THURSDAY January 31 - Bermuda Regional Bridge Tournament

19 Pages·2013·1.4 MB·English

The
Bermuda Regional , 2013
on
Thursday, January 31st
Bulletin No. 6
Editor: Janet Evans
BERMUDA SALUTES THE NEW JERSEY CLASS OF 2013

In what is fast becoming an annual tradition, our friends from New Jersey pose for their official photograph. You met
Debbie Crisfield, their group organizer, in Bulletin 3, and she is pictured in the middle of the photograph wearing a sash
which announces her as "Bermuda Bridge Goddess". Kindly, she is donating this sash to the Bermuda Bridge Club,
hoping to inaugurate a brand new contest there. Certain nattily dressed men are looking very interested in the idea!

CONT ENTS

Today's and Tomorrow's Programme 2 Photo Round 3-4
Expert Lecture 5 A Bridge Regional Coup 5
The Biftas 6 Local Lore/Bermuda Bits 6

In the Spotlight 7 Hooray for Hollywood 7

The Right Hand of the Prophet 8-9 Backhanders - Yesterday's Best 10-11

Results 12-17 Masterpoint Race 18

Sponsors 19
1
TODAY’S PROGRAMME TOMORROW’S PROGRAMME
(THURSDAY, January 31st) (FRIDAY, February 1st)

9:00 a.m. 9:00 a.m.
Swiss Teams - Session 2 of 2 Stratiflighted Swiss Teams - Session 1 of 2
Stratified Side Game – Paget Series, Session 1 Stratified Side Game – Paget Series, Session 4

12 Noon 1:00 a.m.
Expert Panel Show Stratiflighted Swiss Teams - Session 2 of 2
Stratified Side Game – Paget Series, Session 5
1:00 p.m. Newcomer Stratified Pairs
Bracketed Championship KO Teams (Finals)
Swiss Teams - Session 2 of 2 6:30 p.m.
Stratified Side Game – Paget Series, Session 2 Cocktail Party
Newcomer Stratified Pairs Prize Giving and Gala Dinner Dance+

8:15 p.m.
Stratified Open Pairs - Session 2 of 2

BERMUDA GOLD PAIRS (0-750 points)

Session 2 of 2
+Formal Dress Suggested
Stratified Side Game – Paget Series, Session 3
(especially after all the reminders!)
Newcomer Stratified Pairs

Trophy Events in Bold
Trophy Events still in Bold

OH, CANADA!

GO, CAN ADA!
LOST AND FOUND AT THE

DIRECTO RS' TABLE
Sol Weinstein wou ld like you all to know
that he has found in the playing area a
rather nice pen and that, if it's yours,

please approach him .

Of course, if he's not about, you won't be

able to leave him a note because

he - er - has your pen.

REMAINING TOP TALKS DURING

THE WEEK

The Prophet's Panel Show – Gardenia
Room TODAY, T hursday 31st, at 12
N oon
Counting out the opponents in the Bracket B of

the Compact Knock-Out Teams on Monday and
Last chance to c atch the droplets of
Tuesday mornings were (from left)
John and Lois Sherwood (New Brunswick), Doris wisdom from th e Holy One and His
Gooding (To) and Dick Willemsen (To). Spiritua l Side-Kick.
Congratulations, Team!

2
MORE WINNERS

Although there were obviously times when Martha Ferguson (Bda)
could cheerfully have throttled her partner, Mark Crampton (Bda),
there must have been some good moments because they won last
night's Newcomer Stratified Pairs.
Well done to them!

Also winners in Flight 2 of last night's Newcomer Stratified Pairs were Steven
Trumper and Sandra Curtis, both of Toronto. In the absence of any sign of
strangulation, one can only assume that women treat their men differently in
Canada!

Very excitingly, Norma Yeomanson (left) and Anne Bath, both of Toronto, in their
FIRST EVER TOURNAMENT, won Flight 3 of last night's Newcomer Stratified Pairs.

When approached for a photo, Anne sent me away, convinced there had been some
mistake in the scoring. Only Director Charlie could reassure her. We are delighted
that they've cut their tournament teeth here with us in Bermuda. Congratulations,
ladies; may there be many more nights like this.

Taking first place in Section F of the Bermuda
Gold Rush Pairs yesterday evening were
Diane Livingstone (left) and Linda Smith, both
from Halifax. Nice going, ladies

3
HELLO, HALIFAX

We are delighted to introduce another of
our great fun groups this year from the Halifax
Bridge World Club of Nova Scotia
Welcome, Ladies. Come back next year!

CHILLAXING AT THE
REGIONAL

It's not all hard work at the Bermuda Regional! Kathrin and Lucian Platt of
Philadelphia were spotted having a very tranquil time yesterday morning. Said
Lucian, "It's our sixth time here, so I knew exactly where to find this bench!"

