A Saturday Workshop with Dennis Dawson

Duke City Bridge Club

December 12, 2009 9:30 to Noon

The Topic

For the advancing player who wants to improve his or her game. You cannot become a good player by memorizing a lot of rules. You must learn how to think at the table. Dennis will show you how to do this at trick one, the single most important trick for the declarer.

Learn what to think about before playing from the dummy. Learn the ABCDs of Declarer Play that will help you play every hand better! Practice what you’ve learned by playing several hands. Notes are included.

The Teacher

Dennis Dawson is a Grand Life Master of the ACBL. He has won more than 13,000 masterpoints as well as the Bronze Medal at the 2003 Senior World Championship, a national championship and almost 200 regional events. Hands he has played have appeared in Sheinwold’s and Jacoby’s nationally syndicated bridge columns, as well as the New York Times.

As a teacher he is known for his logical explanations and “cards on the table” approach. He is a frequent speaker at the American Bridge Teacher’s convention and has taught thousands of students since 1975.

“I have worked with Dennis on several bridge seminars and have watched him in action teaching classes. He is an excellent teacher - very clear with just the right amount of humor. I was very impressed and glad to be sharing the spotlight with him.”

Eddie Kantar, member of the Bridge Hall of Fame

To reserve your spot, email dennis@bridgevacations.com

No email? Call 505-660-9927.

$35 per person, payable at the door.

Money back guarantee!

If you are not satisfied, leave at

the break and receive a full refund.

Tucson, Arizona - March 7-11, 2010

The Bridge
Classes every morning and evening taught by Dennis Dawson for intermediate and advanced players.
Duplicate Bridge every afternoon for ACBL masterpoints in a relaxed atmosphere with friendly people. No grouches please!
Play as much or as little as you like.

The Teacher

Dennis is a Grand Life Master of the ACBL. He has won more than 12,500 masterpoints as well as the Bronze Medal at the 2003 Senior World Championship, a national championship and almost 200 regional events.

To quote Eddie Kantar, member of the Bridge Hall of Fame, “I have worked with Dennis on several bridge seminars and have watched him in action teaching classes. He is an excellent teacher - very clear with just the right amount of humor. I was very impressed and glad to be sharing the spotlight with him.”

The Resort
Experience the feeling of the Old West on this charming ranch with 3,000 acres of wide-open land at the foot of the ruggedly beautiful Tucson Mountains, adjacent to the Saguaro National Park. Ranch hospitality is blended with the comforts of a top resort.
The White Stallion Ranch has had more than its share of attention and has appeared in movies, on TV, on the BBC, reality shows, commercials, rock videos, the New York Times, Playboy magazine and even Sports Illustrated Swim Suit Edition!
Visit the White Stallion website for more information about the resort.

How to Get There
The ranch offers complimentary shuttle service from the Tucson airport.

The White Stallion Ranch is 40 minutes from the Tucson International Airport and 90 minutes from Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport.

No matter which airport you arrive at, you will approach the ranch on I-10.

From Phoenix you will be going East on I-10 and from Tucson you will be going West on I-10.
Exit from I-10 at Cortaro Road, Exit #246.
From Phoenix turn right on Cortaro Road and from Tucson turn left on Cortaro Road.

Go to Silverbell Road and turn right. You will pass two traffic lights and the Safeway store. There will be a sign for West Twin Peaks Road. Take West Twin Peaks up over the hill and the entrance will be on the left at the bottom of the hill. The ranch is about ten miles from I-10.

More? See Google Maps…

The Price
$930 double occupancy $1180 single occupancy
The price includes all the bridge, 4 nights lodging, 4 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 4 dinners, and all taxes and gratuities. It also includes snacks and refreshments during the games, happy hour each night with an honor bar and complimentary appetizers, and optional evening entertainment. Horseback riding is available at an extra charge. There are special room rates before and after the Bridge Vacation based on availability.
Call 1-888-977-2624 for reservations. If you have questions, email Dennis at dennis@bridgevacations.com.

