Newsletter 2 September 2022

 In this week’s newsletter...

  • Welcome New Members
  • Promotions
  • Results 
  • Upcoming Events 
  • BFACT Gala Pairs  
  • Canberra in Bloom
  • Ian Morison Card Play
  • Lighter Moments

From the President

As I am sure you are all aware, the AGM is on next month at the Club, and all members are welcome to attend.

Please remember that the Club is still recommending the wearing of facemasks for all playing at the Club. As well, tables, bidding boxes, the bridgemate and the arms of chairs should be cleaned at the cessation of play.

Stay safe and enjoy your bridge.

Margaret  

 

 

Vale 

Club members William (Bill) Carmichael and Prue Clarke passed away recently.  Keep well people and look out for each other.  

 

AGMs

CBC AGM

The CBC AGM will be held on Wednesday 5 October 2022 commencing 5.30pm. Further details will be provided in next week's newsletter.  

BFACT AGM

The BFACT AGM will be held on Saturday 17 September 2022 commencing 5.00pm (or as soon as practicable after completion of the GALA Pairs). Further details are available from the BFACT website Notices section.

Welcome New Members

Giovanni Trione

Susan Westwood

Jill Wicklander

Please make our members welcome if you see them at the table.   

 

Promotions!

ABF have advised on the following promotions for the month of August:

Name New Rank Old Rank
Nicola Meares Graduate Nil
Loretta Petroff Graduate  Nil
Karen Carlin Club Graduate
Adrian D'amioco Club Graduate
Ephraim Grunhard Club Graduate
Lisa Bradley Local Club
Anne Fleming Bronze Local Local
Wenda Brown Regional Silver Local
Myra Hyland Regional  Silver Local
West Savery  Life Silver National
Morag Lokan Silver Life Bronze Life

Congratulations to all!

How does one accumulate points and rise to dizzying heights one might ask?  Play lots of bridge and playing in Congresses in other States also help.  For instance in this month there were over 15 events that CBC Members travelled to (or participated online) and competed in. Competitions in August ranged from NSW Online Pairs, SA Open Teams, Nationwide Pairs, NT Pairs, Swiss Pairs and Teams, Coffs Coast Pairs and Teams, Illawarra Congress, GNOT Moruya Heat, Orange Congress, GNOT Rockhampton, Victorian Online Teams and GNOT VBA Heat and Yeppoon Congress.  Attendances from this club peaked in Orange with 26 people earning points there.  

Please note for all those members who played in Wagga Wagga Congress, I will chase to see why points weren't awarded for participation there.  

The most points awarded were to George Kozakos for competing in the Northern Territory Pairs, Swiss Pairs and Territory Teams event bringing home over 65 gold points.  Our own Canberra in Bloom competition will have multiple Gold points on offer - numbers are dependent on the numbers of entries. So think about entering and potentially improving your Master Rank.  

A copy of Congress State and National Events for the Month of August and points awarded is on the Noticeboard next to the Masterpoints in the Barry Turner Room.  

 

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 (now 27 boards with Rob Hurst) 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.

Monthly statements were emailed yesterday.  Please check at the office or email us if you did not receive one

 

New to Bridge?

The Canberra Bridge Club is committed to supporting our newer bridge players.

We offer supervised play opportunities. We also provide support for newer bridge players who may be playing standard duplicates. We recognise that you may have questions about something that came up during a duplicate.   

If you are new to bridge and would like to speak to an experienced bridge player about something that came up during a duplicate, please reach out to Morag Lokan.  Morag is our novice co-ordinator.  She is an experienced player (with a newly minted Silver Life ranking!) and is happy to respond to queries about a hand or help you analyse your results in a duplicate. Morag can also provide advice on upcoming lessons and upcoming competitions for newer players. 

You can contact Morag at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

 

September Supervised Sessions 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. 

  • 7/9 Sep: Transfers -  majors

    14-16 Sep:  Same bid – different message

    21-23 Sep:  System card

    28-30 Sep:  Etiquette, Duplicate play, bridgemates & scoring

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 8 September is Competitive Bidding - Negative and Other Doubles 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

 

August Swiss Pairs 

1.  Leah Andrews & Graham Wakefield - averaging 57.7% over the 2 week competition

2.  Peter Grant & Tony Marinos

3.  Bernie Waters & Michael Cullen

 

Christy Geromboux and Sebastian Yuen have qualified for the Mixed Pairs World Bridge Series Final B in Wroclaw Poland.  Good luck Christy and Sebastian!!!!

