A Publication of The American Bridge Teachers’ Association

Winter 2019 ● Issue 228 ● www.abtahome.com

Patty Tucker
ACBL
Hall of Fame
2019
 Contents
Winter Issue
5 President’s letter by Betty Starzec
The Quarterly 6 Officers and Regional Directors
Magazine 7 Committee Chairs
8 Las Vegas Convention by Barbara Seagram
12 ABTA Membership and Dues
A Publication of
The American Bridge Teachers’ Association 13 Congratulations Patty Tucker
Winter 2019 • Issue 228 16 ABTA Program of Events Designed for Newer Players
www.abtahome.com by Liz Hamilton
17 Welcome New Members
18 Doubles by Eddie Wold
20 Apple Basket call for submissions by Brenda Montague
20 It’s Who You Know by Sheryl McEwan
22 Handling Small Games by Agnes W. Lee
23 Call for Entries by Christina van Leeuwen
23 Honoring Teachers by Richard Braunstein
23 From the Editor’s Desk by Shireen Mohandes
24 How to Become a Master Teacher by Kathie Mcnab
25 Volunteers Needed
On the cover: Patty Tucker. Here sitting between
Charles Wang who is now at Berkeley, and Richard
26 Mini-Lesson by Jim Ricker
Buellesbach. Georgia Tech Bridge Club, 2016. 28 Magazine submission guidelines, advertising rates,
deadlines
29 Dues bill
The American Bridge Teachers’ Association 30 Regional Directors’ Recruitment and PR News
Quarterly Magazine (ISSN 0891-6462) is by Brenda Simpson, Sheryl McEwan, Sandy Stevens
published quarterly by The American Bridge
32 2019 Las Vegas ABTA Convention Registration
Teachersʼ Association. Periodical # 005-998.
33 News You Can Use from ACBL by Stephanie Threlkeld
Office: 490 N. Winnebago Dr., Lake 34 Thank You Partner by Barbara Seagram
Winnebago, MO 64034.
Website: www.abtahome.com Advertisements
Business Mailing Address: P.O. Box 232, Beginning Bridge Using 2 Over 1 inside front cover, page 21
Greenwood, MO 64034-0232.
Beyond Beginning Bridge Using 2 Over 1 Inside back cover
Call 816-237-0519 to subscribe.
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to the Master Point Press page 4, outside back cover
American Bridge Teachers’ Association
Quarterly Magazine, P.O. Box 232, Photo credits
Greenwood, MO 64034-0232. 19 Snapdragon photo courtesy of PanAmerican Seed

-3-
 Visit the New

from Master Point Press

With a new design for engaging content,
TeachBridge.com is now live
The website features ar�cles, quizzes, interviews, and newsle�ers geared to keep bridge
teachers informed and provide some of the best deals for the classroom.

To celebrate our launch visit TeachBridge.com

for a special deal for bridge teachers
For exclusive TeachBridge offers join our mailing list
Visit our website to sign up today - TeachBridge.com
MASTER POINT PRESS sally@masterpointpress.com
214 Merton St. Suite 205, Toronto, Ontario, M4S 1A6 647.956.4933
President’s Letter
Betty Starzec
With the end of one year and the beginning of a new
one, it seems that everyone is super busy right now
with one event on top of another. But, I would like to
reflect a bit, recognize some important happenings
and look to the future.
This has been an exciting year with the rollout of
our new website. Henry Meguid has been
instrumental in seeing that the website meets the
expectations of the ABTA board and membership. We
hope you are taking advantage of renewing online as
well as making your reservations for Las Vegas. We
still would like your feedback on how we can
improve. Remember this website belongs to all of us
and we should endeavor to keep it as fresh,
welcoming and informative as we possibly can.
Our continuing work with the ACBL and the ACBL
Educational Foundation resulted in many new ABTA
members via our Ed Foundation grant. Hopefully, you
all recognize that the ACBL and Ed Foundation have
been key financial supporters of the ABTA for years.
We appreciate their continued support of our
organization and certainly look forward to working
with them in the future.
Most importantly, our own Patty Tucker has been
awarded the ACBL Blackwood Award by the ACBL
Hall of Fame committee. The Blackwood Award is
given to individuals who have contributed greatly to
the game of bridge without necessarily being world
class players. Each year, one recipient is selected. We
certainly recognize Patty as one of our own – past
ABTA President, outstanding teacher and
instrumental in Atlanta Youth Bridge, coach for
Georgia Tech and working with the ACBL Collegiate
Bowl, creator of Learn Bridge in A Day? and its
subsequent courses as well as the new Bridge in A
Box. (I’m sure I must have left something out!).
abtahome.com is an opportunity for advertisers to promote their products and services in a great editorial
environment, using links to their own webpages. If you know anyone who might want to advertise with us,
please help the ABTA by spreading the word. Link: abtahome.com/advertise
-5-
Let us not forget she is a world class player being
an ACBL Grand Life Master! Heartfelt congratulations
to Patty for a truly well-deserved distinction! Patty
will be inducted in the Hall of Fame in Las Vegas and
we are trying to work out how to perhaps view her
induction and then have our banquet. More on that in
the next issue.
Speaking of Las Vegas, we appreciate all the event
planning that Barbara Seagram and Liz Hamilton
have already undertaken on our behalf. If you have
not already registered for going to “O” on our night
out, please do so as soon as you can. Linda Green and
Sharon Carter are working diligently putting together
another magnificent program for us to enjoy. Las
Vegas is such a special venue and we hope to have a
great crowd. There is more information on our
convention in this magazine.
A number of our Regional Directors have been
busy these past months holding receptions for
teachers across the ABTA. Please read the article in
this magazine and see what has been happening.
Perhaps it may give you ideas on what you can do
together with your Regional Director in your area.
This is also the first issue put together by our new
editor, Shireen Mohandes. We welcome her to our
organization and look forward to seeing the special
touch she will be giving our magazine. Shireen is a
prominent bridge writer and I look forward to her
input. She is also interested in receiving articles from
everyone – please share the knowledge you have with
the rest of our organization!
My bridge tip for today:
Don’t forget to smile! Have a good time with your
students so they will have a fun experience in your
class. Students who have fun while learning are
students that come back!
 Officers and Regional Directors
Officers Regional Directors
President East Canada
BETTY STARZEC MB ON PQ NB NL NS PEI
1414 Forest Bend Drive KATHIE MACNAB
Sugar Land, TX 77479-6282 5 Wren Street
lstarzec@comcast.net Halifax, NS B3M 2R1 Canada
kmacnab@eastlink.ca

President-Elect
HENRY MEGUID New England
2139 Monthaven Dr. CT ME MA NH RI VT
Durham, NC 27712-1927 BRENDA MONTAGUE
henry@bridgeacademync.com 14 Capstan Way
Swampscott, MA 01907-1231
bestbridgeteacher@yahoo.com
Recording Secretary
SHARON CARTER
573 Golden Links Drive North Pacific
Orange Park, FL 32073 AK CO ID MT OR WA
sharoncarter1950@att.net BRENDA SIMPSON
11725 E. Glenview Circle
Spokane, WA 99206-5716
Immediate Past President bsbridge@aol.com
PATTY TUCKER
4757 Luray Drive
Dunwoody, GA 30338-5214 South Atlantic
wimsey@mindspring.com FL GA NC SC Caribbean
LINDA GREEN
40 Bosun Way
Delray Beach, FL 33483
lindajgreen29@gmail.com
Special Officer
Business Secretary/Treasurer North Atlantic
KATHY ROLFE DE DC MD NJ NY PA VA
P.O. Box 232 SHERYL McEWAN
Greenwood, MO 64034-0232 129 Church St.
membership@abtahome.com Summit Point, WV 25446
sherylmcewan@aol.co

-6-
 Regional Directors continued, and Committee Chairs
Regional Directors
North Central Southwest
IL IN KY MI OH WV WI AR OK TX
ROSALIND HACK SANDY STEVENS
200 East Ravine Drive 1712 Hwy 21E
Mequon, WI 53092 Paige, TX 78659
roshack@gmail.com sandy.stevens9086@gmail.com

South Pacific West Canada

AZ CA HI NV NM UT AB BC SK
GLENNA SHANNAHAN DELMA MURRAY
44-324 Mesquite Drive 1297 Ocean View Road
Indian Wells, CA 92210 Victoria, BC V8P 1J6 Canada
gkshannahan@gmail.com delmabridge@live.ca

South Central Midwest

AL LA MS TN IA KS MN MO NE ND SD WY
JIM RICKER PHYLLIS SIEGEL
1825 Raven Hill Ct. 2415 Hidden Meadow Lane
Knoxville, TN 37922 Manchester, MO
865-805-0420 (314) 966-3933
jdricker.jdr@gmail.com psiegeltennis@yahoo.com

Committee Chairs
Apple Basket Membership Credentials Teacher of the Year
Brenda Montague Kathie Macnab Richard Braunstein
applebasket@abtahome.com masterteacher@abtahome.com TOY@abtahome.com

Book/Software/Technology Nominations Technology

Awards Patty Tucker Henry Meguid
Christina van Leeuwen wimsey@mindspring.com technology@abtahome.com
bookoftheyear@abtahome.com
Publicity Web Master
By-Laws/Parliamentarian Jim Ricker Liza Frisbie
Sandy Stevens jdricker.jdr@gmail.com webmaster@abtahome.com
sandy.stevens9086@gmail.com
Quarterly Special Assistant to
Historian Shireen Mohandes the President
Pat Harrington shireen@hartsdale.co.uk Sandy Stevens
ppharrr@gmail.com sandy.stevens9086@gmail.com

-7-
 Las Vegas - Here we come!
Barbara Seagram has worked tirelessly on our behalf to create great hospitality for
all convention attendees along with Liz Hamilton, our Convention Hostess.

Read the information that Barbara has put together for us and
sign up for your entertainment choices now!

