The District 17 Bridge Buzz focuses on district and national news and provides you with the links to access the details. Catch the next Buzz May 2024.

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By Elizabeth Hamilton

D17 President and 2024 Fall LV NABC Chair

grtscot@gmail.com

415-994-3527

“We all should know that diversity makes for a rich tapestry, and we must understand that all the threads of the tapestry are equal in value no matter what their color,” Maya Angelou (1928-2014).

Maya Angelou, as many of you know, was an American writer, poet and civil rights activists who received many honors for her work during her lifetime. Reading this particular quote again, although it was not her intention, made me think that it could also apply to our bridge community as well as to society at large. 

The ACBL masterpoint system separates us into strata to create a more level playing field for competition at our clubs and tournaments. In D17, many events are offered to make our bridge community an inclusive environment. No matter what level you play at - the objective is to make it competitive and fun!

D17 is hosting the 2024 Fall NABC (North American Bridge Championships) in Las Vegas. Players will come from all over the world to participate and compete. Sounds very impressive. It is. However, it is a welcoming environment for players of every level. Did I sense an eye roll? 

Here are some highlights - bridge experts offer free lessons and two of these will be two hour sessions followed by a free Bridge+ game. There are speakers most days and on December 5, we are offering a special reception for those players with fewer than 300 MPs. The planning is underway and you will be hearing about all the fun events you can participate in at the 2024 Fall LV NABC.

IMPORTANT ENTRY FEE DISCOUNT INFORMATION

A $10 discount is offered to all D17 members who use Entry Express and this discount is available to all ACBL members who stay at the host hotel. Bookings open on May 28, 2024, and the ACBL will email booking instructions.

Las Vegas is a fascinating town. There is always something going on for most tastes. Enjoy playing and improving your bridge, but explore LasVegas.com to find out about other activities to enjoy in LV and the surrounding desert area. 

The NABC starts on Thanksgiving Day - November 28 and ends on December 8. Hotel prices are amazing! You will be hearing a lot more about this event over the next few months but the most important thing to know is that this event is for every level of player!

The Westgate Resort & Casino is a block away from the strip. It is a stop on the LV monorail system. A convenient, climate controlled, comfortable way to access multiple locations on the exciting LV strip. A great team of volunteers will be waiting to help you navigate the tournament and the city. There will be flyers and information at all D17 Regionals and committee members to answer your questions. Let’s talk and then let’s play bridge and have fun!

Join us at D17 Open Regionals and I/N Regionals to learn more.



Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns you may have about bridge in D17 or at the NABC. 

Hopefully, Lady Luck will follow you to Las Vegas. A warm welcome waits for players of every level!

By Tournament Co-Chairs

Julie Bosserman

julieunit354@gmail.com and

JoAnne Lowe

pnutlowe@cox.net

Calling all non-life master players with less than 750 masterpoints. Get ready to strike gold at the Phoenix NLM Gold Rush Regional! Top Gold Rush pairs win 33 percent gold and 67 percent red masterpoints! Plus, Sunday’s NLM Gold Rush Swiss keeps the gold flowing with 33 percent gold awarded to the top teams. 

Join us for an exhilarating weekend packed with thrilling bridge action and golden opportunities. The excitement kicks off at 10 am and 3 pm.

Friday and Saturday features two-session Gold Rush pairs and single-session NLM stratified pairs to test your skills and chase those coveted points.

Then, brace yourself for Sunday’s showdown with a double-session stratified Gold Rush Swiss team event and single-session 0-199 Swiss team games. Click here to find a partner or a team.

Throughout the tournament, expect exciting prizes and delightful rewards to add to the fun!

But wait, there’s more! 



The Phoenix NLM Gold Rush Regional runs parallel to the Phoenix Silver Sun Sectional featuring Friday and Saturday stratified open pairs and Sunday bracketed Swiss team paying silver points.

Don’t miss free lectures by top local experts on Friday and Saturday at 2:15 pm.

Fuel your passion with complimentary coffee, iced tea, chocolates and goodies throughout the event. Because when it comes to bridge, we believe in indulging your senses.  