But, wait! What CAN Kathrin be reading? Surely it can't be something OTHER than
the Bermuda Regional Bulletin?

Floating blissfully in the hotel's pool yesterday morning, about as far away from a
bridge table as possible, was Dorid Lamb, who is here with husband Tony from New
Jersey. Which just goes to show that a bit of water therapy can help you make quite
a splash at the tables, as Dorid and Tony won the Novice Charity Pairs on Saturday
night and the Newcomer Pairs on Tuesday afternoon.

Bermuda welcomes back Renate Hansen (second right) and Andreas Babsch (right)
from Austria, who brought with them Beatrix Kuzselka and Nikolas Bausback from
Germany, and who lend a truly international flavour to our tournament.

4
ROBERT TODD ON HIS TOD
DELIVERS IN FINE STYLE

The title of Robert's lecture yesterday morning was "Is It Forcing?"
Well, the Editor can confidently report that there was nothing forced about the
enjoyment and interest demonstrated by his audience.

Robert has a clear, friendly delivery, which makes it easy for people to ask questions
and learn from his lectures. No doubt his style has much to do with the fact that, in his
former life, he was a Mathematics lecturer.
It all adds up, somehow!

Notes of Robert's lecture may be found on the Registration Desk, for those who missed
a fun, but instructive time.

NOT FOOT TA PPING BLUES, BUT FOOT TAPPING NEWS -

A BRIDGE COUP.

IS HISTORY RE-WRITTEN AT THE 2013 BERMUDA REGIONAL?

Not to tax your, no doubt, already burdened brains, but cast your minds back to yesterday's bulletin and the article
about the infamous foot tapping affair at the 1975 World Championship held here in Bermuda. Well, imagine our
surprise, when, in the early hours of the morning, two distinguished looking gentlemen pitched up at the Bulletin
Room door announcing that they'd come to set the record straight once and for all. Once the Pros in the room had
established that they weren't, in fact, from the F.B.I. then naturally, the Bulletin Editor assumed that they'd come with
a load of historical corrections, but, no, what they'd come to reveal could potentially rock the Bridge world on its
heels, go some ways to restoring international relations, and - yes - even rewrite history itself!.

The two distinguished gentlemen of the night were Tony Saunders, who has played Bridge for Bermuda and who
CHAIRED THE 1975 Bermuda Bowl event, and Malcolm Lewis who has played Bridge for both Bermuda and
England and who was VICE-CHAIR at the time as well as MONITOR OF THE SUSPECT TEAM. According to
Malcolm, screens were, in fact, in use at the time because he had knocked them up in the woodwork room of a local
school, but they did not extend to the floor as they do now - hence the suspicious shuffling being easily detected.

Anyway, after the fracas, when the Italian pair in question were allowed to continue playing, Malcolm found himself
monitoring the "culprits", when he noticed, to his amazement, that one of the Italians had, in fact, a NATURAL
TWITCH of his feet, anyway!

So, could the whole sorry foot-tapping scandal have been, after all, a giant misunderstanding attributable to nothing
more than a bout of nervousness or a touch of cramp? If so, remember that you heard it here first!

Disappointingly, those to whom I have told this story are cynical.

The pragmatic Robert Todd listened attentively and then asked, "Yes, but was
there a PATTERN to the twitch?"

While Jean Johnson frivolously thought the Italian in question may have been
practising some rudimentary form of the Hokey Cokey in preparation for the
Victory Banquet!

