Newsletter 12 August 2022

 In this week’s newsletter...

• Vale Stephen Carter
• Beginners Classes 
• Competitive Bidding and Play training kicks off soon
• Results - Silver in Salsomaggiore!
• Upcoming Events 
• Canberra in Bloom
• Member Spotlight: Dr Jenny Bell
• The Dead or the Brave: Ian Morison
• Tim's Swim with Vim
• Lighter Moments
• Bridge Horoscope for Leo
• Salsa at the Latin Amercian Film Festival! 

From the President

Some of you might not know that the Club manages the Barry Turner Fund (BTF), which was established with moneys left to the Club by Barry Turner, a long time active member of the Club. The BTF provides some moneys to members of the Bridge Association of the ACT (BFACT) who play at either the Australian National Championship or who represent Australia at some International Bridge Events. BTF has provided some moneys to four members of the Club who are playing at the World Bridge Series in Poland, and to two Club associates playing at the World Youth Transnational Championship being held in Italy.

The Club has made its last donation (approximately $907) to Beyond Blue (last year’s charity). This year’s charity is Radio 1RPH. Please remember that all moneys raised from the sale of produce goes to the Club’s charity. So any excess produce (e.g. lemons) would be gratefully received.

Please enjoy your bridge and stay safe.

Margaret

 

 

Vale Stephen Carter

It is with sadness that we record the recent death of long time member Stephen Carter.  Stephen was only 63 but had battled with late onset diabetes and other illness over the last couple of years.

Bridge was a large part of his life. He joined the club in 1983 and played 2/3 times a week thereafter.  He was an excellent dummy player and a loyal partner.

The club extends condolences to his parents and sister.

 

Beginner's Classes start next week!

Our next beginner’s classes start next week!.  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 spot any beginners around the club, smile and encourage them! Soon they will graduate and be playing with us!

A huge THANK YOU to everyone who -  in response to the article last week - contacted Moran to volunteer assist with Supervised and Beginners Classes.  The response was simply overwhelming and roster is now full!  Well done Tim, Suzanne, Anita, Elizabeth Y, Chris L, Barb, Liz S, Janet K, Val C, Liz V, Peter, Lyn, Margaret, & Morag. We hope you enjoy the sessions and you have restored our faith in human nature!  The future of bridge is in good hands.  

 

Sessions in the Club and on RealBridge are outlined below

Upcoming Sessions

Our weekly sessions are the same as last week:

• 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 - Swiss Pairs - 3 week competition commencing 2 August
• 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 including GNOT finals 
• 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.

 

August 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. 

• Reverses: 17 Aug and 19 Aug
• Declarer play:  Planning and play points:  24 Aug and 26 Aug
• Declarer play – Entries and order of play: 31 Aug and 2 September

If you are interested, please come along.  You don’t need a partner.   There is no need to book.  If you would like a copy of the notes, please contact 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 on Thursdays at 9.00am.  The topic on 18 August is Bidding - To Bid or Not to Bid!. 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.  

.  

Results

Our own Andrew Spooner and partner Jamie Thompson from Victoria have come second in the World Juniors U31 Competition in Salsomaggiore, Italy!  Congratulations Andrew!  Know that you received a rousing ovation from the clubrooms on Thursday morning when your proud father and director, John Spooner announced the result prior to play commencing for the morning session.  

If you are on Facebook you might consider following Australasian Bridge just after you follow Canberra Bridge Club if you haven't already.  

 

At the Orange Congress recently Team Kahler took our top honours - comprising Peter Kahler, Adrienne Stephens, Janet Kahler and Peter Quach.  Well done Team Kahler and good luck for replicating this in Wagga Wagga on 19/20/21 August.  There's a healthy contingent of CBC players in the talent pool.  

 

Upcoming Events

  

Upcoming Tuesday Evening RealBridge Tournaments

There are a range of other RealBridge tournaments coming up in August, September and October:

Swiss Match Point Pairs on 23 and 30 August

Butler Pairs on 6,13 and 20 September

Teams on 27 September and 4 October and 

Butler Pairs on 10 and 17 October.  

