On Halloween Night, Al Becker’s Monday Evening game will feature specially selected “Monster” hands guaranteed to challenge your bidding and play. Game time is 7:30 PM. A lesson (usually involving something that kept Al from a 70% in the Monday morning game) precedes the game at about 7:10 PM. The game is designed for players with less than 800 master points and features pizza as a snack. Come join us!

Prez Sez by Dan Turkus

Mark your calendars: DECEMBER 18th will be our annual Holiday Pot Luck Party! I'm sure looking forward to all you good cooks bringing your favorite dishes. It looks like I'll be doing one of the turkeys, any volunteers to do the other one?

A week before the Holiday Party, that will be December 11th, we will have another unit game for the last day of STaC week, another chance for Silver points.

Did you qualify for the NAP (North American Pairs)? Our Unit playoff will be on October 30th, with the 1st session starting at 11 AM. Sorry, there is no sign up sheet for this, and will be 1st ones to come will be seated. It might be a good idea for one of each pair to show up early to get your table assignment.

I want to thank all of you that brought cookies, cakes, sandwiches, candy, etc. to the Sectional. Although I never saw the sandwiches on the table, I did hear they were great. In fact some people remarked they come to our Sectional for the food. They would love our Holiday function! I know I do. Also, a special thanks to Tania for a great job organizing all the food and helpers. Also thanks to Ray Yuenger, Mich Ravera, and Dixie Wade for helping me set up all those tables.

Did you know that we publish our Sectional Brochure in the Direktor? I know we are in the information age, and there is a lot of reading to do, but how long does it take to read the Direktor? Or do most of you just look for your names in the winners column? The reason for these questions you ask? People ask me about things that are covered in my column or elsewhere in our publication, so please read it, as we spend a fair amount of time getting it to you in a timely fashion. Thanks for letting me vent.

That's it for this time, so I'll see ya at the tables

Big ♣ News

2nd Annual Friday Night Pro-Am Game, October 28

Our first ProAm game, last October, was hugely successful. We had 18 tables and were not really prepared for such a wonderful turnout. However, feedback indicated that everyone (both Pros and Ams) enjoyed their learning experience.

This year, we will be prepared!! We will hold the event on Friday night, October 28th. Please save the date! The conditions of the tournament are that all Ams must have fewer than 300 masterpoints. The Pro's should be life masters (not a set-in-stone requirement). The game will begin at 7:00 at the bridge center. After the game, if you wish to stay, we will have distinguished guests, Ed Barlow and Don Nemiro, instructing on all aspects of the evening's hands

Please mark your calendars and help us make this annual game a premier event for our unit. George and I thank you in advance for your support.

Late September–Early October Winners

Sunday 5:20 PM San Jose Bridge Center (SJBC)
9/11	David Tuo - Michael Callahan A Ben & Fia Bosklopper A/B Sheri Archer - Jim Valby B/C
9/18	Frank Napolitan - Ursula Gueldner A 68.02% Mike O'Connor - Mike Carney B Nancy & Tom Cadwell A Carol Woodward - Maralyn Smith B Bob & Nancy Ward C
10/2	Mich Ravera - Norman Marks A Fung Bao - Erin Gove A Bob & Nancy Ward B
10/9	Norman Marks - Karie Willyerd A/B/C 65.77% Ben & Fia Bosklopper A/B
Monday 11:00 AM SJBC
9/12	Dolores & Jack Clinch A 66.77% Ted Richmond - W Riester Jr A Dan Turkus - Art Fonda B Beverly Wright - Marjorie Stake B
9/19	Ted Richmond - W Riester Jr A 71.02% Steve Bosma - Kenneth Kenfield A Samuel Shat - Cassandra Leung B/C Maxine & Ray Lubow B/C
9/26	Ted Richmond - W Riester Jr A Bev Rennie - Coline Maclean B/C Barbara Harkleroad - Tania Moalem A Paul Nelson - Harriet Rounds B
10/3	Mary Touris - Derek Fiero A Eileen Kotecki - Ken Dekker B/C Cheryl Liptak - Geri Colwell A/B Maxine & Ray Lubow C
10/10	Ted Richmond - W Riester Jr A Gigi Spinazze - David Gambelin B Coline Maclean - Bev Rennie C Paul Nelson – Sidney Safir A/B
Monday 7:30 PM SJBC
9/12	Val Mason - Eryl Barker Joseph Poppo - Peggy Sprague
9/19	Ken Anderson - Jesse Merlin 66.67% Hugh Roberts – Harry Shannon
9/26	Shirley Foreman - Rekha Nirula Hugh Roberts – Harry Shannon
10/3	Ken Rosenfeld - Mich Ravera Vinny Mcloughlin - Rajeeva Sharma
10/10	Peggy Sprague - Joseph Poppo Carol Woodward - Jan O'Malley

