The Kibitzer Bremerton—Lakewood—Tacoma ACBL Unit 451

Spring 2015

FROM THE TOP

VOLUNTEERING – (author unknown)

Doing the good you can,by all the means you can,in all the ways you can,at all the times you can,to all the people you can,as long as you ever can.

Whether through sharing your knowledge,helping out at Unit events, or mentoring newplayers, volunteers are the lifeblood of ourorganization. As you read about our manyupcoming activities planned through the year,please offer your assistance to our hardworkingBoard members and Chairman as theycoordinate events:

BY SAYING. . . . . . . YES I CAN!!!!!!

May all your finesses work, Georgia

Shallit & McClurkan Win Daffodil Trophy

Linda Shallit and Carolyn McClurkan won the2015 Daffodil Trophy Championship March22nd by a half match point over Franklin Pierceand Guy Audett who were also first in B and C.

Georgia Myers and Christel Quist tookthird. Victor Magruder and Paul Evanoff werefourth in A, second in B, and second in C.Cecily Berg and Connie Peterson were fifth inA and third in B.

Dennis Kurzrock and Marilyn Sabawere fourth in B.

BRIDGE AHOY!

Daffodil Sectional April 24–26

Unit 451 will host the 2015 Daffodil Sectional and twoflights of the District 19 Grand National Teams FinalsApril 24-26 at the Fircrest Community Center, 555 ContraCosta in Fircrest. Mark your calendar and plan to play,starting Friday at 1 pm. Randomly selected entrants willalso win free plays to the Kitsap Summer Sectional.

For more details see the flyer on the last page ofthis edition of The Kibitzer.

Armed Forces Swiss Teams Sunday May 17

The Bremerton Bridge Club will host Unit 451's ArmedForces Swiss Teams Sunday, May 17th at 1150 MarineDrive, Bremerton. The two-session teams event for atrophy will start at 11 am. The $15 per person, entry feecovers two sessions of bridge as well as pizza at half time.

Annual Dinner Sunday June 14

Unit 451's Annual Dinner returns to the La Quinta InnSunday, June 14. The first session of bridge begins at noon,the buffet dinner (salmon and roast beef) will be no laterthan 4 pm, and the second session of bridge will beginimmediately following dinner ensuring that everyone getshome before sunset. Dinner for $20 includes one session ofbridge. Dinner and both sessions is only $25. Sign up atyour club or RSVP to g.farman@comcast.net.

Kitsap Summer SectionalJuly 31–August 2

The weekend ending July and beginning August will bringanother three-day, Kitsap Summer Sectional to theBaymont Inn and Suites on Kitsap Way north ofBremerton. Will Houston chairs the event and MarilynSaba mrmsaba@yahoo.com will cover the PartnershipDesk. See the flyer on page nine for all the details.

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TACOMA BRIDGE

CLUB NEWS

by Paul Bartron & Jerry Thorpe Paul Bartron notes that in order to winmasterpoints, there has to be at leasttwo pairs in a stratification. Consequently, Paul reports, “I amstratifying the games as follows: ifboth players are life masters they willreceive an A stratification; if one of theplayers is not a Life Master the pairwill play in B stratification.” Paulfurther explains that the stratificationused in the past is based on apartnership’s total number ofmasterpoints, which puts almost allpartnerships into the A classification. It is observed that Life Masters areusually the most dedicated players andthat they attend two or three timesmore often than the club’s novices. Itis hoped that this new stratification willspread the points around more evenly.

To improve the total schedulethere will be a Club appreciation gameonce a month on Monday, Wednesday,and Friday. The result is the awardingof more masterpoints. Brian Reagan isworking on how to download the handrecords so that Paul will be able to postthe contract, hand records, and resultsto the ACBL web site.

Lessons will continue at 10:00am on Wednesdays. Paul states that,“In the lessons, only your hand isshown. I do not show the other threehands because just as in chess, youhave to visualize what is going tohappen. Hindsight is perfect.”

An exterior improvement, thespreading of gravel more evenly in theparking lot, should be appreciated byeveryone. This came about because ofthe good work of Tacoma City Light.

