Welcome

Unit members extend a warm welcome to:

Claudia Field, Cary.

Linda Bilsbarrow, Crystal Lake.

Richard Houde, Huntley.

Richa Haas, McHenry.

New Life Masters

The Bridge Advocate editor makes an attempt to reach out to those players who have achieved life master status and beyond. Two such players responded to the request for additional information.

First is Dr. Chris Roberts who became a silver life master 26 years after achieving life master status. The latter was achieved within three years of learning to play bridge at college. He credits his fast ascent into duplicate bridge to a silver life master who took him under his wing. Chris had to play at the “A” or “B” level, where he claims he was beat up on fairly regularly, but “playing in the deep end of the pool” allowed him to improve his game.

Chris enjoys the game of bridge, and the achievement of life- and silver life master weren’t particular goals, just a bonus for playing the game that he is passionate about. He shared that as a novice he once opened a weak two hand (with five points), was doubled, and his partner raised him (with only a jack), and that bid was again doubled. Yes, Chris and his partner (another novice) went down, but the opponents missed a slam (they had a combined hand of 34 points). The director was called and ruled that the novices had done nothing wrong; it was the “A” team’s responsibility to bid their hands. Needless to say, this was a very good board for the novices and Chris learned firsthand the power of the preempt bid.

Chris’ best advice for burgeoning bridge players? “Always remember that responder has more information than opener, and thus responder is better prepared to place the contract. Opener has the job of describing his/her hand. Responder has the job of adding that information to his/her own hand to decide the final contract. Opener, no matter how many points, is not in charge. Opener is the caboose of the train. Just describe the hand. Responder is in the engine at the front of the train, no matter how weak the hand. Select the destination and drive the train there.”

Don Malone, with 1500 masterpoints, can now add ruby life master to his bridge credentials. Retired from a teaching career ten years ago, he began to learn and play bridge online. One of his online bridge friends suggested he try duplicate bridge, so he joined the Bridge Club of Rockford, where many classes and games were offered. This club was geographically the closest club for him to play at. However, when he joined the ACBL he was assigned to a different district. He was able to transfer to District 8, but his switch resulted in a decision that banned him from NAP and GNT for five years. His bridge advice to players is “don’t join (ACBL) if you live on a border (between two districts).”

Rank Advancements

New Junior Masters: Lynn Croll, Crystal Lake; Edward Paschke, Galena; Dennis Lynch, Huntley; Diane Hunt, Pingree Grove; Loretta Pearson, Oakwood Hills; J Sheldon Speers, Winnebago.

New Club Masters: Mark Degner and Candy Mortenson, Cary; Dennis Lynch, Huntley.

New Regional Masters: Paul Laird of Sterling.

New Advanced NABC Master: Susan Powers, North Barrington.

New Life Master: Michele Joike, Rockford; Lynne Madden, Sugar Grove.

New Bronze Life Master: Richard Leatherwood, Aurora; Richard Roberts, Naperville; Patricia Tangorra, Rockford.

New Silver Life Masters: Chris Roberts, Crystal Lake; Janet Brandt, Elgin.

New Ruby Life Master: Don Malone of Rockford.

New Gold Life Master: Audrey Danocup of Huntley.

♠  THE GREAT SIZZLIN’ SUMMER ILLINOIS REGIONAL  ♠

JUNE 20-26, 2016

Holiday Inn – Crystal Lake
Route 31 and Three Oaks Road

Chair: Marilyn Croft, 630-584-5837     jmcroft@sbcglobal.net

Partnerships: Ron and Jo Kohn, 847-985-1956     johenricks@sbcglobal.net

Tournament Flyer: acbl.org/tournaments or www.Unit239.org 

   ♣  LATE SUMMER SILVER SECTIONAL   ♣

AUGUST 7-9, 2016

Holiday Inn – Crystal Lake
Route 31 and Three Oaks Road

     Tournament Chair: Karl Anderson  224-276-0715    kmanderson21@yahoo.com

     Partnerships: Jerry Johnson   224-600-9912   gejc1530@gmail.com

Tournament Flyer: acbl.org/tournaments or www.Unit239.org