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Rochelle Christensen [Falcon Heights] Elizabeth Kiernat [St Paul] Mary Jo Leighton [St Cloud] Don Stryker [St Paul] |
Participating clubs in Minnesota this week will provide 25% gold (and 75% black) points - without any special travel on your part. You can play in the friendly environment of your own local club! Check with your local club manager to see what games are gold dust games this week, as the Stardust Week started yesterday and runs through Sunday. |  |
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But there's a game tonight! The good people that run the MGSC are offering free Gopher entries to both the winning pair (and a random pair) that play in the game this evening, so there's even more incentive to sign up and get into some trouble from the comfort of your own home. |
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In a race as close as winning any Kentucky Derby by a nose, 20.00 matchpoints was the top available score on each of the 26 boards in this game, and just one-half a matchpoint separated Dave and Terry from Barry Purrington [Eagan] and Paul Gutterman [Eagan] who were your big winners on Sunday - with a 72.31% game. You might be familiar with your local casino's "bad beat" jackpot at the Texas Hold 'Em table, when aces full (or better) gets beat by a better hand. When we say the bad beat jackpot paid out, unfortunately the jackpot here is $0.00. Maybe we should start one going? (Or maybe one pair should buy the other one lunch - but which pair buys?) |
 | This Bulletin will be emailed to everyone who played in the Gopher one year ago, so chances are you'll also get it in your e-mailbox. It makes for great reading and is packed with info on the upcoming event. |
Results of this inter-unit bridgefest can be found by clicking here (the Open game) and for Minnesota's 749ers, their results can be found by clicking here.      
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 |  Tournament tables (Open and I/N combined) are up +5.0% from 2024 (480 tables vs 457 last year through April 30) Online BBO VACB tables are down -14.3% from 2024 (198 vs 231 last year, no surprise as e-Club participation has fallen off the cliff everywhere; the new ACBL Clubhouse, which directs funds back to local clubs, hasn't helped with this) Face-to-face club tables are up +0.9% from 2024 (2,872/2,845; the ACBL as a whole has witnessed a jump of +2.6% for these first 16 weeks of the year [335,856 vs 327,278]) All Minnesota tables (in person, tournaments, and online) are up +0.5% from 2024 (3,550/3,533)
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Every face-to-face bridge game at your local club this month can be a Grass Roots FUNd game, which pays extra masterpoints - AND supports D14's Grass Roots program which supports our Grand National Teams and North American Pairs events. Check with your local club manager about running these special games (or your club's calendar of games for then they are being held). More on the ACBL's designation of this month can be found by clicking here. There's a "Stardust" week next week thanks to the ACBL, and the big Awards Game at the Bridge Center of St Paul on Sunday. Of course one cannot forget the Gopher Regional in a few weeks! More on all of these big May games as they get closer. |
 | 76.54% Jackson + Sarah Wahl, 4/4, BCSP 75.00% Joe Browan and Bill Voedisch, 4/7, Woodbury 74.81% Scott + Shirley Richardson, 4/25, St Cloud 72.92% Joe Koester and Keith Connolly, 4/27, BCSP 71.25% John Utermoehl and Tim Runbeck, 4/3, Woodbury
70.83% John Utermoehl and Tim Runbeck, 4/28, Woodbury
70.83% Warren Nelson and Claude Williams, 4/28, Duluth
70.65% Dann Finn and Roger Melaas, 4/29, St Cloud
70.44% Jim Schnepf and Connie Nelson, 4/4, St Cloud
70.37% Layne Vinje and Bob Roediger, 4/23, Rochester
70.37% Linda + Barry Purrington, 4/1, BCSP 70.27% Joe Koester and John Schlundt, 4/23, Maple Grove APRIL'S LIMITED MASTERPOINT 70% GAMES: 73.61% Elizabeth Hassleman and Pamela Burkley, 4/1, 999er game, Edina 72.62% Liz Haynes and David Currie, CHAT Bridge, 4/17, BCSP 72.50% Rochelle Christensen and Bob Gosselin, 499ers, 4/7, BCSP
