North American Bridge Championships
Encyclopedia
North American Bridge Championships (NABC) are three annual bridge
conventions sponsored by the American Contract Bridge League
(ACBL). The "Spring", "Summer", and "Fall" NABCs are usually scheduled in March, July, and November for about eleven days. They comprise both championship and side contests of different kinds (e.g. matchpoint pairs and knockout teams, one-day and two-day) in many classes of competition (e.g. open/women/senior or defined by masterpoints
ceilings or floors). Host cities in the United States
and Canada
are selected several years in advance.
Awarded to the National Knock-out Team championship winners at the spring North American Bridge Championship (NABC)s. It was donated in 1928 by Harold S. Vanderbilt, who won in 1932 and 1940. The event was contested annually in New York as a separate championship until 1958, when it was incorporated into Spring NABCs.
Spingold
Trophy
Awarded to the Master Teams championship winners at the summer North American Bridge Championship (NABC). Knockout Teams have been held since 1930, when players competed for the Asbury Park Trophy.
In 1934, 1936 and 1937, there was a separate Masters Teams-of-Four event. The two events were merged in 1938 and renamed Spingold Master Knockout Teams. The trophy was donated by Nathan Spingold
in 1934. Since 2001, there has also been a Mini-Spingold
I (0-5000), restricted to those with less than 5,000 masterpoints
, and a Mini-Spingold
II (0-1500) ("Micro-Spingold") restricted to those with less than 1,500 masterpoints
.
Reisinger
Memorial Trophy
Awarded to the Open Board-a-Match Teams winners at the fall North American Bridge Championship (NABC), it was donated by the
Greater New York Bridge Association in 1965 in memory of Curt H. Reisinger, a great benefactor and official of the ACBL, and replaced the Chicago Trophy. Reisinger teams is the only major team competition with board-a-match scoring. It is an open team event scored with two qualifying sessions, two semifinal sessions and two final sessions
Recent
Contract bridge
Contract bridge, usually known simply as bridge, is a trick-taking card game using a standard deck of 52 playing cards played by four players in two competing partnerships with partners sitting opposite each other around a small table...
conventions sponsored by the American Contract Bridge League
American Contract Bridge League
The American Contract Bridge League is the largest contract bridge organization in North America. It promotes the game of bridge in the United States, Mexico, Bermuda, and Canada, and is a member of the World Bridge Federation...
(ACBL). The "Spring", "Summer", and "Fall" NABCs are usually scheduled in March, July, and November for about eleven days. They comprise both championship and side contests of different kinds (e.g. matchpoint pairs and knockout teams, one-day and two-day) in many classes of competition (e.g. open/women/senior or defined by masterpoints
Masterpoints
Masterpoints or master points are points awarded by national and other bridge organisations for success in bridge tournaments run under their auspices. Organisations which issue these points include the American Contract Bridge League , the American Bridge Association, the English Bridge Union ,...
ceilings or floors). Host cities in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
are selected several years in advance.
Open team competitions - the premier events
Vanderbilt CupVanderbilt Trophy
The trophy is awarded for the Vanderbilt Knockout Teams national bridge championship held at the spring American Contract Bridge League North American Bridge Championship ....
Awarded to the National Knock-out Team championship winners at the spring North American Bridge Championship (NABC)s. It was donated in 1928 by Harold S. Vanderbilt, who won in 1932 and 1940. The event was contested annually in New York as a separate championship until 1958, when it was incorporated into Spring NABCs.
Spingold
Spingold
The Spingold national bridge championship is held at the summer American Contract Bridge League North American Bridge Championship ....
Trophy
Awarded to the Master Teams championship winners at the summer North American Bridge Championship (NABC). Knockout Teams have been held since 1930, when players competed for the Asbury Park Trophy.
