Rugby Bridge Club welcomes Bridge players of all standards. We operate
duplicate sessions, teach newcomers and improvers and organise four sessions per week
at different venues. If you have played Rubber Bridge we can give you a short
conversion course and you will be playing Duplicate in no time. We have our own
monthly tournament alternating between pairs and team events. Many of our
members join teams and play in the Rugby and District Bridge League and there
are opportunities to represent the Club in higher level competition. The Club is
affiliated to the English Bridge Union via the Warwickshire Contract Bridge
Association and for Bridge at Bilton participates in the EBU Masterpoints Scheme. It is optional for Club members to belong the EBU and a minority of
members do so.
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The English Bridge Union (EBU) has taken the decision to go to a new funding structure from April 2010. This will involve adopting universal membership: if you are a member of Rugby Bridge Club and the Club signs up you will automatically become a member of the EBU and will subscribe to the EBU through "Pay to Play". You will not be able to play at any Club sessions without becoming a member.
IT IS YOUR DECISION WHETHER WE OPT IN OR OUT
This is a very important decision for ALL members of the club and will be put to the members at an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) to be held on Friday 11th September 2009 at Dunchurch Parish Hall, 7:15 pm. Bridge will be available after the meeting subject to time available.
Read about the proposal under Pay to Play All members should be receiving a written Communication
The future for Ecats SIMS
There has been some concern that when P2P is introduced, the EBU would attempt to restrict SIMS events to EBU Clubs. This is not the case, it is only the 4 EBU events that will be restricted. Ecats puts on other events and these will remain open to all. The Children in Need SIMS event will take place on Tuesday 17th November 2009
read all about it: www.ecatsbridge.com/sims/info/calendar.asp
Masterpoints are Dead, long live Masterpoints
When the English Bridge Union (EBU) announced its new Strategy for the future it was looking at the failings of the present set-up and concluded that although the Masterpoint system was attractive to some new members, it was not attractive enough to pull in as many new members as they would like (membership of the EBU has been falling for many years, hence the attraction of Pay to Play; make them all join whether they like it or not). We all know that to many players the attraction of masterpoints fades and some people could not even be bothered to send in their certificates. So in their wisdom the heads of the EBU thought of a new system, where ranking was determined by current performance, the National Grading Scheme. Ranking will be determined by how well you are playing, at the moment, over the last 40 or so performances. Of course, as with masterpoints the ranking is determined by who you are playing, if you play every week at the "Duffers Club" and win every week, you will accumulate lots of points
This idea has a lot of merit but the EBU had not reckoned with all those players who had built up a grand title by slogging away for 30 years, or who had spent a fortune on green point events (a way of buying your way into top points). Because of their protests the EBU has relented and is now going to run the two systems side by side. How this will work when it comes to selecting the "best players" remains to be seen, but the EBU has a working party looking at it!
Of course, at Rugby, we have our own grading system, you can see your results every week on this website. Alan Webb, with the aid of Scorebridge works out the averages that you and your partner are achieving and list them in our Tuesday Summary: Totals
Draft minutes of the 2009 AGM are now on this website
The Week's Roundup
Second Chris Cassin and Petr Malish with 61.11%
The tournament was directed by Graham Clarke and scored by Chris Cooper.
At Ashlawn on Thursday 25th June, 15 pairs took part in an 8 table threequarter Howell movement over 26 boards with a sitout. The final result was
Bridge Quiz by Graham Lightfoot
Bridge Quiz No 6.
9th June 2009
Taken From The English Bridge Union Student year 2 Book Basic Acol
What should I know already?
IS IT FORCING TO GAME?
Which of the following sequences is forcing to game? If so, which is the forcing bid?
1 North East South West
1S pass 3S pass
2 North East South West
1S pass 2C pass
3D
3 North East South West
1C pass 1H pass
2D
4 North East South West
1H pass 2C pass
2H pass 2S
5 North East South West
1D pass 2S pass
3D
6 North East South West
1D pass 1H pass
1S
Bridge Quiz no 4
13 April 2009
In the following auction you are West playing ‘Standard Acol’ with a weak no trump 12 to 14 points and 4 card majors.
1 Dealer: West All Vulnerable
This is your hand West.
