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New Bridge Seminar on June 2, 2018

Bridge Seminar: Cue Bids Plus

Cue bids are one of the underutilized wonder bids. Asking? Telling? Describing? Yes! All that with a bid that can really help you reach the correct contact. Learn the where, when and how to use cue bids effectively in this seminar.

This is the third seminar I have done and each has come with an end of the class survey. The most-requested lesson was for cue bids. One of the big requests was to have more time and play more hands. I want to do all that for this seminar.

Unlike the other four hour seminars, this will be a day-long seminar with a break for lunch. The class will run from 10:00 to 3:30 with an onsite break for lunch. You can bring your own lunch or order a $5 Subway meal as you sign in. That will give us five instructional hours with a great lunch time to give your brain a break.

The “Plus” involves play topics to improve your declarer play once you have used the correct bids (cue bids, included) to get there.

If those five instructional hours sound a little intimidating, do not fear. As with the other seminars, there will be loads of interactive bidding and then lots of play to practice. I use the “cards on the table” approach taught by Audrey Grant, one of the most successful bridge teachers in the world. I have had the opportunity to learn this method from her, personnally.

The class will be held at Country Inn and Suites, airport exit in Cedar Rapids. It will start at 10:00 and end at 3:30 with that nice lunch break. You can sign up with a partner or as a single. Partners get a price break of $50 for two. Individuals pay $30. You will get a book and hand records for all the practice hands that you play.

June 2, 2018 Snacks and drinks provided. Sign up by May 10 by calling or e-mailing MaryAnn Boardman at 319 540 4206 maryann.boardman@gmail.com

March Points from BBB

Congratulations Greg Slager!

Total Red Black

1 5.82 0.85 4.97 Gregory Slager

2 5.01 1.13 3.88 Mary Ann Boardman

3 4.19 0.12 4.07 Dennis Cordle

4 4.19 0.12 4.07 Richard Bailie

5 4.05 0.85 3.20 Bruno Rinas

6 3.40 1.13 2.27 James Boardman

7 3.14 3.14 Thomas Flanders

8 3.14 3.14 Robert Otto

9 3.10 0.85 2.25 Alan Langenfeld

10 3.10 0.85 2.25 Robert Buckheister

11 2.70 0.23 2.47 Jack Murphy

12 2.25 1.13 1.12 Jack Falat

13 2.25 1.13 1.12 Frank Hellenthal

14 1.92 1.92 John Schmidt

15 1.53 1.53 Michael Roush

16 1.31 1.31 Jim Boardman Jr

17 1.31 1.31 Robert Givens

18 0.81 0.81 Connie Hellenthal

19 0.81 0.81 Dorris Hotchkiss

20 0.78 0.23 0.55 Allethina Harker

21 0.61 0.61 James Knapp

22 0.46 0.23 0.23 Cindy Brennaman

23 0.46 0.23 0.23 Joan Bouslog

24 0.46 0.46 Wyn Seeley

25 0.46 0.23 0.23 Richard Goings

26 0.46 0.23 0.23 Mark Gifford

27 0.46 0.46 Yu-Diann Lu

28 0.46 0.23 0.23 Melissa Heston

29 0.23 0.12 0.11 Robert Benson

30 0.23 0.12 0.11 John Morano

Total Masterpoints reported: 59.10

New ACBL Tournament Policy

There is a new ACBL policy that takes effect in March, 2018. To play in a tournament you must have an ACBL number. If you were a member once and have not kept up the payments, you are a lapsed member and you can use your old ACBL number. You will have to pay $4 extra per session. That has been changed from the $3 surcharge in previous years. ACBL is selling one month memberships that will cost $7.99. You get all the advantages of an ACBL member, including The Bridge Bulletin, for a month. More importantly, you have an ACBL number and can play in tournaments. If you decide to join for a year, you can apply that monthly membership cost to the yearly one.

Non members can join at the tournament or online at acbl.org, click “join now.” A yearly membership is now$49. There will be reps at the tournaments to help you understand the new policy and sign up for a monthly or yearly membership. MaryAnn has encouraged all local club managers and accredited teachers to have the instant membership application. Signing up with a local rep will give them a rebate. If you sign up with the tournament chair Unit 163 will not be credited.

Hope to see you all at our upcoming tournaments: Hills March 23-25, Mt. Pleasant, April 28-29, Cedar Rapids/Iowa City Intermediate tournament, June 9-10, the Coralville Regional June 26-July 1 and Cedar Rapids July 13-15.

If you have questions about the new policy, call or e-mail MaryAnn Boardman 319 540 4206 maryann.boardman@gmail.com

Points from 2017 BBB

Jan 5, 2018 Masterpoint race Page 1

We gave out over 700 points to our loyal players during 2017. We did that by providing loads of special games for you.

