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 January 2026.

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

This year, so many Unit boards and tournament committees and clubs have put creative energies into growing the game of bridge. Examples include:

• Albuquerque regional: Moving the tournament up a week to avoid a conflict with the Houston Regional
• Tucson regional: changing the date to April and the playing location to a Marriott
• Taos regional: negotiating a renewal of this popular tournament

D17 is fortunate to have creative and energetic tournament committees.

Sectionals in the District have benefitted from creative planning to find affordable locations. In western Colorado, Cara-Lyn Lappen has stepped up as a local director and run three successful tournaments. The well-organized Unit I/N events have been well attended, and are so important for the future of bridge.

Thank you to all the players that attend unit games, sectionals, and regionals. The more the merrier and a way to show appreciatiion to the many volunteers that make these competitions happen. The Wishbone ROYAL STaC week is coming up. It's a great way to win colors at a local game. Thank you to all the clubs that participate in STaC events.

Take a look at the GNT section below! Fun news for the qualifying games this year. Please join in on the competition. The larger the participation, the better the game. Last year, the GNT room was abuzz with fun and challenging team spirit. In Colorado, the Steamboat Bridge club is participating with other clubs to sponsor two online qualifiers on Saturdays at 3pm on January 31 and February 7th. Look for qualifying games in your area between now and the end of February.

by Sharon Smith

sharon@steamboatbridge.com

by Kitty Larson

D17 Election Chair

We welcome Jack Shoemaker and Steve Western to the District 17 Board.

Jack will represent Unit 356 (Tucson), and Steve will represent Units 355 and 358 (Arizona at large). Their terms begin on January 1, 2026.

Toby McEvoy will be returning as the representative from Unit 373 (Las Vegas).

Thanks to our retiring District board members, Bill Phillips and Steve Reynolds, for their years of service!

Editor's note: There was no board meeting in September or October. Minutes of past board meetings are posted here.

by Stephanie Foster

Development Manager, Alzheimer's Association

smfoster@alz.org, 503-750-8973

For over a decade, D17 clubs have impacted the fight against Alzhheimer’s and all other dementia by playing bridge and raising funds for the Alzheimer’s Association through The Longest Day (which is rebranding to Do What You Love to End Alz in 2026).

As we know, playing bridge is uniquely suited for this cause – studies have shown that playing strategic games like bridge can help keep your brain healthy. And connecting with other players and socializing while doing what you love to do are additional boosts to brain health.

Alzheimer’s Association offices in the D17 area provide education, outreach, and vital support groups for those living with dementia, and for their families and care partners. If you or someone you know would benefit from information or support, our national Helpline (800-272-3000) and website (alz.org) are the best places to start.

In 2025, seventeen clubs from D17 participated in The Longest Day, raising a total of $65,000. Click here for a list. Thanks to these clubs, and special thanks to the handful of very dedicated D17 clubs that participate each year! We hope that other D17 clubs will join us for Do What You Love next year. We can help you make it easy, fun, and successful.

Top 5 clubs in D17 for 2025:

• Duke City – $17,470
• Durango – $12,230
• KIVA West – $8,734
• Greeley – $8,486
• Colorado Springs – $7,061

Congratulations on this exceptional achievement!

Your local Alzheimer’s Association chapters are grateful for your continued support for this cause that affects so many families. Thank you for making a difference, and keeping your own brains as healthy as possible!

P.S. We hope to offer an online meeting in early 2026 to share updates in research, treatment, and support services for all ACBL members in D17. More information coming in the Buzz and in the ACBL Bulletin.

Get ready for 2026! Don't miss any of the D17 regionals.

Here are the open regionals:

• Albuquerque: January 12–18 (see below)
• Tucson: April 7–11 (see below)
• Denver: May 19–25
• Scottsdale (Phoenix): August 10–15
• Taos: September 21–27 (see below)

and the I/N regionals:

• Fountain Hills (Phoenix): February 13–15
• Chandler (Phoenix): March 19–21
• Denver: July 24–26
• Prescott: August 28–30
• Tucson: November 19–21

And the NABC is coming back to D17 in 2027. The Summer NABC will be held July 14–25 in Las Vegas, at the newly renovated Rio Hotel and Casino. As you know, the NABCs have games for everyone, and Las Vegas is convenient and affordable. No excuses 😉

Did you know that D17 maintains a list of bridge teachers in the district? Click here to see it.

Teachers, please look to see if your information is up to date. If not, or if you're not listed, send your info to Sharon Smith. And students, see who's teaching in your area.