Tony Saunders Malcolm Lewis
YOU DECIDE
5
THE BI FTAS Such affection was exemplified at the outset when
Grant Horneffer, in Churchillian fashion, declared,:
HIP HIP HOORA Y FOR THE “This clubhouse will be built if I have to do it with
THEP BGIAFT AS myown bare hands” (a plaque bearing these words
hangs to this day in the Clubhouse), and then later
when a subsequent Club President, who was a dab
The PGA Grand Slam of Golf is an annual off-season hand with emulsion, sobbed that it was his very own
golf tournament contested by the year's winners of the “*@#?!%* Sistine Chapel” (there is no plaque bearing
four major championships of men's golf: the Masters these words – anywhere!).
Tournament, the U.S. Open, the British Open, and the
PGA Championship. Since 2007, this most stellar of Members past and present have gone to extraordinary
sporting fixtures has been held right here in Bermuda, lengths to protect and preserve the building. On one
and has been won by such international stars as Tiger occasion, while blundering through the bushes,
Woods, Rory Mcllroy, Angel Cabrera and Ernie Els. allegedly in search of the Clubhouse boundaries, mild
mannered Dr Ian Harvey surprised a gang of youths
With a total of nine, Bermuda has the highest up to no good at the back door. With no thought for
concentration of golf courses per square mile in the his own safety, our hero shouted a sharp, “Shoo!” and
world, many of them designed by famous course waved wildly in the air with the tea towel on which he
architects such as Robert Trent Jones. The PGA had been kneeling to protect his flannels, whereupon
Grand Slam was firstly held at the Mid Ocean Club the gang simply melted away. Whether they were
Golf Course and latterly at the nearby Port Royal Golf ACTUALLY carrying a bag marked “SWAG”, as the
Course. daredevil doctor later claimed, could not afterwards be
established with any certainty, but in that bygone age
With the eye of his namesake, Tiger Woods has won when a pursed lip and a wagged finger could vanquish
the Grand Slam a record seven times, thus completely villains, it is entirely possible.
teeing off the rest of the field.
While he was here, he admitted On another occasion, after a particularly lively party
that he had persistent trouble with the night before, this very Bulletin Editor surprised the
the” Bermuda Rough”; no doubt glamorous Jean Johnson gamely vacuuming the
those of you who’ve been clubhouse carpet, awkwardly wielding the unfamiliar
trumped here yourselves this apparatus with hands gloved in designer Marigolds,
week feel Tiger’s pain. presumably to insulate her against the shock of such
Tiger in the Ruff unaccustomed housework!

The history of the Bermuda Bridge Club has been

LOCAL LORE/BERMUDA BITS chequered, often reflecting the social tensions of the
THE BERMUDA BRIDGE CLUB times; Agnes Manners, for example, was deemed not
With thanks to Tony Saunders for use of his to have any at all (manners, that is) and was drummed

research. out of the club for slurping her afternoon tea too
loudly; such a situation now seems laughable – the
more noise you make when you drink these days, the
The Bermuda Bridge Club as an organization was
more likely you are to be voted on to some
founded in 1932 and bridge was played at various
management committee or another.
locations on the Island until, in 1974, under the then

Club President Grant Horneffer, work was begun on
For all the Bridge Club’s many vagaries, most are
the Clubhouse on Pomander Road in Paget. Partly
agreed that life has delivered some pretty decent
financed by the members in the form of donations and
times within its walls, but don’t take our word for it –
interest-free debentures (see today’s In the Spotlight),
check out game times at www.bermudabridge.com
and since then developed and maintained by their
and come on down – you will be guaranteed the most
generosity and hard work, the Clubhouse has always
amazingly warm welcome there.
held a special place in the hearts of Bermuda’s bridge
players.
TODAY'S LUNCH MENU
Turkey breast on sourdough

with cranberry mayo,
and creamy wild mushroom soup.

Remember that there is no
soup and sandwich tomorrow so that

you can save yourself for the banquet!
6
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
FLOURISHING STILL

THE EVERGREEN IVY ROSSER

The Bulletin Editor makes no apologies for focussing
the spotlight once again on the amazing Ivy Rosser of
Warwick, Bermuda, who, along with husband Graham,

is a veritable legend in the Bermuda Bridge
Community.

When the Bermuda Bridge Club needed donations to

begin its ambitious building programme back in 1974
(see today’s Local lore/Bermuda Bits on p. 5), Ivy and
Graham were amongst the first to open their

chequebook. Meanwhile, they continued to organize,
direct and promote the game of bridge across the

Island.

Even more remarkable, Ivy has

played in every Bermuda
Regional tournament since the
beginnings in 1950 and, and
formidable a competitor as
ever, as many a haples

opponent has discovered over

the years.

Say hello to Ivy if your paths cross this week , and

may she continue to flourish through many more
Regional Tournaments to come!

HOORAY FOR HOLLYWOOD

For Pete’s sake, partner, make
a lead! I feel the need, the
need for a lead!

“That’s your
hand? Good
grief, partner! Here’s another nice
mess you’ve gotten me into!”

Hooray for Hollywood Revealed on page 17

OVERHEARD IN AN A&E WARD

SOMEWHERE NEAR YOU
“For some strange reason, minus 1700 never
seems to go down well with Partner
7
RIGHT HAND OF
THE PROPHET

Although the" Profit from the Prophet" columns are at an end, for ever and ever for this year, the Chosen One
still communicates with you, if not in a burning bush, then in a red hot hand from the distant past.

And He wants to reveal to you this about ....

DECLARER PLAY ….. Planning the Hand

Although, of course, I could have gone back a couple of millennia for the Right Hand of the Prophet, I have chosen one
from just a few years ago, which was in fact played against the Editor's long-suffering husband, Bill Souster, a lowly
sinner, who was partnering John Burville, against whom the wrath of the Prophet has often been visited, and is
somewhere on the top of my tablet of memorable hands. My partner on the day was Tony Saunders, usually worthy and
saintly and featured elsewhere in this Bulletin, so this was a game of power and glory. And, although I command the
North Star, I was, in fact, sitting South .

