| Forthcoming events |
Annual General Meeting
This year's AGM will be held during the evening bridge session starting at 7pm on Thursday 24th October 2019. Several members of the committee have agreed to serve for a further year if successfully re-nominated but we will be sorry to lose the services of two committee members at this meeting. Nomination slips will be made available on club nights in the two weeks prior to AGM, so we would urge any member who would like more information about the level of commitment involved or who feels able to make a contribution and serve as a committee member for the forthcoming period, to contact a member of the committee.
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| Last updated : 23rd Oct 2019 14:42 BST |
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| New bridge lessons starting |
Update on opportunity to learn to play bridge from Paul Morris
The initial course will last for ten weeks and will start on January 6th 2020. It will take place at the Oaks Coffee Shop, Elm Court, Elm Farm Rd, Aylesbury HP21 7NQ on a Monday morning for two hours and will cost £8 per session.
I will be teaching standard Acol (weak no trump) and using EBU student packs which contain full notes and information. The course will assume no previous knowledge of bridge or any other card game. It will be a practical course, based on Bridge for All designed by the English Bridge Union, with the emphasis on playing the game and having fun.
If you know of anyone who is looking for lessons please talk to me or contact me at paulbridgelessons@gmail.com.
If you are interested but cannot make that day or time please get in touch with me to discuss options.
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| Last updated : 14th Oct 2019 14:14 BST |
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| Tuesday 24th September |
Show Detail |
East has a lovely hand and it's quite difficult to bid to the best contract which might be 3NT or 5♦ .
Best to start with 1♦ - this leaves room in the auction to find the best fit and contract. It also keeps the right hand as declarer if the final contract is diamonds. If West becomes declarer North leads ♠ Q and sets up two winners. If South is on lead the ♣ Q is most likely to appear and two losing spades can be discarded at once.
On my auction West becomes declarer in 3NT and gets the ♠ Q as the opening lead. Two points emerge here, 1) the rules of 7 says you should hold up the ♠ A once. Add the length of the spade suit in East and West, 3+3 = 6 and subtract this from 7 = 1. 2) South must overtake with the king and return the ♠ 3 to unblock the suit. Now the contract depends on who holds the ♦ A. Luckily it's South and West can cash nine tricks as South must win a second diamond trick.
You might wonder how west could become declarer in diamonds. It is simple - East opens 2♣ and West either gives a negative 2♦ response or a relay 2♦ . 2♣ does not help when the hands are very distributional as you lose a layer of bidding before you can establish which suit declarer holds. Also this hand just fits the minimum required for a 2♣ opener but has four losers and is not really a hand of power and strength that we hope for.
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| Last updated : 30th Sep 2019 20:33 BST |
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| Thursday 8th August |
Show Detail |
This week South has a bidding problem. After East interferes with a 2♠ overcall South knows NS have the majority of the points but what is the best contract?
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| Show Answer |
With 12 HCP you would be happy to play in 3♦ but a heart contract would produce a better score.
The best bid is double, played for TO in this position. You need at least 11plus points, i.e. enough to bid/stand 2NT. You should have a spade shortage and most important four hearts - 4 cards in the unbid major. I'm sure there are other hands I might double on but I can't think of one at the moment.
North has a choice of bids after the double - 2NT is a possibility, 3♥ would show four hearts and a minimum hand (12), 4♥ shows hearts and a maximum hand (14). What about "Pass" converting the Take-Out Double to a Penalty Double?
On this hand 3♥ would be a good bid and South can upgrade 12 points to 14-15 due to the spade shortage and bid game, +420. Accurate defence does hold 2♠X to 6 tricks and a hefty +500!
If you had a spade stopper and a flat 11/12 point hand, you would be bidding 2NT.
