Bridge Buzz

The District 17 Bridge Buzz focuses on district and national news
and provides the links to access the details.
The Buzz is published every other month. Catch the next Buzz November 2026.

Send feedback and content suggestions to bridgebuzzeditor@gmail.com.

by Sharon Smith

sharon@steamboatbridge.com

I love the fall. The colors are amazing and they signify the end of summer and the beginning of a new season! What will be your plans for enjoying bridge this fall?

And who do you know that you can recruit to learn the game and enjoy the fun? Bridge Battle (see below) is an excellent tool for engaging new players in a short amount of time with minimal instruction. This simple introductory game is working well at Jump Start Bridge booths. Teachers sit down, often intimidated and shy, and in less than ten minutes are absorbed and having fun! If each of us introduced just one new player to the game, it would make a huge difference for the future of bridge! Try this with family!

District 17 tournaments are thriving! Thank you for all that participate and plan to attend in the future. The Taos regional will be amazing: great speakers and a great location. The NAP finals will be held at Taos (see below). Good luck to our NAP players.

Be sure to encourage your friends to attend tournaments, especially newer players. Newer players need to know they will enjoy participating in a limited game with tables filled with their peers!

Did you know that for years, Bill Phillips has managed and delivered all the tournament supplies? These are big shoes to fill and we are looking for another supplies manager. See the ad later in this newsletter.

Bridge is one of the largest contributors to the ALZ.org Alzheimer’s research organization. Thank you to all that participate. There are details of our District’s generous contributions later in this letter.

September 21—27, 2026

Like team games? Need gold points? Prefer to play pairs? Eligible to play in North American Pairs District Finals? There is something for everyone at the Taos Regional.

Come join us September 21—27, 2026, in the beautiful setting of Taos for a wonderful week of bridge and hospitality. The tournament will be held at the historic Sagebrush Inn. Reservations:

575-758-2254

sagebrushinn.com

Group Code for tournament rate: ACBL2026 (Note: no space in code; select Group Code instead of Promo Code)

IMPORTANT: We have received reports that the hotel doesn't have any more rooms. As of September 1, this is not the case – rooms are available. If you have any trouble booking a room at the tournament rate, please contact one of the tournament co-chairs:

• Julie Clark, jclark9811@comcast.net, 303-981-5230
• Jennifer O'Neill, jjo4051@gmail.com, 303-596-8153

In addition to bridge, the town is filled with trendy shops, galleries, and restaurants. The fall colors should be vibrant during the tournament.

The Taos Lodgers Bureau has generously donated funds to provide hospitality for the tournament.

Click here to view the flyer.

by Julie Clark

Tournament Co-Chair

jclark9811@comcast.net

303-981-5230

The Cactus Flower Non-Life Master (NLM) Regional Pays 50% GOLD Thursday, November 19 through Saturday, November 21 at the Tanque Verde Lutheran Church, 8625 E. Tanque Verde Road, Tucson. Ample free parking daily.

All NLMs will receive a tournament patch and more. Click here to view the tournament flyer.

The regional is exclusively for NLMs with fewer than 750 masterpoints. Gold Rush pairs and/or teams that finish in the overalls (Stratification A) will be awarded 50 percent gold and 50 percent red masterpoints.

There will be two days of two-session Gold Rush pairs. On Friday, players with 0–20 masterpoints play for free. Gold Rush Swiss teams will be held on Saturday.

The Tucson Fall Sectional will be held at the same time and at the same location as the Cactus Flower NLM Regional; however, they are two separate tournaments.

Earn silver points at the sectional! It offers two days of open pairs and two days of Swiss teams. A sectional bracketed Swiss teams will be held on Saturday.

Hospitable touches for all attendees include complimentary coffee and hot tea, morning snacks and premium candy daily. Saturday lunch is included in the team entry. Lunch will be available for purchase on Thursday and Friday.

Take advantage of free lectures by top local experts Thursday and Friday between sessions.

Stay nearby at the Sheraton Tucson Hotel and Suites. Book before October 30th to receive rates from $119 to $129/night (breakfast included). Book online here or call Marriot at 800-325-2525 or 520-323-6262 to reserve your room.

by Jack Shoemaker

Unit 356 Tournament Chair

shoejack20@gmail.com

No matter what your tastes are, we have you covered! In fact we encourage you to try both. New Mexico is famed for its chile and Albuquerque has some of the best around – and close to the tournament hotel!

