Newsletter 21 October 2022
In this week’s newsletter...
- President's Message
- Results
- Upcoming Events
- RealBridge Annual Congress - Sunday 6 November
- Will Jenner O'Shea Workshop - Saturday 26 November
- Summer Festival of Bridge Program for January 2023
- Member Spotlight- Roger Busch
- Bidding a Weak Suit with Ian Morison
- Lighter Moments
From the President
The new committee met for the first time on Friday 7th October and is setting the agenda for the coming months.
We are a volunteer club. Apart from the paid Teachers, Directors and Managers all other little (and big) tasks are carried out by volunteers. My experience in life has been that the more you put in, the greater the satisfaction you gain from your participation. So, I would encourage everyone to put up their hand to join with fellow members when we have working bees or social functions to organise to join with us and have fun. It is the people you meet on a regular basis who become your friends. As bridge players we meet regularly and chat about hands we have played but our conversations seldom go beyond that. Take time to get to know your fellow players. We have all lead interesting lives and have had fascinating employment. Use Bridge as a bridge to new friendships.
On 1st November the fantastic “Race that stops a nation” is being run. I forget its name, but they tell me that it is very exciting, so I would encourage everyone to come to the club dressed in your finest and play bridge with your friends. Bring a bottle of your favourite and celebrate a return to social activity at the bridge club. There will not be our normal lunch and sweepstake which have taken place in previous years but a bit of fascinator and top hat presence may help the atmosphere.
Time is of the essence at the table as we all know. Any way we can help our declarer increase their planning time brings smiles to every face. If you are driving the bridgemate, please when you are dummy, place your cards down before operating the bridgemate.
Smile at your partner.
Tim Mather
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
- 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 (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.
Please note that there's been no known cases of transmission at the club for the past 2.5 months. Take a bow and thank you everyone for being so responsible.
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.
Mid month reminders on low balances went out on Wednesday. If you did not get one then you are in the black.
Can anyone who banks with AMB please check your records and if you've been bleeding money to us please stop paying us!
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.
-
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 27 October is on Opening the Bidding - Strong Hands - 2C, 2NT, Balanced/Unbalanced. 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
October Swiss Pairs
1. Christopher Quail & Julia Hoffman
2. Tony Marker & Barbara Toohey
3. Rob Hurst & Des Manderson
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.
Spring Matchpoint Pairs
- Each pair plays each other pair once over two weeks. Matchpoint (duplicate scoring).
- Online Entry Form
Parramatta RealBridge Annual Congress - 6 November 2022
DIrected by Matt McManus under the auspices of the NSWBA, enter via MyABF.
Will Jenner-O'Shea- 26 November
This is the first in a series of workshops to be presented by William Jenner-O’Shea suitable for all standards of players. For more details see the flier here. Partnership and singles bookings are welcome.
- Topic: Improve Your Overcalls and Competitive Bidding
- Date:Saturday 26 November, 10 am – 3 pm
- Cost:$45 for CBC & BFACT-affiliated Club members; $50 for visitors
- Bookings: Please fill out our online entry form
- Payment: Members pay via CBCPay; non-members via Direct Deposit to our account.
Will Jenner-O'Shea is a very experienced teacher and an Australian representative player. He has taught hundreds of Beginners, and thousands of Intermediate and Advanced players. He has represented Australia and won several National events. His last workshop in 2021 was very well received.
Enquiries: Patricia McDonald This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Bruce Chapman This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
State Open Pairs
This 3 week face-to-face competition, is face-to-face at the club on Tuesdays - November 8, 15 & 22, with a7:15 pm start.
This is an Honour Board event and the winning pair will be the 2022 ACT Open Pairs Champions!
Canberra Summer Festival of Bridge January 10-22 January 2023
10-14 January
Senior and Women's Teams
Senior and Women's Playoffs
Non Life and Life Masters' Teams
Chris DIment Swiss Pairs
One Day Novice Teams and Two Day Novice MP Pairs
Penline Swiss Pairs
Weekend 15-16 January
TBIB OPen, <100 and Mixed (new with PQPs) and Penline<500 Swiss Pairs
Week 2 17-22 January
17-22 January
South West Pacific Teans
<750/300 MPs Teams
Neura Swiss Pairs
Pack up and go Home Pairs
NOT Quarter-Finals, Semi-Finals and Finals
All enquiries: Ian Thomson
Enter via MyABF
Member Spotlight - Roger Busch
How long have you been a player/member?
