Newsletter 3 June 2022

In this week’s newsletter...

• Vale Ross Crichton
• Announcing Upcoming Free RealBridge Seminars
• Swiss Matchpoint Pairs 
• Winter Butler Pairs
• Southern Tablelands Restricted Butler Pairs and Open Teams - 25 June 
• BFACT Interclub Teams - 3 July
• Bridge Tips by Joan Butts
• The Mirror of Galadriel part 3 by Hilda Hills
• Lighter Moments
• On the Darker Side....

From the President

Please see the Club’s web site for information about free lessons on RealBridge.  The lessons are over four sessions on Wednesdays  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.

Enjoy your bridge and stay safe.

Margaret

 

 

VALE Ross Crichton

Ross Crichton, the son of Ailsa and Ted Crichton, both influential members of the bridge community, was a gifted participant in local cricket and hockey, as well as a single marker golfer. He had a career as an immunologist, working at the National Biological Standards Laboratory (now known as the Therapeutic Goods Administration).

He was awarded honorary life membership of the CBC for his work in the development of the Olive Lott extension.

In 2004, partnering Peter Grant, he represented Australia in the World Bridge Seniors Team.

Pam, his wife, and Ross were a formidable partnership. He represented the ACT at the ANC on 13 occasions, twice in the Open, and eleven in the Seniors, winning twice, every time partnering Pam.

Locally, he won the State Open Pairs four times, and the State Mixed Pairs once. As well he had eight wins in CBC honor board events, partnering Pam.

Ross will be warmly remembered as an active, respected and well-liked member of the Club. He contributed widely across varied aspects of the Club over many decades, including serving as a Committee member and, in recent years – unbeknown by many – quietly tending the CBC gardens. He was friendly and welcoming to all he came into contact with, and his warm wit and dry sense of humour will be greatly missed.

We extend our sincerest condolences to Pam and the family.

A celebration of Ross Crichton’s life will be held at the Royal Canberra Golf Club on Monday 6^th June, 4pm-6pm.

The  funeral service for Sally Barber is on Wednesday 8 June at Saint Peter Chanel's Church, Loch St, Yarralumla commencing at 1.30pm.  

 

The service to farewell Fifine Hutton will be held in the White Lady Contemporary Chapel, 101 Nettlefold Street, Belconnen ACT, on Monday 6 June 2022, commencing at 3.30pm.

 

A Word on Governance

As outlined last week, the Australian Bridge Federation recently held their AGM and Board Meeting.  Major decisions are outlined here.  

"The World Bridge Federation Technical Directors Committee has also accepted the request that Sebastian Yuen be added to the WBF TD Register as an National Bridge Organisation International Tournament Director. Congratulations to Sebastian."

That's a great achievement Sebastian! Bruce Crossman advises there are only 4 International TDs in Australia.  Laurie Kelso, Matt McManus, Sean Mullamphy (who may retire soon) and now Sebastian.  Christy advises Sebastian has assisted New Zealand Bridge for several years.  This appointment acknowledges his efforts.

 

 

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.

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.  

 

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 Pay monthly statements for May were issued yesterday. If you have any concerns please email  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

 

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

• 8 and 10 June: opening leads and signals
• 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 - Responses to 2NT, plus transfers.  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.  

The lessons run for 30 minutes.  

 

Upcoming Events

Thanks to Frodo making the higher scoring grand slam, he and Sam had pipped Legolas and Gimli at the post to win by one matchpoint. Galadriel was the first to congratulate Frodo and Sam, and took them to see her magic mirror, "which shows things that were, and things that are, and things that yet may be."

Sam took a peek, seeing a vision of his home - where his father was being forced out after his lease had been revoked. So Sam sorrowfully slumped, shouting, "I'll put a stopper to this!" Now Frodo looked in the mirror and saw a Red Eye that seemed to be searching for him .....

Later, at the Victory Dinner, red eyes of a more conventional type were being created thanks to the lavish elven hospitality. Frodo was seated in the place of honour next to Galadriel, and she passed him a problem she had written on a napkin. "Here is another mirror," she said smiling.

DLR: East; VUL: All

North

S AKJ83

H AQ6

D AQ4

C AJ

South

S 76542

H J75

D J63

C 32

"East opens an Acol (12-14) 1NT, passed round to North, who doubles. South runs to 2S, and North raises to 4S. West leads the ten of clubs. Plan the play."

Frodo mused, "Despite the mirror shape this can only be a problem if West is void in trumps. But with East marked with all the rest of the high cards there must be an endplay. So I immediately win the ace of clubs and cash the ace of spades. If West shows out, I exit with the jack of clubs at trick three. East cannot afford to lead a trump, so must lead away from one of their red kings (or give a ruff-sluff, which has the same effect). I then throw in East again with king and another trump to East's queen. This time East must exit in the other red suit. (If East gave a ruff-sluff at the first throw-in, then they must lead the red suit that I did not discard from.) Now I play ace and another of the suit just led for the third and decisive throw-in. Contract made."

 

Lighter Moments

 A man walks into a bakery with a salmon under his arm and says “do you have fish cakes?” The chap behind the counter replies, “No”.
“That’s a pity, it’s his birthday”.

Most stressful thing about being a dragon: trying to blow all the candles out on your cake.  

I used to get heartburn when I ate birthday cake until my doctor advised me to take the candles off first.

What sort of cakes does a snowman or snowwoman like?  Those with thick icing.

The cold weather is here and director Ian has been out frolicing in it already. Had to scrape ice and snow from his windscreen in Mt Hotham this week.  Used his supermarket loyalty card and only got 10% off.

I’d be better at walking in these conditions if I could just get to grip with this ice and snow.

How do you stop your mouth freezing in the snow? Grit your teeth.  

 

A Playwright Amongst Us

Who knew?

Book your tickets now - don’t miss out on this year’s most exciting theatre event. Twenty Minutes with the Devil is the latest play by Desmond Manderson. Its premiere season is at The Street 18 – 25 June. It’s a black comedy and a high-octane thriller based on real events leading to the capture of Mexico’s most notorious drug lord. On a lonely desert road in the dead of night, highway police Angela and Romulo are a team - sort of. Romulo is a shambles. Angela’s all business. But when they stop a speeding car and discover a man stripped to his undershirt and covered in filth, everything changes for everybody. The fruit of a remarkable collaboration between two writers from very different cultures, here is a fable for the world we live in. By turns suspenseful and reflective, witty, gritty, and poetic, Twenty Minutes With The Devil will grab you by the throat from the very first moment. Half an hour alone with your worst fears and wildest dreams. No help, no witnesses, and not a minute to lose. When the crisis comes – what would you do?

 

Be kind to each other.    

 

Tamara (for Kerry and Tamara)