In addition, our regional tournament has something for everyone with 499er pairs, Gold Rush pairs and Open pairs as well as bracketed team games everyday. Click here for the flyer.

Lodging:

• Hotel: Marriott Albuquerque on Louisiana
• Room rates: starting at $149 through December 31, 2026. Ask for Land of Enchantment Regional group rate
• Click here for online booking

So come and relax after all the holiday craziness and play some bridge with your friends. We look forward to seeing you. If you have any questions, email us a: acbl.unit374@gmail.com.

Compete across all the participating clubs in D17 and win silver points. Click here for a list of participating clubs.

Jerry Fleming, past president of D17 and also past president of the ACBL, died on July 7.

As well as playing bridge, participating in bridge administration at all levels, and working behind the scenes in many ways, Jerry taught bridge and directed games. Many of the long-time D17 players have worked with Jerry or encountered him at the table. Below are some of their memories.

Jerry Ruther:

Jerry was an excellent bridge player, a fine director, and a wonderful personality.

Flo Newlin:

I remember Jerry as a kind and accomplished player. He was always cordial to Cal and me when we played against him. May he rest in peace.

Carolyn Newcomb:

Jerry served as the National Board rep from District 17 the entire time I served on the D17 board. As a long-time resident of Los Alamos, New Mexico, he was instrumental in promoting duplicate bridge in his local community. Jerry's focus was always what was best for the game and for the players. He was always the voice of reason and much respected in the bridge community and on the board. He will be missed.

Liz Hamilton:

Before I was on the D17 board, I was chair of the 2019 NABC in Las Vegas. Jerry’s club participated in the fundraising effort that year. He had done that many, many times. I sent him a thank-you note and he sent me back a hand-written note on a hotel notepad piece of paper saying that in the more than twenty years he had done this fundraising effort he had never received a thank-you note. He really appreciated it. He was an incredible supporter of all D17 tournaments and I appreciated that. I even remember him driving bidding boxes to the 2014 Regional in Las Vegas, back in the day when we mailed them around. He was always there to help.

Ken Harris:

We were beginners and didn't know anything about bridge clubs, directors, ACBL, or even really how to turn cards. We did know there were games in Los Alamos when there were none in Santa Fe and that justified getting a gang and taking the 45-minute drive there from Santa Fe. Turns out there was a guy there named Jerry Fleming and he had the best club games in northern NM. When you had a good result there you were doing things against the best and the brightest the STEM world could produce. They all respected Jerry and we Santa Feans quickly came to understand why and followed suit.

Neil Hunter:

I first met Jerry and Marion about thirty years ago when my wife Anita and I were just learning to play duplicate bridge. We were both working full-time back then, and so we used to drive up to Los Alamos for the Thursday evening games. Jerry was the director of those games and he always made us feel very welcome. He ran a tight ship, always keeping the game moving. No dallying for the slow pokes!! All four of us played Precision, and so we quite often formed a team when there was a team game. Those were always fun events.

Jerry and I also played pairs games together two or three times per year with considerable success. He was a superb player, and an even better partner – always willing to admit error, and never angry when partner did something stupid. He was always keen to learn, and experiment with new bidding nuisances. He simply loved the game.

No one contributed more than Jerry to the success of duplicate bridge in New Mexico (and perhaps even for all of District 17 (Region 10)). He frequently taught bridge locally, and on many bridge cruises all over the planet. He directed thousands of bridge games – probably over three thousand games. He organized sectional tournaments in Los Alamos for decades. He served as president of his local unit, Unit 381, for years. He was president of the District 17 board for several years before serving on the national ACBL board as Treasurer, Vice President and President.

No task was too big or too trivial for him to take on. One day he would be trying to reduce wasteful spending at ACBL. The next day he would be emptying waste baskets at his local sectional tournament. Last April he even duplicated sixteen sets of boards for our sectional in Santa Fe.

