November 2017 - 9

CEO CORNER
BY BAHAR GIDWANI

The American Contract
Bridge League
President
Bob Heller
Chair, Board of Directors
Ken Monzingo
Chief Executive Officer
Bahar Gidwani
Chair, Board of Governors
Richard Popper

Board of Directors
District 1 * Leo Weniger
District 2 * Paul Janicki
District 3 * Carlos Muñoz
District 4 * Joann Glasson
District 5 * Sharon Fairchild
District 6 * Margot Hennings
District 7 * Bob Heller
District 8 * Georgia Heth
District 9 * Jay Whipple III
District 10 * Russ Jones
District 11 * A.J. Stephani
District 12 * Dennis Carman
District 13 * Suzi Subeck
District 14 * Sharon Anderson
District 15 * Phyllis Harlan
District 16 * Paul Cuneo
District 17 * Bonnie Bagley
District 18 * Claire Jones
District 19 * Marv Norden
District 20 * Merlin Vilhauer
District 21 * Roger Smith
District 22 * Ken Monzingo
District 23 * Kevin Lane
District 24 * Alvin Levy
District 25 * Mark Aquino
To contact a district director,
visit acbl.org/boardofdirectors.

In my "CEO Corner," I'll share some of the stories I've heard about members of
our diverse and interesting bridge community.

Meet Amanda Stewart

Amanda Stewart and I met when she sent me an email
titled "Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered." She described
an experience with tournament bridge that prompted me to
reach out to learn more.
Bahar: How long have you played? Who taught you?
Amanda: Originally British, I was living in Bahrain 10
years ago when I was taught bridge by a very good Texan
player who in turn had learned in Japan. I have lived and
played in Montreal, Brisbane, Abu Dhabi, Austin and recently, Virginia.
Bahar: What a good testimonial for the "world" nature of bridge! You said in
your letter that you had only 199 masterpoints. How many points do you think
our "average" member has?
Amanda: Well, I'd think the average would be much bigger - maybe 1500? Almost everyone seems to have so many when you go to a tournament. [Ed.: 54% of
active players have less than 200 points.]
Bahar: You told me the Bewitched part of your email heading came at your first
tournament where you won 12 gold points! The Bothered part came when you
went to a tournament without a partner?
Amanda: Yes, you see, I rang up the partnership desk in advance, and they assured me they had five or six people who might suit. They paired me with a little
old lady. I thought she'd be nice and we'd get on. My original teacher taught me
nothing could go wrong if you never lie to your partner and remember to smile.
The morning session was OK, but things started to go wrong in the afternoon. I
didn't understand my partner's version of 2/1 (surely off after interference?), and
she got rude, and I mean rude. I have heard of people calling the director on their
own partner or walking out - but that didn't seem like a good idea.
Bahar: What a shame! Any thoughts on how ACBL could prevent this?
Amanda: Perhaps there is a need for more education. Don't people realize that
being hard on your partner can affect their play?
Bahar: So what is the Bewildered part?
Amanda: Well, now I'm not sure how to handle the tournament world. Will the
next partnership desk I go to understand the difference between very good players and those of us with somewhat lower ability? Will they decipher what I do
and don't know - so I am not embarrassed again? I did try the online partnership
desk, but I couldn't figure out how to make it work.
Bahar: I hope some of our readers both sympathize with you (because it's happened to them) or empathize (and resolve to be more supportive and forgiving of
their partners). Did your difficult partner have a parting comment (and is it one
that can be printed in a family publication)?
Amanda: Yes, it was quite humorous, I think. As we left, she said, "Goodbye,
whatever your name is." I think that sums things up nicely, doesn't it?
November 2017 Bridge Bulletin

http://www.acbl.org/boardofdirectors

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of November 2017