Betty Dailey and Karen Slesnick

Betty Dailey and Karen Slesnick have been playing in the local gold country clubs for about a year, after taking lessons from Mary Wells. Sue Kroning's interview with new players Betty Dailey and Karen Slesnick asked about their first impressions of duplicate.

Sue: My first question is: When you first played duplicate what did you like best about it?

Karen: What I liked best about it was first of all my partner, as well as the other people in the group. They were all very welcoming and helpful and that was very much appreciated by me.

Betty: I liked the consistency of having the same partner, and also in contrast to party bridge I liked the fact that you couldn't really blame your result on a bad hand. You always have the data to say you may have played well even though you had bad cards.

Sue: My second question is: Was there anything negative about your first experience? Were you nervous? Were you confused?

Karen: Both of those. I was nervous, I wanted to play to the best of my ability but I think there were many times when I didn't, and I was surprised that I would forget things that I should have remembered. So yes, it was definitely a little bit scary.

Betty: Well, for some its been a lifetime endeavor, so I was a little intimidated by the fact that some of these people had been playing for 50 years, but all those people were very supportive, and really eager to help.

Sue: Well, we are delighted to have you, and welcome all new players to join us.

Sue Kroning, Sonny Bailey and Sharon Ritchie.

The new directors of the Sonora Club are Sharon Ritchie and Sue Kroning. At their inaugural game they said: “This club does not belong to us - it belongs to all of you, to all who play here.”
 

Everyone helps out, but the outstanding contributor is Sonny Bailey.

When the directors arrive at the Sonora Senior Center for the Friday 11:30 game they find six tables set up, with seats, table covers, bid boxes and side tables. All the bridge supplies are ready on the long table. And the goodie table is a work of art with seasonal flowers and decorations, plus snacks, all set up and supplied by Sonny. 

Debbie Dezarn's Stockton Unit report

in the D21 Diamond in the Ruff August 2025 newsletter

    Summer has been going by quickly, but the valley has been blessed with temperatures mostly under 100, and many days in the low 80’s. (Whoops, as this goes to press, we have had 3 days of 100+ weather.) Many people have been traveling so attendance has been down at the Stockton Club except for the twice monthly Non-life Master game and the new(er) Wednesday game which draws 7-10 tables that includes regulars from outside the Stockton area.
    We will be saying a sad goodbye to Michael and Mary Wells who recently bought a home in San Luis Obispo and will be moving in September for “better golf and better weather.” Mike has been the director of the Sonora Club for two years, has introduced modern movements and methods, and been the local expert on the laws of duplicate bridge.
    Mike is also a Unit 510 Board member so is resigning as of the end of the September Board meeting. That leaves a vacancy
again, so please consider stepping up to help make decisions that affect our Unit and the Stockton Club.
    Mary has taught many bridge classes, recruited new members to the Unit, and created a bridge library. Like many clubs, the Sonora Club has folks who are elderly or infirm and are safer not moving each round. Mary has cleverly created two new movements – one for five tables and one for four tables – that allow for more than one stationary table. This, together with the many bridge students she taught, will be her lasting legacy. Coincidentally, she used Easybridge! workshops created by our Unit’s Webmaster, Sue Kroning.
    Their last game in Sonora (8 tables!) was August 8 and directing duties will be assumed by Sharon Ritchie and Sue Kroning beginning August 15. Please see the Unit 510 website at www.bridgewebs.com/unit510 for an expanded article and pictures from the goodbye party with a cake and decorations by Sonny Bailey.
    One of the decisions made at the July Board meeting was to provide lunch at the Stockton Club one day a month since the treasury now has reserves to replace the dealing machine when it “dies.” That was right before the Bridgemate server went out and Stockton players had to use paper travelers for two games. The club also had a power outage and because one player can’t see the cards without bright lights, their table moved to the parking lot until power was restored.
    The Rio Vista Club loaned their Bridgemate server for two subsequent games until Stockton’s newly purchased one arrived via express shipment. By the way, each club in Unit 510 handles their own budgets of card fee income but it is nice that we can share equipment in a pinch.
    Lunch is being provided on the first Monday of each month at the Stockton Club and the first one was Subway sandwiches and peach crisp. The rotation will include hot dogs, pizza, an Asian entree, and tacos over the next 3 months.
    There haven’t been any rank advancements since the last issue but several people are playing regularly trying to get those last few points needed for Bronze, Silver, and Ruby status. Kudos to Marion Goldberg, Paula Monroe, and Frank Klo, all non-Life M asters who “scratched” or came in first almost every time they played in July.
    Thank you to all who brought summer produce to the Stockton Club to share. I personally appreciated the squash and corn and was sad to miss out on cherries. But there was an abundance of peaches and even a few tangerines, lemons, and persimmons (earlier). Will there be any tomatoes or did the strange weather and bugs mess with the backyard crops?