We hope to see you all at theTacoma Bridge Club.

GIG HARBOR BRIDGE CLUB

By M. L. Kellogg

The Gig Harbor Bridge Club opened its doors approximately sixmonths ago. Wow! How time flies when days are filled withgood bridge games!

Our Sunday and Thursday games embrace playerscoming Gig Harbor, Tacoma, Bremerton, Port Orchard, Kent,Olympia, Puyallup, Vashon Island, and Seattle.... 6 to 8 tables isnormal.

Our Tuesday evening game has now by popular demandbeen transformed into a Tuesday afternoon game beginning at1PM.

We have had three series of classes in the last severalmonths. Georgia Farman presented instruction on Weak Twobids and responses.

Cliff Allo offered tutoring to beginners and also a seriesof classes dedicated to Declarer Play. He is currently workingwith a group in his second series focused on Defense.

Bruce Yoder provided us with Two over One instructionand has agreed to offer more of the Two over One classes in thefuture.

Paul Howell just received his ACBL teaching certificateand he will begin with classes in mid-May introducing a course inFun Bridge for true beginners.

It's been an absolutely wonderful and inspiring sixmonths at the Gig Harbor Bridge Club. We are fortunate to enjoythis game with some of the most incredible bridge players in theNorthwest. We are enthusiastic about the future and appreciativeof the past.

From the Kitchen by Georgia Myers

Lemon Cookies

1 Lemon cake mix¼ cup light brown sugar¼ cup flour1/3 cup canola oil2 eggs3 oz cream cheese (softened)1 cup chopped walnuts

Preheat oven to 375 degrees

Mix together cake mix, brnsugar, oil, eggs, and creamcheese.Stir in walnuts.Drop dough balls (aboutheaped tablespoon size) ontogreased cookie sheet

Bake 8 -10 minutes, or untilgolden brown. Remove frompan and cool.

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Sadly Missed, but Fondly Rememberedby Jerry Thorpe

This past year has not been kind to the TacomaBridge Unit. We have lost seven of our friends whohave been important members of the family.

Ken DeRoche, died in August, 2014, at theage of 90. He was a combat veteran and received thePurple Heart. Ken taught elementary school andstarted his bridge club in 1958.

For many local bridge players the eveninggames at the Sunset Bridge Club were the starts oftheir bridge experience. Ken earned 1156 points andwas proud of being a Silver Life Master.

Nancy Osier died in October, 2014, at the ageof 81. She was a steady player as she earned 830points. Nancy served the Tacoma Unit Board as amember and past secretary. At the new TacomaBridge Club she was willing to come play at the dropof a hat to make the movement even rather thanhaving a half a table.

Donna McHugh died in December, 2014, atthe age of 81. Donna was a solid player with anyonewho needed a partner. She loved bridge, playingblackjack, in Las Vegas, and her ten grandchildren. Donna earned 361 points while playing the game atleast three times per week.

Joanne Lott passed away on December 23,2014. Joanne was far too young at 61 to have leftMerton, her favorite partner. While earning 316points, Joanne, worked as a teacher and schooladministrator. As of March, 2014, she and Mertonranked 36th as partners, out of the top sixty pairs inthe Tacoma Unit.

Vern Myers died on December 25, 2014, atthe age of 83. Vern earned 1844 points with Georgia,who was his favorite partner. His club ownershipdays started at the Proctor St. Club, in 1998, and thenmoved to Clover Park College in their communitycenter. He learned the game in 1958 and was an earlyplayer of Precision. Bridge took a back seat to hiswork as Vice President of United Pacific RelianceInsurance in property and casualty, the raising of fourboys, PTA, Boy Scouts, and coach of his boys'baseball teams.

After retirement Vern became very active asa club owner, and then was elected to the TacomaUnit Board where he served as manager and treas-

urer. As Maggie Burke said, "Vern does so much andI think he is also a valuable asset to the unit."

Andy Jordan passed away on January 12,2015, at the age of 85. Andy started playing at BobJohansen’s Chalet Bridge Club over 53 years ago. Andy backed away from bridge to concentrate onwork as a stock broker but returned to the ChaletBridge Club after retirement with a partner whoneeded a ride to the evening game.