Enjoy a warm welcome, a varied speaker program, and an opportunity to savor the
Las Vegas experience at the Cosmopolitan Hotel July 16 -19, 2019.

Location
The Cosmopolitan Hotel, situated just
south of the Bellagio on the west side of
the strip, is a luxury resort in the heart of
the Las Vegas strip. The cost is 159.00 USD
per night plus taxes. Modern day Vegas is
a whole different world now and prices
are way higher than you and I have come
to expect but it is always an amazing
destination!
If you are planning on staying at The
Cosmopolitan, you will only be able to
book your hotel when the room block
opens up with ACBL Housing Bureau in
early 2019. Of course, you can make your
own hotel arrangements elsewhere.
Remember that the temperature will be Some or all of these speakers will be presenting. The list is
very high in Vegas in the summer so do tentative only and is a work in progress. We are hoping that Zia
consider that before booking far from the Mahmood will also be able to speak. He will make an effort and
host hotel. will confirm later.

Book your tickets now • Amy and Steve Nellissen • Jim Ricker
The convention starts in the afternoon on • Audrey Grant • Julian Laderman
Tuesday July 16 and ends by 11:30am on • Baron Barclay • Kevin Wilson
July 19th. To make sure you don’t miss out • Billy Miller • Master Point Press
on the full program, now is the time to • Bob Morris • Patty Tucker
book your flights. • Bruce Greenspan • Phillip Alder
• Corey Krantz • Rob Barrington from
Speakers • David Glandorf Learnbridge, NYC
Our wonderful Linda Green has done it • Ginny & Jeff Schuett • Robert Todd
again and is lining up a star-studded cast • Great Game Products • Synrey Bridge. Back with
of speakers to help us hone our skills. I • Henry Meguid (Our 2018 new ideas for their app
have picked up so many tips at ABTA Teacher of the Year) • Terry Jones, on
Conventions over the years that I hate to • Jerry Helms Tax planning for teachers
ever miss one of these.

-8-
Entertainment on Wednesday July 17:
Dinner at the Bellagio followed by the Cirque du Soleil show “O”.

Entertainment "O" is a water-

Here is what we have in mind for you for themed stage
special entertainment while you are at the production. The cast
ABTA convention. We are going to buy of 85 performers are
seats for the Wednesday July 17th 7.00 pm international
show: acrobats,
CIRQUE DU SOLEIL "O". synchronized
You have all heard about Cirque Du swimmers and divers.
Soleil. They have many different
productions on in Las Vegas. One of their
finest is "O".
"O" was inspired by the concept of
infinity and the elegance of water's pure
form. "O" pays tribute to the beauty of
performance and the theater. "O" was
derived from the pronunciation of "eau",
the French word for water. It is a
spectacular show.

Show: 7pm start

We have managed to get discounted seats
for the theater. Some of you may have
already seen the show but I am banking on
you wanting to see it again all together as
a fun evening out with all your peers and
teacher friends.
We have chosen this show because,
aside from the fact that it is fabulous, it is a A link to the trailer for the show:
short walk from the Cosmopolitan. Shows https://tinyurl.com/ybeoc6tb
elsewhere would mean that we would
have to get a bus and line up in the heat to
wait for it, both coming and going. The
Bellagio is extremely convenient.

Ticket details:
• Category D
• $118.00 (USD)
• All taxes included
• Balcony seating

Excellent seats but because you are

looking down on all, you will see a bit of
HOW the illusions are performed.

-9-
Entertainment on Wednesday July 17:
Dinner at the Bellagio followed by the Cirque du Soleil show “O”.

Buffet at The Bellagio

starts at 5:00pm
The buffet will cost $51.00 USD per person
(gone are the days of inexpensive meals in
Vegas, not at nice venues, anyway). That
cost includes all taxes and grats which are
substantial.

What we’d like you to do now

Here’s the deal: I need to have some idea
of how many of you will attend this
Wednesday evening outing with all the
teachers.
Please email me at
barbaraseagram@gmail.com
as soon as you get the Quarterly, so I can Leave your misconceptions of buffet dining at the door, because The
get advance notice of your intention to Buffet at Bellagio is an experience like no other in Las Vegas.
mail in a check.
This is a package for the whole Talented chefs bring together the freshest ingredients and the best dishes
evening: Dinner and Show. from around the world, including Italian, Japanese, Chinese and
I am taking a risk buying tickets this American cuisines plus a whole lot more.
far in advance, but I feel we have to do this
to get good seats. Be wowed by the talent on display at our live-action cooking stations and
See below for early booking discount. take your taste buds on a journey of discovery as you sample favorite
dishes and new temptations.

Sign up details
We can accept payment in Canadian Dollars. Please make your choices and complete the form, and remember to
enclose your check.
If in USD: made out to DEBORAH LACKEY
If in CANADIAN DOLLARS: made out to BARBARA SEAGRAM
 Please mail the form and the check to: DEBORAH LACKEY, 1138 43rd St, Washougal, WA 98671. 

P l e a s e b o o k m e f o r We d n e s d a y e v e n i n g , J u l y 1 5 a t 5 : 0 0 p m

_______ Dinner + Cat D Balcony seat @169 USD or 226 Can, if booked and paid by January 15, 2019.

_______ If booked after January 15 ADD $30 per person.

Name: Tel: ( ) ____________________

Email:

- 10 -
Meet the hosts and organizers of the convention, and find out what you can do
to contribute to all the events, and to the growth of the ABTA

A warm welcome will be extended to you by Betty All of the above are only SOME of the reasons to
Starzec, our President of the ABTA and Henry encourage others to become a member of our great
Meguid, our President-Elect. Kathy Rolfe, our organization. Please tell others about the ABTA. If
Business Secretary/Treasurer has put together the each of us recruited just one new member, we would
registration form for the convention itself, elsewhere soon have over 500 new members!!
in this issue. Betty Starzec, our President, welcomes your
Liz Hamilton is co-chairing the NABC which questions and suggestions. lstarzec@comcast.net
follows the ABTA Convention and lucky us, she has I look forward to hearing from you very soon and
agreed to be hostess for our ABTA Convention. She is really hope you will join us in Vegas for our upcoming
busy planning a luncheon for new attendees on Convention. We promise you a fun time as well as an
Tuesday and a luncheon for all of us on Wednesday. enriching experience for your teaching career.
Our banquet will be on Thursday evening Thanks for listening
(included in the cost of attending the convention). Barbara Seagram
Thank you to my dear friend, Deborah Lackey, barbaraseagram@gmail.com
who lives near Vancouver, Washington. Deborah is
quite a new member of the ABTA and is a wonderful
organizer. Deborah is going to help with
arrangements for our Wednesday evening out on the Highlights of the
town and has agreed to receive all checks and to
record attendance. July 2019 convention
Meanwhile, do also consider the following special
features of the ABTA: - Tentative Program -
 Do nominate someone for TEACHER OF THE
YEAR. Tuesday 16th
This award is generously sponsored annually by
Luncheon for new attendees
Master Point Press.
Afternoon speakers
 OR get your students to nominate you!

 OR tell others about this award. Please help the
ABTA to get the word out! Wednesday 17th
For more information, contact Richard Braunstein Morning speakers
at TOY@abtahome.com Luncheon
 Consider becoming a Master Teacher. Afternoon speakers
This is a great thing to have on your resume or Dinner & show at Bellagio
business card. Contact Kathie Macnab for more (pre-registration needed)
information. Masterteacher@abtahome.com 
 Submit a teaching tip for the Apple Basket Thursday 18th
Award. There are lots of terrific tips submitted Morning and afternoon speakers
each year and we get to read all of these in the Banquet & Panel Show
Quarterly. 
For more information about the Apple Basket Friday 19th
Award: Contact Brenda Montague at
Morning speakers
Applebasket@abtahome.com
 DO submit articles for the Quarterly very soon.
Our magazine can only be as good as YOUR ….And the start of the NABC
contributions.

- 11 -
ABTA membership and dues
ABTA Membership ABTA Annual Membership Dues

At the American Bridge Teachers’ Association, we All fees below are in US dollars.
strive to:
“Help those who teach bridge Dues for U.S. & all North American Members
to do it better,  1 Year Membership: $45
more effectively,  1 Year Household Membership: $70
more knowledgeably,  3 Year Membership: $120
more professionally.”
Dues for Non-North American Members
Who can join the ABTA? Members residing in countries outside North America
are asked to pay a $5 surcharge per year to
Anyone can join the ABTA. You don’t have to teach or compensate for additional mailing costs. Thus with
even want to teach — all you need is an interest in surcharge included:
being affiliated with a professional organization  1 Year Membership: $50
dedicated to improving the teaching of bridge.  1 Year Household Membership: $75
Curious?  3 Year Membership: $135
To find the advantages to a membership in the
ABTA, read this magazine, check out our website at To join and pay online
abtahome.com or call: Go to www.abtahome.com
Kathy Rolfe at 816-237-0519.
To join and pay by mail or phone
How do I join or renew my membership? Go to www.abtahome.com to download and print our
PDF Application Form. Please fill out all details of the
Joining the ABTA or renewing your ABTA application form and send it with your check or
membership is easy: Go to money order to:
www.abtahome.com ABTA c/o Kathy Rolfe
Or mail in your check and application to the address P.O. Box 232
on the right, or call: Greenwood
Kathy Rolfe at 816-237-0519 MO 64034-0232.
with your credit card information. Please call 816-237-0519 to pay by phone with a
If you provide us with your ACBL number, your credit card. For any questions or concerns regarding
ABTA membership will be your qualification for membership fees, email Kathy Rolfe:
creating a teacher profile in the ACBL Teacher listing. membership@abtahome.com
See next column for full details.

