Buffalo Niagara duplicate bridge notes: September 19, 2026

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

Pairs games are at 10 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. next Friday, Sept. 25, and Saturday, Sept. 26, in the Buffalo Fall Sectional Tournament at the Buffalo Bridge Center, 60 Dingens St. off Exit 1 of the northbound I-190. It concludes with Swiss teams at 10 a.m. on Sunday, Sept. 27. For more info, click this link.

The Buffalo Bills play Thursday this week, so there’s no conflict with this month’s party game today, Saturday, Sept. 19, at the Buffalo Bridge Center. To keep the team spirit moving, 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, except during football season. 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.

One series of bridge lessons has started up at the Buffalo Bridge Center – a 10-week series on popular bidding and playing conventions on Wednesday afternoons. 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 today, Saturday, Sept. 19, prior to the party game. 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 has a series of six bidding workshops at 9:30 a.m. on Wednesdays with Doug Dolbear that are aimed at intermediate and advancing players. First one was 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. Continues today, Saturday, Sept. 19, and 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 Sept. 7 to Sept. 13

Buffalo Bridge Center Tuesday morning – 0-1,600 game. North-south, Joanne Nover and Larry Himelein, 60.12%; Betty DeFeo and Pat Wolcott, 56.25%; Audrey Ray and Adrian Figliotti, 53.27%; Paula Rosen and Maryann Szafran, 52.38%; east-west, Julie Mitchell and Mike Meacham, 60.71%; Agi Maisel and Pat Haynes, 59.52%; Ilene Rothman and Brian Fleming, 58.63%; Betty Metz and Barbara Landree, 49.40%.

Buffalo Bridge Center Wednesday morning – Open game. Chris Urbanek and Kamil Bishara, 62.50%; Martha Welte and Howard Foster, 59.72%; Judy Graf and Jim Gullo, 54.17%; Jo Nasoff-Finton and Fred Yellen, 53.47%.

Buffalo Bridge Center Thursday morning – 0-2,000 game. North-south, Joanne Nover and Bonnie Clement, 61.67%; Maryann Szafran and Jim McClure, 57.22%; Walt Olszewski and Sushil Amlani, 56.67%; Paula Rosen and Richard McGowan, 55.55%; east-west, Adrian Figliotti and Audrey Ray, 63.81%; Joyce Greenspan and Andrei Reinhorn, 57.14%; Betty Metz and Paul Zittel, 51.90%; Nathan and Bill Kross, 49.52%.

Buffalo Bridge Center Friday morning – Open game. Mike Ryan and John Ziemer, 60%; (tie) Linda Burroughsford and Judy Graf, Jay Costello and Bud Seidenberg, 51%.

Bridge Club of East Aurora Wednesday morning – Open game. Bert Feasley and Paul Zittel, 68.75%; Joanne LaFay and Linda Zittel, 67.71%; Ann and Joe Williams, 57.29%.

Non-sanctioned clubs

Amherst Senior Center Friday afternoon – North-south, Paul Orosz and Nels Larson, 65%; Shirley Cassety and George Mayers, 59%; east-west, Will Brick and Dan Blatz, 63%; Mary and Jim Atwood, 58%.

Unit 116 Master Point Leaders for Virtual Club Play Online

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 (actually 58):

1-10: Saleh Fetouh, 104.08; Jim Lanzo, 88.70; Vic Bergsten, 37.54; Maria Amlani, 36.50; (tie) Bram Hamovitch, Terry Hamovitch, 31.66; Sushil Amlani, 20.34; Martha Townson, 18.04; Richard McGowan, 11.38; Cynthia Tashjian, 11.34.

11-20: Dian Petrov, 11.30; Brian Fleming, 11.21; Jim Hassett, 10.38; Candace Graser, 9.61; Maria Schory, 9.33; Art Morth, 8.08; Mike Metzger, 7.95; Jay Levy, 56.88; Ann Slater, 6.51; Sharon Wilcox, 6.26.

21-30: Mary Ball, 6.04; Susan Mann Dolce, 6 even; Kathleen Voigt, 4.69; Mike Rupp, 4.56; Susan Burns, 4.33; Fran Riordan, 4.21; Amy Habib, 4.09; Jeff Bender, 3.78; (tie) John Houghtaling, Laura Houghtaling, 3.44.

31-40: Bob Rupp, 3.27; Pat Haynes, 3.17; Martha Welte, 3.16; Henry Chudy, 2.90; Jo Ann Smith, 2.44; Elaine Idzik, 2.43; Devon Marlette, 2.39; Ed Harmon, 2.08; Bill Rich, 2.05.

41-50: Joan Warren, 1.86; Fran Holmes, 1.84; Rajat Basu, 1.79; Walt Olszewski, 1.73; Amy Licata, 1.62; Jim Greno, 1.51; Kasum Phadke, 1.36; Eugene Giorgini, 1.26; Joyce Frayer, 1.17; Betsy Frayer, 0.97.

51-60: Bert Feasley, 0.80; (tie) Cherry Searle, Nancy Deneen, 0.77; John Bava, 0.64; David Taylor, 0.54; Ilene Rothman, 0.38; Martin Pieterse, 0.27; Diana Smith, 0.22.

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 last year’s Buffalo Fall Sectional Tournament. You can call or text him at 716-860-2305. Email is dahotwings@aol.com.