Chicago Duplicate Bridge Inc. is a 501(c)(3) Not For Profit Corporation that runs a Bridge Club in Downtown Chicago. Financial Members of the Bridge Club elect the 9 Board Directors on a rotational basis. Our mission is to encourage and facilitate the growth of Bridge in the City of Chicago. Find us here or email to chicagoduplicatebridge@gmail.com. 

NEWS

 This Week at Chicago Duplicate Bridge  

♥  All day games now begin at 12:00 ♥ 

♥ Mentor Game Tuesday, March 3, at 6:30 pm ♥

♥  To play in F2F Tuesday/Thursday evening games, contact director in advance ♥ 

Play Bridge at Chicago Duplicate Bridge--Century Mall, 2828 N. Clark, Chicago 60657!

Map Here 

Phone number: 872-802-7941

Contact chicagoduplicatebridge@gmail.com with any questions or comments. 

 April 2026 Newsletter

Chicago Duplicate Bridge Club

2828 N. Clark St., Second Level

         http:/www.bridgewebs.com/chicagodbc

              chicagoduplicatebridge@gmail.com

       Tax ID #32-0451604

Spring has sprung!

We continued to welcome both new and veteran players to the club in March, resulting in another month of strong participation. Our latest series of advanced classes continues through mid-May; the list of the lessons can be found on page 3 of this newsletter. Thanks to Dave Schroeder and Matthew Dyer for leading these classes. And, as always, we look forward to welcoming our favorite teacher Gino at the club in mid-April – see below for more information about that. You’ll also find an article written by Dave reminding us of the ACBL’s Zero Tolerance policy and two articles by Matthew - one about how stratifications works at games and another about a great tournament triumph by former regular players at our club. We hope you’ll enjoy the longer days, warmer weather – and lots of bridge at CDB - this spring!

Game Calendar

*Tuesday, April 7 – Mentor/Mentee game at 6:30 p.m.*

Mon, Wed, Thurs, Sat – Open Games at 12:00 p.m. F2F

Monday, Wednesday – Open Games at 6:30/6:45 p.m. on BBO

Tuesday, Thursday – Open Games at 6:30 p.m. F2F

Friday – 750/Non-Life Master Games at 12:00 p.m. F2F

Saturday – 0-99 Games and Open Games at 12:00 p.m. F2F

Communicating with the Club

The best way to reach us is via email at chicagoduplicatebridge@gmail.com.

Also, please email Dave Schroeder at dave8459@yahoo.com about Tuesday evening games and use the BridgeWebs reservation/partner request website for ALL games (see link and instructions immediately below).

Game Reservations

We strongly encourage our players to use BridgeWebs to make reservations for ALL games. This will help the Directors plan their game for the potential number of tables, how many people need partners, etc.

Making reservations on BridgeWebs is easy! Especially if you use the link below, which allows you to go straight to the calendar where you can make a reservation and/or request a partner. You may need to enter your email address or ACBL number to log in:

https://www.bridgewebs.com/cgi-bin/bwor/bw.cgi?club=chicagodbc&pid=display_month

If you can’t get the link to work, send an email to chicagoduplicatebridge@gmail.com and we’ll get you set up.

If you’d rather start from the BridgeWebs home page, you can use the following procedure:

1. Select “Results” under “Upcoming Games” from the main menu on the left.
2. Select the game you want to attend. You may need to move the calendar to the following month.
3. If you need a partner, select “Partner Required.”
4. Enter your name. When you leave the site, your request will be registered.
5. If you have a partner, select “Reservation Requested.”
6. If you’re asked for your name or ACBL number, enter it.
7. Insert your partner’s name in the box that comes up.
8. Select the direction you prefer: N/S, E/W, or Any.
9. Select “Add reservation.”

Solo Players

We guarantee partners for all one-section games, so if you feel like showing up for a game at the last minute, feel free to do so. On the rare occasion that we have a two-section game, please contact the director in advance and we’ll do what we can to find you a partner.

But the best way to find a partner, or help us find one for you, is to use the BridgeWebs online reservation system described above to sign up ahead of time (the earlier, the better!). The sooner you let the director know you’re coming, the more likely you are to end up with a compatible partner.

