The GNTs are underway. With the completion of Flights A and C this past weekend, I can now identify one special District 4 player who has reached the finals of every NAP and GNT flight (NAP A, B, & C; GNT Open, A, B, & C), winning quite a few of those flights. Know who it is? I'll reveal the name of this "Super Seven" player next month. In the meantime, let me know if you can add your name or the name of another D4 player you know to this illustrious list of special players.
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Questions? Comments? Concerns?
Contact your District 4 board members.
SECRETARY
Bill Bauer
TREASURER
DISTRICT DIRECTOR
Joann Glasson
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An important and driving initiative for the ACBL is Zero Tolerance. When I started playing 40 years ago opponents and partners would allow their tempers to get the better of them at the table. As a new player I failed to understand the importance of not criticizing partner for every error or misjudgment. My competitive nature prevented me from understanding that my partner and I had the same goal - to bid and play every hand to the best of our ability and in the end hope that our results rewarded our efforts. I also failed to realize that errors are part of the game and that "leaving that hand behind you and concentrating on the next hand" is what is important.
20 years ago I met my wife Sue and we started playing together. While I may have been considered to have been "the stronger player" in our partnership, it was Sue who taught me how to be a better player by being a better partner. Because Sue was the better teacher as a partner our results improved and our bridge successes became part of our success as life partners, as well. Do not practice ZT because the ACBL requires you to. Practicing ZT towards your partner will help make your partner and your partnership better. Being a better partner and opponent will allow you, your partner and your opponents to enjoy the experience of playing this great game. I owe a great deal of thanks for this lesson to Sue Boye - 2/12/55 - 3/17/17.
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From the District Director
District 4 has been selected to receive $30,000 in 2017 from the ACBL Charity Foundation to be distributed to up to seven different 501(c)(3) charities. April Uhlenburg is the District Charity Chair and is responsible for the program that will
distribute these funds. Her email address is [email protected]
. She has appointed a coordinator from each District that has expressed an interest to collect and prepare the grants. April and her committee will review all applications and choose the most deserving charities to receive the grant.
Unit 112 - Mary Miller
Unit 121 - Sue Wessner
Unit 133 - Julie Brooks
Unit 141 - Diane Carroll
Unit 168 - Pam Murray
Unit 190 - Jeff Rubens
Unit 217 - Jackie Humilovich
If you have a favorite charity that you want to apply for a grant, contact your unit coordinator.
The Spring NABC in Kansas City was a winner. Attached is my full report from Kansas City:
http://www.district4.info/Districtdirector-March%202017.htm
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April 8 - 9
May 1 - 7
May 1 - 7
June 26 - July 2
District 4 STaC
August 28 - September 3
Lancaster Regional
October 30 - November 5
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Participation in the GNTs has tripled this year and there's a great new playing location at the Valley Forge Bridge Club. Flights A and C competed on March 25 and 26, with Open and B Flights set to take the stage on April 8 and 9. Congratulations to the Dye team in Flight A and the Xue team in Flight C on their victories. The teams earned the right to compete in the National GNTs at the summer NABCs in Toronto.
Don't miss out. There are still spots open to compete in Open Flight and Flight B. PS: If you win, your team earns at least $1,000 plus cards fees to subsidize your trip to Toronto.) Contact Bob Glasson with questions and for information.
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Flight A Winners
Everett Young, Doug Dye, Estelle Ronderos, Al Ronderos |
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Flight C Winners
James Xiong, Mark Xue, Michael Xiong, Jerry Jia |
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Flight A Runners Up
John Dickenson, Allison Brandt, Howard Kahlenberg, Mike Giesler |
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Flight C Runners Up
John Ferranti, Matt Sherman, Ellen Goldsmith, Alexis Peffer |
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News from Around the Units
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Unit 112: Central New York
Unit 112 Sectional
April 8-9
May 1-7
Unit 112 Sectional
June 3-4
July 15-16
Unit 112 STaC
August 14-20
Unit 112 Sectional
September 9-10
Unit 112 Sectional
September 23-24
Saul and Roselyn Teukolsky: Triple
Crown Winners!
In Major League baseball they call it the Triple Crown: Highest batting average; most home runs, most runs batted in. The achiever of that lofty goal in either major league is sure to win the Most Valuable Player award.