Tuesday 10:30 AM SJBC
9/13	Kathleen Keener - Madie Horton A/B 66.20% Barbara Harkleroad - Olive Tangney A Dan Turkus - Derek Fiero B George Pledger - H Zoellner C
9/20	Lynn Yokel - Diane Shannon A 69.58% Tania Moalem - David Gambelin A
9/27	Team 6 (Moalem, Beardsley, Pearson, Brown) A
10/4	Diane Shannon - Frances Dickman A 65.88% Derek Fiero - Dan Turkus B Kathleen Keener - Art Fonda A/B
Tuesday 7:30 PM SJBC
9/13	Melinda Foos - Michael Fleisher A/B Jewel Schimke - Vinny Mcloughlin A/B/C
9/20	Frances Dickman - Michael Fleisher A Cindy Gilbert - John Oswalt A/B Ben Franz - Peggy Sprague B
9/27	Heather Cutting - Gary MacGregor A Tania Moalem - Marolyn Imaoka-Yancey A Danning Dong - NongYu Li B/C
10/4	Dana Brown - Bruce Luttrell A 68.15% Cindy Gilbert - John Oswalt A/B Ken Rosenfeld - Jim Blum C
Wednesday 11:00 AM SJBC
9/14	Colette & Art Quaife A/B Norma Epler - Eileen Kotecki A/B/C Victor Rivkin - Malcolm Stewart A/B/C Lori Wortley - Jan Meagher C
9/21	Jack Clinch - Sidney Safir A/B 74.54% Bob Ward - John Newman A/B/C Colette & Art Quaife A/B/C Michael Scott - Mark Pensler C
9/28	Linda & Robert(Chris) Caren A Jack Clinch - Sidney Safir A/B/C Lee Dimmitt - Jerry Lundquist B Rita Tingley - Bernard Bertonis A/B Bob Ward - John Newman A/B/C Colette & Art Quaife C Victor Rivkin - Malcolm Stewart C
10/5	Lee Dimmitt - Jerry Lundquist A/B 67.86% Frances Dickman - Diane Shannon A Jan Kiernan - Patricia Yelvington A/B/C Jesse Merlin - Bruce Scott C Victor Rivkin - Boris Ginzburg B/C

