American Contract Bridge League
Unit 488 Newsletter
Spokane, Washington
July 2024
From the Board 

•A big thank you to the board for planning and organizing the June Sectional, and of course to Charlie Bennett, for directing. Special thanks to Pat Gorton, Partnership Chair and the person who organized the great food; to Sue Howe for the lovely table decorations and great door prizes; and to Darrell Murphy who did a yeoman’s job purchasing and setting up drinks and coolers. And thank you to all who were able to attend. And thank you to all the players who stayed and pitched in to clean up at the end of the sectional. It takes a village. Your participation and support will enable all of us in the greater Spokane community the opportunity to play the game we love. 

•Non-life master game- Mark your calendar for July 20 11am; there will be food and great bridge. 

• Unit Game and Labor Day Sectional:  Please notice this unusual scheduling. Friday 8/30 will be a Unit Game. Then, 8/31, 9/1, 9/2 will be a local sectional. Both Saturday and Sunday will be two individual open pair sessions. Monday will be Swiss Teams. Location for all four days: Trailhead Golf Course in Liberty Lake. We hope to see you there. 

*You can help support Spokane Bridge: we need a cadre of local folks who can play on short notice. Please contact Pat Gorton to let her know: 509.990.8558
dpsgorton@msn.com

•Milestone birthday: Happy Birthday to Ron Krueger – age 90! It was actually June 24, but we forgot to mention its specialness!

•Rules and Protocol - Moving boards… a question came up about whether the “right” or “duty” to move boards lies with the NS team. Though South usually takes on that duty, any player can move the boards. Also, if any player requests that boards not be stacked – even 2 high- please honor that request. None of us is getting any younger and the more we can accommodate each other, the better it is for everyone. 

Birthday Bunch - July
Lynn Hayes 5        Bill Griffiths  11
Charlie Bennett  6    Lou Arevalo  28

Swan Song to History of The Cards, by C.J. Rose

If you’ve been following my articles since we began the monthly newsletter, you know we’ve covered the ancestry of our modern deck of playing cards, from aces to tens and from Kings to Queens to Jacks. But the deck began with fourteen cards in each of the suits we know and love. Each also had a Jill.
Just as youthful feminine energy became less important in the course of time from the thirteenth century to this one, the suits dwindled to thirteen cards. In symbolism Kings, stand for deciding, directing, decreeing. Queens are accepters and rejectors, supporters and nay-sayers of proclamations. Jacks take action, mount steeds, sally forth. Jills stand by, watch without getting involved, so they can report the full megillah.
You know I can go on and on (published three books on The Tarot) about the archetypes alive and well in each of us. About how we process experience intuitively (symbolized by clubs) physically (depicted by diamonds) emotionally (represented by hearts) and intellectually (portrayed by spades.)
We know Bridge to be a game of rules, a cognitive exercise. In fact experts insist that emotion gets in the way of best bidding, play and defense - that the application of logic best serves winners. But we surely acknowledge that we can “read” partners and opponents by pauses and expressions, even in the ways cards are placed on the table, despite admonition that we must never do any such thing intentionally.
This then is my valediction. I bow to superior spades, the boss suit, even as clubs and diamonds and hearts have their reasons. See you at square and supremely rational tables….

AN EXCEPTION

Both Sides Vulnerable; Dealer South; you are East 

South West North East 

1 ♥ Pass 2 ♠ Pass 

3 ♥ Pass 4 ♥ All Pass 

Opening lead Q♣. Plan the play. 

Dummy plays low. Plan your defense. You expect to get a club trick (or two) and a Spade trick (or two) but you don’t know about the diamonds. If your partner has a possible diamond winner he needs a diamond lead from you. Revisiting the club suit you know that your partner has three or four clubs to the QJ which leaves declarer with 2 or 3 clubs. You know your partner must have the jack. (If declarer has the Ace, he would have taken dummy’s Ace and played you for the King.) Since you know your partner retains the Jack and you have the K10, it cannot hurt to overtake the Queen to give your partner a Diamond lead. So play the King and lead the Diamond 8 to tell your partner you have no interest in the suit. This will allow you to lead a diamond again when you score the Ace of Spades thereby netting two Diamond tricks and setting the contract. 

Complete hand: 

Note: Without the Diamond shift declarer can win the second Club, ruff a Club, draw trumps and lead a Spade to the Queen and Ace. The best you can do is shift (too late) to a Diamond which Declarer will duck to your partner’s Jack. Alas, partner is now end-played in three suits. The result for the defense is one trick in each of the non-trump suits. 

Also, your partner must be thinking along with you; otherwise he makes the mistake of playing his Spade king (under the assumption Declarer is trying to steal a Spade trick). Unfortunately, you can’t overtake your partner’s trick twice in the same hand. Your play of the ace would establish the dummy’s Q as a parking place for declarer’s Diamond Q. 

This is an illustration of the importance for defense to plan ahead as well as declarer on the first trick. By assuming you can blindly play to the first trick, you can lose the hand. 

^^^^^ 

As a final note, if anyone has a memorable hand to share, please send it to gkeithfreeman@comcast.net or submit it in person. 

American Contract Bridge League

Unit 488 Newsletter

Spokane, Washington

June 2024

An icon of bridge, Glen Gard Hays passed away peacefully at home in his 91st year. Early in his career, he won two NABC events: the 1961 Men’s Pairs with Max Manchester and the 1964 Open Pairs with Ed Weiner. He won over 100 regional events during the past 50 years, garnering more than 29,000 masterpoints and achieving the rank of Grand Life Master. He stands at No. 63 in the ACBL ranking of bridge players, last updated in May 2024.

Gard was born and raised in Spokane WA. He attended Washington State University and graduated with a degree in mathematics. Thereafter, he was drafted into the U.S. Army and served three years at Fort Lewis with a fourth year in the Army Reserves. He met his future wife, Lynn, at a Portland Regional and they married in 1969. Their son, Glen, was born in 1970, joining Lynn’s two daughters, Barbara and Suzan, from her previous marriage. Gard made his living working for a company that sold farm machinery equipment and investing in real estate.

