TABLE TALK

Here are statements from Linda and Judith

Linda

It was my grandmother, Myrtle Clifford, who introduced me to bridge back in the early seventies and eventually to Duplicate Bridge in 1980. It started in her living room with a group of very patient and enthusiastic ladies (one of whom was Rose Weiss) who loved the game.

I was born in Rutland, graduated from the University of Vermont and Middlebury College. I have taught French and a little Spanish over the past thirty years in local high schools. At my first job I met my husband Chris, who continues to teach in Poultney. We have a son, Jesse, who is a musician who graduated from Springfield College in Massachusetts, and a daughter Adrienne who is a senior at Skidmore College in Saratoga.

When the children were young I became quite involved in Duplicate Bridge where I met Bill Becker. Bill too was a great bridge mentor. However as the children entered high school and became involved in sports, I didn’t have the time to continue bridge. Now that the kids are older I have returned.

As a teacher, I enjoy teaching bridge to my students at RHS during the Rutland “year end studies” and to the adults whom I have met through the game. Bridge has fostered many friendships. I may never attain master status because it is playing with my friends and at the club on Thursday nights that I most enjoy.

Now, luckily for our club Judi Ward has come along. She has tremendous energy and enthusiasm. It is chiefly through her effort that we hope to increase our membership and keep the Marble Valley Duplicate Bridge Club operating.

Bridge is a wonderful game that attracts wonderful people. Thank you to all of you throughout Vermont, who through your love of the game continue to promote it.

Judi

Linda and I teamed up in 2003 and began a wonderful partnership. First at the bridge tables in Rutland, and now in our new venture as co-owners of the Marble Valley Duplicate Bridge Club. It feels natural. There has always been a Linda in my life.

Thru thick and thin, ups and downs, life and death, marriage and divorce, children and grandchildren, my life progressed from the sidewalks of New York (the Bronx, to be exact… let’s hear it for the Yankees!!) to the suburbs of Fairfield County, landward to New Hampshire after making minor detours in New Orleans and Cleveland. I have now arrived at my Shangri-La: the midpoint of the Loop Road in the northeast section of Poultney nestled beside Old Nob. Together, Ethan and I are carving out our life’s dream. Here in his family’s 18^th century homestead we are joined by Goldfish, the black cat who adopted us, and Cookie, the Collie/Huskie whom we adopted.

As daughter of a pinochle wizard, games come naturally to me. At college in the early 60’s I was headed for the fast lane, what with coffee, cigarettes and … Bridge. Then came the long hiatus, with time out for family, theatre, Mah Jongg, strife and finally healing.

After landing in Vermont, dusting off, walking the acreage and adjusting to the environment, I looked around, read the Herald and found the beginnings of a string…the afternoon bridge games at the Godnick Center. It was from those wonderful ladies and gentlemen, that I learned of the area bridge maveness and contacted June Dorion. The rest, as they say, is history.

Great Honor

A great honor has been conferred upon VBA members Louise Acker and Linda Baker. District 25 (our NE district) has accepted the VBA’s nomination of Louise and Linda to the ACBL charity committee. Louise and Linda will be the district’s 2 appointees for 2005. This is a lifetime appointment that will permit Louise and Linda to participate in special activities at some of our national tournaments.

The ACBL has two committees, the Goodwill Committee and Charity Committee through which it recognizes outstanding service to the game of bridge.

Both Louise and Linda are bridge teachers who have devoted a lot of time and energy to introducing and teaching bridge in our schools. The future of our game depends on the dedication of people like Louise and Linda.

Congratulations to Louise and Linda for a job well done and for their richly deserved recognition.

REGIONAL TOURNAMENT

COMING TO VERMONT IN 2006

by Phil Sharpsteen

It has been more than a quarter century since the last New England Bridge Conference Regional Tournament was held in Vermont. But that’s about to change! The November 2006 NEBC Regional will be held at the Sheraton Burlington Hotel and Conference Center.

Having this event in our back yard is very important to Vermont Bridge. Active teaching programs have been ongoing for more than 15 years, the Vermont School Bridge Program has been teaching middle and high school students for the past two years and we’ve had some other events to help build bridge in Vermont. Now, we can make all those people aware of the Regional Tournament and encourage them to work hard on their games and come out and participate at the regional.