Spades AKJ5
Hearts 6
Diamonds AKT95
Clubs A96
Bidding
West North East South
1 Diamond 1 Heart 1 Spade 3 Hearts
?
2 Dealer North Non Vulnerable
This is your hand West
Spades K7542
Hearts 53
Diamonds 742
Clubs Q94
Bidding
North East South West
1 Spade Double Pass ?
Bridge Quiz no 2
11 April 2009
In the following auction you are West playing ‘Standard Acol’ with a weak no trump 12 to 14 points and 4 card majors.
1
Dealer: West All VulnerableThis is your hand West.
Spades AK5
Hearts AQ9
Diamonds 8
Clubs AK 843
Bidding
West North East South
?
2
Dealer North Non VulnerableThis is your hand West
Spades J 64
Hearts 53
Diamonds KQ 972
Clubs Q94
Bidding
North East South West
1 Club 1 Spade Pass ?
Answers at the bottom of this page
Bridge Quiz no 3
11 April 2009
In the following auction you are West playing ‘Standard Acol’ with a weak no trump 12 to 14 points and 4 card majors.
1 Dealer: East Non Vulnerable
This is your hand West.
Spades 94
Hearts KQJT973
Diamonds 754
Clubs 8
Bidding
West North East South
2 Clubs Pass
?
2 Dealer North All Vulnerable
This is your hand West
Spades KQ84
Hearts 53
Diamonds AQ 83
Clubs A62
Bidding
North East South West
Pass 1 Spade Pass ?
Answers at the bottom of this page
EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETING: CLUB DEVELOPMENT
The Chairman began the proceedings by reading out paragraph 9 of the Constitution. He reported that there was no Development Sub-Committee, at the moment, and that the Main Committee had been acting in lieu. He read out the relevant parts of the “Development Summary” (a short history of development work) produced by Christine Cooper. He then threw it open to the floor.
Freddie Foster then read out a history of his extensive involvement in trying to obtain premises. He thought that now land and commercial premises were too expensive to buy. He considered the best possibility was to obtain help from the Council or the lottery fund.
Chris Malthouse considered that a lot of people had put efforts into club development but were not necessarily interested in obtaining our own premises.
Malcolm Taylor was concerned about the willingness of members to contribute towards running premises. He thought that there were three options:
(1) No change
(2) Freeze Development Fund
(3) Liquidate the Development Fund.
Nicky Cook had done considerable work on conducting a survey of members’ attitudes to activities of Rugby Bridge Club. She considered that the present venues did not offer a good experience to visitors – e.g. too cold, poor toilets, poor car parking.
Graham Lightfoot said that if the Development Fund were liquidated we could purchase various technical aids, e.g. duplimate machines. However it was pointed out that there was enough money in the General Fund for this and there would be a problem of storage.
There was considerable, and somewhat confused, general discussion with many members making contributions. Eventually it was decided to take “straw polls” on two motions.
1. “We will not go ahead in a search for our own or shared premises” – proposed by P. Iredale, seconded by M. Taylor: For 5, Against 28.
2. “Table monies contributed by the Tuesday and Thursday sessions should be put in the General Fund” – proposed by W. Pattinson, seconded by R. Holland: For 7, Against 21, Abstention 1.
The Chairman considered that these were definitive results, in straw polls, and hoped that they might reinvigorate the search for premises.
Margaret Bias wins the Allott Trophy (2008-9)
for the best performance in the Saturday Evening Pairs Competition
The results were determined from the best 4 scores in the series
Click on Allott Summary to see the full table
ANNUAL PERFORMANCES 2008
CONGRATULATIONS to Marion and Chris topping the Tuesday averages yet again
First Marion Dixon and Chris Malthouse played 28 with 56.19%Second Alan Webb and Dennis Angove played 32 with 55.76%
Third Graham Clarke and Richard Holland played 36 with 54.57%Top attendances were from Rita and John Lord with 43 out of 51 matches played
Warwickshire County Introductory Pairs
Open to players holding fewer than 5000 local points
See County Bridge
Our weekly Bridge Sessions take place at Ashlawn, Bilton and Clifton. Results are reported on the following blogs. Click on the link to get the full results:
A www.bridgeatashlawn.blogspot.com
B www.bridgeatbilton.blogspot.com
C www.bridgeatclifton.blogspot.com
Have the detailed results e-mailed to you
The Club uses ScoreBridge to produce detailed results for the bridge at Bilton and at Ashlawn. The ScoreBridge programme can automatically e-mail results to the participants. If you wish to avail yourself of this service, make sure that our membership secretary, Chris Cooper, has your e-mail address.