One week before he died, Jerry was directing a game of bridge and playing bridge – just doing what he loved to do. BTW he and I also shared a love of coin collecting, but that is another story.

I will really miss him.

-------------------------------------

Click here for a link to Jerry's obituary. The ACBL tribute will appear in the September Bridge Bulletin.

Six teachers met in Phoenix to share methods and ideas. The next Teachers Roundtable will take place at the Taos regional. Meet on Wednesday at 8:00 in the Sagebrush restaurant for breakfast and brainstorming.

• The Colorado Gifted Conference in Loveland will be held from October 18 to October 20. JSB is hosting the Game night on October 18th, featuring Bridge Battle.
• The National Math Conference (NCTM) will be held at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver from October 28th to October 31st.

Patty Tucker, the founder of JSB, has provided a flyer that can be used for outreach. Click here to see, download, or print the flyer. Click here to go to the JSB website, where you can find a lot more information, including resources for parents, teachers, students, and schools.

Bridge Battle introduces people to card play and trick taking, and offers a bit of hand evaluation. You can buy a box set from the ACBL, but really, all you need is a deck of cards and the rules. If you want to test-drive, you can also play a hand online.

Click here for all your options. Or click here for a two-page "everything you need to get started."

Apparently the ACBL database has been hacked. Quite a few ACBL members have received an email purporting to be from a newer player, and asking to develop a bridge connection with the recipient. And would the recipient please respond...

There haven't been any requests for money so far, but there have been follow-up emails.

Beware.

Nominations for District 17 board positions remain open until this evening. As of noon today, nominations have been received for the following unit representative positions:

• Sharon Smith – Representative for Units 359, 364, 421, and 422
• Susan Shaver – Representative for Unit 351

At this time, no other nominations have been received for these positions. Barring the submission of any additional biographies or nomination materials before the close of nominations this evening, Sharon Smith and Susan Shaver will be appointed by acclamation.

A final report will be provided in the November Bridge Buzz. Additionally, board members are listed on the D17 website: D17acbl.org.

by Kitty Larson

D17 Election Secretary

Starting January 1, 2027, an updated masterpoint formula for ACBL tournaments will go into effect. Approved by the ACBL Board of Directors, the revised formula transitions to direct, event-specific evaluations designed to better reflect actual field strength and reward participation across all skill levels. To support this transition without reducing player earnings, overall tournament masterpoint awards will increase by 20% to 30%.

(Note: Club game awards are not impacted by this change, and overall Life Master rank thresholds remain unchanged.)

The previous calculation method contained inequities: strong stand-alone events did not receive awards commensurate with those with multiple flights, Swiss team 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 team events: Stratified Swiss 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 pair 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.

Equalizing masterpoint awards across events gives organizers greater scheduling freedom to design player-first schedules based on local demand rather than point optimization. Consequently, team events gain equal footing with pair events without penalizing players' overall earnings.

These updates deliver tangible benefits across every skill level, while ensuring the majority of 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 team events: Masterpoint awards for Swiss team events will now match those of pair events, making 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.

As implementation approaches on January 1, 2027, further operational details and updated award charts will be shared with organizers and players.

by Cindy Shoemaker

ACBL President

Region 10 Director

The qualifying period for the North American Pairs recently ended. The qualifying period for the North American Pairs recently ended. The NAPs would not be successful without the fantastic club owners who run the qualifying games. Thank you to each and every one of you for running these for our players!

Congratulations to all who qualified to compete in the upcoming District 17 NAP finals. Click here to see if you qualified.

The District 17 NAP finals will take place during the Taos Regional. The Championship Flight and Flight B finals will be on Friday, September 25, 2026. Flights A and C compete on Saturday, September 26, 2026.

Click here to view the District 17 NAP Conditions of Contest.

Flights are determined by the masterpoints a player had as of May 6, 2026. Points won after that cycle do not affect eligibility. The four flights are:

• Championship Flight: Open to any player
• Flight A: fewer than 6000 masterpoints
• Flight B: fewer than 3000 masterpoints
• Flight C: Non-Life Masters with fewer than 750 masterpoints

Players may compete in the National Finals only with the partner they played with at the District 17 Finals.

