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In This Issue
May Events
Poetry
Annual Meeting
Challenge Match
I/N Sectional
Potholders
Table Tips
Club News |
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GNTs This Weekend
Shore Sectional Canceled
 The Grand National Teams take place this weekend (May 4-5), with all flights--Open, A, B, and C--competing in Kingston, PA. It's not too late to field a team, since pre-registration is not required. Players need only be in good standing with the ACBL and reside within District 4. The winner in each flight earns a spot at the National competition in Atlanta this summer. Complete information, including the conditions of contest and contact information for the GNT coordinator, is available at the District 4 website: http://www.district4.info/gnt.htm.
The Shore Sectional (also known as Mays Landing), which was scheduled to take place on the weekend of May 17-19 at Mays Landing, has been CANCELED. There was an unavoidable conflict with testing by the fire department and no other location could be found. |
Bridge-Inspired Poetry
Last month, in the April newsletter, we created a headline based on T.S. Eliot's "April is the cruelest month." That literary reference inspired Unit 141's own Elliot (Shalita) to pen another bit of poetic wonder, reprinted here for your enjoyment. We knew that Elliot had bridge talent and we thank him for sharing his now discovered writing talent.
Roses are red
Violets are blue
I am as good a poet
as Gerard Depardieu
Is an actor...
I am a factor.....
I lay down rhymes without a
prophylact-or
Cuz I'm pure
My rhymes are clean
What that means
is you won't get no disease
From rhyming to my rock
And rocking to my rhyme
You can be sure
of having a good time.
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Challenge Match: Howard Kahlenberg and Team Takes on Bridge Winners Best
Have you ever tried to pick the winners for the March Madness brackets in basketball or played in any kind of fantasy league? It's hard to get it right, right? Now think about trying to the do the same thing for a bridge tournament, where differences among the top 50 teams are minute and winning and losing can be determined by a decision that goes right or wrong on a single board.
 It turns out that Unit 141 board member Howard Kahlenberg is both a terrific bridge player and very, very good at fantasy bridge brackets. In March, he submitted his picks for the Vanderbilt to the popular website Bridge Winners (www.bridgewinners.com). The Vanderbilt is the premiere teams event held at the spring Nationals and draws the best competition from around the world.
Without getting too involved, let's just say that there's a lot of predicting to do. Not counting the matches that cut the field to 64 teams, there are 63 matches that need consideration and upsets keep shaking up the field. When it was all over, the Auken team had won the real event and Kahlenberg had tied as the winner in the fantasy version.
That victory was only part of the adventure, though, because his reward is to play with teammates of his choosing against a Bridge Winners team for a cash reward. The opponents will likely include Gavin Wolpert, the website's co-founder and winner of the 2013 North American Open Pairs and Steve Weinstein winner of many National titles.
 | | the notice from bridgewinners.com |
All of us can enjoy watching the competition since it will "air" on May 12 at 2 PM on BBO (www.bridgebase.com). Kahlenberg's BBO name is "guru" and you can watch the match by joining the host of the game that includes him. You need not be a member of BBO to watch, though membership is free if you decide to join.
We wish Kahlenberg and his teammates the best of luck and look forward to the match! |
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Doylestown I/N Sectional Is a Huge Success
On April 22, twenty-four tables of Intermediate/Newcomer teams enjoyed an exciting teams event. They played in a two-session Dupli-Swiss, that awarded Silver Points to all winners.
These exciting one-day I/N events have been very popular. Look for more of them in the future at venues across the unit. If you have comments or questions, please contact Unit 141's I/N coordinator Bruce Lang at bruce.edward.lang@gmail.com.
 | | Gino Lenaz, Barbara Nicholas, Jeff Goldstein, Casey Von Seldeneck |
 | | Mary Ellen Cockerham and Denie Mathias (N-S) |
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Local Teams Get Gold (and Potholders) in Gatlinburg
Many Unit 141ers took off right after the April sectional at Bala and headed straight to Gatlinburg. What's the appeal? Apparently the Gatlinburg Regional's draw includes cheap rates, plentiful food, continuous and enormous knockouts, free-flowing gold points, and abundant giveaways (including color-changing clocks, change purses, and potholders). Here are just a few of the many local teams that enjoyed the experience, and came home with lots of gold and more than a few potholders.
 | | Jim and Elaine Watters; Herb and Kathy Chalek (4 potholders) |
 | | John Williams, Bob Smink, Dave Cohan, and Mike Giesler (4 potholders) |
 | Real Fradette, Elaine Clair, Mitch Snyder, Dave LeGrow, and
John Dickenson (5! potholders) |
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Table Tips: Respect the Clock
 Managing time at the table is important, so that the time you have can be spent thinking about the cards. Nobody wants to feel pressure because time has been wasted on "mechanics" that could be spent on bidding and play. For everyone to have the most available time to think and play, consider and implement these tips:
- When it's your turn to play or bid, you should be thinking or playing. Other tasks, like writing down scores, should be done when it's not your turn.
- Do not discuss or think about the previous board. Even if you are pulling out your new hand and sorting it, discussing the previous board reduces your focus and slows down your thought process and your actions. It also distracts your partner and opponents so everyone at the table takes a longer time to make their first bid.
- Flip the board as quickly as possible after the hand. Most experts agree that rules limiting North-South to flip the boards (North/South) should be abolished. Making the next hand available to all players must be done immediately. The vulnerability is accessible on the convention card if you miss it.
- Pass boards actively to the next table when you are behind.
- East-West should stand up and get out of the way when the next East-West pair arrives at the table (even before the round is called).
Follow these tips and the game will move faster and more efficiently for everyone.
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Club News
On May 2nd, Ami Bridge will open its doors in Newtown at Shir Ami Temple. The club will hold non-life master games only. Games take place at 12 PM every Wednesday and Thursday, and at 6 PM on Thursday evening. All eligible players are invited to join Ami Bridge for a friendly game of duplicate bridge. Please visit the website for more information: www.bridgewebs.com/newtown
Yorktown Bridge Club will host a Unit-Wide game on two dates: May 6 and May 14. Check the website for more information: http://www.yorktownbridgeclub.com/schedule.php.
Everett Young reports the death of Cetin Okcuoglu on March 30. A native of Istanbul, Chet was a resident of Cinnaminson and Moorestown. When not playing bridge, he was an engineer and businessman. An upbeat and friendly face at the bridge table, Chet will be missed by his many bridge friends and partners.
Local clubs are encouraged to send announcements, schedules, updates, and special games for placement in upcoming newsletters.
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