Over the past decade, the NEBC has sponsored an I/N program at each regional tournament. “I/N” stands for Intermediate/Novice and is run as a separate part of each regional tournament. For the newer duplicate player or the home bridge player, this is an opportunity to come out and enjoy a major bridge tournament playing against their peers.

In addition, bringing hundreds of bridge player “tourists” into the Burlington area will help the Vermont economy. The Vermont Bridge Association is responsible for helping our “guests” find their way around our area to local restaurants, shopping, the waterfront and other points of interest. More on how you can help out in future issues of Table Talk.

CULBERTSON’S RULE

by Michael Farrell

This principle, advanced by Eli Culbertson in the 1930's, states, "When considering whether to try for game (or slam), if you can picture two perfect minimums for partner that make the game or slam odds on, then you should make the try. "

an example: AKxxx x AQxxx xx

You bid 1 spade and partner responds 2 spades. If partner holds as little as the diamond King and the spade Queen a game is virtually assured. You should make a game try of 3 diamonds (a help suit). This would ask partner to bid game if he has some values in diamonds. Lacking diamond values, partner may bid the game with a maximum. With a minimum, he may cue bid an Ace on the way to stopping at three spades. In this example he could cue the heart ace but not the club ace. Partner may consider a singleton or void as a feature in the help suit ONLY if he has sufficient trumps and better than a minimum hand.

another example: A AKxxxxx KJTxx --

You bid 1 heart and partner responds 2 hearts. If partner holds the diamond Ace or Queen the slam is odds on. Bid 3 diamonds and if partner bids 3 hearts "no diamond help" you now bid 4 hearts. If he bids 4 hearts showing showing a diamond feature, you may now bid the slam.

yet another example: xxxx Axx xx Axxx

Partner opens the bidding 1 spade and you respond 2 spades. Partner makes a "game try" by bidding 3 diamonds. You shouldn't jump to 4 spades because you do not have help in diamonds but you have such a nice hand that you should bid 3 hearts showing the feature and if partner stops in three spades you carry on to 4 clubs. Partner now knows that you have a working maximum with the Ace of hearts, the Ace of clubs and no diamond values. Further, he should not expect much in spade honors as originally you bid only 2 spades. If partner held hand #1, 4 spades is cold, and if the Diamond Queen were the King he would have excellent plays for slam. This example demonstrates why shortness in the help suit is normally not useful.

Tiernan Trophy

Every year the Vermont Bridge Association awards the Tiernan trophy to the Vermont player who wins the most masterpoints in the 4 Vermont Sectional Tournaments. There was a first place tie for 2004 between Phil Sharpsteen and Frank Hacker. The top 10 were

1. Phil Sharpsteen 42.14 6. Louise Acker 28.21

1. Frank Hacker 42.14 6. Chris Acker 28.21

3. Gerry DiVincenzo 31.26 8. Wayne Hersey 25.41

4. Mary Savko 28.72 9. Dave Shaw 24.52

4. Ellie Hanlon 28.72 10. Alan Wertheimer 23.09

My most humble and abject apologies to anyone I may have misadded or inadvertently omitted. Please let me know and I shall provide proper recognition in the next issue.

Chess in Bridge

By Phil Sharpsteen

I used to play a lot of chess before I really became interested in bridge. Both games involve a lot of strategy and modifications as the play progresses. Bridge has the additional element of the unknown or discovery with the two concealed hands. One chess term ‘en passant’ occurs in bridge in the trump suit when a non-winning trump is positioned behind the winning trump and cannot be prevented from scoring a trick when the lead is in the hand before the hand with the high trump. A hand from a district 25 regional illustrates this point.

AKQ103

87543

9852 J4

1097 AQ864

1062 KQJ8

Q96 A2

J532

A974

KJ10

North is the dealer with no one Vul. The bidding proceeded:

North East South West

1S Dbl Rdl Pass

2C 2H 3C All Pass

Partner led the diamond K to Ace, 2 and 3. Declarer led heart 2 from dummy to 7, K and Ace. Partner continued with the diamond Q collecting the 4, 6 and 5. Now partner realized I held the diamond ten from the first two diamond tricks and lead the 8 to the 7, ten and club 3. Declarer led the club 4 to the 2, ten and my Q. I continued with the heart ten trumped by declarer who continued with the club 7 to the Ace, J and 6.

