Newsletter - 9 February 2024
In our newsletter this week...
- Message from the Committee
- Celebrating Success - January
- Under 26 Women's Team
- Gold Coast Congress - Shortage of Directors
- COVID Reminder
- Perfume Reminder
- Grand Slam Pairs - Date Change
- Mystery Payment
- Teams Knockout on RealBridge
- Supporting our Newer Players
- Skills Development Workshop with Will Jenner-O'Shea
- Advanced Bridge Series
- Margaret Bourke Pairs
- BFACT Open Teams
- Ian Morison
- No f2f bridge on Saturday 17 and 24 Feb
Message from the Committee:
Recently we went live with our new website and the Committee would like to say a big thank you to Chris Lokan for all his hard work (and long hours), and his patience with all the changes required in getting this up and running. Chris had some others assisting him behind the scenes on this project, and we would like to thank them as well.
Celebrating Success - January
Continuing on with our “celebrating success” of our beginner/supervised graduates who receive a score of 55%+ in a standard duplicate in the previous month we would like to congratulate the following:
- Sharon Hitch – Tuesday 16th January 58.7%
- Clayton Hitch – Tuesday 16th January 58.7%
Under 26 Women’s Team
Big congratulations to two of our very own youth players Diya Shah and Zara Chowdhury who will be representing Australia at the Transnational Youth Championship in Wroclaw, Poland in July. We are all very proud of you both!
If you would like to support our growing youth scene at the CBC, and you are heading off to the Gold Coast Congress to play, please consider purchasing a ticket to their fundraising dinner.
Details:
- Date: Monday 19 February 2024
- Time: 6:00 PM - 8:30 PM
- Venue: Kurrawa Surf Club
- Price: $60 per person
Gold Coast Congress - Shortage of Directors
During February directors are going to be in short supply. We are asking all the members to be understanding and patient as there might be delays in getting results up and some extra time might be taken during set up by some of our newer Directors.
We will also be cancelling F2F bridge on Saturday 17 and 24 February. RealBridge will run as per normal.
COVID Reminder
We are aware that there is a lot of COVID around at the moment. Please do not be at the clubrooms if you are unwell, whether with Covid symptoms or other symptoms. Our membership is older and includes more individuals with chronic health conditions than the general community. We want to keep everyone safe.
Perfume Reminder
Just a reminder to refrain from using perfume when coming to the club as some members of our club are allergic to strong perfume and aftershave.
Grand Slam Pairs
Due to a technical issue with the movement, the Tuesday afternoon session from 6 Feb will not be part of the Grand Slam pairs.
The new dates for the event are Tuesday 30 Jan (already completed) plus next Tuesday February 13th and Tuesday 27 February ie two weeks later.
Apologies for the inconvenience.
Mystery Payment
If you have paid from on 30 Jan from the following account please let the office know:
Westpac Community Solutions One 032-730 355176
Teams Knockout - A new restricted RealBridge event
We are introducing a new RealBridge event for all players with less than 750 masterpoints. If you are successful, you can go on to represent the Canberra Bridge Club and play RealBridge against other restricted players around Australia!
This is how it works. The ABF holds an annual national competition on RealBridge called the Australia Wide Teams Club Knockout. The event has three restricted categories:
- Under 50 masterpoints
- Under 100 masterpoints
- Under 750 masterpoints
The games are on RealBridge, 7:30pm every second Tuesday of the month from June to December (missing July). Teams can have as many players as they wish. As these teams are representing CBC, the club will pay their entry fees.
CBC can enter one team in each division. To select our < 50, < 100 and < 750 teams, CBC will run a qualifying event on RealBridge. This will run on every second Tuesday from March to May:
- 7:30pm, 12th March
- 7:30pm, 9th April
- 7:30pm, 13th May
The three best pairs will have the option to represent CBC. Final scores will be calculated by combining the 2 best scores for each pair.
The qualifying event is open to all players, whether you wish to play in the interclub competition or not. You do not have to play all 3 sessions, though of course to qualify you need to play at least 2 sessions.
The sessions are walk in. However to help with planning we ask that where possible you sign up for the first session. If there are sufficient entries we will split into <100 and <750 fields. Cost is normal table fees for each session.
Supporting our Newer Players
Supervised program
The supervised program for the year restarted on Wednesday 31 January. The upcoming lesson schedule is as follows:
- 14/2 & 16/2: Declarer play - consider the order.
- 21/2 &23/2: Declarer play – preserve your entries.
- 28/2 & 1/3: Same bid – different message.
- 6/3 &8/3: Transition to duplicates.
