Latest News
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The Alzheimer's Association WALK TO END Alzheimers is held in the fall each year. The Guilford County walk is scheduled for October 25. Unit 169 has a team for the event and wants YOU! We will also have a booth to promote our bridge games and lessons to a wider community. See how you can join this fundraising and membership drive below.
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Bridge Basics 2: Competitive Bidding class starts October 30. More
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Topics in Bidding: New Minor Forcing and Fourth Suit Forcing is being offered by Peter J. Boyd-Bowman on Wednesday, November 12 and 19. More
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Bridge Basics 1: Introduction to Bridge starts January 6, 2026.
OTHER NEWS
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The Piedmont Triad Fall Sectional results.
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Check out the impressive District 7 North American pairs qualifier results from September 20 - 21 for Unit 169. More
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News Flash: Unit-169 is extremely excited to announce that the first Regional tournament in over 30 years will be coming to Greensboro June 1 - June 6, 2026. The all-new Central Carolina Regional Tournament will be held at the beautiful Embassy Suites (near the Piedmont-Triad Airport). It is a terrific location… close to Greensboro, Winston-Salem and High Point, and just a short drive for those living in Burlington, Reidsville, Asheboro and Salisbury. Read more about this amazing event!
Spotlight on Members
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Congratulations to Bob Hale and Josh Hoffman, overall winners in the Greensboro Sectional (Oct. 3 - Oct. 5). They earned 29.79 MPs each in a field of 171 tables.
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Congratulations to each member who attained a new rank as of October 1, 2025. Changes in Rank.
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SIX BIG GAMES in September. Take a look 🤩.
🚶➡️ Walk to End Alzheimer's - Oct. 25 in GSO 🚶
Article submitted by Candie Hurley and Judy Hellen
The Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s® is coming up in Greensboro on Saturday, October 25th. Unit 169 will have a booth there to talk with people about the fun and benefits of playing bridge. Our team is called "Learn Bridge - Play Bridge - Have Fun!". We will be raising money for the cause of course. We also want to promote our games and lessons to the community. Triad Bridge Club will be launching a Thursday evening event for newcomers and open players. Watch for more information.
If you’d like to be part of this effort, here are three choices for how you might help:
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You could join Judy Hellen at our Unit 169 ACBL table/booth at the event and talk with participants about the joys of playing bridge! We’ll have some informational flyers and a table set up to play Bridge War. Please reach out to Judy (judy@learnbridgegso.com) for more details.
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If you’d like to walk in the event (1 mile or 2 mile option), you can pre-register on our team page. No donation or fundraising is required to walk. A simple registration form and an acknowledgement of a safety waiver and you are registered for the walk.
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If you would like to make a donation to the Alzheimer’s Association on behalf of our ACBL District, simply check DONATE TO OUR TEAM at that same link to our team page. Or you may pass along your cash or check donation to Candie Hurley or Judy Hellen.
Thanks for supporting this important cause and helping grow our bridge community. If you have questions, please reach out to judy@learnbridgegso.com or candiehurley@twc.com.
Date: Saturday, October 25
Time: Registration starts at 9 am. Walk starts at 10 am
Location: First National Bank Field, 408 Bellemeade Street, Greensboro, NC
Bridge Basics 2: Competitive Bidding
The bridge auction gets more interesting when both pairs are bidding, each trying to land the best contract for their partnership. The Competitive Bidding course will introduce ways to enter the auction whether you want to compete for the contract, disrupt the opponents or clue your partner on what to lead. Cecelia Ray, with her gentle and supportive style, is the instructor.
There are four sessions in this course.
Session 1: Weak-Two Opening Bids
Session 2: Overcalls and Advances
Session 3: Takeout Doubles and Advances
Session 4: Impact of competitive bidding on the auction.
Dates and Time: Thursdays, Oct. 30 through Nov 20, 9:30 am - 12 noon
Location: Fellowship Presbyterian Church, 2005 New Garden Rd, Greensboro
Cost: $100 for four sessions or $30 for any single session. Repeat students, $65 for all four sessions
Additional: An accompanying book is recommended and can be purchased at a discount at the first session.
To register, or for more information, contact: Cecelia Ray at ceceliaray@gmail.com or text/call 336-601-5058.
Topics in Bidding with PJBB: NMF and FSF
New Minor Forcing (NMF) and Fourth Suit Forcing are conventions that help you accurately locate the best contract (especially game or slam) when the bidding gets complex. They occur at a far greater frequency than most any other convention. Peter J. Boyd-Bowman is ready to explain when and how to use each. These classes are intended for developing and intermediate level players.
New Minor Forcing allows a responder with invitational-plus values to specifically explore for a major-suit game fit. Similarly, Fourth Suit Forcing establishes a game force when three suits have been bid, allowing the partnership to search for the best final strain without guessing Mastering these tools ensures you reach the highest-perctage game or slam contract with the most hands.
Dates and Time: Wednesdays, November 12 and 19 , 9:30 am - 12 noon
Location: Fellowship Presbyterian Church, 2005 New Garden Rd, Greensboro
Cost: $30 per class
To register, or for more information, contact: Judy Hellen at Judy@LearnBridgeGSO.com or text/call 336-558-3613.
