Cincinnati Bridge Association May, 2002 Vol. XXVII, Number 2

CINCINNATI SUMMER SECTIONAL

TOURNAMENT at CLUB

June 3 - 9, 2002

CINCINNATI BRIDGE CENTER

2860 Cooper Road 513-563-2218

Parking and Entrance at back of building.

OPEN STRATIFIED PAIRS

Strat A Unlimited Strat B 0-1250 Strat C 0-500

All sessions are separate events

MONDAY, JUNE 31 PM & 7:30 PM

TUESDAY, JUNE 41 PM & 7:30 PM

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 51 PM & 7:30 PM

THURSDAY, JUNE 61 PM & 7:30 PM

(also a separate Stratified* NLM Game at 7:30 PM)

FRIDAY, JUNE 71 PM & 7:30 PM

(also a separate Stratified* NLM Game at 1 PM)

(also a Worldwide Instant Matchpoint Game at 7:30 PM)

SATURDAY, JUNE 81 PM & 7:30 PM

(also a Worldwide Instant Matchpoint Game at 1 PM)

STRATIFIED & NLM SWISS TEAMS

SUNDAY, JUNE 912 NOON (Play-Through)

Tournament Chair: JODIE KIEFFER 513-474-4721

Partnerships: LORNA DAVIS 513-777-1760

*NLM Stratas: 0-50, 0-200, and NLM

Carolyn Ahlert, Editor

INSIDE

Prez Sez 2

Worldwide Instant Matchpoint 3

ALERT Questionnaire 3

Unit 124 Awards Party 4

GNT Winners 5

Player Appreciation Party 5

Answers to FAQ by F. Pollack 6

Lessons/Mentor-Mentees 7

Director Please! by Otto Walter 8

Middletown Sectional/NAOP 9

299er Tournament 10

Membership News 11

Winter Sectional Winners 12

Board Meetings13

CBA Financial Report 14

Club Notes 15

COMING EVENTS

Player Appreciation Party

Sunday, August 18

Potluck 4 PM, Game 5 PM

Middletown Sectional

Fri-Sun, August 23-25

Mentor/Mentee Party

Friday, September 13

Potluck 6 PM, Game 7 PM

299er Fall Sectional

Sat-Sun, September 21-22

NAOP Unit Qualifying Game

Sunday, October 13

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Over the next few months, the CBA gives special attention to our novices and non-life masters with our Mentor-Mentee program. Beginning this month and throughout the summer, experienced bridge mentors will be playing with their designated mentees at various CBA games. As part of this program, beginning May 13 until the Mentor/Mentee Party on Friday, September 13, all Monday Night Century Club games at the Bridge Center will have a special Strata reserved especially for Mentor-Mentee pairs. Stratifying in this manner will give Mentor-Mentee pairs an opportunity to win additional masterpoints, so we hope many of you will take advantage of these special Monday night games. Of course, hand records will be available after each game.

Another new activity dedicated to our Novice players is the series of educational lectures organized by Fred Pollack on Tuesdays at 6:45 p.m. before the CBA Novice Game. The program features a different speaker with a different topic each week. Any bridge player is welcome to attend, and attendance has been growing weekly. Thanks to all who have shared their expertise with our less experienced players.

Later in this ALERT you will see the listing of all our local Ace of Clubs and Mini-McKenny winners who received awards at the CBA Awards Night Party on April 9. Congratulations to all winners and special thanks to Elena Hickman for all her work organizing this great party!

I also want to thank our webmaster Bob VeVerka for all his work on our expanded

CBA web site, and to Bill Bohmer, who put in many long hours writing the programs that allow us to now upload the results of all our club games

and the hand records for all games that use the Duplimate. Bill also prepared a wonderfully illustrated instruction manual so that even directors who are not computer “techies” can easily post results to the website immediately following the game. CBA players can now study the game results at their leisure on their home computers. The web site is also a great way for CBA members who go south for the winter to keep in touch and for everyone to stay informed of the latest events at the Bridge Center.

As more and more of our players have access to the internet at home, the CBA Board is considering the possibility of reducing the considerable expense of printing and postage for the ALERT mailings. On the following page you will find a questionnaire asking if you would prefer to read the ALERT on the web site or pick it up at your local club game, rather than receiving it by mail. Please fill out the questionnaire and give it to the director at any Unit 124 club game.

Best regards,

Linda Wolber

President

WORLDWIDE INSTANT MATCHPOINT GAME

On Friday night, June 7, and Saturday afternoon, June 8, at our summer StaC (Sectional Tournament at Club), we will be holding the Worldwide Instant Matchpoint Game if there are enough players who want to play. This event will not have silver points available, It does, however, have world-wide instant matchpointing, so that you can see your scores as compared with the rest of the world. Hand records and a hand analysis booklet written by Eric Kokish will be available at the end of the game. These two games will be sectionally rated, the same as the StaC, but only black points will be awarded.

