3 Reasons Bridge Players Are Celebrating

3 Reasons to Celebrate for Bridge Players

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March 3, 2020

Sun Valley Bridge players have three reasons to celebrate this month.

The results of the Mini-McKenney, which tracks all masterpoints won in 2019, are in. Sun Valley Bridge players took more than two dozen of the awards.
Our fundraiser for the Wood River Community YMCA and winter party raised almost $5,300.
Our first-ever bridge retreat, to be at the Idaho Rocky Mountain Ranch June 22-25, sold out in a week. So we're scheduling another one in August.

See details on all of these, plus more, in the following articles.

March lessons will focus on competitive bidding. Here are the topics:

March 9 - 9-10:30 a.m. Mountain - Handling Interference After 1 NT Openings, Part 1
March 16 - 9-10:30 a.m. Mountain - Handling Interference After 1 NT Openings, Part 2
March 23- 9-10:30 a.m. Mountain - Competing to the 3-Level
March 30 - 9-10:30 a.m. Mountain - Playing in Moysian (4-3) Trump Fits

Cost is $25 per lesson or 5 lessons for $120. Make reservations with jo@sunvalleybridge.com. If you've already signed up, there's no need to do so again.

How Would You Bid & Play This Hand?

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Fran Maughan Meyers and Jo Murray got a top board on this hand on a cruise. See the lessons applied.

Mark Your Calendars

Tune-Up Table

The newest feature at Friday games is the "Tune-up Table." You know how your car runs along, and then you need a tune-up? Sometimes your bridge game needs a tune-up. Sit with Chuck or Jo and tune up your game. Space is limited.

March Potluck

Cathy Barbouletos and Karen and Bob Robideaux will host a potluck on Wednesday, March 11, at the Robideaux home in Sun Valley. Sign up at a game or email Jo Murray.

Tournaments

* Magic Valley Spring Sectional, Twin Falls, March 13-15. 199ers section if attendance permits.

* Pocatello Non-Life Masters Sectional, April 3-5.

* Salt Lake City "It's All a Buzz" Regional , May 11-17.

Chuck's Corner: On Detaching a Card

It is illegal, as well as bad manners, to start to remove a card from your hand before it is your turn to play. It distracts others and may give unauthorized information to your partner about the cards you hold in the suit. The director can penalize a player who violates this rule.

Is It a Closeout?

When is a jump to 4 of a major a closeout?

When opener bids 1 of a major and responder jumps to 4, this is a closeout. Responder has a weak hand with 5 trump.

When opener jumps to 4 of a major in support of responder's suit, opener is showing a hand with 19-21 points - good enough to make game if responder only has 6 points. This is NOT a close out. Responder may pursue slam with a good hand.

Congratulations to the

Mini-McKenney Winners

This is the ACBL's list of the players who won the most masterpoints in their respective categories. More than two dozen of our players were in the top 10 in their categories in Southern Idaho in 2019.

Four were first. They are top row, from left, Patty Nelson, Jo Harmon and Roland Wolfram, and bottom left, Allen Jones

2nd Idaho Rocky Mtn. Ranch Retreat

Our June bridge retreat at the Idaho Rocky Mountain Ranch sold out in less than a week,. Day passes are available for the June 22-25 sessions.

We've also scheduled a second retreat for Aug. 27-30. Make your reservations now!

Having Fun at the Fundraiser

Sun Valley Bridge players donated almost $5,300 to the Wood River Community YMCA at our annual party, and we hear a few more checks are coming in. Thank you all for supporting the Y, which makes our games possible. And a special thanks to Frank Ward and Ned Lumpkin for wonderful wines from Utopia Vineyard and Lazy River Vineyard, to all our players for incredible appetizers, and to Becky Smith for her photography. See more photos on Facebook.

Photo captions: Top left: Bob Robideaux, Dan Turner & Pete Smith; top middle: Chuck Abramo, Mary Rae Bruns, Eva Wahl & Dave Middaugh ; top right: J ill Hitchin, Karen Robideaux & Dave Hitchin; lower left:; Joanne Aiken, Cathy Barbouletos & Nancy Mulroney; lower middle: J eanne Wright, Judy Kaiser, Greta Hanse n & Sue McKee; lower right; Frank Ward & Judy Williams.

Helping the YMCA

We're strengthening our partnership with the YMCA. Three members of the Sun Valley Bridge family volunteered for "Make a Splash," which. teaches all Blaine County children to swim free of charge. Thank you for your help: Dave Hitchin, Carol Knaup and Carol Schiefele-Holmes.