| A useful convention |
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A useful convention
Regular partnerships will probably be familiar with the Lebensohl convention, used to minimise the disruption caused when an opponent competes over partner's 1NT opening bid.
However, Lebensohl is also useful when there has been an opening weak two-bid by an opponent. It is usual for a double of this bid to be played as takeout, but it can be difficult to know whether to bid on if partner responds with a bid of a suit at the 3-level. Does partner have a rotten hand (after all, he was asked to bid) or does he have enough for a game (perhaps 9 or 10 points) when the doubler has about 15 or 16 points?
The answer is to play that a response at the 3-level promises about 8-10 points, with a bid of the opponent's suit showing a stronger hand. With fewer than 8 points, partner bids 2NT. This conventional bid asks the doubler to bid 3 - partner may then pass (with a weak hand and a club suit) or sign off in a long suit.
In this week's hand, the opening bid was the "multi 2 ", usually showing a weak 2-bid in a major. West passed and when North's non-forcing 2 response was passed by South (revealing that South had a weak 2 opening) he competed with a takeout double. East recognised that this was a Lebensohl situation, and her 3 bid showed 8-11 points. However, West missed this inference and, worried that partner may be weak, passed.
The 3 contract was safe enough (East made 11 tricks) but if West had realised that East's bid promised some values he could have bid 3 , and now the game in hearts would have been bid.
Tip: discuss with partner the use of Lebensohl when bidding after partner's takeout double of a weak 2-bid (and also after the dreaded "multi 2")
Bob Baker
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| Club AGM - 25th June 2013 at 7pm |
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The AGM will take place at Mizzymead Recreation Centre on Thursday, 25th July 2013 at 7pm
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| Death of Susan Griffin |
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It is with deep regret that we announce the death of Susan Griffin. Sue died at 10.30pm on Thursday 27th June after being taken ill at the Bridge Club. Sue had been a very loyal member of the Club for many years and will be very much missed.
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| Free Bridge Seminars Hosted By Bob Baker |
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BRIDGE CAFE at BEAH on Saturday February 16th 2013
You can attend all four seminars or duck in and out of those that interest you whilst spending some time exploring the wonderful city of Wells on market day.
There is no need to register for this event- just turn up.
The second bridge cafe event will again be held at the Beah restaurant in Wells details of which can be found at http://www.beah.co.uk/
The event will again be run by Bob Baker and the programme will be as follows:
10.00am Avoiding and Creating Blockages
11.00am Coffee and Questions
11.15am Duplicate Pairs Tactics
12.15 pm Q&A on morning session
12.30pm Lunch
1.30 pm Hand Evaluation- The Value of High Cards
2.30 pm Tea and Questions
2.45 pm End Plays- How to enlist the opponents' Help
3.45 pm Q&A on afternoon sessions
4.00pm End
There is a large car park conveniently placed adjacent to the venue but please note that it is a pay car park.
This is a FREE event but of course there will be a charge for tea/coffee. Those wishing to take lunch at the restaurant are advised to book on arrival so that the meal can be ready at lunch time.
For further details please contact tony.russ@btinternet.com
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| 20th December 2012 - Club Christmas Party |
The Club Christmas Party will be held on Thursday 20th December 2012 when a buffet supper will be provided.
If you are a member and wish to attend this event would you please sign up on the appropriate notice in the Club room at Mizzymead.
A 'Play with the Experts' will be organised for that evening.
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| Andrew Robson's visit to Somerset on Monday, 1st October 2012 |
Venue: The Webbington Hotel - http://webbingtonhotelandspa.co.uk/
Afternoon session - 3 p.m. Defending Trump and No Trumps contracts.
For experienced social and duplicate players.
Evening session - 7 p.m. Showing shape.
Master class for more experienced duplicate players.
But all are welcome at both sessions.
Refreshments will be available from the hotel before and between the two sessions.
Each session will cost £10. Applications enclosing a cheque payable to SCBA with the names of those wishing to attend, plus email addresses wherever possible, should be sent to Tony Russ at Kitwe Cottage, High Street, Evercreech, Shepton Mallet BA4 6HZ.
This event is bound to be well supported so please do get your applications in as soon as possible
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| Torquay Congress Winners |
Bob and Jacky Baker playing with Alan and Jette Bailey (Somerset and Taunton) won the Torquay Bridge Club Congress Swiss Teams last Sunday. Congratulations to all of them.
Bob will be running four free seminars in February 2013. See the notice below for further information.
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| AGM will be held on 21st June 2012 at 6.45pm at Mizzymead. This may be attended by all paid up members of the club. |
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| Club AGM - 21st June 2012 at 6.45pm |
Please note the following Agenda item:-
The Club rules in respect of the AGM provide for the consideration of Motions of which fourteens days notice shall have been received by the Secretary giving the names of the Proposer and Seconder. Appropriate notice having been given, the following Motion will be considered at the AGM:-
'That the Club pay the NICKO (National Inter Club Knockout) fee for the team of 4 winning the designated NICKO qualifying event (currently the Club Teams Championship)'.
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| Nailsea team lose in championship final |
In the final of the county's premier team event, Ann and Ken Bawdon and John and Betty Smithson were unable to repeat the heroics of their earlier rounds. They came up against a strong team consisting of players who last year represented Somerset in the Tollemache (the EBU's premier inter county teams event). After a poor start they eventually lost by 53IMPS over 48 boards.
Michael Whittaker was a member of the winning team.
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| Nailsea Team Finish 5th in Devon Green Point Event |
Brian Greenwood, Michael Powell, Tom Gibbard and Michael Whittaker, finished 5th out of 64 teams at this weekend's green point event in Torquay. After a poor start they quickly got into contention just after the mid session break with two big wins.Two narrow wins in the final two matches meant they couldn't quite make the podium, but a very good performance all the same.