Internet/Social Media Coordinator Wanted!

The club is looking for someone with expertise in online communications to maintain our website and social media presence (X, Instagram, Facebook). If you have experience in this area and you’re interested in supporting the club as a volunteer, contact Matthew Dyer at msdyer at gmail to learn more about the position.

Membership

If you haven’t paid your $60 annual membership dues yet, please do so now. Of course, the club also would welcome any additional contributions our players are inclined to make! Contributions and dues may be paid in cash or check given to the director at any game or transmitted via Venmo. If you use Venmo, please let a director know in person or send an email to chicagoduplicatebridge@gmail.com so we can make sure you get credit for your donation.

Bridge Lessons

CDB began offering a new series of advanced lessons on March 14 and they will continue through mid-May. The lessons are held from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. on Saturdays. Supervised play will no longer be offered on Saturdays; people who attend the lessons are encouraged to attend the open or 0-99 games, which will cost just $5 extra ($20 total).

Here’s the list of the topics for lessons in April and May; please note that some of them have changed since the March newsletter was published. Club president Dave Schroeder will be teaching the bidding lessons and director Matthew Dyer will be teaching the card-playing lessons.

New/Intermediate Players: Improve Your Game!

In addition to lessons, CDB offers these opportunities for newer players to improve their bridge skills:

5. Mentor/Mentee game
   • 6:30 p.m. on the first Tuesday evening of the month, although occasionally that date changes – check the calendar in the newsletter or the CDB website to confirm.
5. Supervised Play
   • Friday at 10:00 a.m., followed by a game at 12:00 p.m.
5. 0-99er game
   • Saturday at 12:00 p.m.
5. Brief lesson
   • Thursday prior to 12:00 p.m. game.

Mentor/Mentee Game. This month’s Mentor/Mentee game is scheduled for Tuesday, April 7 at 6:30 pm at the club. Please use the online sign-up process to RSVP but also email Dave Schroeder at dave8459@yahoo.com to let him know you’re planning to be there. It’s important that both mentees and mentors let Dave know as early as possible so he can ensure that we have enough mentors for all the mentees.

The Mentor/Mentee game is intended to be nurturing and instructive, and it’s a great way to get to know and learn from some of the most experienced players at the club. Another reason to attend the Mentor/Mentee game is that Dave bakes treats like cookies or brownies - whatever strikes his fancy - for everyone to share, and they’re always delicious!

Supervised Play and Games. Join us for Friday morning Supervised Play, a coaching session where you can ask experts and more experienced players for advice. Don’t worry that you are “too new” or even “too experienced” to join the group – it’s a great opportunity to learn more about bridge for players at all levels and have a lot of fun!

Friday supervised play at 10:00 is followed by a brief break for lunch at 11:30 and a 750/NLM (Non-Life Master) game at 12:00 noon. This game now regularly has 4-6 full tables, and there’s a nice spirit of friendly competition among a fun and welcoming group. You do NOT have to attend supervised play to join the game or vice versa.

The fees are $5 for supervised play and the usual $15 for the game. If you come to both, there is no charge for supervised play. The Friday sessions are a great way to practice what you’ve learned by playing bridge in a friendly environment and to meet potential partners. Please let Barry Little know if you’ll be attending supervised play and/or the Friday afternoon game by emailing him at barrylit@gmail.com.

Social Bridge. The best way to get better at bridge is to play as much as possible. If you want noncompetitive practice with real duplicate boards and hand records to check yourself against, get a group of 4 (or 8 or 12) players together and come play in our back room where we hold lessons. People who’ve tried this so far are giving us very good feedback on the opportunity to play with friends and introduce them to the concept of duplicate bridge.

The cost for social bridge at the club is only $5 per person. We’re offering the opportunity to play social bridge every Tuesday and Thursday evening in April; here are the dates:

1. Tuesdays: April 7, 14, 21, 28
2. Thursdays: April 9, 16, 23, 30

Kibitzing. “Kibitzing” always has been part of bridge. You get to peek over the shoulder of an experienced player, and - at the appropriate time - ask them brief and polite questions about their bidding or play of the hand.

