Bridge Blog 1035: July in the rear-view mirror

Unit 116 (Buffalo only), Ace of Clubs (club play only), Ruby Life Masters (players with 1,500 to 2,500 points). 

     I picked up 16.76 club points in July, boosting my Ace of Clubs total to 83.72, enough to maintain fifth place among the Rubies and lift me from 17th to 15th among all players in the unit. Here's the top 10:

      Still on top is David Millward, with 113.21, but that 20-point lead over Allen Beroza has shrunk. After a 25-point month, Allen now has 107.72. Mike Silverman has topped the century mark, too, with 101.52. Martin Pieterse continues in fourth place with 92.12.

Then there’s my 82.72. Ken Meier stays sixth with 81.10. Rounding out the list are Fred Yellen with 67.65, enough to slip ahead of Dorothy May’s 62.76.  Gene Finton continues ninth with 58.13; and Davis Heussler displaces Elaine Kurasiewicz in 10th place with 49.63. Elaine has 44.81.      

Unit 116, Ace of Clubs overall. 

       Sure enough, it’s Alan Greer. A record 55.62-point month at the Airport Bridge Club puts him way, way, way ahead with 257.04.

His sometime partner Nancy Wolstoncroft is still second, a 34-point month bringing her to 171.16; John Ziemer, with a 36-point month, has 155.23; then come David Millward, 113.21; and Liz Clark, 109.02 after a near-30-point month; edging ahead of Allen Beroza’s 107.72.

Seventh is Barbara Libby, 105.50; followed by Mike Silverman, down from sixth to eighth with 101.52. Mike Ryan, 98.06; and Martin Pieterse, 92.12, round out the Top 10.

Second 10 goes like this: Bud Seidenberg, 88.21; Martha and John Welte, both 86.18; Ron Henrikson, 86.04; moi, 83.72; Bob Linn, 83.42; Ken Meier, 81.10; Denise Slattery, 77.77; Judy Graf, 75.41; and Gay Simpson, 73.90.

Taking the list a little further, we have Jay Levy, 73.58; Judi Marshall, 72.59; Jim Easton, 71.08; Ed Morgan, 68.19; and Fred Yellen, 67.65.

      Moving on to the Mini-McKenney races, which count all points earned everywhere, I have cracked the century mark with 103.72, increased entirely by those 16.76 club points, still in sixth place.

     Still far ahead is Davis Heussler at 236.83, who’s still second among all Unit 116 players. Slipping into second place is Ken Meier with 143.11, eleventh in the entire unit.  

David Millward drops to third with 139.55; down from 11th overall to 13th.  Allen Beroza, holds steady in fourth with 127.88, followed by Mike Silverman, 111.96 (up one notch to 23rd).

     I lead the next fivesome with my 103.72, 24th overall, up from 28th. Then Martin Pieterse, 101.84 (up from 34th to 26th); Fred Yellen, 100.69 (28th); then a big drop to Dorothy May, 66.03 (49th); and Elaine Kurasiewicz, 63.78 (51st).  

     Among all players in Unit 116, it’s Alan Greer, with 300.82. Then comes Davis Heussler with his 236.83; John Ziemer crossing the double-century mark with 219.79; Nancy Wolstoncroft, up from eighth to fourth with 196.92; the Weltes, 184.77; Linda Burroughsford, 183.03; Saleh Fetouh, 165.93.

The Weltes, tied for third a month ago, now are tied for sixth with 162.88; followed by Jay Levy, 157.10; and Mike Ryan 147.58.

The second 10, all in three figures, include Ken Meier, 143.11; Sandi England, 140.50; David Millward, 139.55; Chris Urbanek, 134.60; Barbara Libby, 132.43; Allen Beroza, 127.88; Bud Seidenberg, 124.06; Christy Kellogg, 121.97; Dian Petrov, 121.34; and Liz Clark, 118.67.

       Now let’s widen our horizons.

District 5 (Buffalo, Cleveland, Pittsburgh) Ace of Clubs, Ruby Life Masters. 

     Here Unit 116 players hold four of the top five places, and six of the top 10. Leader still is David Millward, with 113.21; though his lead over the man he displaced in April, Philip Goulding of Wexford, Pa., has almost disappeared. Goulding has 111.41. Millward has slipped from eighth to 10th among all District 5 players. Goulding is down from 11th to 12th.   

