May 2018 - 7

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Thanks, columnists

I must express my gratitude for your
having such wonderful people to write
monthly columns in your magazine. I
feel you really get your money's worth
when you have access to people like
Eddie Kantar and Marty Bergen to
name a few. I have written them with
questions and they write back right
away.
In the February issue (pg. 16), it
was nice to see the photo of the Team
Lavazza in such good shape. They
certainly don't look like they spend
all their time sitting around playing
bridge. It is inspiring that we can live
full lives that include things other than
bridge. Keep up the good work.
CAROL KATO
Eagle Point OR

Crime story

Kudos to Bill Buttle, the Bridge Bulletin cartoonist! The February 2018
issue cartoon of the crime-scene table
was one of his best.
I cut it out and framed it because my
partner always says my bidding is a
crime!
JOYCE KLEIN
Tamarac FL

Now hear this

I think it is time to address some
age-related problems at the table. It
has long been an annoyance to me
that I must try harder every year to
avoid hearing results and discussion
of results taking place at other tables.
As the bridge community ages, these
discussions seem to get louder (apparently faster than the age-related
deterioration of my own hearing).
I find it even more annoying when
this occurs at my own table and continues even after I ask that discussion

Letters to the Editor

cease. I am tired of hearing "Bid 4♥?
Made six for 680," or "Was that 1470
or 1460?" or "If I had gotten a spade
lead, I ..." and so on. I have one partner
who has super hearing and often gets
annoyed looks when she asks another
table to stop discussing hands. I find it
more effective to just ask, "What board
number was that?"
A second problem is missed Alerts
and Announcements. I have observed
many missed Alerts because the
Alerter disregarded his responsibility
to ensure that everyone is aware. The
same problem exists for Announcements. Even people who religiously
used the Stop card (or used to, anyway,
before it was mercifully banned) never
touch the Alert card.
The ACBL could foster some simple
changes to alleviate both problems.
Require that the Alert card be removed
from the bidding box for all Alerts, and
require that the Alert at least be tapped
for all Announcements.
BILL BEUHLER
Hillsborough NC

Thank you, Peter

I traveled to Palmetto FL to play in
the Sarasota-Manatee Regional held
Feb. 19-25. I knew no one there, and as
a total stranger, I was very nervous and
alone.
The partnership chair, Peter Cleves,
was most gracious. Even though he was
very busy - running the partnership
desk is a hard job - he set aside time
to partner with me. Peter put my fears
at rest. He was pleasant, helpful and a
great mentor. We played together all
week.
A huge thanks to Peter, as I am most
grateful.
PATRICIA McCULLOUGH
Spring Hill FL

Mission accomplished

A few years ago, I saw Eric Rodwell
at a tournament, and I said to him,
"There is one thing that I haven't accomplished yet in bridge." When he
asked what it was, I said, "Beat you in a
knockout." He replied, "Keep trying."
So at this year's Williamsburg
Regional, I asked two opponents from
another event if they would join me
and my partner in a handicapped KO.
They agreed.
We were hoping to avoid the top
bracket, but we had no such luck. We
wound up in bracket one in a threeway match against the No. 1 and No. 3
teams.
The No. 1 team had Rodwell and
Jeff Meckstroth on it, and we actually beat them! We advanced to the
next round (they did, too), and before
the evening session, Eric came to me,
shook my hand and said, "You beat
us. You had a good game, and you won
without the handicap." (We won by a
single IMP.) Eric is such a gentleman.
I have learned a lot from his and Jeff's
lectures.
My partner, Jeff Stead, has only 220
masterpoints, and this was his first
knockout. Our teammates were J.C.
Thomas and Nancy Marshall. Our
team total was 8320 masterpoints, of
which 6200 were mine. It just goes to
show that anything can happen.
I am a retired teacher, and I play with
most anyone. Thanks to the hundreds
of partners I've had over the years. I
just love the game.
DENNIS WAYNE WICK
Greencastle PA
Letters to the editor are welcome by regular mail and email.
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. Send emails to editor@acbl.org.

May 2018 Bridge Bulletin

7
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of May 2018
