Wednesday, November 12, 2025

Buffalo Niagara duplicate bridge notes: Nov. 15, 2025

 


New installments of Buffalo Niagara duplicate bridge notes are no longer available on the Buffalo News website. Future postings will appear weekly here, usually by midweek, on Dale Anderson’s bridge blog at http://newsdupli.blogspot.com/

The Niagara Regional Tournament continues today, Saturday, Nov. 15, and Sunday, Nov. 16, in St. Catharines, Ont., in the Holiday Inn & Suites, 327 Ontario St.  Games begin at 10 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. today, Saturday, with Swiss teams at 10 a.m. Sunday. For more info, click this link.

The annual Western New York Unit 116 general meeting, luncheon and game is coming up on Saturday, Dec. 6, in the Buffalo Bridge Center, 60 Dingens St. off Exit 1 of the I-190. The meeting is at 11 a.m., with lunch at 11:30 and an open pairs game at 12:30 p.m. Fee is $10, lunch included. Preregistration requested by Dec. 1. Prepayment not required. Email larab1016@verizon.net or jbava@roadrunner.com.

Next party game at the Buffalo Bridge Center is next Saturday, Nov. 22. Snacks at noon. Game at 12:30 p.m. Bring munchies to share. For partnerships and info, call Pat Haynes at 716-472-5189 or email phaynes508@roadrunner.com. Next month’s party game is Saturday, Dec. 13.

The Buffalo Bridge Center offers a regular schedule of in-person and online games Monday through Friday with party games once a month on weekends. For more info, visit the Buffalo Bridge Center website or call 716-424-0014. Fee for games is $8 for members and $12 for non-members.

Other ACBL sanctioned clubs: Contact for the Bridge Club of East Aurora is Dave Larcom at dmocral@verizon.net. Games are at 10 a.m. Wednesdays in the Aurora Senior Citizens Center, 101 King St., East Aurora. The Bridge Centre of Niagara (BCON) in St. Catharines, Ont., offers face-to-face games five days a week at its club in Tremont Square opposite the Pen Centre shopping plaza off Glendale Avenue. Website is bridgewebs.com/Niagara. The Niagara-on-the-Lake Bridge Club plays in the Community Centre in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont., on Anderson Lane off Mississauga Street on the western end of the village. Open games are at 1 p.m. Tuesdays and Fridays. Website is visit bridgewebs.com/niagaraonthelake.

Non-sanctioned clubs: Tonawanda Senior Center, 12:30 p.m. Wednesdays; Amherst Senior Center, 12:30 p.m. Mondays and Fridays.

Upcoming tournaments: Niagara Regional – Holiday Inn & Suites, 327 Ontario St., St. Catharines, Ont. Today, Saturday, Nov. 15, and Sunday, Nov. 16. For more info, click this link. District 5 Sectional Tournament at the Clubs (STaC) – At participating local bridge clubs. Tuesday, Dec. 9, to Saturday, Dec.13.

Scores from ACBL Live for Clubs

Week of Nov. 3 to Nov. 9

Buffalo Bridge Center Monday evening – 0-900 game online. Michel Dupuis and Gary Keenan, 65.28%; Carol Licata and Larry Himelein, 54.17%; Fran Schmidt and Richard McGowan, 52.78%; Candace Graser and Cynthia Tashjian, 50%.

Buffalo Bridge Center Tuesday morning – 0-1,600 game. North-south, Larry Himelein and David Schott, 61.99%; Ruth Nawotniak and Paul Zittel, 55.53%; Betty Metz and Audrey Ray, 51.19%; Brian Fleming and John Brennan, 49.19%; east-west, Mary Ball and Joyce Frayer, 63.98%; Linda Milch and Linda Zittel, 57.06%; Anthony Girasole and Dennis Daly, 54.85%; Marilyn Wortzman and Jim Easton, 53.57%.

Buffalo Bridge Center Wednesday morning – Open game. Home style pairs. Donna Steffan and Judy Graf, 3 wins; (3-way tie) Chris Urbanek and Kamil Bishara, Mike Ryan and John Ziemer, Tova Reinhorn and Bob Padgug, 1 win.

Buffalo Bridge Center Thursday morning – 0-2,000 game. North-south, Joyce Frayer and Mary Ball, 57.50%; Sharon Wilcox and Joyce Greenspan, 55%; east-west, Agi Maisel and Joanne Nover, 56.25%; Audrey Ray and Pat Hayners, 54.38%.

Buffalo Bridge Center Friday morning – Open game. Donna Steffan and Audrey Ray, 66.67%; John Ziemer and Vic Bergsten, 60.42%; Linda Burroughsford and Davis Heussler, 54.17%; Mike Ryan and Jim Gullo, 50%.

Bridge Club of East Aurora Wednesday morning – Open game. Joanne LaFay and Joe Miranda, 65.97%; Wilson McClaren and Bob Mampe, 61.81%; Sandi England and Linda Zittel, 59.03%; Ruth Wurster and Nancy Kessler, 54.86%.

Delaware Wednesday evening – 0-2,000 game online. Henry Chudy and Jeff Bender, 60.19%; Eugene Giorgini and Jim Lanzo, 59.26%; Ed Harman and Bob Ciszak, 56.48%; Deborah Elston and Gary Keenan, 55.56%; Mary Ball and Joyce Frayer, 53.70%.

Non-sanctioned clubs

Tonawanda Senior Center Wednesday afternoon – Rose Bochiechio and Edna Fill, 68%; Judy White and Fritz Schweiger, 50%.

