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Toronto Conference Registration Form

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ABTA QUARTERLY PAGE 2 Winter 2011 AB
A NOTE FROM AUDREY
B
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Z[\KLU[ZPZPTWVY[HU[4HU`JVTL[V[OPZJV\YZLILJH\ZL[OL`[OPUR[OL`OH]L[V"
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ILOPUK:PUJL[OL`[OPURP[»ZHSHYNLYL]PZPVU[V^OH[[OL`»]LILLUWSH`PUN[OLYL
PZHWWYLOLUZPVU[OH[[OLYL^PSSILHSV[[VKPNLZ[(Z[LHJOLYZ^LOH]L[VMVJ\Z
VUNLULYHSJVUJLW[ZHUKKLSP]LYTH[LYPHS[OH[OHZ[OLWV[LU[PHS[VLTWV^LYHUK
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Page 2
 Baron Barclay

 Ad



 For Teachers’ Manual:
 kathy@betterbridge.com W




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11 ABTA QUARTERLY PAGE 3 Winter 2011
A MAGAZINE OF VALUE TO BOTH STUDENTS AND TEACHERS
BIDDING: Dealer: West Pass
 Vul: Both N
Pass W E Pass
S

?
♥AKJ4
 ♠—
♦AJ84
♣AKQ75
1. What’s your call?
(Pickup page 3 from 27008 [last is-
2. What would your students call?
3. What would Andrew Robson do with this hand?
sue] and change 2nd color to PMS
Every issue of AUDREY GRANT’S BETTER BRIDGE MAGAZINE brings the opinions of
279 Blue )
the experts for teachers to share with their students.
PLAY: As South, you’re the declarer after this auction:
WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH
1NT
Pass Page 3
2♣ Pass 2♠
Pass 4♠ All Pass
Baron Barclay
♠ K 10 9 7
♥K43
Ad ♦73
♣KQJ7
Lead: ♥2 ♥J
♠AJ86
♥Q65
♦AJ8
♣A94
West leads the ♥2, you play low from dummy, and East plays the ♥J.
1. Which player holds the ♥A?
2. How do you plan to avoid losing two heart tricks?
3. Which defender is dangerous?
4. How do you plan to handle the trump suit?
AUDREY GRANT’S BETTER BRIDGE MAGAZINE guides you through the play in deals
like this in the regular Playing Detective feature.
DEFENSE: Is it better to lead away from a king, a queen, or a jack?
Jerry Helms discusses the advantages and disadvantages of leading away from
various honors in his regular article in the B ETTER B RIDGE MAGAZINE.
BIDDING, PLAY, DEFENSE…a well-balanced diet of tips ready for your students in
the Better Bridge Magazine. It’s worth its weight in gold…and it’s only $29 a year!
To order magazines contact Baron Barclay:
1-800-274-2221
www.baronbarclay.com
ABTA QUARTERLY PAGE 4 Winter 2011 AB

The American Bridge Teachers’

Association Quarterly Magazine
The American Bridge Teachers’ Association Quarterly Magazine (ISSN 0891-6462) is
published quarterly by The American Bridge Teachers’ Association. Office is 490 North
Winnebago Drive, Lake Winnebago, MO 64034-9321. Annual subscription of $30 is
included in $35 annual membership dues paid to The American Bridge Teachers’
Association. Periodical postage is paid at Kansas City, MO and additional mailing offices.
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to the American Bridge Teachers’ Association
Quarterly Magazine, 490 North Winnebago Drive, Lake Winnebago, MO 64034-9321.

ABTA OFFICERS & REGIONAL DIRECTORS

Officers
President New England South Pacific
JOYCE PENN CT ME MA NH RI VT AZ CA HI NV NM UT
2800 Squires Ridge BRENDA MONTAGUE MARY ANGELA JOSEPH
Columbus, OH 43220-6201 14 Capstan Way 77440 Calle Ensenada
jpenn@columbus.rr.com Swampscott, MA 01907-1231 La Quinta, CA 92253
bestbridgeteacher@yahoo.com bridgemary@aol.com
Vice President
BRENDA SIMPSON North Pacific South Central
11725 East Glenview Circle AK CO ID MT OR WA AL LA MS TN
Spokane, WA 99206-5716 DEE BERRY REBA JERNIGAN
bsbridge@aol.com 7211 Harrow Place 3107 Colyar Drive
Arlington, WA 98223 Chattanooga, TN 37404
Recording Secretary deeandduane.berry@comcast.net rejern@aol.com
GLENNA SHANNAHAN
3026 Woods Edge Way South Atlantic Southwest
Fitchburg, WI 53711 FL GA NC SC Caribbean AR MO OK TX Ba
gkshannahan@gmail.com LINDA GREEN SANDY STEVENS G
40 Bosun Way 22111 Crossbrook Drive M
Special Officer Delray Beach, FL 33483 Katy, TX 77450-8637
Business Secretary/Treasurer irwinlinda@bellsouth.net dabbler8885@aol.com
KATHY ROLFE
490 North Winnebago Drive North Atlantic West Canada 1
Lake Winnebago, MO 64034 DE DC MD NJ NY PA VA AB BC SK P
krolfe5@comcast.net AMY NELLISSEN DELMA MURRAY T
7 Sun Watch Court 1297 Ocean View Road ph
Regional Directors Ramsey, NJ 07446 Victoria, BC V8P 1J6 Canada
amy@thebridgetable.com delmabridge@live.ca E
East Canada
MB ON PQ NB NL NS PEI
KATHIE MACNAB North Central Midwest
5 Wren Street IL IN KY MI OH WV WI IA KS MN NE ND SD WY
Halifax, NS B3M 2R1 Canada MARSHA REALL TED APPLEGATE
kmacnab@eastlink.ca 4642 NW Professional Plaza 309 West 21st Street
Columbus, OH 43220 Hays, KS 67601
mdreall@columbus.rr.com frapple@ruraltel.net AB
m
11 ABTA QUARTERLY PAGE 5 Winter 2011

TABLE OF CONTENTS
) is
President’s Message Penn 6
orth New Members Rolfe 8
0 is Book Reviews Berry 12
ers’ Master Teacher Interviews and Testing Penn 15
ces. The Singing Bridge Teacher Shafer 16
ion Software Review Simpson 18
ABTA Online Activities Sparrow 20
ABTA/Master Point Press Teacher of the
Year Award Nominations are Due Kalbfleisch 21
Looking for Mac Software for Students? Shafer 22
Don’t Get Distracted . . . Rolfe 24
UT Toronto Conference Registration Form Rolfe 26
PH 2010 Applebasket Contest Montague 28
Marketing Tool:
Fractured-Phrase-A-Week Walsh 28
A Handy Memory Aid Olson 29
Sonnets from the Portuguese Braunstein 29
ABBA Dabba Do Schuett 30
What Might Have Been Beisswenger 30

ADVERTISERS EDITOR & PUBLISHER

Baron/Barclay 2&3 RALPH “CHARLIE” WILLIAMS
Great Game Products 10 & 11 331 Market Street East #154
Master Point Press 31 & 32 Gaithersburg, MD 20878-6410
slamhand@verizon.net

1RWHWRDGYHUWLVHUVFROXPQLVWVDQGUHJXODUFRQWULEXWRUV
Please send your submissions to Charlie Williams or Leslie Shafer.
Their email is slamhand@verizon.net or they can be reached by tele-
phone at 301-977-0314. Their mailing address is 331 Market Street
anada
East #154, Gaithersburg, MD 20878-6410.

