Buffalo Niagara duplicate bridge notes: March 7, 2026

 

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

The Niagara Unit 255 Sectional Tournament features sessions for 499ers along with open games next Saturday, March 14, and Sunday, March 15, in the Bridge Centre of Niagara, Tremont Square opposite the Pen Centre shopping plaza on Glendale Avenue in St. Catharines, Ont.

Single session pairs games are at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturday, while bracketed Swiss teams play begins at 10 a.m. Sunday. Space is limited, so advance registration is strongly suggested. 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, usually on Sundays. Next party game is Sunday, March 22. 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. Membership is $80 annually.

In addition, the club hosts a supervised play session for players who want experience and advice to improve their games from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Mondays, which has been a great success. All are welcome. No pre-registration needed. Also popular is the club’s social bridge game just for fun at 10 a.m. on Tuesdays. Signup needed for this one. Call Ruth Nawotniak at 716-949-7574 or email at ruth2250@outlook.com. 

The Bridge Center will be closed whenever Buffalo public schools are closed due to the weather. However, if Buffalo schools merely revert to remote learning, then the Bridge Center will be open.

Other ACBL sanctioned clubs: Bridge Club of East Aurora games are 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 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 bridgewebs.com/niagaraonthelake.

Non-sanctioned clubs: The midwinter break has ended at the Tonawanda Senior Center. Games have resumed at 12:30 p.m. Wednesdays. Play continues at the Amherst Senior Center at 12:30 p.m. Mondays and Fridays.

Upcoming tournaments

Niagara BCON Sectional – Bridge Centre of Niagara, 2E Tremont Drive, St. Catharines, Ont. Next Saturday, March 14, and Sunday, March 15. Space is limited. Pre-registration encouraged. For more info, click this link.

Rochester Non-Life Master Sectional – Two locations. Friday, March 27, and Saturday, March 28. Swiss Teams on Friday at Temple B'Rith Kodesh, 2131 Elmwood Ave., Rochester. Pairs games on Saturday at Perinton Community Center, 1350 Turk Hill Road, Fairport. 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. For more info, click this link.

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

Rochester Spring Sectional – Gates Community Center, 1605 Buffalo Road, Gates. Saturday, April 18, and Sunday, April 19. For more info, click this link.

Finger Lakes Regional – Seasons on Keuka Lake, 110 Mace St., Penn Yan. Monday, June 8, to Friday, June 12. For more info, click this link. 

District 5 Sectional Tournament at the Clubs (StaC) – Participating local clubs. Monday, June 8, to Sunday, June 14. For more info, click this link.

Cleveland All American Regional – Embassy Suites Hotel, 5800 Rockside Woods Road, Independence, Ohio. Tuesday, June 23, to Sunday, June 28. For more info, click this link.

Buffalo Summer Sectional – Buffalo Bridge Center, 60 Dingens St. Friday, July 10, to Sunday, July 12.

Oakville Summer Regional – St. Volodymyr Cultural Centre, 1280 Dundas St. West, Oakville, Ont. Tuesday, July 21, to Sunday, July 26. For more info, click this link.

Rochester Summer Sectional – Gates Recreation Center, 1605 Buffalo Road, Rochester. Saturday, July 25, and Sunday, July 26.

Scores from ACBL Live for Clubs

Week of Feb. 23 to March 1

Buffalo Bridge Center Monday evening – 0-900 game online. Maria Schory and Mike Metzger, 63.89%; Frank Schmidt and Richard McGowan, 55.56%; Cynthia Tashjian and Candace Graser, 54.17%.

Buffalo Bridge Center Tuesday morning – 0-1,600 game. Marilyn Wortzman and Jim Easton, 64.28%; Julie Mitchell and Sushil Amlani, 63.04%; Ruth Nawotniak and Ruth Wurster, 58.03%; Gini Sicignano and Pat Wolcott, 57.70%; Joanne Nover and David Schott, 55.05%.

Buffalo Bridge Center Wednesday morning – Open game. Jay Costello and Bud Seidenberg, 77%; Judy Graf and Allen Beroza, 59%; John Ziemer and Mike Ryan, 53%.

Buffalo Bridge Center Thursday morning – 0-2,000 game. Julie Mitchell and Walt Olszewski, 68.25%; Paula Rosen and Jim McClure, 54.76%; Barbara Landree and Paul Zittel, 53.17%; Joanne Nover and Anthony Girasole, 50.76%.

Bridge Club of East Aurora Wednesday morning – Open game. (Tie) Bert Feasley and Brian Universal, Jan and Carl Hasselback, 55.21%; Linda Zittel and Joanne LaFay, 52.08%.

Delaware Wednesday evening – 0-2,000 game online. Richard McGowan and Bill Rich, 62.96%; Anik Trahan and Jonathan Ruel, 58.33%; Maria Schory and Mike Metzger, 55.56%; Eugene Giorgini and Jim Lanzo, 53.70%.

Non-sanctioned clubs

Amherst Senior Center Monday afternoon – North-south, Shirley Cassety and George Mayers, 65%; Jill and Bruce Brown, 53%; east-west, David Young and Tim Hartnett, 53%; Pat Radtke and Nancy Wolstoncroft, 50%.

Amherst Senior Center Friday afternoon – North-south, Violet and Jasbeer Makhija, 66%; Nancy Wolstoncroft and Dan Blatz, 58%; east-west, Mary and Jim Atwood, 57%; Ruth Nawotniak and Bill Rogers, 55%.

Dale Anderson has compiled notes on duplicate bridge activities locally since he began playing in competition more than 20 years ago. A Gold Life Master, 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 or send an email to  dahotwings@aol.com.