Total Red Silver Black

1 45.70 6.46 1.68 37.56 Michael Roush

2 43.68 6.17 1.68 35.83 James Boardman

3 37.95 8.68 1.68 27.59 Mary Ann Boardman

4 34.47 4.53 29.94 Richard Bailie

5 33.55 6.99 26.56 Dennis Cordle

6 32.28 5.31 0.99 25.98 Jack Falat

7 29.79 5.49 0.47 23.83 Robert Otto

8 29.28 5.55 0.77 22.96 Jim Boardman Jr

9 27.12 5.57 0.47 21.08 Thomas Flanders

10 26.46 4.90 21.56 Mike Rowray

11 26.13 3.87 1.68 20.58 Gregory Slager

12 26.05 4.08 21.97 Alan Langenfeld

13 23.90 3.85 20.05 Robert Buckheister

14 16.57 2.45 14.12 Jack Murphy

15 16.05 1.29 14.76 Martha Bailie

16 14.76 0.34 14.42 Eli Jolley

17 14.16 3.23 10.93 Allethina Harker

18 12.38 1.03 11.35 Connie Hellenthal

19 10.91 3.32 7.59 Bonnie Stettler

20 9.66 1.66 8.00 Gary Haddy

21 9.64 2.78 6.86 Melissa Heston

22 9.12 1.68 7.44 Phillip Cummins

23 8.62 0.27 8.35 Karen Cummins

24 8.42 0.85 0.77 6.80 Paul Hazzard

25 8.40 2.11 0.99 5.30 Gisela Gunderson

26 8.24 0.31 7.93 Karen Langenfeld

27 8.06 1.62 6.44 Scott Spitze

28 7.41 2.13 5.28 Eric McKee

29 7.41 2.13 5.28 Elizabeth Gotlund

30 7.04 0.69 6.35 Yu-Diann Lu

31 6.36 2.53 3.83 Roger Johanson

32 6.36 2.53 3.83 Judy Vopava

33 6.22 1.28 4.94 Gary Edwards

34 5.62 0.68 4.94 John Morano

35 5.56 1.37 4.19 Paul Klein

36 5.56 1.37 4.19 Nancy Klein

37 5.38 1.58 3.80 Pat Thomas

38 5.33 1.74 3.59 Mark Gifford

39 5.12 0.38 4.74 Wyn Seeley

40 4.95 0.38 4.57 Karen Friest

41 4.83 1.42 3.41 Keith Sutherland

42 4.37 1.81 2.56 Richard Winsor

43 4.34 1.35 2.99 Prabhat Kumar Akhauri

44 4.14 1.42 2.72 Nancy Sutherland

45 3.74 1.22 2.52 Richard Lamb

46 3.38 3.38 Jan Kleinschmidt

47 3.30 0.15 3.15 Tom Amosson

48 3.27 0.42 0.77 2.08 James Knapp

49 3.12 3.12 Kathy Edwards

50 3.00 1.12 1.88 John Johnson

51 2.97 0.23 0.77 1.97 Bruno Rinas

52 2.88 2.88 Robert Givens

53 2.84 0.69 2.15 Jan Hinrichs

54 2.81 1.41 1.40 Mark Schantz

55 2.33 2.33 Sally Meixner

56 2.25 2.25 Mark Patton

57 2.25 2.25 Joseph Pieper

58 2.04 2.04 Michelle Feeney

59 1.67 0.10 1.57 Richard Goings

60 1.62 1.62 Shirley Moore

61 1.62 1.62 Alan Ruback

62 1.57 1.57 Dawn Smith

63 1.49 1.49 Mona Bertrand

64 1.15 1.15 Frank Hellenthal

65 1.11 0.56 0.55 Purnima Chawla

66 1.11 0.56 0.55 Ashok Chawla

67 1.02 1.02 Darla Algoe

68 0.98 0.98 John Remmert

69 0.80 0.12 0.68 Twyla Hall

70 0.80 0.12 0.68 Tish Apfelbeck

71 0.53 0.15 0.38 Dorris Hotchkiss

72 0.53 0.27 0.26 Duane Hinrichs

73 0.52 0.52 Charlotte Pence

74 0.52 0.52 Gretchen Stuhr

75 0.46 0.23 0.23 Mary Wyatt

76 0.43 0.43 Cindy Brennaman

77 0.38 0.38 Kathy Breen

78 0.37 0.37 Eugene Herman

79 0.37 0.37 Arnold Adelberg

80 0.35 0.18 0.17 Robert Benson

81 0.32 0.32 Donald Harker

82 0.30 0.15 0.15 Marion Engel

83 0.15 0.08 0.07 Trudy Carpenter

84 0.15 0.08 0.07 Grant Carpenter

Total Masterpoints reported: 727.85

Players selected: 84 out of 495

December Points from BBB

We gave away lots of points in only three games. Check it out!