   The Sonora Club and the gold country area has lost three precious assets – a bridge director, a bridge teacher, and a good (younger) pair! Mike and Mary Wells of Copperopolis are relocating to San Luis Obispo and we thank them for their wonderful contributions to bridge in our area. We also wish them much happiness and many masterpoints in their new home.

   Mike has been a fine director of the Sonora Club for two years, has introduced modern movements and methods, and been the local expert on the laws of duplicate bridge. Mary has replaced much of the old equipment and created a bridge library. In addition, Mike has served on the Stockton Unit board and brought unit benefits to the local clubs.

   Like many clubs we have folks who are elderly or infirm and are safer not moving each round. Mary has cleverly created two new movements – one for five tables and one for four tables – that allow for more than one stationary table. (The one for five tables allows for a completely stationary 9 round pair, an 8 round stationary pair and a 7 round stationary pair.) The director has a bit more work moving both Bridgemates and boards each round but Mary has created excellent charts to follow. This, together with the many students she taught bridge to, will be her lasting legacy.

   Mary taught several beginner classes and workshops. (Coincidentally, she used Easybridge! workshops created by local player Sue Kroning.) One of Mary's students, Betty Dailey, says, “The most memorable part of her instruction was that from the very first lesson, Mary had us playing cards, taking tricks and enjoying the game! As she presented bidding and other new concepts, she gave us time to process as she guided us through the practice we needed to fully understand and use them. Mary encouraged and celebrated our learning.”

   Sharon Ritchie and Sue Kroning will take over directing at the Sonora Club from August 15. The Wells’ last game was on August 8, with eight tables at the Sonora Senior Center. Sonny Bailey (who always puts up all the tables and chairs) provided decorations and a wonderful cake, and other contributions made for a fine spread.

STOCKTON BRIDGE CLUB

Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 11:30 am.

Non-Life Masters (NLM) 2nd and 4th Thursdays at 11:30 am

3rd Sunday Potluck and Unit game at 12 noon.

CLICK BELOW FOR SPECIAL GAMES SCHEDULE

2025 SPECIAL GAMES.pdf

MOTHER LODE BRIDGE CLUB AT MURPHYS 

Murphys Diggins Club House alternate Mondays at 12:30 pm.

GOLD COUNTRY BRIDGE CLUB AT SAN ANDREAS

Alternate Wednesdays and one Monday per month.

12 noon at San Andreas Senior Center.

SONORA BRIDGE CLUB

 Every Friday at the Sonora Senior Center at 11:30 am.

HWY 49ers BBO CLUB

Online at 1:00 pm alternate Wednesdays.

Call 209-768-2936 for more information on the foothill bridge clubs.  

For a full schedule of all the foothill games, click below.

2025 Schedule.pdf

♥  There's lots to see! For your game results click on the date in the green boxed heading under RESULTS on the TOP RIGHT of the screen. Now you should see a list of players and their percentages. Click on your name for a list of your personal scores. Scroll down to the end to see if you were a better declarer than your partner!

   On the right you can see some [PLAY] tabs. Click on one, select the BBO tab, and now you can 1) Replay the hand as you did at the table [NEXT], 2) Replay the hand as you wish you had at the table [PLAY], 3) Let GIB – the super-robot – replay the hand as you should have done at the table [GIB]. Cool stuff!