Newsletter 7 October 2022

 In this week’s newsletter...

  • President's Message
  • ABF Promotions
  • Results 
  • Upcoming Events 
  • Cootamundra Congress - 15 & 16 October
  • Bairnsdale Congress - 15 & 16 October
  • RealBridge Annual Congress - Sunday 6 November
  • Lighter Moments
  • Movie Magic

 

 From the President

On Wednesday at the AGM, I was given the privilege of being elected your President. Thank you to everyone for your support and I will do my best to fulfill your expectations.

Thank you to retiring President Margaret Kyburz who has guided us through the last two years of the Pandemic and kept the club functioning with the support of her committee and many volunteers in as normal a way as possible. Our task as we emerge from the darkest days of Covid is to bring back the fun and enjoyment of our great game so that the quality of our leisure time is augmented.

To this end I would love for members to utilise the suggestion box on the front bench under the TV to provide ideas on how you think we can help make our time playing bridge at the club more relaxing, enjoyable, and convivial.

The new committee comprises

President                                            Tim Mather

Immediate Past President                  Margaret Kyburz

Vice President                                    Mary Tough

Secretary                                            Michele Grant

Treasurer                                            Jennifer Yeats

Tournament Director                           Bruce Crossman

Committee members       Roger Brake, Bruce Chapman, Nicole Finn, Anne FlemingDi Hawke, John Hempenstall, Hilda Hills, Patricia MacDonald, 

 

Smile at your opposition

Tim Mather

 

Also at Wednesday's AGM, Pam Crichton was awarded Honorary Life Membership for her outstanding service to the Club and its members and to the wider bridge community.  Everyone agreed that Pam is exceptionally deserving of this award.  Read here about all that Pam has done for Canberra Bridge Club.  Congratulations Pam!

Earl and Susanita Dudley Memorial Service

A memorial service for Susanita and Earl will be held on Tuesday 18 October 2022, commencing at 9am in the Margaret Whitlam Pavilion, Forest Drive, Arboretum

Promotions in September

Congratulations to the following promotees:

                                       New Rank                       Old Rank

Mary Flint                       Graduate                         Nil

Lynn Robinson               Graduate                         Nil

Keith Flack                     Club                                Graduate

Peter Hoskin                  Club                                 Graduate

Barry Jones                    Club                                Graduate

Margaret Kidney             Club                                Graduate

Carla Di Franco             Bronze Local                     Local

Kathleen Kenny             Silver Local                       Bronze Local

Maureen Blackmore       Bronze Regional               Regional

Terri Henderson              Silver National                 Bronze National

Chris Lokan                    SIlver Life                         Bronze Life

 

 

So it's been a busy week with Canberra In Bloom finishing on Monday, the AGM on Wednesday and change of Committee, together with September monthly  CBC Pay statements, yada yada yada. Sessions next week at the club revert to normal.

Sessions in the Club and on RealBridge are outlined below

Upcoming Sessions

Our weekly sessions are almost 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.  Please note that there's been no known cases of transmission at the club for the past 2 months. Take a bow and thank you everyone for being so responsible.  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.

October 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 9.30am.  

Each duplicate is preceded by a short lesson. 

  • 12 & 14 Oct: Overcalls

  • 19 & 21 Oct: Opening leads and signals

  • 26 & 28 Oct: Declarer play

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 13 October is Declarer Play: Maintaining Trump Control.  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 

Canberra in Bloom

Congratulations to Leonie Jones and Brenda Watt for taking out the Novice Pairs

Congratulations to David Hoffman, Jodi Tutty, Chris Quayle and Julia Hoffman for coming second in the Mixed Teams

Congratulations to Ian Thomson and teammates took out the Open Teams.  For a full run down see the link here.  

 

Christy Geromboux and Sebastian Yuen are performing well in an open teams event at the Congress in New Zealand.  May all your finesses work!

 

James Walcott, John Lee, Lisa Bradley and Steve Tayor progress to the Preliminary Final of the Australia Wide Knock Out U50 Masterpoints on Tuesday 1 November at 7:30pm.  

 

Upcoming Events

Director's training 12 & 13 November

BFACT has advised that its next workshop for new directors is scheduled to be held on the weekend of 12-13 November 2022, so now is a good time to express interest in being a director.

If you would like to find out more, please contact Bruce Crossman at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 0431 828 020 to discuss.

 

Upcoming RealBridge tournaments on Tuesday nights

 

Butler Pairs on 10 and 17 October.  Entries close on 9 October.  

 

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..  

 

Bainsdale Bridge Club 18th Annual Congress - 15 & 16 October

The Bairnsdale Bridge Club Congress will be held on Saturday October 15 for a 12 noon start ($35 per person) & on Sunday16 for a 10.00am start. (lunch provided for $45 per person)

Contact Alison Farthing on 0428 729 519 or email her on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for entries or www.bridgeunlimited.com 

  

Parramatta RealBridge Annual Congress - 6 November 2022

DIrected by Matt McManus under the auspices of the NSWBA, enter via MyABF.  