- I started lessons at Grand Slam in 2005 and came to the CBC when Grand Slam closed in early 2021. Anne Weber and Mei Ling were the very best of teachers !
Most memorable occasion at the club?
- Bringing home a 6S Doubled (and vulnerable) against perhaps Hilda and George. (My partner Jenny Walpole was very pleased) .
What do you do when you're not at the club? (Golf, Gardening, Grandchildren, All the above, or Other...)
- I do volunteer work at the Communities at Work Best Dressed shop on a Friday and Saturday (Endeavour House Manuka). All funds raised purchase food for the pantries at Tuggeranong and Gunghalin. Please drop in and see the preloved designer fashion !
- I also have a large veggie and flower garden and often see other members at Anytime Fitness Stellar (Woden).
What's your favourite travel destination pre COVID?
- Europe - Portugal and France bring back the fondest memories.
What's your favourite travel destination now?
- I have recently done walking tours in the Flinders Ranges, Yorke Peninsula, Warrumbungles (wild flowers were magnificent).
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And off to walk in the Beowa National Park in early November (it used to be called Ben Boyd). None of these are ‘roughing it’ - pack free with great food and accommodation.
What’s the best thing about Canberra Bridge Club?
- How friendly people were to us "newbies" who flooded in from Grand Slam.
Bidding a Weak Suit with Ian Morison
A strong adage in bridge is that length in trumps is more important than strength in trumps
You want lots of trumps (at least 8), of any strength, in both hands, and high cards, good side suits, or shortages in the other suits
Dealer East, all Vul
You sit North and this is your Hand:
75432
10
AQ9
QJ108
East opens 1H, your Partner, South, overcalls 2C, promising a reasonable hand and at least 5 Clubs. West bids 2H
How would you bid your hand?
You have 9 points, and a singleton Heart. You are Vul
Maybe a game is on?
Do you raise Partner to 3, or more, Clubs?
Or do you bid 2S? It is a terribly weak suit. But it does have 5 Spades (see adage above!)
I prefer 2S. Given the shape of your hand, and strong Club support, a game is a reasonable chance.
The problem is 5C requires 1 more trick than 4S to make game
So, I would bid 2S, despite the lousy suit, exploring your options
You can expect the remaining 8 Spades to break evenly between the other 3 hands. Thus, your partner should have some
2S is not very high. If you get doubled, you can always revert to Clubs
You bid 2S, and your partner promptly bids 4S. EW are silent
Here are the full hands:
75432
10
AQ9
QJ108
8 A109
9865 KQJ742
K76542 J103
K4 2
KQJ6
A3
8
A97653
4S will make (5C should also make, but 4S gives a better score)
What if you (North) had raised 2C to 3C?
In my view, South should then bid 3S, as, even though Clubs are agreed as trumps, Spades are a better suit to be in, if by chance North has at least 4 Spades
You should agree with your partner that this bid after trumps are agreed is showing another suit, and can be as few as 4 in that suit (Spades here)
Moral of the Story
4S and 4H are better contracts than 5C or 5D
You should explore getting there, and have an understanding with partner that this is what you are doing
Lighter Moments
Damaged Pumpkin Q: How do you fix a broken jack'o'lantern? A: You get a pumpkin patch
Lonely Ghost Q: What will you never find in a Ghost's house? A : A living room
Musical Mummy Q: What is mummy's favourite type of music? A: Wrap music
Smart Witch Q: What is a witch's favourite subject at school? A: Spelling
Sleep Vampire Q: How are vampires like false teeth? A: They both come out at night
Twin Sisters Q: What's the problem with twin witches? A: You never know which witch is which
Wicked Good Hat Q: Why did the witch refuse to wear a flat hat? A: There was no point to it
Funny Skeleton Q: How do you make a skeleton laugh? A: Tickle its funny bone
A Novel Sport Q: Why is a cemetery a great place to write a story? A: It's filled with plots
Creepy Address Q: Where does the zombie live? A: On a dead-end street
Be kind to each other.
Tamara (for Kerry and Tamara)