The top three pairs in the Championship Flight and Flight A of the District Finals, and the top four pairs in Flights B and C of the District 17 Finals will be eligible to play in the National Finals held in conjunction with the 2027 Spring NABC, Dallas, TX.

The National Finals for the Championship Flight and Flight A will be held Wednesday and Thursday, March 10–11, 2027. The National Finals for Flights B and C will be held Saturday and Sunday, March 20–21, 2027.

Click here to view the ACBL NAP Conditions of Contest.

Contact Julie Clark, District 17 NAP Coordinator, with any questions.

by Julie Clark

D17 GNT/NAP Coordinator

jclark9811@comcast.net

303-981-5230

The Grand National Teams Finals took place during the NABC in Minneapolis in July. District 17 sent six teams to compete. One of the participants, John Heideman, said “Thanks for the awesome event. We had so much fun.”

Starting in September, you too can join the fun and try to represent District 17 in next summer’s NABC Grand National Teams finals. Competition begins at the club level. Simply play in a club-level game, either in person or online, and qualify to play in the District 17 Grand National Teams Finals at the Denver Regional in May, 2027. The club qualification period runs from September 1, 2026 through February 28, 2027.

The top team in each flight at the District Final is eligible to compete at the national level in July 2027 in Las Vegas. In the past, if Flights B and C had at least eight teams competing at the district level, we sent two teams for each of those flights. It is anticipated this will be true again this year.'

Flights (each team member must meet the point requirement, points are not averaged):

• Championship Flight: Open to any player
• Flight A: fewer than 6000 masterpoints
• Flight B: fewer than 3000 masterpoints
• Flight C: Non-Life Masters with fewer than 750 masterpoints
• All stratifications are determined by recorded masterpoints as of the August masterpoint cycle which runs on August 6, 2026. Points won after this cycle do not affect flight eligibility.

Currently, the District 17 GNT Conditions of Contest are pending approval. Once they are finalized, they will be posted on the District 17 website at ACBL District 17.

by Julie Clark

D17 GNT/NAP Coordinator

jclark9811@comcast.net

303-981-5230

Hello D17 Bridge Clubs,

Congratulations and thank you for your efforts for the Alzheimer's Association last season. Your dedication to supporting the research, education and services of the association makes a big difference in the lives of those living with Alzheimer's and other dementia, and their families and caregivers, in your state and across the country. Your commitment year after year gives new meaning to Master Points.

How did the units stack up? Drum roll, please....

District 17 players raised over $91,600 last season! That's quite an accomplishment.

Extra congratulations go out to the Tucson GAB group for raising $27,429. Multiple clubs earned $10,000+ status and will receive plaques for their success. In addition to Tucson, this includes Durango, Albuquerque, and Reno. Amazing! And take a look at this photo from the Fort Collins Longest Day.

One thing the funds raised go toward is research. For example, each summer the association hosts the Alzheimer's Association International Conference (AAIC) – the world's largest forum for the dementia research community. Scientists and researchers from around the world convene, in person and virtually, to join distinguished basic scientists, clinical researchers, early career investigators, clinicians, and the care research community at the largest international conference on dementia science. They share theories, breakthroughs and best practices while exploring opportunities to accelerate their work. If you're curious to learn more about AAIC, visit https://aaic.alz.org/.

While research is worldwide, our care and support programs are available locally. If you or someone you know needs information related to Alzheimer's disease or any other form of dementia – or is a caregiver – please invite them to visit ​alz.org or call 800-272-3900 to start finding resources. They will be connected to the specific resources for their current situation and need. It's important that everyone who needs support knows that the association is here. Thank you for sharing the information with others when needed.

Thank you for all that you do each year to support the work of the Alzheimer's Association. You make our impact possible.

With much gratitude,

Stephanie Foster, Development Manager
Do What You Love to End Alz, Colorado Chapter

smfoster@alz.org

503-750-8973

Ever wished you'd known what to say in the moment? Well, here are a few ideas culled from a recent thread on Bridge Winners.

He: "I apologize for being grouchy today. I did not sleep well last night."

She: "You haven't slept well for five years."

(Thanks to Paul D. East)

"Partner, next time, please try to have a hand that justifies my bidding."

(Thanks to John D'Errico)

Player: "You must be the worst partner in the world."

