Latest News
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Class on Play of Notrump Contract returns in August. More
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The Longest Day Unit Game on June 28 was a great success! Check out the write-up and photos.
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Please note that the Friends Home Bridge Club will meet on the 3rd Thursday of July, on July 17, 2025. This is only for this month. More
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With great sorrow we announce the passing of John Barnes. A funeral service will be held at 2:00, Friday, July 11, 2025, at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church. Here is the obituary
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0-499'ers prepare for W-S Summer Sectional. More
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The Wednesday Open game has moved to New Garden Friends Meeting for the summer. And a new Novice game is offered concurrently! More
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The Triad Bridge Club is launching a new weekly game, NightBridge!, on Thursday evenings starting this Thursday, May 29. More
Bridge Classes
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Play of Notrump Contract is being offered by Judy Hellen starting Monday, August 4. See below.
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Two-0ver-One Practice Session with Judy Hellen. Wednesday, July 16, 9:30 am, Fellowship Presbyterian Church. Please reserve a space at Judy@LearnBridgeGSO.com or 336-558-3613.
Ongoing
Spotlight on Members
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Congratulations to Mary J Hennie, for having reached Life Master rank as of July 1, 2025.
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Congratulations to each member who attained a new rank as of July 1, 2025. Changes in Rank.
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EIGHT BIG GAMES in June. Take a look.
Games for newer players
So many places to play! Lucky for you! Check out the opportunities here.
Play of a Notrump Contract
Improving your declarer play is one of the best ways to improve your results at the bridge table. Judy Hellen is offering this class on Monday mornings starting August 4 for four weeks. Learning to identify your source(s) of tricks and how to establish winners are essential skills in both notrump and suit contracts. Whether you are a developing player or a seasoned play who struggles with notrump play, this class is for you. Each class will be packed with practice hands. Enroll now to reserve a spot in this very fun course.
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Aug. 4: The Thought Process
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Aug. 11: Splits and Counting
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Aug. 18: More Suit Establishment
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Aug. 25: Entries - Unblocking and overtaking
Dates: Mondays, August 4, 11, 18 and 25
Time: 9:30 am - 11:45 am
Location: Fellowship Presbyterian Church, 2005 New Garden Rd, Greensboro
Instructor: Judy Hellen, Judy@LearnBridgeGSO.com or 336-558-3613
Cost: $100 for all four sessions or $30 for any single session
To register or for more information, please contact the instructor
Longest Day Unit Game: June 28, 2025
Article submitted by Rich Peffer
The Unit Game on Saturday, June 28, 2025 was the final event of the Unit’s Longest Day Fundraising efforts, and 9 tables of players from around the Unit joined the fray. Participants were asked to wear purple in honor of Alzheimer’s and the room was a sea of violet, indigo, lilac and shades in between. Martha Meyer was our expert Director for the day, and she brought an impressive array of food for folks to enjoy while they competed. At the same time, Fran Tewkesbury, our experienced and energetic coordinator for “The Longest Day” fundraiser, announced that final bids were still being taken on a range of excellent prizes. The bidding was especially fierce for a perennial favorite: playing a game of bridge with the amazing Bill Wisdom! Who was the winner of this bidding war??? Stay tuned for full details on the winning bids from Fran.
Tournament Overview and Memorable Hands
The Open Game of 9 tables followed a Mitchell movement, with 3 boards per round and 27 boards in total. A notable hand occurred with Board 20, where 6 of the 8 N/S pairs found the slam in hearts that was available:

In a contract of 6H, the fine declarer play of Josh Hoffman brought in an overtrick. After a trump lead, Josh won the lead in hand and played his lone spade to the Ace. He then ruffed a spade in hand, returned to the dummy with a trump, ruffed a 2nd spade, and then returned to dummy via a diamond ruff to cash the remaining spades. Pitching two clubs on these good spades, Josh made 7H.Two other N players (Bruce Southard and John Fite) also found the winning line of play by avoiding a losing club finesse to make 7H on this hand.
Top Pairs and Final Standings
At the end of 9 rounds, the final standings were as follows:
1st Overall was Dan Fowler – Bill Wisdom, with a 66% in the E/W direction. Also earning masterpoints in the E/W field were:
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Eric Peffer – Rich Peffer: 61%
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David Hurd – Brenda Chiott: 50%
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Susan Williford – Marie Harrill: 49%
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Kathryn Morris – Anita Griffin: 42%
In the N/S direction, top finisher was Bob Hale – Josh Hoffman with a 60% game. Also earning masterpoints in the N/S field were:
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Bruce Southard – David Idleman: 57%
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John Fite – Sue Ann Harris: 55%
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Doug Mead – Barbara Katz: 54%
Rising Stars and Memorable Moments
The lone C pair in the N/S direction, rising stars Mark and Sheila Bertoldi, had a standout moment on Board 7:

Playing in a potentially unmakeable 2C contract, Mark navigated his limited trump (a 5-1 fit) and succeeded by endplaying the 16-point East hand to make 2 clubs, for +90.
This was only one of two positive scores for the N/S pairs on this board. Watch for big things from this dynamic duo in future events.
Conclusion
The spirit of the crowd at The Longest Day Unit Game was evident throughout the day, and many players took the time to look over the bidding sheets and add their bids to help increase our Unit’s contributions to The Alzheimer’s Association. One hundred percent of table fees were donated to the Alzheimer’s Association and members were generous with gifts in excess of their $10 entry fee. Watch this website (ccbaUnit169.org) for a final tally of the Unit’s 2025 contributions, once all of the gifts have been received. Many thanks to Martha M. for directing this special game, to Fran T. for coordinating the fundraising efforts, and to all of the players who contributed to this worthwhile effort to combat Alzheimer’s disease.
Article submitted by Rich Peffer
Selected photos from this festive event are included below:

Unit Games
Complete 2025 Unit Calendar
Click HERE for results for all Unit Games available on Live for Clubs under club number 275628.
Click HERE for Unit Game Calendar and information.
0-499'ers Prepare for W-S Summer Sectional
The W-S Summer Sectional is coming up August 15-17. On Sunday there will be a special Swiss Teams event for 0-499'ers. It will be a single session instead of the normal two-session event. Last week Cindy Wright held a 0-499'ers Team game on Wednesday, June 25. Eight teams participated. See all who came for a fun time. The team winners, Tim Ebert, Sharla Slappey, Laura Olson, and Anne Abernethy, also received a free entry to the 0-499 Swiss Teams in the tournament.

Tim Ebert, Donna Hancock, Sharla Slappey, Terri Cardwell

Pam Pogue, Jim Robinson, Linda Schroeder, John Merschel

Judy Sharpe, Mary Allen Martin, Adrienne Mastrobattista, Jim Martin

Anne Abernethy, Kathryn Badorrek, Laura Olson, Candy Toler

Mary Claire O'Brien, Gerry Brown, Susan Roden, Lulu Smith

Debbie Beitel, Judy Volk, Larry Beitel, Pat Freeze

Chuck Blixt, Carrie Koontz, Libby Noah, Kitsy Mathis

Ann Hopkins, Cindy Morehead, Joslin Davis, Joe Carruthers
Wednesday Game @ New Garden Friends Meeting starting on June 25
plus New Novice Game
The Wednesday Open game, part of the Queen of Hearts Bridge Club, will be moving from the Lewis Recreation Center to New Garden Friends Meeting, 801 New Garden Road, 27410 for the summer. This will start on Wednesday, June 25 and continue every Wednesday through Wednesday, August 20.
Additionally, the Queen of Hearts Bridge Club will offer a new Novice game for 0-200 MPs. The Novice game will run concurrently with the Open game on Wednesdays starting on June 25 @ 1PM. Looking forward to lots of Novice bridge players joining the Wednesday game session!
Where: Fellowship Hall, New Garden Friends Meeting, 801 New Garden Road, 27410.
When: Wednesday, June 25, 2025 - Wednesday, August 20, 2025
Time: 1 PM
Cost: $10
Director: Mary Leger
Partner: Mary is very happy to try and find a partner for you. All you have to do is call 336-327-6357.
NightBridge! on Thursday evenings
The Triad Bridge Club is launching a new weekly game, NightBridge!, on Thursday evenings.
Game Details:
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When: Every Thursday from 6:30 to 9:30 PM
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Start Date: May 29, 2025
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Where: Triad Bridge Club @ Fellowship Presbyterian Church, 2005 New Garden Rd.
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Who Can Play: Players with 0-500 masterpoints.
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Bonus: "Two-Minute Bridge Tip" before each game.
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Cost: $10. Light refreshments included.
Need a partner? Have questions?
Game Director: Rich Peffer (336-402-5367 | rpeffer325@att.net)
Club Manager: Peter J B-B (336-686-3680)

