My sincere thanks to the Board for its vote of confidence in asking me to continue as President for another year. We have a dynamic Board in place, and during 2002, I look forward to working with each and every member. We will miss those who are leaving the Board, Ruth Bernstein, Andy Lohan, Geoff Manis, Jean Mazouat, and Rebecca Schwartz. They were all valued members and worked hard to make Unit 106 a success. I would like to welcome Andy Muenz, who was elected to fill Joe Adamo's unexpired term, and the newly elected Board members: Barbara Dahl, Lee Ohliger, Mike Jeshion, Penny Paiken, and Richard Rosner.
The Annual Dinner meeting was a huge success and I would like to thank the 163 people who turned out to be a part of it. The hard work that went into creating the evening was much appreciated. Many thanks to Andy Lohan, Frank Grunebaum and Mary Giannella. If you missed it, you can learn more about it in the separate article in this Newsletter.
In reflecting on 2001, we had a very successful year. We came out financially solvent, had a growth in membership, and seem to be on a smooth course. In a broader sense, it has been a year of unrest and sorrow in light of the events of September 11. Never again will we feel as safe and secure as we once did. As time passes, I hope and pray that we will not forget but rather find a way to move on and beyond.
The first big event of 2002 is District #3's Regional in Rye Brook, NY, in January. It is always a great tournament and I hope you will plan to attend.
This is of course followed by our own Sectional in February at Guardian Angel in Allendale. The poll taken at the last Sectional showed a great majority of attendees liked the play-through on Sundays with food served during the game. We plan to follow the same format in February. If you would like to volunteer in any capacity during the tournament, please contact Marilyn Marion or Betty Price (our new Tournament Co-Chairs).
I wish you all a happy, safe, and prosperous New Year! May all your finesses work and all your master points come home to roost.
See you at the tables! top of page
We are being asked to continue our lives as normally as possible and surely bridge can help us do that. What more absorbing activity could we possibly participate in for 3 1/2 hours that is more thought provoking and fun and will take our minds off our other problems for this short period of time.
Recently I returned from Paris where the impromptu location for the Bermuda Bowl/Venice Cup when it was moved from Bali after the events of September 11. The French Bridge Federation, in conjunction with the World Bridge Federation did a yeoman job in pulling this Championship together with only two weeks notice. The first week of the tournament was played at the Stad de France, a beautiful soccer stadium about 15 minutes drive from the hotel. Don't ask how long it took my four passengers and me the first day in a stick shift car in rush hour traffic to get back to the hotel from the stadium. Suffice it to say that we were late for the evening activities. Our American teams shown. We came home with the Gold in the Bermuda Bowl with the team that was captained by District 3's own Rose Johnson Meltzer... the first woman to ever win a Bermuda Bowl and she did this on her birthday! District 3's Kay Schuelle playing on the Bronze medal Venice Cup team, and one of our senior teams, captained by Gene Freed of California also brought home the Gold... And let's not forget that back in August our juniors won the Gold in the Junior Team Championships in Brazil. USA has much to be proud of.
Unfortunately, I will be at the National Board meetings in early December and will miss spending time with you at your Annual Holiday Party. Enjoy the rest of the fall and start making your dates now for the Rye Town Hilton.
Have a great Holiday season. All good wishes for a happy, safe and bridge filled New Year from Ron and me.
Joan Gerard, District Director top of page
Fall District 3 Regional
Tues. OP (13)
2B Gorlitsky, Bev. Kaufman
Wed. Com. KO, Br. 2 (15)
3rd Beverly Milman, F. Higham, B. Feldman, D. Goldstein
Wed. OP (22)
1A N. Nathanson, C. Friedman
Sr. Pairs (28)
6A Elaine & Sheldon Berger
5B Norma Gartner, Janis Rush
Thurs. Aft. Side Game (14)
1A G. Goodman, M. Sidell
Sr. Pairs (36)
2A B. Deutch, C. Friedman
3B Wm. Alexander, A. Bergen
Open Swiss (26)
1A Robert Heitzman Jr.