Spotlight on Germany: the first mini interview with federations from around the world
Of the 24,320 members of DBV, there are 176 under the age of 26. They tend to get about 500 new members
every year — a downward trend.
Gaby Knoll, from DBV, when asked about Mini Bridge, said: “Yes, we do use Mini Bridge, it´s a main part of our
training for teachers and most of them start their lessons with Mini Bridge. Especially when teaching children it´s
very useful.
Looking ahead : “Our next project will be to develop a shorter version of our official system FORUM D, which
will allow learners to play in tournaments earlier.” Link: www.bridge-verband.de

- 12 -
ACBL Hall of Fame 2019

Congratulations, Patty Tucker

The ABTA is proud to learn that her playing in a tournament at 13.
Patty Tucker, past ABTA President, During her early working life and
will be inducted into the ACBL Hall later as the owner of a collectible
of Fame at the 2019 Summer book store, she continued to follow
NABC. This follows an earlier her interest in competitive bridge.
induction to the Georgia Hall of After her son Chase graduated
Fame in 2011. from Auburn University, Patty
Patty is one of Atlanta’s top turned her hobby and passion into
bridge teachers and has earned the a full-time career.
title of ABTA Master Bridge The start of the Junior
Teacher. She is an ACBL Certified Bridge programs in 2006
Director and ACBL Accredited Atlanta Junior Bridge (AJB) is the
Teacher, who also devotes a brainchild of Patty. Back in 2006,
generous amount of her time to bridge volunteering. she found a way to combine her bridge volunteer
The ACBL’s Board of Directors named Patty the ”2016 work with her enjoyment of spending time with
Honorary Member of the Year" for her efforts in children.
sustaining the game of bridge for future generations. That enthusiasm was channeled into creating an
Patty’s success at the bridge table is well known, organization which to this day is widely-recognized
culminating in her victory in the 2000 North as the foremost organization for youth bridge. Patty’s
American Open Pairs with long-time partner Kevin leadership brought bridge to thousands of kids in the
Collins, whom she married in 2006. area, including her grandson Jordan (now 18) who
Highlights of Patty’s tournament bridge career: started to learn at age 12.
• 50+ Regional championships
• Several top ten finishes in NABC events, Toronto 2011 Youth NABC – the other adult in the picture is
Carolyn Eckert who was one of the original AJB organizers
including the Spingold. District 7 Grand National and teachers, and was instrumental in the success of AJB.
Teams winner four times
• District 7 North American
Open Pairs winner twice.
• She’s appeared on many
Barry Crane and Mini-
McKenney lists, and
achieved Grand Life Master
in 2016.
How did the journey start?
Born in Ft. Benning, Georgia
to duplicate bridge players, Mary
and Don Davis, Patty grew up in
Huntsville, Alabama. She began
playing bridge at age 11 and
joined the ACBL soon after. A
local newspaper article featured

- 13 -
 The AJB lesson-plans and organizational structure
became the model for other teachers. Clubs
throughout North America adopted AJB’s approach,
adapting it to the particular circumstances of their
own demographics, resources and objectives.
AJB enables children to attend frequent and
regular classes, as well as 9-week middle school
curriculum events. AJB has organized youth events
such as the Georgia Youth Pair and Swiss Team
Championships, and the Georgia School Bridge
Championship. These encourage a competitive spirit
and the quest for excellence. Richard Jeng, the ACBL’s
youngest Life Master at age nine and half years, back
At a two-day seminar in Callaway.
in 2009, learned bridge through the Atlanta Junior
(from the left) Penny Johnson, Betty Houston, Cecilia Kaye
Bridge program. Richard is now at Georgia Tech and and (back turned) Arlene Dipietro.
plays for the Georgia Tech Collegiate team and with
the USBF Junior Teams. Link: atlantajuniorbridge.com taught over 150 adults to play bridge in a four-hour
The launch of Youth NABC – Atlanta 2008 session, and worked with the ACBL and AARP in the
Fast forward to 2008, and once again Patty’s “Bridge to Anaheim” initiative to attract AARP
vision led to the creation of the first ever Youth NABC members to ACBL functions.
in Atlanta in 2008, which she chaired. She later When Patty was honored as the ACBL Goodwill
served as co-chair of the youth NABCs at Washington Member of the Year for 2011, District Director Bob
DC in 2009 and Las Vegas in 2014. Heller reflected: “What Patty has
In her capacity as the first “Patty is an idea person — she contributed to our game is
ACBL Youth Coordinator, Patty gets the ball rolling on things. No immeasurable. At the table, she is a
became a champion for youth idea how she has time to do thoughtful and successful player
bridge throughout the continent. everything she's involved in.” whose ethics are second-to-none.
She continued her youth efforts by Her teaching, goodwill and general
creating the “Bridge Teachers for Ray Lee, Master Point Press demeanor works wonders among
Youth” website, BTFY.org, and she all age groups. There is no one
was the organizer of the inaugural Youth Bridge more worthy of such recognition.”
Symposium in 2011 (the symposium ran annually for 2019 and beyond
seven years). Asked about future plans, Patty told us that there
Soon after she created Learn Bridge in A Day?® are a number of gaps and opportunities that she’s
and co-founded Whirlwind Bridge, a company that working on right now. She explained “In general
creates and publishes bridge workbooks for students people in their 30s and 40s are unable to take classes
and formalized the Learn Bridge in A Day?® during weekdays and less likely to commit week-after
program. -week to scheduled evening classes, so I’m working
She still serves as AJB’s President and is a Trustee on classes for time-conscious people, who want to
of the Foundation for the Preservation and take some evening classes and/or workshops then
Advancement of Bridge. supplement their learning using apps and online
Social Duplicate Bridge program – 2004 tuition”.
Not content with doing an extraordinary amount Patty commented that in many cities in North
to promote bridge among young people, Patty created America evening classes are not available at all.
the first “Social Duplicate Bridge Game” in District 7 “Educators need to be marketeers and tailor their
which fielded over 40 tables of social bridge players, offering to the profile of younger adults, otherwise we
launched the “Learn Bridge in A Day” seminar which are in danger of only reaching retirees and youth”.