Well, Unit 112 has its own Triple Crown Winners and Most Valuable Players...Saul and Roselyn Teukolsky of Ithaca and Pasadena. They won the pairs, team and overall competitions for 2016.
The couple, who are originally from South Africa, have been playing together for 40 years. They spend 6 months in the Ithaca area where Saul is an astrophysics professor at Cornell University and 6 months in Pasadena where he has a similar role at Caltech University.
The pair has achieved Diamond Life Master (nearly 6000 MPs). In addition to their success in Unit 112 playing at the Bridge Club of Ithaca they also play at the San Marino Bridge Club in Pasadena. Their most recent success was winning the Open Pairs at the Los Angeles Regional last month and in 2016.
While the couple usually play as a pair, Roselyn does have 3 other partners for occasional daytime and evening games, while Saul indulges his other passion: golf.
Saul and Roselyn met at the University of Witwatersrandin Johannesburg in 1966 where they were in the same math, chemistry, physics and applied math classes. "We were chess opponents first," says Roselyn, "and then later, bridge partners. I finally married the guy after chasing him to the USA in 1971 (where he had a scholarship for grad school at Caltech)."
Roselyn has had a separate career as a high school math and computer science teacher and is now trying her hand at mystery writing. Perhaps there is an intriguing story in the works revolving around the game of bridge.
Speaking of mystery...do they have any bridge tricks up their sleeves? "Yes, we have a 2D opening bid which shows a strong 8 or 9 trick hand in an unspecified suit," says Roselyn. "This is a terrific convention---helps to reach slams which are otherwise hard to bid."
What advice would they give to someone who is considering learning to play bridge? "Do it! It's the most fabulous, frustrating, challenging, annoying, wonderful thing one can do. ...when you get hooked on the game...play against players who are better than you. That's how you improve your game---in self-defense. I would also say, be nice to your partners. In the final analysis, it's not how good you are as a bridge player, but how nice you are as a person."
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Unit 120: Northeastern Pennsylvania
Unit 120 Sectional
June 2-4
Unit 120 Sectional
September 29-October 1
By all accounts, the 2017 Wilkes-Barre Regional was an unqualified success. Chaired by Walter Mitchell, the tournament drew more than 400 players from more than a dozen states and several foreign countries. Partnership chair Bill Orth made sure everyone had a game, and Ellen Preece as hospitality chair treated players to exceptional pastries and assorted goodies.
Congratulations to Ellen, Irv Lebowitz and Martha O'Connor, who earned their Life Master designations during the week.
The 642 tables in play far exceeded the 449 in 2015 and the 515 tables in 2013. Of the 380 players earning master points, 73 were Unit 120 members, led by Sara Eisner (31.89); Steve Tillman (29.66); Bill Orth (23.94); Walter Mitchell (21.45); Carole McCallum (19.50); Dave Meyer (19.01); Martha O'Connor (17.49); George Mansour (16.68); Judy Stillinger (14.85) Marlene Meyer (13.32); Bill Burns (10.63); JoAnn Mauger (10.63); Judy Null (10.15) and Bill Haynes (10.01). Those earning event tops: Judy Null/Beth Rosenthal (side game), Walter Mitchell (Mon/Tues KO), Steve Tillman/Sara Eisner (open pairs) and Doreese Torrey/Joe Distini (Gold Rush Pairs).
When you see Ellen or Bill, please thank them for their great work all week, along with Beth Rosenthal, George Mansour, and George Marcy. They pitched in during a phenomenal turnout on Wednesday with additional tables, bidding boxes and bridge mates. If you played in the tournament, Walter asks you to please give any team member your candid appraisal of your experience. We only do this once every two years, so your feedback is vital to the continued improvement of the Wilkes-Barre regional.
NEW ACHIEVEMENTS:
Junior Master: Jian Chen
Club Master: Roseann Tedesco
Sectional Master: Christopher Stephens, Louisa Stephens, Robert Wojack
Regional Master: Barbara Shaffer
Life Master: Ellen Preece, Martha O'Connor, Joan Benedict
Bronze Life Master: Martha O'Connor, Mary Zabresky
Silver Life Master: Diane Berkowitz
We all hope to make the top 25 in the Unit. It takes a lot of perseverance. You need to attend an abundance of games and you have to win. In the Open Masterpoint Race for 2016, 0-2000 point category in District 4, George Mansour came in second with 132.53 points. In the 0-500 point category, Peggy O'Keeffe came in 20th.