• • •

Unit 116 Master Point Leaders for Club Play

Jan. 1, 2025, to Oct. 31, 2025

0-5 Points – Julie Mitchell, 20.27; John Brennan, 8.42; Maureen Piasecki, 6.09; Linda Marsh, 3.15% Joan Warren, 3.03; Susan Mann Dolce, 2.20; Arthur Ziller, 2.10; Ann Bonte, 1.65: Amy Licata, 0.99; (tie) Walter Balon and Ellen Balon, 0.89.

5-20 Points – Devon Marlette, 0.79; Amber Dizon, 0.21.

20-50 Points – Dennis Daly, 11.87; Anthony Girasole, 9.45; Zakie Nohra, 5.15; Molly Morris, 5.13; Gini Sicignano, 5.02; Phyllis Stasiowski, 0.83; Chris-Elaine Santilli, 0.57.

50-100 Points – Brian Fleming, 22.04; Donna Starnes, 10.26; Ilene Rothman, 9.22; Susan Cardamone, 8.02; Pepe Justicia-Linde, 5.89; Maureen Cancilla, 3.77; Carole Sedita, 2.83%; Susan Burns, 2.72; Amy Habib, 2.56; Mary Berlow, 2.32.

100-200 Points – Carol Licata, 8.42; Betty DeFeo, 5.78; Mike Meacham, 5.55; Joan Ciszak, 1.87; Pam Righter, 0.28.

200-300 Points – Judy Babat, 1.88; Ethan Xie, 1.60; Hannah Weinberg, 1.13.

300-500 Points – David Schott, 40.23; Pat Haynes, 33.72; Joanne Nover, 30.15; Audrey Ray, 27.53; Maryann Szafran, 18.73; Ruth Nawotniak, 14.66; Linda Milch, 14.26; Agi Maisel, 9.98; Carl Hasselback, 8.61; David Whitt, 8.05.

500-1,000 Points – Larry Himelein, 46.48; Linda Zittel, 37.43; Joyce Frayer, 34.09; Andrei Reinhorn, 33.39; Mary Terrana, 25.33; Gordon Crone, 20.12; Jim McClure, 19.71; Paula Rosen, 18.59; Joe Miranda, 17.98; Dave Larcom, 17.96.

1,000-1,500 Points – Paul Zittel, 43.20; Betty Metz, 42.38; Howard Foster, 40.51; Mary Ball, 38.90; Joanne LaFay, 27.65; Marilyn Wortzman, 25.03; Jim Easton, 24.83; Terry Fraas, 23.15; Bert Feasley, 18.43; Larry Abate, 17.85.

1,500-2,500 Points – Pinky Regan, 36.95; Kamil Bishara, 36.53; Tova Reinhorn, 30.91; Paula Kotowski, 29 even; Joyce Greenspan, 26.06; Sandi England, 21.98; Walt Olszewski, 13.73; Nancy Kessler, 13.54; David Colligan, 12.19; Judy Kaprove, 6.01.

2,500-3,500 Points – Linda Burroughsford, 36.07; Dale Anderson, 21.02; Elaine Kurasiewicz, 2.25; Art Morth, 2.07; Pat Rasmus, 1.78; Fred Yellen, 1.43.

3,500-5,000 Points – Judy Graf, 57.86; John Ziemer, 56.97; Davis Heussler, 50.29; Martha Welte, 39.47; Jim Gullo, 31.95; Donna Steffan, 29.66; Allen Beroza, 4.86; Chongmin Zhang, 0.74; Brian Meyer, 0.60.

More than 5,000 Points – Mike Ryan, 68.21; Chris Urbanek, 49.22; Jay Costello, 46.15; Bud Seidenberg, 43.19; Jay Levy, 16.54; Sharon Benz, 1.38; Dian Petrov, 1.03; Kathy Pollock, 0.75; Dan Gerstman, 0.60.

• • •

The Duplicate Bridge column in The Buffalo News dated back to the 1970s and had been compiled by Staff Reporter Dale Anderson for more than 20 years. The print version stopped in March 2020 when the pandemic forced local bridge clubs to halt face-to-face play. It continued online on Buffalo News website until last Saturday, Nov. 8.

Dale Anderson played bridge socially as a teen and was drawn into playing seriously in 2005. He's a Gold Life Master and reached a career milestone, 3,000 master points, at the Buffalo Fall Sectional Tournament in September. Now that he's laid off from his full-time job, he should have more time to blog about his bridge adventures here.

Wednesday, November 5, 2025

Duplicate Bridge: Nov. 8, 2025


The Duplicate Bridge column is bidding farewell to the Buffalo News website. Future installments will appear weekly right here at http://newsdupli.blogspot.com/

• • •

The Niagara Regional Tournament opens Tuesday, Nov. 11, and continues through Sunday, Nov. 16, in St. Catharines, Ont., in the Holiday Inn & Suites, 327 Ontario St.  Games begin at 10 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, with Swiss teams at 10 a.m. Sunday. For more info, click this link.

• • •

Western New York Unit 116 will hold its annual general meeting, luncheon and game on Saturday, Dec. 6, in the Buffalo Bridge Center, 60 Dingens St. off Exit 1 of the I-190. The meeting is at 11 a.m., with lunch at 11:30 and an open pairs game at 12:30 p.m. Fee is $10, lunch included. Preregistration requested by Dec. 1. Prepayment not required. Email larab1016@verizon.net or jbava@roadrunner.com.

 • • •

The Buffalo Bridge Center offers a regular schedule of in-person and online games Monday through Friday with party games once a month on weekends. Next party game is Saturday, Nov. 22. For more info, visit the Buffalo Bridge Center website or call 716-424-0014. Fee for games is $8 for members and $12 for non-members.