Andy did not renew his ACBL membershipbecause points were no longer the reason for playing;he just loved the game. The ACBL confirmed thatAndy had earned a total of 25.4 points in his earlydays.

Carl Brame died on February 27, 2015, at theage of 76. Carl was in the Air Force for 26 years. Hegrew up in Tampa, Florida, where he developed hisSouthern accent. Carl loved his hobbies of wood-working and gardening.

After retirement he looked around forsomething else to occupy his time and at the age of62 starting playing bridge at Clover Park CommunityCollege. He bought many books and by the time hepassed away, he had earned 1579 points. I learned 2over 1 from Carl and soon realized that he was astickler for details.

We will miss these players, who haveenriched our lives, as we played this game that we alllove. Now I suspect they could all be holding handsof cards around a table, watched over by a veryspecial Kibitzer.

Emerald Bridge Club Moves to Fife

The Emerald Bridge Club which has been playing inFederal Way will be moving to the Fife CommunityCenter, 2111 54th Avenue East, Fife, WA 98424, justoff I-5's Exit 137. As you exit the Interstate turn awayfrom the water and toward the Mountain. The FifeCommunity Center will be on the left after the light at20th Street E.

The games will remain on Tuesday andThursday at 10 am. The first game at the new locationwill be Thursday, April 9th. Emerald is known for thesuccess Dennie Dye (253 / 939–0733 has in findingfolks suitable partners.

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BREMERTON BREEZEBy Katherine Enos

Malcolm Forbes is quoted as saying: “Surely, if thereis a heaven, there is a bridge game going on”. Brem-ertonians , saddened by the passing of Ben Gupton onJanuary 3, 2015, at age 91, smile, knowing that Ben isstill “playing the game”. We miss his quick witted-ness and quirky sense of humor.

2015 brings good news for Patty Swan andKay Enos as they both achieved Gold Master status. Also, noteworthy, Marilyn Saba and Dennis Kurzrockbecame NABC Masters at the recent Portland/Van-couver Regional. Congratulations!!!

The Bremerton Club has morning games on Tuesday and Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. and eveninggames on Monday and Saturday at 6:30 p.m.

Please note upcoming special events inBremerton.

Armed Forces Swiss on Sunday, May 17 –11:00 a.m. & TBA Two session play through with pizza. Trophy game

Kitsap Summer Sectional at Baymont Inn –July 31 & August 1-2

Hope to see you all at these events.

Kathleen Marie Koenig Hines, August 13th,1933 – February 6th, 2015

Family and faith were the centerpiece of Kay Hineslife and it's possible bridge was next. We were sovery lucky to know that little lady while she washere! She epitomized positive energy, her smile trulybrightened the day, Her good nature and that sparklein her eyes always produced a comfortable, friendlysetting in which she passed on bridge advice andencouragement to new players who wouldautomatically become her new friends. Her daughter, Marybeth said, "The number of friendships her Momcreated and developed while playing bridge couldn'tbe totaled using even the most advanced calculator".Marybeth also said some of the words that could beused to describe her mother's life and friendshipswould be: loyalty, kindness, empathy, devotion,respect, honor and love!

Joanne Lott

Devoted daughter and sister, loving Wife and motherof three boys, educator and friend to all who knewher, Joanne died December 23 from complications ofbreast cancer.

Joanne was born in Seattle WashingtonMarch 21, 1953. Her birth mother died soon after. Joanne was adopted by her loving parents Georgeand Mary Margret Kiesel and had a sister Maggie,also adopted.

Joanne attended Seattle University where shemet Merton Lott, her husband for the next 41 years.They had three boys, all during the seventies.

Joanne then received a degree fromEvergreen and Pacific Lutheran University ineducation, and later earned a masters in administra-tive education from Puget Sound University.

Joanne worked as a teacher, vice principal,and principal in a number of Catholic grade schoolsin western Washington, most notably St FrancesCabrini in Lakewood.

Joanne took up bridge in a trade with herhusband. He took dance lessons, and she would trybridge. She enjoyed playing particularly to makefriends with the people she played against. She neverobtained life master status even though she didexceed the 300 master points. The Lotts rarelyplayed in regional tournaments and she came up afew gold points short at her death.

