aces, places, & faces

FRESNO WINTER SECTIONAL
February 14-17, 2020
Once again we’re having a silver point sectional tournament over the President’s holiday weekend.  The schedule is similar to last year, except that the Fast Pairs will move from Friday evening (Valentine’s Day) to Sunday afternoon. Sunday morning will be a new event, bracketed Swiss teams.  Each bracket should have four or five teams of about the same master point holding. It should be a fun event. As in the past, there will be 499er pair games and open pair games every session except Saturday morning and all day Sunday. On Saturday morning we’ll have a 199er game instead of a 499er game. Members with less than 10 master points may play free on Saturday morning.

UNIT NEWS
Congratulations to elected board members Don Austin, Kay Chrisman, Richard Meffley,
Jonel Mueller, and Anthony Toto.
Our thanks go to Jackie Finn, who has retired from the board. She did an incredible job with hospitality at our tournaments and special events. For several years we enjoyed many different meals that she organized and prepared. Thanks again. 

PLACES AND FACES
At the San Francisco NABC, Cindy Tingey won flight C of the side game and was fifth in the side game series.  Marion and Don Austin were 23rd in the Gold Rush pairs. Richard Meffley was fifth and twelfth in the Open pairs.  Gerard Laquerriere and Richard Meffley were second in the Open pairs. Gerard took second in another Open pairs. Farid Assemi and Jim Slinger were fourth in the Super Senior Pairs. Rick Whitworth and former Fresno members Bob Giragosian Steve McConnell, and Jim Tritt, were ninth in the Mitchell B-a-M Teams.  Rick Whitworth was 15th in the Mixed Swiss Teams.
Former Fresnan Sandy Zovod was third in open pairs at the Sacramento sectional.
At the Palm Springs regional, Jonel Mueller was second in flight C of the 299er pairs. Gerard Laquerriere was tenth in the Charity pairs, third in
​Flight X of the A/X pairs, fourth in Bracket 3 of the Round Robin teams, and first in Bracket 2 of the Knockout teams. Congratulations to our winners at these tournaments.
We are sorry to report that Sharon Small passed away last month. She is a long time Life Master; she’s been a Fresno Unit member since before we had player numbers. She has not played for a long time due to illness.

​DISTRICT 21 NORTH AMERICAN PAIRS
For those who qualified in November, the District 21 finals for Flight A are Saturday and Sunday, January 4 and 5 at Fattoria e Mare Restaurant in Burlingame. Flight C plays on Sunday at the same location. Both play two sessions per day, starting at 10:30 am.

WINNERS
UNIT CHAMPIONSHIP
  1A                         Kim Morris - Victor Greener
 2/3A                      Sally Anne Stern - Mark Stern
 2/3A1BC              Marion Austin - JoAnn Huebner
 2B                          Rosalie Jorgensen - Al Crane
 2C                          Rhonda Hampton - M. Steve Johnson
 
   UNIT CHAMPIONSHIP  
  1A                         Victor Greener - Anthony Toto
  2A1BC                Debbie Kemp - Jason Mcalexander
  3A                         Steve Johnson - Robert Durbrow
  2B                         Mary Lou Pease - Joseph Tang
  3B                         Ray April - Laura Da Costa
  2C                         Jackie Finn - Deb Petersen
 
  UNIT CHAMPIONSHIP
  1A                  Mark Stern - Sally Anne Stern
  2A1B             Anthony Toto - Lowell Gist
  3A2B1C      Laura Da Costa - M. Steve Johnson
  2C                   Don Austin - Marion Austin
 
  UNIT CHAMPIONSHIP
  1AB      Carol Kaufman - Rosalie Jorgensen
  2A         Richard Meffley - Victor Greener
  3A         Ray April - Howard Arquette
  2B         Pamela Pigg - Mary Lou Pease
 
UNIT CHRISTMAS PARTY
  1A                         Belva Quattrin - Robert Durbrow
  2A1BC               Anthony Toto - Jackie Finn
  3A2B                   Kim Morris - Vincent Cheng
  3B                         Carolyn Lofton - Robert Endara
  2B                         Carol Miller - Larry Miller
  3C                         John Oakshott - Peggy Oakshott
 
