MPLS Grand Slam
Club

Celebrating Seventy Years as Minnesota’s Premier Bridge Club

December 14, 2007

Regular Game
N/S

1.	Brian Crossley – Jonathan Cohen		191.00		61.22%
2.	Don Priewert – Andy Caranicas		175.00		56.09
3.	David Neiman – Mark Lasoff			170.00		54.49
4.	Phil Schwarz – Judy Schwarz			165.00		52.88
5.	David Glenn – Nancy Glenn			158.50		50.80
6.	Peder Langsetmo – Cezanne Martin		157.50		50.48
7.	Dan Knier – Dan McIntyre			152.50		48.88
8/9	Alan Goldstein – Arne Garvander		151.50		48.56
8/9	Peggy Kaplan – Kerry Holloway		151.50		48.56
 10.	Jack Rhatigan – Bill Quinn			149.50		47.92
 11.	Tom Baskin – Harry Sapienza			144.50		46.31
 12.	John Miller – Tom Knier			142.00		45.51
 13.	Kathryn Kratz – Barbara Eichten		119.50		38.30

E/W

1.	Bob Balderson – Paul Meerschaert		187.00		59.94
2.	Paul Gutterman – Peter Litchfield		182.00		58.33
3.	Patricia Welander – Gerald Welander	177.50		56.89
4.	Susan Jackson – Cecil Frank			176.00		56.41
5.	Sharon Christenson – Van Christenson	162.50		52.08
6.	Roger Anderson – Sharon Anderson		161.50		51.76
7.	Jason Bribitzer-Stull – Matthew Bribitzer-Stull	160.00		51.28
8.	James Stepnes – Dennis Cerkvenik		158.50		50.80
9.	Marylyn Howe – Carol Rinkoff			152.00		48.72
 10.	Diane Henson – Larry Henson			139.50		44.71
 11.	Jill Flader – Mike Flader			139.00		44.51
 12.	Kent Howe – Dave Hellwig			132.50		42.47
 13.	Charlotte Boyles – Al Hauer			100.00		32.05
O

ur thanks to the Twin City Bridge Center, the venue for our most recent Regular Game.  Once again, we saw a tight field, with only one pair sailing over the 60% mark.  Brian Crossley and Jonathan Cohen accomplished this feat, with Bob Balderson and Paul Meerschaert, our E/W heroes, not far behind.

In other news:  drama in the MGSC KO.  You may recall that at the half-way point in the round robin, Balderson, the team with no losses, had a large lead against Hendrickson and a modest lead against Holloway.  In the odd match, Hendrickson led Holloway.

But, as is often the case, a new day led to a turn of events.  While Balderson continued its strong showing against Hendrickson, some swingy boards allowed Holloway to pull ahead of Balderson by only two IMPS!  Holloway’s turnaround extended to the Hendrickson match; though the scores were perilously close, in the end, Holloway managed to end up ahead by 10.  In the odd match, Balderson continued its winning ways against Hendrickson, staying ahead by a large margin.

Thus, Balderson and Holloway, each with one loss, will now face off in a “final” final KO match, scheduled for December 27th at the Twin City Bridge Center.

In the meantime, on our regular schedule, those who love IMPS, yet prefer pairs to teams will love our upcoming game!  IMP Pairs on Friday, where the movement is pairs but the scoring is IMPS.  See you there!

Peg K


Addendum:  Last week, a date to celebrate was on the calendar:  Larry Oakey’s 70th birthday!  

Few people in Minnesota’s bridge world have contributed as much to bridge as Larry, in virtually every aspect of the game.  We hope you will join us in wishing this MN bridge icon a “happy birthday” – and being grateful for his presence (and presents!) for so many years.  Happy Birthday, TGLO!





Your Bid

As evidenced from last week’s column (the hand where I passed over partner’s one spade opener, holding not one, but two voids) – some hands are simply tough.  No good bid presents itself; you gotta guess, and hope your guess is the best one.

Here is a hand that falls into this category.  You are playing with an expert, but not regular partner, against expert opponents from Argentina.  Your LHO opens 2S:  8-13 HCP, 5-6 card spade suit.  RHO overcalls 3H, and RHO is silent.  You’re vul, they’re not, and it’s IMPS.  What do you do holding  Jxx, x, KQ10xx, A8xx?

You could pass.  You obviously have lousy support for partner’s suit, and you do not have a spade stopper.

Yet, you surely have some values.

So – you could bid your longest and strongest suit, with a call of 4D.  You have enough strength and a decent enough suit to try this.

4D does, however, have one serious drawback.  If 3NT makes, you cannot get there from 4D.

So – you have one more option.  You can bid 3NT!





Yes, you still do not have a spade stopper.  Yet, when RHO fails to raise LHO’s suit, there often is a stopper lurking in the combined hands.  Give partner as little as Kx or Qx; that might be enough to bring in 3NT.

Another possibility, too, is that you may get to 3NT with no spade stopper – and the suit won’t be led!

If you try 3NT, you are rewarded.  Partner’s hand is:  Ax, AK109x, AJx, Jxx.  The opponents do lead spades, with RHO having Qxx.  So, no overtricks, but with 9 tricks on top, your contract makes in comfort.

At the other table?  A light third chair opening of one spade by your LHO propels your counterparts into the ugly contract of 6D.  3NT was never a consideration.

Will your 3NT always be greeted with success?  Absolutely not!  Sometimes, though, none of your choices are appetizing.  Thus, it can be attractive to select the option that, when it works, rewards you highly.

Bon chance!


Peg K