Issuu

Volume 58, No. 5

September/October 2026

President’s Message

By Jamie Southerland President District 16

s summer ends and the Dallas North American Bridge Championships (NABC) approaches, I find myself thinking about one of the most approachable events the ACBL has to offer – one that I genuinely wish more of our newer players knew about. So, consider this your personal introduction to the North American Pairs (NAP). Preview: Last year, nearly half of the Flight C pairs who played in the D16 Final qualified for the national final (more about this later). What Is the NAP? The NAP is a pairs event – just you and a partner – that begins at your local club and can carry you all the way to the national stage. There are four flights based on masterpoint (MPs) holdings: the Championship Flight is open to everyone; Flight A is for players under 6,000 MPs; Flight B is under 3,000 MPs; and Flight C is for Non-Life Masters with fewer than 750 MPs. There is truly a place for every level of player. There are three steps that you must take to allow you to represent the district at the NABC: Step One: Qualify at Your Club Qualifying games are held at clubs during the sum-

Scorecard September/October 2026

mer months – June, July, and August. These games are wrapping up for the 2026-27 season, but you may well have already qualified at a game this summer. If you ever noticed a Q on the game results for your pair, you qualified for at least one flight. Step Two: The District Final If you qualify at the club level, you earn the right to compete in the D16 final, which will be held October 31-November 1 at the Diane Olson Election Sectional in San Antonio. It is a four-session event – two qualifying sessions followed by a two-session final with carryover (if needed). You may even form a new partnership with another club qualifier for the district event, so don’t let “my regular partner can’t make it” be an excuse to sit it out. The top three pairs in the Championship Flight and Flight A, and the top four pairs in Flights B and C, will advance to the national final. District subsidies are available to help qualifying pairs with travel costs – and your unit may offer additional support as well. Attendance at the D16 NAP Final has been relatively low in past several years. Last year, there were 4 ½ tables in the Championship flight, 4 tables in Flight A, 10.5 tables in Flight B, and only 3.5 tables in Flight C. This is a fantastic opportunity to play for a national title! continued on 7

Contents

President’s Message

Regional Director's Update

Committee/Coordinator Reports The Most Beautiful Game in the World 9 Spring and Fall NABCs – A New Model and FAQ 10 North American Pairs (NAP) 15 Summer 2026 NABC in Minneapolis 17 The Nationals Are Returning to Dallas 20 Sponsorships and Naming Rights at the Dallas NABC 20

September 2-7 Dallas Labor Day Regional

Do What You Love to End Alzheimer's Annual Fundraisers 21

September 17-20 Houston BCOH 499er Sectional

Membership New Members Masterpoint Milestones Masterpoint Milestone Messages D16 70%+ Club

29 29 32 36

Unit Reports Unit 172 - San Antonio Unit 174 - Houston Unit 176 - Dallas Unit 183 - Fort Western Unit 197 - Llano Estacado Unit 201 - Sabine Neches Unit 204 - Fort Concho Unit 207 - Texas Capital Bridge Unit 209 - Greater Permian Basin Unit 225 - East Texas Unit 233 - Central Texas

37 37 39 41 42 42 43 45 45 46 47

Intermediate/Newcomer Resources 49 In Memoriam 30 Tournament Winners Plano/Dallas Friendly 0-750 Sectional 53 Austin Firecracker Regional 55 Arlington Summer Local Sectional 58

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Upcoming D16 Tournaments

September 10-13 New Braunfels Sectional September 24-27 Austin Fall Sectional

October 1-3 Denton Fall Open Sectional

October 5-7 San Antonio NLM Sectional

October 10-11 Austin Fall 0-200 Sectional

October 15-17 Houston Fall Sectional and I/N Regional October 15-17 Fort Western Sectional

October 19-25 District 16 Fall Royal STaC

October 29-November 1 San Antonio Diane Olson Election Sectional October 31-November 1 San Antonio D16 NAP Finals November 4-6 Georgetown Local Open Sectional November 4-7 Dallas Fall Sectional

November 9-15 Puerto Vallarta Regional

November 9-15 Thanksgiving D16 STaC

November 15-17 Winter NLM Sectional in Arlington November 21-22 Austin Fall NLM Sectional December 5-6 Austin Fall 0-200 Sectional

December 7-13 STaC (Units 173, 176, 184, 205 & 254)

December 10-12 Spring [Houston] BCOH 499er Sectional January 7-10 Austin Winter Sectional

January 13-16 Dallas Winter Sectional

District 16 Officers

District 16 President First Vice President Jamie Southerland Kristen Onsgard Second Vice President Scott Nason

Executive Secretary Linda Drake

Executive Treasurer Jamie Southerland

Immediate Past President Jack LaVigne

Committee Chairs Awards Charity Jerry Harrington Karen Nussbaum Membership Teacher of the Year Juanice Welch Sam Khayatt Tournament Tomi Storey Coordinators Education Grand National Teams Patricia Herrera Bob Holliday Marketing/Publicity Lauri Laufman

Intermediate/Newcomer Sam Khayatt

STaC North American Pairs Daniel Jackson Larry Davis Financial Verifier Jim Woodward

Recorder Larry Davis

Websites

Home

Masterpoint Holdings Previous Scorecards

Units

172

173

183

187

174

176

197

201

204

205

207

209

224

225

233

237

254

353

ACBL

MyACBL

Tournaments

NABC Correspondent Tournament / Sanction Lynn A. Baker Applications Scott Humphrey Lecture Series Dolores Aquino (I/N), Patricia Herrera (Spanish) & James Moody (Zoom®)

Scorecard Editor

Website Team Beth Tobias, Ken MacMorran, Sue Caulfield, Jessie Lee & Evvie Gilbert

an email to: D16-ScorecardEditor@d16acbl.org

Evvie Gilbert

For Submissions, Omissions or Errors, send

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Regional Director's Update By Rebecca Brown Region 9 Director ACBL National Board Report: Summer 2026

he ACBL Board of Directors held its summer in-person meetings in Minneapolis from Monday, July 6 through early Thursday, July 9. The board, committees, and task forces continue to meet regularly online via Microsoft Teams™ and Zoom®.

Financials

Performance through May 2026 shows strong operational results, with net assets increasing by $792K year-to-date – performing $1.33M ahead of the budgeted $536K deficit – bringing total net assets to $13.37M. Operating revenue reached $6.99M, finishing $545K ahead of budget. NABC revenue performed particularly well, finishing $196K over budget at $791K (supported by attendance exceeding projections by 1,745 tables). While direct NABC expenses ran $128K over budget at $982K (resulting in a direct net cost of $190K), strong top-line performance helped narrow that net cost compared to projections. Additional momentum came from club revenues (+$104K), membership dues (+$99K), and regional tournaments (+$93K). Disciplined expense management kept total costs well below budget. Operating expenses finished $218K under budget, aided by lower ACBL Bridge Bulletin production costs and favorable spend timing in Marketing & Education. Administrative expenses finished $135K below budget, supported by favorable foreign exchange results (+$123K). Overall operational expenses totaled $6.69M against a budget of $7.04M, securing a positive change in net assets from operations of $299K. Strategic investments in core infrastructure remain on track. Capital expenditure totaled $260K yearto-date against a full-year budget of $780K. The vast majority ($246K) went toward the AS400 back-office modernization project – bringing total project-to-date investment to $1.75M – to continue strengthening scorekeeping and membership infrastructure for the future. The investment portfolio is held at Vanguard and remains aligned with the target allocation of 25%

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equities and 75% cash and fixed income. The Finance Committee continues to review the portfolio quarterly and rebalance as necessary to maintain the target allocation.

Audit Committee

The Audit Committee chair reported that the ACBL received a clean, unqualified audit opinion. They noted improvements to the presentation of the audited financial statements, which provide greater transparency regarding expense categories. The board acknowledged and confirmed receipt of the Audit Report without objection. Motion 262-FN04 clarifies that the Annual Independent Audit will include the auditor’s opinion, complete financial statements, and accompanying notes. To maintain transparency for the membership, the audit will be published on the ACBL website, establishing a new strict timeline of within two weeks of receipt by the board. A summary of the audited financial statements will continue to be published in the ACBL Bridge Bulletin. Audit reports are located on the ACBL website ACBL.org >Menu > About ACBL > Our Organization > Financial Statements.

Membership

The June 2026 report indicates a 6.09% decline in total membership, falling from 121,915 last year in June to 114,493. This loss is accompanied by a dip in new member acquisition; year-to-date sign-ups reached 1,907, down from 3,744 in 2025 (-49.07%). However, these figures are balanced by a significant expansion in new guest memberships, which rose from 2,426 last year to 5,978 this year – a growth of 146.41%. This interest provides a clear opportunity for growth as guest memberships convert to full memberships.

Communications Committee (CC)

The CC continues its work to strengthen the connection between the ACBL and its members by refining communication channels, updating operational policies, and establishing structured feedback loops. Composed of leadership and representatives across management, the board, the advisory council, and

ACBL marketing, the CC operates through targeted sub-groups to drive focused progress on core initiatives. It creates the National Board Report and will prioritize initiatives to improve ACBL website content and navigation.

Appeals & Charges Committee (A&CC)

The chair presented a report on disciplinary administration and proceedings, which the board received without objection. They also provided an update on Computer-Based Cheating Detection, confirming that the initial review of online play through February 1, 2024, is complete and highlighting that player memos remain an essential tool for identifying potential misconduct. Moving forward, A&CC will collaborate with management to develop an ongoing monitoring strategy – including future priorities and processes – and bring those recommendations to the board for consideration. To review Hearing Reports and the Under Discipline List, visit the ACBL’s ethics page. Additionally, initiatives to modernize and simplify the disciplinary framework were presented. These proposals focus on improving efficiency, promoting consistency, expediting case resolutions, and optimizing volunteer and staff resources – all while preserving members' due process rights. Key proposed revisions to the Code of Disciplinary Regulations (CDR) include: adding a conduct category for non-bridge misconduct at ACBL events; consolidating or removing obsolete provisions; streamlining the administration of club barring appeals; expanding Fast Track Discipline (FTD) as an optional resolution process for certain violations. The A&CC also reviewed six-year disciplinary hearing trends, noting a significant decline in contested hearings and proposing a modernized hearing structure in response. Following these discussions, the board expressed unanimous support for the plans, with formal motions to be presented at a future meeting.

New Masterpoint Formula for Tournaments

The board approved a major formula overhaul to the masterpoint system for tournaments effective January 1, 2027. Moving to direct, event-specific evaluations better reflects actual field strength and incentivizes participation across all levels. To avoid decreasing awards, overall tournament masterpoint awards will rise by 10% - 30%. Club game awards have not yet been addressed, and overall Life Master thresholds remain unchanged.

Resolving Structural Anomalies The previous calculation method contained inequities: strong stand-alone events did not receive awards commensurate with those with multiple flights, Swiss Teams events paid out far less than equivalent pair games, and lower-level tournament flights offered modest point incentives. To create a more balanced competitive landscape, the revised formula centers on several core updates: · Direct Event Evaluation: Rather than penalizing or artificially inflating events based on artificial masterpoint limits and external factors, each event is now judged strictly on its own table count and internal field strength. · Swiss-style Teams Events: Stratified Teams, Flighted Teams, and Bracketed Teams are now all treated the same for masterpoint purposes. Awards for these events have been increased (in some cases significantly) to make them equal to those in equivalent Pairs events. · In-Person Play Incentives: To encourage in-person participation, online events will continue to receive a 20% Masterpoint reduction relative to in-person play. · Capped Elite Multipliers: Awards are capped to prevent overly large awards for outlier events. A smoothing function was added to soften the curve as it approached the cap. Benefits for Tournament Organizers · Greater Scheduling Freedom: Equalizing masterpoint awards across events allows organizers to design player-first schedules based on local demand rather than point optimization. This gives teams events equal footing without penalizing player earnings. The Impact on Players These updates deliver immediate, tangible benefits across every skill level, while ensuring most awards increase or remain steady, with no event type facing a material reduction in payouts: · Newer & Non-Life Master Players: Gold Rush event awards will increase substantially, and nearly double in certain instances, rising from 3-4 points to 6-8 points. Players with fewer than 1,000 Masterpoints will see substantial award increases, providing a much stronger incentive to attend tournaments. · Single-Flight Competitors: Strong Single-Flight open fields will no longer be penalized for lacking concurrent Gold Rush or Midflight events, earning payouts that genuinely match their level. · Swiss Teams Events: Swiss Teams masterpoint awards will now match those of Pairs events, making

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these events more attractive for those who prefer team play but are frustrated by small masterpoint awards. · Midflight Participants: Midflight awards will remain steady. The new formula right-sizes these payouts by removing artificial credit previously drawn from concurrent open tables without dropping awards below realistic standards. Change to One-Day Swiss Teams Events Motion 262-MP02 updates the overall award table for one-day Swiss Teams events to favor evensized brackets, effective July 2026. Under the previous rules, seven- and nine-team fields yielded the highest percentage of overall awards, creating a system that favored round-robin movements despite their unpopularity with many players. Optimizing awards for six-, eight-, and twelve-team brackets encourages events with more head-to-head matches and fewer round-robins. More Gold Masterpoints for Non-Life Master (NLM) Regionals Motion 262-MP03 increases the Gold point ratio for NLM regional events restricted to players with fewer than 750 masterpoints, effective July 2026. Championship event payouts in those tournaments will shift from a 33% Gold / 67% Red split to an even 50% Gold / 50% Red split (calculated using standard Regional or Knockout formulas). Local Sectionals: More Silver & Stakeholder Autonomy Motion 262-BR05 grants units and districts the authority to use ACBL Certified Local Sectional Directors for local sectionals, while also awarding players 100% Silver masterpoints, effective January 1, 2027. Designed to support low-cost, accessible bridge, these tournaments allow units to host up to six events annually. Each two- to three-day tournament is limited to two sessions daily (six total per event) and capped at roughly 25 tables per session. Sessions may include up to two single-session pair games or one- to two-session Swiss Teams events. Stratification is permitted, but pairs and teams games cannot run simultaneously. Motion 262-BR01 revises the codification to reflect that Spanish may be spoken by players at the table in Mexico. Motion 262-BR04 revises the 0-10,000 Knockout Teams Special Conditions of Contest so that the event begins with a Swiss Teams qualifying stage on the first

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day, cutting the field to an appropriate number for Knockout play.