Join us at the Fountain Hills Community Center, nestled at 13001 N. LA Montana Dr., Fountain Hills, AZ 85268. With ample free parking, all you need to bring is your love for the game.

By Jennifer O'Neill

Tournament Co-Chair

jjo4501@gmail.com

Mark your calendar to play in the Taos Regional, September 23 - September 29, at the iconic Sagebrush Inn and Suites. 

Click here to view flyer.

Taos is known for its great hospitality, excellent restaurants, fun shopping, interesting activities and most importantly, wonderful, friendly bridge. September is a beautiful time in Taos with crisp, sunny weather and an awesome display of color washing down our mountain slopes. Click here to learn more.

Rooms beginning at $119 (not including tax) are available at the host hotel, Sagebrush Inn & Suites. Call the hotel at 575-758-2254 and ask for the ACBL Regional Rate. Rooms can be booked two days before and after the tournament, so that you can extend your vacation.

Expect lots of good bridge at the Sagebrush’s lovely campus-like convention center and many opportunities to win gold in five Gold Rush events (in which you won’t have to compete with anyone with more than 750 MPs), five double-session team events and three Soloway KO’s. There is no need to play at night to compete for gold. In fact, this will be an all-daylight tournament with two events daily at 10 am and 3 pm, except Monday. Complimentary refreshments will be served.

Click here for help with partnerships.

Address questions to co-chairs, Jennifer O’Neill,  jjo4501@gmail.com, 303-596-8153 or Liz Hamilton at grtscot@gmail.com, 415-994-3527.

By Julie Clark

NAP Coordinator

jclark9811@comcast.net

Congratulations and good luck to the players representing D17 in the NAP finals in Louisville -- home of the Louisville Slugger!

FLIGHT A

Sheri Winestock/Joshua Donn

Valentin Kovachev/Douglas Fjare

Cindy/Joe Harris

FLIGHT B

Wilt Cooper/Kevin Stansbury

Lakin Hines/Shari Smart

Billie Hayes/Margaret Glenn

Joseph/Dianne Simon

Jay Silberberg/William Fry

FLIGHT C

John/Glenda Heideman

John Farbarik/Alllen Ettenger

Jonathan Dings/Jill Baker

Qualifying for the 2024/25 NAPs will occur June 1 - August 31 at your local clubs.

For more information contact Julie Clark, jclark9811@comcast.net.

By Bonnie Bagley

GNT Coordinator

bon1bon@comcast.net

The qualifying period for the D17 Grand National Teams (GNT) has ended.



It is time to register for the D17 GNT Finals Championship Flight on BBO Saturday and Sunday, April 6 & 7 and Flights A, B and C at the Denver Rocky Mountain Regional Saturday and Sunday, May 25 & May 26. Pre-registration is required.

Championship Flight pre-registration is no later than Friday, March 31, 2024. Late registrations may be sent to the GNT Coordinator and will be considered on a case-to-case basis. The team captain shall email the roster of the team (names & ACBL number) to Bonnie Bagley at bon1bon@comcast.net and remit a check for the first two sessions of play, which is $160 payable to D17 to Jennifer O’Neill, D17 Treasurer, 30 Sommerset Circle, Greenwood Village, CO 80111 or use Zelle through your bank – ACBLD17@gmail.com .

Flights A and B pre-registration is no later than May 17, 2024. Teams may be composed of any eligible player who is an ACBL member in good standing and a D17 member. Late registrations may be sent to the GNT Coordinator and will be considered on a case-to-case basis.



The team captain shall email the roster of the team (names & ACBL number) to Bonnie Bagley at bon1bon@comcast.net and remit a check for the first two sessions of play, which is $120, payable to D17 to Jennifer O’Neill, D17 Treasurer, 30 Sommerset Circle, Greenwood Village, CO 80111 or use Zelle through your bank – ACBLD17@gmail.com .

Flight C teams must pre-register no later than May 17, 2024. Teams may be composed of any eligible player who is an ACBL member in good standing and a D17 member. The team captain shall either mail the roster of the team to: Bonnie Bagley, 7285 Ross Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80920 or email Bonnie at bon1bon@comcast.net All entries must include the name and ACBL number of all team members.

