June 9th, 2011 ~ Mike Yuen ~
2 Comments 
The year was 1965, I was studying in London, England. It was a wonderful time, care free and out of sight of my doting parents.
One Saturday evening at the Commonwealth Student Union dance, I met Ann Marie, Swiss, tall, blond and dropped dead gorgeous!. She was studying English in The City. We got along famously for the next three years.
Then came one dreadful day, Ann Marie told me, she had finished her studies and her father had requested her home. It was a tearful goodbye and we promised to keep in touch via the Royal Mail.
Soon after, I immigrated to Canada. Then life got in the way, we lost touch.
The intercom came alive, “Good morning, we have began our descent into Geneva. The Captain had switched on the seat belt sign…..” I awoke from a deep sleep. I looked out the window and into brilliant sunshine.
life is much like bridge. Sometimes earlier decision in a deal can be fatal. Other times one gets a second chance.
Take for example, in the USA1 Seniors match : LYNCH (Carolyn Lynch, Mark Lair, John Sutherlin, Mike Passell, Garey Hayden, Peter Weichsel) vs SCHWARTZ (Richard Schwartz, Dan Morse, Arnold Fisher, Lewis Finkel, Bobby Wolff, Fred Hamilton)
Board 7. Dealer South. Both Vul.
Lynch led ♣K, 2, Q, 3. Passell tried to get her to switch to spade by playing the queen, but the message got lost and the ♣ 8 was continued, 5, 4, 6.
Lucky for her, the eight of clubs was high and held the lead. At trick three, given a second chance, Lynch found the much needed spade switch. The contract of four hearts was down one, +100 to the Lynch team.
At the other table, North-Morse and South-Wolff played in 4♣ made five for +150. So the spade switch held the lost to only 2 imps.
I am on my way to see my daughter, Anita, who lives in Geneve, Switzerland. As we both live busy lives, it had not been easy for us to get together.
This week, I am going to make the most of our visit.
Anita
June 5th, 2011 ~ Mike Yuen ~
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At the end of the grueling match in the recent Canadian National Teams championship.
John Rayner, while enjoying a well deserved beverage, told me the best hand he ever played.
Board 18. Dealer East. N-S vul.
As West, he held : ♠ K107 ♥ 1096543 ♦ K ♣ Q42
This was the auction.
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
|
1NT |
| pass |
2♣ |
pass |
2♥ |
| pass |
3NT |
All pass |
|
Yes, it is a lead problem. What would you lead?
John led the ♣2. He listen to the auction. he knew his LHO had spades and his RHO had hearts.
This was the deal.
Roy Hughes looked at the ♣2, thought for a long time, then took his eight tricks for down one. -100.
At the other table the contract was also 3NT. However this time it was played by North. East, the long club hand was on lead and led a 4th best club. Declarer tried to make his contract, as a result down three for -300.
Despite John’s best effort, his team lost 5 imps on this board!
However, virtue has it’s own reward. If John led any card other then a club, the other team would have been Canadian Champions.
June 1st, 2011 ~ Mike Yuen ~
5 Comments
All of us were over the moon when ACBL first announced that the ACBL Bridge Hall of Fame Committee has selected our very own Eric Kokish as the recipient of The Blackwood Award, given to a person who has served Bridge.
Eric’s accomplishments are well known. Beside being the best coach in the world, so much so that he is known simply as Koach. He and his wife Beverly Kraft had been coaches for many national teams over the years.
He is also a great player. Many times Canadian champion. Two North American championships and many high finishes to his credit. Silver medal in World Open Pairs-1978 and Silver-1995 in the Bermuda Bowl, Two Bronze medals in the Rosenblum-1982, 1990, just to name a few of his playing successes.
Koach also sits on many World Championship appeals committees, system committees. In World Championships, find time to be Vugraph commentator.
As if he is not busy enough, Eric is also a prolific writer. Contributing editor to The Bridge World. Executive editor, World Bridge news. Over the years, NEC Cup bulletins, PABF bulletins. Principal analyst, World Championship Books. Analyst, World Simultaneous pairs.
ACBL HOF Committee also selected Russ Arnold, recipient of the von Zedtwitz Award for long service to bridge combined with expertise as a player.
Russ is a Bermuda Bowl Champion-1981 and earned Silver medal in World Senior Team-1994. May times North American Champion.
In the same ceremony, The Sidney Lazard Jr. Sportsmanship Award is awarded to Betty Ann Kennedy. Many times North American Champion. Gold medal in World Championships Women’s Teams-1974,1976, 1984, 2003. Gold medal in World Women Pairs-1982.