In 1934, 1936 and 1937, there was a separate Masters Teams-of-Four event. The two events were merged in 1938 and renamed Spingold Master Knockout Teams. The trophy was donated by Nathan Spingold
Nathan B. Spingold
Nathan Spingold was a motion picture executive and a leading administrator in the game of contract bridge. Born in Chicago, Spingold started as a newspaper reporter but moved to New York in the early thirties where his career in the motion picture business with Columbia Pictures saw him rise to...
in 1934. Since 2001, there has also been a Mini-Spingold
Mini-Spingold
Mini-Spingold national bridge championships are held at the summer American Contract Bridge League North American Bridge Championship . They were introduced in 2001 and are held at the same time as the main Spingold knockout team championship....
I (0-5000), restricted to those with less than 5,000 masterpoints
Masterpoints
Masterpoints or master points are points awarded by national and other bridge organisations for success in bridge tournaments run under their auspices. Organisations which issue these points include the American Contract Bridge League , the American Bridge Association, the English Bridge Union ,...
, and a Mini-Spingold
Mini-Spingold
Mini-Spingold national bridge championships are held at the summer American Contract Bridge League North American Bridge Championship . They were introduced in 2001 and are held at the same time as the main Spingold knockout team championship....
II (0-1500) ("Micro-Spingold") restricted to those with less than 1,500 masterpoints
Masterpoints
Masterpoints or master points are points awarded by national and other bridge organisations for success in bridge tournaments run under their auspices. Organisations which issue these points include the American Contract Bridge League , the American Bridge Association, the English Bridge Union ,...
.
Reisinger
Reisinger
The Reisinger national bridge championship is held at the fall American Contract Bridge League North American Bridge Championship .The Reisinger is a board-a-match event.-History:...
Memorial Trophy
Awarded to the Open Board-a-Match Teams winners at the fall North American Bridge Championship (NABC), it was donated by the
Greater New York Bridge Association in 1965 in memory of Curt H. Reisinger, a great benefactor and official of the ACBL, and replaced the Chicago Trophy. Reisinger teams is the only major team competition with board-a-match scoring. It is an open team event scored with two qualifying sessions, two semifinal sessions and two final sessions
Other competitions, awards and trophies
Over the years the format of competition and masterpoint accumulation has changed. Accordingly some trophies, originally awarded for particular achievements in specific categories, have been reassigned or retired. Below is a summary of past and current tophies at the national level.- Baldwin Memorial Trophy - Awarded to the North American PairsNorth American PairsThe North American Pairs national bridge championship is held at the spring American Contract Bridge League North American Bridge Championship ....
Flight A winners at the spring North American Bridge Championship (NABC). - Baze Trophy - Awarded to the Senior Knockout TeamsSenior Knockout TeamsThe Baze Senior Knockout Teams national bridge championship is held at the fall American Contract Bridge League North American Bridge Championship .The Senior Knockout Teams is a knock-out team event....
winners at the fall North American Bridge Championship (NABC). - Bean Trophy - Awarded to the Red Ribbon PairsRed Ribbon PairsThe Red Ribbon Pairs national bridge championship is held at the spring American Contract Bridge League North American Bridge Championship ....
winners at the spring North American Bridge Championship (NABC). - Bruce Trophy - Awarded to the Bruce LM-5000 PairsBruce LM-5000 PairsThe David Bruce LM-5000 Pairs bridge event is held at the Summer American Contract Bridge League North American Bridge Championship. It is open to all players who have earned Life Master status up to 5,000 masterpoints....
winners at the summer North American Bridge Championship (NABC). - Cavendish Trophy - Since 1963, awarded to the Edgar Kaplan Blue Ribbon PairsBlue Ribbon PairsThe Edgar Kaplan Blue Ribbon Pairs national bridge championship is held at the fall American Contract Bridge League North American Bridge Championship ....
winners, now at the fall North American Bridge Championship (NABC); prior to that it was awarded to the National Open PairsFall National Open PairsThe National Open Pairs national bridge championship was held at the fall American Contract Bridge League North American Bridge Championship . The National Open Pairs was a four-session matchpoint pairs event.-History:...
winner. - Chicago Trophy - Currently awarded to the Mixed Board-a-MatchChicago Mixed Board-a-MatchThe Chicago Mixed Board-a-Match teams national bridge championship is held at the summer American Contract Bridge League North American Bridge Championship .The event is a board-a-match team event....
