March 2021 - 25

~SILVER SECTIONALS AT SEA~
BRITISH ISLES CRUISE

Eyes behind the mask
W

e bridge players miss the joy and laughter of the club, big and small humor,
humanistic care, delicious snacks, as well as high fives and hugs.
Before the virtual clubs were established, I was extremely bored and started
teaching bridge to my 5-year-old grandson, Kevin. I didn't expect him to become
addicted to bridge. He likes to read convention cards and knows every symbol
and meaning.
I miss my Wednesday partner Lynn Gurnee and my Thursday partner Carla
Francis. I remember their good playing skills clearly, but I almost forget their
smiling faces. We all long to see each other at the bridge club.
Playing online in BBO virtual club games made me learn how to rewrite my profile, how to post my convention card and how to navigate the bidding process. I
learned how to look back at the card
that was last played and how to check
the results at other tables. I have
learned the etiquette, as well as how
to invite partners and find other clubs.
I am eager for a vaccine so we can
get back to the club soon.
A Sectional Master from Union City
CA, Houpei Wei plays at the Redwood
Bridge Center and Contra Costa
Bridge Center.
Houpei Wei and grandson Kevin
learning bridge

VOLUNTEER

continued from page 11
inefficient or dumb. His primary attribute is he gets stuff done. "
Whipple has been getting things
done for the bridge world for a long
time. He launched The Common
Game in 2012, a free service that
provides a common set of deals for
participating clubs to use in simultaneous games. That served as the foundation for several spinoff projects. Fast
Results, initially a precursor to ACBL
Live, provides automated daily bulletins to districts for their regionals.
Big Team, a new one in the works, will
facilitate running Swiss team games.
All of these fall under Bridge Finesse, a
company that links Whipple's products. Their common goal, as Whipple
describes it: " working with the ACBL

and solving problems they didn't feel
like dealing with at the time. "
Whatever he's working on,
Whipple aims to create an environment where other people can thrive;
he says that has been the key to his
success.
Colleagues describe Whipple as
brilliant and tireless; to Kimberly,
he's " one of the smartest and most
determined men I have ever known. "
Whipple started his business, from
which he has long since " retired, "
in 1978, when he was 22. Now, at
64, he's still grinding along with the
energy of a 22-year-old at a startup.
That's how Ivatury, who has been
involved with enough tech startups
to know, sees Whipple. " If I were to
do another startup, he's the kind of
partner I would want. "

with Barnet Shenkin & Maggie Shenkin
August 13, - 27, 2021
Onboard 6 Star Crystal Serenity
BARNET SHENKIN
Grand National Teams Winner 2004
World Class Player, Bridge Teacher & Author
Winner UK, USA, & Scotland
25 National Championships
2 World Invitationals
Author " Playing With The Bridge Legends "
www.shenkinbridge.com

MAGGIE SHENKIN
Certified ACBL Director & Teacher
Winner of the Scottish Cup & Portland Pairs
www.shenkinbridge.com

Ports of Call: London (Dover), St. Peter Port, Guernsey; Cork,
Waterford, Holyhead, Liverpool, Dublin, Belfast (Overnight),
Oban, Kirkwall, Edinburgh (Overnight), At Sea, London (Dover)

BLACK SEA INTENSIVE VOYAGE
with Alan & Debbie Gailfus

September 14 - 28, 2021
Onboard the 5 Star Azamara Pursuit

DEBBIE & ALAN GAILFUS
Platinum Life Masters &
ACBL Certified Bridge
Instructor & Director

Ports of Call: Athens/Pireaus, Kusadasi/Ephesus, Cengelkoy,
Turkey; Varna, Bulgaria; Constanta, Romania; Odessa, Ukraine;
Sochi, Russia; Batumi, Georgia; Sinop, Turkey; Istanbul
(Overnight), Turkey; Athens/Pireaus.

LIGHTHOUSES AND LEAVES
NEW YORK TO MONTREAL
with Eric Rodwell & Marjorie Michelin

October 14 - 24, 2021
Onboard the All-Inclusive Regent Navigator

ERIC RODWELL
WORLD CHAMPION

Member ACBL Hall of Fame
ACBL Player of the Year
Barry Crane Top 500
Fishbein Trophy
Herman Trophy
Goren Trophy

MARJORIE MICHELIN

Grand Life Master,
Spring 2020 WBF Online
Champion, Certified ACBL
Bridge Instructor
Ports of Call: New York, Newport, Boston, Bar Harbor, St. John,
Sydney, Sept-Iles, Quebec City (overnight), Montreal

SUNNY FESTIVITIES CARIBBEAN HOLIDAY
Featuring Barnet Shenkin & Maggie Shenkin
December 23, 2021 - January 4, 2022
Onboard 5 Star Oceania Cruises' Riviera

BARNET SHENKIN
Grand National Teams Winner 2004
World Class Player, Bridge Teacher & Author
Winner UK, USA, & Scotland
25 National Championships
2 World Invitationals
Author " Playing With The Bridge Legends "
www.shenkinbridge.com

MAGGIE SHENKIN
Certified ACBL Director & Teacher
Winner of the Scottish Cup & Portland Pairs
www.shenkinbridge.com

Ports of Call: Miami, At Sea (2), Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao,
Grenada, Barbados, Guadalope, St Maarten, At Sea (2), Miami

Liz Nixon's World of
Cruise & Travel
888-400-CRUZ (2789)
www.liznixonsworldoftravel.com

An Independent Affiliate of Montecito Village Travel CST 2019108-10

Exclusive! Must be booked through Liz Nixon's World of Cruise & Travel

March 2021 | Bridge Bulletin | 25

http://www.shenkinbridge.com http://www.shenkinbridge.com http://www.shenkinbridge.com http://www.shenkinbridge.com http://www.liznixonsworldoftravel.com

March 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of March 2021