Newsletter 10 June 2022

In this week’s newsletter...

  • New Members and Promotions
  • Beginners Lessons 
  • Free RealBridge Seminars
  • Director Aspirations?  
  • Swiss Matchpoint Pairs 
  • Winter Butler Pairs
  • Southern Tablelands Restricted Butler Pairs and Open Teams - 25 June 
  • BFACT Interclub Teams - 3 July
  • Results - President's Cup
  • Bridge Tips by Joan Butts
  • Card play with Ian Morison
  • Lighter Moments

From the President

A reminder to please see the Club’s web site for information about free lessons on RealBridge. The lessons are on Wednesdays  from 2.30pm and the dates are June 15, 22 and 29 and 6 July. Entry is via the RealBridge page  accessed on the club's home page.

As a courtesy please let the managers know if you test positive for COVID so we can advise others that may be at risk and they can take appropriate action.  

Enjoy your bridge and stay safe.

Margaret

 

A Word on Governance

 Minutes from the 9 May CBC Committee meeting are available online here, or in hardcopy on the noticeboard behind the DIrector's desk.  

 

New Members

We welcome the following new members and returning members in May:

  • Keith Kat
  • Brigitte Kat
  • Brigitte Kestermann
  • Dennis Martin
  • Marilyn O'Sullivan and
  • Cyril Reynolds

Please make our new members welcome if you see them at the table (virtual or otherwise).  

 

Promotions in May 

  •                                                                 Promoted To                                From
  • Tony O'Dowd                                           Graduate                                        NA
  • Kate Scandrett                                        Graduate                                        NA
  • Steve Taylor                                             Club                                              Graduate
  • John Lee                                                  Local                                             Club
  • Philip Mitchell                                           Bronze Local                                 Local
  • Michele Grant                                           Regional                                       Silver Local
  • Pat Skinner                                               Bronze Regional                           Regional
  • Ruitian Lang                                             State                                             Silver Regional 
  • Bridget Gilmour-Walsh                             National                                        State Bronze
  • Andrew Spooner                                      Gold Life                                       Silver Life

 Congratulations to all the promotees!

 

Beginner's Classes

Our next beginner’s classes start in August on 17 and 19 August.  We have two sets of classes -  Wednesday – 7pm to 9pm (generally for people who can't commit during the day) and Friday 10am to 12 noon.  The classes run for 6 weeks. If you know someone who would like to learn to play bridge please tell them about our classes.  They can register interest on the club website or by talking to the managers. The cost is $69. 

Recruiting new players is in everyone's interests - perhaps we can grow a local Benito Garozza (who is possibly the greatest living player) or a potential partner for you down the track.  In any event fresh blood keeps us relevant and on our toes.  Did you know the territories were the only places in Australia where ABF registered bridge players have grown in the past 3 years?  The ABF marketing report presented at the ABF 2022 AGM (page 10 of the ABF Newsletter for June) showed an average decline  of 13.4% in bridge nationally from 2019 to 2022. The ACT and the NT were the only places not in decline. NSW reported a 20% decline from 2019 to 2022 (from 13,074 to 10,459) , ACT an increase of 1.2% from 902 to 913 and NT 3.2% from 126 to 130.  So in absolute numbers the ACT had the highest increase!  

Encouraging a younger cohort of players is beneficial and will ensure succession planning for our great game.  So if you know someone that you think may be interested in learning please consider a gift of lessons or just plant the seed that face-to-face lessons kickoff in the middle of next month.  

 

Free teaching seminar by international expert on RealBridge

CBC members have been provided with the opportunity to take part in 4 free hour long event over the next four weeks on a Wednesday afternoon at 2.30pm arranged by Andrew Robson in conjunction with RealBridge. Andrew Robson is an international player who regularly represents England, a highly regarded author and the Bridge correspondent for The Times (of London).

The dates for this are 15,22,29 June and 6 July 2022.  