3B Norma Gartner, Janis Rush, Marvin Brown, R. Horkitz
4B E. Barrack, Sally Sonne, Miyoko Boswell
2C Penny Paikin, B. Gorlitsky
Fri. Com. KO, Backet 1 (9)
1st Nick France, Miriam. Sedell
Paul Fagan, Eward Wilson
Side Game (24)
4A Barbara Deutch, C. Friedman
Sr. Pairs (30)
4A Natalie Cohen, B. Kaufman
6A. Wm. Alexander, A. Bergen
Fri.-Sat. Ko (9)
2nd Burrell & Joy Humphreys
Sat. OP (56)
Sat. Sr. Prs. (32)
4B Mehtab Saxena, Atul Rai
6A Natalie Cohen, Penny Paikin
Sun. Open Swiss (25)
1A C. Friedman, R. Heitzman Jr.
3A Mark & Stasha Cohen
3B Robin Tuck-Sherman
1C M. Boswell, S Hisayama, Sally Sonne, Lan Go
Sun. Senior Swiss
5A G. Goodman, R. Whitmore
4B Abe Jakob, Joyce Brogan, Dan & Annette Graubart
Lancaster Regional
Thurs. OP (97)
4A Sally Sonne, Lan Go
CONT.PRS (67)
1A Betty & Robert King
Seniors Swiss (60)
3A J. Haussmann, Barbara Rahuba
MON-TUE KO,Br. 2(16)
3/4 John Kuharetz
KO, Br. 4 (16)
2 T. Seng Tjoa
Tues. Women's Prs (32)
6A Lila March
KO 3/4 John Kuharetz
Wed. Cont. Prs. (18)
3B D. Colasuonno, P. Profita
Open Pairs (72)
5A Sally Sonne, Lan Go
6B Ron Nelken - Annabella Nelken
Fri. Am 299 Prs (24)
3/4A D. McInnis, Vickie Costa
Comp. KO, Br. 3 (9)
3rd Robert - Elizabeth Broadfoot
Fri. Sr. Pr. (120)
3A Barbara Rahuba - Joan Haussmann
Sun. Aft. Swiss 299 (18)
3C Kenneth Miles - Vickie Costa, Dave McInnis
NABC Las Vegas
1st Sun.Com. KO B(16)
3rd Betty & Bob King
Com. KO D(16)
2nd JoAnn & Neale Van Delft, James Michaelis
1st Com. KO C(8)
2nd T. Seng Tjoa
Brk. KO Team 1 (16)
1st Marty Bock
Brk. KO Team 6(15)
3/4 Arnold Bergen
lst Mon.Non Life Master Prs(26)
5 Ed. Wilson, Paul Fagan
Strat. Fast OP (74)
5A/1B John Hogan Jr.
9A Sam Aldenderfer
6B David & Judith Weisman
Strat. Mixed Pairs
5B Nicholas France
Senior Pairs (224)
5A Wm. Alexander & A. Bergen
Open B-A-M Teams (78)
31 Robert Heitzman Jr.
lst Wed.Women's B-A-M (18)
2 Kerri Sanborn, Irina Levitina
Thurs.Thanksgiving
S.Fin.Qual.Blue Ribbons (534)
18 Ilya Levitin, Irina Levitina
Senior Pairs (142)
1A Wm. Alexander, Arnold Bergen
Thanksgiving KO'S Bkt 7 (16)
4 Neale &Jo Ann Van Delft, James Michaelis
Friday. A/X Pairs (148)
11A/4B John Hogan
Dealer Busts KOS Bkt. 3 (16)
2nd Paul & Claire Kern
2nd Sunday Strat. OP (154)
7B Harold & Ruth Bernstein
2nd Tuesday OP (66)
5B Norman Swanson - Gloria Swanson
6B John Kuharetz
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Dealer South
North South Vulnerable
North
S K 10 9
H K J 10 9 6 5
D A 2
C J 6
West East
S 6 3 S J 7 5 4
H Q 8 4 3 2 H A 7
D 5 D 10 9 7 6 3
C 10 9 8 7 5 C 4 2
South
S A Q 8 2
H
D K Q J 8 4
C A K Q 3
The Bidding:
S W N E
1C P 1H P
2S P 3H P
4NT P 5D P
5NT P 6H P
6NT P P P
When was the last time you discarded an Ace to beat 6NT? I was confronted with that situation during Silver week in June.