 

Congratulations to all!

 

Upcoming Events

  

Upcoming Tuesday Evening RealBridge Tournaments

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

Butler Pairs on 6,13 and 20 September - Entries close 10am on Monday. Please don't delay in submitting.  

Teams on 27 September and 4 October; and 

Butler Pairs on 10 and 17 October.  

 

BFACT Gala 'Gold' Pairs - Saturday 17 September

This one day Butler Pairs event will have open, restricted and novice sections and 6 x 8 board rounds is open to all players in the ACT region.  Entries should be submitted by 10am on Thursday 15 September to https://www.myabf.com.au/view or by email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..  For more info, see the flier in the foyer, email Niek or call on 0422 471 649

 

Memorial for Sally Barber Bridge Day - Thursday 29 September 

This event to commemorate Sally Barber is being run by Jeanette Harper and the Commonwealth Club.  For details and bookings please contact Jeanette Harper This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

 

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.  

 

Ian Morison: 

Again, I borrow from Paul Marston, this time in last weekend’s The Australian

Dealer S, Both Vul

                                                Q54

                                                AK74

                                                 Q2

                                                 QJ109

   9                                                                                  1087

J1082                                                                              Q963

J987                                                                                K5

 K643                                                                               8752

 

                                            AKJ632

                                                  5

                                          A10653

                                                   A

The Bidding

  1. South opened 1S, and before long, through good hand evaluation and bidding, NS are playing 6S

The Play

  1. West led HJ
  1. South now took stock. Making 6 Spades looks quite easy
  1. 6 Spade tricks, 2 hearts, 1 Diamond and 3 Clubs = 12 Tricks
  1. What could go wrong?
  1. Here is how it went wrong: South won HA, played 3 rounds of Spades, ending in Dummy and then played a Club to CA
  1. Whoops, he said, I need another entry to the Clubs – so I am stranded in Declarer’s hand with 2 Diamond losers….mon dieu….how unlucky. Down 1, nothing could be done
  1. BUT: What could Declarer have done?

***********************

  1. When I see these problems in The Aust, I get out a pack of cards and lay out the hand and do not read Paul’s answer. I keep at it until I find the answer on my own (I find this is a useful way to improve my Declarer play)
  1. Sometimes the solution is beyond me, such as complex squeezes, but I am happy to say I got this one!
  1. So, get the pack out before reading on, and test yourself. Get your partner to try. Aunt Mabel as well, and also Woof the dog (ruff ruff!)

                                                                           ********************

Answer

  1. Three extra tricks can only come from Clubs in Dummy – you hold QJ109. [You are missing KJ9 of Diamonds, so unlikely there]
  1. The impediment to the 3 Club tricks is CA as it will strand you
  1. So, throw it away! After winning HA, play HK and throw CA
  1. Then play CQ, throwing a Diamond. West wins, and whatever he returns, you clear Trumps ending in Dummy with SQ, then play your 3 winning Clubs, throwing 3 more losing Diamonds. [If West holds back in winning, just keep playing Clubs, throwing Diamonds each time]

Moral of the Story

  1. You must be in the right hand at the right time. It seems heresy to throw the winning CA, but once the CK has gone, all your Clubs are winners
  1. You only have 1 entry to Dummy (SQ) and that must be preserved to be used at the right moment

 

Bridge Players Horrorscope compiled by Winsome Loosum

Virgo

Some would argue (perhaps from experience) that there are very few of those playing bridge at this moment in time.  For those that are - November offers a very promising time.  My advice is to play your cards carefully and who knows what may come up.  For some, singleton queens will be difficult to locate.  For others, care will be needed to avoid losing to the lurking jack.  

 

Lighter Moments

How excited was the gardener about Spring?

  • so excited he wet his own plants

I hate Spring cleaning. The darn things bounce all over the place.

What's the difference between Spring break and Summer break?

  • Jumping on the bed won't make a Summer break.

How do you announce to someone that Winter has come to an end?

  • You Spring it on them!

What did the florist say about springtime?

  • Business is blooming!

Why is spring a good time to get into good habits?

  • It’s the perfect time to turn a new leaf

Be kind to each other. 

 

Tamara (for Kerry and Tamara)