     Allen Beroza continues third with 107.72 (14th overall in the district, up from 16th). Then it’s Mike Silverman, 101.52 (17th); Martin Pieterse with 92.12 (23rd, up from 31st); Marvin Shapiro of Akron, Ohio, 86.37 (29th, up from 34th); Chantal Whitney of Bratenahl, Ohio, 84.19; me, 83.72 (36th, up from 40th); James Wheeler of Edinburg, Pa., 82.95 (down from seventh on this list, but still overall 39th); and Ken Meier, 81.10 (41st).

Overall Ace of Clubbers in District 5 look like this:

Now there are three Buffalonians on top – Alan Greer with 257.04, Nancy Wolstoncroft with 171.16 and John Ziemer, up from sixth with 155.23. John has just edged ahead of Reanette Frobouck of Pittsburgh, 155.02. Then it’s Arlene Port of Pittsburgh, 151.86; Richard Katz of North Versailles, Pa., 145.21; Patricia Katz of Pittsburgh (separate households?), 121.85; Asim Ulke of Monroeville, Pa., 117 even; Barbara Belardi of Pittsburgh, 115.13; and David Millward, 113.21.

     Other Unit 116 players in the Top 25 are Liz Clark, 109.02, up from 19 th to 13 th; Allen Beroza, 14th with 107.72; Barbara Libby, 105.50, up from 20th to 16th;  Mike Silverman, 17th with 101.52; Mike Ryan, 98.06, up from 23rd to 18th; and Martin Pieterse, 23rd with 92.12.  

    Now for the District 5 Mini-McKenney, Ruby Life Masters. 

    Philip Goulding of Wexford, Pa., has increased his lead over Unit 116’s David Heussler. Ahead by 17 points a month ago, now he leads 303.65 to 236.83.  They’re eighth and 11th overall in the district.

     The other leaders include: Craig Biddle of Pittsburgh, 215.38 (15th overall); Ken Meier, 143.11 (47th); Leroy Hackenberg of Pittsburgh, 140.16  (50th); our David Millward, 139.55 (51st); Marvin Shapiro of Akron, Ohio, 135.87 (55th); our Allen Beroza, 127.88 (up from 11 th to eighth and up from 82nd to 67th overall); Barbara Greenpsan of Beachwood, Ohio, 117.83 (down from 64th to 83rd); Wayne Heritage of North Olmsted, Ohio, 116.69; (87th); and Mike Silverman, 111.96 (89th). I’m up two notches to 13th among Rubies with my 103.72, and up from 107th overall to 101st.

   Mini-McKenney leader among all District 5 players is, of course, Sue Lan Ma of Kirtland Hills, Ohio, who added almost 60 points in July to reach 592.71. Reanette Frobouck of Pittsburgh, with a 175-point month, leaps from 11th to second with 392.79.

     Dropping one place to third and fourth, respectively, are Kathleen Sulgrove and Don Sulgrove of Twinsburg, Ohio, with no points at all in July. They’re still at 356.12 and 323.69.

     Robert Alexander of Mentor, Ohio, is next with 320.31, followed by Bernie Greenspan of Beachwood, Ohio, with 304.44.

Then it’s Stephanie Alexander of Mentor, 304.03; Philip Goulding of Wexford, Pa., with 303.65; Buffalo’s Alan Greer with 300.82 and Asim Ulke of Monroeville, Pa., with 239.12. Our Davis Heussler is next with 236.83.

    Ace of Clubs, Ruby Life Masters, nationwide.

    Paul Hassett of The Villages, Fla., keeps ahead of Anna Maxcine Thacker of Palm Coast, Fla., 216.66 to 205.73. Joanne Matchette of Vero Beach, Fla., moves up from sixth to third with 204 even. Richard Seidman of Orlando, Fla., remains fourth with 190.86. 

Then it’s Brian Breckenridge of Corvallis, Ore., 175.88; Jonathan Williams of The Villages, Fla., 174.49; April's leader, Russ Pearly, also of The Villages, drops from third to seventh with 173.57; Barry Nish of Little Neck, L.I., 172.75; Mason Barge of Atlanta, 172.05; and Jim Loffree of Naples, Fla., 167.20.

     Unit 116 leader David Millward is down from 70th to 84th. Allen Beroza is up from 190th to 109th. Other local notables include Mike Silverman, up from 208th to 157th; Martin Pieterse, up from 343rd to 239th. I’m up to 356th from 448th. Last Buffalo player is Ken Meier, up to 408th from 469th. The list cuts off at 77.27.

