Unit 141 Newsletter                 May 2014
   Philadelphia Contract Bridge Association
 

 

In This Issue

  • May 18   
  • Bridge Master    
  • GNTs   
  • Fundraiser 
  • Annual Brunch 
  • Charlie Gray   
  • Table Tips
  • Club News 
  • Upcoming Events


    Grand National Teams
    May 3-4

    Alzheimer Association Outing
    May 5

    May 5-11

    May 18

    June 16-22

    July 17-27

    August 18-14

    September 12-14
    Feedback 
      

    Send your comments and suggestions for future articles to Allison Brandt at [email protected]

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    Don't Miss the Unit 141 Annual Meeting and Brunch on May 18
     
    On May 18, Unit 141 will host its Annual Meeting and Brunch, followed by the Sonny Jaspan Memorial Game.

    All members of the Unit and their guests are welcome to attend. Winners of the 2013 Mini-McKenney and Ace of Clubs races as well as all new life masters will be honored so they are especially encouraged to attend. Additional information is available in a more detailed article below and from the event flyer. For additional information or to make reservations, contact event coordinator Joan Warren at [email protected] or 215-879-9923.

     

    Try BBO Bridge Master     
      
    Bridge Base Online (BBO) has many great features, such as Speedball Tournaments, Bidding Tables, and the Vugraph, and we have discovered another hidden gem. It's called Bridge Master and it's a terrific way to improve declarer play.

    You can find this feature on the BBO home page, under featured areas. The concept is deceptively simple. You choose a level from Beginner to World Class and play a hand, trying to make the contract.
     

    The hidden secret, and what makes Bridge Master so useful, is that if you misplay the hand the cards "move" around in the defenders' hands so that you will go down in the contract. Play the hand correctly and the cards lie well and you will make the contract. For example, if you should take a finesse to make the hand, the finesse will work. If the odds favor playing off the ace and king and foregoing the finesse then that finesse won't work for you!

    If you cannot figure out a hand, there is a step-by-step explanation that shows the recommended line of play. Even when you successfully navigate the hand, the explanation details the logic of the hand and informs an important principle of declarer play so read it anyway.


    You can play five hands at each level for free to find the level that works best for you. Then there are dozens of hands at each level which you can play for the very reasonable price of $0.25 for 30 minutes.

     
    BBO is a premier site for playing bridge, but with Bridge Master it's also a terrific place to improve your game.  

     

    GNT District Qualifications Run on May 3-4    

    The Grand National Teams, GNTs, is a national teams event that culminates with the national finals at the Summer NABC. It begins, though, with district qualification; District 4 runs its 2014 qualification May 3-4 in Kingston, PA. The district qualification is played in four flights--Open, A, B, and C--and only the winning team in each flight qualifies to play at Nationals. No club or unit qualification is needed.

    Winning the district level of this prestigious event also earns a subsidy (paid for by the district) for the teams that qualify to the national competition. For additional information, including the conditions of contest, contact information for the coordinator, and flight eligibility, check out the GNT information flyer here.

     

    Alzheimer's Fundraiser on May 5 to Include Bridge and/or Golf 

     

    On May 5, the Delaware Valley Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association hosts a fundraiser at the Trump National Golf Club in Pine Hill, NJ. The events begin at 11 AM and include lunch, a silent auction, and an ACBL-sanctioned bridge tournament. Golfers can also participate in the 2014 Delaware Valley Chapter Golf Classic.

    The cost for the bridge tournament is $85 or $300 to play with a pro and includes the tournament, prizes, lunch, and non-alcoholic beverages. For an additional $100, cocktails and dinner will be served at 6:00 PM. Transportation will be provided from four locations. Please see the link below if you are interested in a ride or in the golf outing.


    For more information, contact Megan Kline (215-622-4852 or 800-272-3900; [email protected]). For additional details or to register, visit the event website at http://act.alz.org/DVCSpringGolfClassic .

     

    Unit 141 Annual Meeting and Brunch Takes Place on May 18 

     

    Unit 141's Annual Brunch and Sonny Jaspan Memorial Game will take place this year on May 18, 2014 at 10:30 AM at Bala Golf Club.