Wednesday 7:00 PM SJBC
9/14	Stuart Goodgold - Robert Ritz Will Watson - Leila Sink
9/21	Franklin Lowenthal - Gary MacGregor A Edward Barlow - Anne Boboricken A Mike Roney - Marolyn Imaoka-Yancey B
9/28	Ruth Froeberg - John Harley A/B Annette Powers - Raymond Yuenger A Z Kadah - Walid Baroudi C
10/5	Robert Madalena - John Schoenbrun A David Gambelin - Marolyn Imaoka-Yancey A/B Paul Nelson - Jeffrey Hack B
Wednesday 7:30 PM Oakwood
9/14	Kenneth Kenfield - Steve Bosma A Anne Dudman - Val Abid A/B/C Raja Smadi - Nancy Cadwell B/C
9/21	Elaine Erickson - Paul Chang A Michael Scott - George Pledger B Elaine Elkin - Ted Finlayson A/B/C
9/28	Laura Walters - Lorraine Rodich A/B/C Linda Caren - Lynn Yokel A Rita Randolph - Shirley Anderson B/C
10/5	Barbara Tiernan - Lynn Yokel A 65.18% Leon W Lee - Jerry Lundquist B/C Mick Ravera - Pam Woods A/B/C
Thursday 10:30 AM SJBC
9/15	Fung Bao - Samuel Shat A/B Kathleen Keener - Art Fonda A/B
9/22	Frances Dickman - Diane Shannon A 68.49% Dan Turkus - Michael Scott A/B Samuel Shat - Cassandra Leung B
9/29	Harriel Shea - Diane Shannon A 65.77% Patricia Hannah - Mary Touris A Cai Gao - NongYu Li B Jean Power - Rollin Cutts B
10/6	Frances Dickman - Diane Shannon A 72.32% Dolores & Jack Clinch A Kathleen Keener - Josephine Cooley B Gigi Spinazze - Lynn Yokel B Gopal Srinivas - P. Santanam C
Thursday 7:00 PM SJBC
9/15	Richard Jacobs - Ron Baron A 69.50% Mike Carney - Mike O'Connor A/B John Prior - Raja Smadi B
9/22	Hemant & Shaila Mandpe A/B Rajeeva Sharma - Bob Reinthaler A/B
9/29	Melinda Foos - Michael Fleisher A Maxine Lubow - Judy Travis A Jerry Lundquist - Mich Ravera B David Crosley - Peggy Sprague C Joel Koransky - Kat Wesolowska B
10/6	Ravi Thomas - Faye Parsons A Melinda Foos - Michael Fleisher A David Crosley - Peggy Sprague B/C

Friday 11:00 AM SJBC
9/16	Jesse Merlin - John Williams Gabriella Bowling - Rein Luik
9/23	Sunny Chiu - Paul Chang 67.92% Doris Oelberg - Albert Lyew
9/30	Bernard Hoyt - Julie Joyce Jesse Merlin - Nadia Nilsson
10/7	Missy Coy - Bill Yetter 68.54% Marilynn Bass - Carol Woodward
Friday 7:00 PM SJBC
9/16	Melanie Kakalec - Jin Zhu A/B/C 66.07% Mischel & John Postas A/B/C
9/30	Team 1 (Agarwal, Agarwal, Burnett, Burnett) A
10/7	Bob & Nancy Ward A/B 66.07% Karie Willyerd - Norman Marks C Art & Colette Quaife A/B
Saturday 12:45 PM SJBC
9/10	Mich Ravera - Ken Rosenfeld
9/17	Rein Luik - Gabriella Bowling
10/1	Mich Ravera - Jerry Lundquist
10/8	Joan Simpson - Mike Braun
Saturday 7:00 PM SJBC
9/10	Alexander Tampilang - John Prior
9/17	Melinda Foos - Michael Fleisher A Mike O'Connor - Mike Carney B
10/1	Team 2 (Carney, O’Connor, Lee, Lundquist)
10/8	Team 1 (Ravera, Jacobs, Baker, O'Connell)

Top Ten Games Sept 11-Oct 10

1	74.54%	Jack Clinch - Sidney Safir	9/21 AM
2	72.32%	Frances Dickman - Diane Shannon	10/6 AM
3	71.02%	Ted Richmond - W Riester Jr	9/19 AM
4	69.58%	Lynn Yokel - Diane Shannon	9/20 AM
5	69.50%	Richard Jacobs - Ron Baron	9/15 Eve
6	68.54%	Missy Coy - Bill Yetter	10/7 AM
7	68.49%	Frances Dickman - Diane Shannon	9/22 AM
8	68.15%	Dana Brown - Bruce Luttrell	10/4 Eve
9	68.02%	Frank Napolitan - Ursula Gueldner	9/18 Eve
10	67.92%	Sunny Chiu - Paul Chang	9/23 AM

Saturday Afternoons at the Club

Players with less than 20 master points who have never won nor scored better than 60% in any open game will play free in the Al Becker’s Saturday afternoon game during the month of October. Game Time is 12:45 PM. If you get there early enough, you may be able to grab one of Joan Simpson’s brownies that frequently accompany her to the game. If you miss the brownies, a pizza snack usually shows up during the third round.