Team winners, at the summer North American Bridge Championship (NABC). Donated by the Auction Bridge Club of Chicago in 1929, the trophy was originally awarded by the American Bridge League to the winners of the National Contract Championships Open Contract Team-of-Four (board-a-match scoring), which became the North American Open Teams Championship held by the American Contract Bridge LeagueAmerican Contract Bridge LeagueThe American Contract Bridge League is the largest contract bridge organization in North America. It promotes the game of bridge in the United States, Mexico, Bermuda, and Canada, and is a member of the World Bridge Federation...
. In 1965, this historic trophy was replaced by the Reisinger Memorial Trophy and the Chicago Trophy began to be awarded to the winners of the Mixed Board-a-Match Teams. - Barry CraneBarry CraneBarry Crane, born Barry Cohen, was a prolific television producer and director, and a champion bridge player....
Top 500 - The masterpoint race which recognizes the 500 individual players who accumulate the most masterpoints in the calendar year. The winner of the race receives the McKenney Trophy. - Fishbein TrophyFishbein TrophyThe Fishbein Trophy is awarded to the player who wins the most number of masterpoints at the summer American Contract Bridge League North American Bridge Championship .-History:...
- Awarded every year to the player winning the most masterpoints in the summer North American Bridge Championship (NABC). - Goren Trophy - Awarded to the player winning the most masterpoints at the fall North American Bridge Championship (NABC). Prior to 2008, it was known as the Herman Trophy.
- Golder Cup - Awarded to the North American PairsNorth American PairsThe North American Pairs national bridge championship is held at the spring American Contract Bridge League North American Bridge Championship ....
Flight B winners at the spring North American Bridge Championship (NABC). - Herman Trophy - renamed the Goren Trophy.
- Jacoby TrophyJacoby Open Swiss TeamsThe Jacoby Open Swiss Teams national bridge championship is held at the spring American Contract Bridge League North American Bridge Championship ....
- Awarded to the Open Swiss Teams winners; now at the spring North American Bridge Championship (NABC). - Keohane Trophy - Awarded to the North American Swiss TeamsKeohane North American Swiss TeamsThe Keohane North American Swiss Teams national bridge championship is held at the fall American Contract Bridge League North American Bridge Championship ....
winner at the fall North American Bridge Championship (NABC). - Lebhar Trophy - Awarded to the IMP PairsLebhar IMP PairsThe Lebhar IMP Pairs national bridge championship is held at the spring American Contract Bridge League North American Bridge Championship ....
winners; now at the spring North American Bridge Championship (NABC). - Leventritt Trophy - Awarded to the Silver Ribbon PairsLeventritt Silver Ribbon PairsThe Leventritt Silver Ribbon Pairs national bridge championship is held at the spring American Contract Bridge League North American Bridge Championship ....
winners at the spring North American Bridge Championship (NABC). - Machlin Trophy - Awarded to the Women's Swiss TeamsMachlin Women's Swiss TeamsThe Machlin Women's Swiss Teams national bridge championship is held at the spring American Contract Bridge League North American Bridge Championship ....
winners at the spring North American Bridge Championship (NABC). - McKenney Trophy - Awarded to the individual player who accumulates the most masterpoints in the calendar year - i.e. the winner of the Barry Crane Top 500 race.
- Manfield Trophy - Awarded to the Non-life Master PairsMiles Non-Life Master PairsThe Manfield Non-Life Master Pairs national bridge championship is held at the fall American Contract Bridge League North American Bridge Championship ....
winners at the fall North American Bridge Championship (NABC) - Helen Sobel Smith Trophy - Awarded to the Life Master Women's PairsSmith Life Master Women's PairsThe Smith Life Master Women's Pairs national bridge championship is held at the fall American Contract Bridge League North American Bridge Championship ....
winners, now at the fall North American Bridge Championship (NABC). - Morehead Trophy - Awarded since 1973 to the winners of the Grand National TeamsGrand National TeamsThe Grand National Teams national bridge championship is held at the summer American Contract Bridge League North American Bridge Championship ....