Ace of Clubs, all players, nationwide. 

Bill Kulbersh of Atlanta is still on top with 452.77. New in second place is Irva Neyhart of Corvallis, Ore., with 339.90, up from sixth place with a 74.05-point month. She displaces Bella Ionis-Sorren of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., who drops to third with 335.24. Then it’s Robert Epstein of Atlanta, who has 307.02.

     Then it’s Kay Schulle of Purchase, N.Y., 305.81; Sheila Gabay of Newton, Mass., 300.37; Neil Silverman of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., 291.31; Tania Reyes Hiller of Bedford Corners, N.Y., 290.83; and tied for ninth, Diane Hurt and Edgar Hurt Jr., both of Laguna Woods., Calif., both with 284.20.

         Alan Greer is up from 28th to 20th; Nancy Wolstoncroft is up from 218th to 170th. John Ziemer is up from 424th to 257th. The list stops at 133.35.

    Onward to Mini-McKenney, Ruby Life Masters, nationwide.

Way, way, way out front is Robert L. McClendon of Ponte Vedra, Fla., who enjoyed another triple-digit point month to reach 1,148.41. He continues to more than double Mary Ose of Sacramento, Calif, a very distant second with 500.51. Alex Khrakovsky of Columbus, Ohio, is still third with 497.17.

       Sabrina Miles of Mansfield, Mass., remains fourth with 463.91. Darryl Legassie of Milton, N.H., is still fifth with 453.80.

     Then it’s Mason Barge of Atlanta, 336.04; Junko Hemus of San Clemente, Calif., 328.57; Kim Brinkman of Highland Village, Texas, 305.77; District 5’s Philip Goulding of Wexford, Pa., with 303.65; Russ Pearly of The Villages, Fla., 303.10; James Walter of Ann Arbor, Mich., 302.83; and Joanne Matchette of Vero Beach, Fla., with 302.76.

Unit 116’s Davis Heussler, is 44th with his 236.83. David Millward drops from 292nd to 334th. Ken Meier is 301st. Allen Beroza joins the list in 451st place. The list ends at 123.08.

     And now for the really heavy hitters, the Mini-McKenney leaders overall.

     A month ago there were 12 players in four figures. Now there are 15.

     Joe Grue of New York City sits on top for the sixth straight month with 1,998.73. Mark Itabashi of Murrieta, Calif., continues second with 1,837.74. .

Kevin Dwyer of Melbourne, Fla., once again trades places with Brad Mass of Denver, moving from fourth to third with 1,667.12 to Mass’s 1,612.07.

     Hall of Famer Eric Rodwell of Clearwater, Fla., slips from fifth to seventh with 1,245.90, while longtime collaborator Jeff Meckstroth of Clearwater Beach, Fla., holds steady in sixth with 1,313.14. New resident of fifth place was seventh a month ago. That’s Shan Huang from Melbourne, Fla., with 1,407.11.

John Hurd of New York City continues eighth with 1,219.56; January leader Geoff Hampson of Las Vegas, maintains ninth with 1,173.91; and Ruby Life Master leader Robert L. McClendon of Ponte Vedra, Fla., rounds out the Top 10 with 1,148.41.

     Familiar names: Former Buffalonian Joel Wooldridge advances from 24th to 16th with a 166-point month, reaching 986.56. District 5 leader Sue Lan Ma is 74th with 592.71 even.

Unit 116 now is represented on this list by Alan Greer, whose 300.82 points place him at No. 419. The list cuts off at 281.11.

Bridge Blog 1034: Half past August

I can’t believe how hard it’s been lately to find some clear time and a clear head for blogging. It’s occurred to me that the only way to open up an opportunity is to … not play bridge. Oh, no. Out of the question.

However, if it wasn’t for the air-conditioning, I might as well have skipped the first week of the month. A series of minor shortfalls and a couple major setbacks – 45.50%, 46.43%, 48.49%, an even 50%, 36.01% and 38.19% – all adding up to zero points.

Meanwhile, as of Aug. 1, I’m 75 points short of hitting a major goal in my bridge existence – Gold Life Master. To attain that exalted status before New Year’s Eve, it’s going to take 15 points per month. That bad week may have derailed me.

The second week brought blessed relief.

June Feuerstein and I tied for second in our direction on Wednesday, Aug. 8, with 51.49%. 1.04 points.