The Stars of Unit 120 in the Ace of Clubs and Mini McKenney for 2016 are:
ACE OF CLUBS
MINI-MCKENNEY
Christopher Stephens
0 - 5
Christopher Stephens
Woody Wolston
5 - 20
Woody Wolston
Begona Kowet
20 - 50
Begona Kowet
Victoria Tarleton
50 - 100
Silicia DeBellis
Beverly Bright
100 - 200
Beverly Bright
Joe Distini
200 - 300
Gretchen Jack
Ellen Preece
300 - 500
Ellen Preece
Martha O'Connor
500 - 1000
Lynn Gonchar
Bill Haynes
1000 - 1500
George Mansour
Stephen Tillman
1500 - 2000
Stephen Tillman
Judy Argento
2500 - 3500
Norman Dressler
Carol Drewniak
3500 - 5000
Carol Drewniak
Dave Meyer
5000 - 7500
Dave Meyer
Very sorry to report the passing in February of Anne Jakubowski. Anne was not a member of our unit as she lived part time in Florida but she was a snowbird who arrived at the Honesdale club every May for many, many years. She was a regular partner with Ann Gordon.
On a happy note, Peggy Watters is doing well. Forthose who would like to take part in her card shower, she is at Anderson Personal Care, Room 206, Wesley Village, 215 Roberts Road, Pittston, Pa. 18640. She is still playing bridge and loves cards.
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Unit 121: Berks Montgomery
Brian C Snyder
484-838-0977
June 9
Unit 121 I/N Sectional
September 22
We held our St. Patrick's Day Unit Game on Thursday March 16 at Sacred Heart Villa. There were 9-1/2 tables in play. Sara Gainey and Doug Chaney won first overall.
A 65th birthday party and Upgraded Club Championship game was held for Albert Bingaman on Tuesday March 21. There were 14 tables in play. The winners were Sue Wessner and Albert Bingaman, North-South and Barry Gorski and Andie Sheaffer, East-West.
Congratulations to the following members for achieving their next Life Master rank:
Lee Ernst - Bronze Life Master
Rebecca Chick - Silver Life Master
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Unit 133 Sectional
April 28-30
There is no Unit 133 report this month. Check back in May for updates and information.
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Bala Sectional
The 2017 Annual Meeting and Sonny Jaspan Game is Saturday May 20 at Raffles. Brunch starts at 10:30, with the meeting and game following.
Please contact Joan Warren about attending.
We have lots of members attaining new designation levels in March. Congratulations to them all.
New Life Master Eileen Zakuto
Sapphire Life Master William Grosnick
Gold Life Master
Susan Kestenbaum
Robert Killen
Ruby Life Master
Helen Miller
Sandra Sill
Silver Life Master
Rebecca Chick
Donna Saffren
Bronze Life Master
Suresh Jain
Robert Stile
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Unit 168: Central Pennsylvania
May 13
May 26-28
August 6
Unit 168 Club News:
From Harrisburg:
- Sunday, April 9: Monthly birthday game (lunch 12:30; game 1pm)
- Tuesday, April 25: Club Appreciation game (12:15pm; HBC members play free)
- Wednesday, April 26: Swiss Team game (dinner 5:45; game 6:30pm) (register for 4/26 Swiss by emailing [email protected]
- HARRISBURG REGIONAL: MAY 1st through 7th
In addition to usual daytime events, two unique evening programs will be featured with a start time of 7pm & goal of ending by 9:30 nightly. The evening entry fee will be $10 per person, per session and will pay FULL Regional
GOLD
points for all Strata!!. They are:
- Stratified Open Swiss teams: Tuesday/Wednesday (0-750, 750-2000, Open). Three 6-board matches both nights (must play both evenings).
- Evening Pairs: Thursday/Friday (0-750, 750-2000, Open). 18 boards each night (must play both evenings).
- We mourn the loss of two long-time HBC members, Bruce Bayuk and Judy Groenenboom. Our sympathies and condolences go out to their families, friends and partners.
From Lancaster:
- During the week of April 10th - ALL games will be Club Championships with extra points!
- Plan ahead and join us for the Lancaster Sectional at Leola on Memorial Day Weekend, May 26-28. See the tournament flyer for additional information.