Hacking It: Smolen by Jeff Hack

To me Smolen is theoretically a sound convention but it has such a low frequency of success is it worth the trouble to learn it. I've refused to play Smolen unless all my partners play it. This way I know its not on if it comes up.

What is Smolen? Somlen is used after your partner opens 1^NT and you have game forcing values with 5-4 in the majors. You respond 2♣ and, if Opener rebids a major, you are happy. If Opener rebids 2♦, then you jump to your 4 card major at the 3-level. Partner now knows that you have 5 in the other major and they can either bid 3NT or your 5-card major. In this way, the opener gets to be declarer.

Notice that this convention only produces a positive result if all six of the following are true:

1) Your side opens 1^NT

2) Responder has game forcing values

3) Responder is 5-4 in the majors

4) Opener has no 4 card major

5) Opener has exactly 3 cards in Responder’s 5-card major

6) The opening lead gives the declarer an extra trick

My question for everyone is this: Has anyone ever actually had a hand where playing Smolen gave them a better score than they would have received if they had not been playing Smolen? Has anyone received a worse score due to a mix up about Smolen?

Please forward your E-mail comments to me at jnamyats@aol.com.

Idioter’s Corner

Sir Michael Phillip Jagger once wrote “You can’t always get what you want, but if you try, you’ll get what you need.” It is with that thought in mind that I welcome Jeff Hack’s words to these pages. Every month a call goes out for interesting content beyond the game results and game promotions. Some months, this request is greeted with a roaring silence. Other months, it is greeted with a flood. I failed to publish Jeff’s article in an earlier issue mostly because it wasn’t obvious that it was intended for publication. I thank him for resubmitting with a clear indication of his intentions.

Tania Moalem gives her thanks for helping run our sectional tournament, but everyone should understand that she again worked extremely hard so as to go virtually unnoticed. She told me privately, that she wanted to avoid naming names for fear that others would feel slighted. I particularly want to thank Director-In-Charge Diane Barton Payne for making it easy for me to post the results on our web site.

She’s probably wondering why it took so long for it to happen, but someone needs to call attention to the fact that Dianne Shannon had three Top Ten games this month. This achievement is, as far as I can remember, unprecedented.

Thank you by Tania Moalem

A warm thanks to all who helped with our San Jose Sectional. Especially all who continuously donated food to keep our hungry bridge players well fed. The deviled eggs and sandwiches that were donated were eaten within seconds. And the vegetable trays and fresh fruit were also well received.

The attendance was down this year and we will make an effort to provide more flyers to the local clubs as well as leave them at the local tournaments for our next tournament.

Thanks to all our caddies who worked very hard as well as our directors. And as always, a very SPECIAL THANKS to Teddi Fierro, my co-chair, who helped insure the tournament was well run and whose help I much appreciate.

Unit 507 Board Officers
President	Dan Turkus
Vice President	Ray Yuenger
Secretary	Erin Gove
Treasurer	John Prior
Sergeant at Arms	Art Fonda
Membership	Will Watson
Ethics	Bill Langlois
Unit Recorder	Carole Dietz
*Forum* columnist	Ray Yuenger
Unit Game Coordinator	Rekha Nirula
Tournament Coordinator	Tania Moalem
*The Di-Rek’Tor* Editor	Michael Angelo Ravera
Education/NAOP	Lynn Yokel
District 21 Representatives	Jeff Hack Stu Goodgold
New Player Representative	Mich Ravera

Promotions and Titles

JUNIOR MASTER	Sheri Archer Samuel Shat
CLUB MASTER	Daniel Brown Sunny Chiu Norman Marks
SECTIONAL MASTER	Martin Anding Helen Chao Barbara Mash Art Quaife Hubert Roberts
BRONZE LIFE MASTER	Ray Lubow

Late October

Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Faye’s Lesson 5PM

Faye’s 499er Game 5:20PM

Bill’s Open Stratified Game with Hand Records 11AM

Al’s Lesson 7:10PM

Al’s 699er Handicapped Game: 7:30PM

18 Carole & Judy’s Open Stratified Open Game w/ Hand Records: 10:30AM

Carole & Lynn’s Supervised Play: 3PM

Ray & Will’s Open Game with Hand Records: 7:30PM

19 Bernie’s Lesson 10:30AM

Rita & Bernie’s Stratified 299er & Stratified Open Game w/separate sections and hand records: 11AM

