Questions? Comments? Concerns?
Contact your District 4 board members.
PRESIDENT
Jeanne Gehret
jeannegehret@comcast.net
VICE PRESIDENT
Betsy Cutler
betsy2955@gmail.com
SECRETARY
Bill Bauer
william.baueriii@verizon.net
TREASURER
Pat Civale
pat@csa-accounting.com
DISTRICT DIRECTOR
Joann Glasson
joannglasson@msn.com
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Time is running out for GNTs
Grand National Teams Flights A, C, and Open District 4 Finals are being held in March. Registration has closed for Flight A, but time remains to register for the Open and C Flights (registration closes on March 20).
Winners not only accumulate Gold Points, but also win the opportunity to represent District 4 at the Chicago Summer NABC’s in July (along with some cash to defray expenses).
CLICK HERE for additional details and a link to the online registration.
Dates for each Flight competition, which will be held on BBO, follows:
- Open (Unlimited MPs)............................... March 25-26
- Flight C (Non-Life Master & Under 500 MPs*)... March 25-26
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· Flight A (Under 6000 MPs*)......................... March 4-5 (registration has closed)
Flight B (Under 2500 MPs*)......................... February 4-5
*Masterpoints for Flight qualification are “as of” August 7, 2022
Congratulations to our GNT Flight B winning teams:
1st Place:
Jerry Jia (Berwyn PA), Huiyao Liu (Yardley PA), Pamela Scalmandre (Cherry Hill NJ), Mark Xue (Broomall PA)
2nd Place:
Barry Dehlin (Dresher PA), Bharat Rao (Berwyn PA), David Venetianer (Chadds Ford PA), Kurt Engleman (Avondale PA)
3/4 Tie:
– Susan Morse (Flourtown PA), Alison Shoemaker (Wyndmoor PA), David Dresher (North Wales PA), David Dodgson (Lansdale PA)
– Benjamin Hawn (Lancaster PA), Nick Straguzzi (Mullica Hill NJ), Russell Poppleton (Camp Hill PA), Todd Thorsen (Lititz PA)
GOLD POINTS AWAIT YOU at District 4 Regionals
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District 4’s first Regional of 2023 is right around the corner. Don’t miss out – make plans now to join the fun during “off season” in Rehoboth Beach!
CLICK HERE to view the schedule and hotel information.
The popular Philadelphia Regional at Valley Forge is slated for June 26-July 2 at the Alloy (a Doubletree Hotel by Hilton), King of Prussia.
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Until next month,
I welcome your comments or suggestions (jeannegehret@comcast.net)
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From the District Director |
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There has been considerable turnover in management at ACBL headquarters in Horn Lake.
The personnel changes started with the elimination of the Inhouse Counsel position towards the end of 2022. This was followed shortly by the termination of the Information Technology Director and the resignation of the Executive Director.
Paul Cuneo, a member of the ACBL Board of Directors, volunteered to step into the position of interim Executive Director, commuting weekly between his home in Texas and ACBL Headquarters in December of 2022.
Shortly after he assumed this position, both the Director of Marketing and the Director of Field Operations were terminated. Last month the Director of Finance resigned.
Often, if an organization removed an entire layer of upper management, it would result in chaos. That is the exact opposite of what has occurred. The organization is not only functioning seamlessly, but thriving, without losing a beat.
A volunteer group of expert I/T leaders, headed by Jay Whipple, have stepped in to lead the ongoing I/T operations, working on streamlining and improving the department.
McKenzie Meyers has stepped up to take over management of Field Operations and is doing a terrific job. Sherry Terraciano is managing club and member services. Stephanie Threlkeld, who previously reported to the Marketing Director, is managing the marketing department and Susan McKay, the Controller, has temporarily taken over the lead in Finance.
This demonstrates that the ACBL has very dedicated and accomplished, professional staff members who are getting the job done every day in Horn Lake. They deserve our gratitude.
The Board of Directors has been working hard as well:
1. A revised budget for 2023 shows a small financial gain.
2. Great strides are being taken in the new disciplinary process that will incorporate the use of EDGAR and the IBA to replace the existing methodology.
3. Units can now run “local sectionals” that don’t need to be staffed by an ACBL director.
4. BBO will be working with the ACBL to offer membership incentives online.
5. ACBL is opening up membership to the international community and providing a path to Life Master for players living outside of North American through BBO.