More success Thursday with Brian Block, with a game that ordinarily would have been unproductive – 47.92%. Nevertheless, second in the B strat in our direction for 0.74 of a point.

In St. Catharines, Ont., on Friday, Selina Volpatti and I tied for third North-South with 54.76%. Not an extra-point game there like there is at the Airport Bridge Club, where I play all the rest of the time, but good for 0.68 of a point.

Even the Unit 116 picnic on Sunday (see Blog 1033) had its slight reward. A 50.39% with Florence Boyd in the morning session was good for 0.19 of a point.

The big score, however, came Monday with Judie Bailey. We were in tournament form – 58.76% – first North-South, second overall, 2.67 points.

Then another dry patch until Saturday with Denise Slattery, slipping into third place in the B strat with a 50.46% game and earning 1.04 points. Total so far this month – 6.36. Eleven more chances to pick up nine more points.

Bridge Blog 1033: Picnic

Winning youth tournament kids with one of their teachers, Jim Gullo.
Another teacher, Fred Yellen, is seated left in dark shirt. 

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. The picnic is my favorite Unit 116 event. What's not to like? Two bridge games and a terrific summer feast with Weidner’s barbecued chicken. And plenty of Paul and Linda Zittel’s magnificent fresh corn salsa.

Not at the unit’s usual venue this time. The Erie County Fairgrounds in Hamburg, the site in recent years, was unavailable Sunday, Aug. 12. It's Fair Week.

Instead, Rescue Fire Hall in North Tonawanda, often a second choice for these affairs. Believing it had a 10:30 a.m. start, I arrived a few minutes before that to find only half a dozen cars in the parking lot. Was this a bust?

Then I looked at my ticket. 11 o’clock. The hall filled up and emcee Betty Metz announced that it was a record turnout – 104 players.

Well, 103 when she made the announcement. My partner, Florence Boyd, thought it started at 11:30. Gay Simpson, who was working the event, but not playing, filled in until Flo arrived in the middle of the first hand.

We had a reasonable morning game – 50.39%, just enough for a fraction of a point, 0.19, for seventh place in the B strat. We faded after lunch in the afternoon – 42.36%.

One of the day’s high points was the was introduction of the kids from the bridge class over at the Bridge Center of Buffalo, who made a good showing at a youth tournament in Atlanta a week earlier. Flo and I did not play against any of them, but one of the kid pairs – Daren Liu and Tyler Mu – earned more points than we did, 0.44 for coming in fourth in the C strat in the afternoon game.

Bridge Blog 1032: The Birthday Bump

Would the bridge gods smile upon my birthday celebration this year? Both installments of it? Like everything in life, maybe yes, maybe no.

       Still, the run-up to the big day on the 18th wasn’t all that promising. Monday the 16th with Marilyn Sultz yielded a mere 46.06%, the equivalent of a gentleman’s C on the report card. Tuesday with Dotty May felt much better, but our 53.01% failed to earn us any rewards.

       The daytime game with June Feuerstein on my actual birthday on Wednesday was an abject disappointment – 42.36%. We thought we did better, but we wound up settling for not being last.

       Selina Volpatti came over from Canada to be my partner in the Wednesday night game, where I treated everyone to free play. It was the smallest turnout since I began it when I turned 70 in 2012 – just seven tables – with cupcakes for the cake. And since Selina and I had just turned in 35% and 40% games in St. Catharines on the two previous Friday, our game could have been equally diminished. But no, we came through with 56.55%, second North-South, first in the B stratification, 1.40 points.

       The bump got bigger Thursday with Art Matthies, even though the score was lower. 53.85%, fifth overall, second in B, but since it was a slightly bigger game, our payoff was 1.58 points.

       Friday brought the Canadian version of the birthday treat. The club provided a cake just as wonderful as the one a year ago and everyone was pleased at the gift of the free game. Here the turnout was 12½ tables, also down from last year. Selina and I weren’t quite as brilliant, but still pulled through with 52.84%, third North-South, second in B, 0.65 of a point.

       The biggest gift, however, didn’t arrive until Saturday. In a four-table Howell at the Airport Bridge Club, the usual Howell effect (always getting the low cards) was reversed. Denise Slattery and I enjoyed an almost unbroken string of great hands. We took almost all of the bids. We bid slams and made them. If we had been a little more astute, it would have been one for the record books. Still, it was my best game of the year – 64.88% – first overall, 2.63 points. Thank you, bridge gods.  

