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Questions? Comments? Concerns?
Contact your District 4 board members.
PRESIDENT
Betsy Cutler
betsy2955@gmail.com
VICE PRESIDENT
Ala Hamilton-Day
alabridge@gmail.com
SECRETARY
Bill Bauer
william.baueriii@verizon.net
TREASURER
Pat Civale
patcivale@gmail.com
REGIONAL DIRECTOR
Joann Glasson
joannglasson@msn.com
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It’s Summertime, summertime, sum-sum-summertime!
If you cannot tell this is my favorite time of year and things are starting to get busy all over the district. I was so excited to see so many of you in Rehoboth last month and hope the boosted attendance trend continues for our next events for 2024.
First, we have the monthly online games at 7 pm on Monday, June 10. This will be a silver linings game, so 150% silver points! After much feedback and consideration, we have decided to make a few changes to the format. Fewer boards and cheaper entry fees. We will switch to an 18-board game so it takes less time and charge $6 for all special games and $5 for any awarding just 100% black points. These games are a fundraiser for the NAP and GNT so we hope you will continue to support them, especially with the new price and format.
The Longest Day in support of the Alzheimer’s Association is the week of June 17-23 for all face-to-face clubs. With the aging population of our bridge members, Alzheimer’s disease is a threat to all of us. Most of us know someone suffering from this disease and many of us face it in our immediate families. A cure or at least a way to slow the progression is right around the corner and with more funding it is possible in the very near future. Please consider supporting this worthy cause.
There are two Non-Life Master Pairs Sectional Tournaments this month as well: June 1-2 at the North Penn Bridge Club and June 14-15 in Fairport, NY. These are both wonderful opportunities to earn silver points for our newer players.
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Finally, I am looking forward to the second District 4 Regional of 2024 – The Philadelphia Regional at King of Prussia, June 24 through 30. This is a great place to earn red and gold points and to see friends again. The lunches are amazing, and the overall hospitality is great! Rex Saffer and John Dickenson and their team are working hard to make this event even better than last year, which is going to be a very hard feat. There will be two-session online games for open, mid-flight and gold rush pairs starting at 11am on Sunday, June 30. These online games are only open to District 4 members. I look forward to seeing all of you in King of Prussia.
See you at the tables!
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Betsy
betsy2955@gmail.com
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From the Regional Director | |
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Spread the Word!!
Every teacher understands that to develop a bridge player there needs to be a place for a new player to practice and grow in the game in a comfortable environment.
To try to provide this environment, the ACBL has launched two new platforms that provide games on BBO for players with fewer than 300 masterpoints.
ACBL Clubhouse Games Powered by BBO
The ACBL Clubhouse has games available every day for players with fewer than 20 masterpoints, fewer than 50 masterpoints, fewer than 100 masterpoints, fewer than 200 masterpoints and fewer than 300 masterpoints.
This schedule allows a new player to continue to play against other players at their level as they progress through the game. Just click on the Link “Visit the ACBL Clubhouse” to sign up to play.
Follow this link to the ACBL website for a complete schedule and more information about the ACBL Clubhouse Games:
ACBL Community Games
ACBL Community Games are only for players with fewer than 50 masterpoints. They provide both a bridge game and a short lesson on BBO and are held every Tuesday and Thursday evening at 6:00PM. Link here.
Tell your family and friends about these great games for new players.
Contact me with any questions or concerns or visit the Region 3 website and leave me a message. joannglasson@msn.com
Joann
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Regionals
King of Prussia, PA
June 24-30
Rochester, NY
August 5-10
Manheim, PA
October 28-November 3
Sectionals
Boalsburg, PA
May 31-June 2
North Wales, PA I/N
June 1-2
Rochester, NY I/N
June 14-15
Camp Hill, PA I/N
July 5
Rochester, NY
July 6-7
D4/Unit 135 STaC
July 8-14
Wilmington, DE
September 6-8
Oswego, NY
September 21-22
Cherry Hill, NJ
September 27-29
King of Prussia, PA I/N
October 14
Rochester, NY
October 19-20
Allentown, PA
October 25-27
For the complete 2024 D4 calendar, click here.
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The 4Spot features fantastic contributors on a regular rotation: | |
January, April, July, October:
Larry's Learning Center by Larry Cohen
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February, May, August, November:
For Novices Only
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March, June, September, December:
Schwaidelson's Fractured Four-Hand Tales
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Schwaidelson's Fractured Four-Hand Tales | |
What do Ike and Tina, Myrtle the Turtle and Mitch McConnell have in common? Find out the answer and have loads of barnyard fun by clicking here. E-I-E-I-O!
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Moderator: Nick Straguzzi
Clubs, déjà vu, and more than your recommended daily allowance of asterisks. Laugh and learn here.