- 14 -
Bridge in A Box™ – the latest foray
This is a multimedia product directed at people
who want to learn in their home or their own
gatherings. By supplying the full kit needed, as well as
online tutorials and an app, she’s finding a way of
removing barriers to accessibility, together with
enhancing the learning experience. “Of course, one can
never substitute personal instruction, and the learning
experience we all know well. But going back to the
marketing theme, we need to make our game available
to everyone”, she added.
Link: www.bridgewithpatty.com/product/bridge-
in-a-box
The Fall 2019 edition of The Quarterly will bring
readers a full report of the Hall of Fame induction
ceremony.
Tributes to Patty
Andrew Jeng, now an Industrial
Engineering student at Purdue
My brother Richard and I first
attended an AJB class in the summer
of 2006. It was a three week-long
class, two hours a day every
weekday, where the participants learned the basics of
Bridge - counting points, the mechanics, bidding,
playing, etc.
Interested and intrigued by the game, we decided
to attend more classes that were held every Saturday
by various AJB teachers, including Ms. Patty herself.
We progressed to playing in the tournaments that she
organized for the kids to play.
It is widely known that her selflessness and
putting the kids above herself delayed her
obtainment of the Grand Life Master Rank. Without
Ms. Patty, Richard and I wouldn't have learned bridge
and be where we are today.
Jade Barrett, coach and teacher
Indefatigable, relentlessly driven and stout hearted
while providing clear and kind guidance to her
charges of any age, I have always found Patty Tucker
to be the living embodiment of the ACBL mission
statement: "... to promote, grow and sustain the game
of bridge and serve the bridge-related interests of our
Members".
- 15 -
Some of Patty’s major accomplishments as a
volunteer and promoter of bridge
• ABTA President, 2015-2017
• ACBL Goodwill Member of the Year, 2011
• National Goodwill Committee, ACBL
• Sportsman of the Year, Unit 114, 2000
• ACBL Honorary Member of the Year 2016
• District 7 Goodwill Member
• Unit 253 Recorder
• ABTA Master Teacher
• ACBL Best Practices (BP) Certified
• Better Bridge Accredited Teacher
• ACBL Youth Coordinator (May 2008 - December 2009)
• Trustee, Foundation for the Preservation and Advancement of
Bridge (FPAB)
• ACBL National Charity Committee
• President of Atlanta Junior Bridge, Inc.
• Founder, Whirlwind Bridge
• ACBL National Appeals Committee Member
Jenny Hartsman Carmichael, ACBL Tournament
Director
Patty was around when I first started playing (at 16).
I only played with my mom. I remember Patty pulling
me aside after a round and telling me that I looked at
my mom's face after every card I played. She said she
understood my desire to know if I was doing the right
thing but that comes from the cards being played, not
watching faces.
I was mortified but she was so nice about it. I
never look at my partner's face now and both her
telling me and how she did it is something that has
always stuck with me.
I hope that when I talk with newer players about
this kind of thing as a director, I'm as nice as she was
to me.
John McAllister, producer of the documentary
Double Dummy
Patty introduced us to Sharon Osberg for the purpose
of asking both Warren Buffett and Bill Gates for
interviews. Patty's introduction gave us instant
credibility and Sharon set up the interview with
Buffett solely based on Patty's referral.
I can't overstate the value to our production that
Buffett adds. In particular, when it feels like nothing
is going right with the film, having Warren Buffett
give us an interview is a soothing balm. Patty made
that happen. Link: www.doubledummymovie.com
London tales
This story was reported by Richard; it took place in
London, England in the 1990s. He was tutoring a
small group, where they dealt and played hands, and
he’d supervise the auction and play when necessary.
Declarer was in a routine 3NT contract (which went
1NT-3NT). The defense started with a small heart.
Dummy was excellent, but had just 2 small hearts.
Sitting in third seat, the defender held: A K 8.
She played her king, then thought for some
considerable amount of time.
Eventually Richard politely reminded her that she
was on lead and it was time to continue play, and
gently asked if she needed guidance. She responded
by playing her ace, and followed with a third round.
The contract was defeated.
Richard was somewhat puzzled. He was curious
as to why she had hesitated for so long before playing
to trick 2, and genuinely wondered what bridge
problem she was facing when struggling to reach a
decision, so he asked “if you don’t mind me asking,
please can you tell me what you were thinking about
after you won the first trick?”.
The player replied, “Earlier today I saw some nice
boots in the shop front of Harrods, and I was thinking
of going back and trying them on, and wasn’t sure if I
wanted to buy them in black or brown.”
From the 1930s
Culbertson in sound and vision
Two enchanting short video clips here, free to
watch, no login needed:
www.britishpathe.com/search/query/culbertson
Advertisement
An Advertisement in The Times, London, March
24, 1930, and relating to the Acol Club in West
Hampstead:
‘Capable and experienced lady wanted to take
charge of the bridge room of one of the newest and
most enterprising bridge clubs of NW London.
Applicants must have great personal charm, be quite
alive, and have plenty of initiative, able to play a really
first-class game, and have a good following.’
- 16 -
ABTA Program of events
designed for newer players
The Las Vegas 2019 North American Bridge
Championship will be held at the Cosmopolitan Hotel
on the Las Vegas Strip from July 18 to July 28 2019.
This is a beautiful location. We have a great local
committee and we are looking forward to welcoming
all Bridge players to the tournament.
Teachers are special in so many ways - they help
ensure the future of the game. We would like to ask
you to join us and to encourage your newer players to
attend so that we can guide them through an
impressive and memorable NABC experience.
There are many special events designed for
newer players, more details in the next ABTA
Quarterly. For now, here are some highlights:
 A designated playing room, partnership desk
and help desk
 Daily lecture sessions by talented speakers
 A couple of two-hour teaching sessions by
leaders in the bridge teaching community. This
is a rare opportunity for most newer players.
 After the two-hour sessions, players (0-20) will
be invited to play 14 hands in a relaxed, friendly
environment. There is no charge for this event.
 The first Friday 0-5 newcomer pairs play free.
Fun!
Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have
any questions about the tournament. I hope to meet
you in Las Vegas in July 2019.
“Let’s Roll”
Liz Hamilton
Tournament Chair and Local Host
Email: grtscot@gmail.com
Cell: 415-994-3527
Welcome New Members
Carol Adamek Elizabeth Hamilton Patt Quinn
Dallas TX Las Vegas NV La Grange IL
cademek@swbell.net grtscot@gmail.com pattjq@gmail.com
Bruce Antman Bonita Hays Robin Sanders
Chattanooga TN Shreveport LA Norwalk CT
bruceantman1@gmail.com beaux@bellsouth.net info@comeplaybridge.com
James Benson Jane Headland Grace Schmidt
Lancaster PA Flat Rock NC Fletcher NC
jbenson730@gmail.com jheadland822@gmail.com tongrac@charter.net
Eddie Bigler Oliver Hoffmann Peter Schoen
Denton TX Auckland, New Zealand Black Mountain NC
elbig@aol.com hoki@orcon.net.nz zydeco956@aol.com
Girish Bijoor Rudolf Houtkooper Susan Stevensen
Bangalore, Karnataka, India Las Vegas NV Spruce Pine NC
girishbijoor@yahoo.com rolfhoutkooper@gmail.com sjs.plumtree@yahoo.com
Carol Diminnie Yoonji Kim David Taylor
San Angelo TX Seoul, Korea Seattle WA
carol.diminnie@angelo.edu librarisingyj@gmail.com david@tourntables.com
Barbara Doster Sharon Lux Craig (Tor) Thorsen
Henerdaonville NC Dallas TX Kailua Kona HI
bhdoster@bellsouth.net sharonlux@me.com torcthorsen@gmail.com
Jennifer Douglas Silvana Morici Louis Trautwein
Chesapeake VA Syosset NY Naples FL
jldouglas23462@aol.com silvana@morici.us trautweinfamily@hotmail.com
June Dwyer John Nichols Darrel Vandyke
Tulsa OK Indianapolis IN Lewisville TX
jdwyer@aol.com john@j-s-nichols.com darrelvan@gmail.com
Marysue Foard Bert Onstott Cheryl Young
Santa Monica CA Stafford TX Honolulu HI
marysue42@roadrunner.com bertonstott@comcast.net cheryl88a@me.com
Charles Ford Gerrie Owen Marifrances Watson
Kemp TX Celina TX San Angelo TX
crfordsf@aol.com gerrieowen@sbcglobal.net mfwatson11@gmail.com
Sally Giloth William Pratt Harry Nick Weedman
Santa Barbara CA Ashville NC Flat Rock NC
sallygiloth@gmail.com mindfulbridge@outlook.com nickweedman@gmail.com
Sue Greenberg Jon Preston Mike Williams
Byron MN Victoria, British Columbia Vero Beach FL
richg04@gmail.com jon@preston.ca wilshfin@yahoo.com
- 17 -
DOUBLES Eddie Wold

1. Takeout
You have a good hand; you want partner to bid.
a. RHO opens 1, 2, 3 or 4 of a suit and you double.
b. LHO opens 1 of a suit; partner passes, RHO bids a new suit or raises and
you double.
Example (1) P (2) X
c. You open 1 of a suit, LHO overcalls, partner passes, RHO raises and you
double.
Example 1 (1) P (2)
X

2. Negative
Partner opens 1 of a suit; RHO overcalls a suit (4♦ or lower) and you double.

3. Support
You open 1 of a suit (not 1), partner responds 1 of a suit, RHO overcalls at 1 or 2 level and you double.
Your double shows exactly 3-card support for partner, so when you raise partner you promise 4-card
support.
Example 1 (P) 1 (1)
X

4. Competitive or card-showing
Example A 1 (P) 1 (2)
P (P) X
Example B (1♦) 1♠ (2♦) 2
(3♦) P (P) X
In both examples Double shows extra values (10+) but no clear-cut action.

5. Responsive
a. Partner makes a takeout double and responder raises opener’s suit.
Example (1♦) X (2♦) X
b. Partner makes an overcall and responder raises opener’s suit. Double shows the other two suits.
Example (1♦) 1♠ (2♦) X

6. Lead-directing
a. A double of 3NT (with or without competition).
b. A double of opponent’s artificial bid below 3NT.
c. A double of opponent’s control-showing bid.
d. A double of Blackwood response (or Kickback ask, or response).

Little known fact about Eddie Wold:

Eddie was a champion table tennis player who tried out for the USA team. When he realized how far the US was behind
the rest of the world, he took up bridge to try to win his world championship. He has since won 3 gold medals.

- 18 -
7. Lightner
Requirements:
a. Slam contract.
b. You do not want partner to lead your suit.
c. Very often, you want dummy’s first-bid suit.
d. You may want partner to lead his long suit.
e. You never want a trump lead.
f. You believe that an unusual lead is needed to defeat the slam!

8. Snapdragon
Requirements:
a. Partner makes a simple overcall.
b. Responder bids a new suit.
c. You hold the fourth suit and tolerance for partner’s suit.
Example (1) 1♠ (2) X - Club suit and tolerance for spades

9. Maximal
Opponents are bidding the suit just below your suit. Shows values to make a game try.
Example A (1) 1♠ (2) 2♠
(3) X - Double is maxi (a bid of 3♠ is just to play).
Example B 1♠ (2) 2♠ (3)
X - Double is maxi (a bid of 3♠ is just to play).
Example C 1♠ (2) 2♠ (3)
X - Double is not maxi.
- A bid of 3 is a game try. A bid of 3♠ is just to play.

10. Anti-lead
The opponents cuebid a suit that you have either overcalled or preempted. Asks partner not to lead the
suit the player has bid.
Example (1) 2♠ (3) P
(3♠) X - Partner do not lead a spade.

11. Splinter
a. At favorable vulnerability you are showing the suit and suggesting a sacrifice.
Example (1) P (3♠) X - Suggests a sacrifice with spades.
b. At any other vulnerability, you are asking for the higher of the two unbid suits to be led.
Example (1) P (3♠) X - Partner lead diamonds please.

So who invented the takeout double?

The takeout double in its simplest form is one of the oldest of the bridge conventions that we still use today. It's 30
years older than Stayman, for example. It seems that bridge players were a lot quicker to recognize that they didn't need a
one-level penalty double, than that they didn't need the Club suit.
It's likely that several people had the same idea at about the same time. The ACBL Encyclopedia credits two inventors:
Bryant McCampbell of St Louis, and Major Charles Patton of New York, both in about 1912.
Both had other claims to fame. Patton also invented the teams movement of the same name, which has sometimes
been wrongly credited to his better-known namesake General George S Patton. McCampbell originated the 4-3-2-1 point-
count that was later popularized by Milton Work and is now used by every bridge player in the world.

