Newsletter - 23 December 2021

 

From the President

I am sure that you are all aware that, in the ACT, mask wearing is now compulsory in all indoor setting except your own residence. The only reasons not to wear a mask at the Club,  are if you have a medical exemption,  or are eating or drinking. Please also remember to log into the Canberra COVID app and to sanitise your hands between movements. Please read the Club’s COVID plan which is available on the Club’s website.

As many of you would know, last Sunday at the Club, Len Dixon, a long time member of the Canberra Bridge Club and  the Canberra bridge community, celebrated his 100^th birthday. I would like to thank all the volunteers who helped on the day, and in particular, Mary Tough who also helped to organise the occasion. An enjoyable day was had by all participants.

I would like to  wish everyone a very happy and safe Christmas. While the Club is closed on Christmas eve and on Christmas Day, the usual face to face sessions (with masks) are on next week.

Enjoy your bridge and stay safe.

Margaret

 

Silly Season- Funny hats and now Masks!

The ACT Government has reintroduced the requirement for everyone aged 12 years or older to wear a face mask when indoors.  Wearing a face mask is a simple and practical way to minimise transmission of COVID-19.  Please bring a face mask with you to the clubrooms and wear it correctly.  All other aspects of the CBC COVID-19 Safety Plan and Checklist remain in force.  Please continue to follow our COVID-safe procedures, practise physical distancing and good hygiene, and stay home if unwell.

The Christmas Raffle results were as follows:

First prize - hamper - Diane Bergmark 

2nd prize - cake - Tony Webb

3rd prize - crackers - Barb Toohey

The raffle raised over $1000 of which half will be donated to Beyond Blue.  Thanks to everyone who contributed and thanks again to Adrienne Stephens for her efforts in bringing this event to fruition.  

It's been a tumultuous year!  Time to celebrate the end of it!  With the ongoing COVID issues, the club adopted RealBridge during 2021 and it has been embraced by almost half of the club's members.  

 

Upcoming Sessions

Sessions for the rest of the week are as follows:

• ♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠
• Thursday afternoon 2.00pm RealBridge
• ♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠
• Friday and Saturday the club is closed! 

From 27 December we have the following sessions 

• Monday morning 10.00am at the club
• Monday 10.15 am RealBridge
• Monday 2.00 pm RealBridge
• Monday 7.00 pm RealBridge
• Tuesday afternoon 1.00pm at the club
• Wednesday morning 10.00am at the club
• Wednesday Morning 10.15am RealBridge
• Wednesday Evening 7.15pm at the club
• Thursday morning 10.00am at the club
• Thursday Afternoon 2.00pm (24 boards) RealBridge
• Friday morning 9.30 at the club
• Friday Afternoon 1.15pm RealBridge
• Saturday afternoon 1.15pm RealBridge

Watch the newsletters and website for advice on face-to-face sessions at the club, and RealBridge sessions as these are fluid, depending on COVID developments and demand.  At this stage it is intended that the Monday and Thursday afternoon RealBridge sessions will continue.  

Member table money will be deducted from players CBCPay accounts. Visitors' fees will be paid for by their member-partner, or via prior arrangement by emailing the office.

Cost: face-to-face $10 members/ $13 visitors, concession $9.  RealBridge $8 members and $7 concession (including event).

Links to sessions are on our RealBridge page.

 

CBC Membership

Please remember annual subscriptions are due. If you haven't already please transfer funds citing your ABF number and state "membership" in the reference field. 

 

Magnetic Name Tags

If you want to treat yourself to a snazzy magnetic name tag please transfer funds - exact amount - $15 via electronic transfer with your ABF number, or drop in $15 cash with your name and number in an envelope.  We'll put an order in mid to late January.  

 

Early Christmas Present?

Someone has transferred funds recently with no  ABF number or name details.  We'll have to treat it as an early Christmas present unless someone presents with the details.  

 

Upcoming  Events

January IMP Pairs (Butler) on Realbridge

A two-week competition on 3 and 10 January 2022 on Monday evening at 7.15pm. This will be practice for the online Summer Festival of Bridge.

• Pre-entry required - online entry form - before 10.00am 3 January 2022
• Please enter early. Now five pairs entered...

Festival of Bridge

The Summer Festival of Bridge is a national event hosted by the Australian Bridge Federation. It takes place from 13 to 23 January 2022 on RealBridge. A wide range of events are scheduled.  To find out more go the website.  

 

ABF Foundation Fundraiser: ProAm BridgeTournament

An ABF Foundation was established in 2020 to assist participants at all skill levels to enjoy and promote our fascinating game. 

There is a Pro-Am Bridge Tournament to raise funds for the Foundation by auctioning a session with a professional or leading players (including  our own Jodi Tutty).  The auction finishes on 25 January with the ProAm to run on either Tuesday 1 February or Tuesday 15 February at 7pm by arrangement.    

The winners will receive gold points! Click on the link above for details on players and the auction!  

  

Beginners Lessons in 2022

The Club has face-to-face bridge beginner lessons commencing in the first week of February 2022, on Wednesday evenings starting at 7.00pm (2 Feb - 9 Mar)  and Friday mornings  at 10.00am (4 Feb - 11 Mar).  Please note and share with friends and family. Earlybird payments are discounted at $59 or $69 after 26 January 2022. 

For those that have some card experience, four week beginners lessons will commence in mid March 2022. 

The lessons are two hours long and  include a textbook, detailed notes and 3 free "supervised play" sessions.  These lessons make ideal presents!

 

Master the Basics

Master the Basics is on holidays until the first week of February.

 

Supervised Play

Thanks to all the supervised players during 2021 and an especial thanks to all the volunteers and helpers during the year (you know who you are!).  Supervised play is only on holidays for two weeks for Christmas and New Year's Eve.

Thursday Zoom lessons recommence on 3 February.

 

 

 Two Over One Game Force - Responder Shows Shape by Joan Butts

 One of the good things about a game-forcing auction is that responder’s next bid is still forcing, so you're able to bid slowly and carefully to further describe your hand.

Responder will show one of these hand types:

• Single-suited, bid own suit again. Good six+ card suit
  e.g ♠️K53 ♥️10 ♦️QJ6 ♣️AKJ1085 (1♥️ p 2♣️ p 2♥️ p 3♣️)
• Balanced, no fit for opener, stoppers in unbid suits, bid no trumps 
  eg ♠️K105 ♥️105 ♦️A109 ♣️AQJ96 (1♥️p 2♣️ p 2♥️p 2NT)
• A fit for opener, raise opener. Shows three card support
  eg ♠️106 ♥️Q95 ♦️A76 ♣️KQJ86: (1♥️ p 2♣️ p 2♥️ p 3♥️)
• Need more information, bid the fourth suit. This is artificial, asks for a stopper in the fourth suit, and/or more description of the hand eg ♠️1054 ♥️K5 ♦️A109 ♣️AQJ96 (1♥️p 2♣️ p 2♦️p 2♠️)

 Lighter moments

 

 There will be many more waters under the bridge until our next game and what will 2022 have in store?  Closure of Commonwealth Avenue Bridge, a draft 2022 tournament calendar and lots more fun and laughs so keep those jokes flowing in and thanks for your patience and custom during 2021!  

 

Tournament Director quote of the year: " I'm not much good with technology but it's important not to be daunted by it and to take a logical approach."

 

New member quote from Diane Potter "RealBridge is wonderful for people with macular degeneration. the contrast is high and you can still see the cards." Food for thought.  

 

Take care over the break!