Release 2.19r
Beginners Lessons

Clare Bridge Club will be running a beginners course of 10 lessons starting in January in Lavenham Village Hall on Wednesday afternoons.

The first lesson will be on January 7th at 2:30pm and the fee will be £100.00, to include the EBU book.

Please email John Hooper if you would like to be included. johnhooper248@gmail.com     or phone: 01787-248248

Save the date

Some forthcoming events you might not want to miss!

Gentle Duplicate: Lavenham Village Hall, Fridays at 1:45pm for 2:00pm.

Next session: Friday 19th December   - Director: Paul S.

First timer?  Please arrive by 1:30pm to register

 

 

 


  •  
Partner Finder

HOW TO FIND A PARTNER

Finding a club member as a partner has been made much easier. Click on PLAY and then hover your mouse over the session you would like to play in  and click the Partner Required symbol.

Recent promotions - Congratulations to:

Peter Routley  County Master
Dorothy Laflin  Area Master
Carole Ashton  Club Master
Susan Harrison  Area Master
Eileen Bushell  Club Master
Andrew Clifft  Local Master
David Carse  Area Master

Suffolk Online Teams League

This is an invitation to all Suffolk players to play teams bridge on line in the popular Suffolk On Line Teams League.

All experience levels are welcome, from beginner / intermediate players to county level. Teams are placed in a division suitable for their experience levels. You don’t have to have played teams bridge before. Those trying it out for the first time have really enjoyed it.

If you have a team of four players and would like to play in the League you will be welcome. Bridge teachers are welcome to play in a team with 3 of their pupils. If there are pairs who don’t have team mates we will do our best to try to match you with other pairs of similar experience levels in a similar position.

Please contact Malcolm Pryor, the League organiser, via mhpryor@btinternet.com

0 0 0 0 0 0
Pages viewed in 2025
Clare Bridge Club: F2F and BBO - 7pm every Monday; Gentle duplicate - 2pm every Friday
Andrew Robson Masterclass 2026

♠ ♥ ♦ 

We are delighted to announce that Andrew Robson will be giving a Masterclass on Friday 6th February 2026, 10:30 am - 4 pm in Lavenham Village Hall. He will be covering the following topics:

Four Key Shapes
How Many Cards
Four Key Acronyms

Cost: £40.00 per head, to include a delicious lunch.

To enter, please sign up on the website.

 

STANSFIELD SUNDAY BRIDGE & LUNCH: NOVEMBER 7
STANSFIELD SUNDAY BRIDGE & LUNCH: NOVEMBER 7

The second of our Winter Bridge Sundays will take place on Sunday 7th December from 10.30am for Tea/ Coffee, and play from 11.00am until 3.00pm so as to allow everyone to get home in the daylight.

This is relaxed Duplicate pairs and is open to all members and visitors , cost is £5 to include hot drinks, but please provide your own lunch. Members will be charged to account and visitors please bring cash on the day. The club bar will be open at lunchtime for the purchase of wine and beer ( cash only)

This is a fun day of Bridge with no pressure, so please do come even if you have not played much duplicate . Sign up is essential for our planning, please arrange a partner and sign up as a pair HERE those looking for partners can use the partner finder on the website.

 

Bah Humbug Pairs
Bah Humbug Pairs
EBU Year End Congress

Message from Sam Kelly, EBU Communications Manager:

We would like to invite you and members of your club or county to play in the upcoming Year End CongressSaturday 27th - Tuesday 30th December

Special Group Offers for Clubs: when entering a minimum of four players at the same time for Mixed/Open Pairs, bring up to as many players again for free, email comps@ebu.co.uk to make this group booking.

Special Entry Fees for members with 2 Green Points or fewer to their name at the time of entry. Play in the Mixed/Open Pairs or Swiss Teams for just £10, or the Swiss Pairs for just £30 for the two days!

We have a new venue this year: Novotel West London! There is linked accommodation at the venue and the nearest station is Hammersmith (0.3 miles) Underground station, which is on the Circle, Hammersmith & City, District and Piccadilly lines.

