Newsletter 23 August 2024
In our newsletter this week..
- Vale George Riszko
- Anne Baldwin's Funeral Notice
- Message from the Committee
- Internet and Email Safety
- New Members
- John Brockwell's Column
- Youth Day
- Advanced Bridge Series
- Wednesday Night Pizzas
- Upcoming Events
- Ian Morison
- Farewell to Amik
Vale George Riszko
The Canberra Bridge Club used to have four prominent Georges. To distinguish between them they were dubbed Mad George (George Riszko), Bad George (George Jesner), Sad George (George Rothman), and Glad George (George Havas).
Brian Thorp occasionally partnered Mad George, and jocularly remarked that having him as a partner was very much better than having him as an opponent.
The late Hashmat Ali and George Riszko were Canberra’s most successful partnership in international competition. In 2002 Australia’s Seniors Team for the inaugural Asia-Pacific Seniors Teams in Bangkok was selected by a Butler Pairs, which gave Hashmat and George a chance to show off the effectiveness of Professor Roy Kerr’s Symmetric Relay system (comprehensive system notes available from Google). The sole flaw in Symmetric Relay auctions is missing a relay step, so Hashmat and George accidentally arrived at a grand slam — one off — when the small slam was cold.
Nevertheless Hashmat and George qualified for the Seniors Team. Spearheaded by the legendary Tim Seres, the team were silver medalists in Bangkok. I often partnered Hashmat at subsequent country congresses. Occasionally he would sport his Bangkok team T-shirt, which had an intimidatory effect on the opponents.
John Brockwell thanked me for encouraging George to resume playing at the CBC, also observing that, “His record is most respectable.”
In his last years I was George Riszko’s regular partner at CBC walk-in pairs. Despite his “brain fog” caused by fortnightly chemotherapy, he nevertheless enjoyed Tuesday afternoon matchpoint pairs and particularly Thursday morning Butler pairs. In both types of contests George demonstrated his astute declarer play and cerebral bidding acumen, once again employing Professor Roy Kerr’s Symmetric Relay system.
George Riszko’s gentile father Wladimir Riszko hid some Jews during the Holocaust, later marrying one of them, Rennie. Full details at:
https://aish.com/descendants-of-jews-saved-by-heroic-pole-find-each-other/#.YB_10oY0vQI.facebook
Vale George Riszko.
- Richard Hills
Funeral Service will be held at:
- 10.30am- 11:30am Friday 23rd August 2024
- Tobin Brothers, 75 Canberra Avenue Kingston ACT, 2604
The reception will be held at:
- 11.30am - 2pm
- Kingston Hotel, 73 Canberra Avenue, Kingston ACT, 2604
Parking is available at:
There is a small amount of parking at the funeral parlour, and there is additional parking at the Kingston Hotel.
If you are attending online, please join at this link:
https://vimeo.com/event/4522095/ccc69346c2
Digital memories and tributes can be signed here:
https://tributes.memories.net/george-riszko-461585?utm_medium=email&utm_source=communication
Anne Baldwin's Funeral Notice
- 9 September - 1:30pm
- Chapel at Norwood Park Crematorium, Mitchell
- Click here for further details
Message from the Committee
For twelve years the CBC has had a draft strategic plan, so I am very pleased to advise members that the Management Committee has, over the past few months, undertaken a review process of the draft plan.
At the August 2024 meeting, the committee endorsed the 2024 strategic plan as the guiding document for the future development of the CBC.
The plan and a summary of the plan’s key result areas has been placed on the website for your information. The committee welcomes your feedback about the plan. It is the committee’s intention to regularly review the plan to make sure the vision for the future reflects our current circumstances and to ensure any changes to internal and external factors are taken into account.
Please send your comments via email to the
Internet and Email Safety
Recently a number of our member's email accounts have been hacked. Some people who were in their contact list have received emails asking fo gift card purchases, after an initial " Can I ask you for a favour?" type message. Please ignore emails that asks you to buy something on their behalf and also tells you that their phone is broken so they cannot call you - these emails are SCAMS!
Most of the people who are hacked decide to change their email addresses, so please confirm with them if you need their new contact details.
For further instructions on how to stay safe online, please refer to the link below.
https://www.esafety.gov.au/seniors/staying-safer-online
New Members
Canberra Bridge Club welcomes the following new and returning members to our club:
- Fiona Lavery
- Leo Goorevich
- Fiona Cooper
- Mark Cooper
John Brockwell's Column
SUIT COMBINATIONS (cr. The Official Encyclopedia of Bridge, 5th ed.)
