Buffalo Niagara duplicate bridge notes: September 12, 2026

 

News and notes for the Buffalo area duplicate bridge community appear weekly here at http://newsdupli.blogspot.com/, usually by midweek.

Next party game is next Saturday, Sept. 19, at the Buffalo Bridge Center, 60 Dingens St. off Exit 1 of the northbound I-190. In celebration of the new football season, there's a "Go, Bills!" theme. Snacks at noon (bring one to share). Game at 12:30 p.m. For partnerships and more info, call Julie Mitchell at 845-978-9480 or email jkmitchell070121@gmail.com.

The Buffalo Bridge Center has a regular lineup of in-person games Tuesday through Friday with party games once a month on weekends, usually on Sundays. Now that the National Football League season is here, the next party game has been shifted to a Saturday, Sept. 19. For more info, visit the club’s website at https://buffalobridgecenter.godaddysites.com/ or call 716-424-0014. Fee for games is $8 for members and $12 for non-members.

The fall bridge lessons are about to start up at the Buffalo Bridge Center. The first one – a 10-week series on popular bidding and playing conventions – began last Wednesday, Sept. 9, from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. A second 10-week series, an introduction to Basic Bridge, begins Thursday, Oct. 1, from 1 to 3 p.m. And for anyone curious about the game and wondering how to get into it, there’s a one-time introductory session from 9 a.m. to noon next Saturday, Sept. 19. For more info, call or text Ruth Nawotniak at 716-949-7574.

Online games hosted by the Bridge Center at 7 p.m. Monday and Wednesday have been transferred from Bridge Base Online to a new platform, RealBridge. For more info, including a player guide, visit realbridge.online. Sadly, the Wednesday game, Delaware Wednesday, has been inactive since mid-March.

In addition, the club hosts a supervised play session for players who want to gain some experience and get some advice to improve their game. It’s from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Mondays and it’s been a great success. Small games now have been added to the session. All are welcome. No pre-registration is required, but things work out better if those interested in supervised play get in touch with Julie Mitchell by calling 845-978-9480 or emailing jkmitchell070121@gmail.com.

Also popular is the club’s social bridge game at 10 a.m. on Tuesdays, which is just for fun. Signup needed for this one. Call Ruth Nawotniak at 716-949-7574 or email at ruth2250@outlook.com. 

The Bridge Center has started its mentoring program again. Experienced players who want to share their knowledge with novices are encouraged to sign up. So should new players who want to pick up tips from the masters. Call Pat Haynes at 716-472-5189 or email phaynes508@roadrunner.com.

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

BCON is bringing back its 199er team championship game after a two-year absence. It's at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 23, and it’s open to anyone with fewer than 200 master points as of last Jan.1.

BCON also is starting up new rounds of bridge lessons. Beginner Bridge with Selina Volpatti kicked off at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 10, and will continue for seven more weeks. Cost is $200 Canadian. For more info, email lessons@bcon.club.

BCON also has a series of six bidding workshops with Doug Dolbear that are aimed at intermediate and advancing players. First one – on overcalls and partner response – was at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 9. Cost in Canadian funds is $30 each, $160 for all six. Maximum of 12 students per session. For more info and registration, email dougdolbear@gmail.com.

Other ACBL sanctioned clubs: Bridge Club of East Aurora holds an open game at 10 a.m. Wednesdays in the Aurora Senior Citizens Center, 101 King St., East Aurora. Contact is Dave Larcom at dmocral@verizon.net.

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 bridgewebs.com/niagaraonthelake.

Non-sanctioned clubs: Games are held at 12:30 p.m. Mondays and Fridays in the Amherst Senior Center and at 12:30 p.m. Wednesdays in the Tonawanda Senior Center.

Upcoming tournaments

Pittsburgh Labor Day Regional – Doubletree Meadowlands Racetrack and Casino, 340 Racetrack Road, Washington, Pa. Monday, Sept. 14, to Sunday, Sept. 20. For more info, click this link.

Buffalo Fall Sectional – Buffalo Bridge Center, 60 Dingens St. Friday, Sept. 25, to Sunday, Sept. 27. For more info, click this link.

Rochester Fall Sectional – Gates Community Center, 1605 Buffalo Road (Route 33), Rochester. Saturday, Oct. 10, and Sunday, Oct. 11.

Niagara Open Sectional – Niagara-on-the-Lake Community Center, 14 Anderson Lane, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont. Friday, Nov. 6, to Sunday, Nov. 8. For more info, click this link.

Scores from ACBL Live for Clubs

Week of Aug. 31 to Sept. 6

Buffalo Bridge Center Monday evening – 0-900 game online. Cynthia Tashjian and Candace Graser, 64.81%; David Schott and Fran Riordan, 51.85%; Fran Holmes and Leslie Deich, 50%.