Impressive Unit 169 Results in
District 7 North American Pairs Qualifier
Article submitted by Peter J. Boyd-Bowman
This past weekend (Sep 20&21), Unit 253 hosted the District 7 North American Pairs qualifier at the Charlotte Bridge Center. Four levels of play saw seasoned competitors and rising talent competing for coveted stipends toward the Spring North American Bridge Championships.
In the Championship Flight, Dwight Meredith of Greensboro (playing with George Woltman of Unit 244) triumphed, earning first place and an $800‐per‐player stipend. Greensboro pair Peter J. Boyd-Bowman and Debbie Monroe managed a fifth-place finish, just shy of stipend territory but an impressive showing for Debbie's first venture into the top field.
Flight A saw stiff competition, with Mark and Martha Meyer of Winston claiming sixth place. Though outside the top three stipend cutoff, their performance laid the groundwork for a breakthrough. True to form, the Meyers rebounded in Flight B to capture third place—sealing $800 each and punching their ticket to the NABC.
Flight C boasted two Unit 169 duos on the podium: Thomas Johnson & Louisa Witten secured third, while David Hurd & Robert Whaling landed fourth. Both pairs earned $800 per player to support their Spring NABC journey.
This year’s stipend structure rewards the top three finishers in Championship and Flight A, plus the top four in Flights B and C. For Johnson/Witten, Hurd/Whaling, and the Meyers, this will be their first time representing District 7 at an NABC in pairs. The Meyers have represented the District previously in teams. Meredith adds another NABC appearance to his résumé—he’s previously represented D7 (and won) in the Grand National Teams at an NABC.
Congratulations to all our qualifiers and participants for showcasing the competitive spirit and camaraderie of Unit 169. We look forward to following their progress at the Spring North American Bridge Championships—and to the next opportunity for more Unit 169 success!
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.
The most recent Unit Championship Game was held on Saturday, October 18 in Greensboro. There were 5 1/2 tables. The top scorers overall were Bill Wisdom and Dan Fowler @ 3.29 MPs and Mark Meyer and Martha Meyer @ 2.46 MPs. .
The next Unit Championship game will be on Saturday, November 8 at Episcopal Church in Burlington.
Central Carolina Regional Tournament
June 1 - June 6, 2026
Article submitted by Debbie Monroe
News Flash: Unit-169 is extremely excited to announce that the first Regional tournament in over 30 years will be coming to Greensboro June 1 - June 6, 2026. The all-new Central Carolina Regional Tournament will be held at the beautiful Embassy Suites (near the Piedmont-Triad Airport). It is a terrific location… close to Greensboro, Winston-Salem and High Point, and just a short drive for those living in Burlington, Reidsville, Asheboro and Salisbury. For players who would like to stay at the Embassy Suites host hotel, special rates are available at $149 per night; this rate includes a free breakfast and a cocktail for each person staying in the room.
For players unfamiliar with ACBL tournaments, Unit 169 typically runs four Sectional tournaments each year, and while 3-day Sectional tournaments can be a lot of fun, players are limited to earning only silver masterpoints. Regional tournaments however, run for 6-7 days and draw players from all over North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia and Virginia. It is at Regionals where players can earn both gold and red masterpoints. That means that for players who do not like to drive great distances, the Central Carolina Regional will be their best chance to get those ‘elusive’ gold and red masterpoints. We worked very hard to earn the privilege of bringing a regional tournament to our area and one of our primary goals was to help members of Unit 169 achieve their next bridge rankings without having to drive too far.
We also structured the Central Carolina Regional Tournament for all levels of play. If you are still a novice player, you can play exclusively with other novices while still earning gold and red masterpoints. If you have already achieved Life Master status, you will be able to play in events called mid-flight pair and team games; meaning that you can play with other players within your skill level while earning both Gold and Red points. And you are a player with over 3,500 points, there will be many bracketed teams and bracketed open games available… allowing you to compete with people at or near your own skill level. Therefore, no matter what your point range maybe, you will be playing bridge with players who are at or near your skill level. Competitive and fun!
The various events at the Central Carolina Regional Tournament will start each day at 10:00 AM and again at 2:30 PM. In the evening, we will also be offering a variety of team games and pairs events starting 7:30 PM. These games will also be bracketed, again, allowing you to play with people within your skill range. We know that there are players who like to play 10:00 and at 2:30 and then go out to have a great meal, so we will provide a lot of information about available restaurants in Greensboro, Winston Salem and High Point. And while there are a few die-hard players who like to play three times a day, our evening games were also designed to attract ‘working’ players from around the area. Recognizing that the ambiance of evening games is often more relaxed and to facilitate that atmosphere, we will also be providing an open cash bar for additional player enjoyment.
We are expecting many players from District 6 and District 7 to attend the tournament. Early response to our tournament has been strong so we are expecting a nice crowd. Please mark your calendar and save the dates from June 1 to June 6, 2026 for the Central Carolina Regional Tournament. To assist with your planning, we have attached a tournament flyer that outlines the various events and start times.
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.
District 7 Website
"District 7 News" - September thru December
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
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 tips to boost your game for four months
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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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Whenever you decide to join, your first year membership is discounted at $29 (regularly $49 for one year). There is no expiration date.
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
