Familiar Faces, Familiar Places — Time to get back to the tables!

The future of bridge in Delaware depends on our clubs, but they are facing significant obstacles to reopening for face-to-face play. Attendance is down from pre-pandemic levels at those clubs that have reopened. Some players are playing online but are reluctant to return to the clubs in person.  Some have stopped playing altogether. The Delaware State Bridge Association (ACBL Unit 190) has started an initiative to help Delaware clubs who have novel ideas for drawing former and new players back to the clubs.  The DSBA will offer financial backing and other support for experiments by clubs intended to get them back in operation quickly. 

If you have an idea that you think will help revitalize face-to-face participation, please contact your local club or Kim Holm (kimrholm13@gmail.com), who heads the DSBA’s initiative. In the meantime, support your local club by playing there in person!

You can read more about the DSBA initiative in the minutes of the most recent DSBA Board meeting, here.

See you at the tables!

On July 22, Unit 190's own David Venetianer won the North American Online Bridge Championships (NAOBC) 0–5000 Knockout Teams event as part of team "Mr. 1700 and Friends".  In addition to David the team included Eric Gentleman (Captain), Richard Franklin (David's longtime friend and partner), Paul Holmes, AJ Stephani and Isaac Stephani.   This was a four-day knock-out event with a single match each day.  In a remarkable performance, the Mr. 1700 and Friends team never trailed in any quarter of any of their matches throughout the event. They defeated the defending champions in the final round.  Please join us in congratulating David on his victory!

Congratulations to the Winter 2021 Delaware State Champions!

Flight A: Terry Patton
Flight B: Judy Cronin and Debbie Schenkel (tie)
Flight C: Stefan Haroldsson

[photo credit for Terry with his as-yet-undelivered trophy: Kristin Haroldsdottir]

Here are the top 15 players in each flight after all 9 weeks.

Results and hand records:
Week 1 games:  Flight A, Flight B, Flight C
Week 2 games:  Flight A, Flight B, Flight C
Week 3 games:  Flight A, Flight B, Flight C
Week 4 games:  Flight A, Flight B, Flight C
Week 5 games:  Flight A, Flight B, Flight C
Week 6 games:  Flight A, Flight B, Flight C
Week 7 games:  Flight A, Flight B, Flight C
Week 8 games:  Flight A, Flight B, Flight C
Week 9 games:  Flight A, Flight B, Flight C

Selfies submitted by some of the participants

There are many resources available to assist bridge players in improving their game. Some of the best are available free and online.  This month we highlight learning resources provided by "LEARNBRIDGE.NYC".  Whether your interest is declarer play, conventions, defense, or strategy, LEARNBRIDGE.NYC can help.  Click on the link image below to go directly to their site.

More learning links are available in the library