Malcolm's Memo
our monthly reminder of rules and procedures is carried on it's own blog
Proposed EBU Changes to the Regulations for Alerting Doubles
There has perhaps always been some confusion, particularly at club level, as to which doubles are alertable and which aren't. The regulations on alerting of doubles were last simplified in August 2006, at the time of the introduction of announcements, but it is still the case that they are frequently not properly understood. The Laws and Ethics Committee is therefore considering simplifying the alerting rules further to say that "Doubles only require an alert if they have a highly unusual meaning." This regulation would apply equally below and above the 3NT level.
We await the EBU's ruling with baited breath. They will probably follow the Americans who have implemented it already. After all we live in a globalized society, how could it be any other now that we play the rest of the world over the internet!
EBU Strategy Proposals Approved by Shareholders at EGM
At the English Bridge Union's EGM on 4 June, 2008, the resolution stating:
‘that the Shareholders accept the principle of Universal Membership and approve the Board proposals for replacing the current Annual Subscription and Master Point income by a pay to play fee as outlined in the “Strategy for the future of the EBU and Duplicate Bridge in England” dated April 2008. If so approved the Board will commission the changes necessary to the Bye-Laws of The English Bridge Union and request a future General Meeting to accept those changes’
was passed by a vote of 52 in favour, 31 against. There were also 2 abstentions and 1 not present. All three of Warwickshire's Shareholders voted against. Warwickshire is a relatively large county as it incorporates Coventry and a large part of the West Midlands. As with many other sports Bridge chose to ignore the creation of the West Midlands.
At the moment membership of the EBU is a matter of choice for individual bridge players, who can play at any club of their choice. In the future there will be EBU clubs and non-EBU clubs. To play at an EBU club means that you will automatically become a member of the EBU. Existing Clubs are now faced with the choice of whether to join the EBU and contribute to the funding of Bridge at County, National and International Level, or simply continue in their present way but without having to contribute to the funding of the EBU. Individuals will be able to play at either type of Club just as they do with present Clubs, at some they will contribute to the EBU through pay to play, at others they will not.
Rugby Bridge Players will have to choose whether we are in or out
In June/July of next year the Club will receive a package from the ebu detailing our obligations to them if we sign up. This will include a contract agreeing to collect and pay p2p fees to the ebu for the forthcoming season. It is predicted that some clubs will split in two, part in and part out.
Read the comments of Warwickshire Chairman Colin Lang at:
http://www.bridgewebs.com/warwickshire/page3.html
Latest! see Pay to Play Communication to EBU Affiliated Clubs
CONVENTIONS
At the committee meeting on 30th March 2008 a decision was taken to restrict the Conventions used in Rugby Bridge Club's events to Level 3. What this means can be found in the ebu's Orange Book: http://www.ebu.co.uk/lawsandethics/articles/orangebook/default.htm
County Bridge
There is Bridge beyond Rugby and through Rugby Bridge Club you can go on to represent the Club in County Events. See our new County Bridge Page.
CONDUCT AND BEHAVIOUR
The EBU are promoting a guide to courteous behaviour, which they see as an exceptionally important part of the enjoyment of the game of bridge. The EBU are promoting this as Best Behaviour at Bridge or the: BB@B code
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Greet others in a friendly manner prior to start of play on each round.
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Be a good "host" or "guest" at the table.
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Make bridge enjoyable for yourself, partner and opponents.
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Give credit when your opponents make a good bid or play.
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Take care of your personal grooming.
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Ensure that your mobile phone is turned off.
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Enjoy the company as well as the game
Remember that it is rude to criticise your partner or opponents in public, to be less than polite at the table, to gloat over good results or object to a call for the tournament director or to dispute or argue about a director’s ruling.
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Please inform the Director if you think you may have been affected by bad behaviour, you will be helping others as well as yourselves. |
As in all games that are governed by rules and regulations, bad behaviour will be penalised.