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Total tables last year in Gatlinburg were 3,423 (or about 5 times the size of last year's Gopher). In addition, Gatlinburg held an online BBO regional session with another 80 online tables from their District. This year's Gatlinburg tournament saw just 2,459 tables, that's down -28.2% from just a year ago. They held the online BBO regional session again in 2025, but this year saw only 12 tables in play (vs 80 last year, or down -85.0%!) It doesn't necessarily bode badly for next month's tournaments (see: Gopher), but it's not a good sign for sure. This is easily the largest drop in year-over-year tables for any of the 21 Open Regionals held so far in 2025 - both in nominal tables and comparative percentage to the same event held one year ago. Minnesota players certainly did their part in attending this big tournament! If nothing else, it's another reason not to get complacent when we have our tournament in a few weeks, as every effort counts. You can get a look at the ACBL tables and how they're doing compared to one year ago by clicking here. |
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--Dean/Weiman, NWS Storm Prediction Center, Norman OK |
Monday, May 19 – Saturday, May 24 CROWNE PLAZA AIRE HOTEL 34th Avenue and American Blvd, Bloomington, MN It’s time for the other Great Minnesota Get Together—the 2025 Minnesota Gopher Regional Bridge Tournament. You cannot play bridge in a friendlier environment, and our famous Minnesota Nice hospitality includes free snacks, coffee, and tea at every session. With our average table count per session now back to pre-pandemic numbers, the Gopher provides nice-sized events and nice masterpoint awards (see our website for more info at https://www.minnesotabridge.com/MNpages/MNgoph.htm). "GO-PHER" the Gold The 2025 Gopher offers pair games and bracketed Swiss teams, including limited Masterpoint games, for every type or level of bridge player. And, Web movements, often used in the pair events, mean that everyone plays all of the boards for the fairest type of competition. All events are Gold Masterpoint events, including Open Pairs, Bracketed Swiss Teams, and Gold Rush Pairs, with single-session entries welcome in all pair games. "GO-PHER" the Two-Session Bracketed Swiss Teams This year, we offer two-session Bracketed Swiss Teams each day of the tournament to help you enhance your IMP strategies. We often have 4 brackets, so teams can compete against their peers. And, any teams that want the experience are encouraged to 'play up'. Even if you’re new to Swiss Teams or IMP scoring, this is a great chance to gain useful Bridge experience, sharpen your skills, and have fun. Be sure to put these team events on your Gopher calendar and start getting your teams together now. (Who knows, you could be building a future GNT championship team!) If you need help finding partners or teammates for any event, contact Annie Schaeffer at hawkeyeannie67@gmail.com, or 612-987-8607. "GO-PHER" the Fun Remember, the fabulous Mall of America is very close (one tram stop away from the playing site), offering movies, shopping, restaurants, and an amusement park. May is a great time to be in Minnesota with lots to do, including Minnesota Twins baseball, boating, the Walker Art Center, and the Guthrie Theater. "GO-PHER" the Stay The Crowne Plaza Aire Hotel is conveniently located off I-494 near the airport, with free parking and a free airport shuttle! And, if you book by 4/28, the bridge tournament rate is only $115 per night for a single or double room, and $145 per night for a suite. You can book online using code MGB, or by calling 952-854-9000. Thanks for thinking of us. We’re really looking forward to seeing you at the 2025 Minnesota Gopher Regional, May 19-24! -- Bob B. |
  | Few of us will get to 94, and far fewer still will be playing bridge at that age. Good for Mary, and it's good for us that she's still "playing with a full deck" (even if "shuffling a little slower", per the sweatshirt her daughter bought her which Mary proudly wears). |
 | The ACBL has held 17 Open Regionals since the beginning of the year which were also held in 2024. 7 of these regionals saw an increase in attendance from 2024; 9 saw a decrease; and 1 was essentially flat year-over-year. Overall, the 16,058 open regional tournament tables in 2025 is off just slightly (-1.0%) from last year. But there are some positive signs. San Diego's Pacific Southwest Regional just wrapped up last week with a table count increase of +6.4%. One reason why is that they moved their day 1 session times from afternoon and evening to morning and afternoon (matching the rest of their week). It's true that the Gopher doesn't have that same option (all our start times are already the same) - but listening to your players and proactively making changes to your schedule can make a big difference in your attendance. That's what happened last week in San Diego; and Gopher Chair Patti Stuhlman [Minneapolis] made some changes to the Gopher schedule from 2024 after surveying the landscape last year. Will we see a bump in tables as a result? One can't say for sure, but so far making a change (when warranted) seems to be doing well for everyone else. And it could well have more potential than doing nothing. |
