The one thing that is missing lately at local bridge clubs is younger players. Today's teenagers have far too many things to do to take the time to learn how to play bridge. They have movies, video games, computers, and the internet, all competing for their time. You will notice that I didn't even mention school or chores.
There are a few exceptions. Twelve year old John Kranyak of Bay Village is becoming a familiar sight at duplicate clubs and tournaments in the area. Of course, he comes by his interest honestly. His parents, Ken and Laurie Kranyak are two of the best players in the local unit (as well as in the ACBL).
Young Kranyak started playing last December after some basic lessons. For those wondering about the auction above, the lessons include opening four card major suits, just like in the old days. When attending tournaments, he plays with his parents in flight A events. This is asking a lot from a twelve year old novice. Today's hand is an example of how far he has come in seven months.
The competition was teams and the opening lead was the singleton queen of diamonds. Kranyak won this trick with the king in the South hand and went about the business of drawing trumps. A small spade to the ace revealed the bad trump split. The problem now was how to return to the South hand safely to finesse against the queen of spades. Conceding two heart tricks and then trumping a heart will not work as East will switch to diamonds each time he is on lead, allowing West to trump two diamonds and defeat the contract.
Kranyak recognized the danger and called for the king of clubs. He played the ace of clubs from hand, over taking the king, and led the jack of spades. West ducked and the jack held the trick. The two of clubs was trumped in dummy and the king of spades drew the last trump from West. After winning the ace of diamonds, Kranyak conceded a diamond and two hearts, claiming ten tricks for his game contract.
Making four spades proved to be a ten IMP (International Match Points) win when the opposition failed to bid the game in the replay.
Kranyak recently chalked up his first sectional win on June 23rd at the Canton Summer Sectional Tournament. He was a member of the winning flight A Swiss team. He has accumulated over seventy master points in his very brief bridge career, including a few points that are silver, red, and gold. Quite an accomplishment for anybody who has only been playing a short while, not even considering that he is only twelve.