Most recently, after the pandemic hit and clubs were closed to in-person play, Gard took to online bridge as a

refuge. He played many games with his regular partners and mentees. Well-known for his “Gardisms,” one would frequently hear, “Shape, fit and controls!” or “They pay for tricks, not points.” or “It’s a bidder’s game.” He always emphasized partnership, attitude and stamina.

When our bridge club reopened after the pandemic, Gard could no longer attend in-person games. Nevertheless, he continued to play online, sometimes up to four games a day, adding to his stated “over a million bridge hands played.”

A consummate bridge professional whose accomplishments were legendary, Gard Hays is deeply missed.

American Contract Bridge League
Unit 488 Newsletter
Spokane, Washington
April 2024

From the Board

EARLY START
As many of you have noticed, the start time for regular week-day games is now 10:00 AM. For those who prefer a later start, on Thursdays, John Adams presents a lesson (these have been well received by those who have attended) beginning at 10:00 with play beginning at 11. John provides a handout for the lesson, so even if you arrive after 10:00 with playing at 11:00 being your prime goal, you can get some of John’s great bridge tips. We know not everyone had a chance to weigh in on the time change and that some players prefer the 11:00 start. We hope the Thursday lesson accommodates those players that prefer a later start to the game. 

NEW ROSTERS
Thanks to the efforts of Pat Gorton, board secretary, we have updated rosters available for you. Just ask whoever is directing for a copy.  There are a few errors in the new roster. Ron Kruger’s phone number should be: 509-279-5319. Please edit your copy. There are two names that should be crossed off: Myrna Davis and Betty Cordier—both deceased. If you spot any other errors in the roster, please let someone on the board know. 

CALENDAR
Unit Game 3/17
Unit Game 4/7
Unit Game 5/19
Summer Sectional June 21, 22, & 23

Why don’t bridge players tell jokes? Because they always trump everyone else’s punchlines.

Please Note: Format changes are planned for the newsletter soon.
If you have items you wish to see in the newsletter, please give to Virginia Sykes (v.alicesykes@gmail.com)

Trump Protection
Neither Vulnerable; Dealer East
        West                    East
♠ AKQ3                ♠ 8764
♥ A82                    ♥ 1073
♦ 10873                ♦  
♣ 74                    ♣ AKQJ52        
  East        South        West        North
1♣        Pass        1♠        2♦
2♠        Pass        4♠        All pass

Opening lead A♦. Plan the play.
A grand slam would be possible if trumps split 3-2. But what happens if a defender holds four trumps? If you draw two rounds of trump, on the second and third tricks you may have trouble. The safe play is to give up a trump at the second trick. Following is the complete hand.

North

♠ J1052

♥ K64

West
♦ AKQJ4
East

♣ 6

♠ AKQ2

♠ 8764
♥ A82

♥ 1073
♦ 10873
East
♦ 
♣ 74

♣ AKQJ52

♠ 9

♥ QJ95

♦ 9652

♣ 10983

Note what happens when you play two trump winners at tricks two and three. Once the trump break is revealed, you attack clubs looking to find a spot to deposit a heart loser. North ruffs the second club and leads a diamond taking dummy’s last trump. North ruffs the next round of clubs and the game goes down. If the first trump trick (trick two) is given up to defenders, declarer will make at least eleven tricks by ruffing the second diamond, drawing trumps and running the clubs suit.
So the next time you have a four-four trump fit, you may want to think about the safety play of giving up a trump trick early.
^^^^^^
As a final note, if anyone has a memorable hand to share, please send it to gkeithfreeman@comcast.net or tell it to me in person.

History of Cards by CJ Rose
Kings
Symbolists agree (mostly) that KINGS represent maturity, paternity, authority, status, power, the boss, the chief, the expert.  Adhering to the rules, kings are secure and stubborn.  Theirs is to signal accomplishment, attainment, the end of a cycle.  They are responsible protectors.

Androgynous, the masters in us all
can seem to radiate
a confident denial they will fall. 
Theirs is to mediate,
to manage, domineer, keep us in thrall.
Their leadership is most benevolent. 
In spite of being royal
they’re honest and they’re loyal
to principles they call self-evident. 
Their task is expertise in government. 
Sometimes impulsive too
strong monarchs always know just what to do. 
They feel their sovereignty is heaven sent.

The synopses are from my hand-stitched velvet-bound reference on The Cards called The Tarot Gypsy Tales, which has been called “a definitive resource.” And the verses are from my “stepping into” the scenes illustrated to return with a more right-brain report. Each of the four kings has qualities resonant with his suit, so 

THE KING OF WANDS (evolves to Clubs) represents mastery of intuition, readiness to act amid complexity.  Listening to inner guidance, he seems impulsive.  His is to release old patterns of psychic behavior or to let go of an old self-image.  He is visionary, dreamy, and creative.

The king of copper hair and gaze the blue 
of lapislazuli
is known for intuition.  Gambling too.
He’s competent to fly.
He’s free of all that limits me and you.
Egyptian god of sun with falcon’s head,
Valraven of the Danes
theatrically reigns.
He’s fond of showy robes in mauve and red. 
He’s ardent, animated, far from dead. 
Arriving at his ends
he masters ceremonies for his friends 
and turns to future challenges instead.

THE KING OF CUPS (evolves to Hearts) represents mastery of relationship, feeling, cultivated role status.  The Lord of the Abyss expresses emotions in ways others can accept.  His is to lead religious and artistic endeavors for social change.  The waterman is affectionate, brave.

The monarch of the hazel eyes, blond hair
is king of family men,
controlled relationship, paternal care. 
Humanitarian
of feeling, he’s a diplomat, and fair.
Emotions’ lord can focus in his heart.
Stern judge of character
this archetypal sir
is alchemist who makes of love an art.
Welsh Davy Jones, Rome’s Neptune played his part. 
He leads us down to death
and shows us fearless ways to slow our breath, 
makes clear how ending indicates new start.

THE KING OF BLADES (evolves to Spades) represents mastery of intellect communication, decision, analysis.  Militant and relentless with illogic, he is expert of abstract thought.  His is to release useless belief systems, to end training periods, to encourage intelligence.

