Blog posts celebrating ACBL’s 75th Anniversary in 2012 primarily composed of republished Bridge Bulletin articles covering everything from A to Z.
Twenty-nine teams from twenty-five countries entered the first World Bridge Olympiad. Fourteen of those countries also sent women’s teams to compete simultaneously with the open series. Based on total membership of its Leagues, Sweden entered two teams and the United States entered four teams in the open series. (This method of representation was repealed and
Read more . . .
The 48 teams that entered the Vanderbilt were seeded by masterpoints into three brackets. Thursday morning a storm knocked out the Atlantic City power station causing the first matches to be delayed until Thursday evening. Most teams played their first match and half of their second at that time. However, the Fishbein team played entire
Read more . . .
The tournament began on Saturday afternoon, March 15, 1958 with 43 teams in the Commercial and Industrial Team Championship. The team representing New York Life (David Strasberg, Nicholas Zampino, Dorothy Hayden, Edward Wendt and Leo Haskell) captured the title. The Men’s Pair Championship started with a field of 202 pairs, playing two qualifying session with
Read more . . .
Three players greeted the new Spring NABC by winning their first national championships – twice. Phyllis Novak, of Shreveport, Leonard Harmon, of New York, and Ivar Stakgold, of Washington, won two national titles apiece at the Atlantic City Tournament. Novak came first by winning the Women’s Pairs with Betty Nail, of Houston on the first
Read more . . .
By Richard Frey The spectators applauded when Schenken and Rapee conducted a beautiful defense on the following deal: ♠ Q J 9 3 ♥ 6 4 ♦ J 10 6 4 ♣ 9 6 4 ♠ A 6 4 ♠ 10 8 5 2 ♥ 9 3 7 ♥ K J 2 ♦ A Q
Read more . . .
By Lew Mathe Today’s hand is a paradox in that a holdup play, or safety play, should not be made. This hand from the Intercity Match was bid and played the same way at both tables by two of the top experts. ♠ K 7 3 ♥ Q J 5 3 ♦ A 10 9
Read more . . .
By Alfred Sheinwold The difference in the style of the two cities is shown by their management of this hand: ♠ K 9 7 6 5 2 ♥ K 5 ♦ J 8 ♣ 10 8 2 ♠ J 3 ♠ 8 ♥ Q J 6 ♥ A 7 4 3 ♦ A Q 9
Read more . . .
The first Intercity Challenge Match for the Sports Illustrated Trophy was played between Los Angeles and New York at the Ambassador Hotel in L.A. on Aug. 11 and 12, 1960. The 80-board match was played in four 20-deal sessions. In what can only be classified as an upset, Los Angeles defeated New York 115 to
Read more . . .
Recently, the ACBL museum received a matchbook cover featuring Detroit Lion Ace Gutowsky Jr. The matchbook was donated by Roger Neufeldt of Norman OK and sent in by District 15 Director Phyllis Harlan. Many people are familiar with Ace’s football career, but not many know he was also a successful bridge player. On the gridiron
Read more . . .
They said it couldn’t be done. “Too much going on for a small TV screen to handle”, “They play too slow”, “They play too fast”, and a myriad of other reasons, Walter Schwimmer, producer of the hit shows Championship Bowling and All-Star Golf was undaunted. He put his top people on the job of creating
Read more . . .
The 29th annual Summer National Championships were conducted at the Penn-Sheraton Hotel, Pittsburgh PA, July 27 – Aug. 4, 1957. Attendance ran well over five thousand tables for the main body of the tournament which was equivalent to the 1956 New York tournament. John Crawford scored the biggest personal triumph of the tournament, winning both
Read more . . .
Kibitzing at a tournament is an entirely different affair than at a social game. In a tournament setting, the only good kibitzer is a silent kibitzer. A tournament kibitzer should avoid making facial expressions, watch only one player’s hand and essentially do their best to imitate an empty chair.
The kibitzer, the highest rank, is a man of experience, maturity and wisdom. He may sit behind any of the players, but may get up from his chair at any time to examine another player’s hand. The kibitzer is expected to point out how the hand should have been bid or played. If the player
Read more . . .
No masterpoints are awarded for kibitzing, no matter how skillful you are at it. Nobody keeps statistics on hours spent kibitzing or on how many great players you’ve watched. Nevertheless, there are all types of kibitzers. The first step to becoming a good kibitzer is to know the game. You don’t have to know it
Read more . . .
Doug Drury (1914-1967) was a stockbroker, bridge teacher and club owner. He served as a member of the ACBL Board of Governors and as a member of the Systems and Conventions Committee. He made his mark early as a tournament player while living in Toronto and was a three-time national champion. Drury’s national successes were
Read more . . .
Some players have complained about pre-duplicated hands since they first started appearing at national tournaments. The methods were fairly primitive in 1955. Pre-duplication at that time was done by hand by a non-bridge player. It was said that the pre-duper did not know the difference between the ace of spades and an elephant’s ear. The
Read more . . .