Welcome to the Valley Forge Regional - Meyer Kotkin, Tournament Chair

On behalf of the Tournament Committee and the District 4 and Unit 141 Boards of Directors, I would like to welcome you to the 2017 Philadelphia Regional at Valley Forge. Philadelphia, the City of Brotherly Love, holds a prominent place in the birth and development of both our great country and our great game of bridge. Philadelphia hosted the first interclub whist game, and the Hamilton Club, celebrating its 130th anniversary this year, is the oldest bridge club in the United States. A long list of talented bridge players call or called Philadelphia their home including (but not limited to) Charles Goren, Charles Solomon, Norman Kay and the 2016 ACBL Player of the Year, Eric Greco (who will be playing some days of the tournament).

The main goal of the 2017 Tournament Committee and volunteers is to provide the best possible player and playing experience. To that end, the tournament’s daytime events will operate on a 10:30PM & 3:00PM schedule with nighttime speedball events starting at 7:30PM on Tuesday – Saturday night. There is a free continental breakfast served every morning, and a free lunch (yes, there sometimes is a free lunch) on Thursday, Saturday and Sunday between sessions. No Philadelphia Regional would be complete without the eponymous Philly Dupli-Swiss (where everyone plays the same hands to create a fairer event) on Thursday and Sunday. The Sweet Hospitality Suite (Room 806) will offer free beer wine, snacks and desserts nightly from 9:00 to 11:00.

There is an extensive I/N program and speaker series including a free lesson and relaxed game for 0 – 20 players on Monday afternoon. As always, full time students play free and full time math students actually get a $1 bonus if the Tournament Chair (a math nerd if ever there were one) decides that the student is pursuing a useful filed of mathematics.

If you need any assistance, have any complaints, suggestions or comments, just want to introduce yourself or discuss your partner’s mistakes with a sympathetic ear, feel free to contact me or any of the Tournament Volunteers who will be wearing big ASK ME signs. Above all, be nice and have fun.