The etiquette is to approach a table and ask a player, “Would you mind a kibitzer?” Most players will not object, but not everyone is comfortable being watched. If the player declines, find someone else. Many players take it as a compliment if you choose to watch them, and you’ll get to see different bidding methods, thought processes and playing techniques.

Kibitzers may watch one player for several hands but should plan on kibitzing with a few players over the course of a game to see a variety of bidding and playing styles. You’ll soon figure out which players are most welcoming to kibitzers and eager to share their knowledge with them.

Important: Kibitzers are expected to sit where they can see only one hand and need to pretend to be invisible and maintain a poker face. Do not react to the bidding or play by making comments or facial expressions or you will be asked to leave.

Try kibitzing! - you’ll learn a lot and meet some knowledgeable, interesting and nice people.

Special Games

Special games in April are Charity Pairs for April 1-29 and an All-ACBL charity game on April 30. These games won’t affect your ability to earn extra or higher-level points (or the fee for your games), but it’s good to know that you’re part of an organization that supports worthy causes.

Sunday Evanston Bridge Club Games at Northwestern

The next few games hosted by our friends at Evanston bridge club are scheduled for Sundays on:

5. April 5 and 26
5. May 17 and 24

All games start at 11:00 a.m. and are held at on Northwestern University’s campus at Parkes Hall at 1870 Sheridan Road in Evanston. Free weekend parking is available on Hinman Avenue and at the 555 Clark Street lot.

 RSVP is required for these games! To confirm your attendance, request a partner or just ask a question, contact Ben Fisk at benfisk2023@u.northwestern.edu

Reminder - Zero Tolerance Policy in Effect

From club President Dave Schroeder: The ACBL has a Zero Tolerance policy to try to eliminate bad behavior at the bridge table, and it’s a good idea to remind our players about it every now and then.

The ultimate purpose of this policy is to create a more pleasant atmosphere in bridge clubs and at tournaments. We are attempting to eradicate unacceptable behavior to make the game of bridge more enjoyable for all. Below are some examples of commendable behavior, which, while not required, will significantly contribute to the improved atmosphere: 

5. Being a good host or guest at the table.
5. Greeting others in a friendly manner and thanking them after playing with them. 
5. Praising the bidding and/or play of the opponents. 
5. Having two clearly completed convention cards readily available to the opponents. (This one is a regulation, not just a nicety.) 

The following are examples of behavior that will not be tolerated:

5. Badgering, rudeness, insinuations, intimidation, profanity, threats or violence. 
5. Negative comments concerning opponents’ or partner’s play or bidding.
5. Instructing partner how to play the hand after bidding is done but before play begins, especially by dummy.
5. Constant and gratuitous lessons and analyses at the table (note this does not apply to the Mentor/Mentee game or when beginners play in regular games and want or at least are open to lessons and analysis).
5. Loud and disruptive arguing with a director’s ruling. 

If a player at the table behaves in an unacceptable manner, the director should be called immediately. Annoying behavior, embarrassing remarks or any other conduct which might interfere with the enjoyment of the game are specifically prohibited by Law 74A. Law 91A gives the director the authority to assess disciplinary penalties. Penalties start with the loss of 1/4 of a board for an offender.

Stratification

This newsletter includes two special articles by director/mentor/expert Matthew Dyer. The first one (below) provides some somewhat technical but very helpful information about how the stratification is decided for each bridge session. The second one (after the tournament results section at the end of the newsletter) provides news about a tournament triumph by two of our former members who benefited from learning about bridge during the time they spent at CDB. Here’s Matthew’s article about stratification:

Is it true that you can't win points at CDB because the game has too many good players?

Emphatically “No”! We structure our games to ensure that our C-flight players earn as many points as possible. If you are in the top two pairs in our C-flight, you typically will earn points.

At each game the director chooses A, B and C-flight masterpoint limits based on the players present, preferably to create flights of roughly equal size, but leaning towards more in C-flight. If we have four C-flight pairs at least two will earn points.

Directors can bump a pair up (but not down) based on skill level. We frequently bump the younger players from C into B, especially at the night games. If four legitimate C-flight pairs show up, two will win points, regardless of the strength of the rest of the field.