You are declarer with KQ6432 opposite T5, with plenty of entries:
1. You need 5 tricks. Lead to the king; then lead to the queen.
Chance of success 34%.
2. You need 4 tricks. Lead to the king; then lead to the queen or low to the ten.
Chance of success 85%.
3. You need 3 tricks. Lead to the king or low to the ten.
Chance of success 98%.
- John Brockwell
Youth Day
The next Youth day with Will Jenner-O’Shea will be held on Sunday, 8 September from 11:00am - 1:00pm at the Canberra Bridge Club. These sessions are available to anyone under 30 for free. And, if there are “Youth” who are not too far on the other side of 30, please let them know as they will also be very welcome, it’s always a fun time!
Please contact Mary
- Sunday: 8 September 2024
- Venue: Canberra Bridge Club, 5-7 Duff Place, Deakin.
- Time: 11:00am-1:00pm
~Youth Bridge is Bridge’s future~
Advanced Bridge Series
The next Advanced Bridge Series with Will Jenner-O'Shea concentrates on Signals In Defence:
♥ Attitude Signals on Our Leads to Know What to Do Next
♥ Count Signals, and How To Use Them
♥ Suit Preference Signals. What They Are? When They Apply?
- Workshop - Sunday 8 September 2024
- Time: 1:30pm
- Click here to Enter
Don't forget there will be a play session the following week to practice what you've learnt. You can also register for the mentored play session through the link below:
- Mentored Play Session - Sunday 15 September 2024
- Time: 1:30pm
- Click here to Enter
Wednesday Night Pizzas
The next Wednesday night pizza will be on 28th August 2024. For those unfamiliar with the activity, the Wednesday night pizzas provide the opportunity for social interaction while enjoying a pizza sampling. It provides a great opportunity to talk to and socialise with your fellow players, which is not always the case when engaged in playing bridge. The pizzas will be available from 6:30, which provides ample time to enjoy your pizzas before supervised and walk-in play begins.
The cost of the pizzas is a nominal $5 payable on the day. This entitles you to half a pizza. A variety of toppings will be available and participants can pick and choose. Vegan pizzas can be made available for those who want them. No drinks are provided, so if you want liquid refreshment you will need to bring your own.
Attendance is voluntary and those wishing to partake should place their name on a list on the noticeboard or contact Jon Pike directly. His email is
Upcoming Events
Swiss Matchpoint Pairs ( Incorporates BFACT Mixed Pairs Championship )
- Tuesday 27 August and 3 September
- 7:15pm (Face to Face at the Club)
- Click here to Enter
Australia Wide Open Pairs
The Australia-Wide Open Pairs has a rich history that goes back more than 40 years, bringing together thousands of players from all around the country.
Each player will receive a souvenir booklet on the day, describing our recommendations for how the bidding and play should have gone. After the results are in, there will also be a second personalised booklet available on our web page, looking at every board to see how your bidding and play compares against our recommended results.
- Date: Wednesday 28 August 7:15pm
- Entry fee: $15 Concession : $13 Youth : $7.50
- This is a walk in event which will run in place of our usual Wednesday evening Duplicate. (Supervised session will be on as per normal)
- Click here for more information
Introduction to Teams
The two weeks will introduce the idea of teams and how the scoring differs from regular pairs play. There will be a few handouts and a brief talk by an experienced teams player on the different strategies and how bidding and play changes when playing teams. It will also be an ideal practice in the run up to Canberra In Bloom, for those entering the various novice, rookie or restricted events being offered there.
- Sunday 22nd and 29th September from 1-00pm until 4-30pm
- Entry fee is $24 for members. This event will need to be pre-registered but payment will be charged on the day by the director.
- Click here to register
if you have any questions or require clarification, please feel free to email
Canberra in Bloom
Canberra in Bloom is being held on 4-7 October with events catering for all levels. It is being played at Canberra Bridge Club, with morning and afternoon tea provided and prizes to win.
Early bird prices close on 31 August so enter now at myabf.com.au
For further information, contact Roger Brake at rbrakebridge.com.au or 0466009426
Ian Morison
Farewell to Amik
Amik, our helpful co manager, has been fortunate to receive a place in a full time ACT Government Training Program commencing on Monday August 26. This has meant that he has had to relinquish his position here at the bridge club with his last day being yesterday Thursday 22nd. The committee thanks Amik for his loyal service and helpful manner to all at the club. We wish him well in his future with the ACT public service.
Have a great weekend everyone!
Elizabeth