The North American Pairs (NAP) is a national pairs competition, starting at the district and ending at an NABC. There are four flights, based on the player in the pair with the most masterpoints:

• Championship Flight: unlimited masterpoints
• Flight A: fewer than 6000 masterpoints
• Flight B: fewer than 3000 masterpoints
• Flight C: Non-Life Masters with fewer than 750 masterpoints

To play in the District 17 finals at the Albuquerque Regional:

• You must have pre-qualified. Click here to see if you are qualified.
• The Flight A and Flight C two-session competition will be held Friday, January 16, 2026.
• The Championship Flight and Flight B two-session competition will be held Saturday, January 17, 2026.
• You DO NOT have to pre-register.

The finals will be held at the Spring NABC in St. Louis.

• The top three pairs in the Championship Flight and Flight A qualify to attend.

  • Held Thursday and Friday, February 25 and 26, 2026

• The top four pairs in Flights B and C qualify to attend.

  • Held Saturday and Sunday, March 7 and 8, 2026

We look forward to seeing you in Albuquerque!

by Julie Clark

D17 GNT/NAP Coordinator

jclark9811@comcast.net

303-981-5230

• Qualifying period is September 1, 2025 – February 28, 2026
• Clubs are already hosting qualifying games
• You can play in any qualifying game anywhere in the country
• Online games count as qualifying games
• Online games cannot have a robot playing and be a qualifying game
• The four flights are based on the person on the team with the most masterpoints
• Flight C: Non-Life Master with fewer than 750 masterpoints
• Flight B: 0 – < 3000 masterpoints
• Flight A: 0 – <6000 masterpoints
• Championship Flight: unlimited masterpoints
• Everyone who participates in a qualifying game is eligible to play in the District 17 finals
• Teams for the District 17 finals can be comprised of any qualifying players in that flight.
• Championship flight final is online on BBO.
• Saturday April 4, 2026 and Sunday April 5, 2026 (if needed)
• Flights A, B and C finals will be held on Saturday and Sunday at the Denver Regional.
• Saturday May 23, 2026 and Sunday May 24, 2026 (teams that advance)
• NABC Finals
• Top team in each division advances
• Two teams may be sent in Flights B and C if at least eight teams participate in District 17 finals
• Held at the Minneapolis NABC
• Wednesday, July 8, 2026 – Sunday, July 12, 2026

District 17 Conditions of Contest

by Julie Clark

D17 GNT/NAP Coordinator

jclark9811@comcast.net

303-981-5230

by Bonnie Bagley

The Front Range Challenge is an annual match between Boulder Unit 359, Colorado Springs Unit 360, Denver Unit 361, and Northern Colorado Unit 363.

The Front Range Challenge was the inspiration of John Grossmann (then a Unit 360 member, now a Unit 363 member). The idea was to create a friendly competition between Unit 360 and Unit 361, providing the opportunity for the players to get to know each other. The first FRC took place in Colorado Springs on September 30, 2006. There were two sessions: a morning pairs game and an afternoon team game, with four brackets. The game was directed by Unit 360 member John Ledet, who wore his tuxedo. A good time was had by all, with Denver winning.

The FRC has continued, with a break during COVID, and with the additions of Unit 359 and Unit 363. Hosting the FRC rotates among the four units. The current structure is three brackets – A, B, and C – with each unit sending two teams per bracket. Teams play against teams from the other units – three Swiss matches in the morning and three in the afternoon.

The 2025 FRC took place Sunday, October 30th, in Colorado Springs, with Denver winning.

Unit 360 president Jim Wilson and Unit 361 president Penny Coffman at the inaugural event:

Movers and shakers at the inaugural event:
Front: Jim Wilson; back: John Grossmann, John Ledet, Joe Jenkins, John Dukellis

Playing at the first FRC:

Scoring the first FRC:

Winners of the first FRC:

The Cactus Flower Non-Life Master (NLM) Regional in Tucson is just around the corner! Thursday November 20 through Saturday November 22.

This tournament is exclusively for NLMs with fewer than 750 masterpoints. Click here to view the tournament flyer.

The schedule includes two days of two-session Gold Rush pairs, and one day of Gold Rush Swiss teams. Overall finishers in Strat A will receive 33% gold and 67% red masterpoints.

Features:

• Lectures by top local players on Thursday and Friday between sessions
• Complimentary coffee and snacks
• Free lunch on Saturday
• Free plays on Friday for players with 0–20 masterpoints

Note that the Tucson Fall Sectional will be held at the same time and at the same location. However, it is a separate tournament. The playing site for both tournaments:

Tanque Verde Lutheran Church

8625 E. Tanque Verde Road

Tucson, AZ

Out-of-towners can stay nearby at the Sheraton Tucson Hotel and Suites. Book before November 3 to receive rates from $109 to $128/night. Call Marriott at 800-325-2525 or 520-323-6262 to reserve your room.