Grass Roots Funding

The board discussed the funding structure, including projected balances, district chargebacks, and entry fee allocations, alongside strategies to strengthen District Grass Roots funds. The Director of Finance reiterated a corrected chargeback calculation that aligns district assessments with actual event sessions (two sessions per day). For the 2026 Grand National Teams (GNT) events, ACBL will cover the Championship flight entry fees for Days 1 and 2. Entry fees for Flights A, B, and C for those same days will be billed to the districts in August 2026 using the corrected formula. Any district with insufficient Grass Roots funds to cover this chargeback will have the debt forgiven for 2026. Management and the board will continue to reach out to district stakeholders with strategies to help them expand local fundraising efforts and cover these costs moving forward.

Unit Task Force (UTF)

The Unit Task Force is evaluating the long-term sustainability of local units and clarifying the division of responsibilities between units and the ACBL. The UTF is assessing operational challenges to develop strategies that support units of varying sizes and circumstances. To inform this work, it is reviewing existing governance documents and engaging unit and district leadership to gather direct feedback from units. An update that includes proposed Codification changes and operational guidance will be presented to the board this fall.

Governance

Governance continues to streamline the ACBL Codification. Policies and procedures are being repositioned among the Codification, the Board Resource Manual, Board-Directed Policies and public resources. Any substantive changes to policies and procedures will continue to be subject to board approval. These charters establish clear scope and accountability that foster productivity, leadership transitions, and effective stewardship across all committees. Replacing previously inconsistent and outdated information, all charters will reside in a Central Committee Charter Manual subject to annual board review and approval.

ByLaws

Motion 262-BY01 (Second Reading) removes the requirement that the Advisory Council (AC) maintain specific standing committees, allowing AC leaders to determine which committees are needed. Motion 262-BY02 (First Reading) provides further updates to Bylaws language to render it gender-neutral. Motion 262-BY03 (First Reading) removes stringent Board Meeting Notice Requirements to provide for greater flexibility in accordance with New York state law governing non-profit organizations. Motion 262-BY04 (First Reading) revises the composition of the board’s Executive Committee, removing the requirement for the vice president to be a member. Also, it establishes that four at-large members and alternate members will be elected instead

of being elected by the Western, the Central and the Eastern Zones. Motion 262-BY05 (First Reading) provides operational flexibility for the Annual Membership Meeting by removing restrictive mandates regarding its location and specific timing. New NABC Sites The board approved the following NABC sites: San Francisco, California was approved as the host city for the Spring 2029 NABC. Montréal, Québec was approved as the host city for the Spring 2030 NABC. Los Angeles, California was approved as the host city for the Fall 2030 NABC. Please feel free to email me with questions and concerns at Region9Director@acbl.org See you at the table!

continued from 1 President's Message

expensive flights. Dallas is home territory for much Step Three: The Spring NABC – of our district, which means the usual barrier of travel and This Year It’s in Our Own Backyard cost and logistics is dramatically reduced. If there was National-level competition takes place at the Spring ever a year to chase a national title, this is it. NABC in Dallas in March 2027. Championship and Make sure you check out the NAP flyer in this issue Flight A pairs compete March 10–11; Flights B and C for the details about the district finals. play March 20–21. There is no entry fee at the national level. This is a rare opportunity for D16 players to compete at the national level without a long trip or

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October 31 - November 1 , 2 0 2 6 (S a t u r d a y & S u n d a y) Jewish Community Center 12500 NW Military Highway San Antonio, Texas 78231 Two-Session Qualifying Event on Saturday Two-Session Final Event on Sunday Saturday Game Times: 10:00 a.m. & 3:00 p.m. Sunday Game Times: 10:00 a.m. & TBD If eight or less tables are in a Flight, the two-session Final Event is on Saturday. $14.00 / Person / Session on Saturday $18.00 / Person / Session on Sunday Free Coffee & Refreshments Free Meal on Sunday for Those Qualifying Please Note: This event is held in conjunction with the Diane Olson Election Sectional. Event Chair: Larry Davis (larrysdavis@att.net, 512-343-6942)

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The Most Beautiful Game in the World ♠ By Patricia Herrera D16 Education Coordinator

ridge is the most beautiful game in the world and one of our greatest life teachers. There are few things more humbling than bridge. You can spend hours studying, analyzing, discussing, kibitzing great players and feeling that you are finally beginning to understand the game, and then you sit down at the table and produce a result that makes you wonder whether you have ever played bridge before. I think the problem is that we expect improvement to be linear. We imagine that if we study more, practice more, and play more, our results should steadily improve. More knowledge should mean better scores. Better techniques should mean fewer mistakes. Experience should mean fewer bad days. Unfortunately, bridge does not work that way. Neither does learning. Progress in bridge is much more like a staircase than a straight line. Sometimes we improve dramatically. Sometimes we seem to stay exactly where we are. And sometimes, rather mysteriously, we get worse which can be particularly painful. You learn something new and suddenly you become conscious of all the things you were doing incorrectly before. You start thinking more carefully about your bids, your leads, your signals and your defense – and somehow your results get worse. You become less instinctive without yet being consistently better. This is not failure. It is often what learning looks like. Except no one talks about this. We can make the right decision and still get a bad score. We can defend perfectly and discover that the contract was destined to make. We can bid correctly and find ourselves in a minus score because the opponents had a lucky distribution. We can play a hand beautifully and lose to a pair that happened to choose the one line that worked better. And this is where managing our mind becomes such an important part of becoming a better bridge player. Quite often, our most difficult opponent is sitting in our own chair. Our ego wants to be right. And that is when things can really go wrong:

• We start playing the previous board instead of the current one. • We become impatient. • We take unnecessary risks. • We criticize our partner. • We second-guess ourselves. • Or we become so afraid of making another mistake that we stop trusting our judgment altogether. • We turn a bad result /session / tournament into a story about ourselves: • I am playing terribly. • I always do this. • I can't seem to get anything right. • Everyone else is playing better than me. This is where managing our emotions becomes essential. We need to separate who we are as players from what happened at the table: • A bad result is information. It is not an identity. • A terrible session does not mean you are a terrible player (and a brilliant session does not mean you have suddenly become a world champion). The measure of improvement cannot simply be: “Did I win?” It must also be: “Did I make better decisions? Did I understand the hand better? Did I recover quickly from a mistake? Did I stay present? Did I treat my partner well when things went wrong? Did I manage my emotions instead of allowing them to manage me?” So the next time you have a terrible game, day, session, tournament, month, don't decide that you are getting worse. Learn the lesson and stop the self judgment. The only reason we keep on playing is because we lose. We don’t see many people going to Tic-Tac-Toe tournaments, do we? We are better together. Go to the club, play online, teach someone, volunteer. The more the merrier! Patricia Herrera is a Mexican bridge teacher, player, coach and the Education Coordinator for the ACBL's District 16. She is part of the Women's team representing Mexico in the World Championships. When she is not playing bridge, she runs a nonprofit consulting firm based in Mexico City called Pontis, and also designs itineraries for people that want to visit Mexico. You can reach her at: herrerapatricia@gmail.com

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Spring and Fall NABCs – A New Model and FAQ

[Editor's Note – The following content was provided by Rebecca Brown, Region 9 Director.]

Welcome to the New NABC! Transforming the Tournament Experience Starting Fall 2028—Austin! Starting with the Fall 2028 NABC in Austin, TX, we are reimagining our Spring and Fall NABC schedules around two continuous, structured tracks: the Championship Track and the Signature Track. This new format ensures every player—from rising contenders to world champions—has a clear path to compete for and win an official NABC title. Updated hotel and venue criteria expand our options for great host cities—bringing favorite locations and exciting new destinations within reach! By prioritizing exceptional playing space right inside host hotels, we ensure everyone enjoys top-tier playing conditions paired with seamless "stay upstairs, play downstairs" convenience.

Two Tracks to a National Title The Championship Track: The ultimate arena for world champions, top experts, and ambitious challengers. Compete at the highest level for our most prestigious NABC titles in traditional qualifying and knockout formats. The Signature Track: Built for balanced, peer-level competition, this track uses bracketed fields so you can compete directly against others at your level. Whether you begin here or pivot from the Championship Track, you stay in the chase for an official NABC title.

Key Highlights Earn Titanium Masterpoints® Introducing a major Signature Track highlight: Titanium Masterpoints®, designed for advancing players under 10,000 Masterpoints. This is an entirely new Masterpoint type earned exclusively at NABCs, featuring its own Titanium race. As an added benefit, Titanium points convert directly to Gold and Red—so every point you win moves you forward on your journey through the ranks.

Shared Hands, Shared Insights Play the exact same deals as the rest of the field—in similar events wherever possible—then compare notes afterward. Use your hand records to break down critical plays and discuss bidding with friends, peers, and top players. Watch video commentary on how the best handled the trickiest deals—on the very hands you just played!

Just for Newer Players The Spring and Fall NABCs will feature specially curated one- and two-day events designed specifically for newer players.

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Hosted alongside local NABC Committees composed of bridge volunteers who truly understand the newer player’s perspective, these events offer expert guidance, warm hospitality, and a smooth, engaging tournament experience. When you aren't playing, the options are wide open: step up into the Signature Track to test your skills, join a side game, or take time to explore the host city!

Frequently Asked Questions The Big Picture & Track Choices What is the difference between the Championship Track and the Signature Track? Championship Track: The ultimate arena for world champions, top experts, and ambitious challengers competing in qualifying and knockout formats for our most prestigious NABC titles. Signature Track: Uses bracketed fields so you compete directly against players at your level. Whether you start here or pivot from the Championship Track, you remain in the chase for an official NABC title. How will I be placed in a bracket or track? Placement in the Signature Track will be based on Masterpoints—for pairs and teams, this will most likely be the average of the partnership or team. Full bracket details will be shared as plans are finalized. Can my regular partner and I play together if we are at different levels? Yes. Because Signature brackets are expected to use the average of a partnership's Masterpoints, you and your regular partner can play together and be placed in a bracket that reflects your combined strength as a pair. I just want good games—I don't expect to win a title. Is there still a place for me? Absolutely. The new NABC is for every kind of player, whether you are chasing a national title or simply love a good game. Side games will be available every day for exactly that purpose. If I start in the Championship Track and don't qualify for the final rounds, what happens? The 11-day schedule guarantees non-stop action. Should your run in a Championship Track event end, you can transition seamlessly into a Signature Track bracket or a side game. How does the tournament flow over the 11 days? Day 1: An opening day of charity games and warm-up events to kick off the week—a relaxed start before the main events begin. Days 2–9: Primary competition. Championship Track players compete in open NABC title events; Signature Track players compete in balanced, bracketed fields. 2

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Days 10–11: The tournament shifts to a playthrough format, ensuring events beginning on the final weekend keep everyone playing right to the end.

Your Favorite Events & Everyday Play Are my favorite events still here? Yes. All core NABC events remain—the premier championships you look forward to every year are still on the schedule. The new format expands your options without taking away existing favorites. Are there side games every day? Yes. If you would rather play a side game on any given day, that option is available throughout the entire tournament. Is there still Intermediate/Newcomer (I/N) and Gold Rush play? Yes. Programming for newer and advancing players continues alongside the specially curated events described above.

Venue & Location Why are we upgrading our hotel and venue criteria? By focusing on exceptional playing space right inside great host hotels, we expand our options for great host cities—opening the door to exciting new destinations while making it feasible to return to past favorites. What does "stay upstairs, play downstairs" mean for players? It means prioritizing host hotels that house the tournament playing space on-site. You get top-tier playing conditions paired with the simple convenience of walking straight from your room to the game. Will the venues be accessible for players with mobility needs? Yes. Accessibility is a required component of our venue standards, and the on-site playing model is designed to make getting to and from the game easier for everyone.

Masterpoints & Hand Records What are Titanium Masterpoints® and who can earn them? Titanium Masterpoints® are an entirely new Masterpoint type earned only at NABCs, featuring their own dedicated race. Designed for advancing players under 10,000 points, they carry an added benefit: they convert directly to Gold and Red points, helping you progress through the ranks as you play.

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What does "Shared Hands, Shared Insights" mean? Players across the field play the exact same deals, allowing everyone to compare hands afterward. Use your hand records to study key plays and discuss bidding with friends, peers, and experts—and watch video commentary on the hands you played yourself.

The Newer-Player Experience What special events are available for newer players? The Spring and Fall NABCs feature specially curated one- and two-day events designed alongside local NABC committees. They offer expert guidance, warm hospitality, and a smooth experience. When you aren't playing in these, you can step up into a Signature event, join a side game, or explore the host city. What if I come without a partner or team? The ACBL will provide an on-site Partnership Desk to assist you in finding a partner or team.

Your Stay & the Experience Do I have to attend all 11 days, or can I come for just part of it? Come for as long or as short as you like—whether for a single weekend or the full 11 days. There is meaningful play every day, making even a short visit well worth it. Will there be social events, speakers, and lessons? Yes. Social events, speaker programs, and lessons will be planned alongside each host committee to suit attending players. Registration, Entry Fees & Dates When do these changes take effect? The new format debuts at the 2028 Fall NABC in Austin, Texas, at the JW Marriott, and will apply to future Spring and Fall NABCs. How do I purchase entries? Entry Express, the ACBL's online registration system, lets you buy entries before game day. Skip the entry desk lines, receive table and seed assignments by email, and head straight to play when you arrive. How are entry fees structured? Detailed pricing for each event will appear in the official tournament program and on Entry Express before registration opens.

