This will make up for a couple of months of short columns. June was a busy month for local bridge. Make a note of our upcoming unit game on Saturday, August 14 at 7 p.m. Notices will be posted at the club.

The times are a’changing. Games fees at the bridge club have finally increased to $7. Considering that many of our games offer hand records and tasty snacks, I think the price is still right.

The unit board election results were announced at the membership dinner. Returning to the board are Dan Turkus, Lynn Yokel, Bill Langlois, and Art Fonda. We welcome new board members Rekha Nirula, unit game coordinator, and Dick Pitzer, membership chairman.

35.5 tables of players turned out for the free membership unit game. First overall were Ron Siegrist and Mansoor Gowani, with a fine 70.19% game. Strat tops went to Robert Moen & Bert Goldstein, Ray & Maxine Lubow, Don Nemiro & Betty De Paola, Rick & Kathy Jasper, John Prior & Raja Smadi, Joyce Hatfield & Faye Parsons, Fung Bao & Loretta Flynn, Joy Baker & Karen O’Connell, Randy Rice & Mary Harvel, Keith & Carol Burnett, and Ron & Virginia Fischer. Those who got to the cake seemed to enjoy it. Next time we’ll need help in having hot coffee ready and the tables set up before the game.

The Sacramento regional provided its usual temptations, lots of bridge and warm nights for late socializing. In the two-session pair games, strat tops were recorded by Yi-Qun Jin, Derek & Teddi Fiero, Audrey & David Mitchell, and T.-C. Yang. On winning knockout teams were Rose Meltzer, Erin Gove, Fung Bao, Janet Adamiak, Gerry & Joan Piaget (twice), Fran Dickman, and Don Nemiro. First in their Swiss strats were Tania Moalem & Bruce Luttrell; Eric Yang; Boyer Chu; Dick & Ellie-Hall Pitzer and Fia & Ben Bosklopper; and Mich Ravera.

On winning knockout teams at the Las Vegas regional were Rose Meltzer and Henry Zoellner. At the Oakland sectional, Steve Chen took first in a pairs game. Stephen Tu’s Swiss team was first in its strat.

At the Hollister sectional T.-C. Yang & Yi-Qun Jin took a convincing first with a 73.67% game. Dick & Ellie Hall-Pitzer and Jennifer Gu earned stratification tops. T.C and Yi-Qun repeated their success in the Swiss event, teaming up with Will Watson and Leila Sink to win. First in their strat was a team including Zbigniew Bieszke, Andre Kowalczyk and Andrzej Wierzbicki. (Ouch, why do my typing fingers hurt?)

T.-C. & Yi-Qun kept their streak going with a first-place finish in the pairs at the Palo Alto sectional. Strat tops went to Judy Travis & Bill Garfield and Richard & Patricia Bader. Yi-Qun took first again the next day with strat tops to James Stuart-Smith, Ron Baron, Mervin & Shirley Falk, Bob & Nancy Ward. Other firsts in pair games were earned by Bill Langlois, Erma McCrory & Josephine Murray, Gigi Spinazze, Lee Tsai & Cassandra Leung, with strat tops to T.-C. & Yi-Qun, Boyer Chu, Robert Moen & John Preovolos, Nadia Nilsson & Kat Wesolowska, and Fang Wu.

First in their Swiss strats were Stu Goodgold, Mike Roney, Bob Ritz, & John Hoffman; and Bill Yetter, Missy Coy, Gigi Spinazze, & Dave Gambelin. On winning knockout teams were Ed Barlow & Will Watson.

If I’ve overlooked anything, please let me know at rayyuenger@comcast.net or (408)379-7717.