The Bridge
Classes every morning and evening taught by Dennis Dawson for intermediate and advanced players.
Duplicate Bridge every afternoon for ACBL masterpoints in a relaxed atmosphere with friendly people.

No grouches please! Play as much or as little as you like.

The Teacher
Dennis is a Grand Life Master of the ACBL. He has won more than 12,500 masterpoints as well as the Bronze Medal at the 2003 Senior World Championship, a national championship and almost 200 regional events.
To quote Eddie Kantar, member of the Bridge Hall of Fame, “I have worked with Dennis on several bridge seminars and have watched him in action teaching classes. He is an excellent teacher - very clear with just the right amount of humor. I was very impressed and glad to be sharing the spotlight with him.”

The Resort
Nestled on a barrier island off the Georgia coast, the Jekyll Island Club opened in 1888 as a hunting retreat for America’s wealthiest families. A restoration in 1986 revealed the club’s original beauty and elegance, and can be seen in the leaded art glass, ornate woodwork, and Rumford fireplaces. Victorian charm permeates from the lofty tower to the encircling verandas and original heart pine floors. It is rated among the top 500 resorts in the world by Travel & Leisure.
Recreational opportunities abound, from carriage rides and historic tours to 63 holes of golf, walking along 9 miles of unspoiled beach or bicycling through the maritime forest. For more information visit the resort’s website.

How to Get There
Jacksonville is the nearest airport and is served by Southwest Air among others. Ask about shuttle service from the airport when you make your reservation.

The Price
$949 double occupancy    $1300 single occupancy
The price includes all the bridge, 4 nights lodging and resort fee, 4 breakfasts, 3 buffet lunches, 1 dinner, 1 cocktail party, refreshments during the bridge games, and all taxes and gratuities. Early arrivals and late departures will be offered a rate of $129 per room per night, based on availability with all meals on their own. Call 1-800-535-9547 for reservations. Questions? Email Dennis at dennis@bridgevacations.com.

White Stallion Ranch
Tucson, Arizona - March 7-11, 201
Read More ->

Jekyll Island Club Bridge Vacation
Jekyll Island, Georgia February 21-25, 2010
Read More ->

Other trips I’m working on the new year include  California and Vermont! Check back often for news.

The Topic
For the advancing player who wants to improve his or her game. 2/1 Game Force is rapidly becoming the new standard, if it hasn’t already. This is the system used by virtually every top player. Learn why you should play it, and what changes you need to make to do so. Gain hands-on experience by playing four hands each week, and by bidding several more.

The Text
We will use Audrey Grant and Eric Rodwell’s new book 2/1 Game Force. It will be for sale at a discount.

The Teacher
Dennis Dawson is a Grand Life Master of the ACBL. He has won more than 12,000 masterpoints, mostly in the last six years. He won the Bronze Medal at the 2003 Senior World Championship. He has won a national championship and almost 200 regional events. Hands he has played have appeared in Sheinwold’s and Jacoby’s nationally syndicated bridge columns, as well as the New York Times.

As a teacher he is known for his logical explanations and “cards on the table” approach. He is a frequent speaker at the American Bridge Teacher’s convention. He has taught thousands of students since 1975.

Space is limited.
Email dennis@bridgevacations.com to reserve your spot (and to receive information about future workshops).

No email? Call 505-989-1961.