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Is the Summer NABC changing too? No. The Summer NABC stays exactly as it is today—featuring nationally rated and regional events, Gold Rush events, Intermediate/Newcomer games, learning opportunities, the Youth NABC, and the Collegiate Bridge Bowl. Do I need to be an ACBL member to play? Yes. All participants must be active ACBL members in good standing. You can join or renew anytime at acbl.org. How will I learn more—and can I share feedback? This is the first of several updates, and we want your input as plans take shape! The ACBL will communicate directly via email, with complete details posted on the ACBL website. Local NABC committees will share news in their Regions, and regular updates will appear in the ACBL Bridge Bulletin and NABC Daily Bulletins.

[Editor's Note – You can share your feedback with Rebecca Brown, Region 9 Director.]

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North American Pairs (NAP) ♠ By Larry Davis D16 NAP Coordinator

he North American Pairs (NAP) is an ACBL-wide event held annually. Players must qualify to advance to the next level of competition. The event starts each summer with club-level qualifications. Players may qualify at any club NAP game in the ACBL with any partner. (The club does not have to be in your district or unit.) One may play in any number of club-level NAP games, even after qualifying. Flights There are four flights – Championship, A, B and C. Championship is 6000+ masterpoints, Flight A is 3000-6000 masterpoints. Flight B is 750-3000 masterpoints, and Flight C is less than 750 masterpoints AND not having life master status. You don’t need to play with someone in your flight, although the flight status of the pair is determined by the player with the higher number of masterpoints. If you earn a Flight A (B) qualification, you automatically earn a Flight B or C (C) qualification, if you are eligible for the lower-level flight. District-Level Qualification Some districts require unit-level qualification (District 16 does not). The district-level qualification event in District 16 is currently held in October or November in Austin (odd-numbered years) and San Antonio (even-numbered years), sometimes in conjunction with an open sectional tournament. In 2026, the district-level NAP will be held on October 31-November 1 in conjunction with a San Antonio sectional tournament. The NAP is a two-day event (usually, *see exceptions below) with two sessions per day. After the first day, about half of the field is

eliminated. At the district-level, both players of a pair must play in a flight for which they qualified. The pair may choose to play in a higher-level flight if both players earned a qualification for that higher-level flight. (For example, two flight C players who have earned a Flight B and a Flight C qualification may elect to play in Flight B even though they could play in Flight C.) You may enter only one flight. You are not required to play with a partner with whom you qualified at a lower-level competition. Both players must be residents of the district in which they resided on June 1 of the current year. National-Level Advancement/Stipends Pairs qualifying at the district level advance to the national level. There are three or four qualifiers at the district level. The national-level event is held at the 2027 March NABC in Dallas. There are stipends paid by the ACBL to help defray player expenses. If some of the district-level qualifying pairs cannot attend the NABC, the ACBL contacts other district-level pairs in order of place and offers such pairs the opportunity to represent their district at the nationals. (No stipend is paid by the ACBL to such substitute pairs.) Districts and units might still pay stipends to such pairs. Some districts provide additional stipends (District 16 currently does). Some units provide additional stipends. (Check with your unit’s board.) District-level stipends are paid after the NABC event is held and might be (wholly or partially) withheld if the pair had Zero Tolerance violations at the district and/or national levels. *Exceptions: If 16 or fewer pairs enter the District 16 NAP finals for a given flight, such flight will have a one-day, two-session play-through final to determine the national-level qualifiers for that flight.

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September 10-13, 2026 Playing Site New Braunfels Civic Center 380 Seguin Ave New Braunfels, TX 78130

Thursday, September 10, 2026 – Cost $14 / person / session 10:00 am Stratified Pairs (single session) 3:00 pm Stratified Teams 10:00 am & 3:00 pm 499er Stratified Pairs

Nearby Hotel: $99 / Night Comfort Suites, 1489 N IH 35 (830) 643-1100 Deadline: September 1

Thursday – Friday are Single Sessions

Friday, September 11, 2026 – Cost $14 / person / session 10:00 am & 3:00 pm Stratified Pairs (single sessions) 10:00 am & 3:00 pm 499er Stratified Pairs Saturday, September 12, 2026 – Cost $14 / person / session 10:00 am & 3:00 pm Stratified Pairs (2 Session Play Through) 10:00 am & 3:00 pm 499er Stratified Pairs Sunday, September 13, 2026 – Cost $144 per team 10:00 & TBA Nell Morgan Stratified Swiss Teams Meal served between Sunday’s session

499er Game (3 Table Minimum) Thursday-Saturday

Saturday Games are Grass Roots FUNd Games – Regional Rated – Extra Silver Points Awarded $7 Discount for Students

$4 additional per session for unpaid/lapsed ACBL members

Non-members: must sign up for a FREE Guest Membership go to acbl.org/membership

Stratifications: A: 3001+ B: 0-3000 C: 0-1000 All Events Average MP’s Strats changes at the discretion of the DIC Director: Kevin Perkins Cashless Entry Only Tournament Chair: Ann Kuehler (830) 708-0001 annkuehler@gmail.com

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Partnership Chair: Charlotte Davis (501) 944-8386 cad22200@icloud.com

Hospitality Chair: Elisabeth Kay (210) 484-9340 sqk2009@gmail.com

Summer 2026 NABC in Minneapolis ♠ By Lynn A. Baker D16 NABC Correspondent

he Summer 2026 NABC in Minneapolis, July 8-19, was simply terrific! And not just because District 16 members were so successful in so many events. The Minneapolis Convention Center, where all the bridge events were held, is a centrally located modern facility that offered welllit, spacious, and quiet playing areas on two different floors. The Center was a comfortable walk from many downtown hotels, including the Sheraton where many of the ACBL committee meetings and evening entertainment events were held. A large number and wide variety of excellent restaurants were available within walking distance of both the Center and the hotel. The downtown Minneapolis area was bustling, even on weekends and evenings. And I felt entirely safe walking alone through the well-lit streets in the early morning and after dinner. (My early morning walks always included the iconic Mary Tyler Moore statue at the corner of Nicollet Mall and 7th Street South which recreates her famous hat-tossing scene from the opening credits of her eponymous TV show.) The only ride-shares I needed during the tournament were to and from the airport. In sum, I found Minneapolis to be one of the best NABC tournament locations ever – I would cheerfully return. And the tournament itself was extremely well organized and well run. Kudos to Tournament Chair Patti Stuhlman, and the many hardworking Minneapolis-area volunteers and dedicated ACBL staff who made it all happen! One highlight of every Summer NABC is the Hall of Fame ceremony which takes place on Thursday evening at the start of the tournament. (I am the current Chair of the Hall of Fame Committee and

had the honor of introducing the evening’s charismatic and witty Master of Ceremonies and ACBL Executive Director, Bronia Jenkins.) One of this year’s inductees was Roger Bates of Las Vegas, who received the von Zedtwitz Award for his decades of national and international accomplishments at the bridge table. District 16 Hall of Famers, Mike Passell (Plano) and Eddie Wold (Houston) entertainingly presented and then graciously accepted the Award on behalf of Bates, who was unable to attend. Mike Passell would go on to have a spectacularly successful tournament, finishing 6th in the race for the Fishbein Trophy, which goes to the player who wins the most platinum points at the Summer NABC. Playing on the Goodman team, Mike finished second in the Spingold Knockout Teams, losing in the final to the dominant Fleisher team which led at the end of every quarter in every match they played. (Mike also finished 13th overall in the three-day von Zedtwitz Life Master Pairs and won the two-session International Fund/Educational Foundation Open Pairs playing with Mark Lair of Amarillo.) Another top District 16 finisher in the Spingold was Finn Kolesnik (Austin), whose four-handed team of young experts (and the original 24 seed) had numerous convincing wins, including against the 8 seed and the 9 seed, before losing in the semi-finals to Mike Passell’s team. (Finn also finished 14th in the von Zedtwitz LM Pairs.) Mark Lair finished hot on Mike’s heels in the Fishbein Trophy race and returned home to Amarillo with a gold medal from the three-day Roth Open Swiss Teams as part of the Wildavsky team. Third place in the Roth Open Swiss went to Tim Archdeacon’s team, which included top San Antonio pair Greg Hinze and Venkatrao (“the Colonel”) Koneru. Congratulations to Barbara Ferm (Dallas) who won the two-day Wagar Women’s Pairs convincingly, bringing home District 16's second gold medal!

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Shawn Quinn (Sugar Land) finished 3rd, with several other District 16 players making the overalls of that two-day event: (5) Kristen Onsgard (Dallas); (10) Joan Jackson (Dallas) – Ellen Hessel (San Antonio); (20) Judi Whaling (Houston); (28) Ann Brinker Schwall (Houston). In the two-day Truscott/USPC Senior Swiss Team, District 16’s best finish, 11th, was the almost-all-District 16 team of Joe Quinn (Sugar Land), Ira Hessel (San Antonio), Buddy Hanby-Sally Wheeler (The Woodlands), and Mark Feldman (Austin), joined by Mark Aker of NY. Patricia Herrera (Mexico City, Mexico) finished second in the two-day NABC 0-10,000 Pairs, with Thomas Rush (Houston) coming 10th. The District 16 pair of Pawel Hanus (Carrollton) and Ari Sippola (Richardson) placed 6th in the twoday Oshlag Fast Pairs in which Robert Morris (Houston) finished 17th. In the two-day Bean Red Ribbon Pairs, Mark Pan (Celina) placed 11th. Our District 16 GNT results were strong, with the best showing coming from our Flight A team of Jessie Lee-James Zhan-Ying Peng (Sugar Land), Sarah Chen (Austin), and Mark Pan (Celina) which finished 3/4. Our family affair Championship Flight team of Steve Chen (Austin), playing with teenage sons Charlie and Andrew, along with Danny Feng (Frisco) endOther NABC+ – Top 30 Finishes Spingold Knockout Teams – (9/16) Eric Greco (Frisco); (17/32) Eddie Wold (Houston), Venkatrao Koneru-Greg Hinze (San Antonio), Mark Lair (Amarillo), Bob Hamman (Dallas) Von Zedtwitz LM Pairs – (14) Finn Kolesnik (Austin); (19) Avery Silverstein (Austin); (30) Sally Wheeler-Buddy Hanby (The Woodlands) NABC+ Open Pairs – (11) Joe Quinn (Sugar Land) – Ira Hessel (San Antonio); (24) Andrew Chen-Charlie Chen (Austin); (26) Lynn Baker (Austin) Werner Open Pairs – (27) Arjune Bose (Houston) Roth Open Swiss Teams – (8) Bob Hamman (Dallas); (15) Lynn Baker (Austin)

ed up 5/8. And our Austin-area Flight B team of Lysa Nguyen-Jarek Langer (Austin), Stuart Litwin (Round Rock), and Ben Klauder (Houston, but formerly Austin) also finished 5/8. Congratulations to all! In addition to the GNTs, the Summer NABC features the annual Mitch Dunitz Collegiate Bridge Bowl which awards scholarships to the top four finishers in the Open bracket and top two finishers in the Limited bracket. This year, Alex Han (Katy) finished second in the Open bracket, playing on the Georgia Tech team. Although Georgia Tech lost to UC Berkeley in the final, Alex’s team went home with a $5,000 scholarship. In the Limited bracket playoff for third place, the University of North Texas defeated NYU. Well done, Gioia Folefack (Forney), Rilee Burden (Arlington), and Rohan Srivastava and Thomas Metheos (Denton)! Finally, I want to emphasize that our NABC tournaments are not just for players interested in playing in NABC+ events against world class competition. There are many regional and stratified/bracketed events that enable players of all levels to compete with a chance to win while also gaining valuable experience. I’ve listed below those who placed first or second in two-session events. Well done! I hope to see you in San Diego in November!

Regional Two-Session Events – Top 2 Finishes Steve Gaynor Friday Open Pairs – (2) Eddie Wold-Arjune Bose (Houston) Saturday Mid-Flight Pairs – (1) Chih-Kuang Lee (Houston) and Kas Rangan (Spring) Tom Botten Memorial Sunday 0-4000 Bracketed Round Robin Teams – Bkt 4 – (1) Nathan Yee (Spring); Bkt 7 – (2) Linda Schubert-Loralee Berg (Dallas) Jon Frederic Voedisch Memorial Tuesday Open Swiss Teams – (1) Phillip Grothus (Bucerias, Mexico) and James Breihan (Houston) Detroit Lakes DBC Tuesday 0-4000 Bracketed Teams – Bkt 4 – (1) Cheryl Rider-James Rider-David Sterner-Donna Jordan (Dallas); Bkt 5 (1) Dennis Sucec (Houston); Bkt 6 (1/2) Nathan Yee (Spring)

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Lance Chamberlain Memorial Wednesday Open Pairs – Flight C (2) Allan Chernov (Irving) and Paulette Armstrong (Plano) Kerry Holloway Wednesday TopFlight Swiss Teams – Flight A (2) / Flight X (1)/ Flight Y (1) – Yifu Ouyang (Dallas) Stephen & Sue Jackson Thursday Top-Flight Pairs – (2) Joan Jackson-Norman Beck (Dallas) Friday Collegiate Pairs – Flight C (2) Phoebe Eckstein (Bedford) Haig Tchamitch Friday Bracketed Round Robin Teams – Bkt 2 (1) Sam Shah-Jo Shah (Irving) Patti Stuhlman Saturday TopFlight Swiss Teams – Flight A (1) Sam Dinkin-Avery Silverstein (Austin); (2) Cenk Tuncok (Dallas)

An Event at the Bridge Center of Austin

2026 SEPTEMBER

SECTIONAL

Sept 24th - 27th

Bridge Center of Austin K 6700 Middle Fiskville Rd. Thurs Sept 24th - Sat, Sept 26th Stratified Swiss Teams, single session 10am, 2:30pm Open Pairs, single session 10am, 2:30pm 299er Pairs, single session 10am, 2:30pm

Sun, Sept 27th

Stratiflighted A/X & BCD Swiss Teams 10am & TBD $140 per 4 person team, includes lunch Additional players, $6 each

Entry Fees: $14/session

Students and players with 0-5 Masterpoints pay $7 per session Thursday-Saturday ($4 additional per session for unpaid & non-ACBL members)

STRATIFICATIONS

(Pair & team games based on average MPs)

Open Pairs & Stratified Swiss Teams: (Thursday – Saturday) A: 3000+, B: 750-3000, C: 0-750 299er Pairs: A: 200-300, B: 100-200, C: 0-100 No player may have over 300 MPs

Sunday Stratiflighted Swiss Teams: A: 3000+, X: 0-3000 B: 1500-2500, C: 500-1500, D: 0-500

No player with over 2500 MPs can play in the BCD Swiss

All stratifications are at the director’s discretion Basic Chart for 299ers Basic+ Chart for BCD Swiss Open Chart for all other events

Chair: Steve Luning: steve.luning@gmail.com K 512-492-2698 Partnerships: Earnestine Broyles: laughdoc7@aol.com K 214-906-2722

Online Partnership Requests for this tourney begin August 10th. Here’s the link: http://tinyurl.com/atxbridge This is a Fragrance-Free Tournament

This is a CASHLESS ONLY Tourney

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The Nationals Are Returning to Dallas ♠ By Scott Nason D16 2nd Vice President & Co-chair of Dallas NABC

t wasn’t that long ago that Austin hosted the first Post-Covid NABC. But District 16 is getting another chance to host, with the Spring 2027 NABCs coming to Dallas’s Hyatt Regency Hotel (adjacent to Reunion Tower) in Downtown Big D. From March 11-21, Dallas will be the center of the bridge world, hosting all the normal NABC events – led by the Vanderbilt KO Teams and the Kay Platinum Pairs – plus the four-flighted North American Pairs, which are held once a year in the Spring. Hotel reservations will open on September 22, so make your reservations and join us for a wonderful time in Dallas next March.