FUTURE ABTA QUARTERLY PUBLICATION DEADLINES

D WY Spring: April 15, 2011 Summer: July 15, 2011
Fall: October 15, 2011 Winter: January 15, 2012
ABTA’s motto is to help those who teach bridge to do it better -
more effectively - more knowledgeably - more professionally.
ABTA QUARTERLY PAGE 6 Winter 2011 AB

From art galleries to shopping for sp

unexpected treasures, it has an envi- se
ronment like no other! Award win- W
ning wines are produced there, it fea- an
tures innovative seasonal menus and de
is a world-class culinary location. do
by
We’ll spend the uc
day enjoying the wa
country charm of the
locale with lunch at
the Festival Theatre Th
President’s Message and take a backstage the
Joyce Penn tour. Afterwards, we’ll attend Heart- To
break House, a Bernard Shaw play str
There’s a glimmer of light shining containing “more of the miracle, en
at the end of winter’s long tunnel in more of the mystic belief than any of av
Ohio. As the spring bulbs emerge to my others,” according to Shaw. After Co
beautify my yard, many snow-birds the play, we will meet the actors and
will return, looking to beautify their hear more from them about the play.
bridge games. As we all plan our on
spring classes, I hope that you’ll take The ACBL has co
a few moments to sign up for the up- “opened up” reserva- qu
coming ABTA Conference, which tions at the Royal the
will be held in Toronto, July 19-22, Yor k, b eginning reg
2011. Monday night, July Ca
18, for our conven-
At the beginning of our Confer- ience. If you haven’t made your res-
ence, Barbara Seagram plans an en- ervation, it’s time to do so, plus send
joyable bus trip for all of us to historic your $149 check to Barbara Seagram
Niagara-on-the-Lake. The collection (220 Lawrence Ave. East, Toronto,
of buildings from the period following ON M4N 1T2, Canada) to reserve
the War of 1812, designed in the Brit- your place for the Tuesday Niagara-
ish Classical tradition, on-the-Lake trip. The bus departs at
make up part of the 9:00 am and will return around din- sem
rich history of Can- ner time. Your reservation for this sp
ada’s cultural heritage. event is needed ASAP in order to mo
This city became a procure your ticket to the play, Su
strategic military site Heartbreak House, so please don’t ne
during the war of 1812. Its buildings delay! mo
and landscape components speak to pr
the era when Niagara-on-the-Lake There are other events planned:
was a prominent and prosperous Loy- An amphibious tour of the city and
alist colonial town. dinner out Wednesday evening, with nu
11 ABTA QUARTERLY PAGE 7 Winter 2011

or special recognition of our first and Do you have a favorite class topic
vi- second time meeting attendees. that you teach? One you know your
n- Wednesday afternoon, Audrey Grant students love? Visualize the methods
ea- and David Lindop are treating us to a you use to clarify your material and
nd delicious luncheon at their private interest your students in the subject.
downtown Toronto club. Sponsored These are the ingredients for a win-
by Better Bridge, Great Game Prod- ning tip which will dazzle and enrich
he ucts and Baron Barclay, you won’t our members.
he want to miss this treat!
he Send your Applebasket submis-
at Finally, lunch on sion to Brenda Montague at
tre Thursday afternoon at bestbridgeteacher@yahoo.com
ge the beautiful CN
rt- by June 21, 2011. If you prefer to
Tower just down the
mail your submission, the snail-mail
ay street, will add to the
address is:
le, enjoyable hospitality
of available during the Brenda Montague
ter Conference. 14 Capstan Way
nd Swampscott, MA 01907-1231
y. The signup form for all events is
on pages 26 & 27 of this issue. The If you have any questions about
cost of the Thursday evening ban- the Applebasket contest, contact
quet, in the Upper Canada room at Brenda at 617-794-2243. The winner
the Royal York, is included in your of the contest receives a beautiful
registration fee. Remember that non- crystal apple and our appreciation!
Canadians will need a passport to The winning tip will be published in
enter and leave the Summer Quarterly magazine.
es- Canada. Drivers’
nd licenses are no
am
ABTA web site:
longer an acceptable
to, means of identifica-
www.abtahome.com
ve tion at the border. Stay updated by checking our
ra- site regularly. If you would like
at Amy and Steve Nellissen are as- your name to be linked to email
n- sembling a star-studded lineup of on the members page, please send
his speakers to appear from Wednesday your permission to our web mas-
to morning through Friday noon at our ter, Luise Lee at:
ay, Summer Toronto Conference. The webmaster@
n’t next issue of the Quarterly will have abtahome.com
more specifics about this wonderful
program. Our thanks to Michael Nistler
ed: for all his hard work as our
nd Please consider entering our an- previous ABTA webmaster.
ith nual Applebasket Contest this year.
ABTA QUARTERLY PAGE 8 Winter 2011 AB

