November 2019 - 59

Advanced Players

Jan Janitschke 1947-2019
Jan Janitschke, a four-time North American Bridge
Champion, died Sept. 29. The 71-year-old Grand Life Master lived in Littleton CO.
A graduate of Colorado College with degrees in math
and music, Jan chose to make bridge his profession. In addition to teaching, mentoring and playing professionally, he
produced educational materials with bridge teacher and
close friend Norma Sands. "Mini Bridge Series," which they
co-authored, earned the American Bridge Teachers' Association's recognition as Best Book of the Year in 1992.
Playing with his younger brother, Craig Janitschke, Jan
won his first two NABC titles in 1980 - the Nail Life Master Pairs and the Grand National Teams Championship Flight (with teammates Dick Lesko and Jack Bittman).
Jan and Craig placed fourth in the 6th World Open Pairs Championship in 1982.
(Craig died in 2001.)
Jan also won the Jacoby Open Swiss in 1982 and the Baldwin North American Pairs
in 1987.
At the table, Jan was known for the depth of his analysis, his gentle demeanor and
his quick dry wit.
"I first met Jan in the late 1960s at Denver tournaments and the local rubber bridge
money games," recalls former ACBL recorder Jim Miller. "I am probably one of the
first to hear his, 'Where's the hand you held during the auction?' Jan always said this
with humor."
Denver bridge expert David Caprera says, "Jan was my bridge mentor for 40 years.
He must have been annoyed from time to time with my unending, 'You pick up ... ' but
he never showed it. He suffered from Alzheimer's, a truly terrible disease, but even as
it advanced on him, he could still play bridge and - better yet - the piano."
Bridge professional Mark Lair remembers Jan warmly. "Jan was the true personification of being really cool at and away from the bridge table. Particularly in his declarer
play, he had the talent to gear his 'poker-like' mindset two or three tricks ahead so as
to be ready for the moment, with his cards bouncing in perfect tempo to the table."
Lair says he's happy that he had opportunities to play with both Jan and Craig individually. "There was speculation as to which brother was the better player and it was
truly a photo finish - the brothers had a little different game. They were absolutely a
lethal matchup playing with each other.
"Jan was a sweet guy," Lair says, "and he definitely played better than most everybody even fairly deep into his dreadful disease. He was just that frigging naturally
good!"
Jan was an accomplished pianist and violinist, and an avid cyclist. He loved classical
piano. Early in his adult life, he worked as a rehearsal pianist for a ballet company. His
favorite composers were Chopin, Shostakovich and Prokofiev.
Jan is survived by his wife of 35 years, Bonnie Smith. A memorial and celebration of
life will be held on Sunday, Nov. 17, in Aurora CO.

Test Your Play
BY EDDIE KANTAR
kantarbridge.com

Dlr: North
Vul: None
IMPs

♠AK2
♥AJ743
♦642
♣83
♠ Q J 10 9 8 3
♥52
♦AK
♣ A Q 10

West
Pass
Pass
All Pass

North
1♥
2♠
5♦(2)

East
Pass
Pass
Pass

South
1♠
4NT (1)
6♠

(1) RKCB (1430)
(2) 0 or 3 key cards
Opening lead: ♦Q. You have a heart
loser and a possible club loser. Clearly
it is right to start with hearts, hoping
to set up the suit so you won't need the
club finesse. Accordingly, you lead a
low heart at trick two to the jack and
queen. Back comes the ♣9. Plan the
play.

Dlr: South
Vul: Both
IMPs

♠Q32
♥A5
♦AKQ7
♣ A K J 10
♠AK974
♥K74
♦62
♣Q84

After you open 1♠ and rebid the suit,
partner keycards you into 7♠. West
leads the ♥2, fourth best. Plan the play.

Solutions are on page 61.
November 2019 Bridge Bulletin

http://www.kantarbridge.com

November 2019

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of November 2019