A note to club game directors about the upcoming June StaC:

If you are interested in having your Club Game, at a location other than the Cincinnati Bridge

Center, participate in our StaC during the week of June 3-9, please contact Jodie Kieffer by

e-mail at or by phone at 513-474-4721 to get copies of the hand records.

If you participate in the StaC, your table count will be added to the totals for overall awards.

Questionnaire regarding future ALERT mailings

Because of the high cost of printing and mailing the ALERT three times per year, we are thinking about ways that we can reduce these costs. Since many of our members now have internet access, we are asking how many of you would prefer to read the ALERT on our web site, or would be willing to pick up your copy at any local club game in Unit 124. If the only way you can get your ALERT is through the mail, let us know and we will accommodate your request.

If we do not have to mail the ALERT to all our members, we will consider turning it into a briefer, but more timely, monthly publication beginning next year. We would, however, mail less expensive, postcard-type reminders to all members before each of our sectional and regional tournaments. (We will definitely have one more traditional ALERT mailing this year before the fall sectional. That ALERT will also include our fall election information.)

------

Please fill out the following questionnaire and give it to the director at any Unit 124 club game or mail it to: Cincinnati Bridge Association, 7889 Jolain Drive, Cincinnati OH 45242.

I would prefer to read the ALERT on the CBA web site.

I would be happy to pick up my copy of the ALERT at my local club game.

It would be difficult for me to have access to the ALERT if it is not mailed to my home.

Comments:

Name: ACBL#

Address:

E-mail Address:

 Unit 124 Awards Night Party 

April 9, 2002

A special thanks to all who came out to play. It was a fun evening of bridge, a celebration of our members’ outstanding achievements, a pat on the back to Nancy Sachs, a very hard working director-teacher and past President, and a salute to our wonderful chefs—I am certain we all appreciate the extra pounds!!!

-- Elena Hickman

All awards presented were based on 2001 calendar year achievements.

Winners are listed in the categories that each one was in at the first of the year.

ACE OF CLUBS AWARDS MPsMINI-McKENNEY AWARDS MPs

(most MPs won in club games) (most MPs won overall)

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR

Jeanne Snapp 22.92Ellie Megerle 64.08

Davey Smith 22.18Michael Lipp 30.54

Michael Lipp 19.23Davey Smith 26.66

JUNIOR MASTER OF THE YEAR

Stephen Megerle 42.08Stephen Megerle109.62

Bonnie Cummings 32.33Mark Newkirk 35.76

Bruce Dunworth 24.62Bonnie Cummings 32.87

CLUB MASTER OF THE YEAR

Michael Pierce 65.18Michael Pierce328.08

Richard Pleshek 42.52Richard Pleshek208.73

Edward Willins 33.15Thomas Hillger 74.47

SECTIONAL MASTER OF THE YEAR

Donna Markley 54.93Donna Markley 90.33

Jim Tarvin 50.93Susan Hermans 82.67

Bill Childers 46.29Myrna Rosen 74.62

REGIONAL MASTER OF THE YEAR

Mary Segal 65.81Terry Briscoe169.34

Rose Hornsby 41.68Linda Luther111.80

Michele Staats 37.79Rose Hornsby108.93

NABC MASTER OF THE YEAR

Lorna Davis129.26Lorna Davis269.55

Sylvia Peters 61.42Gerry Mirus104.21

Jerome Katz 54.22Anita Mangold101.03

LIFE MASTER OF THE YEAR

Walter Bunker 63.40Michael Purcell193.02

Jane Burpee 59.62Daniel Kieffer171.57

Mary Lipp 56.39Walter Bunker139.64

BRONZE LIFE MASTER OF THE YEAR

Edward Long112.09Charles Reynolds641.93

Jerry Violetta 91.42Belen Suarez190.04

Diane Goodman 83.89James Bush163.33

SILVER LIFE MASTER OF THE YEAR

Susan Goodman103.93Leslie Reynolds527.93

Jacqueline Meyers103.49Jodie Kieffer420.22

Barbara Levinson 81.61Diane Travis325.12

GOLD LIFE MASTER OF THE YEAR

Frederic Pollack134.20Frederic Pollack691.78

Nancy Leutge 95.57Bruce Parent303.11

Ronald Babcock 93.72Nancy Sachs207.97

DIAMOND LIFE MASTER OF THE YEAR

Marshall Tuly 14.18Marshall Tuly216.34

GRAND LIFE MASTER OF THE YEAR

Norman Coombs 62.17Norman Coombs755.88

More 2001 Awards …

Several of our local players placed in the ACBL’s 2001 national standings.