New Members
M
17
Jane Armstrong Ray Parnell Ca
24 Crestwood Circle 9380 Rachel Drive m
Sugarland, TX 77478-2393 Wonder Lake, IL 60097 Ka
littlebit9@windstream.net ray@parnellfam.com 29
Ea
Patricia Banks Nancy Patch
410 West 106th Street br
Once Bridle Court
Los Angeles, CA 90003 Potomac, MD 20854 Ja
stephpat@att.net nanalex51@hotmail.com 50
M
Al Bleich Glenna M. Richardson ric
6676 Newpenny Lane 307 Beechgrove Drive
Ocean Isle Beach, NC 28469-7316 West Hill, ON M1E 4A2 Di
Canada 36
Rose Bleich Oc
glennarichardson@rogers.com
6676 Newpenny Lane ro
Ocean Isle Beach, NC 28469-7316 Loyce G. Rubin Su
Janet E. Corkum 5200 Keller Springs Road, #632 32
15 Langbrae Drive, #404 Dallas, TX 75248-2744 Go
Halifax, NS B3M 3W5 Canada loycerubin@tx.rr.com su
jcorkum@eastlink.ca Jeffrey Schuett M
Naomi Fruitman 1071 Oakhurst Lane 80
3181 Bayview Avenue, Apt. 901 Riverwoods, IL 60015-2515 Co
Toronto, ON M2K 2Y2 Canada jgschuett2@comcast.net wo
fruitman.2000@rogers.com
Pat Smith
Shauneen Hutchinson 15822 West Roanoke Avenue
Ja
4576 Park Lake Drive Goodyear, AZ 85395
76
Kiawah Island, SC 29455 Ea
Mary Jane Walcroft
shauneen@comcast.net jd
54 Thomas Drive
Gordon Markham Collingwood, ON L9Y 0A6 El
25253 South Flame Tree Drive Canada 54
Sun Lakes, AZ 85248-7931 De
Marie E. Wiley
ell
Gerard P. Mueller 4-665 Commissioners Road West
2804 SE Dune Drive London, ON N6K 4Y2 Ca
Stuart, FL 34996-1932 Canada P.
gerard-mueller@att.net mewiley@rogers.com Pe
ca
11 ABTA QUARTERLY
Reinstated
Mary Lattan-Shaw
17255 Cottonwood Lane
Carlinville, IL 62626
mlatten@frontiernet.net
Katherine Pollock
298 Wood Acres Drive
East Amherst, NY 14051-1640
bridgekat@gmail.com
James Richart
5083 West Thistlepoppy Loop
Marana, AZ 85658-4051
richart@comcast.net
Dini Romito
36227 Taylor Drive
Ocean View, DE 19970
romitodini@aol.com
Sue Ellen Woodard
3289 Snead Drive
Goodyear, AZ 85395-8555
suew@aol.com
Marijan Word
80 Oakview Drive
Covington, GA 30016-4390
wordmew@aol.com
Email Changes
Jane De Briyan
7679 Tred Avon Circle
Easton, MD 21601-8163
jdeb@gmail.com
Ellen Dutcher
54 Upper Rainbow Trail
Denville, NJ 07834-3320
ellendutcher1@verizon.net
Carol Lee Erback
P.O. Box 446
Pearce, AZ 85625-0446
carol@crazyedoptical.com
PAGE 9 Winter 2011
Herb Kester
212 Sunset Bay Court
Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33418-4585
kpiesrh@aol.com
Joe D. Phillips
Welcome!
576 Stable Street
Pataskala, OH 43062
jphill300@gmail.com
Address Changes
Tom Henson
475 Wesauking Drive
Towanda, PA 18848-7546
henson@epix.net
Mary Angela Joseph
77440 Calle Ensenada
La Quinta, CA 92253
bridgemary@aol.com
Lilian Mathers
Room #1, Ballycliffe Lodge
70 Station Street
Ajax, ON L1S 1R9 Canada
harlilma@cabletv.on.ca
Marsha Reall
4642 NW Professional Plaza
Columbus, OH 43220
mdreall@columbus.rr.com
Spread the Word!!
Recruitment of new members
should be a priority for everyone in
our organization. You can download
a membership form for your friends
from our website. There is a supply
of back issues of the Quarterly avail-
able if you are planning a teacher’s
workshop in your area.
Make it your goal to recruit at
least one new member this year!
 Great companion for students taking a
bridge course, but detailed enough
to stand alone ! !
Introduction to Bridge - Play & Learn
with Pat Harrington
Windows only (Lessons 1-6) / (Lessons 7-13)
2000 / XP /
Vista / 7
Special Introductory Price
Retail $34.95 (ABTA Price $17.50)
(Now available for Macintosh)
• Software of the Year: 2009-Lessons 1-6; 2010-Lessons 7-13
• Teaches both bidding, play and paced appropriately for beginners
• Lessons teach the mechanics, trick taking, and provide the background for
bidding
• Lessons teach opening bids and their responses
• Quizzes to reinforce your understanding
• Provides an extensive glossary and reference section
• Includes carefully crafted instructional deals, and BONUS practice hands
• Presented in an easy-to-use, interactive format.

LEARN AND PRACTICE BIDDING CONVENTIONS

Based on the WINNER OF THE 2007 ABTA SOFTWARE OF THE YEAR
• Help your students learn up to 7 different conventions
• Ideal for students looking to learn a new convention
• Perfect for students to help refine and practice their
understanding of a convention they already know
• Student will learn both the introductory aspects of a
convention and its complicated subtleties and
Windows
continuations
95/98/2000/Me/
XP/Vista Only Volume 2 – Basic Conventions
Not available for the Blackwood • Takeout Doubles • Strong 2C • Preempts
Macintosh Stayman • Jacoby Transfers • Weak Two-Bids
Retail: $29.95 Volume 3 – More Basic Conventions
ABTA Price: $15.00 Unusual 2NT • Splinters • Michaels • Limit Major Raises
Forcing 1NT • Jacoby 2NT • Negative Double

To Order
Call Cindy: 1-800-426-3748 or Fax Cindy: 301-765-8004
Email: sales@ggp.co or sales@bridgebaron.com
 Learn to Play Bridge
with Audrey Grant
Bridge Basics 1
Available in English only
(Windows only – Mac available shortly)
Retail: $34.95 Windows Vista / XP / 7
ABTA Price $24.95
Learn to Play Bridge with Audrey Grant - Bridge Basics 1
has a host of features, including these:
• This program is designed for the absolute beginner. The material is
presented in a clear, well-organized format, moving smoothly from
one topic to the next. It's based on the most up-to-date information
the game has to offer.
• A sound track that accompanies the lesson material, allowing you to
focus on the hands and the graphics.
• Interactive quizzes that let you review what you have learned and
track your progress.
• Practice deals - you'll play with skilled robots to help you develop
good card play techniques.
• Interactive quizzes that let you review what you have learned and
track your progress.

Bridge Baron 21
Bridge Baron is now available for the
iPhone/iPod ($19.99)
Available in English (Windows/Mac)
Français (Windows/Mac), and
Deutsch (Windows/Mac)
Windows Vista / XP / 2000 / 7
Retail: $64.95
Macintosh/iMac/MacOS : Universal Mac OS X
ABTA Price $32.45
application, requires OS 10.4 or later
• We have made the double-dummy search faster.
• We have improved the bidding and play.
• We have revised the opening screen to make it more powerful.
• We have improved the program's functionality for the visually
impaired.
• On the Mac, we have added a toolbar for easy access to common
functions, such as getting a hint or taking back a bid or play. 
Website: www.GreatGameProducts.com
ABTA QUARTERLY PAGE 12 Winter 2011 AB

in
Book Reviews ca
By Dee Berry, Washington co
gr
an
Breaking the Bridge Rules This is an excep-
er
First Hand Play tionally enjoyable book
dr
By Barry Rigal, ©2010 to read and would also make a won-
derful gift for favorite partners.
This is the first book of a planned Available from Master Point Press, ca
four-book series on more advanced Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M
card play by Barry Rigal, profes- www.masterpointpress.com C
sional bridge writer and commenta- The book retails for $17.95 US or
tor. The 174 page soft-cover book is $19.95 CDN. fo
dedicated to the situations where fol-
lowing the adages that bridge players
are taught would lead to defeat. Out of Hand…
And Off the Fairway D
Bridge teachers will find this a The Humorous Side
great addition to their libraries and of Bridge and Golf
their own playing skill will benefit By Bill Buttle, ©2010
from it. However, as a teaching tool th
this book is heads above the level of Need a smile, a giggle, or an out- be
any students this writer has ever had. right laugh about the games of bridge ci
and golf? Bill Buttle has delivered all w
“Making the wrong move at the of these in a compact soft-cover vol- at
right time!” is truly an intriguing ume. Buttle, a Canadian, is a former su
concept and Rigal delves into it from dentist whose cartoons appear in It
the standpoint of defenders and de- syndicated newspapers throughout fin
clarers, both on the initial trick and Canada and also in the ACBL Bulle- “A
on subsequent plays. tin. M
ec
The book’s five chapters high- “People are amusing,” Buttle says us
light opening leads (spotlighting in his introduction, “and bridge play-
deceptive plays), unusual plays from ers punch well above their weight
honors (such as leading low from a when it comes to in
doubleton honor), neutralizing the the quirks and ec- on
opponents’ weapons (by “timing the centricities that are qu
duck” and knowing unusual percent- fodder for the pen.” en
age plays) and deceptive play when “Alongside bridge, A
leading to a trick. It also includes golf is the other ea
deceptive play by declarer (including great leveler, as su
discovery plays, “tempting the pastimes go, and consequently a ter- D
cover” and vanishing trump tricks). rific source of cartoons,” says his do
011 ABTA QUARTERLY PAGE 13 Winter 2011