Partner: "That would be too much of a coincidence."

(Thanks to Patrick Powers; slightly adapted for bridge)

Disclaimer: I don't actually recommend saying these things.

Las Vegas NABC

Rio Hotel and Casino • Las Vegas • July 15–25, 2027

Join Us in Making the 2027 Las Vegas NABC a Success

The 2027 Las Vegas North American Bridge Championships (NABC), held at the Rio Hotel and Casino, will bring players, partners, friends, and visitors together for an unforgettable tournament experience. You can help make it special by volunteering, sponsoring an event, welcoming attendees, or supporting the activities that bring the bridge community together.

Volunteers and sponsors are needed now—

Every volunteer hour, sponsorship, and word of support help create the kind of welcoming experience that players remember long after the final session.

We welcome volunteers of all experience levels. Volunteers will play an important role in helping attendees feel informed, welcomed, and connected throughout the tournament. Opportunities include hospitality support, registration assistance, information tables, partnership desk help, local guidance, and general event support.

Whether you can help for a few hours or take on a larger role, your time and enthusiasm can make a meaningful difference for players and guests visiting Las Vegas. Click on the link below to see the volunteering list:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70A094FACA722A13-64698638-volunteers#/

• $2,500 – Sponsor an entire day at the Nationals

• $500 – Sponsor one regionally rated two-session event, such as Open Pairs, Swiss Teams, or Bracketed Teams

• $350 – Sponsor a three-session Side Game Series

• $150 – Sponsor a single-session Intermediate or Novice event

Whether you volunteer, sponsor, or help spread the word, your participation helps create a warm, successful, and memorable NABC experience for everyone attending.

We would be delighted to hear how you would like to be involved. To volunteer, reserve an event sponsorship, or learn more about ways to support the 2027 Las Vegas NABC, please contact:

Event Chair: Jack Shoemaker
Email: shoejack20@gmail.com
Phone: 719‑331‑0394

In 2023, D17 adopted a unique logo. This logo combines D17, Region 10, and the ACBL. It should be used on all D17 communications, including tournament flyers, and the ACBL logo should not be used. The goal is to distinguish between D17 communications and ACBL communications.

Click here to download the D17 logo.

Recently, several D17 members have received emails purporting to come from various D17 board members, asking for money in some form. Don't bite! D17 board members will never use their position to ask for money, donations, purchases, etc.

One of the easiest ways to verify an email is to check the sender's email address. If it isn't the email address you expect, don't open any links or download any files. If you are uncertain, contact the board member.

Is something happening in your club or unit that the rest of us would like to know about? Maybe an innovative way to attract players, maybe a special event. Share your ideas and successes! Send an email to bridgebuzzeditor@gmail.com. Photos would be great! so plan ahead if you can.

ACBL members receive masterpoints for winning and placing in club games and tournaments as they strive to advance through the ranks. There are sixteen ranks, from Junior Master (5 masterpoints) to Grand Life Master (10,000 masterpoints plus a victory in an eligible North American Bridge Championship). Learn rank qualifications.

Editor's note: This data comes from the ACBL database, which is updated once a month. Accordingly, if your rank advancement occurred after the update, it won't be official at the ACBL until the following month, and won't appear here until the issue of the Buzz that comes after that.

Not shown: Chris Watson (Unit 363, Fort Collins CO), James Pirkle (Unit 363, Windsor CO), Donna Farnham (Unit 354, Scottsdale AZ), Karen Solheim (Unit 354, Surprise AZ)

This data comes from the ACBL tournament schedule for D17, through October 2026. To see tournaments farther out in time or more distant in space, click here, set your filters, and click Search.

The Bridge Buzz is a bi-monthly publication of ACBL District 17. It is sent automatically to all members of D17 who have current emails registered with the ACBL, and whose privacy settings allow. It is also sent to individuals outside D17 who have asked to be on the mailing list. You can see previous issues of the Buzz on the D17 website at d17acbl.org/d17-buzz-newsletter/.

To join the Buzz mailing list, send an email to bridgebuzzeditor@gmail.com. To unsubscribe, click the link below. For more information about District 17, go to the D17 website at d17acbl.org.