Jan 5, 2018 Masterpoint race Page 1

1 5.54 Mary Ann Boardman

2 4.31 Michael Roush

3 3.18 Jack Falat

4 2.91 James Boardman

5 2.41 Jim Boardman Jr

6 2.41 Paul Hazzard

7 2.19 Robert Buckheister

8 1.97 Richard Bailie

9 1.97 Dennis Cordle

10 1.68 Gregory Slager

11 1.48 Yu-Diann Lu

12 1.48 Mark Gifford

13 1.39 Thomas Flanders

14 1.39 Robert Otto

15 1.10 Bonnie Stettler

16 1.10 Melissa Heston

17 0.99 Gisela Gunderson

18 0.86 Tom Amosson

19 0.86 Jack Murphy

20 0.77 Bruno Rinas

21 0.77 James Knapp

2018 Local Tournament News

Event	Dates	Results	Flyer	Other
Cedar Falls Sectional	Nov 9-11	Results	Flyer
(at Council Bluffs) Nebr. Regional	Oct 22-28	Results	Flyer
Davenport Fall Sectional	Oct 19-21		Flyer
Dubuque Sectional	Sept 28-30	Results	Flyer
Iowa City Fall Sectional	Aug 24-26	Results	Flyer
“Iowa Gold” NLM (0–750) Regional	Aug 17-19	Results	Flyer
Cedar Rapids Summer Sectional	July 13-15	Results	Flyer
Coralville Regional	June 26-July 1	Results	Flyer
Longest Day at BBB	June 20	Day Nite	Article	Donate
CR Sectional (under 500)	June 9-10	Game 1, Game 2, Game 3, Game 4	Article	Hands 1 , Hands 2 , Hands 3 , Hands 4
Mt Pleasant Sectional	April 28-29	Results
IA City Sectional (Hills)	Mar 23-25	Results		Awards
Davenport Winter Sectional	Feb 16-18	Results
Cedar Rapids Winterland Sectional	Jan 26- 28	Results
		2017 Results
		2016 Results
		2015–May/2016

Expert Lessons from Toronto

In July, my hubby and I traveled out of the country to find more and better teaching material for the local players. I was especially interested in the ABTA (American Bridge Teachers Association) convention. We went two days early so that I could attend the teacher convention before the national tournament started. It was a thrill to hear the people whose books and articles I read. I listened to lectures by Julian Laderman (the best at simplifying squeezes), Audrey Grant, Zia Mahmood (funny!), Jerry Helms, Eric Rodwell, and Jeff and Ginny Schuett. You may not have heard about those last two, but they were excellent teachers and willing to share their expertise with us. I have wanted to put together a lesson on card combinations for a long time, but always got stuck because it seemed so complicated. Jeff and Ginny shared a seminar lesson about this topic and did a great job teaching us how to teach it. They gave us permission to use the material if we gave them credit.

So, I am doing a series of lessons on card combinations. I started the series last Wednesday on capturing the Jack. Wednesday, August 2, I will continue with Queen capturing. I’ve learned a lot from Audrey Grant and Jeff and Ginny about the ” cards on the table” approach. We practice the concept with examples of cards all laid out and ready to analyze and then play a few hands to put it all together.

I am passionate about teaching bridge. I hope players will come on August 2 and August 30. If you missed the first lesson, it will be easy to catch up. I will give you the lesson you missed. Jeff and Ginny charge $50 each for their seminar. I am offering you much of the same material at no charge. 5:45 at Country Inn and Suites. Improve your bridge game with free lessons! What a deal!

Cedar Rapids 2017 Summer Sectional Broke Records!

The Cedar Rapids Summer Sectional broke records for any Cedar Rapids tournament over the last 15 years. (that’s as far back as I have records). We had 124 1/2 tables in play. It was amazing! We had loads of out of towners who flocked to this popular tournament. Thank you to all who attended!

Last fall, the unit 163 board president issued a “President’s Challenge” to any 2017 tournament increasing the tournament attendance by 10% of the average of the last three years. We have had four tournaments miss the mark, even decreasing in attendance. The March Hills Tournament was the first to make the challenge. That earned them a party at the club of the chair’s choice. The second success was the Under 300 tournament in June. A party was held at the Cedar Rapids Monday club for that success. The Cedar Rapids Summer Sectional has been increasing in attendance every year and needed over 122 tables to make the challenge goal. We did it! The party to celebrate this success will be August 30 at Build Better Bridge. Come help us celebrate!

Managing Image Collections

It is not all that easy to manage precise image placement in a post. Recall that the images have to fit in the theme width assigned to posts. Also, there are three versions of the theme based on viewing device, and images will shift position when constrained by viewing space. To get a sense of this, view your post in a non-maximized browser window and adjust the browser window width.