Tomi Storey and I are co-chairing the tournament, and we visited the site recently. The hotel is a great venue, with beautiful rooms priced at $209 a night, and lots of space for wonderful bridge, all under one roof. In addition, we are planning some fun and unusual evening activities. Hope you will join in! Volunteers We could use lots of volunteers. If you are so inclined, please contact the volunteer coordinator, Judy Wood and let her know what you would like to do – partnerships, registration, hospitality, novice/intermediate programs, etc. For anything else, please contact either Tomi or me.

Sponsorships and Naming Rights at the Dallas NABC ♠ More Than a Name

By Tomi Storey D16 Advisory Council Representative & Co-chair of Dallas NABC

very bridge tournament has a name, but some names mean far more than others. Throughout the bridge world, events at the NABCs are often named to honor players, partners, teachers, club owners, and others who have made a lasting contribution to the game. Sometimes the honoree is remembered for exceptional play; sometimes for teaching, leadership, friendship, or simply for being an important part of a club and its community. Sometimes an event is named for a club itself – a place to play and belong. When an event carries the name of someone who has passed away, the naming tradition takes on something especially meaningful. That name brings a piece of the past into the present. Those who knew that honoree may remember a partner across the table, a

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favorite opponent, a teacher who made the game come alive, or a friend whose presence is still and always missed. That’s what makes naming rights such a wonderful tradition. A tournament lasts a few days. A score eventually becomes just a number, and a great hand becomes a story. But names endure. When that name is spoken at the bridge table year after year, the person it honors is, in a very real way, still part of the game. Do you have someone you want to recognize and honor? You can name a single session, a two-session event, a two-day event, or an entire day. Recognize your favorite partner, your club, your friend no longer here. Use your imagination. Naming rights are firstcome, first-served. Please contact me for more information and pricing.

Do What You Love to End Alzheimer's Annual Fundraisers ♠ By Evvie Gilbert D16 Scorecard Editor

aybe that new name threw some of us for a loop this year? I heard that one of our district clubs didn’t understand and thought that The Longest Day event wasn’t happening this year. I asked Liz Gorman (Alzheimer’s Representative in the Greater Houston Area) why the name was changed? She said the decision was mainly because they were hoping to encourage participants to fundraise by doing activities that they were passionate about. Well, they nailed it with all of us duplicate bridge players and so as usual, many of our clubs participated and allowed the generosity of our members to shine yet another year! I asked the unit reporters to give me information about clubs that participated this year and I did get some information that I’d like to share with the district’s members. The number of reported participating clubs is 14 with the total amount raised $79,617. Many of the clubs held silent auctions and drawings. Some members donated a stay at a vacation home. Other members donated bridge classes and many just donated their time to play with winning bidders. Some members donated pricey bottles of wine and drawings were held. Some clubs' local businesses such as restaurants donated gift cards. Some clubs donated free plays and held drawings. All in all, the creativity, imagination and generosity

of our members succeeded in making all the events a success. The following is a list of reported participating clubs by unit with the amounts raised at each: Unit 174 – Houston Bridge Academy of West Houston: $16,023 Bridge Club of Houston: $ 3,815 Clear Lake Bridge Club: $15,338 Lone Star Bridge Club: $ 1,960 Star & Pebble Creek DBCs: $ 6,300 Unit 176 – Dallas Friendly Bridge Club: Valley View Bridge Club:

$ 4,500 $ 3,781

Unit 183 – Fort Western Arlington Bridge Club: Granbury Bridge Club:

$ 3,190 $ 15,315

Unit 207 – Texas Capital Bridge Bridge Center of Austin: $ 4,045 San Marcos & Kyle Bridge Clubs: $ 350 Unit 225– East Texas Pittsburg Duplicate Bridge Club: $ 5,000 Please enjoy the following pages of photos from some of the clubs’ events.

Scorecard September/October 2026 | 21

Unit 176

2026 Do What You Love to End ALZ Amount Raised: $ 4,500

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Unit 174

2026 Do What You Love to End ALZ Amount Raised: $3,815

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Unit 174

2026 Do What You Love to End ALZ Amount Raised: $6,300

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Unit 174

2026 Do What You Love to End ALZ Amount Raised: $ 1,960

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Unit 174

2026 Do What You Love to End ALZ Amount Raised: $15,338w

DO WHAT YOU LOVE. HELP END ALZHEIMER’S.

The Alzheimer’s Association® is building on the success of The Longest Day®, their signature Do-It-Yourself fundraising event, with a fresh name — Do What You Love to End ALZ™. The American Contract Bridge League (ACBL) has raised over $12 million to support the care, support and research efforts of the Alzheimer’s Association.

Learn more and join a team at alz.org/acbl. For 24/7 Alzheimer’s care and support, call 800.272.3900.

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Granbury Bridge Club

Unit 183

2026 Do What You Love to End ALZ Amount Raised: $ 15,315

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Pittsburg Duplicate Bridge Club

Unit 225

2026 Do What You Love to End ALZ Amount Raised: $ 5,000

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New Members June - July 2026

172 Dodie Coleman 172 Lynn Strickland 174 Rakesh Bhardwaj 174 James Peek 174 Joyce Pfeil 174 Donna Shirley 174 Patricia Thompson 174 Gary Walia 176 David Colville

176 Jordan Kalev 176 Loren Shipman 183 Jyothi Charyulu 183 Jaya Chilakamarri 183 Julie Hunter 183 J Kelly 183 Donetta Ludwick 183 Maekayla Minton 197 Denise Williams

201 Cheryl Botley 204 Silvia Adney 204 Tracey Duke 207 Samuel Mihalik 209 Morris DeFriend 209 Jacqueline DeFriend 225 Emily Cutrer 225 Liz Elliott

Masterpoint Milestones June - July 2026 Junior Master (5 MPs) 172 Mary Evans 173 Patricia Garza 173 Rebeca Salinas 174 Mary Bange 174 Kevin Dellsperger 174 Charles Hogg 174 Robert Macleod 174 Donna Nebel 174 Susan Salumunek 174 Thomas Sebo 174 Hong Sun 174 Cavin Zeng 176 Jordan Kalev 183 Karen Brown 183 Judy Brownlow 183 Frank Johnson 183 Nick Jones 183 Devon Sharkey 183 Roland Stegall 197 Karen Avey 197 Cecile Ropas 201 Sullivan Wiemers

204 Charles Jones 204 Karrie Self 207 Carol Boyd 209 Don Sparks 225 Pamela Hamilton 225 Bernice Kelley 225 John Kelley 237 Jack Appleton

Club Master (20 MPs)

172 Becky Hild 173 Jean Pierre Gouttebroze 174 Bruce Carlin 174 Suzanne Cornelius 174 Jay Jorns 174 Carol Labreche 174 Sheila Lipkin 174 Bjorn Mossberg 174 Asma Tirmizi 176 Rozlyn Ackermann 176 Brandon van Volkenburgh 207 Andrea Kieffer 207 Bill Moore

209 Scott Dau 209 Tracy Dau 225 William Hibbeler 233 Joan Haney

Sectional Master (50 MPs) 174 June Cullum 174 Michael George 174 Mary Untereker 174 Joseph Weiss 176 Jairaj Hegde 207 Joyce Johnson 207 Marylinn Schwanitz 207 Robert Sedgwick 209 Mary Blair 209 Gwyndolyn Sparks 225 Kathy Boyles 225 John O Sullivan

Regional Master (100 MPs) 174 Alex Han 174 Chih-Kuang Lee

Scorecard September/October 2026 | 29

174 Xueqian Lin 174 Kiran Oberoi 174 Syed Tirmizi 176 Bhushan Sanghi 183 Brandon Buchanan 183 Sue Palmer 183 Rita Scott 183 German Valtierra 207 Terri Fann 207 Chris la Chance 207 Pat Wyman 209 George Kieke 225 Joanna Jewett

NABC Master (200 MPs) 174 Pamela Greenwood 174 Traci McCaskill 174 Randall Rollins 176 Jose Portela 176 Marilee Schmelzer 183 Robert Terry 207 Jane Kecskes 207 Gail Watkins

Advanced NABC Master (300 MPs)

174 Greta Etnyre 174 Alan Schaefer 174 Russell Thomas 174 Paula Towner 174 Hau-Ran Wang 176 Patty Degenhardt 176 Bonnie Keene 176 Rose Whatley 207 Andrew Brice 207 MacDonald Kempf 207 Donna Saltz 207 Jody Westland

Life Master (500 MPs*) 174 Cordelia Cottingim 174 Gary Kerr 176 Robert Neal 183 Linda Neal 207 Jeff Skillin

Bronze Life Master (750 MPs**) 172 Paul Fafoutakis 174 Thomas Brown 174 Cindy Schaefer 207 Jean Durocher 207 Jeff Skillin

183 Annie Mason 183 George Morey 207 Pam Beck 225 Sandra O Bannon

Gold Life Master (2500 MPs)

172 Eugene Lux 174 Bonnie Keough 174 Janice Sandberg 176 Wistie Oppenlander

Sapphire Life Master (3500 MPs) 174 Courtney Coffman 174 Mark Howard 174 Steve Levinson 176 Nancy Fellman 176 Dale Remmers 183 Liz Jacobson 254 Thomas Smith

Silver Life Master (1000 MPs)

172 Lew Spurlock 174 Vivian Cyprus 174 Janice Rush 174 Barbara Sweeney 174 Chris Whitelonis 176 Leonard Epstein 176 Gari Martin 176 Larry Mayo 183 Sharon Bell 207 Michael Rainbird

New Diamond Life Masters (5000 MPs) 174 Nancy Boothe

New Emerald Life Masters (7500 MPs)

Ruby Life Master (1500 MPs)

176 Nancy Stanton

172 Cindy Cummins 172 Bob Steidel 172 Andrea Williams 174 Frederick Gregory 174 Wolfie Kotzen 174 Carol McCord 176 Lawrence Chow 176 James Rider

Platinum Life Master (10000) 172 Daniel Jackson

*Prior to January 1, 2010 - 300 MPs **Prior to January 1, 2010- 500 MPs

In Memoriam *

Scott Anderson, Canyon Lake Connie S. Burnett, Dallas Jerry Jones, Dallas Russell W. Lynne, Georgetown

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* *Life Master

Stuart Nelan, Melissa Robert Sukenik, Dallas

Events Thursday & Friday, Oct 15-16 Stratified 0-500 Pairs Stratified Open Pairs Individual Sessions

10:00 AM & 2:30 PM 10:00 AM & 2:30 PM

Saturday, Oct 17: Stratified Teams (2 sessions)

10:00 AM & ASAP PM

Local Sectional MP Awards: 80% silver / 20% black

Location Fort Worth Bridge Studio 3417 Wellington Rd., Unit 105 Fort Worth, TX, 76116 817-877-3364

**Strats

Thursday & Friday

 Stratified 0-500 Pairs

A = 300-500 B = 100-300 C = 0-100

 Stratified Open Pairs:

A = 2500+ B = 1000-2500 C = 0-1000

Saturday

 Stratified Teams:

Strats based on Team Average Master Points

Fees  Thursday & Friday: $14 per Person per  Saturday: $32 per person for AM & PM o Includes Lunch  Cash only.

