Page 1 of 7 The Bridge Gazette

The Bridge Gazette

September, 2013 Kim Howard, Editor

T

h

VVV BBB BBB CCC

Vero Beach Bridge Center

1520 14th Avenue, Vero Beach, FL. 32960

772-562-3008

www.verobridge.com

From the Bridge Coordinator’s desk Jamie Portell

Congratulations to the following VBBC members who were extremely successful placing in the Overalls in the recent District 9 STaC games held at our club: Monday, August 19 Pat Brinkerhoff & Audrey Fetter – 1st in C Joan Bence & Pat Forsdick – 1st in A & B in 0-299ers Tuesday, August 20 Edie & Wayne Brundage – 1st in A & B Susan Dickerson & Pat Forsdick –1st in A in 0-99ers Wednesday, August 21 Kathy & Jay Baum – 7th in A Maria Roda & Mary Biggio – 8th in B Margaret Mary Zoltak & Maria Malloy – 1st in A & B in 0-499ers Thursday, August 22 Dave Grober & Myriam Milgram – 18th in A Friday – August 23 Judy Kane & Bill Poole – 7th in A Millie & Carl Wenzel – 1st in A & B in 0-299ers Saturday, August 24 Debbie Drury & Julie Zhu – 1st in A Your VBBC cashiers and game directors are trying very hard to keep the sections balanced by using the new stratification guidelines. You cannot choose your own strata; the stratum for which you are eligible is determined by the partner who has the highest number of masterpoints. If you do not know your partner’s masterpoint status, let the cashier know and they or the game director will verify it. Please pick from among the entry slips in your strata at the desk. The “C” Strata will now be 0-1000 & “B” Strata is 1001-2500. Thesechanges are only for the open pairs games. Team event stratification will remain the same.

(Continued on page 4)

From the president’s desk Merle Hauser

I’m writing this letter on Labor Day Weekend. The closest I come to Labor anymore is trying to figure out whether to raise my partner to four spades, or pass, and I imagine a similar situation exists with many of you. At least I hope so. Once a month though, I do some real labor trying to put this letter together, which I’m doing now. No matter what I write, I find some people agree with my position, some think I’m wrong, and some don’t even read it. Such is life. With that in mind, I’m going to say a few words in this letter about a hot topic of late; namely asking all players to be seated for the game ten minutes prior to the 1:00PM start. I think this is a good idea because it helps the director to get sections organized, and tables stratified. I also don’t think it poses any undue hardship on the players, but because it’s a change, many people get upset. Please give this program a chance and I think you’ll get used to it and actually like it. I help out as a cashier periodically, and have another request for all players wanting to reserve a N/S seat. Our club policy says that a doctors excuse is required, but the club hasn’t been enforcing this rule, and I don’t think we should, however I also don’t think anyone should be able to put their name on the reserved list without either a permit, or an obvious physical necessity. For players that just like N/S best, get to the club early to pick out your seat. There is nothing more frustrating for a cashier than to have someone come up to the desk about ten minutes before game time and say they “need” a N/S seat. On this note I’ll end by saying. Happy Bridge

Merle Hauser

Page 2 of 7 The Bridge Gazette

September 1 Mike Baker, Francis Lott, Rayma Kreider, Maureen O’Brien, Dianna Young September 2 Ann Daigneault, Ted Firth, Betty Smith, MaryBeth Vallar September 4 Gloria Bleck, Tom Cadden, Shelby Lowe, Jan Rusu, Joan Scott

September 7 Martha Hanson, Susan Mayo, Aldo Musto, Jim Thomas September 8 Mary Ughetta

September 9 Georgie Hutton

September 10 Thea Lucarelli, Betty Polk

September 11 Jayne Drucker, Judy Hanna, Pinky Regan

September 12 Sue Eaton, Pam Raab

September 13 Kathy Baum, Bob Longbine, Pam Mackey

September 15 Andy Cruce, Beverly Kinkead, Randy Thornton September 16 E Cooper, Elissa DuPont, Cordia Fischer, Tom Gillman, Colleen Liebert

September 17 Gary Fishbaugh, William Poole September 18 Jim Andre September 19 Alan Daignealut September 20 Deborah Brower