In the national ACE OF CLUBS race, Lorna Davis placed 19th in the NABC Master category.

The national MINI-McKENNEY AWARD category rankings included:

Steve Megerle, #13 - JUNIOR MASTER

Michael Pierce, #2, and Richard Pleshek, #9 - CLUB MASTERS

Lorna Davis, #16 - NABC MASTER

Chuck Reynolds, #2 - BRONZE LIFE MASTER

Leslie Reynolds, #24 - SILVER LIFE MASTER

Fred Pollack, #16 - GOLD LIFE MASTER

Also, in the last edition of the ALERT when we listed the awards presented at the CBA’s annual Holiday Dinner and Bridge Party, we inadvertently left out Betty Hurst and Sheila Dippel, winners of the CBA’s new Israel and Eva Horwitz Award for winning the most points at a CBA Tournament Senior Event.

Congratulations to all!!



Unit 124 Awards Party Game Winners

Flight A: Joe Lutz-Jerry Fink

Flight B: Rob Weidenfeld-Jim Edmiston

Flight C: Mark Newkirk-Don Etson



Grand National Teams

District 11 Finals

Sat-Sun, April 27-28

(Local Team winners)

Flight A: 1st Frederic Pollack-Leslie Reynolds- Charles Reynolds- Bruce Parent-

Tom Miller-Craig Satersmoen

Flight B: 2nd Hal Norris-Joy Norris-

Karen Kendall-Lorna Davis

Flight C: 1st Richard Magnus-Anita Mangold-

David Britt-Linda

2nd Phyllis Bishop- Linda Woodham- Tonette DeAngelis-Phyllis Downey

The first place teams in each flight have won the right to represent District 11 in the National Finals of the Grand National Teams in Washington D.C. this summer. Good luck!

Player Appreciation Party

at the Bridge Center

Sunday, August 18, 4:00 PM

This new CBA event will be free

to all ACBL members who play

at the Bridge Center

at least four times between now and August 18th.

There will be a potluck dinner,

so fix your favorite recipe

to share with us.

ANSWERS TO FAQ

by

Fred Pollack

Here is a list of the most frequent questions (FAQ) I get asked and my answers.

Should I lead a singleton against a suit contract? Yes, almost always. How else are you supposed to score your small trumps? Avoid leading a singleton for the following reasons: you have a better lead like AK or KQJ; the singleton is in declarer’s second suit; you have long trumps and want declarer to ruff.

Should I lead a doubleton against a suit contract? Usually not. If you frequently lead doubletons, partner will never know if you have a singleton or a doubleton. Avoiding doubleton leads makes your singleton leads much more effective.

What conventions are really important for me to play? Stayman, Lebensohl, Negative Doubles, Responsive Doubles, Roman Key Card Blackwood.

What conventions should really be avoided? Flannery, Mini-Roman, Weiss, Fishbein. On top of the list, Negative Free Bids!!! Horror.

Do I like trump leads? Absolutely. Lead a trump when you think declarer will crossruff or ruff in the short trump hand. Do not lead a trump when you fear a long suit can be used to discard losers.

I give suit-preference when partner leads against a suit contract and there is a singleton in the dummy, right? No, No, No, No!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If you hold the 3-2 of spades, and play the 3, how can partner read it as a high card?

Suit-preference applies only when you are known to have plenty of cards to choose from. Give suit-preference only when you are known to have at least 4 cards in the suit (you raised partner preemptively, for example). In that case, a low card suggests a shift to the lower suit, a high card suggests a shift to the higher suit and a middle card is encouraging. In many cases you want partner to continue the suit in order to make dummy ruff. In cases when you are not known to hold at least 4 cards in the suit, give attitude. A discouraging card tends to indicate you can stand the logical shift.

What is the best bridge book out there? Dynamic Defense by Mike Lawrence. For intermediate plus to advanced players only. Teaches how to think on defense. A second choice is Matchpoints by Kit Woolsey.

How do I improve my bridge game? Forget conventions. Read Lawrence. Read Kantar. Play in tougher competition. Play with a better player.