Contacts Tournament chair:  Douglas Berke 817-779-1172 douglasberke@gmail.com Director in Charge:  Carolyn Pinto Partnership Chair:  Gloria Fields 817-266-2095 partners183@outlook.com

Scorecard September/October 2026 | 31

Masterpoint Milestone Messages Terri Fann Regional Master Unit 207 – Austin

'm thrilled to get to the next level. As you know, some points are hard earned, ha-ha! I got here by taking Sally Sasson’s beginner lessons at the Bridge Center of Austin, then by following her advice to "Play. Play. Play." I recently learned that club games were just not quite enough to cross the next bridge. Therefore, playing in a sectional this summer to acquire the last bit of necessary silver masterpoints was needed. As I get my ACBL and bridge sea legs, I may have intelligent feedback on how any folks could do things better. For now, let me say thank you [Rebecca Brown] for volunteering your time and leadership and being an integral part of making the community duplicate-bridge fun happen. Belle Harris Gold Life Master Unit 209 – Midland

have loved playing cards my whole life. When I moved to Midland to start my career and I noticed bridge lessons were available at the local college. I didn’t even know there was a card game called bridge, but I liked cards. I took the class and loved the game and have played it ever since. When the college instructor decided to retire, he asked me to take over and I did. I became a certified bridge instructor, and I am still teaching to this day. Of course, I play in all local tournaments and have taken vacations for out-of-town tournaments as well. I’ve gone on many cruises, some of the most memorable ones were to Bermuda Regional. Funny story about that regional: My partner and I were playing in a Swiss Teams event and the opponents were doing very elaborate bidding and got to 7♥. My partner doubled and led ♥A. One opponent said, “Good Double.” Many regional tournaments were done in conjunction with side trips: Richmond, Virginia regional via

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Baltimore, Maryland, Washington, D.C., Virginia Beach then Richmond and a Niagara Falls regional via train to NYC. But perhaps the most exciting game was at a Houston regional. My partner and I wanted to play in the Sunday Swiss Teams, so we put our names at the partnership desk and checked each day – no partners. I decided to try one last time on Sunday morning. I went to the partnership desk. The game was about to start, and still no partners but two men had just walked in and wanted to play. I went over and asked if they would play with us – sure. The clock was ticking. I asked for money and they were throwing it at me. I just barely got an entry. I immediately called my partner, and she came down to the playing area. Our partners had never played together before and were relatively new to the game. You won't believe this… We ended up winning the game and received 20+ gold masterpoints – hoorah! As the years went by the local club needed directors and asked me if I would become a director. I wasn’t really interested in directing but the club was in a bind, so I now direct some games. I am also a certified director. I still love the game and hope it lasts forever. Lois Kertesz Silver Life Master Master Unit 207 – San Marcos

ow – it took 10 years to become a Silver Life Master! Ten years ago, after my husband died, I went to the senior activity center for game day. I joined the bridge group because it was the only game I really enjoyed. I hadn't played bridge much since my college days, except for a little online. One of the gentlemen asked if I had ever played ACBL [duplicate] bridge. When I told him no, he gave me the information and encouraged me to check it out. The next week I went to Harry Ingham's game in San Marcos. Everyone was so friendly and welcoming. The games were exciting, challenging, and exactly what I needed. I've always loved competition, and I knew I had found my people. At the time, earning the 500 masterpoints needed to become a Life Master

seemed impossible, but it became my goal. I learned to play bridge from my high school girlfriend's mother, who insisted her daughters play with her. I became their 4th. In college, I said I majored in bridge and minored in pinochle. Moving on to the real world, I tried teaching my husband to play, but his heart just wasn't in it. Later, I occasionally filled in as a fourth player for some teacher friends. I also played online on Pogo and on a subscription-site called Swan. Someone there suggested I try a new site called BBO when it launched in 2005. Back then, you had to download the program to play. Fast-forward to the present. I played with many different partners until I found my regular partner, Annetta Hughson. We played together for many years earning black masterpoints for 2nd and 3rd places. Luckily, we live between Austin, San Antonio and Houston – all drivable distances so we can go to tournaments easily. Annetta needed only 300 masterpoints so she earned her Life Master several years before I earned mine in 2023. At tournaments the last few years we try to play Swiss Teams. It adds a little twist to regular duplicate bridge games. Bridge is, without a doubt, the best game in the world. It combines competition, strategy, logic, partnership, lifelong learning, and wonderful friendships. Reaching Silver Life Master is a milestone I'm incredibly proud of, but even more than the title, I'm grateful for the people I've met and the journey that brought me here. Chih-Kuang Lee Regional Master Unit 174 – Houston

fter starting my full-time job, I finally had enough time to return to playing bridge regularly. Every club game and tournament has become a valuable learning opportunity for me. After every pairs event, I make it a habit to review the boards and record the bidding sequences. I then go back and analyze my thought process during the auction, as well as my declarer play and defense. I believe that if I can learn just one new idea from each tournament, those small lessons will accumulate into significant improvement over time. Reaching Regional Master is a meaningful milestone for me, but it is certainly not the end of my bridge journey. I look forward to continuing to learn,

improve, and enjoy this wonderful game for many years to come. Xueqian Lin Regional Master Unit 174 – Houston

started learning to play bridge in May 2023 and joined the ACBL in October 2024. I play both online and F2F with friends. In 2024, the Texas Bridge Association awarded me “The Most Improved Player.” I earned my Regional Master level in less than four years of playing bridge. In short, my aim is to learn a lot and play a lot. Catharine Mannering Club Master Unit 172 – Comfort

y journey has been a long one. I learned to play bridge my freshman year in college in 1965 in Virginia. I immediately fell in love with the game and even made better grades after I learned to play bridge. I played every chance I got. In the early 1970’s I met a lovely little 90-year-old lady who said, “Honey, would you like to learn to play duplicate?” And I said “Yes. Yes. Yes.” She took me to my first sanctioned game. I joined ACBL. I was able to play with her until she passed away. By that time, I had earned 1.67 masterpoints and didn’t play in another sanctioned game until about 2 years ago, when I found one in Kerrville. I asked a dear friend – a 94-year-old named Joyce – to go with me and she and I have been really enjoying the game. I really believe you get better when you play with better players. I was so excited when I earned over 20 masterpoints and became a Club Master. Gay Roach Diamond Life Master Unit 225 – Nacogdoches

n duplicate bridge, every masterpoint tells a story. Some are earned in local club games, others at sectional and regional tournaments, or North American Bridge Championships. Together, they mark years of learning, competition, friendships, and perseverance. Achieving Dia-

Scorecard September/October 2026 | 33

mond Life Master in the American Contract Bridge League is one of the most significant milestones in that journey. On July 6, I reached that designation. Since I live in a smaller town, Nacogdoches, my journey was different from most. There are few points to be gained by playing in a smaller club and there are fewer people willing to travel to sectional, regional and national tournaments from a small town, so I became a “pick-up” partner. I must have an affinity for it because the first sectional I ever played in there was an event called “Individual Movement,” which probably does not exist anymore. You move from table to table and play with a new partner each round. With approximately 5 masterpoints to my name, I won the event. My path was set. From Seattle to Boston to Florida to San Francisco I traveled, when time would allow from my busy real estate business, picking up partners along the way. I always say that bridge is a partnership game and that it is impossible to reach this rank alone. I’ve had dozens, if not hundreds, of wonderful people who helped me along the way, and I thank each and every one of them. When I first decided to become a Life Master, I had 229 masterpoints including 1 gold point. I traveled one long weekend a month to various tournaments and by July 1 went over 300 masterpoints and won the remaining 25 gold masterpoints on the same day. Then, of course, as luck would have it, there was a tournament already on my schedule for Albuquerque. I was the last one standing at the partnership desk and a lady said, “Well come on!” My partner had 1,300 masterpoints and they picked up another couple, one from Canada and one from Los Angeles, with 2,000 between them. We won the 1st round; we won the 2nd round. Someone said you will be playing against Cappelletti tomorrow! During the play of the round three, the opponents were in 6NT and I laid the lead of the ♠2 on the table. The declarer looked at the lead. The declarer looked at the dummy. And then the declarer sailed his convention card across the room and said, “That is the only lead that will defeat this contract!” So on to the final round and being beaten, but not blitzed, by a team from Dallas, I wound up with 24.73 more gold masterpoints. Bridge is unique because improvement truly never ends. I am thrilled about the milestone and hope that others with similar backgrounds never give up. And the adventure continues!

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Asma Tirmizi Club Master Unit 174 – Katy

hen my mom got married my dad taught her to play bridge. They used to play then started arguing. My mom gets very angry so they would not talk to each other. Our home and kids suffered, so my mom quit playing to balance the household. When I was getting married the only thing my mom said to me,"If your husband plays bridge, don’t play. If you play bridge, don’t let your husband play... otherwise your house will be in shambles." So I took her word for it. My husband, Syed Tirmizi, has been playing for many years now. A few months ago he said, “Look, the kids are grown. I will not fight with you so you should start to learn bridge.” One day he told me, “There is a person, Steve Ho Lung, who teaches bridge on Thursday at senior center. Just come with me, see if you like it.” Everyone was so welcoming and I really enjoyed myself. That was the end of July 2025, my first interaction with bridge. I attended three or four classes and my husband, who is an avid bridge player, kept teaching me. I am glad I had help with bridge 24/7. He took me to a game after only four classes. We made a pact. I was a bit scared before, but my husband said, “Don’t worry; you will learn only when you get thrashed in the game.” He has always been my driving force. We came first in the first game and I earned black masterpoints and our picture was taken. I got very excited; it gave me more confidence and my better half is always there to support me. I would see people all around me with hundreds and thousands of points. I felt very tiny among them. Gradually I started accumulating masterpoints which gave me some more confidence, along with all the support from my husband and my friends at the Katy Senior Center. Moving slowly up to Rookie, Junior Master now in less than a year, I am sitting with the rank of Club Master...Sky is the limit!

TWO TOURNAMENTS IN ONE! OCTOBER 15-17, 2026 ARABIA SHRINERS 10510 Harwin Dr., Houston, TX 77036

Open Sectional AND Non-Life Master Regional GOLD/RED Points awarded in NLM Regional SILVER POINTS awarded in Open and Bracketed Swiss

Thursday, Friday, Saturday Oct 15-17 Open Pairs Non-Life Master Pairs Bracketed Swiss Teams STRATIFIED OPEN PAIRS A: 4000+ B: 1500-4000 C: 0-1500

Single Sessions Double Sessions Two Sessions Box lunches $10 Cash only for Lunch $1 Coffee & Sodas

10:00 & 2:30 10:00 & 2:30 10:00 & 2:30 Non-Life Master Pairs A: 500-750 B: 200-500 C: 0-200

I/N Regional is Limited to Non-Life Masters under 750 MPs Single Session Entries are Allowed Single Session Open Pairs Pay Overall Points Each Session Pair Average Used for All Events Strats May Be Adjusted by the Director to Balance for Strength of Players Session Fee $17 Credit Card Only Addt’l $4 for lapsed members Tournament Chairs: Lesley Kellet 713-852-7198 lellybean@msn.com Judi Whaling 832-661-1644 judiwhaling@gmail.com Open Partnership Chairs Marilyn Leiman 713-478-3802 marilyn.leiman@gmail.com

I/N Partnership Chair Maria Luzia Turner 832-633-9433 jturner102@att.net

Scorecard September/October 2026 | 35

D16

Gary Blaiss & Greg Loran 78.87% Lubbock – LLano Estacado Bridge Club Joe Quinn & Winnie Mohsenzadeh 77.04% Houston – Bridge Academy of West Houston John Gibson & Neal Marshbanks 75.89% Lubbock – LLano Estacado Bridge Club Abel Pushkar & Anita Voguel 75.42% Mexico City – CDMX Bridge Center Ross Ramsey & Liz Jacobson 75% Denton – Robson Ranch Denton Bridge Club John Erickson & Deb Alexander 74.87% Conroe – Lone Star Bridge Club Robert Morris & Betty Starzec 74.44% Houston – Bridge Academy of West Houston Wayne Outlaw & Susan Pennington 73.75% Orange – Orange Community Bridge League Susan Pennington & Carol McGill 73.75% Orange – Orange Community Bridge League Ross Ramsey & Brian Eaton 73% Colleyville – Colleyville DBC Greg Loran & Robbie Butts 72.92% Lubbock – LLano Estacado Bridge Club Rick Barrett & Paul Nimmons 72.22% Houston – Bridge Academy of West Houston Dorita Montelongo & Claudia Garciadiego 71.43% Mexico City – CDMX Bridge Center Margaret Jackson & LaRue Smith 71.43% Beaumont – Beaumont Bridge Studio Robert Mcgill & Carol Mcgill 71.43% Orange – Orange Community Bridge League Uday Chandra & Bansi Shah 71.13% Dallas – Friendly Bridge Club Carole O'Connor & Jerry Harrington 71.06% San Antonio – Fiesta Bridge Club

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+ Club

Neal Perlman & Joy Foster 70.83% San Angelo – Fort Concho (Unit 204) Dean Domec & Michele Domec 70.83% Beaumont – Beaumont Bridge Studio Will Anthony & Mary Hildebrand 70.71% Lubbock – LLano Estacado Bridge Club Norma Walker & Vicky Fisher 70.56% San Angelo – Fort Concho (Unit 204) Athena Jeung & Jyoti Boppana 70.41% Plano – Friendly Bridge Club Neal Perlman & Joy Foster 70.37% San Angelo – Fort Concho (Unit 204) Bob Holliday & Joe Gill 71.36% Plano – Friendly Bridge Club Nancy Smalley & Martha Sigler 70.37% Beaumont – Beaumont Bridge Studio Charlene Sands & Kalyan Venkat 70.25% Austin – Bridge Center of Austin Pawel Hanus & Ari Sippola 70.20% Dallas – Friendly Bridge Club (Unit 176 Game) Karen Bell & David Worrall 70% Pittsburg – Pittsburg DBC Margaret Jackson & LaRue Smith 70% Beaumont – Beaumont Bridge Studio Reporting D16 70% + Games he D16 70% + Club recognizes members who have scored 70% or higher scores in one of the district’s club masterpoint games that is open or non-restricted club game. 70% + Games must be reported to Scorecard. The club director, manager or any player may send an email with the subject: D16 70% + Club. Be sure to include the club’s name and location. Games will be reported on a first-come, first-served.