We also try to ensure that you play against your friends, that all C-flight players play against each other and that A-flight players beat up on each other.

In our Friday 750 game, you might see strata of 750/300/100 or 750/100/50 or even 750/30/10 based on who shows up, but they always are designed so that the bottom tier of players are guaranteed to earn points.

CDB will add a beginner section to any game that has enough tables. All our games welcome players of all levels, and we work hard to create a friendly environment and a scoring plan in which points are available to our C-flight players at all games.

Restrooms

The women’s and men’s restrooms down the hall from the club currently are unlocked, which makes things easier for everyone. If The Century decides to lock the restrooms again, we will provide keys; just be sure to return them to the spot where you picked them up.

Don’t Like Stairs?

If you park on Level 2 there are seven steps to negotiate to get to and from the club and that’s a challenge for some of our players. If you’re driving, you can park in one of the handicapped spaces if you have a permit; they are on the right as you pull into the lot. Or you can park on Level 6 and take the elevator or ramps down to Level 2 in the building using no stairs.

Upcoming Tournaments

There are a lot of tournaments scheduled in Illinois and adjoining states for April and May 2026. The list below is for Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Iowa and Missouri, but if you’re interested in tournament play farther afield, check the additional listings at: http://tournaments.acbl.org/. 

5. NLM (Non-Life Master) Spring Sectional
   • April 4, Bloomington, IL
5. Springfield Local Sectional
   • April 9-11, Springfield, MO
5. Appleton Spring Sectional
   • April 9-11, Appleton, WI
5. 2026 United States Bridge Championship (pre-reg required)
   • April 13-30, Schaumburg, IL
5. Spring Festival Sectional
   • April 17-18, Urbandale, IA
5. Mount Pleasant Spring Sectional
   • April 24-25, Mount Pleasant, IA
5. Spring Sectional
   • April 30 – May 2, Kansas City, MO
5. Indianapolis Spring Sectional
   • May 1-3, Indianapolis, IN
5. District 13 Spring Sectional
   • May 4-8, Middleton, WI
5. De Pere Sectional
   • May 13-15, De Pere, WI
5. The “Champagne” Regional Tournament
   • May 20-24, Champaign, IL
5. St. Louis Senior Olympics (Other)
   • Olivette, MO

ACBL Rank Advancers

Congratulations to these CDB club members and friends who advanced in rank, based on the latest information from the ACBL:

5. Junior Master: Joseph Rickert
5. Club Master: Steven Hopkins
5. Regional Master: Zeyu Wang
5. NACBL Masters: Richard Greenthal and Colin Hall

Player Achievements

Congratulations to these players for success in face-to-face games held at the club in March!

Congratulations to these players for their achievements at tournaments in March

Here’s the second article from Matthew Dyer about two former CDB players doing very well at the NABC in St. Louis:

                          Steve Strong and Nick Evens place 2nd in NAP-B
A pair from the Denver/Boulder area, whom you many recognize, placed second in the North American Pairs Flight B at the recent NABC tournament in St. Louis. Nick Evens received an MBA from the University of Chicago and Steve Strong was a postdoc in physical chemistry in the 2017-2020 era. Both were regulars at our evening bridge games and benefitted from playing against our pool of strong players.

Even though they’re both busy professionals who don't have much time to practice, the shared experience of playing together led to their success. (Including thinking "What would Matthew do?" which is not just "bid", but "bid with a purpose," plus having complete trust in your partner.)

I'm very proud of Steve and Nick for this accomplishment. Their story is an example of something CDB does better than most clubs - nurturing up-and-coming players and creating an environment in which experimenting and sometimes getting it wrong leads to learning. We now have a large group of CDB players, at all levels, who have the potential to reach Steve and Nick’s level if they keep playing and learning.

Here’s a photo:

Oops! – that’s Stevie Nicks. These are the guys (Steve on the right, Nick on the left):

Sorry for the longer than usual newsletter this month, but we hope you’ll find the additional information to be helpful. If you have any CDB-related news or photos you’d like to share in next month’s newsletter, please send them to chicagoduplicatebridge@gmail.com and patmiller@me.com. We look forward to seeing you often at our bridge tables in April and beyond!

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