A new series of lessons in basic bridge strategies is in progress at the Bridge Center’s clubrooms. Wednesday lessons begin at 2:30 p.m. Saturday classes start at 10 a.m. For more info, call 716-424-0014 and leave a message.

The Bridge Center also has started a course of supervised play at 11 a.m. on Mondays for players who know the basics and want to step up their skills in the game. Each hand is discussed after it is played. Mini lessons may be given on some of the topics and there will be possibilities to play for master points. To come, text Pat Haynes at 716-472-5189.

Don’t want to clean up the house for kitchen bridge? The Bridge Center also hosts a social game in its lessons room on Tuesday mornings during the regular 10:30 a.m. game. Players can go at their own speed and style. Fee is $5 to cover expenses.

In-person games:

Tuesdays, 10:30 a.m. For players with fewer than 1,600 points. Simultaneous game for players with fewer than 99 points if there are enough tables. Free lesson at 10.

Wednesdays, 10:30 a.m. Open to all players. Simultaneous game for players with fewer than 99 points if there are enough tables.

Thursdays, 10:30 a.m. Upgraded to now include players with up to 2,000 points. Simultaneous game for players with fewer than 99 points if there are enough tables. Free lesson at 10.

Fridays, 10:30 a.m. Open to all players by pre-registration only. Call 716-424-0014.

Virtual games on Bridge Base Online:

Mondays, 7 p.m. Upgraded now to include players with fewer than 900 points.

Wednesdays, 7 p.m. Delaware Wednesday game for players with fewer than 2,000 points. For info on this game, call Ed Harman at 716-480-1666 or email eharmon@roadrunner.com.

• • •

More access to virtual games on Bridge Base Online is being offered by the Airport Bridge Club, which currently is not holding face-to-face games. It has affiliated with a new group of clubs, the SE Club of Clubs Online Bridge Collective, where most games are $5. For more info, click this link.

The Airport Club also continues to be part of the Alliance Bridge Club, which offers more than a dozen games every day. Anyone who has played at the Airport Club is automatically a member. For more info, visit alliancebridgeclub.com or call Airport Club manager Bill Finkelstein at 716-603-6943.

• • •

The East Aurora Bridge Club begins play at 10 a.m. Wednesdays in the Aurora Senior Citizens Center, 101 King St., East Aurora. Attendance is generally three or four tables. For more info, email director Dave Larcom at dmocral@verizon.net.

• • •

The Bridge Centre of Niagara (BCON) in St. Catharines, Ont., offers face-to-face games five days a week at its club in Tremont Square opposite the Pen Centre shopping plaza off Glendale Avenue:

Mondays, 1 p.m. Open and 499er (fewer than 499 master points) games.

Mondays, 6 p.m. Beginner game, fewer than 50 master points. Register at mon-eve@bcon.club.

Wednesdays, 1 p.m. Open game.

Wednesday, 6:30 p.m. 499er game. Register at wed-eve@bcon.club.

Thursday, 9:30 a.m. New 99er game.

Thursday, 1 p.m. 999er game.

Friday, 1 p.m. Open and 499er games.

Saturday, 6:30 p.m. Open game. Arrive by 6 p.m. if you need a partner.

Fees are $9 Canadian for members, $12 Canadian for non-members. $9 Canadian for all players in the Monday beginner game. Membership is $65 Canadian for a year, beginning April 1. For more information, visit bridgewebs.com/Niagara.

The club has just cut back to a single virtual game on Bridge Base Online, the one for players with fewer than 750 points at 10 a.m. Tuesdays. Turnout for the other one, an open game at 7 p.m. Thursdays, had gotten too small. For more info, click here.

For online play, BCON recommends going to the SE Club of Clubs Online Bridge Collective, which appears as “SE Carolina” on Bridge Base Online. Games run throughout the day. A full lineup of games can be seen at SE Carolina On-line Bridge.

• • •

The Niagara-on-the-Lake Bridge Club plays in the Community Centre in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont., on Anderson Lane off Mississauga Street on the western end of the village. Open games are at 1 p.m. Tuesdays and Fridays. Fee is $6 Canadian for members, $8 Canadian for non-members. Annual membership is $20 Canadian. For more information, visit bridgewebs.com/niagaraonthelake.

• • •

Face-to-face play in non-sanctioned clubs is offered at the Tonawanda Senior Center at 12:30 p.m. Wednesdays and at the Amherst Senior Center at 12:30 p.m. Mondays and Fridays.

• • •

Tournament calendar

2025

Niagara Regional – Holiday Inn & Suites, 327 Ontario St., St. Catharines, Ont. Tuesday, Nov. 11, to Sunday, Nov. 16. For more info, click this link.

2026

Toronto Winter Non-Life Master Regional – Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel, 123 Queen St. West, Toronto, Ont. Saturday, Jan. 3, and Sunday, Jan. 4. For more info, click this link.

Toronto Winter Sectional – Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel, 123 Queen St. West, Toronto, Ont. Saturday, Jan. 3, and Sunday, Jan. 4. For more info, click this link.

Cleveland Rock and Roll Regional – Embassy Suites Hotel, 5800 Rockside Woods Road, Independence, Ohio. Wednesday, Jan. 7, to Sunday, Jan. 11. For info, click this link.

Niagara Winter Sectional – Holiday Inn & Suites Parkway Conference Center, 327 Ontario St., St. Catharines, Ont. Friday, Feb. 13, to Sunday, Feb. 15. For more info, click this link.

Toronto Easter Regional – Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel, 123 Queen St. West, Toronto, Ont. Tuesday, March 31, to Sunday, April 5.

Buffalo Spring Sectional – Buffalo Bridge Center, 60 Dingens St. Friday, April 10, to Sunday, April 12. For info, click this link.

• • •

Bridge club websites:

Click names for links.