STaC = Sectional Tournament at Clubs, and this means that you can get colored points in club games. Also, that all participating clubs play the same boards, and your results will be matchpointed not only against players in your club but also against players in all other participating clubs. And, because it's a Royal STaC, the points are 25% gold, 25% red, 25% silver, and 25% black.

Check with your local club(s) to make sure they are participating, and click here for the flyer.

Planning is well underway for the

Albuquerque Regional Bridge tournament!

!New Dates and Location!

We are excited about our new location at the Marriott Albuquerque at I-40 and Louisiana. This premium hotel is located within close walking distance to many restaurants and shopping.

Click here to reserve your room

New Dates: January 12–18, 2026

Click on the link above to see the full range of events; there are games for every level of expertise.

Well-known bridge pro and instructor Donna Compton will be holding classes Tuesday–Thursday, January 13–15, from 8:30–9:30 a.m. The classes will be targeted at Intermediate/Novice players, but more experienced players may find the refresher rewarding as well. These classes will walk through the thought process in choosing the killing opening leads against notrump and suit contracts. All types of leads will be discussed, including long-suit leads and sequence leads. The class will also explore aggressive vs. passive defenses as they affect suit contract opening leads. Short-suit leads, trump leads and which card to lead within the chosen suit will be discussed. For more information on Donna and the class, click here.

Make your plans and reserve now to take advantage of the group rate above!

by Sue Kelly

Unit 374 President

Get ready for great weather, an incredible playing schedule, and signature Tucson hospitality! Mark your calendars for April 7–11, 2026, at the Marriott Tucson University Park.

Our new host hotel has undergone a multi-million-dollar renovation, ensuring maximum comfort. Every space, including the dedicated on-site playing area and rooms, features a fresh, modern design. Our special player rate is $159/night. The booking deadline is Wednesday, March 18, 2026. Click here to make your reservation.

Click here for the tournament flyer. Be sure to note the new start times (as per player request). More information coming soon!

by Jack Shoemaker

Tournament Chair

shoejack20@gmail.com

Mark your calendars – District 17 will once again host a Taos Regional in 2026!

• Location: Sagebrush Inn, Taos, New Mexico
• Dates: September 21–27, 2026
• Room Rates: $119–$159

Stayed tuned for more information.

First off, how do you pronounce it? I've always said KIB-itz but I've heard ki-BITZ. So I checked, and both the OED and and the American Heritage Dictionary agree with me. Whew.

The ACBL has rules regarding kibitzers, whom it refers to as "spectators." These rules are designed to ensure that spectators do not in any way affect the game. If you want to read the complete set of regulations, they can be found on the ACBL website:

• General Conditions of Contest (All Events) http://web2.acbl.org/coc/AllGeneral.pdf
• Law 76 (Spectators) https://web2.acbl.org/documentlibrary/play/laws-of-duplicate-bridge.pdf

Here are some relevant excerpts, slightly edited/condensed:

• A spectator* may not look at the hand of more than one player unless allowed by regulation.
• A spectator must not show any reaction to the bidding or play when a deal is in progress.
• During a round, a spectator must refrain from mannerisms or remarks of any kind and must have no conversation with a player.
• A spectator must not disturb a player.
• A spectator at the table shall not draw attention to any aspect of the game.
• Within the playing area**, a spectator may speak as to fact or law only when requested to do so by the Director.
• Regulating Authorities and Tournament Organizers may specify how to deal with irregularities caused by spectators.

* A spectator is defined as any person in the playing area other than a player or a tournament official. The Director may designate specific individuals (e.g., maintenance personnel, hotel personnel, hospitality personnel) as other than spectators.

** The playing area is defined as any place where a player might be expected to be during a session. This includes restrooms, hallways, refreshment stations, and so on.

And, IMPORTANT, if you, as a player, have any concerns related to kibitzers or spectators, please bring them to the attention of a tournament official or the tournament director.

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.

We have heard from a few people that the Bridge Buzz is going into their junk folder. I realize, since you're reading this, that this probably doesn't apply to you, but, in case it's happened in the past or you know someone for whom this is happening:

It's probably an issue with the email provider not recognizing the sender. So add the Buzz to your contacts list. The Buzz sender is bridgebuzz@mailgun.smore.com.