- 19 -
Apple Basket
Brenda Montague invites submissions
i n t i m e f o r o u r L a s Ve g a s c o n v e n t i o n
Our popular Apple Basket contest will take place
again at our convention in Las Vegas.
Please submit the method you use to interest your
students in a particular concept, hand or a dilemma
that they frequently 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.
Your tip must be original. Remember
that your successful technique(s) may be
of great value to other teachers, so
please send in your best teaching tip.
We request your discretion in not
speaking about your submission until
It’s Who You Know
Just like the saying “It’s not what you know; it’s who
you know”. Going to the ABTA summer conference is
all about meeting up with acquaintances and making
many new friends and associates. I always think that
there is not one more thing I can learn about teaching
… (my students love me, I have materials out the
“ying - yang” to teach, I am teaching as
much as I want)… but then I meet up
with other bridge teachers and learn
they are so far ahead of me and I have
SO much to learn.
It’s about Joan and Caroline who I
met one of my first years at the
convention and we shared leftover
pizza. Now every year I can’t wait to check in and see
if they made it. It’s also the fun of an evening out
socializing with the latest bridge book author and
creator of the latest bridge app. Me, yes me sitting
- 20 -
the voting process is finished. On the final day of the
convention, we may ask the winner and top place
finishers to showcase their entries. Bring your own
props, if needed, to our annual convention in Las
Vegas. You may submit more than one entry.
Please send your submission directly in the body
of an email or as a Word file to:
Applebasket@abtahome.com
Submissions must be received by July 2,
2019.
Submissions may also be made by
regular mail to:
Brenda Montague, 14 Capstan Way,
Swampscott MA 01907.
next to the Danish inventor of “BRIDGE + MORE”
more enjoying the best Italian food in Atlanta. This is
what happens on that evening off from the
convention when the host for the convention selects
an outing. NEVER miss the outing!
Famous people have bought me drinks. People
with their names on things and
actually making fortunes at this game
we love. These people I get to go back
home and talk about like we are best
friends. Guess what? Some of these
people are GREAT friends all because
of the ABTA conference. And if that’s
not enough there’s always the best
bridge gossip!!! I won’t miss Las Vegas –
You all will talk about me. See you there,
Sheryl McEwan
On July 20th, at the 2017 Toronto NABC, the ACBL Board of Governors voted
to allow Masterpoint awards for Student games that have prepared content-
related hands.
Board of Governors Item 172-09: Club Game Lesson Hands for Teaching
Regular Club games with a masterpoint limit of 20 or less (0-5, 0-10, 0-20) are allowed to use prepared lesson hands for teaching
purposes. A prepared hand is set up to allow students to practice a specific skill. The game must consist of at least six but no more
than 12 boards and be held in conjunction with lessons. A minimum of at least eight players is required. If there are only two tables,
the game must be run as a team event, individual event or Swiss pair game. Masterpoint awards are based on the club masterpoint
games award chart.

Students NEED content-related hands during the classroom experience to help

internalize the learning process. Awarding Masterpoints during the learning
process helps engage the students in the joys of Masterpoint accumulation and
also immediately turns most of the students into ACBL Members.

STUDENTS LOVE IT
“My students find this the best book on learning bridge that they
have ever used. No slight to other great bridge authors, this is the
finest beginning bridge book ever! I learned 2/1 from the Max Hardy
Book, and Wow! that was difficult. My life partner is learning faster
than she believed possible from Jim’s book, and improving by leaps
and bounds.
I find the book to be laid out in a very logical manner; the quiz-
zes are excellent. The hand selection for barometer work in class is
straightforward and has real application to duplicate bridge. I am sold
on this being the best of the best, and look forward to future books.”
Al Spaet

STUDENTS ARE BETTER PREPARED

“The book is a godsend. Students love it because they can under-
stand the concepts. I’ve now used the book twice and the students
are better prepared and do turn into paying customers at our regular
games. Jim wrote the book with the learner in mind. He gives appro-
priate exercises and they are wonderful. I require students to do them
all. I’m lucky enough to have my own dealing machine so every lesson
has course appropriate examples.”
Dr. Dixie Sue Allsbrook

Beginning Bridge Using 2 Over 1

By Jim Ricker
$25, Softcover, 202 pages (Instructor’s guide is 194 pages and free to verified teachers)
This beginner’s course curriculum includes 2 Over 1 as a core element of the lesson series.

Content Specific Prepared Hands

The Instructor’s Guide includes hands designed to provide reinforcement to the lesson content. Included with the Instructor’s Guide
is a CD with lesson handouts (PDF), dealing machine files (DUP), dealing sheets (PDF) and hand records with commentary (PDF).
Starting with Lesson 4 it is recommended to award Masterpoints as part of the classroom experience.
Lessons 4-17 include two additional sets of hands per lesson to allow variance of hands presented if students repeat the class or if
the class is offered at more than one time each week.

Student Manuals are Available on Amazon (or in bulk from Diamond Books Publishing)
Contact DiamondBooksPublishing@gmail.com to request your Instructor’s Guide or to place bulk orders
Handling Small Games
A g n e s W. L e e , A C B L A c c r e d i t e d Te a c h e r a n d C e r t i f i e d
C l u b D i r e c t o r, c o m p a r e s i d e a l m o v e m e n t s f o r s m a l l
numbers of players.

For some of us, we are teachers first and directors
second. All the more reason we need to understand
the movements and their trade-offs. Alex Groner’s
“Duplicate Bridge Direction” is comprehensive and a
classic, albeit before the time of Web Movement.
Larry R. Harris’s “Bridge Director’s Companion” truly
lives up to the claim as the “Survival Guide for the
Club Director”. The “Movements at-a-Glance” and
Movement Trade-Offs on pages II-2 and II-3 are
excellent resources.
In choosing a movement, the general goals are:
1. Every pair should play all of the boards.
According to Tim Hill, “If two to four “extra”
deals are in play, the imbalance is relatively
minor, but for some table counts, six to 15 deals
are in play and 20 % or more of the
comparisons are “apples and oranges- i.e. one
pair’s matchpoint or IMP score on one deal is,
in effect, compared with another pair’s
matchpoint or IMP score on a different deal.”
2. It would be nice if each pair played as many of
the other pairs as possible.
For smaller games, such as on boutique cruise
ships or senior communities, special considerations
come into play:
1. Need to minimize the number of boards per
round if there is a sit-out.
2. Have enough stationary pairs to accommodate
mobility issues. This quickly makes Howell
movements the “Disfavor of the Day”.
3. Some seniors would only want to play with
their partners. Cruise ship guests excepted—
they generally handle Individual movements
with aplomb.
The comparison chart of movements for 4 tables,
at the end of the article, illustrates the above points.
For example, Individual movements would fit the
bill for cruise ship passengers. No one would
complain with a 2-Board sit-out. The Bye-Stand
Mitchell would make the seniors happy. It would
have to be full tables though. A 5-Board sit-out is just
too painful.
Handling small games tests our knowledge and
our resilience.

Comparison of Movements for 4 Tables

Movement Boards/Round Stationary Pairs Pro Con

Howell 4 Table 1 N-S Pair # 6 Recognized Good 4-Board Sit-out;

Howell
Three-Quarter Howell
Bye-Stand Mitchell-20
S0412A—External One-
Winner Individual
Movement. 1 Stationary Pair Only.
5 Table 1 N-S Pair # 6 Recognized Good 5-Board Sit-out;
Movement. 1 Stationary Pair Only.
4 Table 1 N-S Pair # 8 Recognized Good 4-Board Sit-out;
Table 2 N-S Pair # 7 Movement. 2 Stationary Pairs.
5 Tables 1 – 4 N-S Pairs 4 Stationary Pairs; 5-Board Sit-out.
Play with Partner
throughout the game.
2 1N Pair # 6 2-Board Sit-out; Play with Partner on
2E Pair # 13 4 Stationary Players. Round 1 only.
3S Pair # 15
4W Pair # 14