At this point, we have 4 tricks and declarer’s remaining trumps are the club 8 in hand and the winning club K in dummy. I held the 2^nd high club 9. The lead was in the proper location, my partner’s hand! The lead of the diamond J permitted me to score the setting trick with the club 9. In actual practice, I got a bonus when an inattentive declarer under-ruffed with the club 8! This allowed us to score another heart for a 2^nd under trick!

The bidding was typical match point aggressive! (except for me of course!) With limited entries to hand, perhaps declarer should have played a spade to hand at trick 2 and played to the club K. As the cards lie, this would have brought home the contract. (we would be limited to 2 club tricks instead of the 3 we received). Partner is certainly marked with the club Ace on the bidding.

So set ‘em up! Do you want white or black? (declare or defend?)

BRIDGE BASH II

by Dave Shaw

The VBA sponsored a “bridge party” for players in the greater Burlington area on November 18^th. Bridge Bash II was held at the Tuttle Middle School in South Burlington and attracted 21 tables including 10 tables of “regular duplicate” players. The turnout was somewhat disappointing as 30 tables had come out for Bridge Bash I in 1987.

We promoted the two events differently. For the 1987 event, we compiled a list of 550 bridge players and mailed each a personal invitation. For the 2004 event, we placed a large ad in seven newspapers (total circulation of 80,000 plus) including the Burlington Free Press. The ad was accompanied by an article on the event in all but the BFP. Also, for the 1987 event, we invited “all bridge players” and for the 2004 event, we pointedly invited people who wanted to learn about duplicate bridge without mentioning rubber or home style bridge.

However, for those who did come out, what a great night it was! We ran a “newplicate” game for those new to duplicate plus a regular game for all others. We had enough dessert food for 40 tables and more than 40 door prizes valued at an average of $25 each.

Among the volunteers that made BBII possible, Jackie Kimel rounded up the door prizes, Kathy and Mike Farrell, Bry Jones and Phil Sharpsteen helped with various aspects of setting up, running the games and refreshments and a horde of volunteers brought a dessert goodie or two. And a dozen VBA members were there early and stayed late to help set up and tear down the bridge tables and dessert tables array. Thanks to all of those who helped.

If you’d like to run a Bridge Bash in your community, we want to help you make it happen. Please contact me.

Gerber and Other Silliness

by Frank Hacker

Gerber: I have observed that many players, even relatively experienced ones, live in mortal fear of Gerber. I am not talking here about exotic variations of the convention, but just the very simple question, “When is a 4 club bid Gerber and when is it not?” If one accepts the premise that there is no need for both Gerber and Blackwood in the same auction, we get as a corollary a partial answer to the question, “When is 4NT Blackwood and when is it not?”

Many people use Gerber over NT openings only. This leads to the strange anomaly that, for some, 4C directly over 1NT is Gerber, but 4C in the partnership auction 1NT-2C-2H-4C is not Gerber and that to ask for aces, one would have to bid 4NT. It is clear that for many players the top priority is to avoid confusion, an endeavor at which they are not always successful.

Here are my rules

1. In auctions where 4C is Gerber, a 4NT bid would be something other than Blackwood, most likely quantitative (that is an invitational to slam NT raise)

2. If at any point during an auction one partner has bid NT and the other bids 4C and the 4C bid is a jump, then it is Gerber. This is true even when clubs is a previously bid suit.

3. There are few auctions where a non-jump 4C is Gerber. These occur after a 2NT opening (or a 2NT rebid after a 2C opening). Responder may still use Gerber after using Stayman or transfers.

4. In all other situations 4C is not Gerber.

Let’s look at a few partnership auctions

A. 1C - 1H – 2NT -. 4C (Gerber) B. 1C – 1H – 2NT – 4NT (quantitative)

C. 1NT – 2D (transfer) – 2H – 4C (Gerber) D. 1NT – 2D – 2H – 4NT (quantitative)

E. 2NT – 3C - 3S – 4C (Gerber) F. 2NT – 3C – 3S – 4NT (quantitative)

Other silliness (part 1): I am extremely fond of showing controls after a strong, artificial 2C opening. Here is the response structure I like

2D no aces or kings and a hand with 3 or fewer high card points (i.e. a double negative)

2H no aces, 0 or 1 king, but not a double negative

2S 2 controls, i.e. 1 ace or 2 kings (aces count as 2 controls, kings as 1 control)

2NT 3 controls

3C, 3D, etc, successively greater numbers of controls

Sometimes opener can tell exactly what controls partner has, but sometimes he cannot.