The induction ceremony/dinner will take place during the 2011 Summer NABC in Toronto, Canada on Thursday, the 21st of July, between the hours of 5.30 – 7pm, at the Royal York hotel.
Needless to say many of us, friends and family of the three deserving inductees would love to show our support at the induction ceremony. It is a great idea till we noticed the whopping price of the tickets! $150 per person?!
Can anybody tell me why is it so expensive? Some of the better restaurants in Toronto, like Bymark and Lee are priced less then that.
The ceremony is in the afternoon, why do we need an elaborate dinner? I would think most people who are playing in the evening, would prefer not to eat a full meal. On the other hand, those that are not playing, would love to go to a leisurely dinner afterwards and wine the evening away.
It is with Eric’s consent and suggestion. To start a petition, with collection of names, and write a open letter to Jay Baum, CEO of ACBL and the 25 Board of Directors. Suggesting that they do something like a cocktail reception with Hors d’oeuvres, with open tables to permit wandering, for $75 per ticket.
If you agree with Eric and I, please help and put your name in the comments. OR you can write to your own ACBL director.
May 29th, 2011 ~ Mike Yuen ~
3 Comments
Baxter, Lindop, Hargreaves, McAvoy, Roche and Rayner.
With “We are the campions” by Queen playing in the background. This year’s Bridge Week had ended.
After 2 days of exciting 128 boards. The winner in the Open Team are John Rayner, Michael Roche, David Lindop, Doug Baxter, Mike Hargreaves and Jim McAvoy. They best Roy Hughes, David Turner, Zygmunt Marcinsky and Bryan Maksymetz. By only 8 IMPS!!
The trophy in John Rayner’s hand is the Mark Molson Trophy. In honour of Mark Molson, a great Canadian bridge player who won the CNTC seven times in addition to winning seven North American Championships. He also won a Silver medal and a Bronze medal while representing Canada in the world competition. Mark passed away in 2006 at the age of 56.
Marcinski, Turner, Hughes and Maksymetz.
The winner in the Senior Teams are : Boris Baran, Michael Schoenborn, Dan Jacob, Jurek Czyzowicz, Fred Hoffer, Don Piafsky.
Czyzowicz, Jacob, Schoenborn, Baran, Hoffer and Piafsky.
Silver goes to : Dick Anderson, Bill koski, Bob Crosby, Faith Pritchard, Barry Pritchard, Alex Fowlie.
Dick and Jane Anderson.
Congratulations to our Canadian Champions and best wishes for the upcoming world champioship in Veldhoven, Netherlands.
Thanks to Dick, Jan Anderson and their organizing committee for a wonderful tournament.
On a personal note, I like to thank Maurice de la Salle, Brad Bart, Cam Doner, Doug Fraser, Aidan Ballantye, Dave Smith and Doran Flock for playing with me this week, much appreciated.
May 29th, 2011 ~ Mike Yuen ~
1 Comment
CANADIAN OPEN PAIRS
Gold: David Smith – Doran Flock
Silver: Daniel Korbel – Danny Miles
Bronze: Ray Jotcham – Stephen Mackay
Dave Smith and Doran Flock.
Daniel Korbel-Danny Miles.
Steve Mackay-Ray Jotcham
May 28th, 2011 ~ Mike Yuen ~
No Comments
It is day seven of these Canadian championships and there are still three events up for grasp.
The Open Team:
After 64 boards. Rayner (John Rayner, Michael Roche, David Lindop, Doug Baxter, Mike Hargreaves, Jim McAvoy.) -118 vs Hughes (Roy Hughes, David Turner, Zygmunt Marcinski, Bryan Maksymetz.) – 109.
With one appeal pending.
The Senior Team:
Semi-final results. Baran 137 vs Penton 95. Anderson 138 vs Dickie 128.
In the final :
Baran (Boris Baran, Michael Schoenborn, Dan Jacob, Jurek Czyzowicz, Fred Hoffer, Don Piafsky.) vs Anderson (Dick Anderson, Bill koski, Bob Crosby, Faith Pritchard, Barry Pritchard, Alex Fowlie.)
The 3rd place teams in the CNTC.
Grainger, Korbel, Zambonini, L'Ecuyer, Wolpert, Demuy.
Frukacz, Cooper, Hanna. Missing Lebi.
For those that has not had enough bridge this week, there is a two session Swiss to-morrow.
May 27th, 2011 ~ Mike Yuen ~
2 Comments
The Imp Pair winners the supporting cast with their big bucks.
Jerry, David, Daniel-in place of Jeff, Julie, Susan, Gary, Kelvin and Kathie.
.
CNTC B: winners.
Larry, Glenn, Don and Nazir. Winners of CNTC B.