Positioned with “Float Left”

As a starting strategy, simply insert all the images one after another. Select each image in turn and select the far left emblem for positioning on all of them. The example at left illustrates positioning. This selection assigns “Float Left” positioning, which does two things: It pushes the image to the left of the available space, and it allows other images or text to wrap to the right.

Link Setting (Although illustrating left alignment, this image is centered.)

While you are at it, if you would like to have a slideshow, you have to modify every image involved. Click the pencil icon and change the “Link To” setting to “Media File”. All the images with this setting will participate in the slideshow. You needn’t set the link address; it is automatic.

Here is a small mystery that occurred in this post, which was begun by cloning another existing post. Evidently, the two new illustrations above automatically inherited the “link to media file” setting of the four people images below. It was necessary to remove this property in order to take them out of the slideshow. This might not have occurred if this post had been created from scratch. Addendum: When I later added the “Clear-Float Button” image, it inherited the same “link to media file” property, which I did not bother to remove. This suggests to me that, if you want a slideshow, you should add the appropriate property to the first image you insert before adding the other images.

Click any player image below for an example of a slide show. These four images are floated left and are linked to “Media File,” as described above.

If you are creating a long, narrative post with interspersed images, you might consider scattering the images and using both “float left” and “float right” positioning for variety. See the red heart images further below. It is recommended that these interspersed images are kept small, say about 170 pixels wide.

As originally written this article did not address a frequent problem with using a group of successive floated images. That is, text tends to sneak into the spaces between pictures. This makes sense because floating an image permits other objects, including text, to wrap around it. The problem is illustrated below.

Winners Paul and Nancy Klein in second session Saturday.

These four, Kathy Breen, Lu, Sam Shen and Mark Gifford won both team games on Sunday.

Lin and Mark Settle with Sam and Lu.

Dick Lamb with out of town guests.

Here is some text above clear-float.

Here is some text below clear-float.

One solution is to remove the floated positioning by centering the last image in a collection like the four people images above. This tends to leave a lot of wasted white space. The text will then begin below the centered image. This works because “floating” is kind of a sticky property, and something has to happen to remove it. As an example, the image of the “Link Setting…” is centered, and text does not, therefore, wrap around it.

Floated Left

Floated Right

A better solution now is offered. A button called “Clear Float” has been added to the editor. When you are positioned at the place where you intend to enter text, click the button and it will break the tendency to wrap around images. The Dick Lamb image above is floated left. This caused subsequent text to float also, wrapping around the image, but the Clear Float button was used to end the text floating after only one sentence.

Suppose you purposely float an image to the left of some text, and the text looks good wrapping around the image. The only thing that bothers you is that you start a new paragraph and one sentence begins beside the image and the rest of the paragraph resumes below it. You think this is ugly, so you use Clear Float before the new paragraph to force it to begin below the image instead of beside it.

The heart images above actually were entered one after another and then came the text about “A better solution…” That text wedged itself between the two floated images even though it came after them. Now, this paragraph illustrates a slightly different scenario. The “player” image is floated left, then some text is added, then a player image is floated right, then some more text is added. Finally, after this sentence, is a clear-float.

Clear-Float Button

A different problem I frequently encounter is trying to insert text after an image that is at the end of the page. Beware the small blue mark where you place the cursor after the image. This means you are about to create a link. Use the right arrow on your keyboard to get past the blue mark. If you get desperate, switch to the Text editor and type a few letters at the bottom of the page and then switch back to the Visual editor before you mess something up.

One way to avoid the issue is to enter some text — perhaps a few spaces — as a place holder for more text yet to come. Do this before inserting the image you are adding. Insert it before those spaces.

In summary, as a simple beginning strategy, insert all the images you want one after another. Float them all left. Position the cursor after all the images preparatory to inserting some text. Click the Clear Float button, and then start typing your text.

Successful Under 500 Tournament in Cedar Rapids (2017)

On June 10-11, Unit 163 had an Under 500 tournament at the Country Inn and Suites. There were 35 tables for the two day tournament. Many communities were represented including Unit 163 communities of Cedar Rapids, Iowa City, Quad Cities, Waterloo, and Dubuque. In addition there were players from Minnesota, Missouri, and Illinois. Many participants took advantage of the free lessons by MaryAnn. Local players, Marion Engel, Jack Falat, Gary Edwards and MaryAnn, had a panel discussion between sessions on Saturday. Bill Kent did a great job directing. It was a wonderful opportunity for players to earn silver points and compete with peers.

Tournament results are here.

Click any image for a slide show.

MaryAnn Shaughnessy and Jo Bouslog were winners in the first session Saturday.

Winners Paul and Nancy Klein in second session Saturday.

These four, Kathy Breen, Lu, Sam Shen and Mark Gifford won both team games on Sunday.

Lin and Mark Settle with Sam and Lu.

Dick Lamb with out of town guests.