If a player at the table behaves in an unacceptable manner, the director should be called immediately. Annoying behaviour, embarrassing remarks, or any other conduct which might interfere with the enjoyment of the game is specifically prohibited by Law 74A. Law 91A gives the director the authority to assess disciplinary penalties. This can include immediate disciplinary board penalties, and if a future violation is incurred at the same event, disqualification from future competition in that event. Any further violations may result in a disciplinary hearing where a player's future participation in tournaments will be considered
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RANK |
MEMBERS |
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Premier Grand Master |
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Grand Master |
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Premier Life Master |
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Life Master |
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Premier National Master |
Barbara Cooper, Chris Wormleighton |
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National Master |
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* Premier Regional Master |
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Premier Regional Master |
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* Regional Master |
David Lashley, Julia Lashley |
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Regional Master |
Jim Shoesmith |
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* Premier Master |
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| Premier Master | |
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* Tournament Master |
Helen Foster, Peter Iredale |
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Tournament Master |
Syd Cooper, Vera Iredale |
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***** Master |
Chris Cassin, Marion Dixon |
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**** Master |
Chris Malthouse |
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*** Master |
Richard Holland, Jean Soulier, |
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** Master |
Mike Allman, Les Tottman, |
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* Master |
Christine Cooper, John Lord, Eileen Walker, Val Wormleighton, Freddie Foster, |
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Advanced Master |
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Master |
Alan Webb, |
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County Master |
Pam Southern, Clive Toll, Trudy Calero, Graham Lightfoot, |
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District Master |
Nicky Cook, Chris Rowles, Jean Wilson, Stella Gill, Hugh Williams |
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Area Master |
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Club Master |
Rom Ecker, Kathy Lightfoot |
| Local Master | Anne Carrington |
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Unranked |
Jane Carrington, Maureen Hagan, Cassie Shaw, Robert Spencer, |
We are affiliated to the English
Bridge Union and our Tuesday Session awards Master Points. Click on the emblem to go to the
EBU website
Under the EBU's new Strategy (to be introduced in 2010) there will be no membership fee to pay. Does this sound too good to be true - of course it is, members will pay approximately 40 pence every time they play, so if you play 3 times a week, you will pay £1.20 a week or £60 a year. All right, you say, I am not in the EBU, but here is the real rub, the EBU says you will not be able to play in an EBU affiliated club without paying the "pay to play" fee.
Answers to Quiz No 6
Bridge Quiz No 6.
Taken From The English Bridge Union Student year 2 Book Basic Acol
What should I know already?
IS IT FORCING TO GAME
Which of the following sequences forcing to game? If so, which is the forcing bid?
1 North East South West
1S pass 3S pass NO
South’s 3S bid is a limit bid, showing 4 or more spades and 10/12 points. North can pass
with a poor opening bid.
2 North East South West
1S pass 2C pass
3D YES
North’s 3D is a jump shift bid. That is a bid in a new suit at one level higher than is necessary to bid diamonds. It shows a powerful opening hand and is forcing to game.
3 North East South West
1C pass 1H pass
2D NO
North has made a reverse bid by opening 1C and re-bidding in diamonds at a level higher than the original club suit. Whilst this shows a strong opening, often with good distribution, it is only forcing for one round. It is not forcing to game.
4 North East South West
1H pass 2C pass
2H pass 2S YES
South has made a responders reverse by bidding 2C and continuing with 2S over partners minimum 2H rebid. To bid like this shows longer clubs than spades and at least 13 points, so it is forcing to game. If South were weaker, the original response would have been 1S – even though spades is not South’s longest suit.
5 North East South West
1D pass 2S pass
3D YES
South has made a jump shift response by bidding 2S rather than 1S. South will normally have at least 16 points and a 5 card spade suit or longer.
6 North East South West
1D pass 1H pass
1S NO
North has shown an opening bid with diamonds and spades but nothing more. Normally North will have at least 5 Diamonds and 4 Spades, this is not game force.
Answers to Quiz No 4
Bridge Quiz no 4A
13 April 2009
In the following auction you are West playing ‘Standard Acol’ with a weak no trump 12 to 14 points and 4 card majors.
1 Dealer: West All Vulnerable
This is your hand
West East
Spades KQJ5 Spades AQT98
Hearts 6 Hearts 92
Diamonds AQJT6 Diamonds KQ3
Clubs K96 Clubs A74
Bidding
West North East South
1 Diamond 1 Heart 1 Spade 3 Hearts
?