, a major team championship held at the summer North American Bridge Championship (NABC)s. Since 2001, it consisted of four flights. From 1967 to 1972, it had been awarded to the winners of a now defunct special knock-out team event that followed the Reisinger team contest at the fall NABCs. - Mott-Smith TrophyMott-Smith TrophyThe Mott-Smith Trophy is awarded to the player who wins the most masterpoints at the spring American Contract Bridge League North American Bridge Championship .-History:...
- Awarded every year to the player winning the most masterpoints in the spring North American Bridge Championship (NABC). - Nail Trophy - Awarded to the Life Master Open PairsNail Life Master Open PairsThe Nail Life Master Open Pairs national bridge championship is held at the fall American Contract Bridge League North American Bridge Championship ....
winners at the fall North American Bridge Championship (NABC). - Norman Kay Platinum Pairs - Platinum PairsNorman Kay Platinum PairsThe Norman Kay Platinum Pairs national bridge championship is held at the spring American Contract Bridge League North American Bridge Championship ....
event at the spring North American Bridge Championship (NABC). - President's Cup - Awarded to the North American PairsNorth American PairsThe North American Pairs national bridge championship is held at the spring American Contract Bridge League North American Bridge Championship ....
Flight C winners at the spring North American Bridge Championship (NABC). - Richmond Trophy - Awarded annually to the Canadian who wins the most masterpoints during a calendar year.
- Rockwell Trophy - Awarded to the Mixed PairsRockwell Mixed PairsThe Rockwell Mixed Pairs national bridge championship is held at the spring American Contract Bridge League North American Bridge Championship ....
winners at the spring North American Bridge Championship (NABC). - Silodor Trophy - Awarded to the winners of the Open Pairs ISilodor Open PairsThe Silodor Open Pairs national bridge championship is held at the spring American Contract Bridge League North American Bridge Championship ....
, now at the spring North American Bridge Championship (NABC). - Sternberg Trophy - Awarded to the Women's Board-a-Match TeamsSternberg Women's Board-a-Match TeamsThe Sternberg Women's Board-a-Match Teams bridge championship is held at the fall American Contract Bridge League North American Bridge Championship and is a four session board-a-match event, two qualifying sessions and two final sessions...
winners at the fall North American Bridge Championship (NABC). Superseded the Coffin Trophy in 2001. - Truscott Trophy - Awarded to the Senior Swiss TeamsTruscott Senior Swiss TeamsThe Truscott/USPC Senior Swiss Teams national bridge championship is held at the summer American Contract Bridge League North American Bridge Championship ....
at the summer North American Bridge Championship (NABC). - Von Zedtwitz Gold Cup- Awarded to the Life Master PairsVon Zedtwitz Life Master PairsThe Von Zedtwitz Life Master Pairs national bridge championship is held at the summer American Contract Bridge League North American Bridge Championship ....
winners at the summer North American Bridge Championship (NABC) - Wagar Trophy - Awarded to the Women's Knockout TeamsWagar Women's Knockout TeamsThe Wagar Women's Knockout Teams national bridge championship is held at the summer American Contract Bridge League North American Bridge Championship .The Wagar Women's Knockout Teams is a knock-out team event....
at the summer North American Bridge Championship (NABC). - Whitehead Trophy - Awarded to the Women's PairsWhitehead Women's PairsThe Whitehead Women's Pairs bridge championship is held at the spring American Contract Bridge League North American Bridge Championship ....
winners at the spring North American Bridge Championship (NABC) - . - Wernher Trophy - Awarded to the winners of the Open Pairs IIWernher Open PairsThe Wernher Open Pairs national bridge championship is held at the summer American Contract Bridge League North American Bridge Championship .The Wernher Open Pairs is a four session MP pairs event, two qualifying sessions and two final sessions....
at the summer North American Bridge Championship (NABC). - Young Trophy - Awarded to the Young LM-1500 PairsYoung LM-1500 PairsThe Sally Young LM-1500 Pairs bridge event is held at the Summer American Contract Bridge League North American Bridge Championship. It is open to all players who have earned Life Master status up to 1,500 masterpoints....
winners at the summer North American Bridge Championship (NABC).
