Thursday, August 6, 2026

Buffalo Niagara duplicate bridge notes: August 8, 2026



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

Will the roofing work ever get finished at the Buffalo Bridge Center? Here’s hoping it’s done in time for the next party game on Sunday, Aug. 16, at the club at 60 Dingens St. off Exit 1 of the northbound I-190. It’s a Unit Championship Game, which awards extra master points to winners. As usual, bring snacks to share at noon. Game starts at 12:30 p.m. For more info and partnerships, call Julie Mitchell at 845-978-9480 or email her at jkmitchell070121@gmail.com.

The roof should be just fine by the time the Bridge Center hosts annual ACBL Unit 116 picnic and bridge game on Saturday, Aug. 29. Free picnic lunch at 11:30 a.m. Game at 12:30 p.m. It’s $10 for unit members, $15 for non-members. You’ll need to register in advance with John Bava. Text or call him at 908-256-6466 or email jbava@roadrunner.com.

Meanwhile, there’s a tournament nearby for players with fewer than 750 master points from Friday, Aug. 14, to Sunday, Aug. 16. The Niagara 0-750 Sectional will take place in the Niagara-on-the-Lake Community Center, 14 Anderson Lane, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont. For more info, click this link.

When it isn’t closed for construction work, 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. 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.

Come fall, the Bridge Center of Buffalo will be serving up a variety of lessons. A class on the most common bidding conventions will be held on Wednesday afternoons, beginning in September. October will bring a 10-week class for new and beginning players on Thursday afternoons. And for those wondering about the game and how to start playing, a one-time introductory session will be offered from 9 a.m. to noon on 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. The Wednesday game, Delaware Wednesday, has been inactive since mid-March.

In addition, the club hosts a supervised play session for players who want experience and advice to improve their game from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Mondays, which has 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 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 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.

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 and Saturday nights 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: 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

Niagara 0-750 Sectional – Niagara-on-the-Lake Community Center, 14 Anderson Lane, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont. Friday, Aug. 14, to Sunday, Aug. 16. For more info, click this link.

Great Lakes Sectional – Erie Bridge Club, 1221 Grant Ave., Erie, Pa. Saturday, Aug. 29, and Sunday, Aug. 30. For more info, click this link.

Toronto Labor Day Sectional – St. Volodymyr Cultural Centre, 1280 Dundas St. West, Oakville, Ont. Saturday, Sept. 5, to Monday, Sept. 7. For more info, click this link.

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 July 27 to Aug. 2

Buffalo Bridge Center – Closed all week for roof repairs.

Bridge Club of East Aurora Wednesday morning – Open game. Linda and Paul Zittel, 66.67%; Tova and Andre Reinhorn, 59.38%; Judy Graf and Mike Ryan, 54.63%; Mary Smith and Gordon Crone, 52.60%.

Non-sanctioned clubs

Tonawanda Senior Center Wednesday afternoon – Mike and Bob Rupp, 61.2%; Susan Lichtblau and Ron Fill, 53.6%; Rose Bochiechio and Edna Fill, 52.5%.

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.