6. We will offer two online silver point events in 2023 and three online regional events.
Joann
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Regionals
May 1-5
June 26-July 2
Sectionals
March 17-19
March 31-April 2
April 14
April 15-16
April 28-29
· Open (Unlimited MPs)............................... March 25-26
· Flight C (Non-Life Master & Under 500 MPs*)... March 25-26
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The 4Spot features fantastic contributors, on a regular rotation: |
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Larry's Learning Center by Larry Cohen:
January, April, July, October
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For Novices Only by Marti Ronemus:
February, May, August, November
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The ABC of Bridge by Dave Wachsman:
March, June, September, December
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The ABC of Bridge
by Dave Wachsman – david.wachsman @aol.com
Of the three “C”s of the ABC of Bridge, Communicating can be the most challenging. Previous discussions regarding this “C” have primarily focused on bidding concepts. Recently I developed a series of 30 minute bridge workshops for my fellow bridge players at our Florida condo and realized that an aspect of Communicating gets little attention.
I refer to being on the same wave length while defending a contract. Look at the following hand. You are East and must make a carding decision at trick one when your partner, West, leads the KS against the 5H contract. What do you play at trick one and why?
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At the end of this article is a summarized recap of Defensive Carding. East’s challenge at trick one is to study the dummy, review the auction, and decide what is the relevant situation (Attitude, Count, Suit Preference, or Null). East must put on his thinking cap and recognize that declarer has at most one spade. Clearly not an Attitude nor a Count situation. East realizes that there is no suit that he would want West to shift to, so we are not looking at a Suit Preference situation. It is the rare Null situation.
As East, did you overtake the KS at trick one and put the 10C on the table? If so, good for you. If South plays the 3C, West must be on the same page as East and signal (Attitude) that he likes the club suit as a source of defensive tricks.
Just as declarers are taught to pause at trick one to develop a plan of attack, so too must the defenders. Defenders should be focusing on where the are defensive tricks coming from. Both defenders need to be on the same page. That is the epitome of Communicating.
Defensive Carding consists of two components: the Situation and the Method. The Situations are:
- Attitude: You like the suit led; you don’t like the suit led; you want partner to continue the suit, etc. (Method: Standard attitude – high card encourages, low discourages.)
- Count: You need to tell partner whether you have an even number of cards in a given suit or an odd number of cards. (Method: Standard count – High-low implies an even number of cards and Low-high implies an odd number of cards in the suit.)
- Suit Preference: When neither attitude nor count is relevant, but directing partner’s attention to one of two possible suits is very relevant, we have a suit preference situation. (Method: Standard suit preference is a high card says lead the Higher ranking suit and a low card suggests the lower ranking of the two possible suits.)
- Null: The other three situations do not apply and partner should use his own judgement in deciding how best to defend. (Method: Play a middle card or takeover the defense.)
Note: Many players today have reversed the Standard Method of signaling for both Attitude and Count while leaving suit preference as the standard method. What is played is called UDCA which means Upside Down Count and Attitude. Use whichever method you feel comfortable with.
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Moderator: Nick Straguzzi
Bid on or pass? See how our finest handle this common dilemma here. |
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Then visit the MSC website to read next month's problem and submit your answers online here. |
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News from Around the Units |
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Unit 112: Central New York
Betty Youmans
readsausten@yahoo.com
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Two of Unit 112’s youngest members are excelling at the bridge table and academically.
Katie Sullivan started 2022 in the 0-5 Masterpoints category. She is a sophomore at the University of Virginia and founded the university’s bridge club. Katie and her sister, Jay, competed in the USBF Junior Trials in Atlanta in December and their team placed third. Katie has been selected to compete in the Women’s U26 category in Veldhoven, Netherlands next summer.
Jay Sullivan, a high school sophomore, won the Indian River County Science Fair with her project on the “Impact of Bone Density on Total Knee Arthroplasty.” She will compete in the state science fair, won an $80,000 college scholarship as well as awards from the Office of Naval Research and Regeneron Biomedical Science.
Unit 112 salutes our advancing players:
· Silver Life Master: Tom Rusling – Pittsford
· Bronze Life Master: Steve Singer – Spencerport
· Regional Master: Nora Shang – Ithaca
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Unit 120: Northeastern Pennsylvania
Doreese Torrey
doreeset@gmail.com
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Hello Unit 120!!
A milestone is a marker made of stone or an important point in life.