Bridge Center of Buffalo.

Western New York Unit 116.

The Airport Bridge Club, which continues to be on hiatus, does not have a website. For info, call 716-603-6943.

• • •

Duplicate scores from ACBL Live for Clubs

Week of Oct. 27 to Nov. 2

ACBL Affiliated Clubs

Buffalo Bridge Center Monday evening – 0-900 game online. Fran Schmidt and Richard McGowan, 63.89%; Betsy and Jim Greno, 55.56%; Nancy Prussky and Gary Keenan, 54.17%; Carol Licata and Larry Himelein, 51.39%.

Buffalo Bridge Center Tuesday morning – 0-1,600 game. North-south, Betty Metz and Ruth Nawotniak, 58.73%; Pat Haynes and Maryann Szafran, 57.54%; Barbara Landree and Paul Zittel, 53.97%; Larry Himelein and David Schott, 53.57%; east-west, Mary Ball and Joyce Frayer, 58.73%; Bill and Nathan Kross, 57.94%; Linda Marsh and Arthur Ziller, 52.78%; Marilyn Wortzman and Jim Easton, 50.79%; Carol Licata and Ilene Rothman, 50.40%.

Buffalo Bridge Center Thursday morning – 0-2,000 game. Julie Mitchell and Walt Olszewski, 67.26%; Joyce Greenspan and Audrey Ray, 64.11%; Larry Himelein and David Schott, 61.48%; Maryann Szafran and Betty Metz, 55.61%.

Bridge Club of East Aurora Wednesday morning – Open game. Joann LaFay and Sandi England, 65.97%; Judy Graf and Mike Ryan, 65.28%; Linda and Paul Zittel, 50.69%; (tie) Mary Terrana and Gordon Crone, Pat Haynes and Joe Miranda, 49.31%.

Delaware Wednesday evening – 0-2,000 game online. Bill Rich and Richard McGowan, 59.72%; Wendy Zinman-Smith and Tom Fahey, 58.33%; Jeff Bender and Henry Chudy, 51.39%; Ed Harman and Bob Ciszak, 47.22%.

Other clubs

Amherst Senior Center Monday afternoon – North-south, Shirley Cassety and George Mayers, 63%; Violet and Jasbeer Makhija, 54%; east-west, Mary and Jim Atwood, 53.3%; Joan Stankiewicz and Ellen Lochead, 50%.

Tonawanda Senior Center Wednesday afternoon – Susan and Harvey Lichtblau, 56.9%; Ann Dunlop and Patricia Sexton, 55.5%; Rose Bochiechio and Edna Fill, 54.1%.

• • •

The Duplicate Bridge column has been compiled weekly by Buffalo News Staff Reporter Dale Anderson for more than 20 years. The print version stopped appearing Saturdays in The News in March 2020 when the pandemic forced local bridge clubs to halt face-to-face play. The final installment of the online version on the News website is appearing today, Nov. 8. 

From now on you can find it online by searching for “Duplicate Bridge” plus the current Saturday date on Google. That should bring it up here on Dale Anderson’s bridge blog at http://newsdupli.blogspot.com/

Deadline for submission of scores and notices is Tuesday night. Email  dahotwings@aol.com. Cell and text is 716-860-2305.

• • •

A Gold Life Master, Dale Anderson reached a career milestone, 3,000 master points, at the Buffalo Fall Sectional Tournament. He blogs about his bridge adventures here.

Wednesday, October 29, 2025

Duplicate Bridge: Nov. 1, 2025

 


Last nearby regional tournament this year for local players is the Niagara Regional, which runs from Tuesday, Nov. 11, to Sunday, Nov. 16, in St. Catharines, Ont., in the Holiday Inn & Suites, 327 Ontario St.  For more info, click this link.

 • • •

The Buffalo Bridge Center, 60 Dingens St. off Exit 1 of the I-190, offers a regular schedule of in-person and online games Monday through Friday with party games once a month on weekends. Next party game is Saturday, Nov. 22. For more info, visit the Buffalo Bridge Center website or call 716-424-0014. Fee for games is $8 for members and $12 for non-members.

A new series of lessons in basic bridge strategies is in progress at the Bridge Center’s clubrooms. Wednesday lessons begin at 2:30 p.m. Saturday classes start at 10 a.m. For more info, call 716-424-0014 and leave a message.

The Bridge Center also has started a course of supervised play at 11 a.m. on Mondays for players who know the basics and want to step up their skills in the game. Each hand is discussed after it is played. Mini lessons may be given on some of the topics and there will be possibilities to play for master points. To come, text Pat Haynes at 716-472-5189.

Don’t want to clean up the house for kitchen bridge? The Bridge Center also hosts a social game in its lessons room on Tuesday mornings during the regular 10:30 a.m. game. Players can go at their own speed and style. Fee is $5 to cover expenses.

In-person games:

Tuesdays, 10:30 a.m. For players with fewer than 1,600 points. Simultaneous game for players with fewer than 99 points if there are enough tables. Free lesson at 10.

Wednesdays, 10:30 a.m. Open to all players. Simultaneous game for players with fewer than 99 points if there are enough tables.

Thursdays, 10:30 a.m. Upgraded to now include players with up to 2,000 points. Simultaneous game for players with fewer than 99 points if there are enough tables. Free lesson at 10.

Fridays, 10:30 a.m. Open to all players by pre-registration only. Call 716-424-0014.

Virtual games on Bridge Base Online:

Mondays, 7 p.m. Upgraded now to include players with fewer than 900 points.

Wednesdays, 7 p.m. Delaware Wednesday game for players with fewer than 2,000 points. For info on this game, call Ed Harman at 716-480-1666 or email eharmon@roadrunner.com.