Tempestuous crowned head of chestnut mane,
his majesty of wind,
of intellect, sovereign of all that’s sane,
dark eyed and olive skinned,
is cautious, ruthless, right.  Long may he reign.
The kite, the sacred bird of Boreas
has long and pointed wings;
forked tail glides over kings 
proclaiming truth, song bursting, genius 
of universal thought, reminding us ideas are the forms
for what we make.  The inner goddess storms
conceiving of this sharper animus. 
THE KING OF PENTACLES (evolves to Diamonds) represents mastery of sensation, sexuality, material security, nutrition, agriculture, craft, attainment.  His is to let go of old physical, financial security blankets.  He is reliable, patient, practical, tenacious, steady, stubborn and static.

Pendragon, pharaoh, shogun, caesar, czar,
great green-eyed raja, sheik
with beard of darkest night without a star,
fierce god of mountain peak,
conduct us to success.  Say it’s not far.
Invest in our security, please do.
Prevent earthquake just now. 
Your bounty can endow 
enough for everyone, not just a few.
Be generous with health.  Say you’ll renew
the wealth of all our dreams. 
Be careful with our comfort.  Teach us schemes for teamwork. Show us how to comfort you.

Unit 448 NEWSLETTER

Spokane Bridge Club Newsletter

ACBL Unit 488

Calendar starting March 1

Monday, Wednesday, Friday 10 AM

Thursday 10 AM is a lesson (see opposite) followed by game at 11 AM

Board Meeting March 11

Unit Game March 17 – 12:00 PM

-Food Available 11:30

March

Pete Pluhta 3

Don Perry 5

Rick Kelly 8

Larry Marshall 8

Barbara Besse 15

Martha Hancock 15

Linda Kelly 22

Eva Smith 23

Sue Norton 29

A Suggestion Box will be put up soon in the bridge center where members can ask questions of Board or Suggest ideas

March 2024

From the Board:

Back by popular demand: John Adams, bridge teacher extraordinaire, has returned to the lectern and boy are we bridge players lucky!!! He brings clarity like no other to confounding and challenging bridge conventions. There is NO CHARGE for these highly anticipated and rewarding classes. He is such a wonderful gift to our regional bridge community.

John's first class was held on Thursday, 2/22. He taught the valuable bridge convention XYZ. The subsequent buzz about the class was electric, but to those who know John and his expert knowledge and teaching skills, the compliments and excitement were not a surprise.

We hope you will take advantage of this remarkable opportunity to improve your bridge knowledge and skill. John will be teaching at the Spokane Club on Argonne every Thursday at 10:00 AM with our regular game to follow.

See you at John’s classes!!

Written for Board by Tami Gillman

Spokane Bridge Club Newsletter

Cards History from C.J. Rose

Number symbols represent truths immanent in all things and manifest in all phenomena. The meaning of a number consisting of two or more digits may be ascertained by combining the ideas indicated by each symbol, beginning always with the digit on the right-hand, or units place. Thus the number ten combines the ideas of zero and one, with one considered as being the agency expressing the power represented by zero. Furthermore, since ten follows nine, it implies that nine stands for a finality which refers to a single cycle of evolution only.

The completion of a cycle is always a return to the eternal no-thing, but since zero is essentially changeless in its inherent nature, the eternal source is eternally a self-manifesting power. Consequently, a new cycle begins as soon as the preceding cycle ends.

Thus the number 10 symbolizes the eternal creativeness of the life power; the incessant whirling forth of the self-expression of the primal will – the ever-turning wheel of manifestation. This makes ten the number of embodiment. To review:

· 0 = No Thing

· 1 = Beginning

· 2 = Duplication

· 3 = Multiplication

· 4 = Order

· 5 = Mediation

· 6 = Reciprocation

· 7 = Equilibrium

· 8 = Rhythm

· 9 = Conclusion

From The Tarot Gypsy Tales:

TENS are numbers of transition, wrapping things up, release, regeneration; the results of work done thus far. Tens are about culmination, karma, reward and punishment, ends and beginnings of suit cycles. They give meaning to experience, purpose to persistence.

In triumph, you must dance the Horah now.

Come do the antic hey.

It’s time for husking bee. Lay down your plow.

It’s celebration day.

If frolic’s not your thing we’ll show you how.

You’ve heard of he who hesitates, so throng

thanksgiving ritual,

attainment’s funeral.

You must relinquish surplus at the gong.

It’s time to share, so please, just move along.

Commit to this release.

Come put it on the line. Future increase

depends on fully singing harvest song.

Our modern deck evolved from Tarot, from wands, cups, blades and pentacles to clubs, hearts, spades and diamonds:

:

JOKE:

A man was playing bridge with his father, who had not played bridge in years. On the first hand the father was the dealer and said: “Pass.” His son said: “Dad, you have to use the bidding box.” His father picked up the box and whispered into the box: “Pass.”

Look for a Different Way by Keith Freeman

West Deals; North-South vulnerable

West East

♠ AK5 ♠ 42

♥ AQ9 ♥ KJ1064

♦ J108 ♦ 964

♣ AK87 ♠ 432

West North East South

2NT Pass 3D Pass

3H Pass 3NT Pass

4H All Pass

Opening Lead Q♠

South plays the Spade 3. What is your plan?

Things don’t look too rosy, but you have a chance if you duck the opening lead! If the suit is continued (or if a Diamond is not led immediately), you can discard a club from Dummy on your extra Spade winner and then play Ace, King, and ruff a Club. If Clubs divide 3-3, you will be able to discard a Diamond on your thirteenth Club after drawing trumps.

Notice that three No Trump was a cold contract, but you liked your heart support during the auction.

The complete hand was:

North

♠ QJ10

♥ 532

West ♦ K752 East

♣ 965

♠ AK5 ♠ 42

♥ AQ9 ♥ KJ1064

♦ J108 East ♦ 964

♣ AK87 ♣ 432

♠ 98763

♥ 87

♦ AQ3

♣ QJ10

From a defensive standpoint North should probably have realized that something was unusual with the Spade suit and made the diamond switch, but it is difficult to lead away from a King defending a suit contract.

As a final note, if anyone has a memorable hand to share, please send it to gkeithfreeman@comcast.net or in person.

ACBL Unit 448 Minutes; January 8, 2024

Spokane Bridge Club

Held at club on Mission at Argonne

Meeting was called to order by President Al Fien at 9:50 AM.

