The United States Bridge Federation junior program, directed by Michael Rosenberg, provides players under the age of 26 with USBF mentors to improve the quality of our junior teams in international competition. As part of the program, practice sessions are held on Bridge Base Online (BBO), where the juniors play team matches and the mentors analyze and comment on their play. The matches are 15 boards, IMP scored, and take about 90 minutes.

The program has recently instituted “Monday Celebrity Guest Night”, where, on the first Monday of each month, a world-class player sits in, partners a junior, and plays in a team match.

On Monday, March 6th, beginning at 7pm Eastern, the celebrity guest will be Bob Hamman.

                                                                      Bob Hamman, photo by Peg Kaplan

Larry Cohen and George Jacobs will provide commentary.

Kibitzers are invited to watch by logging on to BBO, going to the “Vugraph room,” and joining the tables designated “USBFJR.”  

In January Geoff Hampson participated and in February, Brad Moss.

In future months it is expected that the juniors will be joined by Bobby Levin, Mike Passell, and John Kranyak, among others.

The USBF is most appreciative of the voluntary contributions these top players are making.

                          Peter Rank, 2015 photo courtesy of ACBL

We heard with sadness of Peter Rank's death. He was a part of USBF from its founding in 2000 until he resigned as USBF counsel in December, 2007 because of possible conflicts of interest between USBF and ACBL.

Peter drafted all of USBF's corporate documents, saw us through initial corporate filings and IRS tax exemption, as well as handling many other legal issue for USBF. He will be missed by all of us, as by so many other bridge players.