• • •

More access to virtual games on Bridge Base Online is being offered by the Airport Bridge Club, which currently is not holding face-to-face games. It has affiliated with a new group of clubs, the SE Club of Clubs Online Bridge Collective, where most games are $5. For more info, click this link.

The Airport Club also continues to be part of the Alliance Bridge Club, which offers more than a dozen games every day. Anyone who has played at the Airport Club is automatically a member. For more info, visit alliancebridgeclub.com or call Airport Club manager Bill Finkelstein at 716-603-6943.

• • •

The East Aurora Bridge Club begins play at 10 a.m. Wednesdays in the Aurora Senior Citizens Center, 101 King St., East Aurora. Attendance is generally three or four tables. For more info, email director Dave Larcom at dmocral@verizon.net.

• • •

The Bridge Centre of Niagara (BCON) in St. Catharines, Ont., offers face-to-face games five days a week at its club in Tremont Square opposite the Pen Centre shopping plaza off Glendale Avenue:

Mondays, 1 p.m. Open and 499er (fewer than 499 master points) games.

Mondays, 6 p.m. Beginner game, fewer than 50 master points. Register at mon-eve@bcon.club.

Wednesdays, 1 p.m. Open game.

Wednesday, 6:30 p.m. 499er game. Register at wed-eve@bcon.club.

Thursday, 9:30 a.m. New 99er game.

Thursday, 1 p.m. 999er game.

Friday, 1 p.m. Open and 499er games.

Saturday, 6:30 p.m. New open game. Arrive by 6 p.m. if you need a partner.

Fees are $9 Canadian for members, $12 Canadian for non-members. $9 Canadian for all players in the Monday beginner game. Membership is $65 Canadian for a year, beginning April 1. For more information, visit bridgewebs.com/Niagara.

The club has just cut back to a single virtual game on Bridge Base Online, the one for players with fewer than 750 points at 10 a.m. Tuesdays. Turnout for the other one, an open game at 7 p.m. Thursdays, had gotten too small. For more info, click here.

For online play, BCON recommends going to the SE Club of Clubs Online Bridge Collective, which appears as “SE Carolina” on Bridge Base Online. Games run throughout the day. A full lineup of games can be seen at SE Carolina On-line Bridge.

• • •

The Niagara-on-the-Lake Bridge Club plays in the Community Centre in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont., on Anderson Lane off Mississauga Street on the western end of the village. Open games are at 1 p.m. Tuesdays and Fridays. Fee is $6 Canadian for members, $8 Canadian for non-members. Annual membership is $20 Canadian. For more information, visit bridgewebs.com/niagaraonthelake.

• • •

Face-to-face play in non-sanctioned clubs is offered at the Tonawanda Senior Center at 12:30 p.m. Wednesdays and at the Amherst Senior Center at 12:30 p.m. Mondays and Fridays.

• • •

Tournament calendar

2025

Niagara Regional – Holiday Inn & Suites, 327 Ontario St., St. Catharines, Ont. Tuesday, Nov. 11, to Sunday, Nov. 16. For more info, click this link.

2026

Toronto Winter Non-Life Master Regional – Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel, 123 Queen St. West, Toronto, Ont. Saturday, Jan. 3, and Sunday, Jan. 4. For more info, click this link.

Toronto Winter Sectional – Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel, 123 Queen St. West, Toronto, Ont. Saturday, Jan. 3, and Sunday, Jan. 4. For more info, click this link.

Cleveland Rock and Roll Regional – Embassy Suites Hotel, 5800 Rockside Woods Road, Independence, Ohio. Wednesday, Jan. 7, to Sunday, Jan. 11. For info, click this link.

Niagara Winter Sectional – Holiday Inn & Suites Parkway Conference Center, 327 Ontario St., St. Catharines, Ont. Friday, Feb. 13, to Sunday, Feb. 15. For more info, click this link.

Toronto Easter Regional – Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel, 123 Queen St. West, Toronto, Ont. Tuesday, March 31, to Sunday, April 5.

Buffalo Spring Sectional – Buffalo Bridge Center, 60 Dingens St. Friday, April 10, to Sunday, April 12. For info, click this link.

• • •

Bridge club websites:

Click names for links.

Bridge Center of Buffalo.

Western New York Unit 116.

The Airport Bridge Club, which continues to be on hiatus, does not have a website. For info, call 716-603-6943.

• • •

Duplicate scores from ACBL Live for Clubs

Week of Oct. 20 to Oct. 26

ACBL Affiliated Clubs

Buffalo Bridge Center Tuesday morning – 0-1,600 game. North-south, Barbara Landree and Linda Zittel, 65%; Joanne Nover and David Schott, 57%; Gini Sicignana and Pat Wolcott, 55%; Pat Haynes and Maryann Szafran, 51.50%; east-west, Mary Ball and Joyce Frayer, 61.67%; John Brennan and Anthony Girasole, 53.75%; Marilyn Wortzman and Ruth Nawotniak, 50%.

Buffalo Bridge Center Wednesday morning – Open game. Chris Urbanek and David Colligan, 57.29%; Jay Costello and Bud Seidenberg, 55.21%; Mike Ryan and John Ziemer, 52.08%; Linda Burroughsford and Davis Heussler, 51.04%; Donna Steffan and Jim Gullo, 50%.

Buffalo Bridge Center Thursday morning – 0-2,000 game. Julie Mitchell and Brian Fleming, 60.71%; Sharon Wilcox and Joyce Greenspan,56.55%; Larry Himelein and David Schott, 54.17%; Paula Rosen and Maryann Szafran, 53.57%.