Board 12. N/S Vul. Dealer West.

   AQJ
   Q62
   AQ63
   K32

    1098632
    J98
    5
 AJ9

WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH
1NT(12-14) Dbl Pass 3
Pass 4

The contract was a righteous one … with John opening the bidding, 10 tricks look assured so I needed to seek the
overtrick.
John led the Ace of hearts on which Bill played the 3 ... time for the Prophet to rumble from on high! These were my
thoughts at this stage…
It looked like John had the Ace King of hearts ... he probably had the King of Spades, but if he didn’t, he had to have the
King of Diamonds and Queen of Clubs to make up his 12-14 points .
If he DID have the King of spades then he couldn’t have both the Club Queen and the Diamond King , as that would give
him 15 points, so Bill would have one of them .
8
Bill’s shape was almost certainly 2-3-4-4 ! His three of hearts signalled an odd number and the fact that he didn’t try and
bale out after the double suggested no five card minor … combine that with the fact that John had to have at least two
spades and it didn't take much prophesying to establish there was no other shape he could have.
So, back to the play of the hand …. John continued with the King of hearts on which I cast dummy’s queen to create an
entry to my hand and I duly won the third heart. It was now tempting in the New Testament way of temptation to take the
diamond finesse and then fling my club on the Ace if it worked, but I decided, instead, to become a seeker after the hand
of milk and honey …. and here is the lie of the land:
AQJ
   Q62
   AQ63
   K32
  K7  54
  AK75  1043
  J1097  K842
  Q65  10874
    1098632
    J98
    5
    AJ9
At trick three I took the spade finesse which held … the hand was now taking shape …. if John had the diamond King
the Queen of clubs had to be with Bill, so I now cashed the diamond Ace and ruffed a diamond and led another spade,
the King coming up from John and Bill following suit. Now another diamond ruff , spade to Jack, on which John threw a
heart, and another diamond and the King of Kings turned up on my right!!
I ruffed and this was now the position :
   None
   None
   None
   K32
  None  None
  None  None
  None  None
  Q65  1087
    None
    None
    None
 AJ9
nowing that the club Queen had to be with John on my left, my only hope for the overtrick was that Bill had the ten on
my right, so I led the club Jack … if John covered I could then finesse the ten, which in this case works. John , in fact,
played smoothly low in case I had AJ10 and a two way choice. So, I had no choice but to run it……11 tricks and a
welcome top of the mountain. And it was good.

Here endeth the lesson.
Amen!
9
BACKHANDER - YESTERDAY'S BEST
by ADAM PARRISH
Discovery Play
Today’s hand comes from the morning Swiss Teams. My partner played the hand nicely to get the information she
needed, but didn’t quite manage to take advantage. Here’s what it looked like from her seat:

♠ 5432

♥ K6

♦ A73

♣ 8532

♠ KJT94

♥ J82

♦ QT4

♣ A7

NORTH EAST SOUTH WEST

Pass

Pass 1♦ 1♠ 2♥

2♠ All Pass

West led the diamond five. Declarer ducked and East won the king and returned the suit; when Declarer played the ten,
West followed with the nine. It seems clear that West started with three small diamonds (she would have led high from
a doubleton), so there’s no danger of a third-round diamond ruff. So it seems safe to gather a little information before
tackling the trump suit. My partner won the second diamond trick in hand with her ten and then played a heart to the
king, which lost to East’s ace. A heart came back, West winning the ten and switching to the queen of clubs. All should
now be clear.

We’ve lost two hearts and a diamond, and there’s a club loser that’s not going anywhere. So we can afford only one
trump loser. If East has both honors we can’t go wrong, and if West has them both we can’t go right. But if the trumps
are 2-2 with each defender having Hx, we’ll have to guess correctly.

East has shown up with the ace of hearts and the king-jack of diamonds. West’s queen-of-clubs lead marks East with
the club king as well. That gives East 11 HCP, with something like 2=3=4=4 shape. If she had the ace of spades, that
would give her 15 HCP, and she would have opened 1NT. Think about the West hand: she has the queen of hearts
and queen-jack of clubs; for her to have her 2♥ bid she needs the ace of spades. So Declarer should cross to the ace of
diamonds and lead a spade to the jack. The full deal:

♠ 5432

♥ K6

♦ A73

♣ 8532

♠ A6 ♠ Q7

♥ QT753 ♥ A94

♦ 965 ♦ KJ82

♣ QJ4 ♣ AT96

♠ KJT94

♥ J82

♦ QT4

♣

10