Board Members Present: Al Fien, Mark Callen, Darrell Murphy, Tami Gillman, Keith Freeman, Susan Howe, Virginia Sykes, and Larry Marshall were present. Linda Baker, Treasurer was present. Patrice Gorton arrived at 10:00 AM.

Minutes: The minutes of the meeting of December 3rd, were approved.

Treasurer Report: As of December 31, there was $14,711.17 in the checking account. The net loss from the December Christmas Party was $240.72. ACBL annual payment was $660.86.

The total bill from the Spokane Club, including $500 deposit was $1800.72. Payments we received added up to $1,560. There were 30 bridge players and two guests for dinner.

Motion to set up a Credit Card for the Club was made by Mark Callen and unanimously approved.

February Sectional Planning February 2nd, 3rd and 4th at Liberty Lake:

Al asked Tami to lead discussion.

Food for Event Pat will get Party Trays for each of the 3 days and donuts. Pat will order Jimmy Johns Sandwiches for Sunday Swiss Teams.

Darrell Murphy will get, Chips, Pop, Water and Cookies from Costco and Ice and bring Ice Chests.

Linda will bring Coffee and 2 Coffee Makers.

Tami indicated she thought Greeters for Event were needed. She also indicated that the Sectional will be considered a Local and Downgraded to 80% of normal points, since we are not having an ACBL sanctioned Director.

June Sectional dates are June 7-9 and the location has not been determined yet.

Linda Baker agreed to be ???Chair for the monthly games and will coordinate food for those.

Roster Update: Al passed out slips from the Idaho Roster Patsy Neuveu prepared which also included pages to review in the Spokane Roster. Each board member who received a slip from Al should call individuals to verify information and report via email dpsgorton@msn.com to Pat Gorton any updates.

Future of Spokane Bridge Club Unit 448: Al and Tami met with Charlie and reported that since COVID, Charlie has been negative cash flow of about $2,000/month. He is looking to end his management role of the Club at the end of December 2025 when the current lease ends. He is interested in continuing to Direct after that date. He is also willing to add back a Thursday game in the near term, possibly at Liberty Lake. Charlie would provide all the existing equipment to the Club at the end of 2025.

Going forward we need a cheaper location, additional directors and a manager. Tami suggested we need a Manager Trainee now to work with Charlie who would be willing to take on the role.

Charlie indicated, at the meeting with Al and Tami, that 100 new decks of cards and 4 sets of Board of 32 each are needed to replace worn cards and boards, which would cost approximately $500. Mark made a motion for the Club to purchase these items, Sue seconded and the motion was unanimously approved.

Overview of New Initiatives and additional Board Descriptions: Tami discussed the advantages of and passed out handouts of the following:

New Players’ Welcome Packet – Tami said she would prepare, but wanted a Hospitality Chair position added.

Educational Initiatives – Items 1 and 2 were discussed and Board Members were supportive.

Job Description for Hospitality Chair was presented and Sue Howe agreed to serve in this position.

Larry Marshall agreed to continue his work on the Christmas Party and serve as Christmas Party Chair.

Linda noted that Board Positions should be approved at the First Board Meeting of the Year:

Pat Gorton Moved the following, motion was seconded and approved unanimously approved;

Al Fien, President

Tami Gillman, Vice President

Pat Gorton, Secretary

Linda Baker, Treasurer

Sue Howe, Hospitality Chair

Larry Marshall, Christmas Party Chair

Next meeting: February 12 at 9:45 AM

Meeting adjourned at approximately 10:50 AM.

Respectfully submitted, Patrice Gorton, Secretary

Unit 488 Newsletter January 2024

Message from President Al Fein

Looking Forward

The Unit’s annual Christmas party, held at the Spokane Club, was a great success. After the first session, attendees enjoyed a delicious meal, followed by a brief unit meeting led by outgoing president, Mark Callen. Mark thanked outgoing long-time board member, Bonnie Kruse. We then elected next year’s board: Al Fein, president; Tami Gillman, vice-president; Pat Gorton, secretary; Linda Baker, continuing to serve as non-voting treasurer; Virginia Sykes, newsletter editor; and board members Mark Callen, Keith Freeman, Sue Howe, Larry Marshall, and Darrell Murphy. Given Charlie’s decision to retire within the next year or two, the board is exploring how to keep Unit 448 operating and thriving. In addition to the obvious need to find an affordable space, the Unit will need a cadre of directors and various “managers” to do the many things that Charlie currently does that we all take for granted. The greater Spokane bridge community has been sustained by Charlie’s generosity and his commitment to the game. We recognize there are changes on the horizon for our bridge community. The board is developing plans to address club needs. Stay tuned.

Unit Game

The first Unit Game of the new year will be held at the club on January 14. There will be great snacks, pleasant company, and challenging play. Please plan to support the unit. Please plan to attend.

Birthday Greetings January

Harriet LaCombe 3, Patsy Neveau 7, Gary Wagenblast 8, Joann Scholtz 14, Joe Harwood 20, Marty O’Malley 22, Gwen Skierka 20, Virginia Sykes 28,Mary Spangler 29

Bridge Stories

The first modern playing cards were produced in France in the 15th century. In medieval Europe, playing cards were used as a form of currency. Today there are over 800 million decks of cards sold every year!

The four suits found on most playing cards represent different parts of medieval society: Spades representing nobility, Hearts symbolizing clergy, Clubs denoting merchants and Diamonds stand for peasants.

Card Shark: a skilled card player.

A Wise Man once said:

· In duplicate bridge, as in life, you must play the cards you have been dealt and be gracious whether you win or lose.

· Success is determined by how you play the cards you have been dealt.

· Be sure to count your cards before starting the bidding. You don’t want to be the playing with “less than a full deck”!!

MORE ON THE ANCESTRY OF OUR BELOVED CARDS – by C.J. Rose

Even the earliest known Tarot decks weren’t designed with mysticism in mind; they were actually meant for playing a game similar to modern-day Bridge. Wealthy families in Italy commissioned expensive, artist-made decks known as “carte da trionfi” or “cards of triumph.” These cards were marked with suits of cups, swords, coins, and polo sticks (eventually changed to staves or wands), and courts consisting of a king and two male underlings. Tarot cards later incorporated queens, trumps (the wild cards unique to Tarot), and the Fool to this system, for a complete deck that usually totaled 78 cards. Today, the 56 suit cards are commonly called the Minor Arcana, while 22 trump cards are known as the Major Arcana.