introduction to the second half’s golf Bird points out that the purpose
cartoons. He refers to the “hypnotic of signaling is not to “tell partner
compulsion, wherever grass grows, of what to do” but rather says some-
grown men and women to batter ego thing about your own
and earth swatting at a small ball in an 13 cards to assist part-
erratic and blasphemous attempt to ner in his defense. “In
drop it down a hole in the ground.” military terms, think
n-
of your signal as a
rs. The soft-cover volume, with many message from a recon-
ss, cartoons in color, is available from naissance patrol, not
Master Point Press, Toronto, Ontario, as an order to be fol-
Canada, lowed,” Bird sug-
or www.masterpointpress.com gests—a wonderful phrase for
for $12.95 US or $14.95 CDN. bridge teachers to use.
The author discusses uses of the
Defensive Signaling at Bridge high-low signal in the trump suit
which traditionally showed a third
By David Bird, ©2010 trump (the trump echo) and in
Bridge teachers and many partnerships also showed a
their students will desire to trump something. “Many
ut- benefit from this con- players now believe that it is more
ge cise, well-written book useful to pass a suit preference
all which favors standard message in this context,” Bird says
ol- attitude, count and and then gives examples to illus-
er suit-preference signals. trate that usage.
in It also includes in the
The book’s format could easily
ut final chapters such
be used as a series of eight to ten
e- “Alternative Signaling
lessons, with sufficient example
Methods” as Smith
hands for the instruction, and the
echo, as well as signals
ys quiz hands could then be used for
used by eight world-class pairs.
y- the play segment of the lesson.
ht The 240-page softcover volume Defensive Signaling at Bridge is
to includes many usable hands for lessons a great addendum to Bird’s list of
c- on defense as well as six-question more than 100 books. It retails at
re quizzes (and of course, answers) at the $19.95 US or $21.95 CDN, with
n.” end of each of the first nine chapters. quantity discounts available from
ge, Attitude, count and suit preference the publisher, Master Point Press,
er each have separate chapters targeting Toronto, Ontario, Canada,
as suit contracts and notrump contracts.
er- www.masterpointpress.com
Discarding rates a separate chapter as
his does signaling with an honor. (Continued on page 14)
ABTA QUARTERLY PAGE 14 Winter 2011 AB

(Continued from page 13) the Unusual Notrump, Balancing,

Lead-directing doubles, DONT Over- M
The Pocket Guide to
Bridge Conventions calls of 1NT and Cappelletti Over
You Should Know 1NT).
By Barbara Seagram The book retails for $9.95 US and fo
and Marc Smith CDN. Quantity discounts are avail- m
According to the back cover of able from the publisher, Master Point to
this pocket guide, Seagram and Press, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, te
Smith’s 25 Bridge Conventions You www.masterpointpress.com
Should Know, published in 1996
“has gone on to become the best-
Last Call for ABTA
selling bridge book since Charles
Book or Software
Goren was writing.” This Pocket of the Year Submissions
Guide presents the material from that By Maggie Sparrow, Ontario an
book in a 7¼ by 4¼" 72-page book- tio
The ABTA Book and Software
let. Seagram (Toronto, Canada) and te
Committee is still accepting submis-
Smith (England) are among their pr
sions for this year’s awards.
countries’ most prolific and well- m
known authors. The Deadline is pl
May 1, 2011 is
The contents are divided into
seven sections: Notrump Auctions The awards will be presented at
(Jacoby & Texas, Stayman), Major the ABTA Conference in Toronto, yo
Suit Auctions (Jacoby 2NT, Splin- July 20-22, 2011. sta
ters, Cuebid Raises, Reverse Drury The categories for awards are the sim
and Help Suit Game Tries), Slam following: th
Bidding (Blackwood and Gerber,
• Best beginner/novice book of the
Roman Keycard Blackwood, Con-
year;
trol-Showing Cuebids and Grand
Slam Force), Conventional Opening • Best intermediate/advanced
Bids (Strong 2♣ and Weak Two- book of the year; and
• Best software of the year of Tu
Bids), Con-
value to teachers/students. pr
structive Auc-
en
tions (Fourth If you have material which you su
Suit Forcing, would like considered this year,
New Minor please contact me for the addresses
Forcing and of the committee members at:
Reverses), When Opponents Com-
pete (Lebensohl and Negative Dou- msparrow@csolve.net
bles), When Opponents Open the Updates of existing books and
Bidding (Takeout Doubles, Respon- software, unless substantially differ-
sive Doubles, Michaels Cuebids & ent, are ineligible for awards.
011 ABTA QUARTERLY
ng,
er- Master Teacher Interviews and Testing
ver By Joyce Penn, Ohio
Every year, candidates applying
nd for Master Teacher accreditation, sub-
il- mit letters of intent immediately prior
int to the ABTA Conference. During the
testing process at the Conference, ap-
plicants dem-
onstrate their
teaching skills,
discuss teach-
ing techniques
and philosophy, answer bridge ques-
tions (both written and oral) and at-
re
tempt to solve a pre-assigned bridge
s-
problem. The pre-assigned problem
may be discussed with an expert
player if the applicant wishes, but that
is not a requirement.
at
If you are interested in submitting
o, your application for Master Teacher
status, you can view several problems
he similar to those included in the test at
the following link:
he http://www.abtahome.com/abta/
Master_Teachers_Illustrative_
Hands.htm
Interviews will be conducted on
Tuesday, July 19, 2011, immediately
preceding the Toronto ABTA Confer-
ence. Applications for testing must be
ou submitted to:
ar,
Betty Starzec, Chairman
es 1414 Forest Bend Drive
Sugarland, TX 77479-6282
lstarzec@comcast.net
nd
Letters of intent are to be
r- submitted no later than
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
PAGE 15 Winter 2011
Candidates should
plan to be available at
9:00 am, July 19, at the Royal York
Hotel, and will not be able to attend
that day’s Niagara-on-the-Lake and
Shaw Festival tour.
The following is a list of require-
ments for Master Teacher:
• Three or more years of continu-
ous ABTA membership;
• At least 100 hours of profes-
sional (for remuneration) bridge
teaching experience;
• Attendance at a full ABTA Con-
ference; and
• Teacher assessment testing and
evaluation by the Membership
Credentials Committee during an
interview and written test.
With your letter of intent, please
include a statement attesting that you
meet the above requirements, along
with samples of creative teaching
materials that demonstrate
your teaching excellence
(lesson plans, class fliers,
course outlines, etc.).
Please include your ad-
dress, email, telephone, a listing of
teaching materials which you com-
monly use, and a description of your
background as a bridge teacher.
If you have further questions,
please feel free to contact:
Betty Starzec
281-343-8687
ABTA QUARTERLY PAGE 16 Winter 2011 AB