We will be playing four boards selected by Andrew to cover a specific topic (week 1: Weak 2 openings, week 2: Splinter Bids, week 3: Fourth Suit Forcing week 4: Counting and Card Placement), followed by viewing a video of Andrew giving his insight into one of the boards, and access to his detailed analysis of all four boards.

Put these dates in your diary, grab a cup of coffee on the day and join us for the hour to have some fun and learn from an expert. Enter via the RealBridge button on our homepage and the link.You can come with a partner or without and the director will match you up in the lobby.  

If you've not used RealBridge below please try the troubleshooting advice on the website to make sure your computer has its camera and microphone setting sorted or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  for practical assistance.  Rob will generally respond within 24 hours.  Please don't leave it until the last day!

 

Sessions in the Club and on RealBridge are outlined below

Upcoming Sessions

Our weekly sessions are the same as last week with one vital change:

  • 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 2.30pm RealBridge Lesson on Weak 2's - FREE
  • 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.

Declutter your bookshelves and share the love.  Members should bring excess current paperbacks to the library to recycle.  Conditions are presently ideal when you're not playing bridge to cuddle up with a good book.  

If your partner is away and you are willing to give someone new a go in the interim, or you just want to play a bit more during these cold, wet months, pop into the office and let us know.  We welcome everyone who closes the door after they come in!

 

June 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. 

Supervised lessons in June

  • 15 and 17 June:  Planning your play
  • 22 and 24 June:  Responses and Rebids
  • 29 June and 1 July:  Rule of 20

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

 Master the Basics virtual lessons are onThursdays at 9.00am. The topic next week is Bidding - Puppet Stayman.  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. $6 for members and $8 for non-members. This is almost the cheapest training on the planet at the moment!

The lessons run for 30 minutes.  

 

Upcoming Events

 

Would you like to be a Director?  

 If you are interested in becoming a Director, or if you are a Director and you would like to brush up your skills, the Bridge Federation of the ACT  (BFACT) is conducting a workshop on June 18 and 19 at the Canberra Bridge Club. The course will run from 10.00am to 5.00 pm each day. On Saturday you should arrive around 9.30am tocomplete registration. The course will be presented by Sebastian Yuen (recently internationally accredited), and Bruce Crossman. If you would like to attend please email Keith Huggan (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).

To foster bridge in the ACT, BFACT is offering the course free to its members. Those from non affiliated clubs are welcome, but would be charged a fee of $50 for 2 days, or $25 for 1 day. Everyone will need to provide their own lunch or nip out to Deakin shops.  

 There is an optional open book exam post course to determine suitability.

 

Swiss Matchpoint Pairs

 This two week event on Tuesday evenings on 14 and 21 June will score Red Points.  Entries close on Monday 13 June,  Enter here or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

 

Winter Butler Pairs

Starting on Tuesday evening 28 June (also 5 July and 12 July) this three competition will have Butler scoring.  Entries close on Monday 27 June.  Enter here or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

 

Southern Tablelands Butler Pairs - 25 June

The Southern Tablelands Teams (Open division) and Restricted (<300 Masterpoints) and Novice Pairs is on Saturday 25 June 2022 with a 10am start.  This is the fundraiser for Beyond Blue (50% profit) and flood victims (50%) plus raffle.  Bring your own lunch.  Nibbles and prizes awarded at the conclusion of play.  Entries $30 per person. 

Enter here or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

 

 BFACT Interclub Teams - 3 July

The InterClub Teams (https://www.bridge-club.org/clientdocs/4484.pdf)  is being planned for Sunday 3 July at the Southern Cross Club in Woden with details on the hyperlink.  

 

Results

 

Congratulations to the winners of the 2022 President's Cup - Messrs Brightling, Hoffman, Ewart and Robinson and runners up Sebastian Yuen, Christy Geromboux, Jennifer Carter and Ruitian Lang.  The winners, all long term members of CBC, used this event as a springboard for their up coming competition in the Open World Bridge Teams in Wroclaw in Poland  in late August.  

In the Plate Team Kahler comprising Janet Kahler, Peter Quach, Peter Kahler and Adrienne Stephens defeated Team Widdup (Lynne Widdup, Geroge McLean, Roger Curnow and Gita CUrnow) by the narrowest of margins. 

 

Suit Preference Signals with Joan Butts

Quick tips

  • The most elegant of signalling methods, suit preference provides a road map for partner to follow
  • When partner knows (or hopes) you’ll be able to trump a suit they’ve led, the card they let you trump with is a suit preference signal 
  • Watch carefully because it will pinpoint an entry to partner’s hand so you might have the chance to trump again
  • If it’s a high card, partner is asking you to return the higher of the two remaining suits 
  • If it’s a low card, partner is asking you to return the lower of the two remaining suits
  • If there’s a singleton in dummy, and partner has led their Ace, show them with a suit preference signal what suit you’d like them to play next

Overbidding vs Re-evaluating?with Ian Morison

Here is an interesting hand for bidding and leading

Dealer W, NS Vul

                                                    75

                                                     -

                                                  987642

                                                 J10976

 AQJ963                                                                 K102

107                                                                          AQJ84

KQ53                                                                       AJ10

   3                                                                            A4

 

                                               84

                                          K96532

                                                 -

                                         KQ852

The bidding

  • West bid 1S, North passed (NS vulnerable)
  • East bid 2H – it is a 1 round force, and East wanted to see how strong West really is
  • South passed (hoping EW end up in a high Hearts contract)
  • What should West do? West has 12 points only, but it is a very strong hand with Diamonds as a second suit. West could bid 3D (forcing) but that hides the 6-card Spade suit. West should overvalue the hand and jump to 3S
  • East then gets excited – 19 points, good Spade support and good values in Hearts and Diamonds
  • East asks for aces and signs off in 6S
  • EW reached the slam as West re-evaluated his hand after East bid, by pushing the boundaries of the 3S jump – normally 15-16 points

The lead

  • The CJ was led (in my view, the correct lead), and even with the HK off-side, 12 tricks were made easily
  • What if North led D9 instead of CJ?
  • South has no Diamonds, so ruffs
  • If South then returns a Heart, North ruffs, returns a Diamond, South ruffs, returns a Heart, North ruffs. First 4 tricks taken by NS! 3 down before West can bat an eyelid. Even 4S does not make
  • Should South find the Heart return at trick 2? He can see 11 Hearts – 6 in his hand and 5 in Dummy. Only 2 are missing. Where are those 2 Hearts? There could be 2, 1 or 0 with West and, correspondingly, 0, 1 or 2 with partner. Partner did not bid, which perhaps indicates lack of extreme shape, but partner probably has zero points so is unlikely to bid with extreme shape when vulnerable
  • The odds favour partner having 1 Heart or 2 Hearts over 0 Hearts. Leading away from HK with HA and HQ visible in Dummy could gift the contract to EW

The moral of the story

  • South needs to be patient. The HK looks like it will be a winner if West is forced to finesse Hearts. There is no need to rush
  • So, at trick 2, South should lead CK, hoping that might set up CQ for the second NS winner, taking the contract down
  • As it turns out, West must ultimately take the losing heart finesse, and go 1 down
  • Maybe if the contract is 4S, then a bold lead of a small Heart by S at trick 2 is worth the risk as it would take the contract down if partner has 0 Hearts…….? (Over to you to decide)

 

Lighter Moments

What can you catch with your eyes closed?

  • A cold (also the flu, also COVID!  Stay alert but not alarmed).  

 What did the icy road say to the car?

  • "Want to go for a spin?"

How do you know when it's too cold for a picnic?

  • When you chip your teeth on the soup

What for you call a cat on ice?

  • One cool cat!

How to mountains stay warm in winter?

  • They wear ice caps

What falls in winter but never gets hurt?  

  • Snow!

Why did the child wear only one boot?

  • There was a 50% chance of snow.

 

Be kind to each other.    

 

Tamara (for Kerry and Tamara)