The bidding was a bit strange and was caused by the fact that North was a house player who showed up without a partner and they had never played together before.
I was east and West led a Club. Note that if South simply cashes four round of Clubs; the East hand is subjected to a progressive squeeze. The seven of Hearts can be thrown on the third Club, but on the fourth, east has no discard. Whatever is thrown establishes an extra trick for South and when that is cashed, East is squeezed in the other two suits. Fortunately for our side, this South didn't do that. He won the Club Jack and promptly cashed the Ace of Diamonds and the King of Spades thus alienating the dummy forever. Still, one must deal with the situation at hand. South tried to run the diamonds and upon finding I had a stop, now cashed his Clubs and there I was. Since the bidding had been unusual, what was his original pattern? Had he manufactured a jump to 2Spades on 3-1-5-4 or did he really have 4-0-5-4? I finally decided to believe his spade bid and after a couple of gulps, I threw the Ace of Hearts and won the last two tricks with the Jack of Spades and ten of Diamonds.
Scene: A nice quiet game at a local club. The event was progressing well until the following board.
The bidding:
W N E S
P P P 2C
P 2D1 P 2H2
P 3H P 3NT3
P 4H4 P P
1. Indicates o or 1 controls (Ace 2 King 1)
2. A forcing but an insane bid (I promise at least 5 pieces.)
3. Sanity regained
4. Too late
The full layout: NORTH
S Q J X X
H 10 X X
D Q X X X
C X X
WEST EAST
S 10 X X X S K X
H Q X H X X X X
D X X X D A J X
C X X X X X C J 10 X X
My hand: SOUTH
S A X X
H A K J X
D K 10 X
C A K Q
OPENING LEAD SPADE 5
The spade lead was friendly indeed and eliminates the spade problem. However, it is necessary to review the carnage caused by my bidding.
The hand has no ruffing values. This being accepted the contract will result in 10 to 12 tricks and 10 points less than a 3 NT bid by the field. Well, since I made an anti-field contract, I need an anti-field play. Despite normal hearts finesse. I take the position that it will not succeed. I need a doubleton Queen on my left. A 0 is A 0. I cashed the heart Ace and King (who gently embraced the Queen). A heart to the 10 was followed by a diamond to my 10. My heart Jack disposed of east last trump. When the smoke cleared. The diamond Ace was my only loss.
I was tied for a top. Who's was the other lunatic?
Two wrongs do not make a right
Except for Frank that magic night.
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I Confess! I'm Guilty? Stan Fink
When my partner, Phyllis Profita said, "You fell in love with your hand," she was absolutely right. I don't know what came over me, but in a moment of weakness, I admit that I felt an undeniable affection for my 28-point hand.
Whenever I teach the lesson on the 2 club opener to one of my bridge classes, I always say, "These are the kinds of hands that everyone wants to receive." Then I add, "Unfortunately, they are often the most difficult ones to bid correctly."
I guess I can now include myself in this group.
After my 2 club opener, partner bid 3 clubs, saying she had a minimum of 8 points and at least a 5-card club suit. Initially, I had planned to bid 2 spades as my rebid, but after hearing partner's positive response to my 2 club opener, I concluded that we probably belonged in 7 notrump.
Therefore, I decided I wasn't really interested in finding out if we had a spade fit. I bid 4 notrump because I wanted to know if partner held the king of clubs.
We play Regular Blackwood and partner responded 5 clubs. (This was hardly a surprise since I was looking at all 4 aces--although when my partner made a positive response to my 28-point hand, the thought did occur to me that possibly we were playing with more than one deck.) Following my rebid of 5 notrump, partner responded 6 diamonds, saying she held one king. Since I held the other 3, I jumped to 7 notrump.
