We made it through another hot summer and so grateful to have a nice, air-conditioned club to play our favorite game!
I am happy to report that the hard work of your board members has created some wonderful opportunities for new players and old players alike.  I have had lots of positive feedback on the Saturday games and all of the parties. 
But there is still lots of work to do.  One of the ideas is to have someone "Champion" each game just like Kas and Marilyn do for Saturdays.   It means it is a day that YOU like to play on and would like to see it grow!  Kas has
developed a successful formula and is willing to mentor YOU (can you picture Uncle Sam pointing a finger at you
right now?)   Enough of that, YOU can think about it!   

I do want to thank everyone who reached out with 'get well' thoughts and prayers.  I know sinus surgery is not
usually serious but since I put things off as long as possible, take it from me, it can be.  I am glad to report I am on the road to recovery and the hole will eventually heal.  So now when someone says "you must have a hole in your head" I can say "I do!"  See you next month....   Janice Rush

Law 81 Says the Director is the official representative of the Tournament organizer and has the responsibility for rectifying irregularities and redressing damage.   Duties include maintaining discipline and orderly progress of the game, adjust disputes and report game results.

Law 82(C) addresses the fact that Directors also make mistakes!   If a ruling is determined to be incorrect and no rectification will allow a normal score, the Director will award an adjusted score, treating both sides as Non-offenders.

      Thank you to everyone who generously donated to the Bridgemate fundraiser!   

      We are happy to announce that we have located more of the almost new Brdgemates at a greatly reduced price.   Because of this,
      we will be able to purchase more so we can host larger events like our Twenty Table Saturdays and Rank Achievement parties using one system.

      If you would like to donate to help with this purchase, please drop off your cash or check.   Any amount would be gratefully appreciated!

     Weak Jump Shift Response (WJSR)

          by Julie Halperin

A bid I often see misused is the Weak Jump Shift. Generally, if you are able with 6 or more points, bid the suit on the 1 level and then repeat the suit.       

A weak jump shift is a jump response to an opening bid of 1 of a suit.

            · A jump to a new suit at the 2-level (e.g. 1♣ -- 2♥)

            · Usually shows 2-5 HCP and a 6-card+ suit.

            · At the 3-level (e.g. 1♥ -- 3♣), it typically shows 2-7 HCP and a 7-card suit.

            · It is always made at a responder’s first chance to bid.

Opener’s Rebids

            · Usually passes unless holding a very strong hand and/or good support for partner.

                        o With a weaker hand and a good fit you might continue the preempt with a single raise or double raise or by going to game.

            · With a strong hand and misfit, probably should pass.

            · To rebid own suit, should have 7+ card suit. It’s not forcing.

            · Raising the suit is non-forcing.

            · A new suit is natural, promises extra strength, and at least a 5+ card suit.

                        o The responder may pass, raise, or take preference to the 1st suit.

                        o The responder should not rebid their suit.

            · 2NT is a forcing game try, implying at least a doubleton.

                        o With a very weak hand responder just rebids their suit.

                        o A bid of another suit is cooperative showing a maximum.

DEFENDING A NO-TRUMP CONTRACT

By Jeff Kroll

Bidding:

Play of the Hand:

.

An Important Card Combination

Thomas Rush

PlayBridgeWithThomas@GMail.Com

At the recent Scottsdale Regional, one declarer got this card combination right, one got it wrong, and our team lost the match (Bracket 1 Swiss Teams) because of it. 
Knowing how to play these cards might help you win a match someday soon!

Partner opens and your right-hand opponent (RHO) has overcalled 1S.  You end up declarer in 3NT, and find that you can develop enough tricks, as long as you can avoid losing no more than two spade tricks.

Lead: 9 of spades

Dummy has KT5

You have Q73

Which spade do you play from dummy’s KT5?

From the auction and lead, we believe RHO started with five or six spades to the AJ8.  He has almost all of the outstanding high cards, but LHO may have an entry.

If you play the five, RHO ducks, and you must win the Queen.  Now when LHO gains the lead, he’ll lead his remaining spade and you’ll be sunk, losing at least five tricks and the match.

If instead you play the Ten, RHO covers with the Jack and again, you must win the Queen, losing the contract when LHO gets back in.  (Whether you play the 5 or Ten,
if you don’t win the first trick, RHO will simply continue the suit (say, Ace and another to draw your last spades) and set you when he gets in)

The winning play here is to play the King!  What can RHO do now?

1. If he wins the Ace, he can’t continue with either the Spade Jack or Eight, as that would give you, declarer, two spade tricks, and the timing you need to come to nine tricks.
2. If he shifts to a different suit, he’ll either finesse himself (my apologies for not remembering the complete hands!) or take out his partner’s entry prematurely, allowing declarer to come to at least nine tricks. 