NOTE: D17 WAIVES THE ENTRY FEE FOR FLIGHT C TEAMS.

MARCH

08-10 Denver, CO (Open)

21-23 Chandler, AZ (Open) Read more

22-24 Los Alamos, NM (Local)

APRIL

12-14 Fountain Hills, AZ (Restricted)

13-14 Las Cruces, NM (Local)

13-14 Denver, CO (I/N)

18-20 Tucson, AZ (Open)

18-21 Colorado Springs, CO (Open)

26-28 Boulder, CO (Open)

MAY

03-05 Glenwood Springs, CO (Open)

03-05 Santa Fe, NM (Open)

The D17 Winter Wonderland STaC had 1,726 players earning 3,616.88 silver masterpoints and 1,245 tables. Click here for the top 50 masterpoint earners. Did you make the list?

Were there any players who earned the silver points (or just points) they needed to make Life Master? If so, please contact Bonnie Bagley at bon1bon@comcast.net – we would like to acknowledge you.

Thanks to Jesse Laird, our director, and to Tom Shulman, who handles the financial aspects of the STaCs.

Be sure to mark your calendar for play in the upcoming D17 STaCs:

• June 3 – 9: Royal STaC.
• September 16 – 22.
• November 11 – 17: Royal STaC.

The Fall North American Bridge Championships (NABC) will be held November 28 - December 8, 2024 at the Westgate Las Vegas Resort and Casino. Weekday rates are $65+ tax per night and weekend rates (Friday and Saturday) are $99+ tax per night. Reservations will open May 28!

Click here to learn more about the NABC Las Vegas. 

HELP US RAISE FUNDS FOR HOSPITALITY

Play in the NABC Las Vegas fundraiser games held in all ACBL virtual clubs May 13-19. Earn 200% MPs - all black- and be part of the team that makes hospitality in Vegas absolutely fantastic!

NAME A GAME

Create a memory by "Naming A Day or a Game". This sponsorship gives you the opportunity to honor a player, teacher, club or to promote a bridge event. All the funds collected will be used to enhance our player hospitality.

Please contact Liz Hamilton for more details - grtscot@gmail.com. 415-994-3527.

Congratulations to all the D17 players who participated and excelled in the ACBL masterpoint races!

The Mini-McKenney masterpoint races recognize ACBL members who earn the most masterpoints in sanctioned tournaments and clubs (excluding STaCs) within a calendar year. Click here to view race results.

The Helen Shanbrom Ace of Clubs masterpoint races recognize players who earn the most black pigmented masterpoints in face-to-face clubs (excluding STaCs) during a calendar year. Click here to view race results.

The Ace of Virtual Clubs masterpoint races recognize players who earn the most black pigmented masterpoints in online ACBL sanctioned games (excluding STaCs) during a calendar year. Click here to view race results.

ACBL members receive masterpoints for winning and placing in club games and tournaments as they strive to advance in rank. There are 16 ranks, from Junior Master (5 masterpoints) to Grand Life Master (10,000 masterpoints plus a victory in an eligible North American Bridge Championship). Learn rank qualifications.

Mike Barry, Unit 356, Tucson, AZ

Barry Bershow, Unit 356, Tucson, AZ

Sandra Gaskill, Unit 356, Tucson, AZ

Julee Landau, Unit 354, Scottsdale, AZ

Claudine McAnelly, Unit 374, Albuquerque, NM

Kathy McMahon, Unit 361, Denver, CO

Laurie Steuri, Unit 361, Denver, CO

Stephen Wallace, Unit 374, Albuquerque, NM, also a silver life master

Not pictured: Deborah Baronofsky, Unit 354, Scottsdale, AZ, also a silver life master; Jeffrey Gardner, Unit 359, Silverthorne, CO; Diane Jones, Unit 359, Boulder, CO; Maureen Sabo, Unit 361, Cherry Hills, CO and John Stafurik, Unit 381, Los Alamos, NM.

CHECK OUT THE DISTRICT 17 WEBSITE

WWW.D17ACBL.ORG