North American Bridge Championships' seasonal itinerary
The following are the current general itineraries of the NABCs. For specifics of upcoming tournaments, refer to the| Spring Championships | Summer Championships | Fall Championships |
|---|---|---|
| The spring championship, formerly called the Spring Nationals, is held in March (occasionally April), and first convened in 1958. It is contested over 11 days. The following national events are/were contested at the Spring NABC:
|
The summer championship, formerly called the Summer Nationals, have been held since 1929 and take place in July or August. In the thirties, they were played in Asbury Park, NJ, and lasted eight days. Now the location rotates and they are played over 11 days. The following national events are/were contested at the Summer NABC:
|
The fall championship, held since 1927 takes place in November or early December. The Fall Championship began in 1937 as a four-day tournament and is now nine and one-half days. The following national events are/were contested at the Fall NABC:
6th edition, |
Discontinued championships
- Master IndividualMaster IndividualThe Master Individual national bridge championship was held at the fall American Contract Bridge League North American Bridge Championship .-History:...
(1931–1960) - Fall National Open PairsFall National Open PairsThe National Open Pairs national bridge championship was held at the fall American Contract Bridge League North American Bridge Championship . The National Open Pairs was a four-session matchpoint pairs event.-History:...
(1928–1962) - Hilliard Mixed PairsHilliard Mixed PairsThe Hilliard Mixed Pairs national bridge championship was last held at the spring American Contract Bridge League North American Bridge Championship .-History:...
(1931–1962) - Non-Life Master Swiss TeamsNon-Life Master Swiss TeamsThe Non-Life Master Swiss Teams national bridge championship was held at the summer American Contract Bridge League North American Bridge Championship .This was a Swiss Teams event limited to non-Life Masters.-History:...
(1982–1997) - National 49er Pairs (1998–2007)
Tournament sites
Upcoming| Year | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Seattle | ||
| 2012 | Memphis | Philadelphia | San Francisco |
| 2013 | St. Louis | Atlanta | Phoenix |
| 2014 | Dallas | Las Vegas | Providence |
Recent
| Year | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | Cincinnati | San Diego | Minneapolis |
| 1995 | Phoenix Phoenix, Arizona Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data... |
New Orleans | Atlanta |
| 1996 | Philadelphia | Miami | San Francisco |
| 1997 | Dallas | Albuquerque | St. Louis |
| 1998 | Reno Reno Reno is the fourth most populous city in Nevada, US.Reno may also refer to:-Places:Italy*The Reno River, in Northern ItalyCanada*Reno No... |
Chicago Chicago Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles... |
Orlando |
| 1999 | Vancouver | San Antonio | Boston |
| 2000 | Cincinnati | Anaheim | Birmingham |
| 2001 | Kansas City | Toronto | Las Vegas |
| 2002 | Houston | Washington, DC | Phoenix |
| 2003 | Philadelphia | Long Beach | New Orleans |
| 2004 | Reno | New York | Orlando |
| 2005 | Pittsburgh | Atlanta | Denver |
| 2006 | Dallas | Chicago | Hawaii |
| 2007 | St. Louis | Nashville | San Francisco |
| 2008 | Detroit | Las Vegas | Boston |
| 2009 | Houston | Washington, DC | San Diego |
| 2010 | Reno | New Orleans | Orlando |
| 2011 | Louisville | Toronto |
Additional links
- ACBL official website
- World Bridge ChampionshipsWorld Bridge ChampionshipsThe World Bridge Championships consists of several sets of championships organized under the auspices of the World Bridge Federation.-World Bridge Series Championships:...
- World Bridge FederationWorld Bridge FederationThe World Bridge Federation is the world governing body of contract bridge. The WBF is responsible for world championship competition, most of which is conducted at a few multi-event meets on a four-year cycle...