Jim’s Superchart Game With Hand Records: 7PM

Bill’s Open Stratified Game Hand Records @ Oakwood: 7:30PM

Lynn’s Open Game with Hand Records: 10:30 AM

Faye’s Open Game 7PM

21 Al’s 0-1500 Handicapped Game 11AM

Carole & George’s Lesson: 6:30PM

Carole & George’s Stratified 299er Game with Hand Records: 7PM

Oakland

22 Al’s 0-1500 Handicapped Game 12:45 PM

0-20 Play Free

John’s Open Stratified Game with Hand Records

7PM

Oakland

Faye’s Lesson 5PM

499 Pairs 5:20PM

Oakland

Bill’s Open Game: 11AM

Al’s Lesson: 7:10PM

Al’s Game: 7:30PM

Open Pairs: 10:30AM

Supervised Play: 3 PM

Open Pairs: 7:30PM

26 Bernie’s Lesson 10:30AM

Two-Section Game: 11AM

Superchart Game: 7PM

Oakwood Game: 7:30PM

Lynn’s Game: 10:30 AM

Faye’s Open Game 7PM

Al’s Game 11AM

Lesson 6:30 PM

Pro-Am: 7PM

29 Al’s Game 12:45PM

0-20 Play Free

John’s Game: 7PM

30 Unit NAP Qualifier: 11AM&TBA

31 Bill’s Game: 11AM

Al’s Lesson: 7:10PM

Monster Hands: 7:30 PM

November

Open Pairs: 10:30AM

Supervised Play: 3 PM

Open Pairs: 7:30PM

2 Bernie’s Lesson 10:30AM

Birthday Game: 11AM

Jim’s Game: 7PM

Oakwood Birthday Game: 7:30PM

Lynn’s Game: 10:30 AM

Faye’s Open Game 7PM

Al’s Game 11AM

Lesson 6:30 PM

299er Game: 7PM

Al’s Game 12:45PM

John’s Game: 7PM

6 Faye’s Lesson 5PM

499 Pairs 5:20PM

7 Bill’s Open Game: 11AM

Al’s Lesson: 7:10PM

Al’s Game: 7:30PM

8 Open Pairs: 10:30AM

Supervised Play: 3 PM

Open Pairs: 7:30PM

9 Bernie’s Lesson 10:30AM

Jim’s Game: 7PM

Oakwood Game: 7:30PM

Lynn’s Game: 10:30 AM

Faye’s Open Game 7PM

Al’s Game 11AM

Lesson 6:30 PM

299er Game: 7PM

12 Al’s Game 12:45PM

John’s Game: 7PM

Faye’s Lesson 5PM

499 Pairs 5:20PM

Bill’s Open Game: 11AM

Al’s Lesson: 7:10PM

Al’s Game: 7:30PM

Open Pairs: 10:30AM

Supervised Play: 3 PM

Open Pairs: 7:30PM

16 Bernie’s Lesson 10:30AM

Two-Section Game: 11AM

Jim’s Game: 7PM

Oakwood Game: 7:30PM

17 Lynn’s Game: 10:30 AM

Faye’s Open Game 7PM

Denver NABC Begins

18Al’s Game 11AM

Lesson 6:30 PM

299er Game: 7PM

NABC Day 2

Al’s Game 12:45PM

John’s Game: 7PM

NABC Day 3

20 Faye’s Lesson 5PM

499 Pairs 5:20PM

NABC Day 4

21 Bill’s Game: 11AM

Al’s Lesson: 7:10PM

Al’s Game: 7:30PM

NABC Day 5

22 Open Pairs: 10:30AM

Supervised Play: 3 PM

Open Pairs: 7:30PM

NABC Day 6

23 Bernie’s Lesson 10:30AM

Two-Section Game: 11AM

Superchart Game: 7PM

Oakwood Game: 7:30PM

NABC Day 7

Both Games: CLOSED

NABC Day 8

25 Al’s Game 11AM

Lesson 6:30 PM

299er Game: 7PM

NABC Day 9

Al’s Game 12:45PM

John’s Game: 7PM NABC Day 10

27 Faye’s Lesson 5PM

499 Pairs 5:20PM

NABC Ends

Bill’s Open Game: 11AM

Al’s Lesson: 7:10PM

Al’s Game: 7:30PM

Open Pairs: 10:30AM

Supervised Play: 3 PM

Open Pairs: 7:30PM

30 Bernie’s Lesson 10:30AM

Two-Section Game: 11AM

Jim’s Game: 7PM

