Ipswich & Kesgrave Bridge Club

Thursday and Monday at 7:00pm

Thursdays: players have a choice; online on BBO or face-to-face in the Ropes Hall, Kesgrave Community Centre, Ipswich. Both sessions start at 7:00pm and although the results are not merged, all participants play the same deals. At Kesgrave we run a cashless system for collecting table money and players are billed for sessions played at the end of each month. Visiting players are welcome and must complete the Visitor Information Form.

Mondays: players in our Relaxed Pairs also have a choice; online on BBO or face-to-face at Kesgrave, both sessions start at 7:00pm. As the same boards are played, participants in both receive follow-up notes on the deals, distributed by email, usually within two days.

Before you play your first online game with us you need to register your details, using the forms, linked from the Online Bridge Club box, right.

If you need a partner, check our Partnership Desk. Non-members can be contacted by emailing Anne for their contact details – before 1:00pm on the day in question if possible.

Any questions, about any format, please let us know, we're here to help.

Membership for 2023-24

We have recently sent out membership invitations to all those who play at the club. We hope you will join and be part of Ipswich & Kesgrave Bridge Club. To discover more about being a member, see 'Membership' (menu-item, left, near top).

More below; scroll down or click on:

• Deal of the Week
• News on Teaching
• EBU Changes to Announcing 2023
• Clare Swiss Pairs
• Suffolk Teaching Event

Missed any? All past articles have their own page (also menu-item, left).

Changes from 7th August 2023

Further to the changes made below in 2022, after feedback, several aspects have been revisited.

Principally the changes extend announcements and constrain alerts of doubles. These are hard to summarise without repeating letter and verse of the text and face-to-face players should consult the updated Announcements Summary.

Changes from 1st September 2022

The EBU has made changes to announcements and the rules for strong openings. The new announcements include the following:

• Responder's transfers into a minor after a 1NT opening.
• Wide-ranging (but non-forcing) 1NT responses to an opening suit-bid.
• Two-over-one responses which force to game.
• Transfer responses to a prepared club.

There is an EBU guide, "Announcements Summary", on what to announce and alert.

There are also new rules on strong and non-strong opening bids, see the first link above or the Blue Book [PDF] for complete information.

The 26th Clare Bridge Club Swiss Pairs

The 2024 Clare Swiss Pairs will be held on Sunday 5th May at 10:45 for 11am, at Lavenham Village Hall. This is a blue pointed event and will be directed by Rob Richardson.

The cost is £17.50 per player, and includes a delicious sandwich lunch. To enter, please apply (preferably) online by completing this form on the Clare website.

Hintlesham Hall teaching event with Zeb Stocken

Suffolk Bridge is pleased to announce it will be holding a bridge teaching event at Hintlesham Hall (IP8 3NS, between Ipswich and Hadleigh) on Thursday June 13th. The cost is £40 per person and includes Coffee/Teas upon arrival (10:00am) and a buffet lunch.

Zeb Stocken, a well-known and highly experienced Bridge teacher throughout the UK, is returning to the county and will cover Slam bidding (Jacoby 2NT, Splinters & Control-Showing Cue-Bids) in the morning session. After lunch the topics covered will be Hand Evaluation and the Play at Trick 1. (Upgrading & Downgrading your Hand + making a plan as declarer).

More details can be found on the SCBA website.