Graphic designer and artist Bill Wolf, whose interest in Tarot illustration dates to his art-school days at Cooper Union in New York, has his own theories about the Tarot’s beginning. Wolf, who doesn’t use cards for divination, believes that originally, “the meaning of the imagery was parallel to the mechanics of the play of the game. The random draw of the cards created a new, unique narrative each and every time the game was played, and the decisions players made influenced the unfolding of that narrative.” Imagine a choose-your-own-adventure style card game.

“The imagery was designed to reflect important aspects of the real world that the players lived in, and the prominent Christian symbolism in the cards is an obvious reflection of the Christian world in which they lived,” he adds. As divinatory usage became more popular, illustrations evolved to reflect a specific designer’s intention. “The subjects took on more and more esoteric meaning,” says Wolf, “but they generally maintained the traditional Tarot structure of four suits of pip cards [similar to the numbered cards in a normal playing-card deck], corresponding court cards, and the additional trump cards, with a Fool.”

We’re up to the eights in our series. Eight is an orderly, elegant number, a Fibonacci number – the poised spiral of the snail’s shell. Eight is still the same when it is turned upside down. On its side, it’s the infinity sign. It is a resolved octave, a perfect scale.

From my book, called The Tarot Gypsy Tales:

EIGHTS are numbers of organization, classification, integration, arrangement, system, syntax, ethical standardization. Octagons of two crossed squares mediate terrestrial order and eternal order, represent education, culture, subconscious response to sevens.

Their shape speaks alternation, flux, reflux, two interlacing snakes, the powerful vibrations we call lucks, caduceus that quakes,

pulsations’ holy nature/spirit crux, the involution/evolution curve, periodicity, melody/harmony,

the double sigmoid semilunar swerve that signals infinite creative verve. Regenerative forms,

their implications congregate in swarms. Before imposing order, just observe.

Hands to Think About – by Keith Freeman

Big Hand

EW Vulnerable; Dealer North

West East

♠ KQ9765      ♠ AJ104

♥ 876543       ♥ A102

♦ A                 ♦ 72

♣ --                ♣ AKQ9

North East South West

Pass 1C Pass 1♠

Pass 4♠ Pass 6♠

All Pass

Opening lead K♦ (South plays J♦). You win and lead a trump to dummy (all following). What is your plan?

You should strip the hand before playing hearts. Therefore ruff a diamond at trick three and cross to dummy with a trump, South shedding a Club. Then play three top clubs discarding Hearts and ruff a club, North discarding a Diamond on the fourth Club. You are now down to two trumps and three Hearts in each hand. Lead a Heart towards dummy and North plays the Heart King. What do you do?

If you have counted the hand, you remember that North started with 2 trumps and three clubs. Therefore, eight red cards. Also that the defense had exactly four Hearts between them. If North had a singleton King of Hearts (in which case it would be right to duck the King) he would have started with seven Diamonds headed by the KQ and would certainly have overcalled Diamonds at the 2 level. If the hearts are split 2 – 2, the contract is made. If North had all four, you are down one. You should therefore play as if you have three hearts in the north consisting of two honors and the 9. (Three honors would set you automatically.)

Therefore, take the Ace and return to your hand with a trump. Now lead toward the 10 finessing against the remaining honor.

If North had played either the Heart J or Heart Q on the ninth trick (based on your reading of 3 Hearts in the North hand), you would also have won the Ace and finessed against the remaining honor. Notably if North had played the Heart 9, you would play the Heart 10, expecting South to win and lead a diamond or club giving you a sluff and ruff fulfilling your contract, or a Heart return with the same result.

As a final note, if anyone has a memorable hand to share, please send it to gkeithfreeman@comcast.net or tell it to me in person

Unit 448 Newsletter

December 2023

Birthday Bunch December

Doyel Crook 8

Dixie Herro 16

Mary Babcock 20

Kathleen Putnam 30

Darrell Murphy 31

Unit 448 Annual Christmas Party December 3:

It is not too late! Hope to see you there!

Our annual holiday party will take place at the Spokane Club (1002 W Riverside Ave) on December 3rd in the Library Room.

There will be two sessions of bridge beginning at 11:00 AM. A buffet dinner will be served at 2:30 pm. The cost for both sessions plus dinner is $50 a person.

Mail checks to: ACBL Unit 448, c/o Linda Baker / 10917 E 31st Spokane Valley, WA 99206

Between the two bridge sessions along with enjoying a delicious meal, our unit will hold a brief business meeting. Those present will be asked to vote for a new Board. The nominations are:

President: Al Fein

Vice President: Tami Gillman

Secretary: Pat Gorton

Treasurer: Linda Baker (serving ad hoc)

Newsletter Editor: Virginia Sykes

At Large: Mark Callen, Keith Freeman, Sue Howe, Larry Marshall, Darrell Murphy

We thank Mark Callen, who served as president for three years, and Bonnie Kruse, who is leaving the board. Thank you to both for their service to the unit.

The new board’s term begins in January, 2024.

Snip in Time (contributed by Keith Freeman)

West East

♠ 62 ♠ 85

♥ KQJ106 ♥ 983

♦ A4 ♦ K106

♣ J853 ♣ AKQ92

East South West North

1♣ 1♠ 2♥ 2♠

Pass 3♠ 4♣ Pass

4♥ All Pass

North/South Vulnerable Lead ♠3

South wins the Spade lead with the Ace and returns the Club 7. It is fairly clear that south has a singleton club, and no doubt hopes to put his partner in with a Spade and ruff the second round of Clubs.

What can you do to prevent this? The Diamond suit affords the only possibility. If South holds both the Queen and Jack, then you can immediately cash the Ace and King, then play the 10 for a Space discard.

This prevents North from regaining the lead to give his partner a Club ruff. You will lose just one Spade, one Heart and one Diamond. The play is known as “Scissors Coup” because the declarer severs the communication line between the defenders.