“But wait!”, you might say, “What about ‘second hand low’?”  That’s a guideline, something like “eight ever, nine never” or “lead fourth best from your longest and strongest”. 
That is, you have to apply your brain, not just follow maxims or general rules, when you play bridge.  In some cases, like this one, you need to analyze the auction and the spot cards to determine which card to play.

I hope you’ll make the right play next time the hand calls for second hand high!

carolwilson@earthlink.net

I’ve had a suggestion from a member for a “spotlight” article that I will be doing for the October newsletter. In the meantime, if you know of something interesting, especially if hardly any of us know about it, regarding a BCOH member or regular player, please let me know and I’ll begin gathering their information.

In the meantime, I have been foraging for some interesting factoids about our beloved game of Bridge and found most of this column’s contents at The English Bridge Union (EBU), which is membership funded and is the governing body for duplicate bridge in England. It is very much like our ACBL, with affiliated clubs, a magazine, rules, a tournament panel, and ethics commissions. It is affiliated with both the European Bridge League and the World Bridge Federation, and its headquarters are in Aylesbury.

I strongly urge you to visit “Origins and history of bridge” at their Website, which was adapted from an ACBL article (www.ebu.co.uk/origins-and-history-bridge). It’s utterly fascinating and hints that the game may have originated in Turkey or Russia. It traces the history of bridge from 1529 through succeeding centuries under names like triumph, trump, ruff, ruff and honors, finally becoming known as Whist in the mid-17^th century. Duplicate was first played in London in 1857 directed by Henry Jones Cavendish.

A strong argument is made that the name “Bridge” comes from Istanbul around 1860-65, sounding something like britsch, britch, or biritch. An 1886 pamphlet in the British Museum is titled “Biritch or Russian Whist.” Auction Bridge came along in the early 1900s, and in the early ‘20s two booklets titled Contact Bridge were published, and in 1925 Harold Vanderbilt’s game of contract bridge rose to the top of the heap.

I love owls, so please enjoy this from greatbridgelinks.com.

Make your plans to attend!  The Lone Star Regional which will be held February 3-9 for 2025.  

The Houston Regional is one of the premier regional tournaments in the US and is one of
the favorites of profession players such as Jeff Meckstroth and our own, Eddie Wold.

Click on the link for tournament details.   Lone Star Regional Flyer

For Newer Players

In Person

          Lessons with Julie                  Tuesdays @ 9:30 AM

          Mentor Games                        2nd & 4th Tuesdays @ 10:30 AM

          299er Games                           Monthly, September games on September 2, 7, 14, & 28.  Check the BCOH website calendar for up to date information!  Contact Kas Rangan at 539-210-1333 for info or a partner.  

Online at Choose Houston! (BBO)

          Mentor Games              1st & 3rd Mondays @ 7:00 PM

          Future Life Masters       Tuesdays (1-50) @ 3:05 PM   

2nd Saturday (1-20) @ 9:00 AM (usually)

BBO Virtual club games

When you play on BBO, we ask that you play in SE Carolina or Choose Houston games whenever possible.

Choose Houston has an open game every Thursday at 7 p.m. and a mentor/mentee game on the first and third Mondays at 7 p.m.  To be a mentee, a player must have fewer than 300 masterpoints and must pay for their own entry as well as the entry of their mentor.  If you need a mentor or wish to mentor someone, please contact Mike Linkins via Email:  mlinkins@swbell.net.

The BCoH home page has a link to SE Carolina's website and a schedule for Choose Houston games.

And always check the BCOH Website for more!

    Regular Club Game Schedule                                                         

BCOH Specific September Events

        September 2, 11:00 am Labor Day Hot Diggity Dog Celebration 

       Starting Sept 11 and continuing for 4 Wednesdays (2:30-4:30 pm), Julie Halperin will be doing 2/1 Game Force Practice, reviewing 2/1 concepts, and playing hands.  Cost $60 or $20 per session.  Please text her at 713-857-8004 if interested.

       September 19-22, BCOH 499er Sectional

       September 28, 11:00 am Potluck Lunch - bring a dish to share

Do you have a hidden talent just waiting to burst forth?  There are many ways we all make BCOH a wonderful club. To put your talents to use, contact:                                                                                     

DO YOU WANT TO HELP A LESS EXPERIENCED BRIDGE PLAYER IMPROVE? 

Consider what a tremendous contribution you will be making on several levels!

Do you have at least 300 masterpoints ... or, better yet, more than 500?

BE A MENTOR!

COULD YOU BENEFIT FROM INDIVIDUAL COACHING BY A MORE EXPERIENCED BRIDGE PLAYER?

GET A MENTOR!

PLEASE JOIN US!  We want to grow this program!

Bridge Club of Houston proudly hosts four (4) Mentor-Mentee games per month.

And guess what?  You can play in ALL four (4) Mentor games if you wish!

CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS

      Please submit October newsletter articles to Tammy Fincher (trfincher@aol.com) by September 15.