Buffalo Bridge Center Friday morning – Open game. Judy Graf and John Ziemer, 75%; Jay Costello and Bud Seidenberg, 57%; Davis Heussler and Mike Ryan, 52%; Martha Welte and Larry Abate, 49%.

Bridge Club of East Aurora Wednesday morning – Open game. Joanne LaFay and Linda Zittel, 62.04%; Sandi England and Walt Olszewski, 56.48%; Mary Terrana and Gordon Crone, 52.78%; Pat Rasmus and Dave Larcom, 52.31%; Brian Universal and Bob Mampe, 50.46%.

Delaware Wednesday evening – 0-2,000 game online. Bill Rich and Richard McGowan, 59.72%; Mary Ball and Joyce Frayer, 58.33%; Ed Harman and Bob Ciszak, 56.94%.

Other clubs

Amherst Senior Center Monday afternoon – North-south, Shirley Cassety and George Mayers, 64%; Joe Huber and Fritz Schweiger, 55%; east-west, Mary and Jim Atwood, 60.4%; Jack Cukierman and Melvyn Mesnekoff, 60%.

Amherst Senior Center Friday afternoon – North-south, Shirley Cassety and George Mayers, 63%; Angela Curtis and Judy McDermid, 59%; east-west, Ruth Nawotniak and Bill Rogers, 69%; Rich Kayton and Ted Kotliarz, 61%.

Tonawanda Senior Center Wednesday afternoon – Bob and Mike Rupp, 70.8%; Rose Bochiechio and Enda Fill, 55.5%; Judy White and Fritz Schweiger, 51.3%.

• • •

The Duplicate Bridge column has been compiled weekly by Buffalo News Staff Reporter Dale Anderson for more than 20 years. The print version stopped appearing Saturdays in The News in March 2020 when the pandemic forced local bridge clubs to halt face-to-face play.

These days you can find it in two places online. Google “Duplicate Bridge” plus the current Saturday date and that should bring up a link to it on buffalonews.com, the Buffalo News website, beginning at 5:30 p.m. Fridays. Another place to find it anytime is on Dale Anderson’s bridge blog at http://newsdupli.blogspot.com/

Deadline for submission of scores and notices is Tuesday night. Email danderson@buffnews.com or dahotwings@aol.com. Office phone is 716-849-4420.

• • •

A Gold Life Master, Dale Anderson reached a career milestone, 3,000 master points, at the Buffalo Fall Sectional Tournament. That’s one of the entries in his blog about his bridge adventures here.

Wednesday, October 22, 2025

Duplicate Bridge: Oct. 25, 2025



The Buffalo Bridge Center, 60 Dingens St. off Exit 1 of the I-190, offers a regular schedule of in-person and online games Monday through Friday with party games once a month on weekends. Next party game is Saturday, Nov. 22. For more info, visit the Buffalo Bridge Center website or call 716-424-0014. Fee for games is $8 for members and $12 for non-members.

A new series of lessons in basic bridge strategies is in progress at the Bridge Center’s clubrooms. Wednesday lessons begin at 2:30 p.m. Saturday classes start at 10 a.m. For more info, call 716-424-0014 and leave a message.

The Bridge Center also has started a course of supervised play at 11 a.m. on Mondays for players who know the basics and want to step up their skills in the game. Each hand is discussed after it is played. Mini lessons may be given on some of the topics and there will be possibilities to play for master points. To come, text Pat Haynes at 716-472-5189.

Don’t want to clean up the house for kitchen bridge? The Bridge Center also hosts a social game in its lessons room on Tuesday mornings during the regular 10:30 a.m. game. Players can go at their own speed and style. Fee is $5 to cover expenses.

In-person games:

Tuesdays, 10:30 a.m. For players with fewer than 1,600 points. Simultaneous game for players with fewer than 99 points if there are enough tables. Free lesson at 10.

Wednesdays, 10:30 a.m. Open to all players. Simultaneous game for players with fewer than 99 points if there are enough tables.

Thursdays, 10:30 a.m. Upgraded to now include players with up to 2,000 points. Simultaneous game for players with fewer than 99 points if there are enough tables. Free lesson at 10.

Fridays, 10:30 a.m. Open to all players by pre-registration only. Call 716-424-0014.

Virtual games on Bridge Base Online:

Mondays, 7 p.m. Upgraded now to include players with fewer than 900 points.

Wednesdays, 7 p.m. Delaware Wednesday game for players with fewer than 2,000 points. For info on this game, call Ed Harman at 716-480-1666 or email eharmon@roadrunner.com.

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More access to virtual games on Bridge Base Online is being offered by the Airport Bridge Club, which currently is not holding face-to-face games. It has affiliated with a new group of clubs, the SE Club of Clubs Online Bridge Collective, where most games are $5. For more info, click this link.

The Airport Club also continues to be part of the Alliance Bridge Club, which offers more than a dozen games every day. Anyone who has played at the Airport Club is automatically a member. For more info, visit alliancebridgeclub.com or call Airport Club manager Bill Finkelstein at 716-603-6943.

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The East Aurora Bridge Club begins play at 10 a.m. Wednesdays in the Aurora Senior Citizens Center, 101 King St., East Aurora. Attendance is generally three or four tables. For more info, email director Dave Larcom at dmocral@verizon.net.

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The Bridge Centre of Niagara (BCON) in St. Catharines, Ont., offers face-to-face games five days a week at its club in Tremont Square opposite the Pen Centre shopping plaza off Glendale Avenue:

Mondays, 1 p.m. Open and 499er (fewer than 499 master points) games.

Mondays, 6 p.m. Beginner game, fewer than 50 master points. Register at mon-eve@bcon.club.

Wednesdays, 1 p.m. Open game.