    This multi-faceted event features a lovely brunch as well as a regular meeting of the unit board, which is open to all members of unit. New life masters and winners of the Mini-McKenney and Ace of Clubs races for 2013 will be honored at the meeting. The Sonny Jaspan game follows, with the tournament trophy being awarded to the winners.

    brunch

    The price per attendee is $30, the same as last year, and the brunch will feature an expanded menu. The price includes a free raffle for all attendees. All new life masters, Ace of Clubs, and Mini-McKenney winners who attend will rwill also receive a free play good at any 2014 sectional.

    All members of the unit are welcome and encouraged to attend this informative and fun event. To learn more or register, please contact event coordinator Joan Warren at [email protected] or leave a message at 215-879-9923. Payment is easy and can be made by check, credit card, or Paypal by contacting Joan.

     

    Charlie Gray

    Charlie Gray, a long-time Philadelphia resident and Philly bridge classic died on March 23 at the age of 84. Our thanks to his partner of many decades, Gail Bell, for allowing to reprint portions of tribute to him.

     
    Charlie Gray was so extremely bright that he graduated high school at the age of 15, and college when he was only 18. He was asked to join Mensa, but because he was so modest and unassuming, he declined.

    He became a civil engineer plus a professional land surveyor and owned a company that imploded large buildings. That really didn't fit his genteel personality, so later in life he started working for the Redevelopment Authority of the City of Philadelphia. He was blessed with two wonderful children.

    In 1976, Charlie proudly became President of District 4 and then business manager for the district, finding locations for sectionals, regionals, and even two nationals. He earned nearly 14,000 masterpoints and was inducted into the local Hall of Fame. Charlie was independent to the end and never complained (except loud and clear to his partners!).

    His sense of humor was unmistakably delightful. He majored in witticisms, one-liners, puns, and clever remarks. When it came to generosity, Charlie's was beyond compare. His kindness was infinite...and he cared deeply about his many friends and acquaintances. [At Charlie's the memorial, many friends told stories of Charlie's small and large kindness that attest to goodness. --ed]

    A really unique thing about Charlie was that he could expound as an expert on just about anything -- from synergy to geology, from sports to even the different species of cows.

    The world has lost a great man and my best friend.

     

    Table Tips: Back to Basics

      Post Image (magazine)
    There are a few simple ways to keep the game moving. Follow these three basic tips and you will easily do your part to save time at the table and preserve it for thinking about the cards for you, your partner, and the opponents.

     

    1.     Lead before you do anything else! If you are on lead, lead before marking a personal scorecard or entering the contract on a Bridgemate. Making your lead first enables dummy to set down the cards and then for the declarer and your partner to begin analyzing them. Remember to lead face down, but know that once the card touches the table (barring some  impropriety), it cannot be substituted.

     

    2.     Eliminate postmortems at the table. This advice not only saves time, but could also save partnerships. Hand analysis at the table takes time away from playing the next hand and can strain even the best partnerships. If you have a key point to discuss, make a note and go over it after the game. Hand records are useful tools and make it easier to recall and discuss hands after the game, so encourage your club to provide them.

     

    3.     Claim when you can, but know how to claim correctly. The basics are simple: When it's your turn to play, face your cards and state a line of play. It's not enough to say, "the rest are mine." You need to explain how the rest of the tricks belong to you. Also know that once you claim, the rules forbid you from playing out the cards. If an opponent insists, call the director and let him or her sort it out.

     

    Club News
     
    Card Hand on Right
    Raffles for Bridge has moved to a bright, new location in the same area. Their address is:

    3901 Conshohocken Ave.
    Greenbriar Club Apartments
    Defensive Arts Center
    Philadelphia PA 19131

    For additional information such as about game times, the move, or how to contact the club, check out their website.
     

    Yorktown Bridge Club will be running special games throughout the month of May, including an "Eight is Enough" Swiss, full week of STaC games, ACBL-wide International Fund Game, and week of Charity Club games. For a detailed schedule, click this link to their website. 

     

    The Ami Bridge evening game will be moving from Tuesday to Thursday evenings at 6:30 PM and the location is moving to Middletown Country Club. This is an open game. Their website is www.bridgewebs.com/newtown .  

     

     

     

    Local clubs are encouraged to send announcements, schedules, updates, and special games for placement in upcoming newsletters.

    Unit 141 Newsletter, May 2014
    Volume 4, Issue 5
    Editor: Allison Brandt ([email protected]