To your lower right is a look at Minnesota masterpoint winners (through Friday) that are currently out-of-state at "America's Favorite Regional".   Jan Gembol [Clear Lake], Nancy Balfanz [St Cloud], Theresa Kornwolf [St Michael] and Sandy Johnson [St Cloud] proudly display their 1st place finish in the two-session evening Swiss teams. |
 | But it gives you a sense of what's out there. And across our six states, the average number of tables over all the games held is right at 5.44 tables per game. Minnesota's tables per game are just slightly higher than that, at 5.53. And if you just take Minnesota's open games (and no limited masterpoint games), our TPG shoots up to 6.52 - that's tops among the Upper Midwest. But no matter where you head to in nearby states, you should be able to find a bridge club with plenty of tables and plenty of worthy competition. |
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 | But it's mostly seniors that are playing bridge - so it's worth taking a look at the over-65s across the Upper Midwest. The second chart on your left, in pink, shows the share of seniors that are of each state's overall population. Minnesota's (on the right of the chart) seniors comprise 17.8% of our population (2024 US Government Census figures). There's actually not a lot of difference between states, every state's seniors are 17% to 19% of their population. Wisconsin is a little older (19.1%) and North Dakota younger (17.0%). The third chart on your left (in light gray) shows the share of the combined Upper Midwest seniors for each state. Statewide population varies quite a bit around here (Wisconsin with 5.96 million, North Dakota with 0.79 million), so it's not surprising that Wisconsin and Minnesota each have about 1/3rd of the Upper Midwest seniors living there - with Iowa, the Dakotas, and Nebraska splitting the other 1/3rd. So who is punching above their weight class? That's Nebraska. Nebraska's ratio of their share of Upper Midwest bridge tables to their share of Upper Midwest seniors is 1.69. Translation: They play a LOT of bridge in Nebraska for their population! Minnesota's share of tables to share of seniors is almost equal (with a ratio of 1.05). South Dakota's ratio of 0.43 would indicate they're not playing a lot of sanctioned bridge there, but there are only three bridge clubs in the state (two in Sioux Falls and one in Rapid City). It's Wisconsin who is trailing in the "who's playing bridge" department. They've got far more seniors than anyone else in the Upper Midwest - but don't have the relative number of tables to show for it. Bridge tables, anyway. "500" and Cribbage tables might be off the chart in Wisconsin, but that's for another website. |
Now the BCSP has added an easy option via their sign-up online. Here is the link to add your name (and your partner's!) to the list of bridge players who will be in attendance. Remember, there's a lot to celebrate - so get your name on the list and plan on some fun. |
From now through May 13, the MGSC will award four (4) single-session entries to the Gopher each week. And you don't have to be a 70% player to earn one of the free Gopher plays. Two (2) single-session entries will be awarded to the top pair each Tuesday night. (If there's a tie, then a random drawing will select the winning pair of the free entries.) And additional two (2) single-session entries will be awarded randomly to other players in the field. So everyone who plays on a Tuesday evening can win a free Gopher play - if you're good or lucky. And as everyone in bridge knows, sometimes it's better to be lucky than good. The MGSC game can be found in the Virtual Clubs section of BBO each Tuesday afternoon at 4:30pm for entering their 6:30pm game. If you need a partner, there's a partnership desk, and the cost is $6. |
But as online virtual club play has crumbled in the past 24 months, so have online regional associated games. They're down sharply from just one year ago. So far, 5 of the 15 open regionals in 2025 have had games on BBO for their district. But overall tables across these 5 regionals are down more than -66.1% from 2024. The "break-even" point for these online associated events is 13 tables; and while the Rochester tournament's losses were mitigated a bit by the online BBO event, the online option is not on their schedule for 2025. And apparently the Gopher has had it right all along! |  |