Joanne had several other hobbies includingquilting and cooking.Joanne will be sorely missed byher large extended family, and her vast number offriends.

God bless you Joanne.

Vern Myers

More than twenty years ago, Ed Anderson askedVern to direct Lee Anske’s game at the ProctorMasonic Hall so that Ed, then the regular director,could take a vacation. While Ed did come back toplay, that was about it for him directing.

Vern persevered. And from then onward, noone in Pierce County did more to support duplicatebridge. Please do not forget what we that love bridge

owe his memory. C.D.A.

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COMBINING CHANCES

By Fred Parkinson

As declarer, you frequently have more than oneoption to make an extra trick or two to make yourcontract. You can try a finesse. Finesses are animportant tool in bridge and may be the only way tosucceed. But finesses lose 50% of the time and theremay be a better way. You can try to set up a long suitbut sometimes opponents’ holding in that suit do notsplit favorably. Also, entries are important and youmay either not have enough entries to set up a longsuit or the opponents have removed a precious entryprematurely.

Also important is whether you can afford togive up the lead. If opponents have tricks ready totake that could set you, it is better not to try some-thing that may give up the lead like a finesse. This isespecially true in No Trump where the opening leadis in a suit with only one stopper. You can hold up,but eventually your stopper is gone and relinquishingthe lead may give the opponents enough tricks intheir long suit to set you.

Splits Before Finesses.

You may be able to avoid a risky finesse by firsttesting a long suit. If the suit splits favorably, you canavoid the risk of losing the finesse.

For example, say you have A K Q 2 in onehand and 5 4 3 in the other. Because a 3-3 split isonly 36% and a finesse is 50%, the finesse is clearly abetter chance, but you need not make a prematurechoice: you can “test” the favorable 3-3 split first byplaying A, K, and Q. If you are fortunate and you getthe 3-3 split, you don’t need the finesse to make yourcontract. If you don’t get the favorable split, you canstill finesse. By testing but not committing to the 3-3split, you succeed if either line works. Much better toput your eggs in two baskets.

Falling Honor.

If you have two relatively long suits, an honor mayfall in one suit which avoids having to take a finessein another suit. You and dummy have A J 9 3 2 + K 10 8 4 (hearts) A J 9 3 + K 10 8 4 (diamonds), andyou need 6 tricks from these 2 suits to make your

contract. If you could afford to give up the lead, youwould just finesse one direction or the other for the Qin hearts, and if it lost, no matter. You would have 4heart tricks and 2 diamond tricks, but if you cannotafford to give up the lead, a finesse is risky.

What do you do? You “Combine YourChances” by playing the heart ace and king, hopingthe queen falls. If it does you have actually 7 tricks (5H’s and 4 D’s). If no falling queen, you can stillfinesse in diamonds for your sixth trick.

Several Options.

S A K 8 5 3 S Q J 7 6 4 2 H A 4 3 H 7 D 8 5 2 D A K J 3 C A Q C 6 4

Your contract is 6Í with the KÌ lead. You have apotential loser in each minor. You could finesse twiceand if one works you make it (roughly 75% chance).But you can do better by “Combining Chances.”

When we lead toward the JË, we hope the QËis in front of the JË. If we are willing to lose onediamond trick so long as we get another winner, wecan play a slow finesse. Cash the AË and KË to see ifthe QË drops. If not lead to the still-guarded JË. If theQË is onside (winning finesse) you can throw yourclub loser on the JË. If the QË is not onside andcaptures your JË loses, the diamonds may nonethelesssplit 3-3 allowing you to throw the club loser on thethirteenth diamond. If all this fails you can fall backon the club finesse for your 12th trick.

In contrast, if you finesse the JË right awayand it loses, a club lead through your A Q will requireyou to make a premature decision on the club finessebefore you knew whether the diamonds split 3-3.

You have actually combined your threechances in the diamonds with a back up chance inclubs. You checked to see if the QË would fall in two rounds, you finessed the JË on the third round, andhad the further chance the suit was 3-3. All in onesuit.