The full schedule will be as follows:

Saturday: Stratified Swiss Pairs
Sunday: Stratified Swiss Pairs & Jack High Pairs
Monday: Mixed or Open Pairs
Tuesday: Swiss Teams

There will be an online 9-High Improvers Pairs run in conjunction with the congress by Kent Contract Bridge Association on behalf of the EBU. 

We hope you will encourage your members to take up these offers and join us in London for the Year End Congress.

Enjoy your bridge three ways!

 

Clare Bridge Club runs 3 sessions every week

 

On Monday evenings you can play face-to-face at the Old School Hall in Clare, at 6:45 for 7:00
or online on BBO with Swindon Bridge Club: see below.

To join us in person at Clare just turn up with your partner! You can be sure of a warm welcome.
If you don't have a partner please contact a member of the committee beforehand


To play online please register by clicking on the "Register for Clare Online" button at the top right

 

On Friday afternoons you can play "Gentle Duplicate" at Lavenham Village Hall
at 1:45 (please be prompt!) for a 2pm start, finishing by 5pm

These relaxed bridge sessions are an opportunity for players who have never experienced duplicate bridge or for club members who would like to play face-to-face in a relaxed environment.
You are most welcome to come either with or without a partner.

 

Monday Online Pairs

Clare and Swindon Bridge Club have now joined forces for online bridge on Monday nights.

The face-to-face sessions at Clare are unaffected and continue as normal.

Registering to play

If you haven't previously played online with Clare, please register using this form.

Registering for a session

This is a change from Clare practice: it will NOT be possible to join on the day. Instead you MUST register in advance every week, before 6pm on the preceding Sunday (ideally the preceding Saturday).

You do this on the Swindon Bridge Club website (click here): scroll down to find the event and enter your name and BBO ID, and your partner's name and BBO ID.

Joining the session

Log in to BBO as usual, and search for "Swindon" under "Competitive" / "All Tournaments".

 

It's as easy as that!

Announcing and alerting

The EBU announcing and alerting rules have been amended. Click here to see the EBU ‘Announcing and Alerting Summary’ which describes all the announcing and alerting rules including the changes.

The first group of changes expands what to do over a transfer.

Opener Responder Action
INT 2S
  • If natural you do nothing
  • If transfer to clubs ANNOUNCE ‘clubs’
  • If another meaning, including showing both minors, ALERT
1NT 2NT
  • If natural you do nothing
  • If transfer to diamonds ANNOUNCE ‘diamonds’
  • If another meaning ALERT

 

The second group of changes adds responses to one of a suit.

  • If your suit responses to one of a suit are natural you do nothing.
  • If your responses to one of a suit has another meaning, such as another suit or denies a four card major, you ‘alert’ or ‘announce’ as shown in the ‘Announcing and Alerting Summary’
  • If your 1NT response to one of a suit is the normal one showing up to 10 points you do nothing.
  • If your 1NT response to one of a suit is different, such as more than 10 points or is forcing, you ‘alert’ or ‘announce’ as shown in the ‘Announcing and Alerting Summary’
Cut and Paste on BBO

The link in the 'Playing Bridge at Clare' document to help on cut and paste on BBO is not working.

♠ ♠ You can access the help here.♠ ♠ 

OLD NEWS ITEMS CAN BE READ BY CLICKING ON CLUB NEWS ARCHIVE ON THE LEFT

Where can I play bridge in West Suffolk?

Is twice a week not enough?

New members and guests are welcome at many West Suffolk bridge clubs. Click here to learn more.

PLAY IT AGAIN

You want to play the hand again?

Click on "Latest results", then on any pair. Then on the right, under the the description of the hand you have two options: "View larger" and "PLAY IT AGAIN". It is really easy. Good luck!