Our hard working bartender.
Sandra.
One and only Robert Lebi.
Our very own shutterbug.
Isabelle Smith
May 27th, 2011 ~ Mike Yuen ~
1 Comment
To-day the women team final was on BBO and there was no shortage of excitement.
After 72 boards, the winners on the CWTC are Joan Eaton, Karen Cumpstone, Katrin Litwin and Sandra Fraser.
Joan, Nader, Sandra, Karen and Katrin.
The silver goes to Francine Cimon, Linda Lee, Rhoda Habert and Sylvia Caley.
Francine, Sylvia and Linda. Missing Rhoda.
3/4 place teams are: Julie Smith, Susan Peters, Angela Fenton and Samantha Nystrom. Kathie Macnab, Anne Mahoney, Maureen Barnes and Diana Knowles.
Julie, Sam, Angela and Susan.
Maureen, Diana, Kathie and Anne.
The winner for the CNTC B are Glenn Cossey, Don McCarthy, Nazir Ahmad and Larry Custead.
The silver goes to Jason Larrivee, Larry Whitlow, Rupa Krishnan and Paul Clemens.
3/4 placed teams are: Tom Walsh, Don Shatilla, Mark Churchman and Derrick Furber. Cal McLeod, Jackson Chan, James Dulmage and Richard Gaucher.
The winners in the IMP pairs are: 1. Kavin Raywood-Gray McMulin. 2. Julie Smith-Susan Peters. 3. David Sabourin-Jeffrey Smith.
Congratulations to all the teams for a wonderful tournament.
Last evening the Rayner team (Roche, Lindop, Baxter, Hargreaves and McAvoy) was behind Harper (Johannsson, Duquette, Bishop) 32 VP with 16 boards to go. Rayner mounted a great run and won the set 73 to 11.
The following hand contributed to their come back win.
Michael Roche found the great lead of the king of spades, declarer had to go down one for -100.
At the other table they led a heart and never switched to spade, so they made 3nt. Won 13 imps.
To-morrow for the Senior, the match up are: Baran vs Anderson. Dickie vs Penton.
In the CNTC the match up for the final will be: Rayner (Roche, Lindop, Bexter, Hargreaves, McAvoy) Vs Hughes (Turner, Marcinski, Maksymetz)
May 26th, 2011 ~ Mike Yuen ~
No Comments
Jill Thompson and Josee Hammill started playing duplicate four years ago at Rayner’s Mississauga-Oakville Bridge Centre. They didn’t let their first 38% game discourage them, only made them want to do better.
Josee-Jill
Last night in CWTC Match 7, they bid and made this grand slam.
Well done you two.
To-morrow.
The match up for the CNTC: Rayner vs Zambonini. Hanna vs Hughes.
The match up for the CWTC: Cimon vs Eatons
The above matches will be on BBO.
The match up for CNTC B: Cossey vs Larrivee.
Leaders in the CSTC: Baran 131. Dickie 109. Penton 88. Flock 85.
Overheard at the bar:
Bob’s team is not playing well and is in desperate need of victory points.
Bob, ” Lets phone all our opponents’ cell phones while they are playing, each ring will incur a 2 vp penalty.”
John, ” There are not enough cell phones in this world to help your team!”
May 25th, 2011 ~ Mike Yuen ~
2 Comments
The fourth and last day of the round robin and only the top 8 will make the Quarter Final. There are still 4 matches to play so there will be many chances for some teams to advance but unfortunately it is not the case for our team. We started slow and just didn’t recover.
I like to thank Brad, Cam, Doug, Aidan and Maurice for playing. It was lots of fun.
We all know that the sigh of good teammates is that whenever you have a bad board they can cover you.
Aidan and Doug bid and made game for +620. Expecting to win IMPS.
However at the other table, their teammates had an accident and gave up -580.
+620 and -580 indeed won an IMP :))
End of the round robin, These teams will play to-morrow.
CNTC : Rayner vs Harper. Hanna vs Janicki. Hughes vs Silver. Todd vs Zambonini.
CWTC: Cimon vs Macnab. Eaton vs Smith.
CNTC B: McLeod vs Cossey. Walsh vs Larrivee.
Good luck to all.
Overheard at the bar:
Michael Roche and John Rayner were having a heated discussion about a defensive problem and they could not come to an agreement. Michael noticed there were two ladies having dinner at the next table.
Michael, “Do you two play bridge?”
Lady with the fork in hand “no.”
Michael, “If they bid a slam and you hold the Ace of spades, what would you lead?”
Both ladies, “Ace of spades?!”
Michael turned to John, ” See, they agreed with me”
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