Newsletter - 25 June 2021

From the President

As I am sure you are all aware the ACT Government has made to compulsory to wear a face mask indoors at venues such as the Canberra Bridge Club.

Please ensure that your mask covers your nose and mouth, and that you do not remove it whilst in the bridge club, not in the toilets or in the kitchen. As usual, please register via the Check In CBR app, maintain 1.5 metres distance as much as possible, and sanitise your hands regularly, including at the end of each round.

Please enjoy your bridge, and stay safe.

Margaret

Face Masks to be worn at the Club

The ACT has brought in new mandatory face mask requirements to help limit the possibility of a rapid outbreak of COVID-19 in the territory. Mask wearing at the Canberra Bridge Club is mandatory. Our COVID-19 Safety Plan has been updated to reflect this. Masks must be worn covering BOTH your mouth and nose.

Masks must be worn over the mouth AND nose. Face shields, scarves, or other clothing items are not an appropriate substitute. If you have a medical condition that prevents you from safely wearing a mask, we encourage you to bring a note from your doctor/specialist to help our staff identify your exemption.

Mr Barr said: "Mask wearing remains just one of many measures that all Canberrans can use to reduce their risk of spreading or contracting the virus. Keeping your distance from people and good hand hygiene should be a part of our lives now."

The Club does NOT have any face masks available so please bring your own. Members are also reminded to sign in with the Check-In CBR App when entering the Club.

Please use Alert Cards in your bidding box

We understand that wearing masks can make it harder for your voice to be heard clearly, as we ask people to use the "Alert" cards in their bidding box when needing to alert - in addition to the usual verbal "alert".

BYO Pens

We would also like to remind players that inline with our COVID-19 Safety Plan restrictions on sharing items, you are requried to bring your own pen if you wish to make notes whilst playing (travellers, etc). You may also wish to bring a pen and paper to write down explanations if you find it hard to hear others with masks on.

Sick? Please stay home

As winter approaches so does the increase in the common cold and flu. If you are feeling at all unwell (with any potentially contagious illness!) please stay home and do not come to play Bridge. We will look forward to your return when you are well, and thank you for helping prevent others from sharing in your illness. This is even more important in light of COVID-19 and especially whilst there are some community cases in the Greater Sydney and Wollongong areas.

In-Club Session Times

Reminders for in-Club sessions:

• As per the current ACT Health Order, wearing a mask whilst at the Club is manadatory, unless you have a medical exemption or are under 12 years of age. BYO mask.
• It is a condition of entry that you have read and agree to abide by our COVID-19 Safety Plan.
• One person ONLY in the kitchen at a time. You are welcome to gently remind others if you see they have forgotten.
• Government laws require every person to be registered through the Check-In CBR App when visiting our Club. The scan and number code for the App are on the sidetables, so you do not need to gather in the doorway or foyer to sign in.

• Monday morning 10:00am
  
• Monday evening 7:00pm (walk-in & supervised) & Monday evening 7:15pm (event)
• Tuesday afternoon 1:15pm
• Wednesday morning 10:00am
• Wednesday evening 7:15pm
• Thursday morning 10:00am (MP and Imps)
• Friday Supervised Lesson: 9:30am, then Play at 10am
  
• Friday (regular walk-in) 9:45am
  
• Friday afternoon 1:15pm
  
• Saturday afternoon 1:15pm

Wednesday Evening Session

The Wednesday evening duplicate session returned to the club on a trial basis from 14 April to 23 June 2021.  The trial was a success, and given the table numbers achieved, the Wednesday evening duplicate session is continuing as a face-to-face session in the club indefinitely.  Please consider playing in the club on Wednesday evenings at 7.15pm.  All players are very welcome.

Upcoming Events

Clothes Swapping Function

A chance to get rid of your unwanted clothes and perhaps replace them, while having fun, will be held on Saturday 17 July 2021 from 10:30am-12:30pm in the upstairs room at CBC.

Format: People bring items of clothing or accessories and they can choose roughly the same number of items to take home. There will be a flat fee of $2 entrance fee at the door. All items not exchanged will need to be taken home by the owners, or if not required we will donate these to charity. Please note that the usual CBR signing in will be required and the kitchen is not to be used.

It would be helpful if people could bring clothing along a few days before the function so that we can set up the room. Note that items can be brought along on the day if people can’t bring them earlier. Non-bridge players are welcome to attend, so please tell your friends, and bring them along.