The Singing Bridge Teacher

sh
By Leslie Shafer, Maryland
A

After last sum- I must admit that during my per-

mer’s New Orleans formance in class, I only sang the P
NABC, I arrived home and finally had first three lines. I wanted to see if it A
time to browse through all the ACBL went over well before committing W
Daily Bulletins. I actually do this after myself to an entire stanza. P
every NABC online at the ACBL’s
website. I especially like to read the Another way to use this in class is
to ask a student if they’d like to pull a W
I/N Column and other items of inter-
est. One of the articles that fascinated joke on the others in the class. Imag-
ine one of your students, raising their P
me was written by Dr. Susan Fishbein
of New York. Her social bridge group hand as if they had a question, but
when you called on A
enjoys writing musical bridge paro- P
dies based on show tunes. She has them, they broke
graciously allowed me to reprint a few into song? I’m
of her endeavors. laughing right now [*
just thinking about b
I soon used one of them in a class it. I’m sure the rest
(and yes, thank goodness, I have a of the class would give them a big
decent singing voice). My students round of applause. So even if you I
enjoyed it and a few actually joined in have no musical talent, you could B
and left class singing it themselves. always enlist the aid of your students.
What fun! Here’s the song: How about letting them form a quar- A
tet and practicing on their own? The
(To the tune of possibilities are endless! K
I Could Have Danced All Night)
Here’s a tip for those of you who
I could have trumped all night, think you couldn’t carry a tune unless O
I could have trumped all night, you had a bucket. In My Fair Lady
And still have trumped some more. Rex Harrison does a tune, but he W
I could have spread my kings, speaks it in tempo with the music. It
and done a thousand things, worked out lovely. L
I'd never done before. Just speaking the lyr-
I'll never know ics and following the K
what made it so exciting, rhythm will still be
While all at once charming and accept- A
my heart stood still! able. Even if you’re
I only know when he not planning on a performance at T
laid down his ace to me, Carnegie Hall, it’s still important to
And I was void, I trumped all night! practice.
011 ABTA QUARTERLY PAGE 17 Winter 2011

Many thanks to Dr. Fishbein for Our defenders stare,

sharing her bridge songs with they don't bother me,
ABTA. Here are some of the others: For there isn't any contract
Where I’d rather be.
er- (Maria from West Side Story) Let the tricks go by!
he Patricia*, I just lost a bid to Patricia. Let the aces fly!
it And suddenly the game 'Cause we'll win in the slam
ng Will never be the same to me. that you bid!
Patricia,
preempted again by Patricia! (This Land Is Your Land)
is
la We cannot get a score, This bridge is your bridge,
g- She’s ever such a bore to me! this bridge is my bridge,
eir Patricia, must you always From Jacoby transfers
but control the bidding? to puppet Stayman,
At that level you must be kidding! From suits and levels,
Patricia! You never can win to games and rubbers,
with Patricia! This bridge was made for you & me.
[*Patricia is a member of their social I used to play cards,
bridge group. — Editor] but it was poker,
Or sometimes rummy,
big (On the Street Where You Live)
the games were crumby,
ou I have often bid in this suit before, But all at once I
uld But the bidding never discovered contracts,
ts. shot up through the roof before. This bridge was made for you & me.
ar- All at once am I
he seven levels high, This bridge is your bridge,
Knowing I'm in the slam this bridge is my bridge,
that you bid. From takeout doubles,
ho new minor forcing,
ess Other bids they make,
bids for bidding's sake, From Blackwood, Gerber,
dy to Texas transfers,
he When pursuing all the cueing
and the bids are fake! This game was made for you & me.
It
ly. Let our slam bid rise
through the roof and skies, Our jobs as teachers
yr-
Knowing I'm in the slam are much more effective
he
that you bid. when we can integrate
be
And oh, the towering feeling, some fun activities like this into our
pt-
just to know a slam bid is near, classes. Maybe I’ll pass out the lyr-
’re
The overpowering feeling, ics and get everyone to sing along!
at
to when any second
all three "passing" cards appear!
ABTA QUARTERLY PAGE 18 Winter 2011 AB

Software Review
By Brenda Simpson, Washington on
B
A
Mike’s Advice—Volume 1 with a bit more expla-
“Perplexing Bridge nation than other
Bidding Problems” chapters. Here are a few of his tips
By Mike Lawrence for balancing:
Do you and your partner find 1. Double with proper shape and
yourselves out of sync on some of fewer points;
your bidding? How would you like 2. Bid notrump with fewer points—
Mike Lawrence’s expert advice on 12-14 over a minor, up to 15/16
these problems? In his new software, over a major;
he gives you opportunities to use 3. Don’t balance if there is a danger
your own judgment to make your of the opponents having a fit in
pr
partnership a fine-tuned bidding ma- another suit;
H
chine. Then he gives you his expert 4. Don’t balance over a strong
O
opinion. He uses standard bidding notrump unless you have a good
w
and refers to conventions when ap- suit and distribution. He recom-
w
propriate. mends a six-card suit with a sin- su
gleton, void, or two doubletons;
Some of the conventions he uses 5. When partner has originally
are Jacoby 2NT, Jordon 2NT, Drury passed and then bids at the two
and responsive dou- ca
level after the opponents have or
bles. He has 333 com- agreed on a suit at the two level,
mon bidding prob- pl
don’t raise if the opponents go to 1-
lems. These are di- three. He has already bid with
vided into 24 chapters te
your hand in mind;
with a common topic 6. Over a weak two, you can bal-
for each chapter. This allows you to ance with a
skip to the topic of the problem double with
you’re interested in. good shape and
Mike also has Glossary articles fewer points
for reference. For example: Gerber than a regular
and Super Gerber, Strong or Weak takeout double;
Jump Shifts, DONT or Hamilton 7. A balancing notrump over a weak
over Notrump. two can be made with fewer
points than a direct notrump over-
One of the Chapters that got my call as long as you have stoppers;
attention was “Balancing.” He wrote and lastly,
a book on this subject and in his soft- 8. Don’t balance when the oppo-
ware he gives 21 balancing problems nent’s are in a misfit.
 011 ABTA QUARTERLY PAGE 19 Winter 2011

