Cincinnati Bridge Association October, 2005 Vol. XXX, Number 3

Cincinnati Fall Sectional

“OCTOBERFEST”

(and CBA Board Elections)

October 28-30, 200

SHARONVILLE CONVENTION CENTER

11355 CHESTER RD., CINCINNATI, OH 45246

513-771-7744

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 28

Stratified Future Pairs………………………....1:00 p.m. & 7:00 p.m.

A: 200-300 B: 50-200 C 0-50

Stratified Open Pairs……………………….….1:00 p.m. & 7:00 p.m.

A: 1500+ B: 300-1500 C: 0-300

SATURDAY. OCTOBER 29

Stratified Future Pairs………………9:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m., 7:00 p.m.

A: 200-300 B: 50-200 C: 0-50

Stratified Open Pairs………….……9:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m., 7:00 p.m.

A: 1500+ B: 300-1500 C: 0-300

North American Open Pairs……….…………1:00 p.m. & 7:00 p.m.

Flight A (unlimited) Flight B (0-2000) Flight C (NLM 0-500)

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 30

Stratiflighted Swiss ……………………….…….....10:30 am & TBA

A1: Open A2: 0-3000

B: 750-1500 C: 300-750 D: 0-300

A1 and A2 play together. B, C, and D play together.

Tournament Chairs Sandy Orr (513) 271-6318

Fred Pollack (513) 307-5176

Partnerships Lorna Davis, 513-777-1760

Carolyn Ahlert, Editor

cahlert@earthlink.net

INSIDE

Prez Sez 2

CBA Charity Game 3

CBA Elections 4

Absentee Voting Instructions 5

Zero Tolerance Report 5

You be the Judge - Edmiston 6

Cincy-Dayton Match/ABA News 7

Summer STaC Winners 8

Middletown Sectional Winners 9

You Be the Judge (continued) 10

Bridge Lessons 11

Gift Certificates/Steuernagle 12

Holiday Party 13

Sweet Sixteen- Sachs & Raturi 14

Membership News 15

W/W Bridge/Instant Matchpoint 16

Dummy’s Limited Rights 16

Board Meetings 17

CBA Income Statement 18

Club Notes 19

COMING EVENTS

CBA Charity Game

Sunday, October 16, 1 PM

Bridge Center

Membership Appreciation Game

Sunday, November 6, 1 PM

Pot Luck & Game, Bridge Center

ACBL-Wide Charity Game

Monday, November 21, 7 PM

Bridge Center

CBA Holiday Party

Kenwood Country Club

Thursday, December 1, 6 PM

ACBL-Wide Senior Game

Monday, February 27

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

The past nine months have been relatively uneventful. The Bridge Center is in good

condition, with the roof leak situation under control. We have had the stained tiles

replaced and have been assured we will always have clean roof tiles in the future.

At this time we are in the process of negotiating with our building's owner for

renewal of our current lease. This lease expires December 31, 2006, but if we

renew prior to December 31, 2005, we will receive funds to make improvements

such as installing new carpeting and painting the interior.

A matter of some concern is our falling attendance in the evenings. With the

exception of the Tuesday evening Novice-Intermediate game (averaging 10.5

tables) directed by Tom Deddens, we are off by two to three tables each Tuesday

and Wednesday. That is too bad as those nights are the times when the best

players frequently play and it gives us a chance to judge our progress as compared

to the best.

We all realize we have a new duplimate along with new cards. The duplimate is

working perfectly, but we have one problem. People seem to persist in eating when

handling the cards and cards get sticky which means we have to destroy same

cards. That is expensive; so PLEASE DON'T EAT AND HANDLE THE CARDS.

Our tournaments so far this year have been profitable, but our regional was off

about one hundred tables from the previous year. At $40.00 a table that comes to

a 2005 profit of about $4000, rather than $8000 for 2004.

As in previous years the annual election for new board members will take place

during the October Sectional. At this time we have eight candidates to fill five

openings. Please take the time to vote for the candidates of your choice, as there

will be important decisions to be made and we want to have a strong board in place

to represent our entire membership.

