October 2023

.LANCASTER REGIONAL – OCTOBER 30 – NOVEMBER 5

Autumn has always been my favorite time of the year, love me some fresh-picked apples, pumpkin pie (sorry pumpkins!), and the crisp fall air! And since becoming the Lancaster Regional Tournament Chair, I have one more reason to love the season… a great tournament right in my backyard. For many of you, it’s in your backyard too, so I hope to see you at “the Nook.”

If you have tried, but failed to get a room at the Warehouse Hotel, here’s a well-kept secret. Plans change and there are room cancellations in the weeks leading up to the tournament. Persistent calls to the hotel in the hopes of snatching up one of those newly vacated rooms can be a worthwhile effort. If you do stay with us at Spooky Nook this time, we have some very different and hopefully fun activities planned for a few of those long evenings. Details will be revealed at the tournament.

Right – you want to know about the bridge. Easy - Bracketed Teams every day and 3 levels of Pairs games are scheduled Monday through Saturday (Gold Rush, Mid-Flight, and Open).  

While I look forward to you joining us in person if you can, I know there are conflicts that make it impossible. In that case, I hope you’ll set aside the day on Sunday, November 5 to play in our online Regional pairs games. Online games begin at 12:15 and 4:00, and you must pay for and play both sessions.

Look to the Lancaster Regional webpage for the latest updates, schedule, hotel, and other details. Find our page on the District 4 website, www.4acbl.org 

NON-LIFE MASTER REGIONAL: ALLENTOWN PA, DECEMBER 15-16, 2023

It might be our final Regional of the 2023 Season, but it’s the first-ever I/N Regional in District 4. This is an event that is open only to non-life masters with less than 750 masterpoints.

Game times are 10 & 2:15. Pairs games are on the schedule both days, all sessions: 0-200 Pairs, and 0-750 Pairs. Lunch is not included in the entry fee, but can be ordered in advance. See the tournament flyer and the website for menu and ordering details. You may also bring your own lunch.

Want more bridge talk in your day? Then arrive early to enjoy the 9am guest lecture, and get a 2^nd lecture each day over lunch. It’s a great opportunity to compete against and make friends with even more bridge players. 

For more details about the schedule, area hotels, and lunch options, check out their webpage at www.4acbl.org

District 4 North American Pairs Finals

The Flight A pairs continue to duke it out to earn the honor of representing District 4 at the Spring NABCs. Therefore, I’ll wait to report and celebrate all the top finishers in every D4 NAP Finals Flight.

Ahh Lancaster!!

As soon as the weather gets just a little chilly, I begin to think about the Lancaster Regional Tournament.

All tournaments in District 4 are wonderful events to experience, but Lancaster has a very special place in my heart. I think I have attended every year since I started playing the game of bridge.

When I was just learning, a bunch of girlfriends would rent an old house right down the road from the Host Farms where the tournament was held at that time. I was a young mother, and it was my once-a-year “girls only” getaway – what fun!! Sadly, I think the site of our old haunt is now a gas station….

Eight of us would pile into this little house and play bridge morning, noon and night. We were positively captivated by the game and just couldn’t get enough. We would practice before the tournament and spend the late-night hours going over all the boards (with a bit of wine, as I recall).

Those days were great fun and I still feel that same excitement each time I drive through beautiful Lancaster County to get to the new location at Spooky Nook. The pandemic took a few of those opportunities away, but bridge is back in full bloom again and I hope to see you all at the tables in Lancaster.

Jeanne Gehret and her team are promising a really fun tournament with special events in addition to their usual warm Lancaster hospitality.

Can’t wait to see you there!!

Joann

As always, please contact me with any questions – joannglasson@msn.com.

Regionals

Manheim, PA

October 30-November 5

Allentown, PA NLM

December 15-16

Sectionals

Cherry Hill NJ

October 6-8

Rochester, NY

October 7-8

Allentown, PA

October 20-21

Wilmington, DE

December 8-10

Camp Hill, PA I/N

December 29

STaCs

D4; U135 (D6)

November 13-19

For a full year D4 calendar, click here.

Larry's Learning Center

Moderator: Nick Straguzzi

Oh boy oh boy! Temptations galore for South! See what Nick's merry gang decide to do with this teaser here.

The Rochester Fall Sectional Tournament will be held on October 7-8 at the Gates Recreation Center. Pairs events will be on Saturday with Swiss teams on Sunday. Please come, have fun and earn some silver! 

Feedback from players who attended the Finger Lakes Regional has been overwhelmingly positive. Some comments from our Gold Rush players:

Marie Duink: My partner and I attended our first regional bridge tournament. What a wonderful experience! Although we each have less than thirty masterpoints, we managed to earn 2.20 more while playing 216 hands of bridge over four and a half days. Earning two “gold” coins each was a highlight we will treasure from this event. We took full advantage of the lessons offered each morning by several experts, including ACBL President Joann Glasson! We felt very comfortable playing against our fellow competitors who were obviously more experienced. Our competitors were always very encouraging and friendly. Making many new bridge friends was another bonus and we are already planning to attend our first sectional tournament in Rochester in October. We highly recommend any player, at any level, consider journeying to a tournament soon to have the same experience.  

