Unit 141 Newsletter                     July 2014
   Philadelphia Contract Bridge Association
 

 

In This Issue

  • Valley Forge   
  • Brunch Report     
  • Longest Day   
  • NAPs
  • Table Tips
  • Club News 
  • Upcoming Events


    July 17-27

    August 18-14

    September 12-14

    September 29
    Feedback 
      

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

    Join Button 

    299er Sectional Arrives on July 13 and July 14

    News Flash: Morning session at Pine Run is SOLD OUT. There are still spots at Pine Run in the afternoon and both sessions at Cherry Hill. Don't be left out - reserve now.
     
    An exciting split-site sectional designed just for players with fewer than 299 masterpoints will be here soon! It takes place in Cherry Hill at the South Jersey Bridge Club on July 13th and at Pine Run in Doylestown on July 14. Players with the eligible masterpoints can play at either or both locations.

    Both dates feature Grassroots Open Pairs, which means that they award 40% more masterpoints! All events are stratified and include newcomer events for players with 0-20 masterpoints. Both sites offer free parking, donuts, bagels, and coffee. The cost is $10 per person per session. At Pine Run, lunch will be available for purchase; at Cherry Hill, there are many places for lunch within easy walking distance.

    At Cherry Hill, playing times are 9:30 AM and 2 PM. At Pine Run, the times are 10 AM and 2:30 PM. Pre-registration for all events is required. The morning session at Pine Run has already sold out, but all other sessions still have space available. For additional information for Cherry Hill, check out the event flyer here. For additional information for Pine Run, click here for the event flyer. 

     

    Get Eligible for the NAPs     

    Club qualifications for the North American Pairs (NAPs) have begun and continue through the end of August.

    A highly prestigious "grassroots" event, the North American Pairs (NAPs) starts with club level qualifications earned at any club in any unit running a qualifying game from June 1 to August 31. Check with your local club for its schedule. District 4 qualifier follows in the fall and the event culminates at the 2015 Spring Nationals in New Orleans.

    A player may qualify as often as desired and with as many different partners. At the district final, both players must have qualified at the club level and must be members of District 4. The NAPs are played in flights as follows: A (Open), B (0-2500), C (0-500 Non-Life Masters). Players can play in any and all flights for which they are eligible and qualified.

    If you have questions or need additional information, please contact NAP coordinator Jay Apfelbaum ([email protected]). 

     

    Bridge Tournament for Lupus        
      
    lupus 1 The 12th Annual Bridge Tournament for Lupus will take place this year on September 29th at Green Valley Country Club. Don't miss your chance to play the game you love and support a great cause.

    The entry fee is $70 or $225 to play with a pro and proceeds benefit the Philadelphia Tri-State chapter of the Lupus Foundation of America in their efforts to study and battle this mysterious disease.

    For more information or to register, call 215-517-5070 or visit the Lupus website.

    lupus 2

     

    Marie Trethaway  

    Marie Trethaway, Unit 141 board member emeritus and former Treasurer, died on June 8th. Jack Bastian was kind enough to send this memorial.

    Marie was raised in the Oxford Circle section of Philadelphia. She attended Little Flower High School and while working she took Quality Control courses at Drexel and Temple Universities. She worked for IRC and then EMC Technology for over 30 years. The company moved to Cherry Hill, N.J. in 1972 from their Arch St. location and she moved to Cherry Hill, N.J. in 1975. She was the Quality Control Manager for EMC Technology. Marie was active in the Philadelphia Quality Control Association and became its first woman president in 1989.

    Marie was active in the Philadelphia Contract Bridge Association and was their Treasurer for 11 years. She was a Silver Life Master in Bridge, taught bridge classes to new players, and was a certified Club Director who ran many bridge games. She was a Certified Sectional Director.
     
    Marie also bred, raised, and showed Miniature Schnauzer dogs for many years. Recently, she was appointed an emeritus member of the Philadelphia Contract Association board.
     

     

    Table Tips: Call the Cards

    Hand and Dummy This month's tip is a simple one. As declarer, please call the card you want played from dummy. It is actually improper to let the player sitting as dummy pull the cards for you without naming the one you want even if it seems obvious which card should be played.

    OK, when there's a singleton in the dummy it doesn't seem like a big deal (but you should call the card anyway). But no player, including the dummy, should assume that declarer wants the smallest card played from a suit just because the ace or any other card is led from declarer's hand. Remember, declarer has to say nothing more than "play" to get dummy to pull the smallest card in the played suit.

    Just to be clear, the dummy's job is to pull the cards that declarer indicates and essentially nothing else. So declarers: Please call your cards! Make the dummy work for you!

     

    News from Around the Unit 
     
    Card Hand on Right
    Congratulations to Unit 141 player Ken Chatzinoff. At the King of Prussia Regional, Ken earned his 10,000th masterpoint (and more). With that accomplishment, he joins an elite group of Unit 141ers who have reached that level.

    Kudos to coordinator Lewis Klein, Mike Mayer, and all of the volunteers who helped with the Longest Day fundraiser on June 21 at the King of Prussia Regional to raise money for Alzheimer's research and support. Thanks to the generosity of many who attended that day, over $3100 was raised for the effort.

    The 2014 season of the Solomon Teams has reached the Knockout phase. Congratulations to the Rabinowitz, Korth, Markowitz, and Civale teams, who will now compete for the championship. Look for information in future newsletters and notices about the upcoming BBO broadcast of the finals, which is always exciting and entertaining for the spectators and players. Thanks to everyone who played this year and good luck to the semifinalists!
     
     

    Local clubs and players are encouraged to send announcements, news, updates, or information for placement in upcoming newsletters.

    Unit 141 Newsletter, July 2014
    Volume 4, Issue 7
    Editor: Allison Brandt ([email protected]