Newsletter - 20 August 2021

From the President

As I am sure you are all aware, the Delta strain of COVID is now in Canberra and we are all in shut down. However, that doesn’t mean that there is no bridge. The Club is running many sessions on RealBridge. If you haven’t done so, try a taster session this Saturday, or play in one of the sessions offered by the Club.

The Club’s AGM is to be held on Monday 11 October at 5.30 in the Club’s rooms. I know that is several weeks away, but one of the things to think about is what charity should the Club donate to from 1 July 2022. Beyond Blue is the CBC’s current charity. 

Stay safe and enjoy your bridge.

Margaret

Online RealBridge Taster Time

A half hour taster of RealBridge will be held at 2.30pm for 3.00pm start on Saturday 21 August.  The link will be published on the website.  If you have problems accessing make sure you are on the RealBridge page (accessed through the RealBridge Square on the Club's website) and click on the coloured link next to the Taster Time - available from 2.30 pm onwards. You do not need a partner but it is preferable. 

Members without partners can log onto a RealBridge session or taster and send a chat message to the director (from the lobby) asking for a partner.  We will do our best to find you one.

We have had some 70+ tables on RealBridge up to Thursday this week plus 28 tables at two Taster sessions.  It is proving very popular and we have had a lot of positive feedback from the players about how much they are enjoying it! Once you get on it's easier than you think!

Online RealBridge Session Times

Table money will be deducted from players CBCPay accounts. Visitors fees will be paid for by their member-partner.

Cost: $8 members/visitors, $7 concession members (including event).

• Monday morning 10:00am
  
• Monday evening 7:15pm Swiss Butler Pairs (pre-registration before 2pm Monday essential)
• Tuesday afternoon 1:15pm
• Wednesday morning 10:00am
• Wednesday Supervised Lesson: 6.30pm (via Zoom), then Play at 7.15 on Realbridge
• Wednesday evening 7:15pm
• Thursday morning 10:00am - Duplicate (MP)
• Thursday morning 10:10am - Butler (IMPs)
• Friday Supervised Lesson: 9:30am (via Zoom), then Play at 10am on RealBridge
• Friday afternoon 1:15pm
  
• Saturday afternoon 1:15pm

Links to sessions are on our RealBridge page.

Online Education / Lessons  

More Bridge Basics for Continuing Students (Competitive Bidding and Defense)

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 24th August - 14th Sept, online via Zoom
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

Master the Basics, at 9:00am on Thursday mornings before the duplicate sessions, for approximately half an hour. 
The lessons are available throughout the lockdown on Zoom. To receive the Zoom link, please email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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.
Cost is $6 for CBC Members (paid via CBCPay) and $8 for Non-Members.

Download the MTB Lesson Schedule

A word from our sponsor: Travel Associates

Even during the lockdown, our advisors here for you. We are all set up to work from home and we can assist with any essential travel requirements.

I wanted to jump into your newsletter to remind you all of our partnership that started last year. Your local travel advisors are still here for any travel needs you may have. Any new bookings will be supporting the club the same way they always have been. There is so much to know about travelling right now. We’re here to support you through the whole process.. Whether it’s a Christmas or summer holiday or a last minute travel emergency, we are here for you and you can support your club by booking your travel with us. All you need to do is contact one of the offices and the advisors there will be able to assist you from there.

• Travel Associates Belconnen - 1300 080 864
• Reis & James Travel Associates - 1800 739 288
• Travel Associates Gungahlin - 1300 784 753
• Travel Associates Jamison Plaza - 1300 103 192

Rachel Colombo

Canberra Bridge Club Co-Ordinator

Travel Associates Belconnen

CBC charity Beyond Blue

This week CBC made a donation of $2,300 to Beyond Blue, which has been the club charity since July 2020.  This was a very pleasing amount, with most of it raised in recent months.

The thank you letter from Beyond Blue reminds us of the important work undertaken by Beyond Blue, particularly at the present time.

Many members helped to make the donation possible.  Since April, all money raised from the produce stall has been kept aside for Beyond Blue - Thank you to those members who have contributed items for sale or purchased items.

In addition, all profits from the Teams of Three event on 1 August were included in the donation to Beyond Blue, as well as cash donated on the day.  Thank you to all those who participated in the event or contributed to its organisation.  In addition to the individuals mentioned in the newsletter of 6 August, special thanks to Committee members Pam Crichton, Mary Tough and Michele Grant for making the day happen.

Beyond Blue is continuing as the club charity until June 2022.  Let’s hope we can make another substantial donation in a year’s time.

Results

CBC Butler Pairs (Incorp. Ted Crichton Pairs)

1. David Hoffman & David Wawn
2. Peter Grant & Tony Marinos
3. Joshua Tomlin & Ruitian Lang

Stepbridge (online) - Non-CBC

After many months of trying Ian Rodgers and Malcolm Wood (now in MLB) won a Stepbridge Restricted Tournament on Tuesday 10th August with 62.79%.

Second Hand Low by Joan Butt

When a low card is led from declarer’s hand or from the dummy and you are the second person to play to the trick, it’s usually right not to play your highest card, because you don’t want to waste your big cards capturing only low cards from declarer.

Ideally, you would like to use your aces to capture declarer’s kings, your kings to capture declarer’s queens etc.

There are exceptions:

• Don’t play second hand low if it will allow declarer to win a trick too cheaply. With a strong holding in the suit, you may need to split your honours.
  
  For example, in this situation - declarer plays the ♥️2 towards ♥️AJ106 in the dummy. You are second to play, and you hold: ♥️KQ953. It's best to "split" your honours and play one of the ♥️K or ♥️Q, because you don't want declarer to win a trick with the ♥️J or ♥️10.  
• Don’t play second hand low if you could defeat the contract by playing high.
  
  For example, in this situation - Declarer leads the ♦️5 towards this dummy, and you are second, next to play after declarer's ♦️5. Dummy has ♦️Q107. You hold the ♦️A86. You know you can defeat the contract if you win your ♦️A here, so don't follow the "second player plays low" suggestion, but rise with your ♦️A.

If declarer leads a high card, you should generally cover an honour with an honour if you have a higher card. You should do this however only if it’s likely to promote a trick for your side. 

If declarer leads from touching cards, you should generally wait to cover the last card led

Lighter moments

I lost my girlfriend's audiobook, and now I'll never hear the end of it.

Why is 'dark' spelled with a k and not c? Because you can't see in the dark.

Why is it unwise to share your secrets with a clock? Well, time will tell.

When I told my contractor I didn't want carpeted steps, they gave me a blank stare.

Bono and The Edge walk into a Dublin bar and the bartender says, "Oh no, not U2 again."

Prison is just one word to you, but for some people, it's a whole sentence.

Scientists got together to study the effects of alcohol on a person's walk, and the result was staggering.

I'm trying to organize a hide and seek tournament, but good players are really hard to find.

I got over my addiction to chocolate, marshmallows, and nuts. I won't lie, it was a rocky road

What do you say to comfort a friend who's struggling with grammar?
There, their, they're.

I went to the toy store and asked the assistant where the Schwarzenegger dolls are and he replied, "Aisle B, back."

What did the surgeon say to the patient who insisted on closing up their own incision? Suture self.

I've started telling everyone about the benefits of eating dried grapes. It's all about raisin awareness.