The jack of hearts was led and partner tabled:
Qxx
Q
Txxx
KT9xx
Well, it was ALMOST eight points. I guess an extra point could be added for the 5-card club suit headed by the KT9.
My hand was:
AKxxx
AK
AKJx
AQ
I won the lead in my hand and I immediately unblocked the clubs by cashing the AQ, as both opponents followed. Next, I played a low spade to the queen, which was my only entry to dummy.
When I led the king of clubs, I received my first bit of bad news as east discarded a heart. I could have played another club and gone down just one, but I still had a chance to make the hand if east held the queen of diamonds.
This was not an unreasonable expectation because the opponents were known to hold only 5 points in the combined hands and west had already played the jack of hearts on opening lead and he was known to hold the fatal jack of clubs.
I would have liked to play the ace of diamonds first before I tried the finesse, but I couldn't get back to dummy again so I led the ten of diamonds and let it ride...smack into west's queen--down 2.
Most of the field played in 7 spades going down just one trick, but I still feel the notrump bid was correct since we were playing matchpoints and we held a minimum of 36 points (marked down to 35) including all of the aces and all of the kings.
The pair that received a top score stopped at four spades. When I asked why they didn't bid a slam, one member of the partnership explained, "I bid 2 clubs and partner responded 2 diamonds (a negative response). I rebid 2 spades and he jumped to 4 spades. We play that a second response of 3 spades is a slam try and a rebid of 4 spades shows a very weak hand. I thought he might have zero points, so I passed."
Is this what you call BRIDGE JUSTICE?
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Glenda Calkins was reelected President by the unit's Board of Directors. Glenda thanked the board members for their work this past year. Recognition was given to the board members retiring and the new members were introduced. Glenda awarded the Alex Gruder Service Award to Betty Price, the editor of the Newsletter. The Mark Skinner Award for Teaching and Club Promotion was awarded to Stanley Fink. Betty Ann Smith received the Charlie Karp Award for Good Sportsmanship. The Jan Page Pro-Am trophies were given to Molly Cotton and Elaine Meyers. The Richard Lighton Literary Award was presented by Betty Price to Fred Weidmann for the many interesting articles he has written for the Newsletter. The Bob Johnke Team of Four plaque was given to the Andy Lohan, Frank Grunebaum, Fred Weidmann and Don Margolen for coming in first in the Johnke and winning the playoff match. The Nelson Reitman Knockout winners were the Baranoff Team: Mel Baranoff, Geoff Manis, Joe Adamo, Neil Nathanson, and Sandy Burns. They defeated the Grunebaum Team in a very close match. Al Delio and Arnie Bergen presented the following awards: The Bill Joseph Trophy for Player of the Year was given to Ron J Nelken, also winning the Under 1000 category. Life Master over 1000 points went to Frank Grunebuam, Non Life Master went to Lee A. Ohliger, Idelle Bloom won for player under 100, and Jonathan Ohliger for novice. The Nat Seiden trophy given for the bridge game was won by Carole Wardell and Tod Thorgersen.
(72) Pairs 1A Carole Wardell - Tod Thorgersen 2A Elaine Berger - Sheldon Berger 3A Veronica De Mataloy - T. Seng Tjoa 4A Elaine Meyers - Richard Rosner 5A Dave Kuenzler - Sandy Burns 6A Alan Osofsky - Eva Scatassa 2B Richard Hoffman - Pat Lamb 3B Dolores Hodesblatt - Robert Hodesblatt 4B Rebecca Schwartz - Lan Go 5B Lee Ohliger - Sandy Johnson 6B Bruce Feldman - Beverly Kaufman 2C Ralph Meyer - Alfred Delio 3C Beverly Millman - Jaydeb Kundu 4C Arthur Nusbaum - Gloria Roemer 5C Lila Ginsberg - Mimi Galendertop of page
2
The cards, above are an example of a not uncommon bridge situation in which you can take either a ruffing finesse or normal finesse, depending on who you think has the King. If you think west has it (based on the bidding and the play up to the point you are ready to try it) Lead the deuce and play ithe Queen if the King doesn't appear: If east is the likely candidate to hold the missing monarch, play the Ace first and then the Queen: If the King remains hidden run the Queen, if she is not covered by your east opponent, and discard from your hand. Vioila!!! If you reasoned correctly, you have constructed a winner, which might permit you to make the hand.