Note that if North holds the Ace of Hearts you will be set, but your play has not cost you a trick. Also it is quite unlikely that North was dealt the Ace of Hearts and the King of Spades.

A further review of the hands will indicate that the field will include makeable partial game contracts in clubs and hearts. Your game contract could definitely have failed if you hadn’t severed the opponents Spade communications. The odds are food that the scissors coup was successful and your partner’s Heart raise was correct.

Tarot the Forerunner of Modern Playing Cards (Contributed by CJ Rose)

Continuing this series, this month’s entry examines the meaning of sevens in tarot, the forerunner of the modern 52-card deck. Sevens are numbers of expansion, art, poise, peace, victory, conquest, the concrete application of the laws of equilibrium. Sevens seek answers, spend time in solitude, stillness, penetrating the calm ions of nature’s mysteries. And on the seventh day we rest. The ancients believed there were seven planets: Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, the Moon and the Sun. They were unaware that the earth is a planet, or of the existence of Uranus, Neptune, Pluto or the asteroids that exploded a planet between Mars and Jupiter. Paracelsus, a wandering scholar of the sixteenth century, a brilliant and belligerent single-minded student of medicine and science, believed there was a connection between the seven organs of the body and these seven planets. Today our most salient seven counts days of the week.

Yoga links the seven chakras with the seven endocrine glands: the crown chakra with the pineal, the brow centre with the pituitary and hypothalamus, the throat centre with the thyroid gland, the heart centre with the thymus gland, solar plexus with pancreas, sacral chakra with the reproductive organs and the base chakra with adrenals. Not to mentin the seven colors of the rainbow, asigned to each of these energy centers.

Here’s another excerpt from my book Tarot Gypsy Tales (1989):

The septenary symbolizes space.

Count static center once;

count two dynamics, each dimension’s face.

Prime number’s full of stunts

from chakras to celestial ukase.

Hear seven notes in diatonic scale.

Score night slices per week.

Sum inner stars we seek.

Add up the branches of menorah’s rail.

Name seven goddesses and you won’t fail.

Total the Pleiades.

Cipher the sisters who make night decrees.

They’ve got your number and they bid you Hail.

Card Shark: A Skilled Player (Contributed by Mike Coopersmith)

A wise person once said:

“In duplicate bridge, as in life, you must play the cards you have been dealt, and be gracious whether you win or lose.”

“Success is determined by how you play the cards that you’ve been dealt.”

“Be sure to count your cards before starting the bidding, for you don’t want to be noted as the player playing with ‘less than a full deck.”

Who is that wise person?

November 2023

November Birthdays

Joe Tannehall 3

Sue Howe 9

Kay Bundy 16

BBO Online Games

Thursday and Saturday….Please support the online games.

Welcome Back

It was good to see Theresa Bartles after a long absence from the club.

Congratulations!

Sue Howe earned her Life Master designation at the Leavenworth tournament. Way to go, Sue!

Annual Christmas Party

Our annual holiday party will take place at the Spokane Club on December 3rd in the Library Room.

There will be two sessions of bridge beginning at 11:00 AM. A buffet dinner will be served at 2:30 pm. The cost for both sessions plus dinner is $50 a person.

The annual election of Board officers will take place at this event. Mail checks to Unit 448 c/o Linda Baker 10917 E 31st Spokane Valley, /WA 99206

Payment required by November 22). No refunds. Madison Parking lot available: 36 N Madison)/ Handicapped Parking: 1002 W Main

We hope to see all our club members and all you folks from Post Falls / Coeur d’ Alene at this event.

Auction Review (contributed by Keith Freeman)

Dealer West

No vulnerability

West East

♠ 84 ♠ AK76

♥ 954 ♥ 7

♦ A54 ♦ J106

♣ AK1083 ♣ QJ972

West North East South

1♣ 1♠ 2♠ 3♥

4♣ pass 5♣ All pass

North leads the ♥A and switches to ♣9. What’s your plan?

You immediately see that you must avoid the loss of two diamond tricks. This seems impossible short of a cooperative opposition since you have an insufficiency of diamond intermediates.

A review of the auction suggests that the diamond honors are split. (If North had both the King and Queen, she would likely have supported her partner’s heart suit on the second round of the auction. Likewise, she should have at least one diamond honor to have realistically justified her original spade overcall).

Therefore, ruff your remaining hearts high, draw the outstanding trumps ending with the King and lead a small diamond toward the dummy. North will probably play low; otherwise, you would have a subsequent finesse against South’s honor. South will win the trick and return a diamond to your Ace. Cash the remaining trumps. On the last trump lead North will be forced to discard from ♠Qxx ♦? while dummy has ♠AK7 ♦J. North’s discard will give you the clue to discard properly to and claim the last three tricks.

Note that if South had returned a ♥ or ♠ after winning the ♦ you would win the tenth trick, cash the Ace of diamonds and the remaining trumps. The squeeze would then occur at trick eleven instead of trick ten.

If on your first lead of a diamond North had played an honor, you would have to decide if your initial evaluation of distribution had been correct (decision that diamond honors were split) and that the finesse against south is now indicated. A knowledge of north’s skill level might aid in this decision. A skilled defender would have both honors to have taken this trick which would suggest that you should continue with the squeeze.

Finally, from a defensive standpoint, North could have prevented the squeeze by leading a high Spade at trick two. Then south could return a Spade after winning her Diamond honor (assuming she has a second Spade).

Tarot the Forerunner of Modern Playing Cards (Contributed by CJ Rose)

This series has examined the symbolism of numbers of our cards. Pythagoras is often associated with numbers and mathematics, but he was primarily a mystic who was interested in many topics. He wanted to understand the world and believed that its principles were demonstrated by mystical math. According to the common conception, a number is just a number – an abstraction; but Pythagoras believed that numbers have as much individuality as mountains or human beings. His mind worked by analogy. His interest in numbers and in science was not a desire to construct a chain of logic or inference, but the feeling that each separate fact might be a symbol of something much bigger – that facts might reflect bits of heaven, like broken shards of a mirror.