- 13/3 &15/3: Etiquette, duplicate play, Bridge mates and scoring. (Feb Beginner graduates commence this week).
- 20/3 & 22/3: Doubles and Overcalls.
- 27/3: Opening leads simplified. (no lesson on Good Friday).
The Bridge Buddy Program
If you have been playing for less than 2 years and would find it helpful to seek bridge advice from a more experienced player, we can assist. You may have a bridge issue that is puzzling you; you might want help analysing your results; maybe you are learning a new convention and would like to discuss what it involves. If you are interested, please contact Morag Lokan at
Skills Development Workshops with William Jenner-O'Shea
In addition to the Advanced Bridge Series (advertised below and in last week's newsletter) which are aimed at the more advanced players looking to improve their game beyond the club level duplicate,
the club will be running 3 workshops hosted by Will Jenner-O'Shea designed to help intermediate players take their game to the next level.
These workshops will include a delicious morning tea, a light lunch, and a booklet of notes.
One workshop has been held already. The two remaining workshops scheduled are:
- Saturday March 23rd 10am to 3pm: Defence Techniques Card Placing and Counting Tricks
- Saturday April 20th 10am to 3pm: Solid Suits, Strong Suits, Decisive Bidding
Advanced Bridge Series
This is a new initiative this year, aimed specifically at players keen to develop their game beyond the club duplicate level. At this level it is increasingly about bidding (and playing) hands to their maximum; or more colloquially "going as close to the edge as possible without falling over it". This applies to part scores, games and slams. Judging when and how to apply the pressure and conversely having the tools to deal with pressure opponents put you under is crucial. Finding this balance – being active enough to find your contracts and give the opponents issues while not being punished - is the challenge.
How does this series work?
Each topic in the series will involve two workshops: the first is a more traditional lesson, while the second is a mentored play session. The lessons will be run by our own, well renowned teacher Will Jenner O'Shea. The play sessions let players practice the skills and discuss the issues with a number of the club's best players. You may attend just the lesson or the mentored play.
Who should go?
Any player interested in knowing more about competitive play and what it involves.
When is it?
SET1 has been presented already.
SET2:
- Sunday March 3rd, 1:30pm (lesson)
- Sunday, March 10th, 1:30 (play) Slam bidding using keycard: Splinters to improve your slam bidding and judgement. Advanced declarer play techniques to help you make your slams.
SET3:
- Sunday April 14th, 1:30pm (lesson)
- Sunday, April 21st, 1:30 (play) Competitive biddingpushing it to the edge. Improve your knowledge of scoring and sacrificing, when to penalty double, when to bid on.
Margaret Bourke Pairs
This is a new competition, honouring one of the Club's most successful players, Margaret Bourke. It will run as a two-week Butler pairs, IMPS scoring, on 27 February and 5 March.
Registration is now open, click on the link below:
http://myabf.com.au/go/MargBourke
BFACT Open Teams 2024
A reminder that the BFACT Open Teams event for 2024 is on 12th to 26th March 2024.
Registration is now open, click on the link below:
http://myabf.com.au/go/BFACTOpenTeam
Ian Morison
If you would like to read Ian's article please press the link below.
Saturday F2F bridge Cancelled 17 and 24 Feb
Due to a shortage of Directors during the Gold Coast Congress we will not be running the F2F bridge at the club (1pm) on Saturday 17th and 24th. The RealBridge will run as per normal.
Lighter Moments
BRIDGE POEM
I'm giving up bridge - Tonight's my last night
It's amen to Stayman, I give up the fight.
The insults and muddles are giving me troubles
And I can't sleep at night for thinking of doubles.
My cards are all rotten and I have forgotten who's played
and what's trumps and what's gone on my right!
So for now it's all over - I'm off to the back wood
I'm bidding good-bye to Gerber and Blackwood.
I can't stand the hassle, I can't stand the pain
I'm getting those bad cards again and again.
So I'm giving up bridge - Tonight's a bad night.
Declarer is horrid and nothing's going right.
My partner's a dope and I'm losing all hope.
And when she says "double" I know we're in trouble.
My points are not high and I'm wondering why
She kept on bidding right up to the sky.
We're in seven spades and all my hope fades
When surprise, surprise, the high bidding pays!
We're winning all tricks, the defenders feel sick,
And I have to admit my partner's a brick
But I'm giving up bridge - Tonight's my last night!
Farewell to conventions - I give up the fight?
So I leave with few words but some that are true,
Bridge is a game - not for me but for you.
So be kind to your partners and don't mind their cheek.
For it's only a game - Oh! Yes. I'll see you next week.
Have a Great Weekend!
Elizabeth (For Elizabeth and Amik)