 

A BIG Hand with Ian Morison

As South, you pick up this Hand at last weekend’s Canberra in Bloom congress:

Dealer North, E-W Vul

                                                                Your Hand (sitting South)

                                                                                AKQ4

                                                                                AK

                                                                                KQ

                                                                                AQJ96

After many recounts, you are sure you have 28 Points, a rare hand indeed. Just 2 losers (DA and CK)

The Bidding

Just as you are thinking: ‘What shall I bid, after North and East pass?’, you see Partner reach for the bidding box and make a 3D pre-emptive opening bid

You realign your thoughts. A small slam is almost certain, maybe a grand slam

You bid 4NT to ask Partner for Aces, and he replies he has 1. It must be DA as you have the other 3

You now think it is very likely there will be 7 Diamond tricks, plus your 6 certain tricks = 13 top tricks. So, you bid 7NT (7D gives an inferior score)

The Play

D7 is led by West

You note that West did not lead a Spade or Club, perhaps indicating something held in those suits

Partner puts down Dummy. You see he has opened 3D with only 6 Diamonds. So, you now have only 12 top tricks. Unfortunately, he also does not have SJ, HQ or CK

                                                                                Dummy (North)

                                                                                 1093

                                                                                J108

                                                                                AJ9863

                                                                                4

                                              

D7 (lead)                                             

                                                

 You (South)

                                                                                AKQ4

                                                                                AK

                                                                                KQ

                                                                                AQJ96

You look at both Hands carefully – where will Trick 13 come from?

You also see that you only have 1 entry to Dummy – after you win the first Diamond Trick in hand (say, with DQ), if you play DK, you must overtake it with DA. As a result, Diamonds must break 3-2, or if they break 4-1, the D10 must be singleton

You could find the extra trick if you play HA and HK before crossing to Dummy, in the slim chance HQ falls. You could also play AK of Spades, hoping SJ falls. Both of these are low percentage chances

From Dummy, you could also finesse the CK or the SJ. These are both 50:50 chances

In the end, probably the best line is to enter Dummy with your second Diamond (as above) and run the remaining Diamonds. That puts incredible pressure on the Defenders – what do they keep?

When I played it, I had discarded all my Clubs except CA on the Diamonds. I watched as the Defenders discarded 3 Spades. With the 7 Spades held by NS, I now knew the S4 would be trick 13

Even if they had not discarded enough Spades, my final hope after running the Diamonds, entering my hand and playing HA, HK and CA, would have been to run the Spades hoping for the remaining ones to fall – very likely

 The full Hands

                                                                     1093

                                                                     J108

                                                                     AJ9863

                                                                          4

 J8752                                                                                                           6

3                                                                                                           Q976542

1074                                                                                                              52

  K852                                                                                                        1073

 

You (South)

                                                                      AKQ4

                                                                          AK

                                                                          KQ

                                                                      AQJ96

Moral of the Story

Look at your entries to each hand, consider the best chances to make, put pressure on the Defence, count the discards by the Defence, and you well may get there!

 

Lighter Moments

 

A bridge duffer was polishing a lamp and… poof! Out popped a genie who said, “I will grant you one wish.”

The duffer unfolded a map of the world and said, “Let all of these countries live in peace and harmony.”

“You’ve got to be kidding! I’m only a genie.”

The duffer thought for a while and then suggested, “OK, then make me a winning bridge player.”

“Hmm… ” the genie pondered. “Let me see that map again.”

 

3 construction workers were sitting on the Sydney Harbour bridge that they where building having their lunch break. The first guy says “If I get a vegemite sandwich again I am going to jump off this bridge.” The second guys says “If get a peanut butter sandwich again I am going to jump off this bridge”. The third guy says if I get another strawberry jam sandwich then I am going to jump off this bridge.” The next day the first guy gets a vegemite sandwich, the second guy gets a peanut butter sandwich and the third guy gets a strawberry jam sandwich. All 3 guys jump off the bridge and die. The next day at their funerals the first wife says “If he just told me I would have given him a different sandwich.” The second guy's wife says “It is all my fault. If only I knew.” The third partner says “I don’t get it, he makes his own lunch.

 

Movie Magic

Feel like unwinding with a movie?  The ANU Film Society invites you to a free matinee, "The Kitchen Brigade" at 5pm tomorrow Saturday, at the Cultural Centre, Tangney Road Kambri Precinct ANU. 

When her lifelong dream of opening her own restaurant does not go to plan, a French sour-chef reluctantly accepts a job cooking in the cafeteria of a shelter for young migrants.    The Trailer is here.  If you would like to attend please  email  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to get on the list for tomorrow’s 5pm screening. Note, no adverts no trailers so the film starts at 5.00. Masks are mandatory.

 Too soon?

Why not try The Castle on Tuesday at 7.30. A 25th anniversary followed by a panel discussion.

Be kind to each other. 

 

Tamara (for Kerry and Tamara)