Joseph Lutz

President

CBA Charity Game

Sunday, October 16, 2005, 1:00 PM

at the Bridge Center

$10.00

This year the Charity Game at the CBA will benefit the

FREE STORE FOOD BANK

while at the same time we have a good time playing bridge!

Special Novice Section

DOOR PRIZES

SPLIT-THE-POT MONEY RAFFLE

Half the money goes to the Free Store Food Bank

The other half is divided between 3 winners!

Members of the board will have tickets for the raffle.

You don’t have to be present to win.

Make checks payable to “CBA Charity”

Please purchase your tickets ahead of time.

We look forward to seeing all of you there!

For further information, contact:

Jerry Violetta, 513-761-7499

or any CBA Board member

CBA ELECTION TO BE HELD AT FALL SECTIONAL

Election of five members to the Cincinnati Bridge Association Board of Trustees will take place at the Fall Sectional at the Sharonville Convention Center, October 28-30. Polls will open one hour before the afternoon and evening games on Friday and Saturday, and one hour before the Sunday morning 10:30 AM session. Write-in candidates’ petitions should be submitted to the Executive Secretary, Sandy Orr, no later than October 7. (A copy of the petition appears on the CBA website at

www.cincybridge.com.) Absentee voting instructions for members unable to vote in person follow the candidates’ profiles below.

MIKE DICKMAN

I retired from General Electric Aircraft Engines in 1998 and started playing duplicate bridge at the Cincinnati Bridge Center soon thereafter. I enjoy the game and competition immensely.

I would like the opportunity to serve as a member of the Board and would strive to bring forth a more pleasant playing experience for all. I would be especially interested in your suggestions and comments to accomplish this goal.

BARBARA LEVINSON

I found duplicate bridge over 40 years ago while in college and my love of the game is perhaps stronger than ever. Besides playing many times a week, I am fortunate to be able to attend several out-of-town tournaments, including most of the Nationals. This allows me to meet, interact, share ideas, compete against, and learn from bridge players, from novice to pro, from all over the world. Besides the mental challenge, bridge has provided me with a sense of accomplishment, more self confidence, and friends, both locally and all over the country. I have particularly enjoyed seeing and helping newer players attain these same things as they progress and succeed in their bridge careers.

I formerly served as a board member and have been the Unit Coordinator for the NAP and GNT games for many years. I wish to again have the opportunity as a CBA Board member to work for bridge and you.

MIKE LIPP

Raised in Cincinnati and a former member of the U.S. Navy, I currently reside in Trenton, Ohio, and am employed by Priority Dispatch. I enjoy life. I ride my motorcycle, play golf, socialize with close friends, and adore the game of bridge. Loyalty to family and friends is especially important to me.

Although very open-minded to trying new things, when I have an opinion about something, I am usually firm in my convictions. I try to be the backbone when times are hard. I like to solve problems and others should know they can count on me. I feel I possess good intuition and consider myself a good judge of character.

KAY MULFORD

I would like to work on the Board again, to bring long time bridge experience and ideas. I would like to revitalize the promotion of our beloved game. I have been involved in bridge since I was 9 years old. First I was a caddy, and then, at age 28, I became a director. I have observed many changes in bridge for over 40 years.

While working on the Board in the late 1980s, I developed and implemented a program called “on the Sectional” to increase attendance at our, then, small Sectionals. I developed and co-chaired an event called

“Bridge on a Riverboat.” I wrote a manual for publicity, listing many resources to advertise our events. I would like to become involved in the promotion of bridge on a formal level again and would appreciate your vote.