- 22 -
Call For Entries
Attention book authors and publishers: Do you have a
work published since May 1, 2018 that is a good
resource for bridge students or teachers? Contact us
to submit it for the ABTA Book of the Year Award. We
also have a Software/Technology award.
Attention ABTA members: Send suggestions for
new works you think should be considered for these
awards.
Contact Awards Committee Chair Christina van
Leeuwen at abtaawards@gmail.com for details on
how to submit your work to the five committee
members, which also include Sam Marks, Henry
Meguid, Brenda Montague and Karen Walker.
Submission deadline is May 1, 2019.
Honoring teachers
At the ABTA Conference in Atlanta, Henry Meguid
was named 2018 ABTA Teacher of the Year, an award
sponsored by Master Point Press (see page 9, Fall
2018 Quarterly). Now it’s time to start thinking about
nominees for the 2019 award. We are looking for
bridge teachers like you as nominees. We need
teachers who provide something extra in the
classroom and share their enthusiasm and passion
for bridge with students. The 2019 Teacher of the
Year will be revealed and the award presented to an
ABTA member at the Conference in Las Vegas this
summer.
The search for 2019 nominees began Oct. 1. We
are looking for teachers who go that extra mile to
create a wonderful atmosphere in the classroom. If
you would like to be considered for the award, ask
your students to begin the nomination process for
you, by going to our website (www.abtahome. com)
and completing the student nomination form.
Additionally, you will need to complete the
teacher’s nomination form. Yes, you are welcome
(and encouraged) to reapply if you were considered
in previous years. Any material previously submitted
is retained by the ABTA and will be re-evaluated,
along with your updated application. Questions may
be directed by email to: TOY@abtahome.com
- 23 -
From the editor’s desk
The website Bridgewinners.com has come to be the
go-to place for news, discussion of controversy,
announcement, obits and pleas for information. It can
be hard to keep up with emerging articles. Some
highlights of the past quarter are:
There were a staggering 1,590 comments on a
ruling and appeal from the NABC at Honolulu, this
fall. In a nutshell, Blue Ribbon winners Bobby Levin
and Joe Grue felt that an opening lead against their
grand slam should be disallowed, because there was
UI. It’s a complex situation, so check out the hand.
honolulu-brp-7nt-lead-discussion
Author Adam Parrish polled: Do You Count Your
Cards? Most said they did. The 10% or so who rarely
counted, or possibly not at all, were condemned in
the same terms as line-jumpers in a coffee shop.
do-you-count-your-cards
British player James Vogel stuck out his neck to
suggest that top pros need to be fitter and eat
healthier food, since evidence in the world of poker
and other games had suggested an improvement in
performance was possible. He met with some strong
rebuttal.
nutritionfitness-levels-of-top-bridge-pros
Kirsten Rita Arnesen from Norway reported that
top bridge pros Geir Helgemo and Thor Helness
were appealing a custodial sentence for matters
relating to the filing of their taxes. The story ended
favorably for the popular duo.
top-bridge-pros-tax-woes-continue-2-j8dhrmk5yy
Michael Xu described “Hool” as a precursor to
Bridge. As an alternative to Mini Bridge, the main
differentiator is that Hool allows players to make use
of more inferences from the auction stage and use
them during the play. Hool has a simplified auction
scheme: more than Mini Bridge, less than regular
bridge. Michael is a member of the USA Under 16
team that won a Bronze Medal at the World Youth
Teams Championship.
hool-a-prelude-to-bridge
How to become a Master Teacher Kathie Mcnab
Becoming an ABTA Master Teacher offers the highest
level of recognition for bridge teachers in the bridge
world today. Having this designation after your name
offers not only recognition among your peers, but can
make you the “teacher of choice” in your area. If you
are thinking about going through the process, we
want to help make you successful.
Beginning with this issue and our next issue we
will prepare you for going through the interview
process. You are eligible for an interview if you meet
the following requirements. You have:
1. At least three years of continuous ABTA
membership.
2. At least 100 hours of professional bridge
teaching experience.
3. Attended a full ABTA convention. (This
requirement can be fulfilled by attending the
entire convention in Las Vegas.)
The interview process consists of three things:
1. A prepared mini-lesson on a topic of your
choosing;
2. A discussion of a pre-assigned bridge problem
and
2. General questions regarding bridge
fundamentals. This issue deals with the
prepared mini-lesson.
The mini-lesson should be a very easy part of the
interview process. You will give representatives of
the Membership Credential Committee one of your
favorite lessons. (We will pretend to be your
students.)
The lesson should be no longer than 15 minutes.
You can present a lesson from any teacher manual
you are using or use any material you have put
together yourself. If you have written your own
lesson, we would appreciate a copy, which can be
returned to you.
We provide cards, a white board and markers to
assist in your presentation. We recommend that you
- 24 -
choose a lesson you are comfortable with as it will
make you more relaxed for the rest of the interview.
The objective of your presentation is to show us
your teaching style - essentially how well you and
your material communicate your objective to your
students. We will be looking at all aspects of your
professionalism.
We put this first in the interview process to make
it as easy as possible for you to be comfortable with
the committee members. The material should be very
familiar to you and your ease of presenting the
material will go a long way to set the tone for the rest
of the interview.
Please remember we are looking at your teaching
methods and presentation skills, we are not assessing
the content.
Pre-assigned Bridge Problem
After meeting the eligibility requirements for
becoming a Master Teacher as well as focusing on the
mini-lesson aspect of the process. Now we will focus
on the pre-assigned bridge problem.
In advance of the interview, you will be given a
challenging bridge hand. You will be asked questions
about this hand during your interview, such as: How
should you play this hand? Do you see alternative
methods of play? Do you see any pitfalls lurking? How
would you explain this hand to your students?
 We suggest that you prepare for this part of the
process by looking at the hand in-depth and
considering the alternatives carefully. This
preparation, of course, is done well in advance.
You are also encouraged to seek out advice and
input from other bridge teachers and experts, which
you can include in the discussions in your interview.
This aspect of the interview process focuses on your
preparation ability.
Next issue: We focus on the types of general
bridge questions you will be asked.
If you are giving serious thought to becoming a
Master Teacher, remember what you will gain:
 Recognition of your professional expertise
and your commitment to teaching.
 Ability to attract more student to your classes
and bridge club.
 Enhance your resume and access more
diverse teaching opportunities.
 Feel confident in your own teaching skills and
your professionality.
You can find more information about the process
including an application on our website
www.abtahome.com
Click “Prof. Development”, under “ABTA Master
Teacher Program” click “Apply Here” to find all the
information about the program including sample
questions and how to apply. You can also request a
Pre-Test to help you assess whether or not you are
ready to go through the process.
For more information, including getting the Pre-
Test, please contact Kathie Macnab at
masterteacher@abtahome.com
About Master Teachers
 We have certified 448 Master Teachers since this
program began.
 We have 54 current Master Teachers.
 Sharon Carter is our newest Master Teacher
(2018) with David Glandorf, John Ebden, and
Barbara Rees achieving their MT status just
before that in 2017.
- 25 -
Volunteers Needed
The ABTA is a volunteer-based
organization. With just two contracted
employees, we need the assistance of
volunteers to fulfil the needs of our
organization. While we are always happy
to add people to various committees, at
this time we are in great need of
assistance in the following areas.
Finance and Budget Committee members
Conduct reviews of the financial records
and transactions of the ABTA. Provide a
written financial review to the President
and Executive Committee. Assist in
preparing the budget.
Historian
Maintain and organize information about
the activities of the ABTA. This role
involves working with the new website to
facilitate management of the material.
Procurement Coordinator
Solicit donations of merchandise to be
included in gift bags for convention
attendees.
If you are interested in assisting with any
of these volunteer positions, please
contact either
Betty Starzec
lstarzec@comcast.net
or
Henry Meguid
henry@bridgeacademync.com
Many thanks in advance for your
consideration!
Mini-Lesson by Jim Ricker
For this lesson, one hand covers
four different topics.
TIMING and DUCKING
You (South) are in a 3NT contract and your Left Hand
Opponent (LHO) leads the 7. For the record, the
bidding went 1NT – 3NT – All Pass. The Dummy is
faced and you have this holding:
North - Dummy
 KJ7
 52
 A9532
 K 10 4
South - Declarer
 A 10 9 8
 K43
 K864
 AQ
After the LHO leads the 7, you call for the 5 from
the Dummy and your RHO plays the Ace. You
obviously play the 3. On the second trick, your RHO
leads the 9. Should you play the King or the 4?
Before you decide which card to play on the
second trick, let’s first plan the hand.
You have 7 top tricks (AK, AK, and AKQ) plus
the K is now a good for a trick after the RHO played
the A. You need to develop an additional trick. The
Diamond suit, if it breaks 2-2, will easily provide extra
tricks and the Spade suit has a possible finesse in
either direction. Even if you lose the Spade finesse
you have still developed an extra trick.
This situation is called TIMING. You can see how
to get enough tricks to make your contract but can
you get your tricks before the opponents take too
many?
What is your biggest concern? Your Heart suit
should be your biggest concern because you only
have one stopper in the suit. Thankfully, your LHO led
the suit and has given you a sure trick in Hearts. Now
your concern is should your LHO have a 5-card Heart
- 26 -
suit, your contract will fail as soon as the LHO regains
the lead after you take your trick with the K. If the
Hearts are 4-4, you will make your contract.
You NEED to keep your LHO out of the lead. Since
you have a choice on the Spade finesse, you can
choose to finesse your LHO and if you are wrong, it is
the RHO who will be on lead. What if your RHO has
another Heart?
This is an age-old Declarer technique called
DUCKING. You must play your K on the 3rd Heart
trick. Now you have made your contract. Really? Yes!
If your RHO only had a 3-card Heart suit, he can no
longer lead a Heart back to West. If your Spade
finesse fails, East will be forced to lead back to your
good suits and you can take your tricks.
In fact, now that your contract is safe, take your 9
tricks ending with the AK to check for a 2-2 split to
make overtricks.
Some of you will think you should first check
Diamonds to see if there is a 2-2 split. You should not
check Diamonds first because you aren’t sure Hearts
are split 5-3. If Hearts are split 4-4, you would be
giving the opponent’s access to the setting trick (the
Diamond) if you find out Diamonds are split 3-1.
Secure your contract THEN go for overtricks.
RULE OF 11 and THIRD HAND HIGH
Defending the same hand as illustrated above,
partner (West) led the 7 and you hold these cards:
East
 Q52
 AQ9
 10 7
 J6532
Again, before you decide what card to play, let’s
use Rule of 11 to get an idea of what Declarer might
hold. Partner led the 7. The Rule of 11 says to
subtract the opening lead (assuming it is 4th best)
from 11. Given that 11-7=4, that means that Dummy,
your hand and Declarer’s hand have a combined total
of 4 cards that are above the 7. Dummy does not have
a card (in Hearts) above the 7 and you have 3 cards
above the 7.
That means Declarer has one, and ONLY one, card
above a 7. If it isn’t the King, it won’t matter if you
play the Ace or the Queen. If it is the King, your
decision on which card to play might be very
important.
If you have never heard the expression “2nd hand
low and 3rd hand high,” you haven’t been playing
bridge very long. Traditionally, 3rd hand plays high to
promote partner’s suit (the one he led). If you use 3rd
hand high as your guideline, then you would play the
Ace.
Now, I will show you the exception to the 3rd
hand high rule. When you hold the AQ in the suit
partner led, play the Queen instead of the Ace.
Oh my, WHY? If you play the Queen, look at
Declarer’s hand above, which defender does Declarer
think has the Ace? Declarer will assume that West
(the opening leader) has the Ace and if so, when you
return a Heart, he will lose ALL the Heart tricks if he
lets you win with the Queen. By playing the Queen
you just negated one of Declarer’s fundamental
techniques – Timing/Ducking. He cannot afford to
duck the trick because that would appear to cost him
ALL the Heart tricks.
Against NT contracts, ignore 3rd hand high
guidelines when you hold the AQ in the suit and play
the Queen.
Isn’t it nice when one hand can produce so many
discussion points!
- 27 -
Home made card holder
Shireen Mohandes
At times I have played cards with young people who
find it hard to hold 13 cards in their hands (or more
cards for other games). Using a roll of aluminum foil
or plastic wrap does the job. All that is needed is to
tuck the flap in, and then place the cards in the
opening gap.
I have a friend who has dexterity issues. He finds
this card holder works well for him. The weight of a
full roll of foil helps to keep it steady and upright, so
only one hand is needed to sort the cards, and to pull
them out to play them. Foil generally works best,
because the weight makes it more stable.
Corrections
Linda Green’s article on Jump Cue Bids, in the Fall
edition of the ABTA Quarterly, page 22.
The first example should have been:
Example: 1 - 1♠ - Pass -3 asks the same
question [how good is your overcall?] showing a nine
- card trump fit and extra values with at least two
defensive tricks. This assists us in knowing whether
to sacrifice against their game or bid a game
ourselves!
 