Unit 172 - San Antonio

Unit 174 - Houston

By Ellen Hessel

By Jack LaVigne

s the dog days of summer wind down and we ease into what hopefully will be cooler and less erratic weather, our unit members sadly continue to dwindle. Fiesta Bridge Club has recently opened up a Saturday game at the JCC on the second and fourth Saturdays of the month with the hope of appealing to those in our unit who have day jobs and possibly bring in some new folks and some who have only played online. Let's hope folks take advantage of these games. We had our annual Luau Unit Game on August 15. Ann Kuehler and Bob Doerr took honors as the most Polynesian-spirited participants. St. Thomas Episcopal Church provided the facilities, while Unit 172 members Mary Harrington, Jo Ann Robertson, Stephanie Stevens and Patty Gardner commanded the kitchen to produce Hawaiian kebabs. Side dishes appeared in abundance as provided by the general membership. A total of 20 tables (16 in the open section; 4 in the 499er section) played a single session of bridge. Winners included: Rosemary Kelley & Bill McCarty (1st), Carol Ramberg & John Hilbig (2nd), Ann Kuehler & Charlotte Davis (3rd). Winners in the 499er group were: Neill Amsler & Cindy Parker (1st), Sharon Doerr & Bob Doerr (2nd), Donnelle Blahuta & Norman Blahuta (3rd). A miniature business meeting wedged between lunch and bridge showed a healthy bottom line for the unit, with $82,000 tucked away in Fidelity Investment Group. Membership was also introduced to the candidates vying for three open positions on the board of directors: Kathy Goddard, Ellen Hessel, Ira Hessel, Daniel Jackson and Wanda Mikhail. Here’s hoping that you’ll all join us for our Diane Olson Election Sectional which coincides with the District NAP finals which will be held at the San Antonio Jewish Community Center at 12500 NW Military Hwy, October 29-November 1, 2026. Also hope you’ll join us on Saturday, October 3 at St. Thomas Episcopal Church for a one session Unit Game. Snacks will begin at 11:30 and the game will be at 12. See you there!

reetings from Unit 174 Clubs and players to District 16! Late summer is upon us and we're in the midst of our Awesome Summer Sectional as I meet this issue's deadline. You'll be able to see who the winners are in the November/December issue. As you know, Unit 174 sponsors the Future Life Master program that is intended to encourage and welcome the unit's 0-99 members to play. They are hosting a special game on September 12 and you can read about the details in this issue. You can also find out more about the program and find the game schedules by visiting FLM website. The unit's next tournament in October will be held at the Shriners and the flyer can be seen here. Our unit board calls this the Two Tournaments in One because it is both an open sectional and an NLM regional allowing all of our Life Masters to earn silver masterpoints but more importantly giving our NLM members the opportunity to earn both red and gold masterpoints. Our unit board is busy preparing for the January 25-31 Betty & Milton Freedman Houston Lone Star Regional. For detailed information about the events and hotel information, you can see the flyer here. The unit and several of our clubs are moving because the Shriners venue is being sold, so the unit's board is searching for sites for future sectional tournaments. These facilities require approximately 6000 square feet or more within the unit's geographical area. If you know of any suitable site, please let one of the unit board members know. You can find all board member emails on the unit's website. News from Unit 174 Clubs Apple Duplicate Bridge Clubs Weekly Game Schedule Open games are held Mondays and Fridays at 11:30 a.m. Big News Apple clubs will be moving to 9800 Richmond, Suite 120 that is located one building west of the Gessner/Richmond intersection on the north side of the road. You can follow this link for how to find us.

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The move date is scheduled to happen in September so make sure to watch the club's website and listen for announcements about the specific move in day.

Bridge Academy of West Houston Big News The Bridge Academy of West Houston (BAWH) will be moving to 9800 Richmond, Suite 120 that is located one building west of the Gessner/Richmond intersection on the north side of the road. You can follow this link for how to find us. The move date is scheduled to happen in September so make sure to watch the club's website and listen for announcements about the specific move-in day. Suite 120 is on the first floor. There is handicapped parking available. Members are requested to park on the third or fourth floors of the parking garage. There is an elevator from the third floor of the garage to the first floor. BAWH hosts pairs games at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesdays-Thursdays. The Eight is Enough Swiss Teams is held monthly on a Saturday. You can find the club's game schedules on the website. Remember to come early so you can take advantage of Joe Quinn's mini-lessions that start at 10:00 a.m. and run about 15-20 minutes. BAWH had two celebrations in July: • Kerr Godfrey 75th Birthday Party On Wednesday, July 15, we gathered to celebrate Kerr Godfrey with a special party hosted by his wife, Debbi Balter, who generously provided a delicious spread of food for everyone to enjoy. Kerr is well known throughout our club for his outstanding card play, thoughtful analysis at the table, and his trademark dry wit that always keeps his partners and opponents smiling. • Lesley Kellet – Life Master Party

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Our congratulations were given to Lesley Kellet, who recently achieved the rank of Life Master. Members and friends gathered on Wednesday, July 22 to celebrate this well-earned milestone with her.

Bridge Club of Houston

The Bridge Club of Houston (BCOH) is located at 4688 Louetta Road (NE Corner of Louetta and Kuykendahl) in Spring. It hosts pairs games (both open and pointed-limited games Mondays-Wednesdays and Fridays-Saturdays weekly. It also hosts Swiss Teams games on the first Sunday and their Tuesdays each month. Besides F2F games, BCOH also hosts online games on BBO®. You can see all the game schedules on the club's website. Since the last report, BCOH hosted a 4th of July Celebration and you can enjoy their Good Time with Good Friends photos:

Celebrating Freedom, Friends & Fun at Bridge

Clear Lake Bridge Club Clear Lake Bridge Club (CLBC) is located at 16614 Sea Lark, Houston 77062. The club closes for most Unit 174 tournaments, Thanksgiving and Christmas. You can reach it at 281-480-1911. CLBC holds both open and point-limited pairs games six days/week ( Monday-Saturday). On Sundays, Swiss Teams Games are held and monthly one

of those is an Eight is Enough Game. You can see the game schedules on the club's website. Bridge Labs (Supervised Play) Bridge Labs are supervised pairs games on Sundays and Tuesdays from 2:00-5:00 p.m. These games are not sanctioned games but are designed to offer a way for newer bridge players coaching and enable them to transition more comfortably into the ACBL-sanctioned games. Big News Beginning in September, the club is doing two new things: • 'Sit-Out' Solution

The club will be experimenting with a solution to ‘SitOuts’. When there is a ‘half table’, a designated table will be set up where each partnership can play the ‘sit out’ boards against robots. The experiment will last through September and then be submitted to a membership vote, on whether to continue.

• Fast Pairs The club will introduce a ‘fast pairs’ game at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday evenings.

Lone Star Bridge Club Lone Star Bridge Club holds games at St. Paul Methodist Church at 1100 West Semands Street, Conroe. Open games are held on Mondays at 11:45 a.m. and Thursdays at

10:30 a.m. A Mentor/Mentee game is held the third Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. Game Fee is $5.00. Free Lesson Diamond Life Master Jeff Kroll gives a free lesson the first Monday of every month at 10:50 a.m. He is an inspirational teacher and everyone should take advantage of his presentations. Lucky for us, there is an archive! Click here if you are unable to attend his lessons. Northside Bridge Club, LLC Games are held every Friday at Restoration Church, 107 Fish Creek Thoroughfare, Montgomery. As you enter the parking lot, drive around to the back of the property and enter at the lower level. The game begins at 10:30 a.m., with a $5.00 entry. Snacks are offered along with coffee and iced tea, and players are welcome

to bring treats to share with fellow players. There is a break for lunch, so bring your sack. A microwave, ice maker and refrigerator are available for use. If you need a partner, please contact Carol Meade at 281-543-4541 or email her at meadecm@icloud. com and she will do her best to assist you in getting a partner. Please contact Norm (281-795-6664) or Joyce Gautier (713-249-8767) or email them at Gautier39@ comcast.net for further information. Star Duplicate Bridge Club The Star/Pebble Creek Duplicate Bridge Club has their games in a beautiful venue, with spectacular views of the Pebble Creek Country Club golf course. Games are held on Mondays and Fridays at 9:15 a.m. For more information, contact Club Manager Richard Duble, 917-324-8421, Richard.duble@yahoo. com. Sugarland Bridge Club Games are every Tuesday beginning at 9:30 a.m. at Lago Mariscos Mexican Seafood Restaurant, 2329 Hwy 6, Sugar Land. Players are invited to stay for lunch at the restaurant following the game. If you have questions about the games, you can contact Mariah Stopper at 713-817-6899 or email her.

Unit 176 - Dallas By Jackie Brown

A Happy Birthday! e celebrated David Luzatto’s 96th Birthday at the Unit 176 July 4th celebrations.

David Luzatto 96th Happy Birthday Party!

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Unit Game Sunday, July 19 Friendly Bridge Club hosted our unit game in July. There were 18 tables in play. Mary Jane Brock and Lorraine Little were first in A, N/S with 67.65%. Bob Scallan and Suresh Agrawal were first E/W with 61.21%. Linda Harley and Janet Borg were first in B & C with 59.30%. Unit Game Sunday, August 16 Friendly Bridge Club also hosted the next unit game at King of Glory Church at 12.30 on Sunday, August 16 which was after this issue’s submission deadline. Watch the next issue for winners. An NABC Winner Barbara Ferm of Dallas won the 2026 Summer NABC Wagar Women’s Pairs in Minneapolis last month, winning 100.0 Platinum points. Well done, Barbara! I/N Tournament July 30 – August 1 Friendly Bridge Club had their inaugural Intermediate/Newcomer Sectional (0-750) on Thursday, July 30 – Saturday, August 1. It was a great success - thank you to all 55.5 tables of players that participated. Jay Gibson and Valarie Remmers are so pleased that so many came out and played and had fun! They didn't know what to expect since we the date about finalized four months before the tournament. Thank you to the unit and district for publicizing and all of you (like Ruth Nelson) that told everyone they knew. Players outside of Unit 176 came from Tyler, Denton, Farmers Branch, Arlington and North Richland Hills, and some from the outer edges of our unit like Rockwall and Sherman. A few first-time tournament players, and one player- Bansi Shah - who earned the silver points he needed to become a life master! A special shoutout to the following individuals and businesses that donated gift certificates and gift cards for our players: Country Burger, Little Greek, and Henry's Ice Cream all at the intersection of Parker and Independence - less than a mile from our Plano location; Chilangos Tacos at Alpha & Preston near our Dallas location; Martin's Music Cafe in our Dallas location, Unit 176 for a free play at the Dallas Regional, and Dorsey Shah for her fabulous desserts. Please frequent these great establishments for helping us make our event even more fun. This 0-750 sectional included all players with 750 or less masterpoints regardless of life master status and awarded 100% silver points. We had players who were nearing that 750 mark, and some that had zero mas-

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terpoints - and everything in between. The sectional was held in Plano on Thursday and Friday. Those who attended Friday had to endure a room without a working air conditioner and being moved into the cool room once the open game concluded. They were great sports. Saturday the tournament moved to the Dallas location, and the fun continued. Again, Many Thanks to all of you who came out and played in the tournament, and the open game players who played in a separate game - but cheered on the 0-750 players in the other room/part of the room. Valarie and Jay learned a lot and promise to run an even better tournament the next time. Here's to more Intermediate/Newcomer Sectionals and events in Unit 176 and District 16. Here's a summary of the results (there were two sessions each day - all stratified 0-200, 200-500, 500750 average masterpoints): Thursday Morning: Terry McComas and James Williams, 1st in A, B & C with 62.5%. N/S Jyoti Boppana and Athena Leung 1st in A & B with 59.86%. E/W John O’Sullivan and Joanna Jewett 1st in C with 57.82%. Thursday Afternoon: Tony and Carol Arthur 1st in A with 64.79% N/S Karen Bowman and Jordan Kaleb 1st in B & C with 55.56% N/S Jyoti Boppana and Athena Leung 1st in A & B with 60.49% E/W James Williams and Terry McComas 1st in B & C with 63.54% E/W Friday Morning: Jyoti Boppana and Athena Leung 1st in A & B with 60.49% N/S Gayle Page and Michael Parsons 1st in C with 54.33% N/S Joanna Jewett and John O’Sullivan 1st in A,B & C with 63.99% E/W Friday Afternoon: Larry Fritz and Bansi Shah 1st in A & B with 59.04% N/S Jan Van Hummel and Tim Baris 1st in C with 56.47% N/S Jyoti Boppana and Athena Leung 1st in A & B with 55.32% E/W Joanna Jewett and John O’Sullivan 1st in C with 50.8% E/W

Saturday Morning: Anne Curry and Beth Castleberry 1st in A with 63.10% N/S Terry McComas and James Williams 1st in B & C with 54.76% N/S Bansi Shah and Uday Chandra 1st in A & B with 66.67% E/W William Duff and Margaret Jo Duff 1st in C with 51.19% E/W Saturday Afternoon: Anne Curry and Beth Castleberry 1st in A with 58.93% N/S Bonnie Keene and Stephanie Strom 1st in C with 55.95% N/S Bansi Shah and Uday Chandra 1st in A & B with 71.13% E/W Frederick Baptista and Tammy Hodge 1st in C with 57.14% E/W Bentonville, Arkansas Regional Several from the Unit 176 attended the Bentonville Regional. Here is a photo of most of us.

Dallas Labor Day Regional Dallas is hosting our annual Labor Day Regional from September 2-7. The tournament is back at The Renaissance Hotel in Richardson located at 900 E. Lookout Drive. This year is going to be extra special with free coffee each morning, breakfast pastries, donuts and fruit on Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday as well as afternoon treats on Friday afternoon and a free lunch on Monday. We have a new event on Friday called “Bracketed Pairs”. Please join us! The Longest Day Alzheimer’s tournaments (ALZ week) Friendly and Valley View Bridge Clubs both hosted an Alzheimer’s fund raiser game on different days. Hot

Dogs with all the trimmings and Apple Crisp and Ice Cream were served and enjoyed by all. Over $8,000 was raised that week! Make sure to read and see the photos from many of the District 16 clubs that participated in this issue.