September 21 Stanley Allen, Barbara Baldwin, Marjorie Case, Jan Greene, Seth Milliken, Cris Paul September 22 Hugo Gruendl, Ralpj Maffei September 23 Amie Arsenault September 24 Phil Hughes, Nancy Parson September 25 Jeanne Colton, Lauris Lang, Kay Murray, Rosalie Powers, Charo Segura September 26 Christine Fletcher, George Krom September 27 Jo Matlock, Magdalia O’Leary September 28 Rosalen Cline, Cherie Everett, Joe Joyce, Pat Martin September 29 Winnie Evans, David Hofstetter, Gail Jacobus, Wayne Smith September 30 Gene Donovan, Catherine Kirby, Norma Tolmach

August Birthday Picture Left to Right: Judy Kane, Martha Glassmeyer,

Marge Desmery and Priscilla Knox

September Birthdays

Page 3 of 7 The Bridge Gazette

Bridge Education Lyn Giuffrida

Bidding Review During September, weekly bidding review classes will continue. Classes are held on Thursdays from 9:30 to 11:30 and no reservation or partner is necessary. The cost is $15 per class. Note that starting October 2, these

classes will move to Wednesday

mornings. Here is the schedule for the next few weeks:

Date Topic Teacher Sept. 5 Jacoby Transfers Ron Sept. 12 Opening/Responding to 2 Clubs Winnie Sept. 19 Blackwood and Gerber Winnie Sept. 26 Negative Doubles Lyn Oct. 2* Opening 1 of a Suit/Rule of 20 Winnie Oct. 9* Opening NT Bids and Responses Lyn **Note day change from Thursdays to Wednesdays effective Oct. 2.**

October Courses There will be 4 courses offered during the month of October. Begin- ners Course

8 lessons – Mondays and Thursdays starting Oct. 3rd This course is appropriate for anyone who has never played bridge or who knows a little about the game but wants to start from the beginning. Bidding Basics 8 lessons – Mondays and Thursdays starting Oct. 3rd Develop a sound understanding of basic bidding. Build and reinforce a solid foundation to your game. This course is a review and is not intended for beginners. Offered by Winnie. Defense Topics

4 lessons – Mondays starting Oct. 5th Learn how to determine the best lead. Signal for attitude, count, or suit preference. How does signaling against suit contracts compare to notrump contracts? How can you interfere with the declarer. Offered by Ron.

Supervised Play

4 lessons – Tuesdays starting Oct. 1st Play approximately 8 pre-dealt boards each class and discuss the bidding, play, and defense for each hand. This is a fun way to review and reinforce concepts you have been exposed to.

Offered by Lyn.

Beginners’ Corner – Is it forcing?

Opener Responder 1♥ 1♠

3♥ ?

1♣ 1♠

3♠ ?

1♦ 1♥

2♣ ?

1♦ 1♥

1♠ 3♥

? 1♦ 1♠

2♣ ?

None of these bids are forcing. In each example, the opener/ responder can pass. Surprised or unsure about any of these? Do you know the strength of the hand making the last bid shown? You may want to attend the Bridge Basics course or even the supervised play course to learn more. Next month we’ll look at forcing bids. Let’s learn today for a better game tomorrow.

Lyn Giuffrida

9 A.M. FRIDAY STUDENT GAME

A brief lesson and at a somewhat slower pace makes this a great game for students or those who want to give duplicate bridge a try. The session begins at 9 a.m. with a brief lesson before the game. The fee is $6 for members and $8 for nonmembers.

****WILL BE RESUMING IN NOVEMBER****

9 A.M. TUESDAY STUDENT GAME

A brief lesson and at a somewhat slower pace makes

this a great game for students or those who want to give

duplicate bridge a try. The session begins at 9 a.m. with a

brief lesson before the game. The fee is $8 AND WILL

BE HELD AT INDIAN RIVER SHORES COMMUNITY

Page 4 of 7 The Bridge Gazette

Rank Changes for August Congratulations to the following

VBBC members: Junior Master – Boots von Nostrand

Sectional Master – Wendy Stowe

NABC Master – Ed Raftery

Life Master – Don Henry

Bronze Life Master – Dell Hatten

Silver Life Master – Beverly Kinkead

Welcome new members!