$20 per class or $55 for all 4 classes

The following schools qualified for this summer’s event, held in Washington DC July 25-26, 2009:

Harvard: Sam Lichtenstein—Jonathan Bittner—Dana Berkowitz—Dan Recht
Princeton: James Sundstrom—Nathan Savir—Ilya Vinogradov—Jonathan Luk
Davidson: Austin Bell—Robbie Squibb—Esther Cline—Jim Dickson
University of Chicago: Gideon Tan—Sandi Li—Wen Yang Qi—Rolf Hoyer
University of North Carolina: Kenneth Chuk—Patrick Domico—Corey Luttrell—Dianelle Simmons
McGill: Ralph Yeung—Brandon Zimmerman—Julia Evans—Alex Lang
Stanford: Eric Mayefsky—Zizhuo Wang—Alex Lovejoy—Elena Grewal
UCLA: Blake Haas—Daniel Aharoni—Stephen Crisafulli—Julie Curtis

The biographies section of the encyclopedia will be different from past editions, emphasizing personal information (interesting hobbies, accomplishments outside of bridge, etc. ) as much as trophies and masterpoint holdings. Perhaps you have hiked the Appalachian Trail, visited all seven continents or once played professional table tennis. These are the kinds of personal items that will make the bio section more readable.

We haven’t decided yet on the ultimate criteria for inclusion in the biographies section, but with your help the next edition will be the best ever published.

Click here to fill out a questionnaire. Be sure to include a working email address in case the editors have questions.

Michael Whitman and Tipton Golias, longtime partners and dear friends of Grant Baze, gathered a large contingent of partners, teammates and friends at the Spring 2009 NABC in Houston on Friday, March 13th, to say goodbye to a towering presence (literally!) in the bridge world. Chris and Donna Compton organized a warm and wonderful evening of memories, food and drink as the best and the brightest gave testimony to this one-of-a-kind player.

Tipton Golias, who won the 1997 Spingold with Grant and Poles Adam Zmudzinski, Marek Szymanowski, Marcin Lesniewski, Cezary Balicki, recalled Grant’s high standard of ethics. Reviewing Tipton»s declarer play on a hand, Grant realized that their score was in error. Finding a director, Grant had the score changed from making to down one - sending Grant and Tipton from first to sixth. Winning would be meaningless if it weren’t fairly earned.

Partner Gary Hayden marveled at Grant’s deep knowledge of history - and his ability to multi-task with ferocity. Alan Sontag, the only bridge player who might have played as rapidly as Grant did, recounted how their lightening speed saved the day. When only three players out of six showed up for a session of the Senior Bowl in 2001, the team worried they might be eliminated. No problem, when the world’s two quickest players paired up. Ultimately, Grant and Alan, along with Roger Bates, Bart Bramley, Rose Meltzer, and Lew Stansby captured their international title.

Other speakers, Mike Passell, Bob Hamman, Eric Rodwell, Alan Cokin, Gary Cohler, Peter Weichsel, Gary Cohler, Fred Gitelman and George Jacobs also spoke of Grant’s tremendous abilities, his creativity, his humor and infectious, booming laugh. They spoke of how Grant played through severe pain and fatigue, all because of his adoration of the game.

For those who knew Grant, it would be impossible not to have mention of his attachment to the ladies. Women loved Grant - and he loved them back. Indeed, Grant was such a ladies’ man, he put together a collection of at least nine wives! (Forgive me if I fail to get the final tally accurately; it was always a moving target.) Grant’s “last and best” wife, Cindy, listened good naturedly as tales of Grant and his many women were recounted.

Grant loved bridge, women, history and his friends with a passion. He gave them his all - and he will be sorely missed.

According to Johnson, each astronaut is allowed to fly up to ten items honoring organizations of their choosing. These items are collected, vacuum packed and documented on the official Space Shuttle manifest. Johnson stated that he flew the ace of spaces (from an official ACBL deck of cards) to honor the ACBL and his love of bridge. Johnson began playing duplicate bridge as a new Air Force pilot in 1988 and became a Life Master in 2002.

During his presentation of the card to Jay Baum, CEO of the ACBL, Johnson stated, “It is an interesting coincidence that the 2009 Houston NABC spans the same days, one year later, of my space flight last year. I am honored to be able to present the card to the ACBL during the first weekend of the tournament.”