09:18 12 March 2015 New Orleans, Louisiana by GS Jade Barrett; CsbNews.org Correspondent
Joe DiMaggio
“You always get a special kick on opening day, no matter how many you go through. You look forward to it like a birthday party when you’re a kid. You think something wonderful is going to happen” – Joe DiMaggio
Jade Barrett Caravan
After 1336 miles of driving, the Great American Bridge Tour caravan pulled into this year’s host of the American Contract Bridge League’s Spring North American Bridge Championships: New Orleans, Louisiana.
Nicknamed the Big Easy, reflecting both the lifestyle and music of the city and its population, it has made a very strong recovery since the devastation brought down upon New Orleans by the catastrophic Hurricane Katrina. A great culinary city deeply rooted in French cuisine, the bridge athletes in attendance will be severely challenged to maintain their diets.
The attendees arrive from virtually everywhere on Earth, our own house providing shelter to residents of Iceland, Poland and Egypt along with the Americans. We have already seen Italians and Chinese, Japanese and Spaniards, Canadians and Dutch. There certainly will be more of our South American, Asian, Australian and African friends participating at this celebration of bridge.
The chaos of the lobby as these travelers attempt to check in to their rooms belies the orderliness of the minds harbored within these bodies, each one capable of making the fastest and most difficult decisions at the bridge table.
As a rule, however, it does seem to take forever when selecting a main course at dinner.
Having just suffered an ignominious defeat in the Fourth of six Swiss Team matches, our opponents arrived to begin the Fifth with our favorite most despised greeting:
40 years of tradition and guests from more than 20 countries who come each year prove that this is a tournament worth visiting. Photo: BAM Teams Winners= Breno= Massimo Lanzarotti, Romain Zaleski, Andrea Buratti, Andrea Manno (Italy)
Iceland wins the Open and Denmark wins Ladies!!! All the results and a board by the young Dennis Bilde. Photo: Nordic Teams 2013: Gold for Denmark Ladies
Some of the best players in the world are Brazilians, and some of the most enthusiastic players too! Our Brazilian Online Festival has appeal to players of all levels. Your team will play in a friendly but competitive atmosphere, with very well-organized scoring and experienced Directors to ensure a pleasant experience for all.
Come and join the competition through our Providers, BBO, Funbridge and Ourgame, all offering you this great opportunity – we look forward to some challenging tournaments!”
An endplay (also throw-in), in bridge, is a tactical play where a defender is put on lead at a strategic moment, and then has to make a play that loses one or more tricks.
The Championship is open to all players born on or after 1st January 1992 (Juniors & Girls) or born on or after 1st January 1997 (Youngsters) or born on or after 1st January 2002 (Kids) in good standing with their own NBOs.