Bridge Blog 1031: Midpoint 2018

It coulda been big, what with the Airport Bridge Club offering extra point games all the time. It was for Alan Greer and Mike Silverman, who led the master point race at the club with 47.32 and 35.60, respectively.

For me, in 12th place on that list, thanks to a miserable STaC Week, I wouldn’t have even come close to my 15-points-per-month goal if I didn’t have an unexpected win in the final few days. Now that the ACBL race results have been up for a while, let’s see where we stand at midpoint 2018.

   Unit 116 (Buffalo only), Ace of Clubs (club play only), Ruby Life Masters (players with 1,500 to 2,500 points). 

     I gained 13.40 club points in June, bringing my Ace of Clubs total to 66.96, just enough to keep me in fifth place among the Rubies, although I’ve slid from 12th to 17th among all players in the unit. Here's the top 10:

      Still well ahead is David Millward, with 102.02, maintaining his 20-point lead over Allen Beroza, who now has 82.30. Mike Silverman’s bonanza gives him 80.92, zipping past Martin Pieterse, who now has 71.35. Then there’s me with 66.96.

     Ken Meier, who was fourth, slides back to sixth with 65.65. Rounding out the list are Dorothy May, 53.64; Fred Yellen, 53.40; Gene Finton, 53.26; and Elaine Kurasiewicz, 38.45, with Davis Heussler nipping at her heels with 38.20.      

   Unit 116, Ace of Clubs overall. 

     Alan Greer, missing a month ago, has been restored to the throne with a massive 201.42 points. Then it’s Nancy Wolstoncroft, 137.10; John Ziemer, 118.65; David Millward, 102.02; and Allen Beroza, 82.30.

Sixth is Mike Silverman, 80.92, up from 13th place a month ago, followed by Liz Clark, 79.67; Barbara Libby, 77.58; Bud Seidenberg, 77.31; and Mike Ryan, 75.31.

Second 10 goes like this: Ron Henrikson, 71.67; and Martin Pieterse, 71.35; Bob Linn, 70.64; Jay Levy, 68.40; Martha and John Welte, 68 even; moi, 66.96; Ken Meier, 65.65; Jim Easton, 65.01; and Judy Graf, 63.49.

Taking the list a little further, we have Marilyn Wortzman, 60.34; Gay Simpson, 59.30; Denise Slattery, 58.59; Judi Marshall, 55.35; and Ed Morgan, 54.42.

      Moving on to the Mini-McKenney races, which count all points earned everywhere, I have 86.96, up 14.46 from May, but not enough to keep up with Mike Silverman, who displaced me in the fifth position here.

     Continuing far ahead is Davis Heussler, who passed the double century mark with 221.08, but he's no longer tops among all Unit 116 players. He’s slipped to second.  

David Millward is runner-up again with 128.36, down from eighth overall to 11th. Then it's Ken Meier, third again with 127.66 (12th overall); Allen Beroza, holding steady in fourth with 102.56 (20th overall); and Mike Silverman, 91.36 (24th, up from 43rd).

     I lead the next fivesome with my 86.96, 28th overall, down from 26th. Then it’s Fred Yellen, 86.55 (29th); Martin Pieterse, 81.07 (34th); Elaine Kurasiewicz, 57.42 (49th); and Dorothy May, 56.91 (50th).  

     Among all players in Unit 116, the leader now is Alan Greer, with 245.20. Then comes Davis Heussler with his 221.08; John Ziemer, 183.21; Linda Burroughsford, 171.48; and Saleh Fetouh, 165.93.

The Weltes, tied for third a month ago, now are tied for sixth with 162.88; followed by Nancy Wolstoncroft, 162.86; Jay Levy, 148.78; Chris Urbanek, 128.55.

The second 10, all in three figures, include David Millward, 128.36; Ken Meier, 127.66; Sandi England, 127.02; Mike Ryan, 124.83; Bud Seidenberg. 113.16; Christy Kellogg, 110.82; Dian Petrov, 110.28; and Bert Hargeshimer, 106.55.

      Now let’s widen our horizons.

   District 5 (Buffalo, Cleveland, Pittsburgh) Ace of Clubs, Ruby Life Masters. 

     Here Unit 116 players hold seven of the top 10 spots, led by David Millward, with 102.02, though his lead is shrinking over the man he displaced in April, Philip Goulding of Wexford, Pa., who has 93.73. Millward has slipped from fifth to eighth among all District 5 players. Goulding was ninth a month ago, now he’s 11th.  

