[ArtK78]

There is a new topic about Frank van Wezel and Hans van de Konijnenberg putting together Bridge Bulletins and other important information from tournaments around the world on their new website, which is www.bridgedailybulletins.nl.

I went on the website and was looking through the bulletins from two of the first three National tournaments that I ever attended - the ACBL Summer Nationals in Washington, DC, in 1973 and the ACBL Summer Nationals in Bal Harbour, Florida, in 1975. This was back when these tournaments were called "Nationals" and not "North American Championships."

There, in the bulletin for Thursday August 7, 1975 (Bulletin #6), are the results from the first day of the Regional two-day win-loss swiss team event. The event was called the ESNC Swiss Teams. ESNC stood for "Eastern States National Championship." At the time, the primary secondary events at the Nationals (the ones with regional ratings) were referred to as ESNC, CSNC (Central States National Championship) or WSNC (Western States National Championship), depending on where the national tournament was being held. These events were not nearly as numerous as they are today, and, next to the National Championship Events (also not as numerous as today), they were considered significant events.

A little way down the list is my team, which won 5 of our first 6 matches (the event was six 9 board matches on the first day and six more on the second day, all scored at win-loss, with a win by 1 or 2 IMPs counting as a 3/4 win). This was the first time I ever had my name published on a leaders list at the Nationals.

Unfortunately, we went on to lose 5 of 6 matches on the second day to finish way down and out of the leaders. Friends of ours - the team of Ira Barrows, Billy Gough, Connie McGinley and Joe Livesey - went on to go undefeated, winning all 12 matches and the event. Ira Barrows was my sponsor for my admission to the Pennsylvania Bar, and his name appears on my certificate showing that I am admitted to the Bar of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. Billy Gough died quite a few years ago, and Joe Livesey rarely plays in tournaments anymore. Connie McGinley is a prominent player. I don't remember her married name. She was a one-time youngest women's Life Master - I don't remember is she was the overall youngest Life Master. That was around 1973.

It is nice to see that an effort is being made to preserve these old bulletins.

[mikeh]

I also applaud the effort, and I looked to see if I could find a record of my first nationals, which was, I think, a spring nationals in 1974: I know it was that year, and I think it was the Spring. Alas, the site has 73 and 75 but not 74.

I remember pulling off a double squeeze in a poor slam contract, and not understanding what I had done until a friend, and better player than I was, compimented me on making the contract.

I didn't play much....I was in first year law school, extremely broke and very busy, but I remember coming dead last in a Men's Pairs one day (I think a Regional event, but it may have been a National) and then placing in the overalls in the next event. The double squeeze hand was instrumental in our winning our section that session.

Doing (the low overalls) so tripled my masterpoint total, placing it comfortably into double digits!

[ArtK78]

When you mentioned 1974, I thought you might be referring to the Summer Nationals in New York City, the first Nationals that I attended from start to finish. I roomed with several other guys, the number varying between 3 and 5, depending on who was coming in and who was going out. We stayed at the host hotel, the Sheraton at 52nd and 7th.

I was not yet in Law School - indeed, this was the summer between high school and college for me. It was also right near the end of the Watergate scandal, just before Richard Nixon resigned. At least, I believe it was just before Richard Nixon resigned. He resigned on August 9, 1974, and I believe that the Nationals were in July. I know that his resignation did not occur during the Nationals, as I watched his resignation live on television from my home.

There were two things that I remember from that tournament. One was about the Spingold match on which a friend of mine, Arnie Fisher, was playing against Tobias Stone's team. I believe it was the round of 32, but I am not sure. Arnie's team was ahead the whole way, only to lose by 1 IMP. Ouch.

The other was a discussion I had with a friend, who shall remain nameless. He told me that it was his opinion that you should psyche early in any team match. Once the opponents know that you psyche, you will have planted the seed of doubt about your bidding in their minds for the rest of the match. This was an interesting idea, one that I noted but have never employed. However, I did note that from that day forward whenever he played against me in a team game he would psyche on one of the early boards. Like many of the players I knew from that time, he is no longer with us.

No need to comment about the ethics of his tactics or that his regular partners became aware of his proclivity to psyche early on in team matches and the ramifications of their concealed partnership agreement. I know all about it. I only mention it as it is interesting how the minds of some players work.

[pigpenz]

sad touraments(regionals) arent what they used to be
Looking at national events now vs then the pairs games are so small ( non championship)
Used to be they were 500 plus pairs

[oeps]

Thanks for your kind remarks about our site!

We'll be scanning and posting more bulletins!

Also take a look at : Bridgewinners.com

Twice a month we'll publishing an article on this site (in a serie).

At your service :-)

Frank van Wezel