The above example illustrates a case where you can perform either a normal or a ruffing finesse. What about the case where you cannot try any finesse, such as the following:
Void
One Characteristic of the new player, which may mitigate against effecting ruffing finesses, is that he or she has a natural tendency to avoid losing an unnecessary trick. As long as you have enough trumps, you will note that you need not lose any trick in the suit in either example. That may be true, but if you don't take a chance, you also lose the opportunity to win extra tricks for discards.
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Count Your Losers Nick France
North
S J974
H
D J9742
C A743
West East
S K86 S AQT5
H QJ82 H T9763
D K53 D QT8
C KQ6 C J
South
S 32
H AK54
D A6
C T9852
Bidding
North East South West
Pass Pass 1C Pass
1S Pass 1NT Pass
2C Pass Pass Pass
Opening Lead: Q of Hearts
The above hand was played on Okbridge with three of the four players being members of this unit. Declarer ruffed the opening lead and then played the Ace of clubs and another club. Unfortunately for declarer the trump broke 3-1 and West on winning the second club trick, played his remaining honor removing the last trump from dummy. Declarer had to lose 2 spades, 1 heart, 1 diamond and 2 clubs. I gave this to a student of mine and she won the first trick with the Ace of hearts and ruffed a heart and then played the Ace of clubs and another club and suffered the same defeat as our declarer.
To make today's hand you should count your losers. You start with counting your losers. You have 2 spades, 2 hearts, 1 diamond, and 2 clubs if the trump breaks the normal 3-1. That is 7 losers and you can only afford 5. The obvious choice is to ruff 2 hearts. Both our declarers would have achieved that if the trump broke 2-2. A little planning at trick one makes it easy to do. Ruff the opening lead and lead a diamond to your Ace of diamonds, then ruff another heart. Now and only now can you play the Ace of clubs and a small club. Now all you have for losers are 2 spades, 1 diamond, and 2 clubs.
As for which of the players was I, I was dummy. It is always easier to see the right play when you aren't playing a hand.
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Behind the Scenes at a Sectional Betty Price
Sectionals occur every twelve to thirteen weeks. Ten years ago when I attended my first sectional in Allendale, I had no idea of the details and time that go into the planning. It has only been the last two years that I realized the many individuals it takes to make a sectional happen and to run smoothly.
Did you know that the President of the Unit and Chairperson of the tournament establish the dates two to three years in advance to insure sanction by ACBL, availability of the facility, directors as well as time on the calendar without a conflict. As hard as our Unit President, Glenda Calkins and Chairpersons: Ruth Bernstein and Marilyn Marion work, it takes many others to assure the tournament is successful. On Thursday afternoon a group gathers to prepare the playing area. Another group assembles on Friday morning to prepare part of the food for the Sunday brunch. Saturday morning a group is planning a game for Beginners, presenting a short lesson and assisting the attendees in their introduction to duplicate. Sunday morning another group meets at Guardian Angel to prepare the sandwiches for the lunch. This involves numerous hands to get the job done. Of course before any of this happens, the shopping has to be done, the caddies set up for 6 or 7 sessions and arrangements made to man the "Pairings Desk" throughout the tournament. Finally there is the clean up at the end, and the posting of the results on the web site and in the newsletter.