  

 Wagga Wagga Bridge Club 42nd Annual Congress

The Wagga Wagga Bridge Club is holding its Annual Congress on Friday19th, Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st of August. There are entry forms at the club.  

 

Ballarat Annual Congress

 Ballarat Bridge Club has extended an invitation to us to play at their Annual Congress, Saturday 10^th September and Sunday 11^th September at the Ballarat Bridge Club 1001 Eyre Street, Ballarat Central .

The Congress Director is Martin Wilcox. Entries on Bridge Unlimited   www.bridgeunlimited.com .

Convenor Bruce Morley This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

$25.00 cash, per person per day, payable at Ballarat Bridge Club on the day.

BYO lunch, morning and afternoon tea will be provided. Drinks and nibbles at presentation at the end of each day.

Saturday Swiss Pairs (9.30 am registration) 10.00 am start - SWISS PAIRS

Sunday (9.30 am registration) 10.00 am start – TEAMS

 

Canberra in Bloom 30 September to 3 October

 BFACT is holding Canberra in Bloom from Friday 30 September to Monday 3 October inclusive at our club rooms.  The program:

10am Friday 30 September                                                                Royal Bluebell Open MP Swiss Pairs

                                                                                                           Spider Orchid Novice and Restricted MP Swiss Pairs 

10am Saturday 1st and Sunday 2nd October                                   Golden Wattle Open Teams 

                                                                                                          Val & John Brockwell Mixed Teams 

 2.30pm Sunday 2nd October and 10am Monday 3rd October.       Canberra Bells Swiss Pairs

                                                                                                          Federation Rose Novice and Restricted Swiss Pairs 

                                                                                                          Final Mixed Teams

All enquiries to Justine Beaumont This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Entry is $120 per pair on Friday, $360 per Team on Saturday and Sunday, $140 per pair on Sunday pm and Monday.  

Entries close Tuesday 27 September 2022.  Online entries via MyABF 

 

The Supervised session will run as per normal.  

 

Member Spotlight:  Dr Jenny Bell

 How long have you been a player/member? 

•  I had lessons at Grand Slam in 2014, with my friend and bridge partner Belinda (Moss).  We both joined the club in when Grand Slam closed.  We were a bit nervous, as we'd heard it was a bit cut-throat ...

Most memorable occasion at the club?

•  Many years ago (1999?) I brought a group of 8 - 10 year olds, including my daughter, to learn to play bridge.  Richard Hills was one of the excellent teachers; I'm sorry I can't remember the others, who gave up their time.  I think Chris and Morag Lokan's daughter might have been in the group too.

What do you do when you're not at the club? 

•  I'm a walker, a reader and a family historian.  I've become pretty good at using DNA results to find unknown parents and grandparents, and I'm always really pleased when I can help adoptees and others understand where they come from.

What's your  favourite travel destination pre COVID?

•  I went to Ireland in 2019, and I loved it.  But I also really enjoy travelling in Australia; it's so vast that it's like visiting a heap of different countries.  

What's your  favourite travel destination now?

•  I've just come back from two weeks in the Simpson Desert, and it was amazing.  I didn't expect the swathes of wildflowers we saw.  The colours of the desert are stunning, and at night it's dark and silent.  I'm plotting now to get back there next year, perhaps on a trek with camels. 

What’s the best thing about Canberra Bridge Club?

•  The people.  We've met many lovely people, and lots of really good players who will spend a few minutes explaining a better way to bid or play a particular hand.   And both Belinda and I have now had two lovely mentors who have been very generous and supportive.  

Thanks for sharing Jenny!

 

 The Dead or the Brave - Ian Morison

 Here is an interesting hand for bidding – how high do each side compete?