     Allen Beroza continues third with 82.30 (16th overall in the district, down from 15th). Then it’s Mike Silverman, 80.92 (18th); Martin Pieterse with 71.35 (31st); Marvin Shapiro of Akron, Ohio, 70.42 (34th); James Wheeler of Edinburg, Pa., 67.13 (39th); me, 66.96 (40th, up from a tie for 44th); Ken Meier, 65.65 (42nd); and Susan Konig of Bridgeville, Pa., 61.91 (50th)

   Overall Ace of Clubbers in District 5 look like this:

     Two Buffalonians on top – Alan Greer with 201.42 and Nancy Wolstoncroft with 137.10. They lead Reanette Frobouck of Pittsburgh, 134.95; Richard Katz of North Versailles, Pa., 121.93; and Arlene Port of Pittsburgh, 120.12.

Sitting sixth is John Ziemer, 118.65; then it’s Asim Ulke of Monroeville, Pa., 102.13; David Millward, 102.02; Barbara Belardi of Pittsburgh, 99.68; and Patricia Katz of Pittsburgh, 98.17.

     Other Unit 116 players in the Top 25 are Allen Beroza, tied for 16th with 82.30; Mike Silverman, 18th with 80.92; Liz Clark, 19th with 79.69; Barbara Libby, 20th with 77.58; Bud Seidenberg, 21st with 77.31; and Mike Ryan, 23rd with 75.31.  

   Now for the District 5 Mini-McKenney, Ruby Life Masters. 

    Philip Goulding of Wexford, Pa., has pulled way ahead of Unit 116’s David Heussler. Ahead by less than a point a month ago, now he leads 238.32 to 221.08. They’re eighth and tenth overall in the district.

     The other leaders include: Craig Biddle of Pittsburgh, 183.95 (holding steady overall at 19th); David Millward, 128.36 (down from 39th to 48th); Ken Meier, 127.66 (up from seventh to fifth and holding steady at 49th overall); Leroy Hackenberg of Pittsburgh, 122.51 (down from 47th to 54th); Marvin Shapiro of Akron, Ohio, 119.92 (58th); Barbara Greenpsan of Beachwood, Ohio, 116.73 (down from 45th to 64th); Wayne Heritage of North Olmsted, Ohio, 105.95 (down from 58th to 80th); Allen Beroza, 102.46 (82nd) and Mike Silverman, 91.36 (95th). I’m down one notch to 15th with my 86.96, and steady at 107th overall.

   Mini-McKenney leader among all District 5 players is, not surprisingly, Sue Lan Ma of Kirtland Hills, Ohio, who added 101.83 points in June to reach 533 even.

     Second and third again are Kathleen Sulgrove and Don Sulgrove of Twinsburg, Ohio, with 356.12 and 323.69.

     Robert Alexander of Mentor, Ohio, switches places with Bernie Greenspan of Beachwood, Ohio. They have 294.88 and 289.19, respectively. Then it’s Stephanie Alexander of Mentor, 281.14; Buffalo’s Alan Greer with 245.20; Ruby Life Master leader Philip Goulding with 238.32; Kenneth Kranyak of Parma, Ohio, 228.59; and Davis Heussler in tenth place with 221.08. Also above the double-century mark are Reanette Frobouck of Pittsburgh, 217.74; and Marc Sylvester of Edinboro, Pa., 206.22.

   Ace of Clubs, Ruby Life Masters, nationwide.

    Paul Hassett of The Villages, Fla., keeps ahead of Anna Maxcine Thacker of Palm Coast, Fla., 189.44 to 172.31. April's leader, Russ Pearly, also of The Villages, continues third with 169.82.

    Brian Breckenridge of Corvallis, Ore., vaults from eighth place to fourth with 165.22, thanks to a 46.41-point month. Richard Seidman of Orlando, Fla., who merely had a 37.28-point month, drops to fourth with 163.95, followed by Joanne Matchette of Vero Beach, Fla., 160.12; Bruce Ladin of Harwood Heights, Ill., 150.33; Emil Dimitrov of Hot Springs Village, Ark., 144.41; Mason Barge of Atlanta, 142.28; Jonathan Williams of The Villages, Fla., 141.93; and Michael Fishman of Great Neck, L.I., 140.45.