That noted, please extend a belated milestone birthday congratulations to Arthur Kibbe. We celebrated with him on his birthday at the Abington Library bridge game in Clarks Summit on February 10, 2023, hosted and directed by Chris and Louisa Stevens. Yummy birthday donuts and snacks were furnished by our hosts. Louisa has requested notifications for any upcoming milestones so more celebrations can be highlighted.
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March brings the return of daylight savings time on March 12, St Patrick's Day on March 17, and the vernal equinox, heralding the beginning of Spring on March 20, 2023.
March also brings rain and mud! If you sprinkle salt on your muddy footprints, it will dry out the carpet and the dirt will be easily vacuumed away.
According to folklore, wear a sprig of the herb Rosemary in your hair in March and it will improve your memory!
That's all for now. Hoping to see you all at the virtual and/or face to face bridge tables...WITH ROSEMARY BEHIND YOUR EARS!
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Unit 121: Berks Montgomery
Carl Ziegler
crzig@hometownu.com
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Mark your calendar for Friday, April 14, 2023. Our club will host a two session sectional, 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM. The tournament is limited to Non Life Masters with less than 500 master points. Game fee is $9 per person per session or $25.00 for both sessions and lunch. Reservations required for lunch. For partnerships or questions contact Brian Snyder 4spadesdoubled@gmail.com or (484) 838-0977
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Unit 133: Lehigh Valley
Lois Fuini
lafuini@yahoo.com
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Hope you all have the luck of the Irish when playing bridge at one of our clubs this month!
New Rank Advancements
Congratulations!
Club Masters
Vivian Kane
Steve Berman
Advanced NABC Master
Barbara Dopera
Silver Life Master
Beth Dimler
“Souper” Bowl Sunday a Success!
Even though the Kansas City Chiefs won the Super Bowl in Arizona, the real winner in the Lehigh Valley was a local charity. Our players came together on Super Bowl Sunday for a game of duplicate bridge to benefit Second Harvest Food Bank. In addition to all proceeds from the game, our Unit contributed $200 and players made individual donations. Everyone brought cans of soup or other non-perishable food items. Thanks to everyone who played, donated a snack for our tailgate party, or helped to make this event a success!
Winners:
Open:
N/S- Gary Hillenbrand & Don Swan
E/W- Jim Kenny & Larry Kemmerer
0-750:
Nelson & Laura Rabenold
February STaC Game Winners:
Monday Afternoon-Barbara & Mike Dopera
Friday Afternoon N/S -Lois Fuini & Beth Stelts E/W- Jon Clemens & Mike Dopera
February Educational Game Winners:
Monday, February 6
Barbara and Mike Dopera - 0-750
Steve Berman and Vivian Kane - 0-200
Friday, February 10
N/S- Grace Sutherland and Peter Stoyanov
E/W- Michael Kohler and Deborah Butz
Unit 133 Spring Sectional April 28 & April 29
New Format - New Schedule
Please join us for our new Spring Local Sectional in Allentown at Lehigh Valley Active Life for an opportunity to earn 80% Silver and 20% Black Masterpoints. Enjoy a pleasant atmosphere, friendly people, delicious lunch, and great bridge.
Schedule:
Friday, April 28
10am – Open and 0-750 2:15pm – Open and 0-750
Saturday, April 29
10am – Open and 0-200 2:15pm – Open and 0-750
Games may be combined due to attendance.
Location:
Lehigh Valley Active Life
1633 West Elm Street
Allentown PA 18102
Fee: $10 per player per session
Please pre register with cashless entry either online or at the door using a credit card.
To register online:
● Go to ABCl.org
● Click on Upcoming
● Click on Tournament Calendar
● Click on Entry Express
● Search for Lehigh Valley
● Register for the events you and your partner want to play
For Questions or to reserve lunch for $10:
Please contact Tournament Chairperson, Lois Fuini at
lafuini@yahoo.com or send a $10 check payable to LVBA to Lois Fuini, 3944 Shirley Drive, Schnecksville PA.18078. Due to lack of nearby restaurants and limited time between sessions, we suggest you buy or bring a lunch.
At this time, vaccinations are required and masks are optional.
Please come out and help us make this new venture a success!
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Unit 141: Philadelphia
Jay Apfelbaum
japfel1@comcast.net
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Our Next Sectional Tournament - March 31 to April 2, 2023. Face-to-Face bridge continues!