Oakwood Game: 7:30PM

December 1

Lynn’s Game: 10:30 AM

Faye’s Open Game 7PM

Al’s Game 11AM

Lesson 6:30 PM

299er Game: 7PM

3 Al’s Game 12:45PM

John’s Game: 7PM

Please submit contributions for The Di-Rek’Tor to
Michael Angelo Ravera

Email: mravera@nubridges.com

Voice: 408-432-1020

Printed: SJBC Folder

The Di-Rek’Tor

The Di-Rek’Tor is published monthly by Unit 507 of the American Contract Bridge League, Campbell Community Center, One West Campbell Avenue, Building J-68, Campbell, CA 95008. Opinions in articles are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the Unit Board

Unit 507 Club Games

Day	Time	Game Type	Photo	Directors	Phone (408)
Sunday	5:20 pm	0-499 Stratified (Lesson: 5:00 pm) Monthly Potluck: 4:30 pm		Faye Parsons	378-4719
Monday	11:00 am	Open Stratified Hand records		Bill Traver	379-4490
Monday	7:30 pm	0-800 Handicapped (Lesson: 7:10 pm)		Al Becker	252-1426
Tuesday	10:30 am	Open Stratified Hand Records		Judy Fisher / Carole Dietz	/ 395-6360
Tuesday	3:00 pm	Lesson and Supervised Play		Lynn Yokel / Carole Dietz	374-4669 / 395-6360
Tuesday	7:30 pm	Open Stratified Hand Records		Ray Yuenger / Will Watson	379-7717 / (650)610-0225
Wednesday	11:00 am	Two Sections: Open and 0-299 Stratified Hand Records (Lesson 10:30 am)		Rita Tingley / Bernie Bertonis	261-0268
Wednesday	7:30 pm	Open Stratified Hand Records At Oakwood		Bill Traver	379-4490
Wednesday	7:00 pm	Open Stratified Hand Records Super Chart		Jim Hayashi / Anne Boboricken	292-2370 / 379-2805
Thursday	10:30 am	Open Hand Records		Lynn Yokel	374-4669
Thursday	7:00 pm	Open Stratified	See Sunday	Faye Parsons	378-4719
Friday	11:00 am	0-1500 Handicapped (Review: 2:30 pm)	See Monday	Al Becker	252-1426
Friday	7:00 pm	0-300 Stratified (Lesson: 6:30 pm) One “Teacher Lifeline” Hand Records		George Pledger / Carole Dietz	249-2674 / 395-6360
Saturday	12:45 pm	0-1500 Handicapped	See Monday	Al Becker	252-1426
Saturday	7:00 pm	Open Stratified “Deal of the Day” 6:55 PM		John Prior	JGPrior@mindspring.com

All games are held at the San Jose Bridge Center (408-871-1232) at one W. Campbell Ave, Room J-68, inside the Campbell Community Center except those identified as “at Oakwood”. The Oakwood game is held at the Oakwood Garden Apartments, 700 Saratoga Ave, San Jose. All games allow methods and systems permitted by the ACBL General Convention Chart. Those games identified as “MidChart” or “Super Chart” also permit methods authorized by those charts with proper disclosure. Check club postings, visit our web site at http://www.SJBridge.org or call for the exact dates and times of the Special STaC and Special Unit games, and of the 499er Potluck.

Games are often reduced, relaxed, or cancelled during local tournaments.

Unit 507 Board Officers

The Di-Rek’Tor