Arnie Bergen Abby Brawer Jon Caitlin Barbara Dahl Al Delio Nicholas France Mary Giannella Pam Gorbics Frank Grunebaum Jim Jensen Betty King Andy Lohan Jean Mazouat Carol Mc Mackin Elaine Meyers Andy Muenz Amy Nellissen Lee Ohilger Al Pagan Betty Price Caryll Schenker Harris Schenker Martha Troxell Eileen WhitneyIf you would like your name included in this elite group, volunteer to help by calling Marilyn Marion (201) 995-9673 or me (201) 327-6875 top of page
New Members Life Masters
Betty Hough Florence Rosenthal Elson M. Blunt III
Arnold Lawsky Phyllis Schreiber
Judith Lee Rober Shays Bronze Life Master
Lorraine Morootian Marilyn Taffet Rosemary Olsavsky
Ellenor Mueller Adele Thomas Robert Ryan
Michael Varhalamas Jo Paine Silver Life Master
JoAnn Van Delft
Transfers
Steven Barry L. Leonard
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NORTH
S J1053
H 64
D AQ5
C K753
WEST EAST
S 87 S A6
H KQJ10 H 98753
D J1098 D 7642
C 1082 C 96
SOUTH
S KQ942
H A2
D K3
C AQJ4
Dealer: South Vulnerable: None
Bidding
SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST
1 spade pass 3 spades pass
4 no-trump pass 5 diamonds pass
6 spades all pass
Opening lead: King of hearts
North's jump to 3 spades is a limit raise promising 10-12 points, at least four card trump support, and is NOT forcing if opener has a minimum. Using Blackwood, South determines the partnership is off one Ace and places the contract in six spades; note that a 5 no-trump bid by South asking for Kings should imply possession of all four aces.
After the King of hearts opening lead, South is in danger of losing a heart trick in addition to the inevitable Ace of trumps loser. If he mindlessly follows his early training and promptly sets out to draw trumps, defenders will win the Ace and cash a heart to set the slam. Declarer must recognize that it is essential to shed the heart loser BEFORE touching trumps, and that the diamonds offer the solution.
Correct play is to win the heart Ace, play the diamond King first to unblock the suit, and then play to the Ace and Queen, throwing the heart loser. Since trumps have not yet been drawn, this line of play is subject to the risk that one of the defenders may ruff a diamond trick; however, it is also the only line offering a reasonable hope of making the slam. MORAL: Delay drawing trumps when it is essential to first discard a loser in a side suit.
Query: Had the opening lead been the Jack of diamonds instead of the King of hearts, should the hand be played differently? If so, why and how?
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Frank Grunebuam wins the Life Master category over Burrell Humphreys. Ron J. Nelken had a terrific last couple of months and pulled away from Lisa Insolera to win the Under 1000 category. In the Non-life Master category Lee A. Ohliger made a final surge to handily win here. In the Under 100, Idelle Bloom had a close race with Beverly F. Kaufman. Beverly closed the gap over the final couple of months, but Idelle was able to prevail. In the Under 20 category Jonathan M. Ohliger beat out Ryan Humphreys. Jonathan and Ryan out paced their nearest competitors.
Congratulations, One and all. Good luck in the ensuing year.
Novice - under 20 ======================== Jonathan M Ohliger 20.46 Ryan Humphreys 15.43 Saurav K Dutta 6.00 Kathryn E Filor 5.69 Intermediate - Under 100 ======================== Idelle Bloom 11.86 Beverly F Kaufman 9.32 Penny C Paikin 7.94 Jennifer S Broekman 6.94 Under 300 ======================== Lee A Ohliger 33.32 Kenneth J Jeffery 21.52 Bruce L Humphreys 20.05 Dorothy Van Dalinda 19.04 Under 1000 ======================== Ron J Nelken 50.27 Lisa Insolera 33.96 Janis Rush 25.29 Andy C Muenz 23.38 Over 1000 ======================== Franklin M Grunebaum 46.89 Burrell Humphreys 42.16 Andrew J Lohan 35.44 Rosalind R Elk 34.22 Events processed: Month(s) Unit Wides: April, May, June, August Bob Johnke: April Nelson Reitman Double Knockouts: Sectionals: February, June, September, November Annual Dinner for Seiden Trophy: December
1 Elaine Meyers-Molly Cotton
2 Toni Africano-Caroline Cappello
3 Cyrus Whitney-Helen Hurtz
4 Rosalind Vidair-Margie Daniels
5 Renee Blank-Faye Sloan
6 John Wass-Edson Wiley