The Philadelphia Contract Bridge Association will hold its next tournament at the King of Prussia Bridge Club. This will be the second time we've held a tournament at this location. The tournament last year was a true success. This year, Cathy Strauss will chair the tournament. We look forward to another great weekend of bridge. Because space is limited, we encourage everyone to pre-register.
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Flyer for the Sectional: Click here.
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Registration page to reserve your place: Click here.
There will be stratified open pair games on Friday (March 31) and Saturday (April 1) at 10:00 a.m. and 2:15 p.m. Sunday’s (April 2) game will be a stratified Swiss team starting at 10:00 a.m. See you there!
The past month has seen our Unit conduct its first ever electronic election. Anyone who wanted to serve on the Unit Board of Directors could be nominated. Twelve chose to run for the board. Here are the eleven members of the PCBA Board of Directors (alphabetical order):
April Apfelbaum
Jay Apfelbaum
Ellen Berkowitz
Randee Braslow
Mark Cohen
John Dickenson
Joan Goldstein
Becky Levinson
John Nothdurft
Andy Rosenberg
Cathy Strauss
The new board members will meet later this month and elect the officers for the rest of 2023.
A big welcome to our newest PCBA members!
Ian Clements
Karen L Dever
Bebe H Kivitz
Charles A Parker
Mary H Pichola
Marilynne Rose
Michael Russo
Doris M Spera
Ellen Wang
Congratulations to our members who achieved a new rank!
Junior Masters
Joe Hirt
Sheldon Morris
Sectional Masters
Michelle Clemens
Graham A Harrison
Charles Schelke
Linda Schelke
James S Walker
Robert P Willoughby
Regional Masters
Susanne Coffin
Ann Lawson
Trichinopoly A Thayumanasundar
Bronze Life Master
Becky Levinson
Silver Life Masters
Mark J Freedman
Sandy Tilney
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Unit 168: Central Pennsylvania
Russell Poppleton
rpoppleton@comcast.net
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Stay tuned for Unit 168 news next month. |
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Unit 190: Delaware
Tammy Holm and Paula Varrassi
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Delaware Clubs
The Bridge Studio of Delaware, Wilmington
Harold Jordon
302-479-5431
MOT, Middletown
Cheryl Shields
302-602-1638
Monday Morning Bridge Club
Friday Nooners
Dover
Clare O’Brien
410-758-2434
Shore Bridge
Lewes
Monday @ 12:30
Wednesday @ 9:30
Anna DeLapo
302-236-0346
UPCOMING EVENTS
First State Regional
Rehoboth Beach
May 1-5, 2023
BLUE HEN SECTIONAL
The Sectional, held at the Bridge Studio, February 23-26 was a resounding success. There were over 20 tables at each event. A great time was had by all. The Overall Winners are listed below:
Friday A.M. A/X pairs: Glenn Robbins & Jiang Gu
Friday A.M. B pairs: Gerald Abelow & Glenn Fuhrman
C pairs: Judith Cronin & Lynne Brooks
D pairs: Jackie Topaz & Marc Topaz (tied with)
Marilyn Haskins & Mark Nehra
Friday Open Pairs: Meyer Kotkin & William Ravreby
499 Pairs: Marilyn Haskins & Mark Nehra
Saturday A/X Pairs: Jay Apfelbaum & Louis Glasthal
B & C pairs: Pamela Scalamandre & John Nothdurft
D pairs: Pamela Folz & Ann Biehn
Saturday Open Pairs:
- Flt. A: Donna Morgen & Richard Popper
- Flt. B: Jeremy Xu & Fred Gillespie
- Flt. C: Jackie Topaz & Marc Topaz
Sunday A/X Swiss: Harold Jordan, Rick Rowland, Joann Glasson & Bob Glasson
B Round Robin Teams 1: Jon Manerchia, Judy Robbins, Myra Rosenberg, Andrew Rosen berg
B Round Robin Teams 2: Jack Willgruber, Dave Willgruber, Jeffrey Rohrbeck, Lou Primavera
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Unit 217: Susquehanna
Jim McKeown
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Congratulations to our 2022 Unit 217 Ace of Clubs, Mini McKenney and On-Line winners. Online points are not included in the totals for Mini-McKinney and Ace of Clubs. I am pleased that a number of our players with no reasonable access to face-to-face play are continuing to play and earn online points. |
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Please join us for our next Sectional, June 2-4, 2023 at the at the Boalsburg Fire Co 113 Pine Street in Boalsburg, PA when we will recognize these award winners. |
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