Mike has written over 20 books

on bridge and several have won the Come Join the Fun!
Book of the Year award from
ABTA. This is his 8th CD and some Make Your
of my personal favorites Toronto
ps
are “Counting at Bridge Reservation Soon!
1 & 2,” “The 2 over 1
System,” “Defense” and ABTA
nd “Conventions.” I use a Conference
lot of his deals and mate-
rial in my classes. They
July 20—22, 2011
—
16 are an excellent source
for reference material.
ger
Interested in joining our
in
You can get information about his publicity committee?
products at michaelslawrence.com.
He has bridge articles, quizzes, etc. We need members to assist
ng our Chairman, Nancy Abbott, in
One example to check out on his
od publicizing our efforts to pro-
website is: Which is rarer? A hand
m- spective teacher-members, as
with 37 points or a hand with all one
n- well as getting the word out about
suit?
our awards and member achieve-
ly Mike’s CD sells for $29.95 and ments in local communities.
wo can be purchased from his website Please contact Nancy at
ve or from Baron Barclay Bridge Sup- nancyabbott@juno.com
el, plies at www.baronbarclay.com or
to 1-800-274-2221. Ask for your ABTA
or Joyce Penn at
ith teacher’s discount.
jpenn@columbus.rr.com

al-
Do you need an updated 2011 Membership Roster?
Have you recently moved?
Do you know if it’s time to renew your membership?
Please send questions and updates via email to our
ak Business Secretary:
wer
er-
Kathy Rolfe
rs; 490 North Winnebago Drive
Lake Winnebago, MO 64034-9321
o- Home: 816-237-0519
Email: krolfe5@comcast.net
ABTA QUARTERLY PAGE 20 Winter 2011 AB

ABTA Online Activities

By Maggie Sparrow, Ontario

Be sure to stay connected document. Here’s a list

with other teachers through of the next few months’
our online activities. Chat dates and topics:
2
ABTAhome. Check our website regu-
Sunday, March 27, 2011. After the first
larly at www.abtahome.com. Are you
beginner course, how do you schedule
listed on the teacher page, so that pro-
your follow-up courses? Do you have a ha
spective new students may find you? set timetable for the year/two years/three
tea
ABTAdiscuss. Join our email discus- years? Do you run courses continually
ho
sion list and send in questions and or give your students a break in between
each one? What works best for you and
br
comments by email. This is a great da
way to discuss bridge teaching with your students?
en
others. Sometimes the list is very quiet, Sunday, April 17, 2011 (THIRD Sun- ga
other times there is a flurry of activity. day). Some bridge teachers are having a
Once you have joined the group you lot of success making their way into T
can read all the past messages, and schools and teaching bridge, sometimes an
we’ve had some interesting discus- as part of the math course or as an after Ch
sions. There are also some very useful school activity. School students can be
things for you to find in the files. eager learners. Come and tell us about In
http://games.groups.yahoo.com/ your experience of teaching in schools. tea
group/ABTAdiscuss
Sunday, May 22, 2011. Finish these the
ABTAchat. Come to our once-a- sentences: co
month chat (usually the fourth Sunday “A bridge teacher should always…” for
evening) at Bridge Base Online. “A bridge teacher should never…” Su
Download the windows based BBO Have you made any conscious decisions do
progra m a hea d of ti me fro m like this? Come and chat with others
www.bridgebase.com. Topics are pre- about what you always do or never do.
set, and you will receive an email re- N
minder a few days in advance. But Sunday, June 26, 2011. Do you run pr
don’t be fooled, we get through a sur- successful mentoring games? If so, what us
prising amount in just one hour, so feel makes them a success? Do you work tea
free to jump in if you have a pressing hard at matching up pairs? Do you give vid
question. (If you’re not receiving the any written instructions to your men- M
monthly reminder, let Maggie Sparrow tors? How early in their learning do you the
know at let your students participate? Come and stu
msparrow@csolve.net tell us what works, or doesn’t work, for en
you.
as we may not have your correct email B
address.) Those unable to attend the No Chat in July. I hope to see everyone na
Chat in person may request a saved at the ABTA Summer Conference in
the
copy by email attachment as a Word Toronto, July 20-22, 2011.
20
 011 ABTA QUARTERLY PAGE 21 Winter 2011

ABTA/Master Point Press

Teacher of the Year Award
Nominations are Due!
By Marilyn Kalbfleisch, Ontario

Nominations for the material submitted this year will be

2011 Teacher of the Year Award added to their file from last year.
first close March 31st.
dule To be eligible, a teacher must The winner will be announced at
ve a have at least five years bridge the 2011 ABTA Conference held in
hree
teaching experience and teach 75 Toronto, Ontario in July. He or she
ally will receive a plaque and cash
hours a year. The award recognizes a
een award provided by Master Point
and
bridge teacher who inspires students,
day in and day out, in a fun learning Press.
environment, and who promotes the The contact information is:
un- game of bridge. Marilyn Kalbfleisch,
ng a
To nominate a bridge teacher, send Chair, ABTA/Master Point Press
nto
an email to the selection committee Teacher of the Year Award
mes
Chair, Marilyn Kalbfleisch, at 25 Brant Street East
fter
be emkalb@gmail.com Orillia, ON L3V 1Y7 Canada
bout In your email, explain why the 705-325-0538
s. teacher deserves consideration for emkalb@gmail.com
ese the award, based on the criteria. A
complete description of the criteria
for the award can be found in the
Su mmer 2010 Q uart erly or
ons downloaded from
hers www.abtahome.com. ABTA members can order a mag-
o. netic name badge with the ABTA
Nominated teachers are asked to logo in black and red on a white
run provide samples of their currently background by contacting:
what used lesson plans and any other John McGillivary
ork teaching materials they wish to pro- Marsden’s Trophies
give vide. These can be emailed to 4 Alliance Blvd., Unit 6
men- Marilyn or mailed to the address at Barrie, ON L4M 5J1 Canada
you the end of this article. Letters from Phone: 705-726-1101
and Fax: 705-726-1103
students supporting the teacher are
for encouraged. Price is approximately $15 US, in-
cluding shipping. Pay by credit card
Bridge teachers who were nomi- to avoid currency problems, either by
one phone or fax. Fax is preferred to en-
nated in 2010 are invited to have sure your name is spelled correctly.
in Allow at least 7 days for processing
their nomination resubmitted for
2011. Any updated or additional and 10 days for shipping.
ABTA QUARTERLY PAGE 22 Winter 2011 AB

Looking for Mac Software for Students?