Buffalo Bridge Center Tuesday morning – 0-1,600 game. North-south, Joanne Nover and David Schott, 60.12%; (tie) Jim McClure and Richard McGowan, Bonnie Clement and Larry Himelein, 58.63%; Betty Metz and Ruth Nawotniak, 55.36%; east-west, Audrey Ray and Ed Morgan, 61.90%; Adrian Figliotti and Betty DeFeo, 56.25%; Linda Milch and Linda Zittel, 52.68%; Marilyn Wortzman and Jim Easton, 50.60%.

Buffalo Bridge Center Wednesday morning – Open game. Martha Welte and Howard Foster, 63.19%; Chris Urbanek and Kamil Bishara, 54.86%; (tie) Tova Reinhorn and Terry Fraas, John Ziemer and Mike Ryan, 53.47%; Mary Ball and Joyce Frayer, 49.31%.

Buffalo Bridge Center Thursday morning – 0-2,000 game. North-south, Paula Rosen and Maryann Szafran, 57.14%; Joanne Nover and Bonnie Clement, 54.37%; Larry Himelein and David Schott, 49.60%; east-west, Joyce Frayer and Anthony Girasole, 59.92%; Joyce Greenspan and Andrei Reinhorn, 58.33%; Marilyn Wortzman and Jim Easton, 51.98%; Nathan and Bill Kross, 50%.

Bridge Club of East Aurora Wednesday morning – Open game. Marueen Cancilla and Alex Ivanov, 55%; Mary Terrana and Gordon Crone, 53%; Jan and Carl Hasselback, 51%.

Non-sanctioned clubs

Amherst Senior Center Monday afternoon – North-south, Shirley Cassety and George Mayes, 62%; Violet and Jasbeer Makhija, 60%; east-west, Connie Wilson and Miriam Regnet, 60%; InSook Shin and Laurie Jones, 57%.

Amherst Senior Center Friday afternoon – North-south, Paul Orosz and Nels Larson, 59%; Shirley Cassety and George Mayers, 58%; east-west, Rich Kayton and Ted Kotlarz, 60%; Elaine Wegrzyn and Gus Alfano, 56%.

Unit 116 Master Point Leaders for Club Play

Jan. 1, 2026, to August 31, 2026

Beginning this month, the ACBL has changed the way it reports master point leaders. Instead of listing them according to their various ranks, they’ve just piled them all together. Here are the Top 60:

1-10: Mike Ryan, 49.49; Larry Himelein, 45.27; Jo Nasoff-Finton, 42.29; Davis Heussler, 41.03; Bud Seidenberg, 39.40; Paula Kotowski, 38.82; Jay Costello, 37.71; Chris Urbanek, 36.67; Judy Graf, 34.79; David Schott, 33.27.

11-20: Paul Zittel, 32.80; Kamil Bishara, 32.69; John Ziemer, 32.37; Julie Mitchell, 28.61; Donna Steffan, 28.54; Linda Burroughsford, 27.81; Bert Feasley, 27.14; Linda Zittel, 26.59; Joanne Nover, 25.49; Martha Welte, 29.90.

21-30: Howard Foster, 24,85; Joyce Frayer, 23.30; Mary Ball, 20.82; Pat Haynes, 29.69; (tie) Jim Easton and Marilyn Wortzman, 19.75; Tova Reinhorn, 19.38; Dale Anderson, 18.13; Brian Fleming, 18.02; Joanne Lafay, 17.23.

31-40: Mary Terrana, 16.82; Nancy Kessler, 16.33; Gordon Crone, 15.80; Walt Olszewski, 15.67; Ruth Nawotniak, 15 even; Andrei Reinhorn, 14.56; Saleh Fetouh, 14.17; David Colligan, 13.34; Sandi England,13.15; Sushil Amlani, 13.08.

41-50: Joyce Greenspan, 13 even; Ruth Wurster, 12.46; Paula Rosen, 12.15; Jim McClure, 11.69; Betty Metz, 11.18; Ed Morgan, 10.05; Jay Levy, 9.93; Larry Abate, 9.90; Molly Morris, 9.81; Agi Maisel, 9.63.

51-60: Maryann Szafran, 9.42; Wilson McClaren, 9.03; Jim Lanzo, 8.99; (tie) Carl Hasselback and Jan Hasselback, 8.98; Mike Meacham, 8.74; Sharon Wilcox, 8.66; (tie) Carol Licata and Ilene Rothman, 8.59; Terry Fraas, 8.12.

A Gold Life Master, Dale Anderson has compiled notes on duplicate bridge activities locally since he began playing in competition more than 20 years ago. He reached a career milestone, 3,000 master points, at the Buffalo Fall Sectional Tournament last September. You can call or text him at 716-860-2305. Email is dahotwings@aol.com.