JAMES MYERS

Whenever I sit down at a bridge table I expect to win, but I always read the tally sheet from the bottom up. I am a hopeful realist. I took up bridge in 1997 in Dayton, Ohio, after retiring from a number of careers: high school Latin teacher, university librarian, college teacher, lawyer, and dean of a foreign university campus. I had played a little bridge in the middle 1970s, but I quit playing for career reasons and because I was not very good at it. Reteaching myself bridge online, I worked up the nerve to call the Miami Valley Bridge Center for a partner, whose job it became to teach me about bidding boxes, transfer bids, and following suit. To her credit, I hardly ever revoke and I am now, thanks to her and many subsequent partners, a Bronze Life Master.

I served on Miami Valley’s Board for two years before moving to Cincinnati in 2002 and I would be proud to serve on yours.

PAT NEWMAN

I am running for the CBA Board of Directors with the objective in mind to provide the membership with a pleasant atmosphere to enjoy the game of bridge – this covers the facility and the atmosphere in the room concerning player conduct. Attempting to attain this goal, I am presently in charge of Zero Tolerance and Tournament Chairperson.

If your vote signifies that you wish me to continue, I’ll try my best.

ALEX PAPPAS

I have served three terms on the Board of the CBA, starting in 1995. While on the Board, I was Manager of the Bridge Center for several years. For the past several years I have been in charge of ordering supplies for the Bridge Center. I am also responsible for ordering supplies for the Sectionals and Regionals, as well as transporting the boxes, boards, and paper supplies for these events. I have also been involved in the Mentoring Program since I joined the CBA.

I will appreciate your vote.

JERRY VIOLETTA

I returned to the CBA Board three years ago to join the most dedicated Board members I’ve seen in my 25 years as a CBA member. It didn’t take much urging to run again.

If reelected, I will continue to work to protect the wants and needs of all our members. As both a day and night player, I feel I am available to serve you on a personal basis.

PLEASE VOTE!

ABSENTEE VOTING INSTRUCTIONS

1. Contact Carolyn Ahlert, (513) 624-0535 or cahlert@earthlink.net, to request an absentee ballot no

later than October 15.

2. An individual must request an absentee ballot personally; no group requests will be honored.

3. One ballot and return envelope will be mailed to the member’s address of record.

4. Once an absentee ballot has been issued, that member’s name will be recorded as having voted.

5. Follow instructions included in the envelope.

6. Return envelopes containing more than one ballot will be declared invalid.

7. Only absentee ballots received by mail through Saturday, October 29, will be counted.

NOTE: The mail is sometimes slow, so please allow ample time for your ballot to be received.

ZERO TOLERANCE REPORT

by

Pat Newman, Zero Tolerance Chairman

I am reporting to you that recent actions have been taken by the Zero Tolerance Committee. We have encountered some incidents that required our taking disciplinarian action. We are informing you that this has occurred as the current Board of Directors is serious about enforcing the Zero Tolerance Policy. All directors have been informed that they are expected to enforce the policy and assess penalties when necessary. They have the full support of the Board.

The reason for the above action is that we need our unit to grow and it is felt that a better playing atmosphere with courteous behavior exhibited by the members would bring new people, including our novices, into the regular open games. At the present time there are many games in the area with people unwilling to play at the Bridge Center because they feel people are rude and mean. This reputation can be altered if everyone follows the Zero Tolerance Policy. Finally, be extra kind when playing against new players. It is not necessary to psych or make tactical bids -- in fact, it is downright unsportsmanlike.

The following list includes some examples of behavior which will not be tolerated:

1. Badgering, rudeness, insinuations, intimidation, profanity, threats or violence.
2. Constant and gratuitous lessons and analyses at the table.
3. Negative comments concerning opponents’ or partner’s play or bidding.
4. Loud or disruptive arguing with a director’s ruling.

If you experience any of the above behavior, call the director immediately.

Thank you for your cooperation.

YOU BE THE JUDGE

by

Jim Edmiston

The Bridge World has, for many years, featured a column in which a bidding sequence is given. These are often from world championship events, and the players are generally well-known. A panel of experts is asked to judge the auction from two perspectives: a) what was the worst bid in the auction; and b) apportion the blame between North and South.

