January 2025 - 30

JUNIOR News
College programs ramping up
Mitch Dunitz recently provided an
update on the college bridge program
he helps to support through the ACBL
Educational Foundation, of which he
is the development chair.
At the end of the fall 2024 semester,
21 colleges across the U.S. had
active bridge clubs.
At New York University, eight
sessions were held, with 25 students
attending at least two sessions. Fifteen
students attended five or more sessions.
On Oct. 18, a record 29 participants
attended. There were also guest
appearances by Junior bridge players
Jacob Freeman and Cornelius Duffie.
At the University of Illinois,
they've begun to teach students concepts
such as transfers and Stayman.
The students have significantly
improved and are practicing these
conventions in games.
University of Texas has had 24
attendees so far, including 18 new
participants with a goal of encouraging
ACBL membership and participation
in local events. A core group of
10 students committed to competing
in spring qualifying tournaments and
the summer NABC.
Amherst College students are
showing a of lot enthusiasm for
the game. They will be attending a
Georgia Tech tournament and the
spring nationals. The club members
are progressing well; a leadership
transition is planned as the president
of the club nears graduation.
UC Berkeley had 10 meetings in
the fall with an average attendance
of approximately 20 students. They
anticipate greater attendance next
semester.
University of Chicago hosted
three sessions with about 10 students
per session. They focus on card play,
with plans to introduce bidding soon in
a collaborative learning environment.
Brown University started
meeting on Oct. 7. Word of mouth
is spreading with a likely uptick in
30 | Bridge Bulletin | January 2025
attendance. Half of the players are
women, promoting gender diversity.
They plan to increase outreach and
awareness in spring 2025.
At UC Davis, 40 students are
attending regularly, creating a strong
sense of club community.
They recently enjoyed a successful
trip to play at UC Berkeley.
Purdue University has another
leadership transition as its current
president graduates. They have a core
group of approximately 15 students
committed to bridge. Twelve students
attended the Indianapolis Bridge
Club, with students winning first
place in their strat.
Other participating universities
include Washington University in
St. Louis, Michigan, Georgetown,
University of Alberta, Eastern
Michigan University, Goucher, Notre
Dame, Duke, Northwestern, Georgia
Tech, Carleton College, and the
University of Virginia.
" Where will we go from here? "
asked Dunitz. " The students love the
game. The challenge is getting underclassmen
to run bridge clubs after
our 'student-teachers' graduate. "
More information and how to
donate can be found at
acbleducationalfoundation.org.
USBF Junior practice
One college not on that list but that
will be returning soon is Princeton
University. Tianyang Chen, who is
currently a graduate student studying
electrical and computer engineering,
said they are planning to relaunch soon
in preparation for the Collegiate Bridge
Bowl. Chen plays with Shen Duan, who
attends Columbia University.
" Prior to entering the U.S. in
2022, I played in China in the China
Contract Bridge Association for
more than 10 years, since I was 11
(I'm now 24), " said Chen. " I mostly
played Junior events and got several
top-three finishes in Junior
nationals and trials, with two of
Tianyang Chen of Princeton NJ
them championships (U21 in 2017
representing Beijing, and collegiate
pairs in 2019 representing Peking
University, after which tournaments
paused due to pandemic.)
Here's a board from a recent USBF
Junior practice match that earned
them a top.
Dlr: East s K Q 8 7 2
Vul: Both h J 8 4
d Q 6 2
c Q 4
s 9 4
h Q 10
d J 9 8
c A J 10 9 8 2
s J 6
h A 9 7 6 5 3
d 7 5 3
c K 5
s A 10 5 3
h K 2
d A K 10 4
c 7 6 3
West Duan East Chen
Pass
Pass 2h Pass
Pass 3h Pass
Pass 4s
1NT
2NT
3s
All Pass
" That board was a completely lucky
one as we play a 14-16 notrump, "
said Chen. " Playing 15-17 notrump
we wouldn't get there. 2NT was a
" super accept " with four spades, either
4-3-3-3 and 15+ or with a doubleton
heart and 14+, excluding hQ J tight. "
North retransferred and bid game. 2
http://www.acbleducationalfoundation.org
January 2025

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