By Leslie Shafer, Maryland e
th
te
With the exception of Bridge The titles that are h
Baron, I had a difficult time referring Mac consistent for fr
students using Macintosh (Apple) OS9 are: w
computers to compatible software for Counting at Bridge; Defense;
their personal practice time. Private Bridge Lessons 1;
Private Bridge Lessons 2; a
Recently, Great Game Products fi
and the Two Over One System.
made Pat Harrington’s Learn to Play w
(1-6 and 7-13) The first four programs all have fr
available for Mac 100 hands which the user can play fr
users. These two with Mike asking questions at every
programs have been 7
pertinent point.
a big hit with my
beginners who are In Counting, you learn where
having much more information comes from and how it
success in retaining their lessons. might be used in the play. [
t
I was teaching a 2/1 GF class re- In Defense, the idea is much the
r
cently and wanted to promote Mike same except that you are working s
Lawrence’s 2/1 GF software which is with a partner. The software helps c
Windows and Mac compatible. Talk- you figure out what is happening, w
ing with him recently, I discovered he both from your partner's cards and
had several computer programs which from what declarer is doing.
s
were still Mac compatible, depending
In Private Bridge Lessons 1 & 2, p
on the students’ operating system.
there are a number of dummy play s
The current operating system for techniques. Simple squeezes, end-
Mac computers is OS10. Most of plays, cross-ruffing, y
Mike’s Mac-friendly software were etc. These are divided t
published for the OS9. The two oper- up so that you always l
ating systems know what the topic is. p
are NOT com- You get to play a num-
patible. How- ber of these hands with
ever, if your instructions on what makes a particu- n
students have lar technique the right one to use and t
OS9 then they then how to use it. Sounds a bit con- i
would have no fusing but once you get the hang of d
problem loading it, you will have important tools that l
his software. you can use.
011 ABTA QUARTERLY
Two Over One System is differ-
ent. It is a huge discussion on how
the Two Over One Game Force sys-
tem works. There are hundreds of
hands you can bid with the computer
from start to finish. You will see
which bids are correct and why.
The usual price is $35 plus post-
age. If someone wishes to have all
five, they are available for $110,
which is like getting two of them for
ve free. If you have any questions, feel
ay free to contact Michael Lawrence at:
ry
77bridge@michaelslawrence.com
re Applying Humor to
it Teaching Bridge
[As bridge teachers, we are always on
the lookout at our house for funny sto-
he
ries/jokes that can be used to illustrate
ng
something about bridge. Anything that
ps can hold the students’ attention is al-
g, ways welcome. — Editor]
nd
I joined a health club last year,
spent about $400, haven't lost a
2, pound — apparently, you have to
ay show up!
d- If you want to remember what
you’re learning in class, you need
to play, play, play to integrate the
lessons into real experience. Just
paying for classes is not enough.
On balancing: When your oppo-
nents have stopped in a fit at the
u-
two level, I want you to follow the
nd
n- instructions I saw recently on a
of door in the maternity ward at our
at local hospital:
“Push, push, push.”
PAGE 23 Winter 2011
Attention
All Teachers!!
Our popular Applebasket contest
will take place again at our Summer
Conference in Toronto. Please sub-
mit the method
you use to interest
your students in a
particular concept,
hand or a dilemma that they fre-
quently encounter. An entry may be
a way that you present a concept,
things you do in class to hold their
interest, or any other way that you
make their learning experience
memorable.
Remember that your successful
technique(s) may be of great use to
other teachers, so please send in you
best teaching tip! We request your
discretion in not speaking about your
submission until the voting process
is finished. The final day of the con-
vention, we would ask the winner
and top place finishers to showcase
their entries. Bring your own props,
if needed, to our summer meeting.
Submissions may be made by
regular mail to:
Brenda Montague
14 Capstan Way
Swampscott MA 01907
or you can email your submission to
Brenda at
bestbridgeteacher@yahoo.com
Deadline for submissions
is June 21, 2011.
ABTA QUARTERLY PAGE 24 Winter 2011 AB

Don’t Get Distracted by Seemingly

H
Important Information th
By Kathy Rolfe, Missouri n
to
Dlr: South North I ducked the first two spade leads. si
N-S Vul ♠ 10 6 3 Now logically there is no danger in (u
Lead: ♠K ♥ 10 9 2 my taking the second spade trick as
♦ K 10 East should have no more spades.
West ♣AQ542
East But I already knew this pro’s style
and it seemed possible that he could
♠KQJ75 ♠82
have bid 2♠ with a strong four-card
♥K73 ♥Q84
suit just to control the deal! On the th
♦843 ♦J962
♣ 10 6 ♣J973
third spade, East discarded a small e
South heart and I finally took my ace. 3
♠A94 4
♥AJ65 I was so concerned about West g
♦AQ75 taking a trick in an outside suit and th
♣K8 then cashing his two remaining
spades that I decided I would take
West North East South finesses into East’s hand. My error th
1♦ was that I should not sm
2♠! 3♣ Pass 3NT take any finesse until b
All Pass
I am required to do u
This deal came up during a brack- so. First I should go I
eted knockout at the summer NABC after the more prob- to
in New Orleans. I was sitting South. able outcome, that the clubs will ei- I
West’s 2♠ seems a bit odd but it was ther split 3-3 or the hand with four
bid by a pro playing with a client and clubs in a 4-2 split will be East.
trying to be declarer on every deal. A a
The normal play would be: club d
more normal call would have been
1♠, leading to 2♣ by North, with king, small club to the ace, club le
queen, discarding a heart. When I see th
3NT still being bid by South. This
that East does have the fourth club, I h
more normal auction was in fact how
give it to him. The worst he can do is o
the bidding went at our teammates’
lead a heart. I would rise with the a
table.
ace, play a diamond to the king, take
How do you make 3NT? Easy, the last club, lead a diamond back to
the ace, cash the queen of diamonds, a
you say, and you’d be right most
th
probably! But that’s because you ace of hearts and surrender. Making
th
haven’t let yourself get distracted by 3NT with one spade, four clubs,
three diamonds and one heart. Seems sp
non-essentials, as frequently happens
obvious doesn’t it? tr
in the heat of play!
011 ABTA QUARTERLY
I’m brilliant double dummy!
However, at the table, I was worried
the clubs wouldn’t split the way I
needed them to. Then I’d be forced
to finesse diamonds into West’s hand
ds. since I’d be stuck on the board
in (unless I wanted to give up heart
as control to come to my
es. hand to try the diamond
le finesse into East). That
ld didn’t seem like a good
rd idea so I decided to try
he the diamond finesse first, thinking
all even if it failed I would still have the
3-3 club split to fall back or even the
4-2 split. (I actually thought I was
est going to get back to dummy to take
nd
the last club trick! No, no, no!)
ng
ke I lead low to the ♦10, losing to
or the ♦J. East diabolically leads a
small diamond to the king on the
board. Oh, now I see that I cannot set
up the clubs unless they split 3-3! So,
I try that: club to my king, club back
to the ace, followed by the queen and
ei- I discover the 4-2 split! Too late!
ur
I come back to my hand with the
ace of hearts, hoping the king will
ub drop from West, but no such luck. I
ub lead the diamond ace, followed by
ee the queen. Nobody throws away a
,I heart honor. Down one, taking only
is one spade, one heart, three diamonds
he and three clubs.
ke
to But the truly interesting play was
at our teammates’ table. South took
ds,
the second spade and immediately
ng
threw West back into the lead with a
bs,
spade. West took his other spade
ms
tricks and exited with the ♣10. If
PAGE 25 Winter 2011
East had thrown away all his hearts
to keep four cards in each minor, the
other declarer would also have gone
down, as he would still have to lose
at least one other trick. At that table,
however, East threw one heart, one
club and one diamond. Declarer ran
nine tricks once he won West’s club
lead at Trick Six.
This is a very difficult deal for
East to defend when he has to start
discarding without knowing how the
heart suit lies around the table. It’s
tough to discard all of his hearts, in-
cluding the queen!
West might have taken a chance
and not cashed his spade tricks right
away, recognizing the dilemma that
would cause his partner. If West ex-
its at Trick Four with a club, declarer
can take three club tricks and give a
club up to East, making the contract
as detailed above. But will he? Per-
haps he’ll play it wrong too!
As it happens, West will always
get at least one more spade trick via
the heart entry, hold-
ing the contract to
3NT, so there is no
rush to take all his
spades. Why not give
declarer a chance to
make a mistake? Frequently that is
the only way to set a contract!
Interesting play of the hand, con-
sidering both declarers chose a line
that could have been defeated, al-
though my line of play was certainly
worse!
ABTA QUARTERLY PAGE 26 Winter 2011 AB