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Visit the MSC website to read next month's problem and submit your answers online here. | |
News from Around the Units | |
In Memoriam
Walter Gable recently passed away following a battle against cancer. Walter was a Bronze Life Master, and after retiring from teaching social studies for 32 years, he directed the Seneca Falls Bridge Club, and served two terms as President of Unit 112. But not limiting his activities to bridge after his retirement, he also served his community as the Seneca County Historian for 20 years. He did much research on the Civil War and on the Underground Railroad, publishing 3 books on these subjects. He played the piano for his church and was an avid Syracuse University sports fan (Go Orange!).
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JCP Duplicate Bridge Game of Elmira, NY celebrates their bridge players when they reach the young age of 90!
In April, they celebrated their long-time bridge friend Willis "Ozzie" Osborn at their F2F game at 9AM on Friday.
Our bridge family enjoys celebrating their milestone birthdays with a cake and their "birth card." Ozzie’s is the Jack of diamonds according to Cards of Destiny, by Sharon Jeffers.
Bridge not only enriches our lives socially but also helps us to stay sharp!
BOOST YOUR BRAIN! PLAY BRIDGE!!
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Club Master
Elizabeth Dorsey
Sectional Masters
Elizabeth Butler
Margaret Hillman
Andrea Welch
Regional Master
Kathleen Bankey
NABC Masters
Mary Sheila Ayres
William Barry
John Cullen
Advanced NABC Master
Janelle Tauer
Life Master
David Latart
Bronze Life Masters
David Latart
Steven O'Brien
Ruby Life Master
Jill Miller
Gold Life Master
Mary Miller
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Unit 120: Northeastern Pennsylvania
Doreese Torrey
doreeset@gmail.com
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Hello Unit 120!! Happy June!! We have a few late announcements to recognize and some new as well.
New Club Master
Sue E Mickley
New Junior Master
Scott Blanchard
New Bronze Life Master
Janet A Morganthau
New Ruby Life Master
Diane M Berkowitz
Applause and congratulations to each of you!!
The Unit 120 party will be held June 2, 2024 at the Doubletree in Dallas. There may still be time to confirm your reservation if you contact me early enough on June 1, 2024. The fee for the game and dinner is $25.00.
The Welcome Back game and dinner party was held at Beach Lake on May 19, 2024. The game was enjoyable and the dinner delicious.
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Looking forward to the party on June 2 at the Doubletree.
Hope to see you at the virtual and/or face to face bridge tables.
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Unit 121 will host its annual Pro-Am game on Thursday June 20 at Good Shepherd United Church of Christ in Tuckerton, near the intersection of Route 222 and Route 61. Advance registration is required order to determine the masterpoint cutoff and divide the field so we have equal numbers of Pro’s and Amateurs. In prior years the cutoff has been around 600 to 650 masterpoints, but it really depends on who signs up to play, and it always turns out to be a good time.
We will start with light refreshments and then 30 minutes prior to game time we will have a random drawing to pair up a Pro with an Amateur, and give them time to discuss what systems they are going to play. Cost is $8 for ACBL members and $10 for players who are not members of ACBL.
Contact Sue Wessner bridgebysue@gmail.com 610-562-1333 or Bill Buskirk Buskirk944@msn.com 570-527-7653 for more info or to register for this game.
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Unit 133: Lehigh Valley
Lois Fuini
lafuini@yahoo.com
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Greetings from Fort Lauderdale!
April Spring Sectional Tournament
The Unit 133 Spring tournament was an enjoyable experience for all our players. We provided camaraderie, excellent competition, good food, and lots of silver/black points. It was super to see all our bridge friends and we’re looking forward to seeing even more of you in October. Line up your partners and join us for another enjoyable tournament. Thanks to everyone who volunteered and donated refreshments for our Spring event. It was outstanding to see everyone pulling together to make our event a success!
Pro/ Am Team Game
Friday, June 14 at 12:30 pm at LVAL is the first “Pro/Am” team game. Come with your favorite partner and you will be teamed up based on masterpoint totals. The pair with the highest masterpoints will be teamed with the pair with the fewest and so forth. This is not only a good way to learn team game strategies, but also to meet some new people. If you have any questions please contact Lee Stanley. Entry fee is $8 per person.
The Longest Day
ACBL has partnered with the Alzheimer’s Association to support this critical cause. Most of us know of someone suffering from this disease or will suffer ourselves. So, we must find a cure! The game has been moved from Saturday, June 22 to Friday, June 21 to promote better attendance. Start time is 12:30 pm and the entry fee will be $9 per person. We hope all attendees will make an additional contribution. If you would like to make a donation by check please make checks payable to “Alzheimer’s Association” and mail to Betsy Cutler, 1383 Deerfield Dr, Allentown, PA 18104.