Look for ways to combine your chances. Wewill explore more examples next time.

Good Luck at the table.

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UNIT 451 2014 ACE OF CLUBS

0 to 51 Janet Bruns 19.572 Andrea Palm 13.823 Jim Ernest 10.084 K. E. Pickrell 9.185 Sue Edwards 9.026 Mary Hall 6.467 Juanita Fairley 6.088 Lawrence Gustafson 5.359 Myrna Kahlo 4.70

10 Martha Creech 4.125 to 20

1 Douglas Whittle 9.732 Sandra Johanson 6.323 Katherine Bianci 4.084 Ellen Kohjima 3.405 Carolyn Dunne 2.626 Paul Moomaw 2.607 Jane Crane 2.548 Mary Pitcher 1.949 Yvonne Kemp 1.62

10 Thomas Pitcher 1.4920 to 50

1 John Souza 23.882 Kim McDonald 20.933 Wayne Evenson 18.034 Diane Jones 17.705 Katherine Davis 12.836 Gregory Pluth 9.337 Gwenda Davidson 6.808 Katherine Schriver 6.44

David Sklar 6.4410 Ernest Heller 6.43

50 to 1001 Guy Audett 43.482 Tom Glispin 29.523 Marcia Cramer 22.644 Sharon Pretti 16.765 Glenn Malin 15.066 Francella McKinnon 9.987 Gerald Schneider 9.958 Stephen Seyl 9.429 Franklin Pierce 6.12

10 Esther Kjesbu 4.83

100 to 2001 Marilyn Saba 45.612 Dennis Kurzrock 41.873 Barbara Okey 23.554 David Langford 20.435 Lee Parkinson 16.156 Helen Batie 15.88

Robert Batie 15.888 Robert Morris 15.179 Lee Shugart 14.73

10 Robert Gray 14.32200 to 300

1 Janice Nelsen 48.272 Kelly McGee 38.663 Patty Pomeroy 36.224 Jon Schneidler 33.995 Hiyam Vanderwilde 33.466 Lee Kueckelhan 23.897 Gene Alberts 20.738 John Johnston 15.829 Judith Zylkowski 14.45

10 Lois Larson 14.29300 to 500

1 Preston Baker 64.652 James Vandergriff 47.453 David Erickson 46.144 Linda Akerman 36.495 Steven Larson 36.186 Paul Kirk, Jr. 33.027 Maggie Burke 31.858 Elizabeth Rand 31.009 Dona Stebbins 29.80

10 Wilma Rehling 22.04500 to 1000

1 Cecily Berg 76.802 William Houston 67.073 Larry Josties 61.624 Richard Baker 55.965 Sally Bukowski 53.546 Marvin Novak 53.017 Sheryl Frederic 47.308 Gary Wilson 47.209 Robert Vanderwilde 45.01

10 Harriett Kirk 43.98

1000 to 25001 Constance Peterson 82.672 Paul Bartron 81.413 Patricia Swan 76.614 Katherine Enos 74.825 Blanche Dahl 74.526 Bruce Yoder 72.437 Lawrence Diamond 63.608 Dennie Dye 51.279 Carol Cassedy 49.30

10 Sharon Gaunt 48.552500 to 5000

1 Georgia Farman 82.462 Shirley Kuhlman 77.913 Wesley Kuhlman 66.114 Marjorie Blunt 55.675 Christel Quist 53.036 Leonard Wisbey 48.917 Iris West 43.778 Barbara Kolppa 43.729 Linda Redman 35.16

10 Bruce Brownfield 33.665000 to 7500

1 Howard Epley 69.18

Portland/Vancouver Regional Winners Circle

Mt. Hood KO’s Bracket 2Linda Shallit – BelfairVictoria Sager – BremertonKay Enos – BremertonSid Porter – KirklandRidgefield Compact KO Bracket 1

Howard Epley – KentLawrence Diamond – TacomaAnn LaCour – FreelandRon LaCour – Freeland