299ER CHRISTMAS PARTY
  1A         Don Austin - Marion Austin
  2A         Pamela Pigg - Lois High
  3A1B   Joan Fritz - Marge Field
  2B1C   Elaine Henshel - Joyce Aiken
  3B         James Bushman - Debbie Kemp
  2C         Barbara Gaudin - Eleanor Alpha
 
UNIT 99ER CHAMPIONSHIP
  1            Sandra White - Marlene Fiore
  2            Barbara Gaudin - Eleanor Alpha
 
UNIT 99ER CHAMPIONSHIP
  1A         Margot Cegielski - Alvin Fred Schellack
  2A1B   Sandy Petrie - Pat Heckathorn
  2B         Clint Hudson - Barbara Gaudin
 
UNIT 99ER CHAMPIONSHIP
  1AB      Barbara Gaudin - Ed Keller
  2A         Margot Cegielski - Alvin Fred Schellack
  3A2B   Sandy Petrie - Pat Heckathorn
  3C         June Serio - Clint Hudson

​UNIT 99ER CHAMPIONSHIP
  1AB      Barbara Gaudin - Ed Keller
  2A         Margot Cegielski - Alvin Fred Schellack
  3A2B   Sandy Petrie - Pat Heckathorn
  3C         June Serio - Clint Hudson
 
UNIT 99ER CHAMPIONSHIP
  1            Pat Heckathorn - Sandy Petrie
  2            Julia Kendall - Tom Callahan
  3            Lynda Moller - Sandra White
 
CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP
  1A                         Bob Cross - Robert Durbrow
  2A1B                    Laura Da Costa - Barbara Thacker
 3/4A                       Ray April - Victor Greener
 3/4A2B                  Mary Lou Pease - Judy Zimmerer
 
CHAMPIONSHIP
  1            Carol Rodder - Rosalie Jorgensen
  2            Peter Weber - Susan Vildosola
 
CHAMPIONSHIP
  1            Robert Cherry - Tay Cherry
  2            Mark Stern - Victor Greener
  3A2B    Lowell Gist - Avis Morse
  3C         Mary Lou Pease - James Sweet
 
750 CHAMPIONSHIP
  1ABC                    JoAnn Huebner - Cheryl Hiney
  2AB                      Judy Nibler - Beverly Little
  3AB2C                  Steve Johnson - Ann Keag
  3C                         Marsha Infausto - Judy Geary
 
299ER CHAMPIONSHIP
1              Barbara Gaudin - Eleanor Alpha
2              Margot Cegielski - Ed Keller

LESSONS
We’re starting free lessons again on Saturday, January 18, 2020 at 9 am. We’ll have Easybridge I for those who want to learn bridge or haven’t played in years. Easybridge II is for those who have done Easybridge I and those with some bridge experience.  Let your friends know that we are starting bridge lessons again this month.  
Call Mary Lou Pease, 288-2340, or Laura Da Costa, 999-2825, for more information.

GROUND RULES FOR NEW PLAYERS
BIDDING
You want to play in a major suit fit with eight or more trumps between you and your partner. When your partner opens a minor suit, bid a four card or longer major suit before you raise the minor suit. You can raise on your next bid.
DECLARER PLAY
In a suit contract, when Dummy has a short suit, always think about trumping in dummy. If you have five good trumps and dummy has three good trumps, you still have five tricks if you trump in your hand. If you trump once in dummy, you have five plus one = six tricks.
DEFENSE When you have an Ace on opening lead against a suit contract, either lead the Ace or lead another suit. If you under lead your Ace, you may never get a trick with it.​ 
​
CLUB NEWS
Steve Johnson and Carol Kaufman were the top players in Madera for December, followed by Nick and Mary Gullo. Steve was the top player for 2019, followed by Carol, Gary Nelson, and Barbara Diebert.
Victor Greener was the top winner for November at the Fresno Bridge Center, followed by Bill Glass, Ray April, and Mark Stern. After November, Victor led for 2019, followed by Ray April, Laura Da Costa, and Bill Glass. Victor Greener was the top winner for 2019. You can see the final 2019 results on the by clicking Masterpoints, above. 
For November, June Serio was the top 99er for the Fresno Bridge Center, followed by Pam Pigg, Lynda Moller, and Sandra White. After November, Margot Cegielski leds the 99er for the year, followed by Fred Schellack, Mary Claire Ewing, and Ann Keag. Those four are also the final top 99ers for 2019.
The ACBL allowed upgraded Championships for clubs that used ACBLLive to report club games in October. The Monday and Friday games are using the upgraded Championships this month. The other clubs will use them later this year.
Congratulations to new club master Bettylee Wapner.
​

