Newsletter 16 September 2022

 In this week’s newsletter...

  • AGM arrangements
  • Thanks to our Wonderful Volunteers
  • Results 
  • Upcoming Events 
  • BFACT Gala Pairs  
  • Canberra in Bloom
  • Cootamundra Congress - 15 & 16 October
  • Joan Butts - Remember Minor Play
  • Ian Morison Card Play
  • Lighter Moments

From the President

 

Please remember if you are playing on RealBridge, or in the Club, to announce to your opponents the minimum  number of clubs a 1C bid shows and also the value of your 1NT bid. Also please remember to alert all non-natural bids and only explain a such a bid when asked to do so.

The BFACT AGM is due to be held this Saturday(17 September) commencing at 5pm.

Stay safe and enjoy your bridge.

Margaret

 

 Vale Imelda Gildea and Brenda McMorrow

We were saddened to learn of the passing of Imelda Gildea and Brenda McMorrow.  

 

Notice of Canberra Bridge Club Inc Annual General Meeting

 CBC members are invited to attend the AGM to be held on Wednesday 5 October 2022, 5.30pm, at the clubrooms.

The AGM Notice, the draft minutes of the 2021 AGM, nomination forms and proxy forms are available from the Committee noticeboard in the clubrooms and the CBC website.

The election of office-bearers (President, Vice-President, Treasurer, Secretary, Tournament Secretary) and eight general Committee members will occur at the AGM.

Please place completed nomination forms and proxy forms in the appropriate labelled box in the Managers' office by midday on Tuesday 4 October 2022.

The AGM agenda and the 2021-22 audited statement of the CBC accounts will be available from the Committee noticeboard and the CBC website as soon as possible.

All AGM attendees are asked to observe the CBC COVID-19 protocols.  Details are available on the CBC website.  Please wear a face mask.

If possible, members are asked to submit their questions in advance of the AGM to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., this will facilitate the provision of a complete answer at the AGM.

 

 

BFACT AGM on Saturday

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.

If you would like to attend the AGM, and are unable to attend the CBC, you may attend virtually using the Zoom link below:

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83313577545

Meeting ID: 833 1357 7545

  

Thanks to all our Volunteers

We celebrate all those people who help around the club.  This week we've been noticing Gerdina Bryant who removes, washes and replaces the tablecloths.  A logistical challenge.  

Gordon McAlary has had a rest from watering with the rain.  As an aside, please note that the first iris is blooming in the garden near our terrific new signage.  

These people are heroes who make ordinary tasks extraordinary.  A HUGE shout out for all your help.  

 

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.

Low balance reminders on CBC Pay were emailed ystereday. If you didn't receive one then you are in the black!

 

Magnetic Name Badges

We hope to put in an order soon for magnetic name badges. If you would like one please drop $15 into the office.  We currently have 7 people on the list but need 20 to make a viable order.  

 

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. 

  • 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 15 September is Competitive Doubles - More about 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

 Tony Marinos and  former member Stephen Mendick took out the Mollymook Pairs and together with former members Andrew and Karen Creet won the Teams over the last weekend.  Emlyn Williams and son Stephen were runners up in the pairs and took home cash prizes. Congratulations to all.  There were many Canberra players participating.  For full results see here.  

 

Upcoming Events

  

Upcoming RealBridge tournaments on Tuesday nights

 

Teams on 27 September and 4 October; and 

Butler Pairs on 10 and 17 October.  

 

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 

 If you would like to know more about MyABF, please let us know, because the BFACT team would be happy to help either on line, or here at the Club.  

 

Cootamundra Congress - 15 & 16 October

The Cootmundra Congress is on October 15 and 16 with Swiss Pairs on the Saturday (9.30am  for 10 start ) and Swiss Teams on the Sunday (9.00am for 9.30 start). Bruce Crossman is directing. Entry fee is $50 per person per day or $80 per person for both days. Includes morning tea and hot lunch both days.  A flier is on the Congress table.  Enquiries to Judy Harris on 0429 528 990 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..  

 

Joan Butts: Minor Suits Exist too!

An opening of 1♣️ or 1♦️ could contain a number of hand shapes:  

  • unbalanced with a long minor suit or
  • balanced hand that couldn't open 1NT (not 15 - 17) or
  • a hand that couldn't open 1♠️ or 1♥️ because not five cards in that suit 

Despite so much emphasis (too much) on the "short" club or "better" minor, most of the time when you open 1♣️ there will be four+ cards in clubs. This is the most likely number, and next is five clubs, next is six clubs! and two or three  clubs occur only after that. So, don't worry too much about your partner's 1♣️ opening being "short"

Which minor to open?