Joan Bassoff Teri Britton

Letty Hurst Christine Matus Dave McNulty

Joanne Sheehan Pieter VanBennekom

Phone extensions for fast access

201 Manager’s office-Kim Howard 202 Director’s desk 203 Courtesy phone by the bookcase

204 Cashier’s desk 205 Bridge Coordinator-Jamie Portell 206 Education Coordinator-Lyn Giuffrida

(Continued from page 1)

Grand National Team Swiss events are on the calendar for the next few months and these events award 50% red and 50% black points at 100% sectional rating. A great opportunity to win red points at the club level! We helped Georgie Pierpont celebrate her 95th birthday on August 29. Thank you, Georgie, for treating us to a delicious birthday cake. I hope you had a wonderful birthday and hope that we will continue to help you celebrate for many years to come! Be sure to put the following October dates on your calendars: October 1 - The Indian River Shores game will resume meeting on Tuesdays at 12:45 p.m. October 2 is the annual Instant Matchpoint game where you will have the opportunity to win one gold point at VBBC. Our fall Sectional Tournament is October 4 – 6. Marge Desmery is tournament chairman and Arnie Summers is the partnership chairman. We appreciate (in advance) your willingness to make food or monetary contributions for the hospitality efforts for this Sectional. Martha

Glassmeyer has agreed to take the reins for our December 6-8 Sectional. Thank you, Marge, Arnie, and Martha! Hope to see you soon at VBBC!

Jamie Portell

From the manager’s desk Visit our web site at:

www.verobridge.com • for daily game results • for tournament schedules • to locate a member’s e-mail address • For hand records • For partnership’s

Page 5 of 7 The Bridge Gazette

Card sharks For August Jamie Portell

0–5 Tom McManus 6–20 Sherry Wilson

21–50 Bob Geeseman 51–100 Boots VanNostrand

101–200 Millie Wenzel 201–300 Margaret Mary Zoltak 301–400 Shirley Davies

401–500 Nancy Raftery 501-750 Jan Greene 751–1000 John McClenethan

1001-2500 Gail Reams 1001+ Debbie Drury

Club Stats For August Jamie Portell

Total Club Tables – 650

Black - 832.06

Silver - 344.40

Red - 37.30

Total Masterpoints – 1273.76

Ace of Clubs and Mini-McKenney Leslie Phelps

Here are the Ace of Clubs ACBL nationwide (not Unit) standings of our members for points earned

at the club level through August 2013 for the top 30 in each division. Our club should be proud of the fine accomplishments of these members:

ABC Club Kim Howard

Congratulations to the following C players

who came in first in all strata (C, B & A) in an open game during August: Aug 2 Helga Woodard & Gloria Sinni Aug 8 Debbie Brower & Jan Rusu

Aug 19 Pat Brinkerhoff & Audrey Fetter Aug 31 Margaret Mary Zoltak & Maria Malloy

MP Level

ACBL-Wide Rank

Ace of Clubs VBBC Member

MP thru Aug 2013

300-

500

20th Jeffrey Jones 165

Also listed in the Mini-McKenney awards (total points ACBL-Wide) are:

MP Level ACBL-Wide Rank

Ace of Clubs VBBC Member

MP thru Aug 2013

20-50 27th

Ray Columbaro 42

300- 500

17th 22nd

Gloria Pappalardo Joanne Matchette

89 80

2500-

5000

8th

12th

Bill Poole

Ron Andrews

189

177

5,000-

7,500

14th Debbie Drury 174

70 percenters for August Toril Liapis

Congratulations to the following players who

achieved 70 percent or more games in August:

Mig O’Leary Jackie King

70.83% Aug 2

Edie Brundage Wayne Brundage

71.43% Aug 20

Margaret Mary Zoltak

Mary Malloy 70.02% Aug 21

The Bridge Gazette Editor: Kim Howard Contributors for this issue: Toril Liapis, Leslie Phelps, Merle Hauser, Jamie Portell, Lyn Guiffrida, and

Kim Howard

Page 6 of 7 The Bridge Gazette

Page 7 of 7 The Bridge Gazette