Kansas City Regional
Best Amenities in the Country!
December 26th thru December 31st, 2025
Speakers
Saturday, December 27
Curt Soloff
Topic: "Pass is Not a Four-Letter Word"
About Curt
Curt brings nearly 30 years of competitive duplicate bridge experience to the table, earning the rank of Diamond Life Master earlier this year. He provides professional online bridge instruction to students around the globe, both via Zoom and at Learn Bridge Online. Curt was the first-ever recipient of the Denver Unit’s Jan Janitschke Award in 2020 for outstanding teaching and mentoring. He served as manager/director of the Castle Rock (Colorado) Bridge Club from 2009 until 2020 and was also a columnist for the District 17 Scorecard. His playing career includes numerous regional and sectional tournament event victories.
Curt comes from a non-bridge-playing family and he began the game with high school friend David Harty after graduating from college. The two initially tried to teach themselves the game via computer software, but eventually received mentoring from Dave’s parents. After a few months of playing with them, Curt and Dave decided they were ready for the bright lights, showing up at the Kansas City Bridge Studio for duplicate bridge and fully intending to teach the old folks a thing or two about bridge.
It probably goes without saying that the overconfident 20-somethings did not score well in their first matchpoint endeavor, but they loved the game and never quit coming back. You can now find Curt and Dave on Bridge Base Online every Saturday evening at 7:30pm (central time), where they offer a free lesson in the BILies Retreat. You can also find Curt on the Internet at www.bridgewithcurt.com.
Sunday, December 28
Carolyn Pinto
Topic: "Ask the Director"
About Carolyn
Carolyn was born in NYC and raised in Washington D.C. She retired from her position as a contract negotiator at Lockheed Martin after 36 years. She found that the only thing she wanted to do in retirement was to direct bridge games, a decision she has never regretted. “I love the job, the players, and my co-workers,” she says, and it shows.
Monday, December 29
Geoffrey S Jade Barrett
Topic: "How to Beat Everyone You Know"
About Jade
G S Jade Barrett is a life-long duplicate bridge player with over 35,000 masterpoints, winning numerous championships all over the world. He has contributed extensively to the body of bridge theory, and works continuously to improve bidding, play, and defensive techniques. Since 1986 Jade has coached all levels of players to numerous wins at world championships and other international competitions. He continues these efforts through the Great American Bridge Tour.
Tuesday, December 30
Chad Fisher
Topic: "Competitive Raises"
About Chad
Chad began playing duplicate bridge 38 years ago. A diamond life master, he has won more than 50 regional events, a Mini-McKenney Race, and a Grand National Teams with his Kansas City teammates (Flight B, 2002). Over the past 25 years, he has been a player, club owner, director, and Unit 131 board member. Many familiar with top Kansas City players will recognize Chad as long-time tournament partner of Mr. Shawn Tate and (the late) Mr. Tim Hays, and as an occasional past instructor of summer bridge topics at the Kansas City Bridge Studio.