What's New Around the Unit

by Vic Sartor

November 2007

The annual two-session membership event produced a new unit board, some good bridge, and a fine Italian feast, courtesy of our own master chef Gino Barbieri. The new board members are Penny Barbieri, Tim Finlay, Cordell Goode, Tom Lill, Rosalie Roberts, Richard Patterson, Vic Sartor, and Roger Boyar.

Overall winners were Bill Papa and Jim Griffin, followed by Vito Sartori and Kerry Tillman, Lulu and Fred Minter, Richard Patterson and Helen Wang (1st OA in B). Pat Radamaker and Margaret Jacobs finished 2nd OA in B. Margaret was also voted a special honor as thanks for her long service to local bridge. An open pairs event at the L.A. regional will be named for her.

In club results, top games of the month were two 70%+ efforts by Penny Barbieri and Helen Wang. Winners topping 60% were Jerry Androus, Billie Steiner, Dave Ruoff, Vic Sartor, Lulu Minter, Fred Minter, Kurt Triesmann, Mary Miller, and Susanne Wojcik. Other winners included Georgiana Bierman, Paule Ford, Susan Ruoff, Herb Stampfl, George Altinus, Meredith Cole, Marilyn Reed, Edwin Kelly, Donald Naf, Linda Ananea, Kathy Helber, Ken Bloomfield, Richard Whitham, and Ken Lowenthal.

There was a bumper crop of hand-of-the month candidates this month, including at least three 7-6 freaks. My personal favorite was a bleary-eyed player who somehow thought his xx KQxxx xxx xxx hand counted up to 13 HCP (hallucinating a couple of phantom aces). He managed to keep his opponents out of game in their 4-4 heart fit. They stumbled into 3NT, getting the only plus score their direction. I decided to give top honors to a legitimate hand, however.

You hold:

♠A x x x x ♥Q J x ♦ Void ♣ Q x x x x.
RHO opens 2♦, and in a commendable fit of self-restraint, you pass. LHO passes, and partner balances with 2♠! Your bid? If you found a splinter raise to 4♦ (or a void showing 5♦), you hit the jackpot. Pard has a nice-fitting
♠K Q x x x ♥A x x ♦x x x ♣A J
and cue-bids his heart ace. You naturally jump to 6♠, taking the club control on faith, and you reach the ice-cold top spot. Til next time …

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