In this writing, we examine sixes. When we picture a six-pointed star, we can see two interlaced triangles. The symbolism is a powerful Yantra known as “The Shatkona.” It is a symbol that represents the union of the masculine and feminine forms. More specifically it represents Purusha (the supreme being), and Prakriti (mother nature, or causal matter). Sixes are numbers of balance, beauty, harmony, response, reciprocation, symmetry, interchange, concord,

correspondence, correlation, coordination, cooperation. Greek hex, Latin sex, Egyptian sexen meant to embrace, to couple, to unite.

In the Bible, it’s commonly referred to as the Star of David, a reference to the Biblical king and his legendary "shield." The beginnings of this beautiful star are seen as far back as 77,000 B.C. in South Africa, where the yearly southern extreme of the sun’s position was recorded using an upward pointing triangle for winter solstice sunrise and sunset. A downward pointing triangle later recorded the summer solstice event. Calendric notations from sundials, the six-pointed star and stellar observations combined to create the seasonal wheel symbol: a hexagram surrounded by a circle, around which animals are arranged. This and other calendrics recorded the seasons of animal migrations — what could be hunted when, and where. The megalith observatories became a continental utility; symbols for when to plant, reap, gather, weave, build and hunt were inscribed on the observatories, placed according to season.

Oral tradition, mythologies and images like the hexagram were used to pass on knowledge of the heavens for thousands of years. Out of these “picture stories” grew a world of traditions, some centering the hexagram, such as the story of Solomon’s Seal. To Buddhists it is a symbol of the Sacred Marriage; in China it represents Yin and Yang. It is also found among the symbols of pre-Columbian and Central America. Notwithstanding its astronomical origins, in the 18th century, the hexagram was commonly used as superstitious protection against evil (the “hex” also comes from this tradition). Alchemists used the hexagram to symbolize the union of opposites, and it is considered by some to be the symbolic epitome of “as above, so below.”

From the ancestor of our modern deck, here are some wands, cups, blades and pentacles which have evolved into the clubs, hearts, spades, and diamonds.

October 2023

October Birthdays

Virginia Boyles 1

Gard Hayes 2

Jodie Kimble 8

Dottie Larson 20

Next Unit Game: October 8

Lunch will be served at 11:30 - Spaghetti, salad, and garlic bread along with dessert.

Game at 12:00 - Noon. "Come One, Come All "

Club Sponsored Online Games

Charlie is now offering online club games on Thursday and Saturday. Just sign in to BBO and go to Virtual Clubs, find Spokane, and click on it...

If you need a partner, give Charlie a call.

Save the Date

The annual club Christmas party will be held on December 3 at the Spokane Club. More details about this annual event will be posted at the club and in the next newsletter.

Dangerous Defender (Contributed by Keith Freeman)

Dealer West

West East

♠ 86 ♠ AQ5

♥ AKQ1062 ♥ J953

♦ AJ ♦ Q1093

♣ K52 ♠ 45

West North East South

1H pass 3H pass

4H All pass

North leads JS. Plan the play

Your initial evaluation reveals two clubs, one spade and one diamond as potential losers. The vulnerable position of our club King makes South the dangerous defender. The lead indicates that South has the King of Spades. If you play either the Ace or Queen, South will eventually win the King and lead a club through your

defenseless holding. After the sequence, your ability to make the contract depends on a Diamond finesse.

However, if you play dummy’s five on the initial trick, North will likely continue Spades because any other lead would be favorable to you. Play the Ace to avoid the dangerous defender. An immediate Diamond finesse of the J will determine if you have a Diamond loser. If the finesse succeeds you should cash a high Heart and note whether there are one or two outstanding trumps.

Play the Ace of Diamonds. Then draw trumps ending in the dummy and return a Diamond. When the king appears, rough high. A trump to the Jack (or nine) will allow you to discard a Club on the established Diamond in dummy. If Diamond finesse fails, you would cash the ace when you regain the lead and draw trumps ending in dummy and discard two Clubs on the established Diamonds. This approach will hold your losses to either two clubs and one spade or one spade, one diamond, and one club.

Note that if on the first trick, South had overtaken his partner’s Jack with the King to attack the clubs, you would simply discard the Jack of Diamonds on the established Q of Spades.

Again, an example of the importance of having a plan before playing to the first trick.

The Roots of Modern Playing Cards (Contributed by CJ Rose)

The ancestor of our modern deck of playing cards, known as the Tarot, has been instrumental in the study of mythology and symbolism, psychology and philosophy. It incorporates an esoteric system mirroring the patterns of consciousness. These patterns can be seen in the philosophy of Aristotle, and in the work of many modern Western philosophers, such as John Dewey and Pierre de Chardin, and psychologists such as Carl Jung. The symbol set has been used to facilitate self-knowledge and the sympathetic understand of others and the natural world of which we are a part.

The past months of our newsletter have compared the aces, the deuces, the treys, and the fours. Now we come to the diplomat of digits. The fives mediate the smaller and larger digits in our number sequence and can see the points on both sides. They may be said to connect the physical realm with the spiritual, the intellectual with the emotional. Here’s another excerpt from my book Tarot Gypsy Tales (1989):

FIVES are numbers of quintessence, the five senses, the pentagram, the rose, the four limbs and the head that controls them, the four fingers plus the thumb which makes them useful, the four cardinal points joined by the center.

Hieros gamos, symbolized by fives, sacred marriage in Greek,

unites our Magna Mater’s two, contrives Great Mother’s full physique

to mate with Spirit’s three. The union thrives.

Pentacle’s symmetry is often found in life’s triumphant growth

above and below. Both these realms know burgeoning with spring, astound

us with organic fullness, birth, abound, teem, flourish, overflow,

adapt, adventure, change, adjust and grow. The nature of the fives is to confound.

Here are some wands, cups, blades and pentacles which have turned into the clubs,

hearts, spades, and diamonds we are familiar with today.

Unit 448 NEWSLETTER

September 2024

Labor Day Sectional Sept 1st , 2nd , 3rd, and 4th

LOCATION: Country Homes Christian Church 8415 North Wall, Spokane 99208

Plenty of free parking; complimentary coffee & refreshments

Board Hosted Dinner Party after 2nd session Saturday.