I thought that it would be interesting to feature such a column in our ALERT newsletter. The following hand occurred at the Atlanta Nationals (2005), in the Stratified Pairs Open event. I have reproduced the hand and the actual auction. Please answer the above questions before turning to

page 10, on which you will see the analysis of this hand/auction by a panel of local experts.

If you have a hand to submit in the future, please give it to me ( and I will be happy to consider it for this column. Please do not use the names of the parties involved.

Dlr N

Vul E-W

NORTH

S-void

H-Q942

D-AJ9854

C-J108

SOUTH

S-AK96

H-A1053

D-Q7

C-KQ9

Auction: North South

Pass 1C

1D 1H

3S* 4NT**

6D*** 6H

* splinter bid in support of hearts

** RKC (1430)

*** D Ace + useful void

Result: Down 2

What was the worst single call in the auction?

What percentage of the blame do you assign to South?

(For the experts’ answers, go to page 10.)

CINCINNATI /DAYTON TEAM MATCH

Saturday, August 27, Miami Valley Bridge Center

Cincinnati was victorious in their team match against Dayton. The score was 1155 to 705.

Way to go, Cincinnati!

This feat was achieved through the outstanding play by the following CBA players:

Flight; 0-299 Flight: 500-1500

Jack Burns Patricia English

Pat Armstrong John Stoppiello

Gerri Heineman Lorna Davis

Janice Austerman James Myers

Sue Mandell Elena Hickman

David Griffiths Jerry Violetta

Jackie Mullins Arun Goyal Carole Howard Rachna Goyal

David Britt Paul Pschesang

John Garret Mike Pucell

Joseph Bagby Joann Katz

Davis Fry Jerry Katz

Flight: 300-500 Flight: 1500+

Mike Dickman Nancy Sachs

Gail Niemann Amit Raturi

June Cushman Bill Coombs

Pat Dutson Jerry Fink

John Meckstroth Joe Fisher

Ray Tolston Larry Klein

Robert Rickling Amy Fisher

Ralph Terbrueggen Ronald Babcock

Gerald Black Fred Pollack

Lilam Stanley Joe Muenks

Larry Meyer Diane Travis

David Meyer Marshall Tuly

A VERY SPECIAL THANK YOU TO JOE BAGY WHO FILLED IN AT THE LAST MINUTE!

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

Note from Annease Comer, ABA/ACBL Liaison

The first ABA/ACBL Nationwide Unity Game is scheduled to be held Saturday, June 4, 2006. Plan NOW to PLAY. The same hands will be played in both ACBL and ABA. There will be winners in various stratas in both ABA and ACBL.

Congratulations to the team of William Higgins (Captain), Judy Cohn, Nancy Sachs, and Amitabh Raturi, for their 2^nd place win in the Zip Swiss at the ABA Labor Day Tournament. Also thanks to other CBA members, Kay Mulford, Mary Lipp, Valerie Price, and Verdell Walker, for their support.

♦ ♥ TOURNAMENT WINNERS ♦ ♣

Cincinnati Summer STaC, June 29- July 3, 2005

Monday Day

Flight A: 1^st Nancy Sachs-Amitabh Raturi

Tuesday Day

Flight B: 3^rd Jerry Siemer-Rick O’Connor

Flight C: 2^nd Jerry Siemer-Rick O’Connor

3^rd Dan Sherman-Arch Ott

Tuesday Day

Flight B: 3^rd Ed Lee-James Myers

Flight C: 3^rd/4^th Gayle McCann-Peggy Simpson

3^rd/4^th Cindy Tretter-Rick O’Connor

Tuesday Evening

Flight B: 3^rd Larry Wilbers-Marilyn Willams

Flight C: 2^nd Larry Wilbers-Marilyn Williams

NLM Flight A/B: 1^st Betsy Bradley-Mary Lathan

Wednesday Day

Flight A: 2^nd George Deidesheimer-Alex Pappas

Flight B: 1^st George Deidesheimer-Alex Pappas

2^nd George Charrier-Marian Charrier

Wednesday Evening

Flight A: