Newsletter - 5 February 2021

From the President:

I am sure that you are all aware that the Club is in the process of introducing CBCPay to members. To access CBCPay, a member needs to register and then deposit money into the club’s bank account. Then each time a member plays at the Club, in a RealBridge session, attends a Master The Basic lesson, Kantar lesson, or Competitve Bidding lesson, their balance is debited by the appropriate amount. Forms to register are available from the directors.

I have noticed whilst playing that players sometimes forget to announce the strength of their 1NT or the length of their 1C opening. If you open 1C then the responder should state the minimum length of that bid. The responder should also announce the  strength of a 1NT opening e.g. 12-14 or 15-17 etc should be announced.

Enjoy your bridge. Remember, it is just a game!

Happy bridging.

Margaret

CBCPay

CBCPay has arrived, and along with it many questions from members. Please read our CBCPay webpage to answer many of your questions!

Most common questions:

Where do I sign up to register?
Please get a form from the Director, or download it from our CBCPay page. 

How to top up my balance?
Deposit money into the CBC bank account, with a reference/description of "CBCPay (your ABF number)". 
No more, no less in the reference field please!

How can I check my balance?
You will be emailed a monthly statement. A positive number is your credit on account, a negative number means you have run out of credit and are in debit to the Club.
If you need a balance enquiry during the month, the Director can check the current account balance. Pleas note this may not be 100% accurate, as there may be payment processing not yet completed by the administrators yet.
No, you cannot check it online yourself at this time.

How do Visitors pay table money?
Visitors cannot join CBCPay, so they have other options:

1. Their partner (if a member) can pay on their behalf using CBCPay  - Compulsory option for RealBridge visitors
2. They can purchase pre-paid $13 vouchers (good for regular-playing visitors!)
3. They are permitted to pay $13 cash (exact change required) in the table money enevelopes

Next week at the Clubrooms

For the week commencing Monday 8 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 8 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) - Monday 2pm, and Thursday 9am

Upcoming Events

BFACT ANC Open Trials Qualifying 

• Monday Evenings 7:15pm for 4 weeks
• February 15th, 22nd, March 1st, 8th.
• Payment via CBCPay - $13 per week ($
• Enter online by 12noon Friday 12 March

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 is on 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.
To receive the zoom link, please email Barb Toohey.

Supervised Lessons

The supervised lessons are 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

January Eclectics

Monday Afternoon - West Savery & Pamela McKittrick
Tuesday Afternoon - Richard Hills & George Riszko
Wednesday Morning - Elspeth Saxby & Eric Glass
Thursday Morning - Red Butler - Bill Tutty & Paul Nelson
Thursday Morning - Blue MP - George McLean & Tim Mather
Friday Afternoon - Anne Powell & Lyn Carter

January Promotions

Graduate:  Bricet Kloren

Club: Janet Mounic, Graham Pollard, Fran Pollard

Local: Paul Birkby, Leonie Jones, Rajiv Shah

Bronze Local: Elizabeth Yoo

Regional: Kate Cush

Bronze State: Andrew Kettle

ABF Nationwide Online Pairs

(no results available at time of Newsletter publication)

Lighter Moments

Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect
- Mark Twain

The world owes you nothing. It was here first
- Mark Twain

Be careful about reading health books – you may die of a misprint.
- Mark Twain

Preemptive Bidding: Weak Two-Bids - by Joan Butt's Guided Paths

Weak two-bids are an extension of preempts (one level lower and one card fewer than opening at the three level), but all preempts contain roughly the same number of points (6 - 9 high card points).

They should consist of a very good suit and not much else. Honours in other suits are not recommended for an opening weak two bid, because the extra points mean the hand might be better opened a one-bid.

The only difference when considering the level opened is how many cards there are in the suit.

♠️A K J 10 8 3 ♥️7 4 ♦️4 2 ♣️9 6 5 (six spades); open 2♠️ (Weak two-bid)
♠️A K J 10 8 3 2 ♥️7 ♦️4 2 ♣️9 6 5 (seven spades); open 3♠️ (Preempt)
♠️A K J 10 9 8 3 2 ♥️7 ♦️4 ♣️9 6 5 (eight spades); open 4♠️ (Preempt)

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