Wednesday, 6:30 p.m. 499er game. Register at wed-eve@bcon.club.

Thursday, 9:30 a.m. New 99er game.

Thursday, 1 p.m. 999er game.

Friday, 1 p.m. Open and 499er games.

Saturday, 6:30 p.m. New open game. Arrive by 6 p.m. if you need a partner.

Fees are $9 Canadian for members, $12 Canadian for non-members. $9 Canadian for all players in the Monday beginner game. Membership is $65 Canadian for a year, beginning April 1. For more information, visit bridgewebs.com/Niagara.

The club has just cut back to a single virtual game on Bridge Base Online, the one for players with fewer than 750 points at 10 a.m. Tuesdays. Turnout for the other one, an open game at 7 p.m. Thursdays, had gotten too small. For more info, click here.

For online play, BCON recommends going to the SE Club of Clubs Online Bridge Collective, which appears as “SE Carolina” on Bridge Base Online. Games run throughout the day. A full lineup of games can be seen at SE Carolina On-line Bridge.

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The Niagara-on-the-Lake Bridge Club plays in the Community Centre in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont., on Anderson Lane off Mississauga Street on the western end of the village. Open games are at 1 p.m. Tuesdays and Fridays. Fee is $6 Canadian for members, $8 Canadian for non-members. Annual membership is $20 Canadian. For more information, visit bridgewebs.com/niagaraonthelake.

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Face-to-face play in non-sanctioned clubs is offered at the Tonawanda Senior Center at 12:30 p.m. Wednesdays and at the Amherst Senior Center at 12:30 p.m. Mondays and Fridays.

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Tournament calendar

2025

Niagara Regional – Holiday Inn & Suites, 327 Ontario St., St. Catharines, Ont. Tuesday, Nov. 11, to Sunday, Nov. 16. For more info, click this link.

2026

Toronto Winter Non-Life Master Regional – Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel, 123 Queen St. West, Toronto, Ont. Saturday, Jan. 3, and Sunday, Jan. 4. For more info, click this link.

Toronto Winter Sectional – Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel, 123 Queen St. West, Toronto, Ont. Saturday, Jan. 3, and Sunday, Jan. 4. For more info, click this link.

Cleveland Rock and Roll Regional – Embassy Suites Hotel, 5800 Rockside Woods Road, Independence, Ohio. Wednesday, Jan. 7, to Sunday, Jan. 11. For info, click this link.

Niagara Winter Sectional – Holiday Inn & Suites Parkway Conference Center, 327 Ontario St., St. Catharines, Ont. Friday, Feb. 13, to Sunday, Feb. 15. For more info, click this link.

Toronto Easter Regional – Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel, 123 Queen St. West, Toronto, Ont. Tuesday, March 31, to Sunday, April 5.

Buffalo Spring Sectional – Buffalo Bridge Center, 60 Dingens St. Friday, April 10, to Sunday, April 12. For info, click this link.

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Bridge club websites:

Click names for links.

Bridge Center of Buffalo.

Western New York Unit 116.

The Airport Bridge Club, which continues to be on hiatus, does not have a website. For info, call 716-603-6943.

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Duplicate scores from ACBL Live for Clubs

Week of Oct. 13 to Oct. 19

ACBL Affiliated Clubs

Buffalo Bridge Center Tuesday morning – 0-1,600 game. North-south, Mary Terrana and Joe Miranda, 59.23%; Larry Himelein and David Schott, 57.44%; Ruth Nawotniak and Betty Metz, 53.57%; Audrey Ray and Adrian Figliotti, 52.38%; east-west, John Brennan and Brian Fleming, 61.61%; Marilyn Wortzman and Jim Easton, 59.23%; Joyce Frayer and Anthony Girasole, 54.76%; Linda Marsh and Art Ziller, 52.98%; Carol Licata and Ilene Rothman, 51.79%.

Buffalo Bridge Center Wednesday morning – Open game. Martha Welte and Howard Foster, 56%; Judy Graf and Mike Ryan, 51%.

Buffalo Bridge Center Thursday morning – 0-2,000 game. North-south, Paula Rosen and Jim McClure, 61%; Joyce Greenspan and Audrey Ray, 58.68%; Anthony Girasole and Sam Austin, 51.01%; east-west, Larry Himelein and David Schott, 58.33%; Pat Haynes and David Whitt, 52.59%; Linda Milch and Richard McGowan, 50.05%.

Buffalo Bridge Center Friday morning – Open game. Martha Welte and Larry Abate, 71.88%; Judy Graf and Mike Ryan, 56.25%; Linda Burroughsford and Jim Gullo, 53.13%.

Buffalo Bridge Center Saturday afternoon – Open game. Martha Welte and Sushil Amlani, 62.59%; Judy Graf and John Ziemer, 58.52%; Florence Boyd and Dale Anderson, 53.70%; Howard Foster and Mike Ryan, 53.33%; Chris Urbanek and Jay Levy, 51.85%; Tova and Andrei Reinhorn, 51.11%; Linda Burroughsford and Davis Heussler, 50.74%; Mary Ball and Joyce Frayer, 48.89%.

Bridge Club of East Aurora Wednesday morning – Open game. Nancy Kessler and Paula Kotowski, 65.97%; Paul Zittel and Ed Morgan, 64.58%; Joanne LaFay and Mary Terrana, 57.18%; Maureen Piasecki and Wilson McClaren, 53.24%.

Delaware Wednesday evening – 0-2,000 game online. Walt Olszewski and Jim Lanzo, 66.67%; Phyllis Ward and Richard MdGowan, 55.56%; Michael and Jim Hassett, 52.78%.