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011 ABTA QUARTERLY PAGE 27 Winter 2011

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ABTA QUARTERLY PAGE 28 Winter 2011 AB

2010 Applebasket Contest Entries

By Brenda Montague, Massachusetts
Ho
Tied for Third Place! partner hears our W
Kathie Walsh response to the 1.
Hilton Head, SC Stayman conven- 2.
tion. Responder’s rebids will be cov- 3.
Marketing Tool: ered in the clinic as well as some of 4.
Fractured-Phrase-A-Week these problematic issues: 5.
Each week I send my students an • Should I use Stayman if I have
email describing that week’s classes, 5/4 in the majors?
which includes a pre-quiz that they me
• Can I ever use Stayman with in
might take to see if it’s a class that fewer than 8 points?
would interest them. This year I de- ble
• Can I use Stayman after a 2NT “F
cided to incorporate one of John opening?
Raynor’s (last year’s featured ABTA yo
• How can I bid Stayman if the wi
speaker) “Fractured Phrases” each opponents are also bidding?
week and offer a inc
prize (free work- Some warm-ups for Tuesday: yo
shop) to the first wh
Partner opens 1NT; your response? sw
student who re-
1. ♠QJ72 ♥86 ♦K54 ♣9762 wi
sponded with the
2. ♠K842 ♥Q9765 ♦AJ4 ♣4 the
correct answer.
3. ♠J842 ♥Q752 ♦98765 ♣void
Here is the email I sent to stu- 4. ♠QJ72 ♥86 ♦KQ4 ♣9765
dents in September of 2009: Partner opens 1NT; you respond 2♣;
partner answers 2♥; your rebid?
Read to the end for a chance to
1. ♠A74 ♥Q987 ♦Q876 ♣62
win a bridge prize this week! 2. ♠A74 ♥K987 ♦K876 ♣62 H
Here’s what’s happening in our 3. ♠K543 ♥542 ♦AQ43 ♣54
first two clinics: 4. ♠AJ54 ♥432 ♦AQ43 ♣54

Tuesday, September 8 at 10 a.m.— Friday, September 11 at 10 a.m.—

Modern Notrump Bidding
Using the Stayman Convention.
The Stayman convention allows
responder to find out if the 1NT
opener holds a four-card major.
We do not ever reply 2NT to the
Stayman question because 2NT is
one of responder’s rebids after our
The Purpose and the Mechanics
of the Bidding, Opening Bids
and Pointers for Play.
All the above will be reviewed at
this Bridge Basics Plus workshop.
of
We will cover scoring, evaluating ne
your hand, opening the bidding and up
basic playing tips. ap
011 ABTA QUARTERLY PAGE 29 Winter 2011

Here are some hands For example, as I ask the class,

you might be dealt: “How often will 5 cards break 3-2?”
How many points do you have? I hold up 3 fingers on one hand, 2 on
What would you open each hand? the other, and then slowly bring the 2
over the 3 to suggest about 2/3 of the
1. ♠AKJ ♥432 ♦KJ82 ♣A32
time. Similarly, when I ask about a
2. ♠AQ98 ♥J98 ♦K74 ♣K94
4-1 division, I hopefully get some to
v- 3. ♠876543 ♥KQJ ♦AK ♣93
say close to 1/4 of the time, as I
of 4. ♠J87 ♥KQ987 ♦987 ♣Q9
bring the 1 finger over the 4 fingers.
5. ♠A987 ♥AKQ76 ♦AJ ♣87
These numbers are close enough to
e At a bridge conference this sum- work with.
mer, John Raynor, a bridge teacher
h With 6 outstanding
in Canada, introduced to the assem- cards: for a 4-2 split, I
bled bridge teachers a game called
T bring 2 fingers over 4
“Fractured Bridge Phrases” (now
fingers and remind
you know what bridge teachers do
e them that 2/4 is really
with their spare time!) — I will be
1/2; for 3-3, I kid that
including one phrase each week for
they can’t be 3-3 all the
you to puzzle over. The first student
time — so I change the
who emails me with the correct an-
top 3 fingers to 1 and
swer wins a prize at the class; the
show they get that split
winner must be at the class to receive
about 1/3 of the time.
the prize.
By doing this every time the topic
For example:
comes up in reviewing deals, the stu-
; A Sawed Off Seven-Iron dents have a visual aid to help them
Answer: Short Club remember these important numbers.

Here is your first fractured phrase: Anything to cut down on memory

work!
“Don’t Go, Hombre”

— Honorable Mentions!
Diane Olson
San Antonio, TX
A Handy Memory Aid
at
To help students remember some
of the common distributions of oppo-
g nents’ cards, every time I bring them
d up, I use my hands by holding up the
appropriate number of fingers.
Richard Braunstein
Lancaster, PA
Sonnets from the Portuguese
As a young woman, Elizabeth
Barrett was rather sick. For a period
of five years, she never left her fam-
ily’s residence on Wimpole Street in
London. During that time, she rarely
(Continued on page 30)
ABTA QUARTERLY
(Continued from page 29)
left her own room. Historians say
that it was during this extended ill-
ness that she honed her writing
skills.
Less well known is that during
those years she also spent a lot of
time playing bridge on the Internet.
In fact, that is how she met Robert
Browning. They started texting each
other and eventually got married.
Robert Browning was a clever
chap who had some innovative ideas
about defense. These ideas soon be-
came widely accepted. They also
served as the inspi-
ration for Elizabeth
Barrett Browning’s
famous 43rd sonnet
in Sonnets from the
Portuguese.
The opening lines “How do I love
thee? Let me count the ways.” serve
to remind us that the first signal we
give partner when he leads a new suit
answers the question “How do I love
thee?” about partner’s lead — and
“Let me count the ways.” reminds us
that the signal we give the second
time the suit is played gives partner
count.
Ginny Schuett
Riverwoods, IL
ABBA Dabba Do
Do you have students who are too
afraid to take a finesse? Too afraid to
bid game or slam? Too afraid to do
other things?
PAGE 30 Winter 2011 AB
Try singing a little ditty from
ABBA. When the time comes to ac-
tually play the lower card for the fi-
nesse, start singing:
“Take a chance, take a chance,
take a chance on me.”
Repeat the refrain
until they take the
chance with the lower
honor. Do this when
they are too timid to bid
game/slam, etc.
Pretty soon you will have others
in the class singing along with you.
Lynne Beisswenger
Toronto, ON
What Might Have Been
After I’ve taught my lesson and
am giving deals for the students to
play, I say, “Feel free to make mis-
takes. After all, it gives me some-
thing to talk about.” Then after they
have all had a go at the practice deal,
we do:
“could’ve, would’ve, should’ve”
First we discuss what was done,
then what could have been done,
what would have been done and fi-
nally what should have been done.
My students love this exercise —
we all have a lot of fun and laughs
and it leads to interesting non-
threatening discussion of good card
play.
011 ABTA QUARTERLY PAGE 31 Winter 2011

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ABTA QUARTERLY PAGE 32 Winter 2011

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