Evelyn Woodlan: My husband and I had so much fun playing for two days.  We ended up winning 1.94 red points as well as winning some dollars. But the real highlight was meeting all the other players. The hotel the tournament partnered with was very clean, had friendly staff as well as a nice breakfast. There was a free lunch at the tournament. It was like an affordable mini vacation for us. We will definitely attend again next year and we may bring our daughter as well. We look forward to the knowledge and friendships we will gain as our masterpoint journey continues.

Note: Both commentators mentioned receiving coins. Mary Miller, the Newcomer/Intermediate chair, awarded Sacagawea dollar coins to gold rush players who earned section tops.  

Unit 112 Congratulates its Advancing Players:

Junior Master

Jack Sullivan

Club Master

Trixie Meteyer

Sectional Masters

Linda Gross

Karla Krogstad

Nancy Miller

Willis Osborn

Regional Masters

Debra Maier

Joseph Nicholson

NABC Masters

Richard Goldman

Emil Nymander

Advanced NABC Master

Ishwar Mathur

Life Master

Mac Beckwith

Bronze Life Masters

Richard Keller

Peter O’Neill

Ruby Life Master

Barbara Phillips

Hello, Unit 120!! Let's start with September's accomplishments, shall we?

Club Master

Lucy Stone

Junior Master

Sue E Mickley

 Please join me in a round of applause for them!!  Hoot Hoot!

Wednesday August 30, visitors from Danville, Elysburg and Shamokin graced the Taylor bridge game directed by George Mansour. They play every Tuesday as a group and wanted to branch out to other clubs to meet new friends and players. It was a fun game and afterwards we all got together for a group picture. We look forward to the group's next visit.

The Unit player appreciation game and party was held September 10 at the Glen Maura. A bountiful dinner and array of desserts with cold and hot beverages and a game filled the afternoon. A good time was had by all!!

Winners North/South:

A: Nancy Trovato and Carole McCallum

B: Harold Koehler and Victoria Tarleton

C: Chris and Louisa Stephens

Winners East/West:

A: David and Marlene Meyer

B: Jane Bovard and Joe Distini

C: Kathleen and Gerald Arcuri

A new game, directed by George Mansour, is beginning at the JCC in Kingston, PA. The game starts every Thursday at 1pm. Come out, play, and support the game.

Hope to see you all at the virtual and face-to-face bridge tables.

Questions? Email me at doreeset@gmail.com.

The Annual Meeting for Berks Montgomery Bridge Unit 121 is scheduled for Thursday, November 9. Registration and prepayment is required. Contact Bill Buskirk at 610-777-2746 for more information.

Congratulations to the following unit member rank achievements:

Emerald Life Master - Albert Bingaman, Jr. recently surpassed 7500 master points to earn his latest bridge accolade.

Ruby Life Master - Raquel Yiengst and Gilbert Deleeuw reached another milestone this summer.

Congratulations again for continuing to inspire bridge players at all levels.

New Rank Advancements - Congratulations!

Life Master

Dave Willgruber

Unit 133 Fall Sectional October 20-21

Location:

Lehigh Valley Active Life

1633 West Elm St. 

Allentown PA

Schedule: Friday October 20 and Saturday October 21

10am and 2:15pm, Stratified Open Pairs, 0-750 pairs, and 0-199 pairs.

Fee: $10 per session per person (does not include lunch), payable through Entry Express or credit card at the door. 

For more information about purchasing lunch, please contact Lois Fuini at lafuini@yahoo.com or our website at www.bridgewebs.com/lvbaunit133. 

First-Ever District 4 NLM Regional December 15-16

Location: 

Lehigh Valley Active Life

1633 West Elm Street

Allentown PA 18102

Schedule: Friday, December 15 and Saturday, December 16 

10am and 2:15pm - 0-750 NLM pairs 10am - 0-200 pairs 

2:15pm - 0-200 pairs

No player may exceed the event limit.

Fee: $15 per person per session 

Cashless Tournament

Payable through Entry Express or credit card at the door.

Lunch: $10 prepaid lunches can be ordered from Lois Fuini. Please send a check payable to LVBA to Lois Fuini, 3944 Shirley Drive, Schnecksville PA 18078. Choose an Italian, Turkey, Roast Beef, Roasted Veggie or Cheese Hoagie. Questions, contact Lois at lafuini@yahoo.com.

ACBL and local COVID protocols will be followed. 0-750 games pay gold and red points.

0-200 games pay red points only. Watch for more information on our website at wwwbridgewebs.com/lvbaunit133. 