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Unit 141: Philadelphia
John Dickenson
dickenjb@gmail.com
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We have filled the three vacant positions on our board. Please welcome Mark Bolotin, Jeff Rohrbeck, and Ellen Luchette when you see them.
Unit 141 is delighted to be hosting the Philadelphia Regional at Valley Forge – this will take place at the Alloy Hotel the last week of June – hope to see you there!
A warm welcome to our newest PCBA members!
Christine Enders
Greg Enders
Anurag Singh
Julia White
William White
Joan Zaremba
Congratulations to our members who achieved a new rank!
Junior Masters
Elizabeth Bailey
Glenn Boekell
Brenda Carcaci
Joseph Carcaci
Thomas Dye
Stuart Freemark
Jim Frick
James Jarvis
Marjorie Rendell
Shannon Sanfilippo
Louise Spergel
Paul Suckow
Club Masters
Craig Bersak
Alison Ellison
Stephen Shoff
Eli Shuster
Sectional Master
Phyllis Suckow
NABC Masters
Stephen Greenwell
Clifford Sokolic
Life Master
Jackie Topaz
Bronze Life Masters
Miriam Einhorn
Rebecca Matthias
Deborah Holt Weil
Silver Life Masters
Susie O'Neil
Roger Read
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Unit 168: Central Pennsylvania
Ben Hawn
bwhawn@bellsouth.net
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I attended the Rehoboth Beach Regional in late April. I give it my highest possible rating. I love to play bridge but I hate to travel. So when I go out of town for a night or two and enjoy myself, it’s noteworthy. The playing area was comfortable, and the tournament well run in every way. Lots of good restaurants within 2-3 blocks of the playing area. Free parking. I will be back next year!
So I give these lessons every so often. I gave one before our regular Friday game at my club. It was on negative doubles. I stressed that you must have your values when using this powerful tool: 6+ at the one level; at least 10 (maybe a good 9) at the two level; and pretty much an opening hand if the auction is at the three level.
Sure enough, a couple of hours later I held Qxxxxx AJxx x xx. Partner opened 1D and there was a 2C overcall on my right. Am I supposed to double? Pass? Surely 2S is off the table. What would you do? Does the vulnerability matter here?
Vulnerability always matters and I think I might have passed if we were red. But we were white, so I doubled; feeling like a hypocrite. But it’s hard, bordering on impossible, to suppress a six card spade suit; and of course I had the hearts in reserve.
Did my slightly under strength negative double work out? Not important. What’s important is sticking to your agreements and not overstating your values. That’s a good way to damage partnership confidence. It’s probably okay to do it on rare occasion. Hopefully you are tolerant when partner does it to you.
Congratulations to the following Unit 168 players as they move up the ACBL rankings ladder:
New Junior Masters
Gina Craley
Nancy Good
Marion Stephenson
New Club Master
Rebecca Bergey
New Sectional Masters
Mary Ann Bradley
Joe Rice
New NABC Masters
Monica Knopf
Richard McMullin
New Life Master
Robert Davenport
New Bronze Life Masters
Robert Davenport
Jill Greiner
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The Rehoboth Regional Was A Great Success
Kudos and Thank You to our own Kim Holm and Harold Jordan
(and their amazing crew)
See Results at District 4 and ACBL Websites
Delaware Clubs
The Bridge Studio of Delaware, Wilmington
Harold Jordon
302-479-5431
club@bridge-studio.org
MOT, Middletown
Cheryl Shields
302-602-1638
c.shields@mehrs.com
Monday Morning Bridge Club
Friday Nooners
Dover
Clare O’Brien
410-310-0549
Clare758@outlook.com
Shore Bridge
Lewes
Monday @ 12:30
Wednesday @ 9:30
Anna DeLapo
302-236-0346
Anna7nt@gmail.com
Shuffles2
Ocean View Presbyterian Church
Thursday @ 12:30
Donna Heckscher
215-817-2465
Shuffles2023@gmail.com
THE WELCOME MAT
(New to our Unit: T=transfer, N=new member)
Polly Donaldson-N, Alex Koriakin-N, Patrick Quinn-N,
Rosemary Kerwin-N
Sandy Anzilotti-T, Richard Bradley-T, Patricia Bussard-T, Jason Alonzo-T, Marie Defrancis-T, Phyllis Cohen-T, Marilyn Edler-T,
Martha Snyder-T, Don Steiner-T, Marie Steiner-T
MOVIN’ ON UP
Junior Master
Martha Goodman
Sectional Master
Elisabeth Williams
Regional Master
Jacqueline Keen
Life Master
Richard Weissman
Silver Life Master
Teresa Young
Gold Life Master
John Strange
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Still time to join us for our sectional tournament which began yesterday at the Boalsburg Fire Co, 113 Pine Street, Boalsburg, PA. and runs through June 2. I will report on it in the next 4Spot. | |
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