Newsletter - 29 January 2021

From the President:

I am sure that you have all heard that the Club needs volunteers.  Unfortunately, that is still true, particularly cleaning the kitchen after a session, and washing the cleaning cloths. The cloths are used at every session, so a volunteer is need for every session.

I have heard that we members of CBC are sometimes considered unfriendly. The Club has many new members, and it is important that we are all friendly to everyone. Be polite to your partner and your opponents… Bridge after all is only a game. Welcome everyone to your table, and introduce yourselves to your opponents; it doesn’t take long!

Cheers

Margaret

100^th Birthday - Fifine Hutton

Fifine Hutton, a long term member of the CBC, will be celebrating her 100^th birthday on 12 March 2021. A book is on the front table in which you can write your comments and wishes for Fifine.

An afternoon tea will be held for Fifine at Goodwin Retirement Village, Ainslie at 3.30pm on 12 March. View the invitation with details (PDF). 

More card tables needed

Thank you to all the members who have generously loaned card tables to the club. We still need a few more to accommodate the beginners starting classes next Monday. If you have a folding card table in good condition and are willing to lend it to us please bring it in to the club, or contact Liz Van Der Hor on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

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 still 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 and contact the office ASAP.

Next week at the Clubrooms

For the week commencing Monday 1st February:

• 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.
• Launch of CBCPay - forms available to opt-in (see the director).

Next week on BBO

For the week commencing Monday 1st February, 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) - Monday 1st Feb 2021 - 2.00pm (FREE)
• Taster Session (30 minutes) - Thursday 4th Feb 2021 9.00am (FREE)

Upcoming Events

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

Please keep in mind our COVID-19 Safety Plan.

• Saturday 27th February 2021
• 9:30am start - 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 has resumed for 2021 on Wednesday and Thursday.
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 have resumed for 2021 on Mondays 7pm and Fridays 9:30am.

Results

CBC President's Plate

1. Chris Quail & Julia Hoffman
2. Pam Crichton & Ross Crichton
3. Vanessa Brown & Will Jenner-O'Shea

ABF Nationwide Online Pairs

22 January 2021 - Open
1st E/W:  Anita DeLorenzo & Robyn Stanhope

22 January 2021 - Novice
2nd N/S:  Sau-Yem Lo & Mary Knapp

24 January 2021 - Open
1st E/W: Julia Hoffman & Noelene Law

Lighter Moments

What did the duck say when she bought a lipstick?
Put it on my bill

 

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

Most raises of partner's major suit openings are made with the expectation that we'll make the contract, but sometimes our thinking is the very opposite.

The first category of raises, where you expect to make your contract, are called Constructive Raises, and they cover single, limit and forcing raises of partner's major opening.

But the other type of raises are made with little expectation of making the contract. If you do make it, that's a bonus.  These are called Preemptive Raises. Weak hands with good trump support fall into this category.

Responder’s raise is designed to make it more difficult for the opponents to enter the auction. The number of trumps you hold is far more important than points, and the vulnerability plays a part, but not much.  With five trumps for partner, a singleton, and 4 -7 points,  jump to the four-level, i.e. 1♥️ p 4♥️.

Quiz Time!

Partner (North) opens 1♥ and the next hand passes. How many points are there and what do you respond with this hand?

a. 7 points (3 high card points + 4 shortage points), 4♥
b. 3 points, (3 high card points + 0 shortage points), pass
c. 6 points (3 high card points +  3 shortage points), 2♥

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