Newsletter 5 May 2022
In this week’s newsletter...
- Novice Lesson "Even More Tricks for your Bucks" - Saturday 21 May
- Bridge Tips by Joan Butts
- Card Play with Ian Morison
- Lighter Moments
From the President
Just a brief reminder that the Club’s COVID Plan still applies, that is one person only uses the bridgemate, shows it to the opposition for agreement and then accepts the result, and that the all players sanitise between rounds, As well, please clean the side tables and the arms of the chairs at the completion of play.
While mask wearing is not longer compulsory indoors in the ACT, the Club advises all players to wear a well fitting mask whilst in the club which covers your mouth and nose.
Stay safe and enjoy your bridge.
Margaret
Sessions in the Club and on RealBridge are outlined below
Upcoming Sessions
Our weekly sessions
- Monday morning 10.00am at the club
- Monday 2.00 pm (24 boards) RealBridge
- Monday 7.00 pm RealBridge
- Tuesday afternoon 1.00pm at the club
- Tuesday 7.15pm event RealBridge
- Wednesday morning 10.00am at the club
- Wednesday morning 10.15am RealBridge
- Wednesday evening supervised at the club 7pm (18 boards following lesson)
- Wednesday evening 7.15pm at the club
- Thursday morning 10.00am at the club - Butler and walk in duplicate
- Thursday afternoon 2.00pm (24 boards) RealBridge
- Friday morning supervised 9.30am at the club (18 boards following lesson)
- Friday morning walk-in session 9.30am
- Friday afternoon 1.00pm 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 indefinitely.
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) $10 visitors
Links to sessions are on our RealBridge page.
CBC Statements are late in going out as we have a technical problem.
May Supervised Sessions happening Wednesday nights and Friday Mornings at the Club
We run supervised duplicates on Wednesday evenings starting at 7.00pm and Friday mornings starting at 9.30 am.
Each duplicate is preceded by a short lesson. The May lessons are as follows:
- 11 & 13 May: better minor responses and rebids
- 18 & 20 May: responses to NT and Stayman
- 25 & 27 May: Higher level opening bids
If you are interested please come along. There is no need to book. If you want to know more get in touch with Morag Lokan. Morag’s email address is This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Master the Basics virtual lessons resume on Thursday 5 May at 9.00am. The topic is transfers after a 1 NT opening. Please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you want to be added to the Zoom class.
Upcoming Events
"Even More Tricks for Your Bucks" Lesson and Two Novice and Restricted Comps - Saturday 21 May 2022
Get your voting before or after, then join us (again) at the clubrooms on Saturday afternoon 21 May for a friendly one session pairs event (with Butler scoring*). This will be preceded by a short Kantar style lesson hosted by Jodi Tutty.
Bring your own lunch or sneak across the road to a Deakin café.
Two divisions – Novice (up to 50 Masterpoints per player)
Restricted (50 to 300 Masterpoints per player)
Cost for the lesson and session play is $20 per member and $25 for visitors
Session-only entries can be accommodated for a cost of $12
Lesson-only entries may be accommodated (subject to space) for $14
Enter on the CBC website entry lists in the what’s on tab (top of page in the middle)
Red Masterpoints will be awarded
Payment will be by CBCPay for members and bank deposit for visitors (No cash on the day)
*Butler scoring is an approximation of teams scoring where your team ‘partners’ are the average of all the other scores on each hand played.
Declarer Play with Joan Butts
THIS WEEK, WE'RE LOOKING AT...
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How do you play this hand? with Ian Morison
The Impossible Lead
How do you bid this hand? AND What should West lead?
Dealer E, Both Vul
Q43
K1082
932
KQ10
- 852
AQ54 J976
Q106 75
A98652 J743
AKJ10976
3
AKJ84
-
THE BIDDING
East passes
- Many purists would say South must not open 2C (strong bid) with only 16 HCP. I disagree. South has 3 losers. 4S is virtually assured even if North has absolutely nothing. And if North can cover 2 of the 3 losers (either directly with SQ, HA or DQ, or indirectly with a suit to run or set up), then 6S is on. Also, if North does not have SQ, it may fall if AK are played off the top
- So, I would open 2C. (It also makes it hard for East/West to find a suitable sacrifice when a strong bid is made)
- What should West bid over a 2C opening? South’s suit is probably Spades. Maybe West should Double? Or 3C? But that tells South where the points are. So, I would pass and see what happens
- I also don’t really like the 2D waiting bid as a reply – it takes up bidding space, and tells the 2C opener – the strong hand - nothing about the weaker hand. I play 2D = 0-3 points, 2H = 4-6 points, 2S = 7-9 points, 2NT = 10 + points (usually balanced), and (my adaptation) any suit at the 3 level shows a very good suit (usually 6 card and always headed by AK or at least AQJ)
- So here North bids 2NT – 10+ points
- South should then be able to find 6S via an Ace ask, or just blast into it (sure, if you blast North may have all the wrong cards, but that is unlikely with 10+ points). I would blast straight to 6S, as it tells the opponents nothing. Maybe you will miss 7S, but if North has SQ, HA, DQ and CA or more, then I would raise to 7S
THE LEAD
- Poor West – what should he lead?
- With 2 Aces, it looks like Declarer is cooked in 6S. But why did South bid 6S missing 2 Aces – he must have a void?
- So, the riddle begins – what to lead
- I would not lead a Diamond. The Q10 combination will often lead to a Trick during the play. Leading a Diamond may give a free trick for the DJ
- What about Hearts, and if so, which one? We all shiver at the thought that Declarer has KX of Hearts and he is gifted a Heart Trick if you lead HA (or any other)
- So, is it Clubs – if so, which one?
- It is madness to underlead an Ace in a slam contract, so it would need to be the Club Ace
- Looking at the actual cards, this is ruffed and Declarer can later use KQ of Clubs to discard the losing Heart and a Diamond. So, CA is a disaster
THE LEAD ANSWER
- Lead HA, then lead either a small Heart or a small Club (not CA)
- Declarer is then cooked. He has lost a Heart and must later lose a Diamond or a Club. A squeeze will not work to save Declarer due to lack of entries to Dummy and as East has HJ
- Could you find that HA lead and then any Heart or a low Club? If so, you will replace Albert Einstein on the Number 1 spot on the genius scale
CONCLUSION
- I think it is nigh on impossible to find the lead of HA followed by a Heart or Club. (Oh, to have had a small Spade to lead)
- The quandry above at least shows the need for analysis before leading
- At the table, as West, I led CA and watched the disaster unfold. Except……our South opened 4S and the bidding stopped there – how can North possibly bid on. We scored very well as many bid and made 6S. The hand is too strong for a 4S opening. Either open 1S, or (my preference) 2C
Ian Morison