Unit 183 - Fort Western By John Coe Robbins

nit 183 will hold the Fort Western Sectional Tournament October 15-17 at the Fort Worth Studio on Wellington Road. Food will be provided for the team games on Saturday. The flyer with all the details appears elsewhere in this issue. Arlington DBC News At a special membership meeting, the Arlington Duplicate Bridge Club voted to continue its standing as a full-service club with seven-day a week game potential by renewing the lease on its Fielder Road studio through October 31, 2028. The decision was supported by several initiatives, including an earlier increase in table rates, a unit policy of revenue sharing, and generous gifts from members. To encourage future donations, the Arlington club also voted to apply to the Internal Revenue Service for full 501(c)(3) charitable status, which would make donations tax exempt. Kudos to club member and attorney Karen Caton along with President Larz Smith and Treasurer George Morey for their research and development of the proposal, which allows the club to join more than thirty other clubs around the country that have benefitted financially by qualifying for this status. The Arlington club also established an online link anyone can use to make donations to the club. ALZ Funraising Congratulations to David Lemasters and the Granbury Bridge Club for again raising a five-figure amount to support Alzheimer’s research via The Longest Day program. The Arlington Bridge club also reported a substantial donation. Details are in a separate article. Club Closures In coordination with the Dallas Labor Day Regional Tournament, the Arlington Bridge Club will close September 2-7. The Fort Worth Studio will close Friday, September 4 through Labor Day.

Scorecard September/October 2026 | 41

Finally, perhaps the best bridge advice ever from a comment posted recently online: “Always disregard bridge advice beginning with always and never listen to advice beginning with never.”

on Fridays for the 299er game at 12:45 p.m. after the lesson. All players are guaranteed a partner. Thank you to our teachers: Phyllis Kinnison, Gwen Wright, P Scott Vaughan, Mary Hildebrand, and Greg Loran. Halloween Invitation

Unit 197 - Llano Estacado By Tricia Grimstead

s summer comes to a close, the Llano Estacado Unit has much to celebrate after many members enjoyed success in tournaments this season. In June, 11 members traveled to the Midland Tall City Sectional tournament and earned a combined 43.03 masterpoints: P Scott Vaughan, John Gibson, Linda Reves, Cissy Lara, Marsha Poster, Darnell Dingle, Francis Thornberry, Saundra Wallace, Gunilla Botros, Peggy Frick, and Brian Cleveland. P Scott Vaughan also competed in Austin Firecracker Regional in July and earned 3.14 masterpoints. Peggy Frick traveled to the Tyler Tournament of Roses Sectional in July and earned 1.84 masterpoints. We are proud of their efforts and know they brought West Texas hospitality to each tournament. New Unit Board Our Board of Directors met over the summer to elect new officers. Barbara Bridges is the new president, Mary McCrary is the vice president, and P Scott Vaughan is our D16 Board of Directors representative. Also, Phyllis Kinnison has stepped down as our Unit Secretary Unit 197 and Electronic Contact. The board President has nominated me (Tricia GrimBarbara Bridges stead) to assume those responsibilities. The remaining officers will continue in their current roles. We also extend our sincere thanks to Gwen Wright for her many years of service as president. Bridge Classes This fall, we will again offer ACBL’s Intro to Bridge Beginning Series 1 and Series 2 as ten-week classes on Fridays and Wednesdays. We hope these classes will help grow our membership while giving all members additional opportunities to strengthen their bridge skills. Beginner Lessons – Series 1 begins on September 11, and Intermediate Lessons – Series 2 begins on September 9. We also invite newer players to join us

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Halloween is just around the corner, and we are planning a fun celebration on October 30. We encourage each member to bring a favorite dish to share and stay to play bridge after lunch. If you are in the area, please join the festivities – and feel free to wear a costume!

Unit 201 - Sabine Neches By Linda Briggs

July 4th 250 Party he Beaumont Bridge Studio celebrated the 4th of July with a game to celebrate the United States' 250th Birthday. Many of our members came in the colors for the celebration:

Free Bridge Lessons Unit 201 teachers, Nancy Smalley and Bob Townley-Smith, continue to teach free lessons. Congratulations to Bob for earning his ACBL teaching certificate recently. Bob Awards Townley-Smith Party Alert A “Going-Away” party is planned for Kaz Bell September 9. DWYL On June 17 and 19 Unit 201 participated in Do What You Love to End Alzheimer's, the partnership between the ACBL and the Alzheimer's Association with the goal of raising funds to fight Alzheimer's

disease. Approximately $100 was raised. Check out the D16 70%+ Club to see all our members who scored 70%+ games since our last report.

Unit 204 - Fort Concho By Troy Harvey

Fort Concho Had a Big Showing in Midland an Angelo club members had another big showing at the Midland Tall City Tournament in June. Fort Concho had 19 members who attended this year, with most staying for the entire tournament. Collectively, our members earned an impressive 121.8 masterpoints. To put that in perspective, Fort Concho members earned 104.48 masterpoints in 2025 and 61.98 in 2024. We continue to improve each year, and these numbers show just how competitive our club has become. The tournament awarded a total of 363.33 masterpoints, with 74 players participating. Club member Carl McGill, playing with his Abilene partner Jo Smith, once again finished as the overall winners. That makes two years running – and maybe more! Congratulations to Carl and Jo Smith & Carl McGill Tall City Tournament Jo on another outstanding Overall Winners tournament. Midland always puts on a terrific tournament, and the new venue this year was a great choice. San Angelo had a wonderful turnout and will definitely be back again next year! Some Impressive 70% Games We had several notable games during this reporting cycle. On June 9, Neal Perlman and Joy Foster posted a terrific 70.74% game in a six-table field.

Joy Foster & Neal Perlman

Then, on June 23, Neal and Joy did it again, this time scoring 70.83% in a five-table game. And there is more good news for Joy. Joy Foster

recently reached Silver Life Master status! Congratulations, Joy, on a great accomplishment! Another standout performance came on July 15, when Norma Walker and Vicky Fisher posted a 70.56% game in a seven-table field. These ladies are consistent winners at Norma Walker & Vicky Fisher

the club. Great job, Norma and Vicky – keep up the good work! Slam Pot Winners

Nancy Greer and Charlotte Sisco are our recent Slam Pot winners! And here is the hand that did it: The dealer was West and North/South passed throughout the auction. The bidding was: 1♠ – 2♣ – 2♠ – 4NT – 5♥ – 5NT – 6♦ – 7♠. The opening lead was the ♣Q. Congratulations to Charlotte and Nancy on bidding and making the grand slam – and taking home the Slam Pot! A Little Dirt Work – and Just in Time! The Fort Concho clubhouse has had some problems with water coming in from the parking lot behind the building, mainly because of poor drainage. We believe the problem is now fixed, thanks to John John Osborne Osborne!

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John brought in his tractor/bulldozer and did some grading work to improve the drainage – and he finished just in time for a big rain. Yes, it really does rain in San Angelo! A big thank-you to John for stepping up and getting the job done. Always Something to Celebrate There is always a reason to celebrate at the club!

Meet Bryson – Fort Concho’s Youngest Member Fort Concho Unit 204 is proud to introduce Bryson, our youngest member and one of the brightest young faces in our bridge community. Bryson Cabrera

Bryson’s grandfather, Barry Jackson, recently became a certified bridge director and now hosts Barry Jackson

Happy Birthday to Paige Ragsdale, Carol Bennet and MJ McCord. We hope you ladies had a wonderful birthday! Save the Dates! San Angelo will host our Texas Independence Local Sectional Tournament March 25–27, 2027. The tournament will run Thursday through Saturday, since March 28 is Easter Sunday. Mark your calendars now and stay tuned – more details will be coming soon! Playing in the Midwest One of our club members spent the summer in Michigan and took the opportunity to play at a couple of local bridge clubs – one in the Downriver Detroit area and another in Toledo, Ohio. It was a great reminder that no matter where you go, the love of the game is the same. The faces may change and the level of competition may vary, but the enjoyment of sitting down at a bridge table with fellow enthusiasts is universal. Bridge truly travels well! When you’re away from San Angelo, seek out a local club, introduce yourself, and enjoy a game. You’re likely to find friendly people, good competition, and maybe even a few new bridge friends along the way.

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sanctioned games on Sunday afternoons. With usually three to four tables in play, Bryson has become a regular at the Sunday game – and recently celebrated his first 1st-place finish! Bryson’s involvement with bridge began earlier this year when he volunteered as one of the caddies at the San Angelo Sectional Bridge Tournament in March, where he did an outstanding job. Since then, his interest in the game has continued to grow. Now 13 years old, he spends a lot of time with his grandfather, Barry, whose enthusiasm for bridge is contagious. When Barry isn’t working or walking his three dogs – maybe four – he’s usually thinking about bridge, and that passion has clearly rubbed off on Bryson. With Barry’s guidance and regular table time at the Sunday games, Bryson is quickly developing into a promising young player. When asked what he would tell other young people about bridge, Bryson’s advice was simple: “Give it a try, especially if you enjoy strategy and a challenge.” We congratulate Bryson on his early success and hope his enthusiasm inspires other young people to give bridge a try. Welcome to Fort Concho Unit 204, Bryson. We’re glad to have you at the table!

Unit 207 - Texas Capital Bridge By Susanna Busico

San Marcos & Kyle Clubs The San Marcos and Kyle Bridge Clubs meet Mondays at 11:00 a.m. at their new site, Buffalo Wild Wings, 1400 Aquarena Springs Drive in San Marcos. Come for a great game and good food. Their second weekly game is Wednesday, 11:55 at Kyle CiCi's, where they have been for over 11 years! Both games will be supporting Charity and awarding the big points! Barbara Morgan and Martin Fitch will be filling in to direct the games on September 2 and 7. Make plans now for the New Braunfels Sectional September 10-13 and a Sectional September 24–27 in Austin. Kingsland Club The Kingsland Bridge Club will likely restart hosting games in mid-September, but it is advised to check first. Bridge Center of Austin (BCA) 21st Anniversary In honor of BCA's 21st Anniversary, an Anniversary Celebration will be hosted on September 19 with games at 10:00 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Come play in either the 299er or the Open games and enjoy FREE LUNCH! BCA had its first game in September 2005 at their first location at Lamar and Koenig Lane and moved to its current location three years later as the membership grew.

Unit 209 - Greater Permian Basin By Ann Parish

Belle Harris – Gold Life Master Congratulations to Belle Harris!

Belle is not only an excellent player, but she is also an excellent teacher. Many of the current players in Midland learned their first lessons from Belle or reviewed their very old lessons in her classes. And she is our chief party hostess with appropriate outfits for every occasion!

Valentines Day

Easter

Halloween

Christmas

The Non-Life Master Players of the Month for September and October are a team. Tracy and Scott Dau team up both as bridge partners and as a married couple. So of course, they teamed up as Players of the Month. Scott and Tracy Dau

Scott & Tracy Dau

She earned her Gold Life Master, so of course we had a party. We celebrated with eight tables on July 16, and the winners were N/S Audie Brooks and Nancy Harris and E/W Kay Sewell and Sheri Hobbs.

September and October Players of the Month Family: Scott and Tracy have two daughters. Their older daughter and her husband live in Lubbock with their oldest grandson. Their younger daughter lives

Scorecard September/October 2026 | 45

in Midland with her husband and their younger three grandchildren. It’s a full house with grandkids ranging from 6 to 18 years old. A few years ago, two newborn kittens dropped out of a fender wheel unbeknownst to a driver. Tracy and Scott bottle fed them in hopes of rehoming them once they were a few weeks old. Then they fell in love with them and became “cat people.” They kept them and now have two cats, Sonny and Cher, as part of their family. They also have a golden retriever named Austin who lives for his daily walks. Career/job: Scott worked as an insurance adjuster most of his career. Tracy worked at the Midland Chamber of Commerce in both tourism and economic development. In 2015 a poker-playing friend of Scott’s had a business for sale. Tracy and Scott took a leap of faith and bought it. They sold the business in 2022; however, they have stayed employed with the new owners. Their oldest daughter also works for the company, so it is still run like a family business. Non-bridge activities: Scott and Tracy love to travel, and they love to go camping. They load up the dog and cats and take off. They have their favorite places they like to visit, but they also enjoy going to new places. Scott would love to spend more time on the golf course. Tracy loves painting and all things crafts related. How they learned to play bridge: Tracy began lessons several years ago. However, life was very busy, and then COVID-19 hit and she never really had the chance to play. Then Scott agreed to take lessons that Belle Harris was offering, and they both really fell in love with the game. They said, “It’s so challenging, and we enjoy the competition of it as well. It’s very nice to have something we do together as a couple; but the best part of the game is the friendships we have made while playing.” Midland and Odessa players have had a hot summer and are looking forward to a fall season of cool bridge. May we all have good cards!

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Unit 225 - East Texas By Gary Britt

nit 225 Congratulates Gay Roach on earning her Diamond Life Master. Fellow bridge player and friend, and president of the Nacogdoches Duplicate Club, Bonnie Todd, had the following to say about Gay's great achievement: “Nacogdoches is lucky to have Gay Roach as a Director – in fact, she IS our club. Without her there might not be a duplicate club in our town. We are so pleased and proud to announce that she achieved the rank of Diamond [Life] Master playing at our Club on July 6. Congratulations, Gay! We have reports from the following clubs in our unit: Sheila Bell DBC From Molly Chambers The Sheila Bell DBC of Texarkana played its first Pro/Am Game on Wednesday, June 17. Players were divided into two categories depending on their number of masterpoints. The players with the fewest amount of masterpoints drew the name of a player with more than one hundred points to be their partner for the day.

We had 7 ½ tables, following a Mitchell movement. The entire membership felt it was very successful and is planning to host many more Pro/Am games in the future.

Pittsburg DBC From Linda Harrison Do What You Love to End Alz Activities I want to express our heartfelt gratitude for the Pittsburg DBC members’ generous contributions. Your support plays a crucial role in helping us fulfill our annual goal of making a meaningful impact for the Alzheimer’s Association. Thanks to your participation and commitment, this year the PDBC raised an impressive total of $5,000. This includes $1,500 from the silent auction of donated items and $3,500 collected from player fees and donations. These funds are vital in supporting essential research and services for Alzheimer’s patients and their caregivers. Thank you once again for your dedication to our cause. Together, we are truly making a difference. You can read and enjoy photos of the other participating clubs in this issue. Nacogdoches DBC From Gay Roach Nonagenarians Support Bridge in Nacogdoches

Dr. Carroll Schoenewolf, Dr. Jesse Richardson, Gay Roach & Olis Seaton

Carroll and Jesse are retired Stephan F. Austin professors and Gay and Olis were faculty wives. These players have all passed their 90th birthday, but still participate in almost all our games!