  • open your longer minor
  • with two four-card or five-card minors, open 1♦️
  • with two three-card minors or three diamonds and two clubs, open 1♣️

Responding to 1♦️ or 1♣️ Openings
The first priority is to bid a four + card major if we have one. With no four+ card major, responder's next priority is to bid no trumps with a balanced hand. Ranges for no trump responses to 1♦️ or 1♣️ openings are: 

  • 1NT = 6-10 points
  • 2NT = 11-12 points
  • 3NT = 13-15 points

With none of the above, raise partner's minor. These will be unbalanced hands, because it's preferable to respond in no trumps when balanced.

Ian Morison: Do you Double or Bid?

   

Here is a Hand from earlier this week:

Dealer W, Nil Vul

                                          J742

                                             K5

                                       QJ873

                                             52

93                                                                                         1065

AQJ983                                                                             107642

AK10                                                                                     964

   96                                                                                         AJ

 

                                         AKQ8

                                               -

                                            52

                                  KQ108743

The Bidding

  1. West bid 1H, North passed, East bid 2H (in my view this is correct – some may say 4H is better, but I think East is too weak)
  1. What should South bid? South has a 3-loser hand. Even though North did not bid, the odds favour North having some points. Thus, South should be looking for a game in Clubs or Spades
  1. NS need a partnership understanding on what Double by South means. Some play it as an opening hand with any shape, others you must have all the unbid suits
  1. Here I would bid 3C given the long Clubs and very short Diamonds
  1. Next West bid 3H. North, correctly, found bidding 4D too high and Passed (though 3S is not silly as NS are Not Vul)
  1. East passed as well, rationalising that if West had a good hand, West would have bid 4H direct
  1. South then bid 3S, West 4H
  1. North should then bid 4S. South has bid aggressively and North has 4 Spades and the HK is a likely trick with West having opened and bid 3 times
  1. What actually happened at the Table is North passed and South bid 5C

The Play

  1. EW took DA, DK and later CA, 1 down
  2. 4S would have made

Moral of the Story

  1. Given South has bid aggressively, North should bid Spades, telling Partner he has far better Spades than Clubs
  1. Have a chat with your partner(s) and see what you mean when you Double with an opening hand – is it any shape or must you have all unbid suits covered?

                 

Ron Klinger Real Deal Work Through - the Power of the Pass

How to handle a pressured environment... this  hyperlinked deal arose in the final of the World Seniors’ Teams and the semi-finals of the World Mixed Teams in 2022.  

           

Lighter Moments

 For your morning smile  - did I read that sign right?

TOILET OUT OF ORDER. PLEASE USE FLOOR BELOW


In a Laundromat:
AUTOMATIC WASHING MACHINES: PLEASE REMOVE ALL YOUR CLOTHES WHEN THE LIGHT GOES OUT


In a London department store:
BARGAIN BASEMENT UPSTAIRS

In an office:
WOULD THE PERSON WHO TOOK THE STEP LADDER YESTERDAY PLEASE BRING IT BACK OR FURTHER STEPS WILL BE TAKEN

 
In an office:
AFTER TEA BREAK STAFF SHOULD EMPTY THE TEAPOT AND STAND UPSIDE DOWN ON THE DRAINING BOARD
 

Outside a secondhand shop:
WE EXCHANGE ANYTHING - BICYCLES, WASHING MACHINES, ETC. WHY NOT BRING YOUR WIFE ALONG AND GET A WONDERFUL BARGAIN?

Notice in health food shop window:

CLOSED DUE TO ILLNESS


Spotted in a safari park:(I sure hope so)
ELEPHANTS, PLEASE STAY IN YOUR CAR

Seen during a conference:
FOR ANYONE WHO HAS CHILDREN AND DOESN'T KNOW IT, THERE IS A DAY CARE ON THE 1ST FLOOR


Notice in a farmer's field:
THE FARMER ALLOWS WALKERS TO CROSS THE FIELD FOR FREE, BUT THE BULL CHARGES

 Be kind to each other. Remember to shuffle your hand before you return it to the dealing board if you're playing at the club. Do as I say not as I do!

 

Tamara (for Kerry and Tamara)