​STAC(Numbers indicate overall places)                                  
 Mark Stern - Lowell Gist [13]
 Barbara Thacker - Belva Quattrin
Richard Meffley - William Glass [2 Aux]
Barbara Thacker - Robert Durbrow
 Victor Greener - Ray April [1/2Aux]
 Robert Durbrow - Richard Meffley
 Avis Morse - Cynthia Tingey [B]
Sheila Smith - Gerry Jones [B]
 Lisa D'Arcy - Avis Morse [B]
Laura Da Costa - Carol Miller [B]
Jason Mcalexander - James Sweet [B]
Renee Laquerriere - Avis Morse [B]
Robert Cherry - Tay Cherry [B] [2B 1C Aux]
George Efthemon - Jackie Finn[C]
Vivian Betcher - Richard Betcher [14C]
Al Crane - Richard Meffley [AUX 7]
 
750 STAC
Patricia Creede - Angelina Heisdorf [3]
Ann Keag - Pamela Pigg [5B]
Mary Claire Ewing - Sandy OwYoung-Chu
​ [9A 6B 3C]
Barbara Wiedel - Linda Town [B]
Judy Geary - Marsha Infausto [B]
Karen Matthews - Cheryl Johnson [5C]
Nalini Jeyapalan - Jei Jeyapalan [3]
 
STAC 299 ER PAIRS
 ½            Sandy Petrie - Pat Heckathorn
 ½            Margot Cegielski - Ed Keller
 
99ER STAC
  Sandy Petrie - Pat Heckathorn [1]
  Clint Hudson - June Serio [1]
  Fred Schellack - Margot Cegielski [2]
  Clint Hudson - Barbara Gaudin [2]
  Sandy Petrie - Nicki Gram [B]
 
OAKHURST WINNERS
Paul Mertens and Clem Bingham
Karen McCartin and T. Srinivasan
Claire Molnar and Karen McCartin
Nancy Lyday and Jon Galaznik
Burke Zane and Clem Bingham
Bill Fullar and Ruthie Fruehauf
Joni Roberts and Al Ellis
Diane McDonough and Ira Estin
Ken Doig and Nancy Hays (2)
T. Srinivasan and Martha Robrahn
Burke Zane and T. Srinivasan
Clem Bingham and Judy Bingham
Burke Zane and Ken Sommers
 
 EASYBRIDGE INDIVIDUAL 
1              Lynda Moller
 2             Joyce Aiken
 ¾            Elaine Henshel
 3/4          Jung Kim
 5/7          Nicki Gram
 5/7           N. Abraham
 5/7           Sandra White
  8            Ed Keller
  9            Joan Clark
10/13       Judy Pierre
10/13       Judy Statler
10/13       Mary LaFollette
10/13       Margaret Thompson
 
INDIVIDUAL                               
1/3A        William Glass
 1/3A       Debbie Kemp
 1/3A       Mary Lou Pease
 3/4B     Edward Hampton
 3/4B    James Sweet
 
 
SPECIAL
Victor Greener - Mark Stern
Robert Durbrow - Laura Da Costa
Lowell Gist - Gerard Laquerriere
Patrick Carroll - Al Crane [B]
Sheila Smith - Gerry Jones [B]
Ray April - Sally Anne Stern [B]
Judy Nibler - Angelina Heisdorf [C]
Jonel Mueller - Jason Mcalexander [C]
 
750 SPECIAL
Edward Hampton - Rhonda Hampton
Pamela Pigg - Rita Gladding [B]
 
 99 SPECIAL
  Barbara Gaudin - Eleanor Alpha
Pat Heckathorn - Sandy Petrie [C]
 
99
Clint Hudson - Barbara Gaudin
Sandy Petrie - Pat Heckathorn [B]