     Unit 116 leader David Millward is down from 40th to 70th. Allen Beroza also is down from 158th to 190th. Other local notables include Mike Silverman, 208th; Martin Pieterse, down from 291st to 343rd; I’m back on the list in 448th place. Last Buffalo player is Ken Meier, 469th. The list cuts off at 64.75.

   Ace of Clubs, all players, nationwide. 

     Bill Kulbersh of Atlanta is amazing! He followed a 67-point month in May with an 83.93-point month in June. His 411.32 is way beyond Bella Ionis-Sorren of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., in second place with 293.96. She edged back in front of Robert Epstein of Atlanta, who has 285.53.

     Then it’s Harry Kaufmann of North Redington Beach, Fla., 268.15; Irva Neyhart of Corvallis, Ore., 265.85; Kay Schulle of Purchase, N.Y., 255.45; Tania Reyes Hiller of Bedford Corners, N.Y., 253.67; Neil Silverman of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., 247.09; and tied for ninth, Diane Hurt and Edgar Hurt Jr., both of Laguna Woods., Calif., both with 243.34.

         Alan Greer is 28th; Nancy Wolstoncroft is 218th. John Ziemer is in 424th place. The list stops at 113.65.

    Onward to Mini-McKenney, Ruby Life Masters, nationwide.

         Way, way, way out front is Robert L. McClendon of Ponte Vedra, Fla., who enjoyed a 168-point month to reach four figures – 1,040.85. That more than doubles Mary Ose of Sacramento, Calif, a very distant second with 449.16. Alex Khrakovsky of Columbus, Ohio, is still third with 427.15.

       Sabrina Miles of Mansfield, Mass., had a 112-point month to rise from fifth to fourth with 400.96. Darryl Legassie of Milton, N.H., is nearly as good, jumping from seventh to fifth with a 110-point month for a total of 391.24.

     Then it’s Junko Hemus of San Clemente, Calif., 320.60; Mason Barge of Atlanta, 306.27; Russ Pearly of The Villages, Fla., 299.35; Kim Brinkman of Highland Village, Texas, 286.96; and James Walter of Ann Arbor, Mich., 276.58.

Unit 116’s Davis Heussler, is 39th with his 221.08. David Millward drops from 204th to 292nd. Ken Meier slips from 265th to a tie for 296th. The list ends at 107.02.

     And now for the really heavy hitters, the Mini-McKenney leaders overall.

     A month ago there were nine players in four figures. Now there are 12.

     Joe Grue of New York City sits on top for the fifth straight month with 1,746.47. Mark Itabashi of Murrieta, Calif., continues second with 1,601.12.

Brad Mass of Denver once again trades places with Kevin Dwyer of Melbourne, Fla., moving from fourth to third with 1,464.28 to Dwyer’s 1,436.91.

     Hall of Famer Eric Rodwell of Clearwater, Fla., moves from seventh to fifth with 1,228.39, while longtime collaborator Jeff Meckstroth of Clearwater Beach, Fla., slides from ninth into sixth with 1,202.37. 

     Then it's Shan Huang from Melbourne, Fla., with 1,185.49; John Hurd of New York City with 1,132.88; January leader Geoff Hampson of Las Vegas, down another notch from eighth to ninth with 1,119.97; and Jacek Pszczola of Chapel Hill, N.C., with 1,091.75. Also in four figures – Justin Lall of Charlotte, N.C., 1,043.84, and the aforementioned Ruby Life Master leader Robert L. McClendon with 1,040.85.

     Familiar names: Former Buffalonian Joel Wooldridge advances from 25th to 24th with a 125-point month, reaching 820.31. District 5 leader Sue Lan Ma is up from 91st to 76th with 533 even. No Unit 116 people here. This list cuts off at 251.49. Bet we see Alan Greer among the Top 500 next month. 

Bridge Blog 1030: UnSTaCked

     This had to be my most pathetic STaC Week ever. Played nine times, scratched just once for 1.07 silver points, which left me tied for 619th place. The week after STaC Week has been another story.

     With an ailing June Feuerstein on a Wednesday, June 20, when we spent most of the session on defense (declarers on just eight of 24 boards), we nevertheless pulled off a 57.08% game, which looked like first East-West under Ed Morgan and John Bava found an error in their favor. I was happy for the 1.17 points.

     Thursday with Marietta Kalman seemed more dismal that it turned out to be. 54.02% Second North-South, first in the B strat. 1.44 points.