Please contact Nikki Riszko on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 0451187494 with any questions.

Require on loan: One long mirror and several free standing clothes racks upon which hangers can be hung to display the clothes.

Volunteers are needed to help with the set up and clean up. Please contact Nikki.

Teams of Three - Sunday 1^st August - fundraiser for Beyond Blue

Cast off the woes of winter and frolic at the Bridge table and support CBC's charity Beyond Blue!

• Sunday 1 August - 12:30-5:00pm
• Gather 3 member players of a similar standard (limited to players who individually have fewer than 300 Masterpoints), come and have fun, get tips on play. The Club provides an experienced player as Captain to help and advise you.
• Scrumptious food, drinks, fun prizes.
• Cost: $20 via CBCPay
• Queries? Please email Pam Crichton: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
• Pre-Entry Essential via the online event entry form. Entries close 12:00 midday, Wednesday, 28 July.
  The event is limited to 36 teams. This is a CBC Members Only event.
  Everyone who signs up must turn up on the day to ensure its success.

CBC Matchpoint Pairs

• 12 & 19th July, Monday Evenings at 7:15pm
• Pre-registration required via our online form. Entries close 10am Friday 10 July.

Upcoming Education / Lessons

More Bridge Basics for Continuing Students (Competitive Bidding)

Barb Toohey will run two 4-week courses on Competitive Bidding and Defence. This is the next step after the beginners lessons, and suitable for Novice & Supervised Players.

To register to attend, please fill out our online entry form or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Dates          :	Tuesdays 17th August - 7th Sept
Time:	10am - 12noon
Cost:	$15 for an individual lesson or $55 for all four (4) lessons Members - Payment will be deducted from CBCPay Table Money. Visitors - Cash, cheque or bank transfer
Program:	Week 1: Doubles Week 2: Overcalls Week 3: Leads Week 4: Signals

Master the Basics

Are you aware of our weekly "Master the Basics" lessons, taught by Barb Toohey? No pre-registration necessary, except if you plan to join via Zoom and need the link.

Master the Basics, at 9:00am on Thursday mornings before the duplicate sessions, for approximately half an hour.

The course caters for a range of abilities and each week covers a fundamental concept to an increased level of mastery. Students who have done a Beginners Course and/or some Supervised play and have limited experience are welcome to attend. With more experience you will still benefit from a deeper understanding of the concept being discussed. 

No registration is needed. Just turn up for any or all of the lessons in the schedule below. There is no requirement to stay on for the duplicate session too. Cost is $6 for CBC Members (paid via CBCPay) and $8 for Non-Members.

The lessons are also available each week on Zoom. To receive the Zoom link, please email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Download the MTB Lesson Schedule

Supervised Lessons

The supervised lessons are on Mondays 7pm and Fridays 9:30am.

Beginner Lessons in August

Our next Beginners Lessons are schedule for August 16 (Monday Evenings, 7-9pm) and August 20 (Friday Mornings, 10am-12pm).

$69 for the 6 week course, including textbook and 3 free Supervised Play vouchers post-completion.
Pay before 9 August to get a $10 early-bird discount (pay only $59).

Individuals, couples and groups welcome to book!

We will print flyers for these lessons in the upcoming month, and you can direct anyone you know to view our website page "New to Bridge?" for full information and a contact form.

Results

GNOT Knockout Teams

Team Kozakos took on Team Reynolds in the GNOT Knockout Teams final last Sunday, emerging victorious. Well done to both teams, and all our entrants in the event.

1. Jodi Tutty, Stephen Fischer, Brad Coles. George Kozakos, Michael Smart, Andrew Spooner
2. Peter Reynolds, David Hoffman, Peter Grant, Tony Marinos

Play: Managing Entries - by Joan Butts

• What’s the point of counting cards as winners if you can’t REACH them?
• An entry is actually two cards; one, a link card, and the other, the entry that will take you to the hand you are trying to reach
• Sometimes you need to overtake an honour with a higher honour to reach the hand you need to be in
• Considering where your entries are is an essential part of “C” of the “ABC” Plan: Considering the Order to play the cards
• Sometimes entries are External, meaning they are in another suit, and sometimes they are Internal, meaning they’re in the suit itself
• If they’re internal, this often means not winning a trick in the suit until you’ve lost your essential losers, and retaining a small link card to enjoy the winners in the long hand