Newsletter - 22 January 2021

From the President:

 I would like to thank all the members who have volunteered to help keep the kitchen open, by offering to clean the kitchen at the cessation of play. While the job doesn’t take long, it is a necessary job, as we all enjoy a cup of tea/coffee or water whilst playing.

As we are now all using bidding boxes, a few brief pointers on their use. Try to decide what your bid is going to be before reaching for or touching cards in the bidding box; and leave the bids on the table until the opening lead is made. Leaving the bid on the table enables the defenders to review the auction and to ask any questions prior to the commencement of play.

Stay safe.

Margaret

Welcome to the Directing Team, Andrew

A big welcome (and thank you) to Andrew Struik - the latest addition to our team of session Directors. Andrew is currently directing our Friday Afternoon session - if you haven't met Andrew, say hello and introduce yourself!

Directing isn't an easy task, and we are very appreciative of all our directors - without whom we would not have Club Bridge. Our directors in turn appreciate the patience, cooperation and friendliness of our players.

Magnetic Name Badges

Fancy those stylish CBC name badges? Did you know they even use magnets instead of a pin - so there are no holes in your clothing?

If you would like to order a Magnetic Name Badge at the cost of $15 per badge, please see the Office Managers ASAP to put down your name, ABF Number (to print on it also) and payment. Payment must be made upfront, either with exact cash or via bank transfer.

Beginners Bridge Lessons - February

Our Monday evening classes are booked up, but we currently have a few vacancies for our Friday morning class (10am), starting 5 February.

For more information and to enrol, please read the Beginners Lessons page.

Next week at the Clubrooms

For the week commencing Monday 25 January:

• Monday morning 10:00am
• Monday evening 7:00pm (walk-in)  &  Monday evening 7:15pm (event)
• Tuesday afternoon 1:15pm
• Wednesday morning 10:00am
• Thursday morning 10:00am (MP and Imps)
• Friday afternoon 1:15pm

Reminders for in-Club sessions:

• One person ONLY in the kitchen at a time, after start of play. You are welcome to gently remind others if you see they have forgotten.

Next week on BBO

For the week commencing Monday 25 January, we have scheduled on BBO:

• Monday Morning 10:15am
• Thursday Morning 10:15am (matchpoint) 

The Committee has decided to transition from BBO to RealBridge in the near future. Please stay tuned for more exact details of dates and session changes.If you haven't already, we encourage you to join in a free Taster Session on RealBridge to familiarise yourself with the new platform.

Next week on RealBridge Online

• Wednesday Evening Matchpoint/Duplicate 7:15pm - No registration required. 
  A link to the session will be posted on the RealBridge information page at 5pm Wednesday.
  Directed by John Donovan
• Taster Session (30 minutes) - Thursday 28th January 2021 - 9.00am (FREE)

Upcoming Events

Swiss Matchpoint Pairs

• Monday Evenings 7:15pm for 2 weeks
• February 1st & 8th 
• Enter online by 12noon Friday 29 Jan

The Not Quite Valentines Congress: Open Teams / Novice & Restricted Butler Pairs

Please keep in mind our COVID-19 Safety Plan.

• Saturday 27th February 2021
• 10am start (doors open 9:40am) - kitchen closed until after start
• Enter online - Including which section you are playing in!

BFACT Selection Events for the ANC

• Womens - 10-11 April 2021, (plus evening of 9 April if required)
• Open - There are 2 events:
  • a qualifying event over 4 Monday evenings from 15 February
  • a final on 17-18 April 2021
• Seniors - There are 2 events
  • a qualifying event over 4 Mondays evenings from 15 March
  • a final on 1-2 May 2021
• Youth - TBC

Upcoming Education / Lessons

Kantar-based Lessons

Plan Ahead: Manipulate Your Entries

• Saturday 13 February 2021
• 1pm start
• Taught by Jodi Tutty

Plan Ahead: Using Inferences to Plan the Play

• Saturday 20 February 2021
• 1pm start
• Taught by Ian Robinson

Please register attendance using our online form - and list you partner too!

Competitive Bidding and Play (More Bridge Basics for Continuing Students)

• Tuesdays 10am-12noon.
• 4 weeks, starting Tuesday 16th Feb, ending on 9th March 2021.
• Cost: $15 per class, or $55 for all 4.
• Please register attendance using our online form

These classes are suitable for Novice players - must have completed a Beginners Course or equivalent. Covers bidding by the opponents focusing on Doubles and Overcalls and the plan for defending focusing on Leads and Signals.

• Week 1: Doubles
• Week 2: Overcalls
• Week 3: Leads
• Week 4: Signals

Master the Basics

Master the Basics will resume for 2021 from Wednesday 3rd and Thursday 4th February.
There is a new start time of 9.00am.

Both sessions will be available face-to-face in the Club rooms and on Zoom.

Supervised Lessons

The supervised lessons will resume for 2021 from Monday 1st Feb 7pm, and Friday 5th Feb 9:30am.

Results

BFACT InterClub Teams

Seniors

1. Bruce Crossman, Niek Van Vucht, Bev Crossman & Mary Tough
2. Hewat Team (South Canberra)
3. Nikki Riszko, Andrew Struik, Brian Thorp & Perelle Scale

Intermediate

1. Stephen Bartos, Michael Burt, Sally Barber, Donna Stewart (South Canberra)
2. Terry Heming, Jeremy Dawson, Shane Woodburn, John Knight (Capital)
3. Atul Haleja, Terri Henderson, Andrew Kettle & Deborah Milner

Restricted + Novice

1. Kevin Orr, Robyn Orr, Bill Donovan, Mohan Singh (Capital)
2. Dev Shah, Diya Shah, Joshua Tomlin, Bazli Karattiyattil
3. Cathie Padovan, Heather McLoughlin, Steve Davis, Catherine Phillips (Valley)

ABF Nationwide Online Pairs

17 January 2021 - Open

3rd E/W:  Neil Ewart & Chris Quail

Lighter Moments

What do you call security outside a Samsung store?
Guardians of the Galaxy

 

Major Suit Raises: Strong Raises - by Joan Butt's Guided Paths

The Jacoby 2NT Convention, i.e. a response of 2NT to an opening bid of 1♠️ or 1♥️, shows a game-forcing four + card raise of the major suit and asks for a further description of opener’s hand.

You can't use 2NT as natural any longer (it used to mean a balanced hand of 13-15 points wanting to play in no trumps). The idea of Jacoby is that with the right information you might reach a good slam in your suit.

Opener’s rebid after Jacoby 2NT

Opener will show shortage (singleton or void).

• To bid a new suit at the 3-level shows a singleton or void e.g. 1♥️ p 2NT p 3♦️ shows a shortage in diamonds, but doesn't reveal the strength of the hand
• To jump to the 4-level in a new suit shows at least five cards in that suit, and a very good suit e.g. 1♥️ p 2NT p 4♦️ = a second suit

To rebid the agreed trump suit shows no singleton or void and opener describes their strength. Jump to game shows a minimum hand (12-15), e.g. 1♥️ p 2NT p 4♥️ and with a better hand, (16+), rebid the trump suit at the three-level e.g. 1♥️ p 2NT p 3♥️.

Quiz Time!

You're sitting North. You open 1♥️. Partner's 2NT is Jacoby. What is your rebid?

a. 3 ♥️
b. 3 ♦️
c. 3 ♠️

Want weekly tips and quizes? You can also sign up for Joan Butt's newsletter.