For 22 years under its 86-year-old owner/manager Jerry Scholle, the Lawson Bridge Studio has found the Ann Sather Restaurant on West Belmont a convenient and hospitable game site but the Sather era has now ended. 

It follows a heartfelt closing June 25 with players, many from lakefront high-rises enjoying the farewell 7-table game, complete with pizza and strawberry shortcake.

“I do thank all of you for coming tonight and I appreciate your support all these years,” explained Jerry who has cited health concerns for a final decision to shutter the doors on the Sather building torn down as part of apartment redevelopment.   The silver lining, noted Jerry, is that Lawson players are being encouraged and welcomed to play at  the Chicago Duplicate Bridge Club, blocks away on Clark Street.

Indeed Chicago Duplicate has already scheduled Monday and Wednesday night games next week in time for the July 4 holiday. 

With the closure of the Lawson Game on Belmont, the Chicago Duplicate Bridge Center has started a Monday and Wednesday game starting at 6:30pm.

Look for their game information https://www.bridgeinchicago.com/cdb

For the summer months, the ACBL allows clubowners to run special "North American Pair" qualifier games.  Instead of just black points at the club, these games award 50% Red and 50% black at an 'accelerated' level.

The ACBL charges an additional sanction fee to run these games -- check with your local club as to when they're running these special games.   Clubs can run up to 2 games a month for each day they're open -- 6 opportunities for you to win red points. 

The next stage of the North American Pairs happens at the district level (for D13 that means generally in Milwaukee) in September or October.   Being in the top 3 pairs in the district finals will win you the right to represent the district at the finals of the event at the Spring Nationals.