     That’s more than double what I got in the STaC. Did it get me to 2,400 career master points?

     Actually, I didn’t need the STaC to get there. I hit the magic odometer number on the Saturday before STaC Week  started.   

   

Bridge Blog 1029: Big

     Two big games – the World Wide Bridge Contest on June 2 and the District 5 Spring STaC (Sectional Tournament at the Clubs) on June 15. Two big hands.

     For me and my partners, Dotty May and Joe Rooney, respectively, they lifted our spirits. Sadly, they didn’t lift our fortunes.

     I had high hopes that this top board at the Airport Bridge Club would give us a World Wide top and significant international standing.

     Board 20, everybody vulnerable. West is dealer. Sitting East, I’m declarer at 4 Hearts.

North (Eva Schmidt)

Spades: J-8-6-2; Hearts: A-8; Diamonds: K-10-5-3; Clubs: 9-5-2.

East (me)

Spades: A-K-10-3; Hearts: J-10-7-5-4; Diamonds: 7; Clubs: K-4-3.

South (Denise Slattery)

Spades: Q-9; Hearts: 9-3; Diamonds: J-8-6-4-2; Clubs: A-J-8-6.

West (Dotty May)

Spades: 7-5-4; Heart: K-Q-6-2; Diamonds: A-Q-9; Clubs: Q-10-7.

     The commentary booklet analysis is short and sweet: 

     “If West starts with a 13-15 1 NT, East will look for a major suit fit using whatever methods are to hand and 4 Hearts will be reached.

     “If West opens 1 Club/1 Diamond, (which Dotty did) East responds with 1 Heart with the same outcome.

     “It’s easy to see how declarer can arrive at 10 tricks, but if South happens to lead the Queen of Spades, declarer has a shot at an overtrick, although after winning the opening lead and playing a Heart for the King and Ace, North’s Spade return will give declarer pause for thought.”

     Denise leads the 8 of Diamonds, which I take with the Ace, then knock out the Ace of Hearts. Eva may have conveniently led the King of Diamonds. I believe I wound up getting a second Club trick by finessing South, collecting four Hearts, two Diamonds, two Clubs and two Spades and one more trick somewhere. A ruff? A Spade?

     At any rate, very few were likely to make the overtrick and I had big hopes for this one. But we weren’t the world wide top. Top score was plus 1,100 match points. Then plus 680 and plus 660. We were among 86 pairs tied for fourth with 650, winning 2,253.9 match points out of a possible 2,346. A great mass of them – 626 – were plus 620, good for 1,523.2.

     We came in second East-West at the club, fifth overall, with 53.87%, not bad considering it was my first game after nearly two weeks on vacation. On a global scale, though, we weren’t as brilliant. Among 2,237 pairs, we were 1,124th with 51.21%, barely over the median.

     In the afternoon game June 15 at the Airport Bridge Club, there was no questioning the supremacy of the plus 1,600 that pickup partner Joe Rooney and I scored against the formidable Martha and John Welte on Board 23. Joe played it at 5 Spades vulnerable, redoubled. Here’s the hand:

South is dealer. All are vulnerable.

South (Joe)

Spades: K-Q-10-8-5-3-2; Hearts: none; Diamonds: K-9-5-4-3; Clubs: 9.

West (Martha)

Spades A-7-6-4; Hearts: A-6-2; Diamonds: 10-2; Clubs: A-J-4-3.

North (me)

Spades: 9; Hearts: K-10-9-7; Diamonds: A-Q-J-7; Clubs: Q-10-6-2.

East (John)

Spades: J; Hearts: Q-J-8-5-4-3; Diamonds: 8-6; Clubs: K-8-7-5.

     Martha had bid Hearts aggressively – that’s why we were at the 5 level – and she held 3 Aces and four cards in our trump suit, so her double was entirely legit. I redoubled simply because we were having such a bad round. As Bob Dylan observed, when you’ve got nothing, you’ve got nothing to lose.

     Martha’s lead, naturally, was the Ace of Hearts. Joe ruffed that Ace, discarded his singleton Club on dummy’s King of Hearts, conceded the Ace of Spades, drew trump and ran the Diamonds.

     The hand record says it should make 5 Spades or 5 Diamonds for us, 3 Hearts for our opponents.

     A week later, I’m still smiling about that one. It didn’t do much for us, though. We had many more bottom boards than tops. 40.49%, next to last overall.