November 2012 - 7

Letters to the Editor

Essential reading
To the Editor:
Kudos to Leslie Shafer on her article
"The art of making a claim" in the August issue (page 42). As a player (and
director) with many years of experience, claims give me more grief than
any other issue. Leslie's bullets under
"reasons to claim" absolutely hit the
nail on the head. I do hope all players
read the article, which I plan to post
at my club.
STEPHEN POPHAM
Sebring FL

and the like). It is almost certainly the
most natural bidding system in use
anywhere in the world today, certainly far more natural than any current
version of Standard American. In
what other system, for example, does
opening in clubs at any level promise
clubs? Far from being proscribed, it
is perfectly legal at all levels of ACBL
competition and is regularly played
and enjoyed by a relatively widespread following.
ERIC LANDAU
Silver Spring MD

Roll on

A friend to bridge

To the Editor:
I recently called my friend, Carl
Huber Jr., to see if he could play in
a sectional. He said he was going to
a bowling tournament. I asked him,
"Are 200 games easier in bowling than
at bridge?"
Carl averages better than 200 in
bowling and gave a great answer:
"Of course 200 games are easier in
bowling. There are no defenders, and
you're competing only against the
lane conditions. The other bowlers
are not able to reduce your score by
their success."
LYNN HARRIS
Mechanicsburg PA

Not banned
To the Editor:
I am writing to correct an incidental
misstatement that appeared in the letter from Les McCracken in the August
issue (page 6), lest it cause considerable consternation among many of
your readers. In his letter, Mr. McCracken refers to "proscribed methods such as Every Hand an Adventure
(EHAA)." He is in error.
EHAA is a well-established system
with a 50-year-plus pedigree and a
substantial following throughout the
ACBL and internationally. It is based
on the Fifties-era Goren system and
is extremely old-fashioned by modern
standards (four-card majors, 2/1 responses that do not guarantee a rebid,

To the Editor:
I am writing to tell you about an
ACBL member with significant influence in bridge and outside our sport
- Virginia (Ginny) Noelke of San
Angelo TX.
Ginny taught history at San Angelo
State University for 40 years and has
written several books on San Angelo
and the surrounding West Texas areas. She has also published a pictorial
history of the area.
Even more impressive, she was the
chairperson for the Citizens Stamp
Advisory Committee, which decided
on subjects - including people - for
U.S. postage stamps.
In bridge, Ginny teaches newcomers and intermediate players. She is
a certified director and a Gold Life
Master, but she is always willing to
play with anyone. I've never heard her
criticize or belittle a newcomer. She
makes new players want to play like
her and with her.
When I was a new player, she asked
me to play. I accepted, of course,
and was certain I had attained a new
status in the bridge world: Playing
with Ginny! Then the nerves set in.
During the game, she was supportive
and encouraging. Somehow, I made it
through the session.
When it was over, she informed me
that we had a 71% game. Trying not
to let her see I wasn't aware of what
she was talking about, I said, "Oh,
that's nice." She laughed and said, "I

can count my 70% games on one hand,
and she says, 'Oh, that's nice.'
Ginny plays in tournaments all over
the country. If you have a chance,
introduce yourself. You'll like her as
much as I do.
HELEN BARKER
San Angelo TX

Not so remarkable
To the Editor:
I enjoy David Bird's Bridge with the
Abbot because the Abbot usually gets
his comeuppance. In the August issue
(page 58), however, not only did he
boast of his "remarkable card play,"
no mention was made of the simple
way he could have been set. It was
not the double that was unlucky, it
was the defense. This was the entire
deal (South plays in 4ࡕ doubled):
ࡕ53
ࡖQ4
ࡗ A 10 7 5
ࡔ 10 8 6 5 3
ࡕ A J 10 9 7
ࡕ-
N
ࡖJ93
ࡖ 10 8 6 5 2
W E
ࡗKQJ9
ࡗ8632
S
ࡔ2
ࡔKQJ9
ࡕKQ8642
ࡖAK7
ࡗ4
ࡔA74
Now I grant you that this might not
be obvious, but in an effort to cut
down on dummy's ruffing value, had
Grace (West) decided to lead the ࡕA
and the ࡕJ on the first two tricks, the
Abbot would be cursing his own luck.
He would no longer have the entries
to eliminate the diamonds from
Grace's hand, and she would be able
to pitch a diamond when her part- ➤
Letters to the editor are welcome
by regular mail, email editor@acbl.
org or fax 662-253-3187. 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.
November 2012 Bridge Bulletin

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of November 2012