Opener can sort this out with 4NT (Blackwood or Roman Keycard Blackwood or whatever the partnership’s preference). This should enable opener to determine the number of both partner’s aces and kings. A subsequent 5NT bid shows interest in a grand slam and asks for queens. Haven’t you ever wanted to ask for queens? Controls over 2C permits the queen ask.

Here is a sample hand S AKQJ10 H AKx D xx C AKx

Let’s say you open 2C and hear 2NT (3 controls) from partner. This is great. Partner has the ace and king of diamonds. You try 3S and partner raises to 4S. You have 11 easy tricks. Now you bid 4NT to ask for aces. You already have the information you need, but 4NT sets the stage for the subsequent 5NT queen ask. After 5NT, partner responds 6H, showing 2 queens. You can now bid 7NT, confident of 13 top tricks.

By the way, opponents sometimes stick in bids to interfere with control showing bids.

In this case, double by responder would indicate a 2D response, pass would indicate a 2H response, the next higher suit a 2S response and so on up the line (Essentially DOPI). Thus, in a competitive auction like 2C - 3C – 3H, responder’s 3H bid would show that responder would have bid 2NT and therefore has 3 controls.

Other silliness (part 2): The following hand occurred at the Burlington Bridge Academy:

S 876

H K5

D J8753

C Q86

S A943 S KQJ2

H QJ98 H A763

D AQ9 D K102

C AK C 72

S 105

H 1042

D 64

C J109543

EW were vulnerable, NS not vulnerable. The auction started with East and proceeded

East South West North

1D 1NT!! X P

P 2C 3C X

P P 6NT All Pass

South’s psyche of 1NT was creative, but did not create a problem on this hand. I was West with the big hand. I had hoped partner would bid a major over my 3C cue bid, but when partner passed North’s double, I just gave up and bid 6NT. I could have tried again with 4C, but was worried that partner would take into his head the notion that, after a second cue bid, a 3 card major would be sufficient.

The play was fairly simple. I won the opening diamond lead in hand and led the queen of hearts. North covered and I finessed South for the heart 10 and took all 13 tricks.

Here is a very interesting question. How should declarer play the heart suit if, on the lead of the queen, North plays low? The jack will work when the layout is North’s Kxx opposite South’s 10x. Low will work when the layout is North’s Kx opposite South’s 10xx.

Let’s not lose sight of the objective, making the contract. Low is far superior. If North contributes either the king or 10, simply win the ace and make either 3 or 4 heart tricks. If North plays low, simply duck into South’s hand. The ace will take care of the remaining lurker on the next round. Finally, if North shows out, rise with dummy’s ace and lead back toward the Q9. The danger distribution in hearts is

QJ98 A763

K10xx

South’s cagey first round duck would be a very good play. If you follow the queen with the jack, you’ll go down. Partner will not be sympathetic if you go down in an ice cold contract.

Perrin Pairs

Congratulations to Fred and Judie Donald

who won the annual Perrin Pairs, held at the Burlington Bridge Academy on December 4, 2004. Fred and Judie are red hot. They were also victorious in Marilyn Hacker Memorial Pairs held in August.

Here are the Perrin Pairs standings. It’s nice to see Dave Perrin listed among the leaders.

