Buffalo Niagara duplicate bridge notes: October 31. 2026

 

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

The Niagara Open Sectional Tournament begins with pairs games at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. Friday, Nov. 6, in the Community Centre in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont., on Anderson Lane off Mississauga Street on the western end of the village. Next Saturday, Nov. 7, sees pairs games at 10 a.m. and 2:30 p.m., followed by Swiss teams at 10 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 8. For more info, click this link.

There’s also a sectional tournament on this side of the border next weekend. The Finger Lakes Sectional will be held next Saturday, Nov. 7, and Sunday, Nov. 8, at the Cornell Cooperative Extension, 480 N. Main St., Canandaigua. Pairs games are at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Saturday. Sunday it’s Swiss teams at 10 a.m. For more info, click this link. 

A 10-week course on the two-over-one bidding system taught Linda Burroughsford begins Monday, Nov. 2, at the Buffalo Bridge Center, 60 Dingens St. off Exit 1 of the northbound I-190. Topics covered include the forcing 1 No Trump bid, rebids and Bergen raises. Classes will be held on Mondays from 12:30 to 3 p.m. Cost is $175. For info and sign-up, call or text Linda at 289-241-4449 or email her at burroughsford@icloud.com.

Next party game at the Buffalo Bridge Center is Saturday, Nov. 14, and includes the club’s annual meeting. Refreshments and meeting begin at 11:30 a.m. Bring snacks to share. Game starts at 12:30 p.m. Free for club members, $12 for non-members. 

Need a partner for the party games? The club has started using a Google form to help players match up. To find it, go to BBC website and click on Announcements. There you can see who’s looking for a partner, fill out a form and add your name to the list. For more info, contact Julie Mitchell by calling 845-978-9480 or emailing jkmitchell070121@gmail.com.

There’s a regular lineup of in-person games at the Buffalo Bridge Center from 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.

An online game for players with fewer than 900 master points is hosted by the Bridge Center at 7 p.m. Monday on RealBridge. For more info, including a player guide, visit realbridge.online.

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.

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

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.

Finger Lakes Sectional – Cornell Cooperative Extension, 480 N. Main St., Canandaigua. Next Saturday, Nov. 7, and Sunday, Nov. 8. For more info, click this link. 

District 5 Sectional Tournament at the Clubs (STaC) – Participating bridge clubs. (No local clubs yet.) Monday, Dec. 7, to Sunday, Dec. 13.

Cleveland Rock and Roll Regional – Embassy Suites Hotel, 5800 Rockside Woods Road, Independence, Ohio. Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2027, to Sunday, Jan. 10, 2017. For more info, click this link.

Toronto Non-Life Master Regional – Sheraton Centre Toronto, 123 Queen Street West, Toronto, Ont. Friday, Jan. 8, 2027, to Sunday, Jan. 10, 2027. For more info, click this link.

Toronto New Year’s Sectional – Sheraton Centre Toronto, 123 Queen Street West, Toronto, Ont. Friday, Jan. 8, 2027, to Sunday, Jan. 10, 2027. For more info, click this link.

Niagara Winter Sectional – Holiday Inn and Suites, 327 Ontario St., St. Catharines, Ont. Friday, Feb. 19, 2027, to Sunday, Feb. 21, 2027.

Toronto Easter Regional – Sheraton Centre Toronto, 123 Queen Street West, Toronto, Ont. Tuesday, March 23, 2027, to Sunday, March 28, 2027. For more info, click this link.

Scores from ACBL Live for Clubs

Week of Oct. 19 to Oct. 25

Buffalo Bridge Center Monday evening – 0-900 game online. Jim Hildebrand and Susan Mann Dolce, 66.67%; Frank Riordan and David Schott, 57.41%; Terry Camp and Margorie Grime, 48.15%.

Buffalo Bridge Center Tuesday morning – 0-1,600 game. North-south, Joanne Nover and David Schott, 68.61%; Larry Himelein and Bonnie Clement, 60.11%; Ilene Rothman and Carol Licata, 50.92%; east-west, Agi Maisel and Dennis Daly, 66.75%; Linda Milch and Susan Cardamone, 58.71%; Mike Meacham and Julie Mitchell, 53.36%; Brian Universal and Bob Mampe, 51.57%.

Buffalo Bridge Center Wednesday morning – Open game. Mike Ryan and Judy Graf, 61.11%; John Ziemer and Linda Burroughsford, 56.94%; Chris Urbanek and Kamil Bishara, 56.25%; Donna Steffan and Bud Seidenberg, 54.17%; Howard Foster and Martha Welte, 49.31%.

Buffalo Bridge Center Thursday morning – 0-2,000 game. Betty Metz and Tony Girasole, 58.73%; Marilyn Wortzman and Jim Easton, 56.35%; Joanne Nover and Bonnie Clement, 53.17%.

Bridge Club of East Aurora Wednesday morning – Open game. Gordon Crone and Mary Terrana, 61.46%; Carl and Jan Hasselback, 59.38%; Joyce Greenspan and Joe Miranda, 54.17%.

Non-sanctioned clubs

Amherst Senior Center Monday afternoon – North-south, George Mayers and Shirley Cassety, 57%; Paul Orosz and Judie Bailey, 55%; east-west, David Young and Tim Hartnett, 61%; Fritz Schweiger and Joe Huber, 59%.

Amherst Senior Center Friday afternoon – North-south, Betty Metz and Fran Kurtz, 62.4%; George Mayers and Shirley Cassety, 61.9%; east-west, Dan Blatz and Will Brick, 60%; Bill Rogers and Ruth Nawotniak, 56%.

Tonawanda Senior Center Wednesday afternoon – Susan and Harvey Lichtblau, 72%; Mike and Bob Rupp, 65%.

A Gold Life Master with more than 3,000 master points, Dale Anderson has compiled notes on duplicate bridge activities locally since he began playing in competition more than 20 years ago. He also comments on his bridge adventures on his pages here at blogger.com. You can call or text him at 716-860-2305. Email is dahotwings@aol.com.