An interesting slam hand from this event will appear in the Hand of the Week shortly.
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| Nailsea players contest the Somerset County Championship Teams of Four Final |
The team of Ann & Ken Bawdon and John & Betty Smithson will contest the final of the above event with Michael Whittaker playing for the opposing team.
Congratulations to all the above for reaching the final.
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| 18th October 2012 - Ladies/Mens Mixed Pairs Competition |
This competition was cancelled due to insufficient numbers taking part.
The Committee hope to reschedule this event in the New Year and to this end would ask members who wish to take part in this competition to sign up on the relevant notice in the club room at Mizzymead.
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| Individual Event |
Please note that the Individual Event scheduled for the 19thApril has been cancelled and will now be held later in the year. Thursday 19th April will now be a normal Duplicate Pairs event.
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| SCBA Paul Bowyer Seminars |
These will be held at Woolavington Village Hall on Friday, 23rd March 2012
- 3pm to 6pm - Competitive Bidding
This session will encompass the idea of what constitutes a sound overcall, taking into account conditions of play, vulnerability and so forth. The session will also loook at the effective use of 'Double' in competitive auctions, both as a take-out and as a method for extracting penalties.
- 7pm to 10pm - Cover an Honour with an Honour
This quotation is one of the most cited and perhaps least understood of all bridge aphorisms. As with so many of these adages it contains an element of truth and much common sense but as a 'rule' it deserves to be honoured in the breach as much as in the observance. There will be many examples of when not to comply with this rule as when to comply with it.
The cost of each seminar is £10, to include basic refreshments and handouts after the sessions.
Paul Bowyer is an international player and coach and these sessions are always very well supported. To secure your place please send a cheque made payable to SCBA, to Tony Russ, Kitwe Cottage, High Street, Evercreech, Shepton Mallett, BA4 6HZ. Places will not be secured until a cheque is received.
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| First Round Safely Negotiated |
The Nailsea team of Bob and Jacky Baker, and Joe and Daphne Patrick won their first round NICKO event by 29 IMPS, beating a good team from Bristol Bridge Club.
Best of luck in the next round.
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| Championship Pairs Winners |
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Congratulations to Daphne and Joe Patrick on winning the championship pairs event at the 2012 West of England Congress.
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| Nailsea Members win Green Point Swiss Teams Event |
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Bob and Jacky Baker partnered Michael Whittaker and Roger Sweet (Taunton) to win the Avon/Wiltshire green pointed Swiss Teams last weekend. They led all the way and played some outstanding bridge. Two slam swing hands are featured in the Hands of the Week (12 and 14 March 2012).
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| Success in Paul Jones |
In the first Somerset county competition of the new season, Joe and Daphne Patrick were in the winning team of the Paul Jones event. This event requires all team members to partner each other during the event.
Joe and Daphne played with Steve Tomlinson and Ralph Smith from Clevedon bridge club.Congratulations to all of them.
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| Recent Excellent Performances by Nailsea Players in Somerset County Events |
Congratulations to:
The team of Ann and Ken Bawden & Betty and John Smithson who have reached the semi-final of the Championship Teams of Four Event.
Marion Blackhall and Tom Gibbard who finished second in the Inter Club (Three Tier), Open Pairs Event.
Ken Nicol and Jane Clark who won the Inter Club Pairs (Three Tier), Below Two Star Master Restricted, event for the second consecutive year.
Tricia Morgan and Barbara Parker who finished fourth out of 213 entries in the Michael Coda Cup.
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| Competitions at Oake on Sunday 5th February 2012 |
The first two of five competitions for the county's 2012 Club Championship took place at this event. There was an Open Club Championship Team of Four, where representatives were normally a club's current champions, and a Restricted Club Team of Four, where the club members all had to have an EBU ranking below regional master.
The Open Club Championship Team of Four was won by the team from Nailsea comprising Joe & Daphne Patrick and Mike Powell & Lindsay Hewson. Nailsea was not represented in the other competition.
Congratulations to the winning team.
Nailsea club members Ken Nicol, Jane Clark and Jenny Gostlin playing in the restricted team of four competition for Clevedon finished second out of 13 club teams.Congratulations to them as well.
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| 2011 Club Champions |
Congratulations to Marion Blackhall and Tom Gibbard for being recognised on the EBU website as being joint Nailsea Club Champions for 2011 by collecting the most EBU master points (456) at Nailsea Bridge Club in 2011. Barbara Parker was 3rd with 437 points.
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| Club Teams of Eight at Long Sutton on 28th January 2012 |
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The Nailsea team came second in this event despite getting off to a bad start. Congratulations to those taking part.
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| Nailsea narrowly lose 3rd round NICKO match. |
On 19th January 2012 Joe and Daphne Patrick and Bob and Jackie Baker narrowly lost by 5 IMPS to a strong Devon club team in the 3rd round of the NICKO, which unfortunately ends Nailsea's interest in this year's competition.
One of the highlights of the match was an excellent minor suit small slam bid and made by Jackie and Bob. This hand is featured in our Hands of the Week 21 January 2012.
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| 40th Menorcan Congress - October 2011 |
 Several Members present and past attended the 40th Menorcan Congress at S' Algar. John and Betty Smithson playing with Mr and Mrs Hogan won the Teams event. Mr and Mrs Hogan were members at Nailsea but moved a few years ago. Michael Whittaker won the Men's Pairs playing with a gentleman called Nobby Clarke. Jo and Daphne Patrick won the Championship Pairs.
The Congress was organised by Martin and Judy Holcombe and the Director was Bob Baker. Jackie Baker was the Hostess. They are also members of Nailsea Bridge Club.
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