Anita Curtis has recently retired giving on line lessons for aspiring intermediate players. Her replacement is Will Jenner-O’Shea – who is an amazing teacher – enthusiastic, interactive, and full of clever teaching strategies. Lessons are held on Zoom on Thursdays at 9.30 am. You may join the lesson or just wait for the video link and notes from the lesson which he mails out at the end of the lesson. He is kicking off on June 12th with – Planning the Play in a Suit Contract – Part 1. The sign-up process has changed slightly. You can now register via the Upcoming Events Page: here . You can register as a recurring participant or sign up for individual lessons as you go.
RULE of 20
The Rule of 20 allows a player to open the Bidding with fewer points than normal
if they consider the distribution of their cards.
WHEN TO OPEN :
A player can Open the Bidding if the total of their High Card Points (htp )
and the number of cards in their 2 longest suits is 20 or more.
N B. Player’s honours should be in the long suits, not in side suits.
………………..
Check the following hands,
Would you open with the following?
1 AJ986 / KQ974 / 86 / 3 You have 10 h.c.p. + 2 five card suits (10) = 20
so you would open 1 Spade
2 A786 / 863 / AQJ84 / 7. You have 11 h.c.p.+5 diamonds plus 4 spades = 20
so you would open 1D
3 QJ6 / A8 / J84 / QJ943. You have 11 h.c.p. + 5 clubs + 3 cards = 19 so you would pass
4 KJ5 / A873 / QJ5 / 872. 11 h.c.p. +4 + 3 = 18. Pass.
ECLECTIC (ec-lec-tic)
Our three week eclectic event is designed to produce one individual winner. This event has been on the PBC program for over 30 years.
To be in the running you must play with at least two different partners. Your two best scores with different partners are compared with the rest of the eligible players to determine the winner.
ALERTING
The idea behind alerting is that the opponents are entitled to know just as much as you do about what partner’s bid means. Playing F2F you must say alert and then circle partner’s bid. Playing online you still must say alert and then press the alert button.
The alerting rules are long and complicated. Let’s just consider the basics.
ALERT THESE BIDS
Transfers
Multi 2’s
Bergen raises
2NT Jacoby
Replies to 2 club Stayman after opener’s 1NT
Any 2 level bid with multiple meanings
2 club opening
Replies to 2 club opening
2 over 1 game force
Mostly the reasoning is that you may not intend to play in the bid suit.
SELF ALERTING
All bids of the opponent’s suit
All doubles and redoubles
All calls at the 4 level and above
2 club bid after partner’s 1NT
ANNOUNCEMENTS
1 club opening . Tell (announce) eg 2 +or 3+ clubs, or unusual (eg precision).
1 NT opening. Tell eg 15 to 17, or 12 to 14.
Don’t have to circle.
THE MASTERPOINT SECRETARY
The Masterpoint Secretary (Glen Chick) is responsible for uploading your masterpoints to the ABF web site, where they are credited to you at the end of every month.
All masterpoint queries should be directed to Glen.
GREEN POINTS are calculated by the computer, checked by Glen, and uploaded.
RED POINTS are also checked by Glen, but the results must then be forwarded to the State Masterpoint Secretary (David Weston, pbc life member) for verification.
He sends a code to Glen so he can upload the file.
TEAMS EVENTS. Teams of more than 4 must decide whether they wish to play as a 5 or 6 player team or a 4 player team with a substitute. If a 5 or 6 player team the points are divided equally between the players. If a 4 person team with substitutes, the players receive the points for their individual wins.
THE MASTERPOINT SYSTEM
There are 5 categories:
1. Green for beginners in supervised sessions (0.75 weighting).
2. Green for all general sessions (1.5 weighting).
3. Championship green for special named club events (2.0 weighting)
4. Red for special club events and Congresses
5. Gold for special ABF events
Masterpoints are awarded to the top half of the field on a sliding scale. So the more tables there are the higher the number of points awarded to the top players.
The club is charged for these points at approximately $2.00 per point, again slightly different amounts depending on the category.
The number of points you have earned determines your Masterpoint ranking. To reach upper levels (Life Member and above) you need a certain number of red and gold points.
The money raised by the ABF is used for hosting state and national events, paying their directors, overseas teams, national magazine, teaching programs etc.
The USA and UK have a slightly different scheme.
Carlyn Dun
COMMITTEE
Your committee meets once a month to ensure smooth running of the club. The minutes of these meetings are on the web site.
If you have any ideas or suggestions please speak to a committee member or submit your idea in writing.
TABLE MONEY
You can now use our pre payment facility for F2F as well as on line games.
Please remember to include your name on your payment entry.
FROM THE LAWS OF BRIDGE
You are declarer and you are asking dummy to play a card.
You must specify precisely which card eg. 5 of diamonds, small heart, 3 of trumps ,or top spade, otherwise dummy must play the lowest card.
Dummy can never ask which one!
If declarer just says play a spade, heart etc. then dummy must automatically play the lowest.
If declarer says, play anything then the defenders have the opportunity to nominate which card!
Go for it Defenders!
Vale Hugo Pipal
Hugo Adolf Pipal came as a refugee from Czechoslovakia after the Communists took over his country. The family of 4 spent a year in a German refugee camp. They were fed 3 meals of porridge a day. When they arrived at the Australian refugee shelter Hugo could not keep down the rich, greasy mutton they were served. The first language Hugo learnt in Australia was Polish from the Polish refugee children.
Being blessed with a superb singing voice, Hugo attended St Mary’s Cathedral School. He gained a University degree and his final jobs were being part of the head of Pub Mart and other liquor chains. He would go overseas to buy alcohol.
He was married to Elizabeth who died of breast cancer. He sired 2 children, Louise and James and was the proud Jeddah of Ivy, Poppy and Parker.
After his diagnosis of Pancreatic Cancer Hugo chose not to have any treatment and lived for more than 12 months in his family home. His family lived upstairs and were able to care for him.
The world has lost a lovely man but I am so happy to have known him. We enjoyed a great friendship. R.I.P. dear Hugo. Warmest wishes, Pauline Osborne.
Parramatta Bridge Club 