 

Dealer N, NS Vul

                                                 K642

                                                     A3

                                               98543

                                                  A10

 9                                                                                               A8

J109865                                                                                    KQ742

Q107                                                                                         AKJ62

K93                                                                                            2

 

                                                 QJ10753

                                                          -

                                                          -

                                                 QJ87654

 The Bidding

1.  North is the first bidder. Would you open? Modern theory says Yes with 11 points and a 5-card suit. [I would not, as the Diamonds are weak and you are vulnerable]. In this case, North passes
2. East bids 1H
3. South looks at the all-black card hand (very rare) and thinks ‘I have a 4-loser hand. If Partner has any of SA, SK, CA or CK, then 4S game is on. Partner is odds-on to have 1 or 2 of these cards’. South prefers 4S over 5C as that’s 1 less trick to make. South bids 1S. [Being vulnerable tempers your enthusiasm to open 4S, which I would do if Not Vul and if EW were Vul]
4. West bids 4H, North bids 4S, East bids 5H
5. What should South do now?
6. South thinks some more. ‘Partner has less than 12 points due to the opening Pass, but must have at least 4 Spades and some points elsewhere, probably not in Hearts as EW have both bid Hearts’
7. So probably North will cover a Spade loser and a Club loser, or both of one suit, or a finesse can pick up a missing King of Spades or Clubs. So South bids 5S
8. What should West do? West decides to leave it to Partner, so passes 
9. North has not got quite enough for 6S, so passes
10. East bids 6H – with Partner jumping Hearts to the 4 level, that is an easy decision when Not Vul
11. South passes, West passes and North Doubles (or maybe bids 6S – would you?)
12. Then East passes (or maybe bids 7H), South Passes and West passes (or maybe bids 7H). What would you do?

The Moral of the Story

13. Shapely hands make for lively bidding. Key things to look for are fits and take care not to overbid when Vul, but go wild when Not Vul (esp. if other side are Vul)

14. Here 6 level contracts will not make either NS or EW. NS should stop at 5S, but if they bid 6S, then EW should double (down 1 = +200 EW) or bid 7H, which should be doubled (down 2 = + 500 NS)

15. When to stop and when to bid on are tough calls, but make Bridge so much fun

16. There is no easy answer, but the experts all say ‘If in doubt, bid’

 

Tim's Swim With Vim

A big thank you to all members who sponsored Tim Mather in his efforts to raise money supporting the Multiple Sclerosis Association in their efforts to find solutions alleviating this debilitating disease. Tim raised over $1,100 and swam 6.2 kms during his two hours in the pool.

The team Molongolo Penguins swam 55kms overall, raising over $6,000, and helped the Canberra Megaswim and the 14 teams raise over $62,000, greatly exceeding their financial goal.

A huge thank you to all the Canberra Bridge Club sponsors.

 

Lighter Moments

How to be happy: decide every morning that you are in a good mood

"Stay away from negative people. They have a problem for every solution"  Albert Einstein

I don't know if Facebook has ever caused the lame to walk but it has surely caused the dumb to speak.

National Wine Day January 1 - December 31 

Mahatma Gandhi said "If there is an idiot in power, it means those who elected them are well represented"

Growing your own tomatoes is the best way to devote 3 months of your life to saving $2.17

Jellyfish have survived 650 million years, despite not having a brain.  This gives so many people hope.  

I was visiting my non gender specific progeny last night when I asked if I could borrow a newspaper. "This is the 21st century" they said.  "We don't waste money on newspapers.  Here, use my iPad."  I can tell you this...that fly never knew what hit it...

Q) Why do Norwegian boats have barcodes printed on the hull?
A)  So that they can Scandanavian.

Thanks Peter GIles and John Spooner for the funnies! ;-)

 

Bridge Horoscope - Leo - by Winsome Loosum

The omens for Leos this quarter are pessimistic indeed!  Faced with conflicting lions of play (ugh) you will inevitably choose a losing one. Definitely shun finesses - there will rarely be successful. Slams will be cataclysmic. To be honest, it's difficult to imagine what will be successful during this trying period!  One answer may be hand partner the reins, difficult though this may be - particularly in mixed partnerships.  

Latin American Film Festival

The Latin American Film Festival is in full swing with the ANU Film Group and support of the Latin American Embassies in Australia.  During August all screenings are free and open to the public.  

Sunday's screening at 6pm is "Innocence" from Cuba.  In 1871 a group of medical students are wrongly imprisoned - leading one man to pursue justice for them over 16 years.  The Cultural Centre at Tangney Road, Kambri Precinct, ANU.  Maybe a bit grim for salsaing but check out the rest of the program for a lighter lift, slide and step.

 

Be kind to each other.

 

Tamara (for Kerry and Tamara)