The article A Teacher for the 21st Century, in the
Fall edition of the ABTA Quarterly, page 9.
Enid Roitman and Mary Jane Orock should have
been listed as members of the TOY committee.
Magazine submission guidelines, advertising rates, deadlines
Submission Guidelines Advertising Rates and technical details
This publication is by and for members of the The ABTA Quarterly page size is 8.5”x 11”, printed
American Bridge Teachers’ Association. The editor in full color.
relies on submissions from members. Here are some Preferred formats are PDF, JPG or TIF. Resolution
tips for making the process work smoothly. should be at least 300 dpi at full size. The color
Photographs: An article about a person should format is CMYK. Fonts must be outlined or embedded
include a photo of the subject of the article. A feature where applicable.
article should include a photo of the author. Ad size options and rates for camera ready
Please do not paste photos into articles. Instead material are in the table below. If your ad is not
send them as attachment files in the email. camera ready, our editor can assist you, but there will
Any photo should be in high-resolution. As a rule be an extra charge for the work involved.
of thumb, if the file size is smaller than 100KB, it will Contacting the Editor
not be good enough. If the photo was taken using a Shireen Mohandes. Shireen@Hartsdale.co.uk
smart phone or camera, it will probably be fine. Skype, Messenger: Shireen Mohandes
Format: The preferred format for submission of Phone: +00 44 20 7272 9664 (EST office hours)
articles is Microsoft Word. If necessary, submissions
will be accepted by articles pasted into emails. Size Dimension Price US $
Deadlines 2019 2 pages Please ask 250
In general, deadlines are not flexible. If Full page ads with bleed 8.75” x 11.25” 150
circumstances make a submission delay inevitable, ...Live area 7.75” x 10.1875”
contact the editor before the deadline day to make
arrangements. Full page ad, no bleed 7.75” x 10.1875” 150
 Spring: Wednesday March 6th, 2019 Half-page horizontal ad 7.75” x 5.25” 100
 Summer: Wednesday June 5th, 2019
Quarter-page ad 3.75” x 5.125” 60
 Fall: Friday September 13th, 2019
 Winter: Wednesday December 11th, 2019 Eighth-page ad 3.75” x 2.375” 45

Wendy & Colin

English player, director and
teacher, June Booty,
invented some novel playing
cards. Two green crocodiles
feature on the cards, both on
the faces and on the back.
There are a number of tips,
aimed at beginners, on the
faces. Here are two
examples.
Playing cards have been
around for more than 1,000
years. It is good to see a
bridge teacher contributing
to the catalogue.

- 28 -
 DUES BILL
Before you pay… check the mailing label on the back cover or on your envelope. Pay only if label says “DUES ARE DUE”.

You may also log into the “Members’ Area” and check your profile. Your “paid until” year will be listed there.
If that year is 2018, your DUES ARE DUE.

You can renew online via the member only area or you can mail this form with a check (or with credit card information
completed) to: ABTA, PO BOX 232, Greenwood, MO 64034-0232.

TO UPDATE OUR RECORDS, PLEASE COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING AND SEND WITH YOUR PAYMENT IF NOT RENEWING
ONLINE.

Enclosed is:

1 year North American Dues ($45 US) 1 year non-NA Dues ($50 US)

3 years North American Dues ($120 US) 3 years non-NA Dues ($135 US)

1 year Household N.A. Dues ($70 US) 1 year Household non-NA ($75 US)

If you do not wish to share your contact information with ABTA members via our Quarterly Magazine or our directories,
please check here.

If you do not wish your email address to be shared in the find a teacher section of our website, please check here.

Name ___________________________________ Email _________________________________

first last

Address ___________________________________

City ___________________________________ State/Province _________________________________

Zip+4 ___________________________________ Or Postal Code _________________________________

Phone ___________________________________ ACBL # _________________________________

Seasonal Mailing Address

Name ___________________________________ Email _________________________________

first last

Address ___________________________________

City ___________________________________ State/Province _________________________________

Zip+4 ___________________________________ Or Postal Code _________________________________

Phone ___________________________________ Dates address

Used _________________________________

If Paying Via Credit Card

Card # ___________________________________ Expiration (mm/yy) _________________________

CCV ___________________________________ Zip Code _________________________________

- 29 -
Regional Directors Succeed in Recent Recruitment & PR Drives
North Pacific: Leavenworth Regional Tournament where I'll have our display and meeting
Brenda Simpson will be in Penticton, British Columbia in June 2019.
The Leavenworth Regional tournament in
Washington was the delightful venue for our meeting
on November 3, 2018. The event was promoted using
three signs, and a borrowed standing sign from
Atlanta. It was attended by 30 people; we spent, all-in
-all, 1.5 hours together. It was an ideal opportunity
for current teachers, as well as those wishing to
become teachers, to listen to what we at the ABTA
have to offer, in a question-answer forum. Some of
the audience were not aware of the ABTA at all.
My parting thoughts of the event were that it was
a success - three attendees signed up for membership
on the spot. I learned that actual and potential
teachers in the audience liked learning of our By the way, Leavenworth is a delightful city
website, and alongside it an opportunity for people to modelled on a Bavarian village. It has the unusual
get a straight line in to the ABTA by talking to other characteristic of having a population of 2017, in their
ABTA members who can advise and support. 2017 population count. How memorable is that?

North Atlantic: Lancaster Regional at Spooky Nook

Sheryl McEwan
The North Atlantic Bridge teachers met between
sessions on November 4, 2018, for lunch, door prizes
and a presentation on the topic “Teaching to Different
Levels”.
Robert Todd’s handouts were given to everyone
in attendance. Master teachers sat at a head table and
answered questions, along with Ron Kral giving a
handout of his own about using Dealmaster Pro to
generate one-page handouts.
All teachers and potential teachers were invited.
A GOOD TIME WAS HAD BY ALL! See everyone at the
next ABTA convention in Las Vegas. Watch for more
Thinking further ahead, and learning from the events to promote teaching at the district level.
experience, we need to build on the helpfulness and
publicity that the ACBL Bulletin has provided, and
tackle our publicity in more varied ways. Speaking for
my district, I cannot attend all the regional events to
carry out recruitment and publicity drives – but what
would be good is that we, as an association, could
network well by contacting bridge partners, friends
of friends, and directors, and asking them to take
flyers to events with them.
The next ABTA Northwest ABTA Regional

- 30 -
Southwest: Sugar Land, Texas Lauri Laufman, a marketing executive and board
Sandy Stevens and Betty Starzec member who has helped supply goody bags and other
Sandy Stevens of Austin, together with Betty Starzec items for ABTA conventions, was the winner of Patty
held an event on November 30, 2018. Our goal was to Tucker’s Bridge in A Box.
enable potential ABTA members to meet existing Some of the guests had been members in the past,
members, and to find out more about what we have so it was a good opportunity for them to reacquaint
to offer. themselves with our current program and resources.
It was an open-house reception and we were It is always good to see people exchanging ideas.
pleased to be joined by Barbara Seagram, well-known All new bridge teachers attending received a free
bridge author and teacher extraordinaire. She was in one-year membership to the ABTA courtesy of the
Houston to give a half-day seminar on defense at the ACBL Education Foundation. Of more than thirty
Westside Bridge Academy, so we persuaded her to guests, 11 new members were recruited.
extend her trip and share her expertise with us.
Betty offered her house in Sugar Land as the
venue and invited all area bridge teachers and Unit
174 Board Members to attend. The event was
sponsored by the ABTA Representatives subsidy and
funds from District 16 and Unit 174.
In a beautiful holiday setting complete with buffet
and wine, guests were able to visit with Barbara and
pick up ACBL and ABTA teaching materials. Barbara
provided a few marketing tips and door prizes were
awarded: books graciously supplied by Barbara
herself.
A highlight of the evening was a multiple-choice
questionnaire about Barbara’s life. She was delighted
and took several copies of the questionnaire away
with her to test her students and especially her Betty Starzec, President. ABTA and Unit 174 Board Member,
husband, Alex Korbel! Barbara Seagram. Sandy Stevens, ABTA SW District Rep.

Barbara Seagram, Vinh Tran, bridge

teacher, Nancy Strohmer,
First VP District 16

- 31 -
 2019 Las Vegas ABTA Convention Registration
______ Register me for the Convention, held at the Cosmopolitan Hotel, Las Vegas, NV.
Tuesday afternoon July 16, 2019 to Friday morning July 19, 2019.
Cost: US $225, or $10 discount if paid by June 1, 2019. TOTAL with early discount $215.
$25 is not refundable. Every effort will be made to refund beyond that if we have not
already committed to the expenditure.
DO NOT MAIL AFTER JULY 1, 2019 POSTMARK
Pay online at abtahome.com, call 816-237-0519 or email conventions@abtahome.com
to register and pay in person or with a credit card over the phone after this date.
Cost includes:
Continental Breakfast Wednesday - Friday mornings, 8:00 am - 9:00 am
Don’t miss the Thursday night Banquet as this is when our very popular
pro-panel will be joining us!
Tuesday July 16: 1:00 pm - 1:30 pm Check-in
1:30 pm - 4:30 pm Workshop (snack provided)
Wednesday July 19: 8:45 am - 9:30 am Annual Membership Meeting
9:30 am - 4:00 pm Convention
Thursday July 20: 9:00 am - 4:30 pm Convention
6:00 pm - 10:00 pm Banquet Dinner and Pro-Panel
Friday July 21: 9:00 am - 10:30 am Convention

______ I am unable to attend the Thursday evening banquet. Deduct $25 US from the above conference fee.

______ Please register my guest(s) for the Thursday evening banquet. $105 US per guest.
Guest name: _______________________ Guest name: _______________________
Guest name: _______________________ Guest name: _______________________
______ Lunch - 1st and 2nd time attendees, Tuesday July 16, 2019. 11:00 am - 1:30 pm at
Bonefish Grill, Las Vegas Town Square Cost: $37 US.
Wednesday night out: 5:00 pm - 10:30 pm Dinner at the Bellagio followed by “O” by Cirque du Soleil.
Cost: 169 USD or 226 Can, if booked and paid by January 15, 2019. See information provided by
email, in the Quarterly Magazine, on FB, or on the website. Payment instructions are provided.