West Holds 16 points, with 4 Spades, a good 5 card suit and a singleton 16 points +4 working points (3 for the singleton + 1 for the 5 card suit) = 20 points.(losing trick count = 5 losers)
The bid is 4 Diamonds
4 Diamonds tells partner that you agree spades and you have added strength. If partner is minimal for his bid (6+points), Bid 4 Spades. If stronger investigate a slam. With this hand 6 Spades should make.
2 Dealer North Non Vulnerable
This is your hand
West East
Spades K7542 Spades Void
Hearts 53 Hearts AQ62
Diamonds 742 Diamonds KQ83
Clubs Q94 Clubs AJ 832
Bidding
North East South West
1 Spade Double Pass ?
Your partner bid a take out double promising points in all suits except spades. He may have no spades at all. If you have a very good spade suit KQJT 3 or better you can leave the double in. With the hand above you must bid.2 clubs. This hand is very difficult to bid, but 2 clubs is your best bid. The opposition could well make 1 spade doubled + 2.
Answers to Quiz No.2
1 Dealer: West All Vulnerable
This is your hand as West. East
Spades AK5 Spades 942
Hearts AQ9 Hearts 853
Diamonds 8 Diamonds T9653
Clubs AKT843 Clubs95
Bidding 1 Club as your opening bid
You have 20 points and a 6 card suit. It feels like a 2 level bid is required, however the only 2 level bid is 2 Clubs and that is a convention bid showing 23+ points to which you partner must respond 2 Diamonds if they have Zero points and then you would bid 3 Clubs. No this hand is not strong enough for this. 1 Club is the bid.
Your partner correctly passes.
If the opponents enter the auction you can always bid clubs again, but no more than 3 as partner is showing 0-5 points by passing
2 Dealer North Non Vulnerable
This is your hand West West
Spades J 64 Spades KQT75
Hearts 53 Hearts 964
Diamonds KQ 972 Diamonds 83
Clubs Q94 Clubs AK7
Bidding
North East South West
1 Club 1 Spade Pass ?
2 Spades is the right bid. Your partner East has made an overcall of 1 Spade. This promises 5 Spades and 8 points + when bidding at the 1 level. You have 3 spades. That when added together gives an 8 card fit in Spades. Just raise to 2 Spades.
Do not bid 2 Diamonds with a weak hand when you have a fit in a major (spades). If you had bid 2 Diamonds North might be able to bid 2 Hearts and the opposition find there best contract.
Answers to Quiz No.3
In the following auction you are West playing ‘Standard Acol’ with a weak no trump 12 to 14 points and 4 card majors.
1 Dealer: East Non Vulnerable
This is your hand West. West
Spades 94 Spades AKT832
Hearts KQJT973 Hearts A
Diamonds 754 Diamonds AK3
Clubs 8 Clubs A43
Bidding
West North East South
2 Clubs Pass
?
Answer
3 Hearts. You do not have many points, however you have 6 winners in Hearts, and your partner has a 23+ point hand. So my bidding 3 Hearts you tell your partner that the best contract is Hearts. A 3 Heart bid after partners 2 Clubs shows a solid or semi solid suit. A 2 Heart bid shows a normal suit. This put your partner in control he can after exploration find a 6 or even 7 Heart bid.
2 Dealer North All Vulnerable
This is your hand West East
Spades KQ84 Spades AJ973
Hearts 53 Hearts AK84
Diamonds AQ 83 Diamonds KT2
Clubs A62 Clubs 7
Bidding
North East South West
Pass 1 Spade Pass ?
2 Diamonds: You have game points so take your time. Partner promises a re bid. Do not jump to 4 Spades (That shows a minimal game hand you have more than that). On a hand as strong as this a delayed game raise promises 13/15 points. So follow up partners next bid with a 4 Spade bid. Your partner East has 15 points and a singleton club Giving 18/19 point strength hand. Added to Knowing Your strength. Using Blackwood 6/7 spades can be bid. .
Had you bid 4 Spades as 1st reply partner may well have passed.
Are you down to Direct, Steward or Host? Changes have been made so click Here to Check the Officials List