A cue bid in spades, 3♠, would show 13 points (because you are at the 3-level) something like ♠ Ax or ♠ Qxx in spades, something positive (Qx is not good enough unless this is a partnership agreement) and four hearts would be nice, giving partner the choice of games or else partner is forced to bid 3NT whatever his spade holding is. |
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| Last updated : 9th Aug 2019 11:21 BST |
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| Thursday 1st August - Asking the correct question |
Show Detail |
South's hand improves after North opens 1NT. South should realise that althouth he does not have opening points it is likely game can be made on this distribution as the club void improves the hand. North must have at least 3-card support for one of the major suits as you do not open 1NT with two doubletons. This is not a hand for Stayman as that asks the wrong question. Stayman asks partner if they have a 4-card major. You are interested in a 3-card major. The answer is to transfer to spades, the higher of the two suits and then rebid 3♥ or better still 4♥. 3♥ is not forcing, and only shows four hearts while 4♥ promises a 5-card suit and you are now at game level. North can correct to his longest major by passing or bidding 4♠ . Simple. There are a variety of ways to make ten tricks one includes ruffing hearts before drawing trumps and allowing East to make two spade tricks (by over-ruffing) but the only other loser then is the diamond ace so declarer is happy.
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| Last updated : 6th Aug 2019 18:33 BST |
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| If you are looking for a bridge club |
We meet twice a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays at the Community Centre, Prince Rupert Drive, Buckingham Park, Aylesbury.
Sessions start at 7.25 (for 7.30) and finish around 10.30.
Our aim is to provide Duplicate bridge with an emphasis on enjoyment in a friendly and welcoming atmosphere.
We are affiliated to the EBU and use pre-dealt boards and BridgeMate scoring which means hand records and results are usually available on the night before players leave.
In addition to the normal club sessions we run quarterly social events (often on a Sunday afternoon) where, in addition to the bridge, a sumptuous tea provided.
Visitors are welcome to come and play at normal club sessions and the social events, although there are some restrictions on Simultaneous Pairs evenings.
We are delighted to welcome new players and do our very best to provide a host to partner visiting individuals - SEE LEFT HAND SIDE BOX.
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| Last updated : 20th May 2018 06:48 BST |
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| Best Behaviour at Bridge |
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The following paragraphs are taken from the EBU information 'Best Behaviour at Bridge' information. It is a reminder to all Bridge players that racist or other offensive comments whether general or specific, should not be shared or voiced during bridge sessions.
Bridge is an extremely enjoyable game. Courteous behaviour is an exceptionally important part of that enjoyment. The EBU is committed to the principle of equality of opportunity. It considers it a fundamental principle that anyone wishing to participate in duplicate bridge, whether as player, official or in any other capacity, should be able to do so in a safe and welcoming environment, and not be subject to less favourable treatment on the grounds of gender, age, race, disability, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, religious or political belief or social class than any other person.
This guide serves as a brief reminder of how to behave at the bridge table. We are sure that all players naturally follow this code of conduct but there are times when concentration and pressure can take their toll and it is for these situations that we issue this as a reminder.
- Greet others in a friendly manner prior to start of play on each round.
- Be a good “host” or “guest” at the table.
- Make your convention card readily available to your opponents and fill it out completely.
- Make bridge enjoyable for yourself, partner and opponents.
- Give credit when opponents make a good bid or play.
- Take care of your personal grooming.
- Ensure that your mobile phone is turned off.
- 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, or generally to make any personal and disparaging remark.
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Please call the Director if you think you may have been affected by bad behaviour. You will be helping others as well as yourselves.
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As in all games that are governed by rules and regulations, bad behaviour will be penalized ….
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 may lead to disqualification from the current event. In addition any violation may result in a disciplinary hearing where player(s) future participation in tournaments will be considered.
English Bridge Union
November 2017
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This site is built with BridgeWebs, the easy web solution.
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| Last updated : 6th Sep 2018 17:36 BST |
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| FUND RAISING UPDATE |
Since our club was set up in 2009, Aylesbury Aces has been committed to raising money for charity through our annual Charity Bridge teas and Chldren in Need Sim Pairs.
At our last AGM a member asked how much had been raised over the years, After much 'digging' through the records it was a pleasant surprise to learn that we have in fact donated around £6,500; including the generous fund match from Lloyds bank, to various local charities including Age Concern, British heart Foundation, Alzheimer's Society and the Florence Nightingale Hospice as well as nearly £1,000 to Children in Need.
It's nice to know that we are helping good causes whilst enjoying playing bridge with our friends.
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| Last updated : 14th Jan 2018 18:21 GMT |
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