Also, past issues of the Buzz are always available on the D17 website: https://www.d17acbl.org/d17-buzz-newsletter/.

Continuing the series on D17 board members ... this month I've asked Toby McEvoy, Unit 373, and Cindy Shoemaker, the Region 10 representative to the national board and a also a D17 board member, to tell me a little about themselves.

Toby McEvoy has been playing duplicate bridge since 2007, when he started playing in a 0–50 game on Tuesday nights at the Cincinnati Bridge Club. Upon moving to Las Vegas in 2008, Toby realized that playing bridge in the local clubs in the evenings was a great way to spend some of his spare time away from the casinos and restaurants.

Toby is a classically trained musician who plays piano, clarinet, saxophone, and flute. After college, Toby's musical skills led to many performance opportunities in church choirs, chamber chorales, wind symphonies, and musical theatre orchestra pits.

In the Las Vegas Valley, Toby and his partner Chris Hahn became bridge teachers and have created roughly two dozen bridge players from the people they've met while performing in local fine arts organizations.

After completing a degree in mathematics in 1989, Toby has worked in software engineering, user interface design, and data architecture. Toby is currently employed as an Assistant Director of Data Engineering for one of the major casino resorts.

Toby is happy to serve as the District 17 Representative for Unit 373 (Las Vegas). He anticipates that his experience in teaching bridge will continue to be valuable to the Unit and the District.

As your Region 10 Director on the ACBL National Board, I hold a dual responsibility: representing the specific needs of District 17 while simultaneously acting in the best interest of the entire ACBL.

I also actively serve on the District 17 Board. This connection provides a critical, grassroots link that fosters relationships, facilitates dialogue, and ensures that the challenges and successes of our District, Units, and Clubs are directly brought to the national discussion.

This is a dynamic and incredibly meaningful commitment, driven by the energy and vitality of our bridge community. It is a pleasure to draw on my experience as a Unit President and Intermediate/Newcomer Representative, applying professional skills in project management, organizational analysis, and results-driven leadership to make a difference in building the ACBL's future and better serving our members.

To maintain this open dialogue, which enables me to hear your input and ensures you stay informed on decisions, my commitment to open communication is fulfilled as follows:

• Transparency and Insight: Produce and distribute detailed National Board Reports directly to the D17 membership and post them on the District 17 website under News. This keeps you informed about discussions and decisions, allowing you to provide input on crucial issues.
• Connecting and Celebrating: Send monthly Congratulatory emails to members who advance in rank. This is more than a celebration—it’s an open invitation for each of you to share your bridge stories, photos, and most importantly, your feedback and suggestions for improvement in our organization.
• Active Presence and Accessibility: Attend all District 17 Regionals, and national events such as the Aileen Osofsky Goodwill Reception, and Club and Teacher Reception. This allows me to listen to your concerns and ideas directly.

I encourage you to reach out via email to share your thoughts, concerns, and suggestions. I look forward to continuing these important conversations with you!

______________________________________________________________________________

While my National and District duties demand significant focus, I enjoy spending time with my family, and attending local plays and concerts.

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.

Congratulations to all!

Editor's note: This data comes from the ACBL database, which is updated on the sixth of each month. So, for example, if you advanced a rank on October 15, this won't show up in the ACBL database until November 6. Accordingly, you won't be listed in the November 1 issue of the Buzz. But we'll catch you next time.

Not pictured: Karon Chitwood (Unit 354, Sun City West AZ), Betty Coleman (Unit 356, Tucson AZ), Sally McKinney (Unit 373, Henderson NV, also Bronze Life Master), Suzann Mohr (Unit 356, Tucson AZ; also Bronze Life Master), Renee Prendergast (Unit 361, Chandler AZ), Janice Shimokubo (Unit 354, Scottsdale AZ)

This data comes from the ACBL tournament schedule for D17, through December 2025. To see tournaments farther out in time or more distant in space, click here, set your filters, and click Search.

Nov 6-8, 2025 – Chandler AZ – Info – Unit 351 – Sectional – Open

Nov 7-9, 2025 – Albuquerque NM – Info – Unit 374 – Sectional – Open

Nov 10-16, 2025 – STaC D17 – Info – Unit 360 – Sectional – STaC

Nov 20-22, 2025 – Tucson AZ – Info – Unit 356 – Regional – I/N

Nov 20-22, 2025 – Tucson AZ – Info – Unit 356 – Sectional – Restricted

Dec 15-21, 2025 – STaC U381 (D17) – Info – Unit 381 – Sectional – STaC

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. For more information about District 17, go to the D17 website at d17acbl.org.