson. Marriott, Room 302-306. 9 am-Noon Club Director Refresher Course. Continuing education 12:30 pm Bridge Plus+. Marriott, Room 302-306. for bridge directors to increase their skills. Continues on Wednesday July 18 — Must attend both sessions. Sign Monday, July 16 up at the door. Marriott, Room 404. Fee: $15 covers both 8:30-9:30 am Foundation for the Preservation and Advancement of sessions. Bridge board meeting. Marriott, Room 403. 6:30-8:30 pm Goodwill Reception. Marriott, Room 302-306. Wednesday, July 18 8:30-9:30 pm Competition and Conventions Committee. Marriott, 9 am-Noon Club Director Refresher Course. Second day of the Room 403. continuing education seminar for bridge directors to increase their skills. Must attend both sessions (Tuesday and Wednesday). Marriott, Room 404. CELEBRITY SPEAKER PROGRAM Daily presentations (except Saturday evening, July 14 and the final Monday, July 16 Sunday) by some of the best-known players and teachers at 9:15 am and 9:15 am Allan Mazer “Tell Your Partner Where to Go” 6:45 pm. Free. Marriott, 5th floor. 6:45 pm Billy Miller “Dear Billy” Sunday, July 15 Tuesday, July 17 9:15 am Lisa Berkowitz “Play to Trick One” 9:15 am John Rayner “Opener’s Rebids” 6:45 pm Ken Monzingo “Hand Patterns” 6:45 pm Mike Flader “Ruling the Game” HOSPITALITY Sunday, July 15 Tuesday, July 17 Muffins (morning) Bagels, muffins, donuts (morning) Monday, July 16 Wednesday, July 18 Tastycakes and mini-chocs (break) Soft pretzels (break) Popcorn (evening: movie night) Marriott’s Smoke-Free Card and may use only standard carding. This Check cashing and restriction may be lifted only at the beginning Policy of a subsequent round after convention cards bridge bucks We would like to remind our guests that have been properly prepared and approved by The check-cashing desk on the 5th floor of the since October 2006, all Marriott hotels in North the director. Further, the partnership will receive Marriott will be open daily 9 to 10 a.m. America are smoke-free. In addition, the City a 1/6-board matchpoint penalty for each board • ACBL bridge bucks will be available at the of Philadelphia prohibits smoking in all lobbies, played, commencing with the next round and check-cashing table. hallways, sleeping quarters and other common continuing until the restriction is lifted. In IMP • Bridge bucks may be purchased using cash, areas of all lodging establishments. team games, penalties shall be at the discretion of check, MasterCard, Visa or Discover. When we establish that a guestroom has been the director. • There is a $500 limit. smoked in, we perform a thorough and extensive If the director determines the partnership has • Players cashing checks or purchasing bridge room recovery/cleaning of the room so that we at least one substantially completed convention bucks must provide their ACBL player can return it to its previous smoke-free condition. card but has not fully complied with ACBL number. If we determine that smoking occurred in your regulations, the director may give warnings guestroom, your credit card will be charged our or assign such penalties as he deems to be Junior Coupons Junior coupons will be made available for standard $250 room recovery fee per occurrence. appropriate under the circumstances.