CONGRATULATIONS
to the following Unit 168 members on their new master point rank achievements:
Club Master:
Frances Dimeler, Pat Gage, Jimmie Groves, Nancy Hudock
Sectional Master:
Walter Gaige, Gail Johnson,Elaine Mitchell
Regional Master:
Lee Morrison
Ruby Life Master:
Carl Huber
Gold Life Master:
Carolyn Shirk
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April 29
May 19-21
Unit 190 Sectional
September 15-17
"
Eight is Enough
"
is coming to Wilmington and Lewes on April 29th.
Click on the link above for details.
PLAYER ADVANCEMENTS
JUNIOR MASTER
Pamela F. Dent and Mary Ann Downing
CLUB MASTER
Mark A. Nehra
SECTIONAL MASTER
Duke Lohr and Francis W. Rode
REGIONAL MASTER
Barbara Tasevoli
NABC MASTER
Richard W. Weissman
BRONZE LIFE MASTER
Rischa S. Fishman
SILVER LIFE MASTER
Kimmie Fulweiler
PLATINUM LIFE MASTER
Richard J. Popper
DSBA 299er SECTIONAL WINNERS
March 7, 2017
1 2.95 Sally Humphrey, Hockessin DE
2 2.95 Catherine Conaway, Kennett Square PA
3 1.96 Roslyn Berkovitz, Dover DE
4 1.96 Deborah Flayhart, Dover DE
5 1.89 Walter Bernadzikowski, Milford DE
6 1.89 Donald Pyne, Harrington DE
7 1.47 Leslie Goldstein, Newark DE
8 1.47 Dorothea Lavigne, West Chester PA
9 1.34 Richard Weissmann, Lewes DE
10 1.34 Mary Reilly, Lewes DE
11 1.27 Janet Blanchfield, Hockessin DE
12 1.27 Harry Heath Jr, Hockessin DE
Members who "
Jazzed it Up
" at the Kansas City NABC were Benito Garozzo, Richard Popper, Jonathan Baumel, Ala Hamilton-Day, Mark and Melody Henderson, and Jess and Lois Stuart.
The top-notch Wilkes-Barre Regional, held at the beautiful Woodlands Inn, and with hospitality galore, was a cause for celebration. Top DSBA winners were Rick Rowland, J. Bruce and Judith Gwaltney, Kurt Engleman, Thomas Tully, Jill Itzkovitz, Ala Hamilton-Day, Carol Hopson, Mark Nehra, and Donald Pyne.
DSBA WILMINGTON SECTIONAL WINNERS
February 24 - February 26
1 23.79 Peter Filandro, Wilmington DE
2 23.79 Marie Filandro, Wilmington DE
3 13.03 Rick Rowland, Wilmington DE
4 8.36 Paul Amer, Newark DE
5 8.36 Kurt Engleman, Avondale PA
6 6.57 David Venetianer, Chadds Ford PA
7 6.09 Randall Berseth, Bear DE
8 5.95 Stephen Miller, Kennett Square PA
9 5.14 William Everitt IV, Hockessin DE
10 5.14 Carole Everitt, Hockessin DE
Did you play that hand correctly? Test your line of play and analysis, click on the links to resources to improve your game, check out the pictures of winners, and find out what you're missing by visiting Unit 190's website.
Check out Unit 190's website, now being handled by Webmaster Extraordinaire Mark Henderson, as well as last month's issue of The Dummy, to meet most, if not all, of your bridge needs.
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Unit 217 Sectional
June 1-3
Unit 217 Sectional
October 6-8
There is no Unit 217 report this month. Check back in May for updates and information.
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Our Monthly Feature
The 4Spot features fantastic contributors, on a regular rotation:
For Novices Only by Marti Ronemus:
January, April, July, October
The ABC of Bridge by Dave Wachsman:
February, May, August, November
The Advancing Player by Jay Apfelbaum:
March, June, September, December
Click here to read this month's article.
Marti: Dear Readers...
Click on any blue month above to read recent articles.
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Master Solvers Club
Moderator: Nick Straguzzi
Don't forget to visit the new MSC website to submit your answers online. It's easy! It's fun! You can earn glory and the admiration of your peers!
First,
click here to read the analysis of last month's problem.
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