Annual Meeting and Holiday Party November 11

Location: 

Brookside Country Club

901 Willow Lane

Macungie, PA

Schedule: Saturday November 11

12:00pm Social and Cash Bar

12:30pm Dinner and Meeting

2:00pm Bridge Games (Open & 0-500 NLM)

Fee: $30 for Unit 133 members, $45 for non-members (due by October 30) 

How do I make a reservation? 

1. Mail checks (payable to LVBA) and registration form (one for each player) to: 

Bryan Snapp

4658 Parkview Drive S.

Emmaus PA 18049 -1212

2. Pay by cash or check (payable to LVBA) at club games. 

For registration form, click here.

If you have questions, please email Lois Fuini at lafuini@yahoo. 

Philadelphia Cricket Club is putting on a luncheon followed by bridge and other fun activities to benefit the Women’s Center of Montgomery County – click here for details.

Coming up in October will be a PCBA sectional at South Jersey Bridge Club (Oct 6-8). The club is run by the warm and wonderful Bernadette Hennessy May, and this is guaranteed to be a good time. Free Intermediate lessons are planned before the morning sessions on Friday and Saturday, and King of Prussia Bridge Club will be organizing carpools from their club.

Unit 141 members wishing to run for the board should secure 50 signatures and submit them to our secretary, Joan Goldstein by December 1st. Any questions, contact me. 

A warm welcome to our newest PCBA members! So happy to see seventeen new members this month, including two that I taught to play!

Debbie Berger

Evelyn Blanchette

Charles Bruton

Peter Burgum

Kathleen Carter

Jill Combs

Ron Falkowski

Sue Fleishman

Diane  Goff

Karen Hall

Mark Nemiroff

Lisa Ravetz

Juliet Spitzer

Elizabeth Stone

Gail Traub

Laura  Virgilio

Ellen Wurtz

Congratulations to our members who achieved a new rank!

Junior Masters

John G Bakley

Edward Gerson

Robert W Kachelries

Linda J Levitt

Diane M Preiser

Lynda E Ries

Club Masters

Leah DePaul 

Loretta J Spadafora

Sectional Masters

Gail N Gutman

Susan C Heron

Regional Masters

Barry P Mohr

Barbara J Sooy

NABC Masters

Elisa Lock

Lou Primavera

Advanced NABC Master

Huiyao Liu

Life Master

Jack Willgruber

Bronze Life Master

Ross A Currie

Ruby Life Master

Mimi A Schneirov

Gold Life Master

Susan W Morse

Sapphire Life Master

Lisa K Mita

Diamond Life Master

Tony G Zacchei

The auction:

P 1D P 1H 

P 1S all pass

Right or wrong, partner chose to pass 1S in the balancing seat. What is your opening lead?

You know what they say: If you want ruffs, lead a trump. Actually, they do say that, although it’s somewhat tongue in cheek. Anyway, I led a low spade. Nothing else appealed really. Looking at all four hands it’s so easy. Declarer should knock out the ace of trumps and then go after diamonds. It doesn’t look like we’re going to be able to find a heart switch, does it?

Declarer won the trump in her hand and quite reasonably played on diamonds. A diamond to the king was followed by a low club to the queen. Success. Then she played a second round of diamonds, and I won my ace. Partner echoed. So now I know declarer has five diamonds and four spades. How many hearts?

I returned a club to partner’s ace and partner played a third round of clubs, all following. Okay, declarer has one heart or no hearts. At this point declarer had three winning diamonds and a winning club in her hand. But declarer also had a trump problem. Again, it’s an easy hand to play double dummy, but at my club they don’t let us play that way. Declarer tried to cash a winning diamond and my partner ruffed. Now partner led a heart and declarer ruffed. Declarer led a winning diamond. I pitched, and declarer shed a heart from dummy as partner ruffed again. Partner played a heart and declarer ruffed. I made the last two tricks with the ace and nine of spades.

Holding declarer to seven tricks for -80 was a good matchpoint score for us. Once again, we proved the old adage - when you want ruffs, lead a trump. A low spade from the ace led to us taking four trump tricks.

Delaware Clubs 

The Bridge Studio of Delaware, Wilmington

Harold Jordan

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

Shuffles 2

Ocean View Presbyterian church

Thursday @12:30

Donna Heckscher

215-817-2465

shuffles2023@gmail.com

MOVIN' ON UP

Junior Master

Stephanie Shen

Club Master

Richard J. Bradley

Bronze Life Master

Lou Ann Carter

Silver Life Master

James O. Marshall

THE WELCOME MAT

(New to our Unit:  T=transfer, N=new member)

Jean Burgess-N             

Mary Jo Moffett-Wilson-T    

Mohsen Refaie-T

Congratulations to Jan Lindsay, our new Bronze Life Master, and Gene Waltz, our new Sapphire Life Master.

It’s a while off, but please plan to join us for our next sectional tournament May 31 – June 2, 2024.

4Spot | October 2023 | Editor: Susan Morse