A B C

1 Fred and Judie Donald 410.98

2 Jerry Di Vincenzo, Penny Lane 379.56

3 1 Louise and Chris Acker 371.36

4 2 Michael Arnowitt, Gene Kazlow 369.52

5 Cliff Gordon, Patty DiVincenzo 364.74

6 Jackie Kimel, Dave Shaw 361.98

3 Gary Feingold, Jay Friedenson 368.84

4 Lynn Carew, Pat Nestork 343.53

5 1 Bonnie and Paul Clouser 340.27

6 Dave Perrin, Bill Nestork 330.75

2 Betty Stanley, Bobbie MacDonald 330.33

3 Pearl McGrath, Theresa Ingram 320.36

4 Ken Pearson, Paul Bonnette 300.82

Vermont Fall Sectional Results

                                             FRIDAY AFT OPEN PAIRS

                                                           46 Pairs

             A     B     C

  5.50    1                       Fred Donald Jr - Judith Donald                   142.50

  4.13    2                       Kelsey Nickerson - Lloyd Arvedon             141.00

  3.09    3                       George Onni - Michael Rogers                    137.00

  2.32    4                       Donna Marshall - Jeanne McKenzie            136.50

  3.61    5      1               Mary Anne Pickett - Beverly Balch             128.50

  1.15   6/7                     Sandra Nelson - William Nelson                  126.00

  2.71   6/7    2               Judie Muggia - Reid Fleming                       126.00

  2.03            3               Stephen Bean - Alan Wertheimer                 125.50

  1.33           4/5             Mary Anne D'Alton - Ruth Horner               116.50

  2.06           4/5      1     Rose Gove - Edward Gove                            116.50

  0.86            6               Susan Grossman - Laurence Grossman         116.00

  1.55                      2     Anne Lapinski - Sandra Graper                     114.00

  1.16                      3     Marilyn Barnes - Jacqueline Walker             113.50

  1.21                      4     C Kirk Osterland - Anne Farrell                    112.00

  0.65                      5     William Wade - Layton Davis                       109.00

                                             FRIDAY EVE OPEN PAIRS

                                                            37 Pairs

             A     B     C

  4.83    1                       George Onni - Michael Rogers                       147.00

  3.62    2                       Wayne Hersey - June Dorion                          146.50

  2.72    3                        Philip Sharpsteen - Frank Hacker                  138.00

  3.61    4      1                Nancy Hayden - Diane Burger                      133.07

  2.71    5      2                Derrick Niederman - Margaret Malaspina    130.50

  2.17    6      3      1        Joseph Phillips - Nora Morris                        127.43

  1.52            4                Mary Anne Pickett - Beverly Balch               124.71

  1.14            5                Rich Stevens - Albert Muggia                       121.71

  1.63            6      2        Horatio Aldredge - Jacquelyn Aldredge        120.86

  1.22                    3        Joan Knight - Guy Knight                              120.57

  0.92                    4        Joan Soloff - Elaine Day                                117.50

  0.69                    5        Patricia Zoli - Mary Jane Gilet                       115.07

  0.52                    6        Michael Sattinger - Ulla Sattinger                  114.00

                                              SAT AFT OPEN PAIRS

                                                            53 Pairs

             A     B     C

  6.17    1                        Frank Hacker - Philip Sharpsteen                   197.50

  4.63    2                        Bernice Kramer - Walter Fenton Jr                 189.27

  4.28    3      1      1        Barbara Unger - Richard Unger                      189.09

  3.21    4      2                Louise Acker - Chris Acker                            188.00

  1.95    5                       Wayne Hersey - Jesse Stalker                          187.50

  1.46    6                        Jackie Kimel - David Shaw                             187.32

  2.41            3       2       Jacqueline Walker - Marilyn Barnes               186.55

  1.81            4                Andy Avery - Paul Cohen                               181.00

  1.35            5       3       Barbara Parks - Mary-Eliz Fitzgerald              179.50

  1.02            6                Judie Muggia - Reid Fleming                          178.45

  1.47                     4       Gavin Landry - James Morrison                      175.50

  0.94                     5       Thomas Davis - David Jarmy                          164.18

  0.57                     6       Patricia Zoli - Mary Jane Gilet                        163.00

                                              SAT EVE FLIGHT A PAIRS

                                                               12 Pairs

  6.17     1                       Judy Dubay - William Dubay                           78.50

  4.63     2                       Gerald Di Vincenzo - Michael Farrell              76.00

  3.47     3                       Frank Hacker - Philip Sharpsteen                     72.50

  2.60     4                       June Dorion - Henry Peltz                                 70.00

                                              SAT EVE FLIGHT B/C/D PRS

                                                                42 Pairs

              B     C     D

  3.63   1/2                      Mary Frances Tobin - Barbara Fitzgerald        132.00