Results
Relaxed Pairs
Lavenham Village Hall 1:45
Director: Sarah
Scorer: Micky
Joint Swindon/Clare online
Register on Swindon website in advance
18.45 for 19.00
Scorer: Christine MacFarlane
Face-to-face
Combined Halls of Clare
18.45 for 19.00
Director: Paul S
Scorer: Dave
Relaxed Pairs
Lavenham Village Hall 1:45
Director: Paul
Scorer: Micky
Face-to-face
Combined Halls of Clare
18.45 for 19.00
Director: Fred
Scorer: Nick
Teams - Advent Challenge
See Team allocation
18.45 for 19.00
Scorer: Rob Sassoon
Relaxed Pairs
Lavenham Village Hall 1:45
Director: Norbert
Scorer: Micky
Joint Swindon/Clare online
Register on Swindon website in advance
18.45 for 19.00
Scorer: Christine MacFarlane
Face-to-face
Combined Halls of Clare
18.45 for 19.00
Director: Paul
Scorer: Dave
Relaxed Pairs
Lavenham Village Hall 1:45
Director: Sarah
Scorer: Micky
Joint Swindon/Clare online
Register on Swindon website in advance
18.45 for 19.00
Scorer: Rob Sassoon
Face-to-face
Combined Halls of Clare
18.45 for 19.00
Director: Dave
Scorer: Dave
Relaxed Pairs
Lavenham Village Hall 1:45
Director: Sarah
Scorer: Micky
Joint Swindon/Clare online/ Sims Pairs - Children in need
Register on Swindon website in advance
18.45 for 19.00
Scorer: Christine MacFarlane
Face-to-face
Combined Halls of Clare
18.45 for 19.00
Director: paul
Scorer: mick
Relaxed Pairs
Lavenham Village Hall 1:45
Director: Norbert
Scorer: Micky
Face-to-face
Combined Halls of Clare
18.45 for 19.00
Director: Ed
Scorer: Dave
Joint Swindon/Clare online
Register on Swindon website in advance
18.45 for 19.00
Scorer: Christine MacFarlane
Relaxed Pairs
Lavenham Village Hall 1:45
Director: Jenny
Scorer: Micky
Joint Swindon/Clare online
Register on Swindon website in advance
18.45 for 19.00
Scorer: Rob Sassoon
Calendar
15th December 2025
Joint Swindon/Clare online
Register on Swindon website in advance
18.45 for 19.00
15th December 2025
Face-to-face/Christmas Party
Combined Halls of Clare 18:00
Director: Paul S.
19th December 2025
Relaxed Pairs
Lavenham Village Hall 1:45
Director: Paul S.
22nd December 2025
Joint Swindon/Clare online
Register on Swindon website in advance
18.45 for 19.00
22nd December 2025
Face-to-face
Combined Halls of Clare
18.45 for 19.00
26th December 2025
No bridge today
29th December 2025
Joint Swindon/Clare online
Register on Swindon website in advance
18.45 for 19.00
29th December 2025
Face-to-face
Combined Halls of Clare
18.45 for 19.00
Director: Paul M.
2nd January 2026
Relaxed Pairs
Lavenham Village Hall 1:45
Director: Paul S.
5th January 2026
Joint Swindon/Clare online
Register on Swindon website in advance
18.45 for 19.00
5th January 2026
Face-to-face
Combined Halls of Clare
18.45 for 19.00
Director: Ed
9th January 2026
Relaxed Pairs
Lavenham Village Hall 1:45
Director: Sarah
12th January 2026
Joint Swindon/Clare online
Register on Swindon website in advance
18.45 for 19.00
12th January 2026
Face-to-face
Combined Halls of Clare
18.45 for 19.00
Director: Will
16th January 2026
Relaxed Pairs
Lavenham Village Hall 1:45
Director: Jenny
19th January 2026
Joint Swindon/Clare online
Register on Swindon website in advance
18.45 for 19.00
19th January 2026
Face-to-face
Combined Halls of Clare
18.45 for 19.00
Director: Paul S.
23rd January 2026
Relaxed Pairs
Lavenham Village Hall 1:45
Director: Sarah
26th January 2026
Joint Swindon/Clare online
Register on Swindon website in advance
18.45 for 19.00
26th January 2026
Face-to-face
Combined Halls of Clare
18.45 for 19.00