Location: Tami Gillman’s House. 8725 South Southfork Lane, Spokane 99223

September Birthday

Norma Hols 5

The Roots of Modern Playing Cards (Contributed by CJ Rose)

Continuing our thread about the symbolism of the numbers on the “pip” cards of our game, let’s look at fourness:

· Seasons •Cardinal directions of the compass •Cardinal virtues (justice, prudence, temperance, fortitude)

· Qualities of the ancients (warm, dry, moist, cold) •Humours (sanguine, phlegmatic, choleric, melancholic)

· Evangelists (Mathew, Mark, Luke, John) •Prophets (Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Hosea) •Elements (earth, air, fire, water)

· Geometric figures (circle, line, square, triangle) •Phases of the moon

· Basic operations of arithmetic (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division)

· Ways of knowing (intuition, emotion, intellect, sensation)

Excerpted from my Tarot Gypsy Tales (1989):

FOURS are numbers of supervision, dominance, control and command. They imply practical stability, law, regulation, cubical consciousness. They’re about conservatism, firmness, inflexibility, achievement, consolidation, realization, establishment.

Divide the wheel of medicine in four.

Find square in sacred round.

The order of the universe is more

than circle on the ground

but holy stones can focus spirit’s core.

Come oversee the orbit, supervise

the circuit as it turns.

The inner eye discerns

four cardinal points to ponder, testifies

to rising, setting, zenith; sanctifies

cycle’s nadir as well.

Knows fire, water, air and earth all spell

rotation’s whole. Come box the compass pies.

Consider the stability, law, regulation, cubical consciousness of our square tables!

Bridge Problem (contributed by Keith Freeman)

This month’s hand is a defensive problem for East. The auction and dummy’s hand are shown.

East South West North

1♣ 2♠ pass 4♠

ALL PASS

Opening

lead Club 3

At trick one, you win the Ace and South drops the ten. What should you lead at trick two for your best chance to beat the four spades contract?

Analysis: Your partner obviously has no entry, since South must have the missing spade honors because of her bid. If declarer is missing the queen of diamonds, she will finesse West for it, since you showed opening hand values. Since the opening lead was the three of clubs, you can assume your partner holds the club king (the only three clubs higher than the three missing). This is important for you to know: the club lead would have been club nine if declarer held the king. What’s left? The only chance is to develop two heart winners before dummy’s Diamonds get established. Cash the

heart ace and then lead a low heart hoping partner holds the jack – which will force the king. When you win the diamond ace, the heart queen becomes the setting trick if the heart

king has been played. Sometimes you have to give a little in order to get.

Unit 448 Happenings  August 2023

August Birthdays
Pat Gorton 14
Bonnie Kruse 22
Brenda Simpson 26

Mark your Calendar: Labor Day Sectional 
Sept 1, 2, 3, and 4        Location: Country Homes Christian Church 8415 North Wall, Spokane 99208 
Plenty of free parking; complimentary coffee & refreshments ($15 per session  /Juniors $7.50)

Friday, September 1: Session 1 11:00AM    Session 2: 4:00PM

Saturday, September 2: Session 1: 10:00AM   Session 2: 3:00PM
Board Hosted Dinner Party after 2nd session Saturday. Location 8725 South Southfork Lane, Spokane 99223 

Sunday, September 3 Single Session only 1:00 PM

Monday, September 4 Swiss Teams – Two Sessions includes lunch ($60/ team)

Note: Cash or check only/ Additional $4 for unpaid ACBL members

ANNOUNCING!
Charlie is now offering an on-line bridge game (BBO) on Thursdays beginning at 10:00 (18-21 boards). Cost is $3.
If you require a partner, call Charlie. 509 389-9582
The History of Playing Cards: Treys  (Contributed by CJ Rose)
Generally speaking, the function of the number three is reflected in all sets of trinities: Father, Son, and Holy Ghost; past, present, and future; mother, father, and child; Isis, Osiris, and Horus.

In all of these the third member acts as an equilibrating factor, combining the “parent numbers” in such a way as to produce a completely new reality. An interesting side light in this connection is that Pythagoras considered the number three to be the first real number. The first two numbers, he said, were merely essences for they did not correspond to any geometric figure, hence they had no physical reality. But the number three creates the triangle, a plane surface with a beginning, a middle, and en end; a tangible reality that corresponds to human experience.
(Jung and Tarot: An Archetypal Journey, by Sallie Nichols, © 1980)
Excerpted from my Tarot Gypsy Tales (1989):
TREYS are numbers of generation, multiplication, increase, fruitfulness, augmentation, amplification, extension, productivity, growth. They represent the response of subconscious mental activity to self-conscious impulse in the creation of mental images.

Here is the synthesis to reconcile
one/two polarities.
Dynamic third creates harmony’s aisle.
Just leave it to the threes
to pair the sun and moon, to see them smile.
The threes will plan before fours manifest.
They take beginning’s Go,
affirming’s Overflow
and study both in preparation’s nest.
Gestation sees the couple duly blessed 
with equilibrium.
The active and the passive now become 
quite new.  In ternary yin/yang digest.

Choose Your Losers (Contributed by Keith Freeman)
Both Vulnerable West Deals

♠ 76

♥ Q10 2

♦10 9843

♣ K74

♠ A83

♥ AK7543

♦ A

♣ Q83

West        North        East        South
2♠        pass        pass        Double
Pass        3♦        pass        3♥
Pass        4♥        all pass

West leads the K♠. Plan the play.
You can see nine easy tricks and a Spade ruff would bring the total to ten. However, West’s opening bid marks East with a likely doubleton in Spades. If you rough with the Queen, you will lose a trump later unless you get a 2-2 trump split. You could try roughing with the10, but East is a favorite to hold the heart Jack. Your best plan is to assume East has either a 2-3-4-4 or 2-3-3-5 distribution which is most likely.  Your best bet is to refuse the first trick, taking the second Spade and lead the third Spade for a Club discard. This loser on loser play will allow you to rough a Club later. This line of play will work as long as East has at least four Clubs (three is no good since he can discard one on the third Spade.
                ♠ 76
                ♥ Q102
                ♦ 109843
                ♣ K74
♠ KQJ954            ♠ 102
♥ 8                ♥ J96
♦ J62                ♦ KQ75
♣ 1096                ♣ AJ5 2
                ♠ A83
                ♥ AK7543
                ♦ A
                ♣ Q83