  3.63   1/2                      Richard Underwood - Joanne Schlang             132.00

  2.33    3       1               Horatio Aldredge - Jacquelyn Aldredge           128.00

  1.75    4                        Robert Neuhart - Andrew Dubay                     127.00

  1.70    5       2      1       Berne Kouba - Evelyn Markowitz                   126.00

  0.98    6                        Janice Woodbury - Lois Lyon                          123.50

  1.12           3/4     2       Julianna McAllister - Helen Lewis                   118.50

  1.12           3/4              Barbara Unger - Richard Unger                        118.50

  0.80            5       3       Diane Alexander - Conrad Bader                      115.50

  0.87            6                Rose Gove - Edward Gove                               114.00

  0.62                     4       Lew Millenbach - Linda Millenbach                113.00

                                            BRACKET I KNOCKOUT

                                                                6 Teams

  9.50     1     Sandra Nelson - William Nelson - Lloyd Arvedon -

                       Kelsey Nickerson - William Hunter - Shome Mukherjee

  7.13     2     Donna Marshall - Jeanne McKenzie - Stewart Mackeigan - Pierce Smith

                                             BRACKET II KNOCKOUT

                                                                6 Teams

  5.20     1     Laurence Grossman - Susan Grossman - Anne Farrell - C Kirk Osterland

  3.90     2     Constance Beliveau - Jean-Guy Beliveau - Polly Schoning - Donald Wallace

                                                     SWISS TEAMS

                                                             27 Teams

             A     B     C

  9.25    1                      Judy Dubay - William Dubay - Sandra Nelson –

                                     William Nelson                                                                    127.00

  6.94    2                      William Hunter - Shome Mukherjee - Lloyd Arvedon -

                                     Kelsey Nickerson                                                                 118.00

  5.20    3                      Andy Avery - Paul Cohen - David Shaw –

                                     Jackie Kimel                                                                           97.00

  3.90    4                      Michael Farrell - Kathleen Farrell - Gerald Di Vincenzo –

                                     Patricia Di Vincenzo                                                               93.00

  2.93    5                      Robert Donald - Diane Burger - Donald Cohen –

                                     Walter Smith                                                                           92.00

  4.82   6/7    1              Bruce Downing - Joan Soloff - Mark Conner –

                                     Elaine Day                                                                               91.00

  1.93   6/7                    Michael Arnowitt - Philip Sharpsteen - Frank Hacker -

                                     Rudolph Polli                                                                          91.00

  3.62            2              Richard Unger - Barbara Unger - Louise Acker –

                                     Chris Acker                                                                             90.00

  2.71            3              Susan Grossman - Laurence Grossman - John Rose -

                                     Marilyn Colman                                                                      88.00

  2.03            4              Bryant Jones - Barbara Fitzgerald - Randall Fadem -

                                     Paul Weinbaum                                                                       82.00

  1.53            5              Robert Neuhart - Andrew Dubay - Layton Davis -

                                     William Wade                                                                         80.00

  2.27                   1       Richard Gazley - Martha Gazley - Bonnie Clouser -

                                     Paul Clouser                                                                            58.00

Men Walk on Moon

by Frank Hacker

Swiss team events, now Sunday fixtures at sectional and regional tournaments, replaced board-a-match teams in about 1970. I played in one of the earliest Swiss teams on July 19 and 20, 1969 in New York City. The event was held over 2 days and consisted of 8 matches of 14 boards each. In the first round, we played the team of B.J. Becker and I had the pleasure of playing 14 boards against one of the all time greats.

On Monday morning one of my friends called to tell me that Alan Truscott’s New York Times morning bridge column featured a hand I had played against Mr. Becker. I was not identified by name and the point of the article was to highlight BJ’s brilliant defense. Still I had never had a hand published and I decided to put away a copy of the paper. Bad luck, I was too late. There was not a copy to be found. A historic event had happened the day before. The headline was “Men Walk on Moon.” Lots of people wanted the paper as a collectible.

Fast forward about 20 years. Barnes and Noble had on sale reprints of newspapers with famous headlines. One of those papers was the July 21, 1969 New York Times. The whole paper had been faithfully reproduced and there on page 32 was my bridge hand.

$9.95 was a small price to pay. I was south; Becker was east.