Rhodo Gold Pairs – 1st OverallDavid Langford – TacomaDavid Hopkins – Shelton

Thursday Morning Side Pairs & Morning Side Game Series

Leonard Wisbey – GrahamBruce Brownfield – Graham

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UNIT 451 2014 MINI-MCKENNEY

0 to 51 Janet Bruns 20.492 Andrea Palm 17.853 Jim Ernest 10.964 Sue Edwards 9.905 K. E. Pickrell 9.756 Mary Hall 6.467 Juanita Fairley 6.088 Lawrence Gustafson 5.359 Martha Creech 5.04

10 Myrna Kahlo 4.705 to 20

1 Ellen Kohjima 16.942 Douglas Whittle 11.583 Sandra Johanson 7.384 Katherine Bianci 4.085 Carolyn Dunne 2.626 Paul Moomaw 2.607 Jane Crane 2.548 Mary Pitcher 1.949 Yvonne Kemp 1.62

10 Thomas Pitcher 1.4920 to 50

1 John Souza 34.222 Wayne Evenson 26.363 Diane Jones 24.004 Gregory Pluth 23.005 Kim McDonald 22.816 Katherine Davis 14.977 Ernest Heller 10.288 Katherine Schriver 9.599 Gwenda Davidson 6.80

10 David Sklar 6.4450 to 100

1 Guy Audett 96.762 Marcia Cramer 35.823 Tom Glispin 31.454 Sharon Pretti 19.395 Franklin Pierce 19.346 Glenn Malin 15.067 Francella McKinnon 12.788 Gerald Schneider 11.159 Stephen Seyl 9.42

10 Michael Killion 5.77

100 to 2001 Dennis Kurzrock 84.672 Marilyn Saba 84.383 David Langford 36.904 Lee Parkinson 30.435 Barbara Okey 27.086 Lee Shugart 16.237 Helen Batie 15.88

Robert Batie 15.889 Judith Hussey 15.86

10 Robert Morris 15.17200 to 300

1 Janice Nelsen 95.162 Kelly McGee 77.093 Jon Schneidler 74.144 Hiyam Vanderwilde 50.915 Patty Pomeroy 44.446 Marlene Smeed 25.697 Lois Larson 25.078 Carolyn McClurkan 24.479 Lee Kueckelhan 23.89

10 Paul Howell 22.34300 to 500

1 Linda Akerman 130.642 Preston Baker 94.113 David Erickson 90.334 James Vandergriff 66.695 Steven Larson 55.836 Maggie Burke 54.217 Paul Kirk, Jr. 38.358 Dona Stebbins 32.269 Elizabeth Rand 31.00

10 Susan Tenborg 30.94500 to 1000

1 Richard Baker 93.462 William Houston 91.983 Marvin Novak 91.144 Cecily Berg 89.965 Gary Wilson 79.946 Sally Bukowski 74.037 Robert Vanderwilde 71.478 Evan Stoll, Jr. 61.989 Larry Josties 61.62

10 Sheryl Frederic 56.62

1000 to 25001 Lawrence Diamond 613.052 Bert Adams 184.17

Carolyn Adams 184.174 Paul Bartron 132.525 Bruce Yoder 129.616 Katherine Enos 121.007 Patricia Swan 102.088 Constance Peterson 100.829 Sharon Gaunt 95.25

10 Blanche Dahl 89.102500 to 5000

1 Marjorie Blunt 141.232 Leonard Wisbey 115.173 Shirley Kuhlman 111.834 Georgia Farman 111.745 Wesley Kuhlman 100.636 Bruce Brownfield 94.917 Barbara Kolppa 94.728 Christel Quist 70.719 Linda Redman 59.38

10 Iris West 54.015000 to 7500

1 Howard Epley 646.68

NEARBY

TOURNAMENTS

April 24–26 Daffodil Sect. FircrestMay 22–25 Knockout Sect. KentJune 15–21 Penticton RegionalJune 26–28 Sequim SectionalJuly 24–26 Suntan Sect. BellevueJul 31–Aug 2 Summer Sectional

BremertonAug 17–29 Lynnwood RegionalOctober 16–18 Fall Sect. BellevueDec. 11–13 Holiday Sect. Fircrest

New Gold Life Masters

Kay EnosPatty Swan

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