October 2009 - 7

Letters to the Editor

brilliant husband, but most important
a caring, loving friend. From playing
with Izzy Cohen to Nick Nickell,
Dick was always a winner.
ARTHUR ROBINSON
Villanova PA

Vesuvius. The game needs the
Hideous Hogs! Cherish them.
ROB KISCHUK
Allanburg ON

One of each

To the Editor:
During the 2009 Summer NABC in
Washington DC, an event was taking
place upstairs at the Marriott that
some people may have missed. It was
the second Youth North American
Bridge Championships. The event
brought youth players together to
compete for trophies and scholarships.
Between sessions, we had two guest
speakers: astronaut Greg Johnson and
Microsoft founder Bill Gates. We are
truly grateful for the time they took
to speak and encourage the kids in
this great game.
We hope to have as much great success with the third Youth NABC next
summer in New Orleans.
BRYAN DELFS
2009 ACBL Junior Advocate
Kenosha WI

To the Editor:
At the New York (Manhattan) Regional this year, on board four of the
Open Pairs, I was dealt 18 high-card
points and was surprised to see my
partner open the bidding with 2NT.
It turned out he had 22 HCP. I was
curious to compute the probability of
East-West being dealt all 40 HCP.
It turns out to be about one chance
in two million. It would be about
one chance in one million for either
North-South or East-West to be dealt
all the honors on a particular deal.
One of the players at my local club
said that he is still awaiting a hand
with exactly one card of each rank.
The probability that he will get that
hand on a particular deal is about 1 in
9500. Any avid bridge player should
eventually experience this event, but
may not notice it!
STEPHEN KLEINMAN
White Plains NY

Let 'em rant
To the Editor:
In his article, Walter Bingham
(August, page 55) wrote about a local
hot shot who erupted at the table and
ruined the experience.
My view is that having a few of
these blusterers in a game can be
deliciously entertaining.
About 10 years ago, Tom Shannon
and I were newcomers playing
against the local hothead expert. Mr.
Hothead bid himself up to 6NT and
was doubled by Tom on his left.
Hothead turned red, looked at Tom
and said, "Do you know who I am?!"
Tom replied, "Yes - and do you
know how many aces I have?"
After chalking up a certain bottom,
Hothead fumed off, muttering about
being "fixed by neophytes." We were
thrilled and amused beyond measure.
This is one of my favorite bridge
memories, all thanks to our own
October 2009

Fun in DC

No X, please
To the Editor:
In his letter in the July issue (page
8) Kevin Strangway advocated
leaving the Swiss events as they are
because he likes playing up in the
A/X flight. Why don't we get rid of
the "X" and just have everyone play
everyone, seeding the event in the
first round? That way, it's completely
fair, everyone has a chance to win
their stratum and perhaps an overall
award versus the top guns.
CHRIS HASNEY
Hereford AZ

Eye of the beholder
To the Editor:
In view of the average age of
ACBL members, the fact that some
bridge players have less-than-perfect
eyesight and the fact that some clubs
situate some tables in less-thanoptimum lighting, it is amazing to
me that the ACBL continues to have
spades and clubs both black, and
hearts and diamonds both red.
It would seem to be an easy and

painless change to lighten the clubs,
perhaps to gray, and the diamonds,
perhaps to light orange. I want to win
or lose because I saw the cards correctly, not because I or my opponents
inadvertently mixed a diamond in
with the hearts.
LILLIAN RANGE
New Orleans LA

Broken record
To the Editor:
I recently played at a duplicate
game in Norcross GA in the Atlanta
area. There were eight tables, four
boards per round.
At one table, the contract on each
board was 2, with three different
declarers. Results were plus 110, 140,
170 and 200 for East-West. I wish I
could tell you that East-West made
two, three, four and five, but it did
not happen. The 200 came from two
down vulnerable.
I wonder what the odds of that happening might be.
HERB LEHMAN
Duluth GA

Quality versus quantity
To the Editor:
I am Silver Life Master and I am
upset with the ACBL for two reasons:
(1) allowing massive masterpoints to
be awarded at the club level and (2)
the diminishment of the rank of Life
Master.
I started playing in the Eighties.
At that time, there were three colors,
and it was an achievement (first or
second in sections or in the overalls
at regionals) to obtain gold points.
I understand the need for silver
points - to bolster local unit play,
but what the ACBL is allowing - a
player with any ability can become a 
Letters to the editor are welcome
by regular mail, e-mail editor@acbl.
org or fax 901-398-7754. Brevity is
considered a virtue, as is subject
matter with relevance to a majority
of ACBL members. Unsigned letters
are not considered for publication,
so please include your name and
hometown. Letters may be edited.
All letters will receive a response.

7
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of October 2009