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The Minnesota Bridge Education Fund is an independent 501(C)(3) organization that was created to benefit new bridge players of all ages through education and instruction - along with the cognitive and social aspects of the fantastic game of bridge that we all love. Even if you have not heard of this Fund before, you are benefitting from their organization and program. Some details of the Minnesota Bridge Education Fund: The Fund is incorporated in Minnesota as a 501(C)(3) educational charity - donations are 100% tax-deductible.The Fund is not affiliated with the ACBL or with Unit 103 or Unit 178. They are completely independent.As such, the Fund does not require or get approvals from either Minnesota bridge unit for fund dispersal.The Fund grants funding requests from all over the state of Minnesota, including educational programs at the Gopher Regional, as well as subsidizing limited masterpoint players at Minnesota tournaments.This small organization is funded mainly by memorial contributions, but gladly accepts all donations.The Fund made a major contribution of $1,000 to the U of M program when it started in 2017 for educational materials and supplies.Donations to the Fund can be made to Sandy Nelson, 10222 Parkview Circle, Bloomington, MN 55431. You'll get a letter detailing the donation for your tax records. If you're looking for a tax write-off, it's hard to compete against worthy causes - but the Minnesota Bridge Education Fund is right up there. They work hard to help bridge throughout Minnesota, which ultimately should help you. |
38 tables were in play in District 14, with four Minnesota Bridge clubs participating (the Bridge Center of St Paul, Maple Grove's Wednesday game, Rochester and Mankato) along with one in Iowa (Cedar Falls). Of these 38 tables, here are your D14 overall awards:
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Patti: I'm very optimistic. Looking forward to seeing everyone, and I know we're going to have a great time. BB: You've done this for so many years; is there an unknown quantity here in 2025 for the Gopher next month for you, or are there no surprises left? Patti: I think about that, and actually I have made a planning guide to make sure that I check everything off. Only weather interferes with us, and I'm not even that worried about construction [around the host hotel area]. BB: If there was one thing you wanted people to know about putting this together that they might not normally know, what would that be? Patti: Volunteers. People learn what it is they want to do with helping your tournament, and then let them do their thing. BB: COVID did a lot of damage to bridge and to the bridge community, but you said it actually helped you with putting together the Gopher Regional. Could you expand on how COVID had such a positive effect on helping you do what you do? Patti: Meeting online during COVID really opened up a new crew of volunteers for us. Connie Nelson (St Cloud) did such a terrific job as the Promotion Chair, Warren [Nelson] has taken that over and is doing such a great job, and Matt [Belau] what [he does], yeah, it went well. Did I tell you that Warren has agreed to be the Promotion Chair for the NABC? BB: Next year, you've volunteered to chair the local responsibilities of putting on the NABC in July. Other than being on a grander scale, how will that be different for you than chairing the Gopher? Patti: [Sighs.] I don't have any responsibilities about setting up the Nationals. My whole job is about getting a volunteer crew together and getting the word out - and letting people know it's fun to go to a national. There are a lot of people in Minnesota who haven't played at a national, I think our last one was in the 1990s. I'll be in charge of putting the pieces together and finding volunteers and their strengths so that they'll enjoy what they are doing. BB: You must be aware of the incredible appreciation that so many local bridge players have for you and what you do for bridge. What can they do to show their appreciation for you other than say thanks - for example, is there a "Go Fund Me" account for a spa weekend that we can start for you? Patti: [Laughing] Oh. . . you're so kind! [Still laughing] Let's see. [Pauses] [Still smiling] I don't know. I wouldn't ask for anything. |
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 | Jackson Wahl [Minneapolis] has taken over the lead with 72.25 masterpoints over the first three Open Sectionals in the state. But up next up is the all important Gopher Regional, the first of the two open regionals in Minnesota this year! Will Jackson hang on to that lead? With the number of masterpoints available heading into the Gopher next month, a lot can change. (But will it?) |