______ Total

Name ___________________________________ Email _________________________________

first last

Address ___________________________________ Phone _________________________________

City ___________________________________ State/Province _________________________________

Zip+4 ___________________________________ Or Postal Code _________________________________

- 32 -
NEWS YOU CAN USE FROM ACBL Stephanie Threlkeld
Youth NABC to be in Dazzling Las Vegas
We’re gearing up for the 2019 Youth North American
Bridge Championships here at Headquarters, but we
also need your help. With hundreds of youth players
expected, we’ll be depending on volunteers to be
table helpers, assist in registration and aid us in
lunchtime management.
The 2019 Youth NABC takes place in Las Vegas,
the capitol for entertainment. A three-day event, the
Youth NABC starts with games on July 25 and ends
with an award ceremony on July 27. It coincides with
2019’s Summer NABC, also in Las Vegas.
If you’re interested in volunteering, please contact
YNABC Volunteer Liaison Anne Farmer at
queenannebridge@gmail.com or call 206-441-7244.
Another Great Year for College Bridge Begins
With the 2018-2019 academic year in full swing, we
are already working with 40 colleges and universities
to grow this unique program just for college students.
We expect it to be another dynamic year of onsite and
online clubs and tournaments, but we’re
also looking to grow.
If you’ve got a connection to a college
– whether an enthusiastic student or a
dedicated professor – consider working
with them to develop bridge on campus.
There are lots of opportunities for
exclusive tournaments, scholarships and
prizes.
Visit acbl.org/college for more
information on our college bridge
program.
Website for creating flyers or posters
Need to make an eye-catching poster or flyer?
I can personally recommend using the website
canva.com — it is easy to use, and many of their
templates are free, or modestly priced.
Editor
- 33 -
Best Practices Teacher Accreditation
Our new program for teachers to learn proven
teaching techniques and earn certification continues
to gain momentum. We’ll be hosting another
workshop at the 2019 Spring NABC in Memphis. Join
us and then schedule a session to achieve
certification. Additional workshops will be hosted by
some units and districts. See acbl.org/BPTeacher for
details.
Lifelong Learning Programs Sharing Bridge
with Communities
Many bridge teachers are finding success in reaching
adult students through local lifelong learning
programs. Typically, through a partnership with a
college’s continuing education program, these lesson
series target retired adults looking to pick up new
skills and hobbies — like bridge!
ACBL supports lifelong learning programs with
stipends and teaching supplies. You can find out more
at: acbl.org/lifelonglearning.
Keep in Touch!
I’m eager to hear what you’ve been trying
in your classes, how you’re succeeding
and what we can do to help. Drop me a
note at:
stephanie.threlkeld@acbl.org
Don’t forget about the 2019 Spring NABC
in Memphis, March 21-31. You’ll be just a
few minutes from ACBL Headquarters and
our fabulous Bridge Museum.
Trump Indicators at the ACBL Bridge Museum
Amongst the thousands of exhibits, be sure to seek
out the Joan Schepps Collection of Trump Indicators,
600 colorful and decorative pieces.
Hours are Monday through Friday from 8 am to
3:30 pm. Admission is free.
Thank you, Partner. One man’s passion, and a truly international project. Barbara Seagram
Alan Rickayzen, an Englishman living in Germany,
rediscovered his passion for bridge just 5 years ago.
Fascinated by vintage cartoons and illustrations of
card games, he noticed that there were no individual
illustrations that showed the varied facets of the
game. A fan of crowd-funding, he found a talented
illustrator, Martin Holt (an English architecture
graduate, but now long-time resident of Tel-Aviv),
and produced a wonderful limited edition lithograph.
(Alan contacted me some time ago and offered a
donation to my Cambodia projects with every
lithograph purchased. This is how I got involved.)
The lithographs were printed in Heidelberg,
Germany in 2016. Since then the art has made its way
into bridge clubs, homes and offices around the
world. Alan said “The real pleasure is from the photos
and accolades that backers and bridge clubs have sent
me. This brings home that this picture is about
communicating what a wonderful game we are
involved in – something that words just can’t do justice
to.”
- 34 -
On the website www.thank-you-partner.com you
can see the lovely detail: kibitzers, “the squeeze”,
screens, the beer card, kitchen bridge, the global
reach, and of course ... the contract bridge experts.
The print is 20.5 in x 15.5 in (with an additional white
border).
My copy is framed and hangs proudly in my living
room.
Special offer to ABTA Members: The signed and
numbered lithograph can be ordered online from
www.thank-you-partner.com (PayPal and credit
cards are accepted). Type ABTA in the optional
Donation Code field. For every lithograph purchased
by ABTA members, Alan will donate $50 to the ABTA.
Bridge Club Bonus: Once received, if you email
Alan a photo of yours hanging in your bridge club
Alan can arrange a second one to hang on your wall at
home or to offer as a tournament prize ($10 to cover
shipping).
If you have any questions or problems ordering,
email Alan: alanrick@gmail.com
Beyond Beginning Bridge Review for Beyond Beginning Bridge Using 2 Over 1
Using 2 Over 1 Jim Ricker is a busy man. He’s cranked out quite a few
textbooks and instructor guides that he uses successfully
By Jim Ricker
in his classes in the Knoxville area. Other teachers have
$25, Softcover, Spiral Bound, 218 pages
taken notice and use Ricker’s materials, too. His latest
effort is “Beyond Beginning Bridge Using 2 Over 1: Tools to
Elevate Your Bridge Game,” a terrific text for intermediate-
level players who want to expand their understanding of
2/1 and its associated treatments. Even better, however,
is the Instructor’s Guide of the same title. Ricker has
developed quite a few tricks for increasing the number
of hands that teachers can present in a typical lesson
without sacrificing student comprehension.
E
G  BRIDG The student textbook covers many of the usual
  B EG INNIN convention-related topics in 2/1 guides: Roman key card
D
BEYON USING
  Blackwood, Jacoby 2NT, inverted minors, new minor
forcing, fourth suit forcing, Smolen, Michaels, and so

2 
on. What makes Ricker’s approach different is that he
incorporates the principles of losing trick count (LTC) to the
mix as an additional way to evaluate hands. And there are
OVER  plenty of exercises available for students to practice.

1  Ricker believes that using pre-arranged deals in boards

wastes a lot of time in lessons (unless you are teaching a
basic beginner course), so he’s developed “Dealing Sheets”
Guide
   
that present students with their lesson hands already
s  
 

c to r ’
Instru
printed on them. The Dealing Sheets even provide high-
r  
 

card point and LTC information with each hand to help

By Jim
 Ricke
 

move things along at a good pace. Repetition is the key

to comprehension, so Ricker strongly prefers to use the
Dealing Sheets as a replacement for actual cards. Less
time wasted with the boards means more time spent
Lesson Schedule looking at the example hands.

1. Targeted Invitations Using Losing Trick Count The Instructor’s Guide comes with a CD-ROM that contains
2. 2 Over 1 - Slow Arrival Fast Arrival all of the files that a teacher needs, all of which can be
3. 1430 - Level 1 (Basic Replacement for Blackwood) printed for distribution to students.
4. 1430 - Level 2 (Queen Ask) The student manual is $25 and is available either
4B. Bonus: 1430 (Advanced Features) directly from diamondbookspublishing@gmail.com or
5. Jacoby 2NT from Amazon.com. The Instructor’s Guide is free, but
6. Reverse Bergen instructors must first purchase a student manual and be
7. Inverted Minors an ACBL-accredited teacher. Instructors receive a 20%
8. New Minor Forcing discount on subsequent purchases, and shipping is free in
8B. Bonus: 4th Suit Forcing the continental U.S. (taxes and duty extra to Canada).
9. Michaels and Unusual 2NT
10. Smolen and Major Transfers - Level 2
11. 4-Way Transfers - Level 1 Reviewed by Paul Linxwiler
12. NT Interference - Level 1 (Landy) Executive Editor, Bridge Bulletin
13. 2 Club Openings - Level 2

Student Manuals are Available on Amazon (or in bulk from Diamond Books Publishing)
Contact DiamondBooksPublishing@gmail.com to request your Instructor’s Guide or to place bulk orders
 American Bridge Teachers’ Association Non-Profit Org
U.S. POSTAGE
Quarterly Magazine
P.O. Box 232
PAID
MEMPHIS, TN
Greenwood, MO 64034-0232 Permit No. 960

Advertisements 5 Master Point Press 3/4 page —Ad E

New from
Master Point Press
More Conven�ons, More Prac�ce
Barbara Seagram & David Bird
You asked for it again!
Following the runaway success of Practice Makes Perfect, bridge
teachers asked the authors to produce a similar companion book to
25 More Bridge Conven�ons You Should Know. And here it is — a
brief summary of each of those 25 more conven�ons, together with
example hands that can be dealt out and used to apply your new
knowledge.

Startup Bridge – And Beyond

Lynn Berg
I’ve Got Your Back!
Use this book as a way to get into the mysteries of bridge and its
most challenging form, duplicate. Like an extended glossary, this book
will give you the barebones start which will allow you to make an
educated move to more informa�on when you want it. Never forget:
bridge is for fun!

MASTER POINT PRESS sally@masterpointpress.com

214 Merton St. Suite 205, Toronto, Ontario, M4S 1A6 647.956.4933