Other clubs

Amherst Senior Center Friday afternoon – North-south, Shirley Cassety and George Mayers, 59%; Nancy Wolstoncroft and Paul Orosz, 55%; east-west, (tie) Shrikant Joshi and Ron Helfman, Fritz Schweiger and Carol Neuhaus, 56.3%; Karen Synor and Jeff Peters, 54%.

Tonawanda Senior Center Wednesday afternoon – Rose Bochiechio and Edna Fill, 61.25%; Mike and Bob Rupp, 58.75%.

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Unit 116 Master Point Leaders for Play in All Venues

Jan. 1, 2025, to Sept. 30, 2025

0-5 Points – Julie Mitchell, 37.02; Maureen Piasecki, 6.40; John Brennan, 5.44; Joan Warren, 2.06; (tie) Walter Balon, Ellen Balon, 0.89; Mary Collins, 0.57; Alice Cooley, 0.52; John Eckis, 0.48; Ann Bonte, 0.44.

5-20 Points – Mike Rupp, 5.16: Fran Holmes, 3.83; Devon Marlette, 2.59; David Taylor, 0.63.

20-50 Points – Dennis Daly, 19.96; Anthony Girasole, 7.06; Zakie Nohra, 5.86; Molly Morris, 4,20; Gini Sicignano, 3.96; Maxine Johnson, 2.57; Karen Dearing, 1.57; Maureen Saab, 1.34; Phyllis Stasiowski, 0.67; Chris-Elaine Santilli, 0.57.

50-100 Points – Brian Fleming, 51.06; Ilene Rothman, 18.09; Mike Metzger, 13.42; Amy Habib, 13.24; Gary Keenan, 11.76; Donna Starnes, 9.73; Cynthia Tashjian, 9.26; Candace Graser, 8.32; John Houghtaling, 8.24; Susan Cardamone, 8.02.

100-200 Points – Mike Meacham, 19.41; Carol Licata, 17.06; Maria Schory, 15.88; Fran Schmidt, 12.20; Jim Hassett, 11.21; Betty DeFeo, 5.62; Jim Greno, 4.90; Betsy Greno, 4.27; Joan Ciszak, 2.29; Pam Righter, 0.28.

200-300 Points – Maria Amlani, 54.39; Ethan Xie, 22.79; Laura Houghtaling, 8.24; (tie) Barbara and John Scott, 7.22; Judy Babat, 1.88; Patty Porter, 1.55; Hannah Weinberg, 1.13.

300-500 Points – David Schott, 56.37; Joanne Nover, 42.65; Pat Haynes, 41.93; Audrey Ray, 32.21; Ruth Nawotniak, 16.78; Maryann Szafran, 16.34; Linda Milch, 14.28; Agi Maisel, 12.47; Carl Hasselback, 9.32; Judy Zeckhauser, 7.21.

500-1,000 Points – Larry Himelein, 66.31; (Tie) Terry and Bram Hamovitch, 64.66; Joyce Frayer, 51.38; Andrei Reinhorn, 42.56; Linda Zittel, 38.13; Sushil Amlani, 37.56; Martha Townson, 28.79; Mary Terrana, 26.34; Gordon Crone, 24.59.

1,000-1,500 Points – Jim Lanzo, 101.33; Vic Bergsten, 72.67; Howard Foster, 60.10; Mary Ball, 52.56; Paul Zittel, 47 even; Betty Metz, 42.37; Jim Easton, 39.45; Marilyn Wortzman, 39.14; Terry Fraas, 30.14; Larry Abate, 27.58.

1,500-2,500 Points – Kamil Bishara, 103.31; Paula Kotowski, 45.24; David Colligan, 42.71; Tova Reinhorn, 42.32; Pinky Regan, 39.92; Joyce Greenspan, 29.80; Walt Olszewski, 28.91; Rajat Basu, 28.10; Sandi England, 23.04; Nancy Kessler, 19.78.

2,500-3,500 Points – Linda Burroughsford, 160.38; David Turner, 27.56; Dale Anderson, 20.77; Art Morth, 13.30; Fred Yellen, 8.09; Elaine Kurasiewicz, 7.31; Pat Rasmus, 0.51.

3,500-5,000 Points – Davis Heussler, 213.44; John Ziemer, 96.40; Judy Graf, 83.71; Chongmin Zhang, 66.52; Donna Steffan, 52.39; Martha Welte, 49.50; Jim Gullo, 32.87; Bill Rushmore, 20.21; Barbara Libby, 10.55; Mike Silverman, 9.93.

More than 5,000 Points – Saleh Fetouh, 822.73; Chris Urbanek, 223.49; Jay Levy, 220.72; Dian Petrov, 170.76; Mike Ryan, 107.67; Jay Costello, 82.64; Bud Seidenberg, 77.10; Kathy Pollock, 64.03; Glenn Milgrim, 31.21; Dan Gerstman, 0.60.

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The Duplicate Bridge column has been compiled weekly by Buffalo News Staff Reporter Dale Anderson for more than 20 years. The print version stopped appearing Saturdays in The News in March 2020 when the pandemic forced local bridge clubs to halt face-to-face play.

These days you can find it in two places online. Google “Duplicate Bridge” plus the current Saturday date and that should bring up a link to it on buffalonews.com, the Buffalo News website, beginning at 5:30 p.m. Fridays. Another place to find it anytime is on Dale Anderson’s bridge blog at http://newsdupli.blogspot.com/

Deadline for submission of scores and notices is Tuesday night. Email danderson@buffnews.com or dahotwings@aol.com. Office phone is 716-849-4420.

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A Gold Life Master, Dale Anderson reached a career milestone, 3,000 master points, at the Buffalo Fall Sectional Tournament last month. That’s one of the entries in his blog about his bridge adventures here.