Tuesday Bridge Club
Triad Bridge Club is offering local bridge players a chance to play this great game, but in a more relaxed, less competitive environment. The Tuesday Bridge Club will be held on the 1st, 3rd, and 5th Tuesdays of every month at 1:30 pm at our club home, Fellowship Presbyterian Church, 2005 New Garden Rd, Greensboro.
The Tuesday Bridge Club will NOT be a duplicate format. Instead, it will just be "friends playing cards," having fun, talking and learning about this wonderful game. Our initial games will be shuffle-and-deal, no prepared boards, but that may change later. This should be a REALLY open and fun experience for players of all skill levels.
Peter Boyd-Bowman, Barbara Pomer, Judy Hellen, and Andy Symmes will be your hosts. The cost is free. However, there are still costs involved for the club (rent, coffee, cards, etc.) so a suggested donation of $5 is appreciated.
For more information, contact Barbara Pomer at bdpomer@gmail.com at 336-202-1299 or Peter Boyd-Bowman at
(336) 686-3680 / peterboydbowman@yahoo.com.

Unit 169 Boosters
Our mission is to provide challenging and fun bridge tournament experiences for Central Carolina Bridge Association members.
Our focus is to successfully execute four quality bridge tournaments each year. This entails using great venues with easy access and parking, clean facilities, providing appropriate snacks and beverages, and using qualify ACBL directors. In order to achieve this goal, we need additional financial support.
We are asking our friends who love this game to help. The cost of hosting a quality tournament has increased and, as we build back our attendance at our tournaments, entry fees do not completely cover our cost. Therefore, we are seeking a yearly contribution from those who can and are willing to help Unit 169.
By securing appropriate funding up front, we can plan and budget appropriately for each tournament. There will be recognition and appreciation events for those who join.
We hope you will support us. We appreciate checks in the amount of your choosing, made payable to:
“Central Carolina Bridge Association”
and mailed to
2318 Kirkpatrick Place, Greensboro NC 27408
Please contact Dixie Culver, Unit Secretary/Treasurer, at: culverdix@yahoo.com or (336) 457-7107 if you have any questions.
District 7 Website
"District 7 News" - April thru June
Per Jane Champion, District 7 Secretary:
"The District 7 Board of Directors met in Myrtle Beach on December 30, 2023 where the board approved an increase in entry fees at all regionals from $14.00 per player session to $15.00, effective in Hilton Head. This increase is due to an increase that ACBL is charging for Technical Directors staffing the tournaments.
The new entry fee will go into effect in Hilton Head and still represents (or matches) the lowest regional tournament entry fee charged by any other District in the USA."
Per Blondelle Grant, District 7 Growth & Development Chair:
"District 7 has allocated funds to support local activities designed to grow our bridge community. Funding opportunities are now open to our Clubs." Click HERE for details and guidelines.
Click HERE for the new "Find a Tournament" featuring Entry Express
Click HERE for District 7's Goodwill Message
Click HERE for the list of National Charity Committee Members appointed by D7 Directors. Unit 169 members include: Cindy Wright - Clemmons NC (2019), Bob and Claudia Hale - Greensboro NC (2018) and Marion Secrest - Winston-Salem NC (2002 - deceased)

ACBL Website
"Bridge Bulletin" Online
Free ACBL Guest Membership for 120 Days
Click HERE to get started!
You’re just steps away from joining the world’s biggest and best community of bridge lovers! Soon you’ll be playing bridge, winning masterpoints, and reading the renowned Bridge Bulletin magazine.
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Weekly email with bridge tips from Patty
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Ability to earn up to 20 masterpoints
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Digital access to the Bridge Bulletin
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Special pricing of $29 for the first year of regular membership if they are a guest member first
GET A FREE YEAR OF MEMBERSHIP
Many Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement Plans recognize the power of social fitness activities, such as bridge, and seek to reward participants. Grouper (formerly Element3 Health) collaborates with these plans to encourage individuals to remain physically, socially, and mentally active. That’s why the ACBL has partnered with Grouper—to encourage more people to play and have fun. Through our partnership with Grouper, any ACBL members who are also enrolled in an eligible health plan can receive a free year of ACBL membership. It’s easy get started. Visit the Grouper website to sign up for the program and check your eligibility with your health plan. (Have your health plan ID ready as you go through the process.) Start here