Unit 233 - Central Texas By Jean Lara

Waco Clubs Waco clubs meet at the Harrison Senior Citizen Center, 1718 N. 42nd St. Monday Slammers – Managed and Directed by Cathy Valentine Monday games are open to all and games are stratified. Games begin at 1:00 p.m. The Monday Slammers Bridge Club continues to grow. Cathy has been very successful with the “outreach” to area players. Many new and familiar faces are returning! This work has made the summer attendance numbers very encouraging. In addition, Cathy has been offering free bridge lessons and tasty treats for players’ efforts. Sul Ross Bridge Club – Managed and Directed by Cathy Valentine These games are offered on Tuesday and Friday. They begin at 1:00 p.m. and are stratified. Waco 0-500 – Managed and Directed by George Holmes The Waco 0 to 500 Club (recently changed master point requirements so that players with up to 850 masterpoints may participate) continues to attract fun players for good times of fellowship and an afternoon of challenging bridge. The club recently had a couple from Arkansas play with us. They were visiting the Waco area from a Square Dance convention. They decided to take a day’s break and come join us. It was so much fun getting to know them. In fact, we discovered one of our members had played with them in a mutual Arkansas Bridge Club. This is such a great community! You are never a stranger. Please join us for a great fun day of bridge every Thursday at 12:30 p.m. Play begins at 12:30 p.m. Bridge Studio of Temple (BSOT) – Managed and Directed by Gene Thompson The BSOT is located at 1712 North 3rd Street, Temple. Games are played on Sunday, Wednesday and Friday. They begin at 1:00 p.m.

nit 233 has clubs both in Waco and in Temple, giving our members many opportunities to play bridge. You can find them on our webpage as well as read about each below.

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San TAEXnAtSonio

Thursday, October 29, 2026

Cost $14 per person per session 10:00 am & 3:00 pm Stratified Pairs 10:00 am & 3:00 pm 499er Stratified Pairs

Friday, October 30, 2026

Cost $14 per person per session 10:00 am & 3:00 pm Stratified Pairs 10:00 am & 3:00 pm 499er Stratified Pairs

Saturday, October 31, 2026

Cost $14 per person per session 10:00 am & 3:00 pm Stratified Pairs 10:00 am & 3:00 pm 499er Stratified Pairs

Sunday, November 1, 2026

Cost $144 per team 10:00 am & TBA Stratified Swiss Teams Includes Meal served between Sunday’s session

499er Game (3 Table Minimum)

NAP Information

**Must have qualified at Club Level**

For purposes of NAP Flight Eligibility, ACBL uses the June masterpoint cycle, which runs on May 6, 2026. Points won after this cycle do not affect flight eligibility. Championship Flight: Open to anyone Flight A: Less than 6000 MP Flight B: Less than 3000 MP

All ACBL protocols will be followed.

Flight C: Non-Life Masters less than 750 MP

Saturday, October 31, 2026

Cost $14 per person per session 10:00 am NAP Qualifying (1st Session) 3:00 pm *NAP Qualifying (2nd Session)

Sunday, November 1, 2026

Cost $18 per person per session 10:00 am NAP Finals (1st Session) TBA NAP Finals (2nd Session) Includes Meal served between Sunday’s session

If there are any questions regarding the District 16 NAP contest, contact: Larry Davis at larrysdavis@att.net or by phone at 512-343-6942. Link for: Conditions of Contest *NAP-- If there are 16 or fewer $7 Discount for Students with ID pairs entered in $4 additional per session for unpaid/lapsed ACBL members any given flight, Non-members: must sign up for a such flight will PLAYING SITE FREE Guest Membership: go to acbl.org/membership have a twoSA Jewish Community Center session final on 12500 NW Military Hwy; San Antonio, TX Saturday

Stratifications: A: 3001+ B: 1001-3000 C: 0-1000 Sectional All Events Average MP’s Strats may be changed at the discretion of the DIC

Hotels Links

Tournament Chair: Karen Fillis, 210-884-5613, kfillis@icloud.com & Roxana Tom, 210-508-4697, rtom85@yahoo.com Partnership Chair: Sharon Evans, (832) 421-4034, sbolen2002@yahoo.com DIC (Sectional): Carolyn Pinto, Carolyn.pinto@acbl.org & DIC (NAPS): Scott Humphrey, Scott.humphrey@acbl.org

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Intermediate/Newcomer Resources Games & Classes for Newer Players - Come Join us! 0-99 Masterpoint Game: Every day at 6:00 p.m. (CT) The 99er Nite Club East games are offered seven days a week at 6:00 p.m. If you are a 99er, ask your club if they are participating. Your club must "opt in." 0-199 Masterpoint Game: Every day at 6:00 p.m. (CT) The 199er Nite Club games are offered seven days a week at 6:00 p.m. If you are a 199er, ask your club if they are participating. Your club must "opt in." For more information email Janice_Hardcastle@hotmail.com Click here to see the flyers for the Nite Club Games

Lecture Series Zoom® Spanish Lecture Series - Third Saturday of every month at 12:00 p.m. (México City), 1:00 p.m. (CDT) 19 de septiembre – TBD 17 de octubre – TBD Zoom® Intermediate/Newcomer Lecture Series - Fourth Saturday (Except December will be the Second) of every month at 12:00 p.m. (CDT), 11:00 a.m. (Mexico City) September 26 – TBD October 24 – TBD

Click Zoom® Link for either lecture. Remember that if you are unable to attend the live lecture, all are recorded so you can watch when you have the time. They are located on the D16 website under the Lectures & Training menu. Scorecard September/October 2026 | 49

District 16 Teacher of the Year Is there a bridge teacher who has inspired you? Now is the time to reward that individual’s enthusiasm, passion and patience! Celebrate your teacher! Nominate your teacher for the D16 Teacher of the Year award. The nomination process works like this: 1. You ask your teacher if he/she would like to be nominated. 2. Your teacher agrees. 3. You send an email to district16TOY@gmail.com with your teacher’s contact information. 4. We take it from there. Please submit nominations by November 30, 2026, so that your teacher has time to put together a portfolio by December 31, 2026. The winner will be announced at the 2027 Lone Star Regional.

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San TEXAS Antonio Non-Life Master Sectional October 5 - 7, 2026 SILVER Points Awarded

Single-Session Stratified Pairs Game Start: 11:00 am One Session per Day

Stratifications

LOCATION:

Average MP (master points)

A 351 – 750 MP B 151 – 350 MP C 0 – 150 MP

Players cannot be Life Masters and must have 750 points or less Strats may be adjusted by the DIC

TABLE FEES

Congregation Agudas Achim 16550 Huebner Road, San Antonio, Texas 78248

S ON H L

FREE: Snacks, Coffee, Tea and Water

$ 12.00 Per Person Per Session $ 7.00 Discount per session for students $ 4.00 Additional per session for unpaid/lapsed ACBL members Non-members: must sign up for a FREE 120-Day Guest Membership go to acbl.org/membership

This tournament follows all ACBL protocols Tournament Chair: Matt Giffin (901) 491-3418, mwgiffin@me.com Partnership Chair: Anita Ramirez (956) 501-7529, ani.ramirez@att.net

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Director: TBD

♥ Plano/Dallas Friendly 0-750 Sectional Winners ♦ Unit 176

Thursday, July 30 - Saturday, August 1 - Pairs Overall Winners

Thursday AM Terry McComas, Rick Williams

Thursday PM Athena Leung, Jyoti Boppana

Friday AM John O'Sullivan, Joanna Jewett

Friday PM Larry Fritz, Bansi Shah

Saturday AM & PM Bansi Shah, Uday Chandra

Scorecard September/October 2026 | 53

TEXAS CAPITAL UNIT 207

0 – 200 SECTIONAL

STRATIFIED PAIRS OCTOBER 10 T H - 11 T H

Saturday & Sunday, 1:30 pm Entry Fee: $10 per session

($4 additional per session for unpaid ACBL members)

K Free Coffee & Snacks L

J Strat A: 100 – 200 K Strat B: 50 – 100 Ö Strat C: 0 – 50

Chair: Susanna Busico 512-293-0866 sbusico4@gmail.com

Strats may be adjusted at Director’s discretion

Partnerships: For Partners & General Info: unit207contactus@gmail.com

JThis is a fragrance-free tournament Ö

Online Partnership Requests For This Tourney Opens September 28th, 2026. Use this link: http://tinyurl.com/atxbridge

Bridge Center of Austin K 6700 Middle Fiskville Road

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♥ Austin Firecracker Regional Winners ♦ Unit 207

Monday, June 29 & Friday, July 3 - Gold Rush Pairs Games

Monday Mike Hanna, Susan Hanna

Friday Fred Infortunio, Ann Starr

Monday, June 29- Saturday, July 4 - Open Pairs Games

Monday - A Lftikhar Baqui, Mitch Dunitz

Monday - B Anita Albert, Kalyan Venkat

Friday - A Mike Doyle, Guss Ginsburg

Saturday - A Kathryn Bailey, Beth Tobias

Tuesday - B Jeff Skillin, Ed Davis

Saturday - B Mark Craig, Brett Leach

Monday, June 29- Friday, July 3 - Bracketed Swiss Teams

Monday - 2 Rita Wiegenstein, Gary Koenig, John Olson, Teresa Mack

Monday - 3 Gustavo Gonzalez, David Sechrest, Kristen Andersen, Rod Goree

Tuesday - 2 Dianna Gittelman, Jennifer Breihan, Anthony Bianchi, Gary King

Tuesday -3 Gary Koenig, Teresa Mack, Rita Wiegenstein, John Olson

Tuesday - 4 Linda Gaston, Ann Denton, Leonard Epstein, Stuart Litwin

Scorecard September/October 2026 | 55

Wednesday - 2 Dianna Gittelman, Jennifer Breihan, Anthony Bianchi, Gary King

Thursday - 2 Anita Albert, Louis Sachar, Kim Brinkman, Steve Wood

Thursday - 3 Stuart Litwin, Lysa Nguyen, Linda Gaston, Leonard Epstein

Wednesday - 3 Scott Peeples, John Olson, Gary Koenig, David Begin

Thursday - 4 Ed Davis, Mickey Goldwater, Jeff Skillin, Clara Wood

Thursday - 5 Scott Peeples, Teresa Mack, Amy Seitz, Dan Seitz

Friday - 3 Christina van Leeuwen, Gary Peterson, Carl Hogan, Andrew Remson

Sunday, July 5 - BCD Swiss Teams

C Mark Miller, Nora Fallon, Jamie Southerland, Jeff Johnson

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Thursday - 6 Curtis Hitt, Dionne Green, Suzanne Deaderick, David Deaderick

UNIT 207

LOCAL OPEN SECTIONAL November 4-6, 2026 Georgetown Event Center, 1 Chamber Way (Off Austin Ave Next to the Georgetown, Texas Recreation Center at 1003 N. Austin Ave.) STRATIFICATIONS Stratification Open: A (2000+) B (750-2000) C (0-750) Stratification 199er: A (100-199) B (50-99) C (0-49) Note: Strats may be modified at the director’s discretion.

$4 additional per session for unpaid or lapsed ACBL members. Non-members: must sign up for a FREE 120-day Guest Membership Go to www.acbl.org/membership

STRATIFIED PAIRS Wednesday, November 4, 2026, 9:30 am & 2:00 pm $14 / person / session Open Stratified Pairs (single sessions) 199er Stratified Pairs (single sessions) Thursday, November 5, 2026, 9:30 am & 2:00 pm $14 / person / session Open Stratified Pairs (single sessions) 199er Stratified Pairs (single sessions) BRACKETED SWISS TEAMS (2 Session) Friday, November 6, 2026, 9:30 am & TBD $144 / team (Cost for the 2 session event includes lunch)

This is a Cash only tournament

Chair: John Olson (254) 913-3423 JohnVOlson@yahoo.com

Co-Chair: Rita Wiegenstein (512) 639-2644 ritanglen@gmail.com

Partnerships: Bill Horton (847) 788-2872 wshorton43@gmail.com

Director: Charlene Sands

This Tourney is Fragrance Free

Scorecard September/October 2026 | 57

♥ Arlington Summer Local Sectional Winners ♦ Unit 183

Thursday, June 25 - Friday, June 26 - 0-499 Pairs

Thursday AM - A Cheryl Glenn, Rita Scott

Thursday AM - B John O'Sullivan, Joanna Jewett

Friday AM - A (Tie) Ron Hollister, German Valtierra

Friday AM - A (Tie) Joanna Jewett, John O'Sullivan

Friday PM - A Joanna Jewett, John O'Sullivan

Thursday, June 25 - Friday, June 26 - Open Pairs

Thursday AM - A Alan Copeland, Jimmy Justice

Thursday AM - B Mike Blanchard, Lynne Trigg

Thursday PM - C Michael Tiernan, Mike Frederick

Thursday AM - C Michael Tiernan, Mike Frederick

Friday AM - A Mary Jane Orock, Michael Hayman

Thursday PM - A Melody Gann, Nancy Peterson

Friday AM - B Mike Frederick, John Fee

Friday PM - A Doug Berke, Kamal Das

Saturday, June 27 - Stratified Swiss Team Winners

A Mark Bumgardner, Nancy Kornegay, Kimmel Jones, Steve Kornegay

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B Mike Blanchard, Chuck Mogged, Lynn Trigg, Jan Mogged

Thursday PM - B Cynthia Benton, Annie Mason

C Virginia Boudreau, Jan Van Hummel, Ellen Lane, Richard Shemmel