2 Extra Games Next Week

2 Extra Virtual Games Next week

Aug. 15, 2021

2 Extra Games Next Week, Our 1st Bridge Cruise & Congratulations to Our Players

Please join us at two extra virtual games next week. We're having our second bridge retreat at the Idaho Rocky Mountain Ranch, and the games at 3 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 23, and Tuesday, Aug. 24, will be virtual. You're welcome to play, whether or not you are at the retreat.*

Margo Peck (BBO: Wits End) and Stephanie Campbell (BBO: LASoup) have recently attained the rank of club master. We'll tell you more about them later.

Double points will be awarded at the "Welcome Back" face-to-face game at the YMCA on Fridays at 3 p.m., through September. You must be fully vaccinated to play in face-to-face games.

Finally, you should have received emails about our first bridge cruise, which will be March 18-31. A dozen people have already signed up, and we hope even more of you will be able to go.

--Chuck Abramo and Jo Murray

*Subject to ACBL restrictions on virtual games. Let us know if you're unsure of them.

Rebids: Key to the Contract

Rebids are the most troublesome part of bidding, and are usually the key to the contract. We'll focus on Rebids by Opener for the next few weeks. It's fine to join the classes even if you missed the first session.

Rebids by Opener, Part 2 - Aug. 16
Review of Rebids by Opener, Parts 1 & 2 - Aug. 26
Rebids by Opener, Part 3 - Aug. 30
2 NT Forcing (Finding Game after Partner Preempts) - Sept. 8
Rebids by Opener, Part 4 - Sept. 20

Details are at SunValleyBridge.com. The cost is $27 per lesson, or you may purchase a virtual punch card for 5 lessons for $125. Private lessons on these and other topics also are available.

Join Our Very First Bridge Cruise

What could be more fun than bridge in luxurious surroundings?

We're holding space for our bridge players on a 13-day SilverSea cruise aboard the Silver Spirit from Barbados to Lisbon from March 18 to March 31, 2022.

This is an amazing opportunity to concentrate on bridge on an exquisite ship. There's even a butler for every suite. From $4,420, including bridge program fees, if paid in full by Aug. 31.

Covid Precautions at the YMCA

The Wood River Community YMCA has been retrofitted with bi-polar ionization equipment The new technology improves indoor air quality by adding additional positive and negative ions into the room airflow. According to the Y, these ions have been shown to inactivate pathogens like the coronavirus.

We currently require all players to be fully vaccinated against Covid. We will continue to monitor the situation, in cooperation with the ACBL and YMCA, and determine whether additional precautions are needed.

Play Your Cards

Thanks to Mitzi Miller (BBO: Chumico) for passing on a good thought for life, as well as bridge.

"Life consists not in holding good cards ... but in playing those that you hold well."

--Josh Billings, a 19th century humorist.

Responder's Obligation

Remember that the opener may respond in a new suit at the one level with as many as 18 HCP. Therefore, responder should strive to bid a second time with 8+ high card points.

Meet Our Newest Club Masters

Margo Peck (BBO: Wits End) and Stephanie Campbell (BBO: LASoup) met at a bridge club in Los Angeles. Although Stephanie has since moved to Denver, they continue to play together online and recently both earned the title of club master. We've known Margo for several years, as she also has a home in the Wood River Valley. We met Stephanie for the first time at the June retreat at Idaho Rocky Mountain Ranch.

Stephanie Campbell

When did you start playing bridge and why?

I learned to play bridge when I first started working. There was a group of women in my office who either played or were interested in learning. One of them was quite a bit older than the rest of us, so taught the rest of us to play. However, I left that job and city (Chicago) two years later and didn’t play bridge again until about five years ago. I had retired a few years earlier and felt like I finally had the time to learn.

What do you like about Sun Valley Bridge?

Lots of things! The people are friendly (even online!) I feel like I’m playing with people better than I am, I’m learning, and it’s a great chance for Margo and me to improve our partnership.

What was your profession, now or in a past life?

I was a secretary, a copywriter and a producer in advertising, then a programming and production executive at television stations and finally at DIRECTV.

Where have you lived – both now and in the past?

Oh, boy. Kansas City, Wichita, Little Rock, Memphis, Detroit (twice), Chicago (3 times), Stamford, CT (twice), Philadelphia, Cherry Hill, N.J., Westminster, Maryland, Miami, Denver (twice), and London.

What are you doing when you aren’t playing bridge?

Taking care of my 9-year-old Havanese, Coco, and resettling in Denver. I moved here for the second time in April.

Anything else?

I was glad to go to the retreat and meet some of the people I’ve been playing with for the past months. Also, I’m finding the post-pandemic resocialization process a little daunting and wondering if others are, too.

Margo Peck

When did you start playing bridge and why?

I started four years ago after an initial disastrous attempt with an instructor about 25 years earlier. My neighbor started to play and I thought I’d give it another try … with a different instructor! I’d say I started for the challenge and to meet people.

What do you like about Sun Valley Bridge?

The excellent, but friendly ACBL standards, people are welcoming and forgiving, well-organized by Jo and Chuck … much better than other clubs I’ve played at.

What was your profession, now or in a past life?

First career was in higher education administration. Then about 25 years ago, I moved into community mental health as a marriage, family therapist.

I now am back in administration and fundraising for community mental health in Los Angeles.

Where have you lived – both now and in the past?

Born and raised in Southern California, starting in Palm Desert and then heading west to Los Angeles in 1980. Moved to Idaho part-time in 1985.

What are you doing when you aren’t playing bridge?

I’m board chair of The Southern California Counseling Center, which takes up any extra time when I’m not hiking, reading, and doing a little fishing.

Fun Facts

If there is a prize for the BBO name we’ve all sometimes wanted, it goes to Margo for “Wits End.”

We also like Stephanie’s BBO name, LASoup. When she selected it, she was living in Los Angeles and Campbell’s, of course, is known for soup.

Congratulations to Gold Point Winners

We offer a special congratulations to Deborah Sagues, who won her first gold in our recent Stardust Games. Other gold point winners were Betty Berger, Ron Bloom, Jim Churchill, Judy Hyde, Barbie John, Ursula Kennedy, Pamela Mann, Fran Maughan, Robert Meyers, Mitzi Miller, Lindsay Ormsby, Jane Oliver, Thomas Oliver, Linda Parsons, Susan Passovoy, Margo Peck, Nina Rothstein, Merrily Smith, Frank Ward and Lauren Wagner,