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Duplicate Bridge is played on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at the Mower County Senior Center starting at 11:30 a.m.  All bridge players are invited to come play either day. Players are from Albert Lea, Rose Creek, Austin, Northwood and Mason City, Iowa. Tuesday winners were:

First place, Norm Blaser and Mike Leidell

Second place, Joyce Crowe and Millie Siever

Third place (tie): Bill Momsen and Larry Crowe and Barb and Orrin Roisen

Wednesday winners had nine teams playing.

First place, Tom Flaherty and Stan Schultz

Second place, Vandy Newman and Ron Peters

Third place, Gail Schmidt and Dave Ring

Fourth place, Barb and Orrin Roisen

Interesting bids heard around the room were what players call preemptive bidding. Most of our players are familiar with that bid. A team will open the bidding with a bid of say 2 spades. The purpose is not necessarily to play that suit, but to deter the opponent from getting into the bidding with a makeable contract. The move is called a destructive, calculated, sabotage. Opponents have two options: revaluate their hand, and consider they have a reason to bid, and/or use it as an excuse to pass.   We might add that it is safe to say that both teams have noted whether they are non vulnerable or vulnerable, one of the more interesting actions that are prevalent at the bridge tables.

We are planning a gathering on Dec. 20 to meet as a group  and have lunch together before we begin our games at 11:30 a.m.