BRIDGE LESSONS

Cincinnati Bridge Center

Cooper Business Center

2860 Cooper Road

513-563-2218

BEGINNING
Thursday evenings 5:00 PM - 7:30 PM
Beginning March 21

BASICS REVIEW
Thursday evenings 7:30 PM - 10:00 PM
Beginning March 21

INTERMEDIATE I
Saturday mornings 10:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Beginning April 6

SUPERVISED PLAY
Saturday mornings 10:00 AM - 12:30 PM
April 27, May 11, June 15 & 29, July 13, August 17

TWO-OVER-ONEGAME FORCE
Monday evenings 6:30 PM - 9:30 PM
April 29, May 13, June 10 & 24, July 15, August 12

Each series includes six two and one-half hour lessons. The fee for a series is $70 per person, based on a class size of 12 to 16 students. An adjustment will be made for classes with fewer than 12 or more than 16 students.

ADVANCED
Thursday mornings 9:30 AM
Lesson; Play in Duplicate Game; Review Hands
May 9 & 30; June 27, July 18, August 15 & 29
Series - $70; Individual class - $15

Information and\or reservations:

Nancy Sachs, 513-561-1766, or Linda Wolber, 513-522-1771



MENTOR-MENTEE PROGRAM

The CBA’s 2002 Mentor-Mentee Program has just begun. All players with under 200 masterpoints who requested a mentor, and all experienced players who volunteered to be mentors, should have received a letter from Nancy Sachs with the name of their partner. Each mentor–mentee partnership should play together at least four times during the next four months. The program will end with a Potluck Dinner and Bridge Game on Friday, September 13.

Special Mentor-Mentee Stratification

at Monday Night Game

Every Monday night, beginning May 13th until the September party, the Century Club Game at the Bridge Center will accommodate the Mentor-Mentee program with a special system of stratification. Strata A will be two life masters playing together. Strata B will be partnerships with at least one non-life master. Strata C will be specifically for Mentor-Mentee partnerships. This method of stratification will allow mentor-mentee pairs a better opportunity to win masterpoints. Of course, hand records will be available so mentees can study the hands after the game and seek further advice from their mentors. We hope everyone participating in the mentor-mentee program will play in the Monday night game. The game starts at 7:00 pm.

GRAND FINALE

POTLUCK DINNER and BRIDGE

Cincinnati Bridge Center

Friday, September 13

Dinner: 6:00 PM; Game: 7:00 PM

Mentees should bring a salad, main dish, or dessert to share at the dinner. Beverages, plates, etc. will be provided by the CBA. Cost for the event is $5 per player. (If your partner is unable to play, you may find a substitute who has a similar ACBL rating.)

If you have questions, please call:

Nancy Sachs, 513-561-1766, or Joy Norris, 513-984-8783

******************************************************************************

New Tuesday Night Lecture Series for Newcomers

We recently started a series of brief lectures by experienced CBA players, starting at 6:45 PM every Tuesday night before the Newcomers Game at the Bridge Center. Each week features a different lecturer speaking on a different topic. All bridge players are invited to attend. Thanks to Fred Pollack for organizing the program, and to the other guest speakers to date – Ron Babcock, Judy Cohn, Joe Fisher, Nancy Sachs, Otto Walter, and Linda Wolber.

DIRECTOR PLEASE !!!

What are dummy’s rights?

Otto Walter

Dummy may give information, in the Director’s presence, as to fact or law.
Dummy may keep track of tricks won and lost. Thus, dummy has a right to follow the play and cards must be played so that dummy can see them.
Dummy may ask declarer (but not a defender), when he has failed to follow suit to a trick, whether he has a card of that suit.
Dummy may try to prevent any irregularity by declarer, for instance warn declarer against leading from the wrong hand.
Dummy may not call attention to an irregularity during the play. Dummy may call the director after the play is over and before the next hand is started. If dummy is the first to call attention to an irregularity during the play, declarer loses any rights to a penalty adjustment.
Dummy may call the director for an irregularity, but only if some one else has drawn attention to the irregularity.
Dummy must not participate in the play (for instance, reach for a card before declarer calls for it) or make any comment, or ask any question, concerning the bidding or play. Regarding comments by dummy, a personal pet peeve of mine is dummy commenting on his bidding logic while laying the dummy cards on the table. At the very least, this delays the game for the amount of time declarer is listening to dummy’s dialog instead of thinking about how to play the hand. But worse, and with regards to the dummy’s rights laws, this could be viewed as coaching the declarer. If you say anything, simply say, “Good luck, partner.” However, don’t say, “Good luck, partner, you’ll need it.” Let declarer figure out what he needs to do.

Dummy may not:

Exchange hands with declarer.
Leave his seat to watch declarer’s play.
On his own initiative, look at a card or cards in a defender’s hand.
Inform declarer that he has a trick turned incorrectly for purposes of noting how many tricks his side has won or lost. (Directors view this law as not pertaining to the trick just completed and before the next lead is made. It does apply to all previous tricks.)

Infractions of dummy’s rights laws will probably result in an adjusted score.