KwaZulu-Natal Bridge Union
Release 2.19q
Bulletin

Welcome to the KZNBU, the home of bridge in KwaZulu-Natal

We trust that it contains interesting information for our current members, as well as for anyone considering playing in KZN. 

A page carries details of our upcoming tournaments and events, together with the results of recent events. Member information is password protected to ensure compliance with the POPI Act .  

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If you have a news item, a hand of interest, or any other bridge related items worthy of publishing on this site, please contact Jenny Ten-Bokum using this address jentenbokum@gmail.com

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Learn how to play bridge - a game that is not only mentally stimulating, but will give you endless pleasure. It's also a wonderful social activity.

Frank Chemaly is happy to start another beginners bridge class.

The beginners course consists of eight or ten weekly classes (ten is better, but it can be done in eight) which last about three hours. They can be arranged evenings, Mondays or weekends to suit those who would like to learn the game. I use my mom, Jan Chemaly's, system which she has taught for over 20 years in Durban and is based on Standard American, which you can play anywhere in the world. Notes are provided.

Classes can be at my home in Morningside, but if anyone would like to host them, I can come to you anywhere in the greater Durban/Ballito/Upper South Coast area. This worked very well with a group of people I taught recently in Hillcrest.

Cost is R800 per lesson, regardless of the number of people attending. Eight is ideal, but it can be anything from four to 12 people. I may charge for petrol if I am travelling further afield.

Feel free to contact me on 083 230 5629 if you would like to join a class, or ask your friends if they would like to join you.

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Carol Stanton in the Western Cape is offering a series of bridge courses online.

There are three six-week courses run at varying times of the year, mornings and evenings. Bridge 101 is a basic introduction to the game, Bridge 102 concentrates on play and defence, and Bridge 103 refines the basic bidding techniques. It is recommended you complete all three. Courses come with a booklet, and involve and hour-long zoom lecture followed by play on Real Bridge.

The courses are heavily subsidised by the Western Cape Bridge Union. For more details, click here

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MINI CONGRESS

The KZN Mini Congress

in mid June

Dont miss out on this wonderful event

3 session of Pairs and 3 sessions of Teams

You can enter either or both

To enter please go to https://sabfonline.co.za/sabf/gbu/Tournament/Enter/211 

. . . and scroll down to the team entry and below that a separate entry for the pairs

For more information and/or help

contact Linda on 074 129 2575

Last updated : 27th May 2023 13:11 SAST
Donation of Bridge Equipment
Donation of Bridge Equipment

Durban and Berea  Duplicate Clubs are no longer playing Face to Face Bridge and no longer need their Bridge Equipment

They are happy to donate most of it (tables excluded).  Preference will be given to SABF Members who plan to use the equipment for teaching others to play Bridge

If you can arrange Transport, this is not restricted to KZN members

Also, charities who could sell the goods  for fund raising are also welcome to contact us

Examples of what is on offer are pictured above

If interested, please contact Jenny at jentenbokum@gmail.com or  083 4850477

Goods can be viewed and/or taken on agreed dates/times

By arrangement, we can have sets available for pick up at the Mini Congress

Last updated : 27th May 2023 13:00 SAST
Online clubs

The KZNBU runs 6 events on BBO

Monday and Thursday morning, starting at 9:30 registration by 9:20

Wednesday afternoon at 2pm run by Peter Bircher

Durban Duplicate Bridge Club plays on Monday evenings, starting at 7pm, registration by 6.50pm, run by Peter Bircher

Find these tournaments on BBO in Virtual Clubs, South Africa

Entrance fee is $1.50 per player. Contact Jenny Ten-bokum 083 485 0477 to register your BBO name

The Midlands Club also has two tournaments on Tuesday and Friday mornings on BBO at 9.00am. Registration by 8.50am. Cost $1.50 per player. Contact Sonja Purdon 082 805 8050 or Pippa Faul on 082 776 0330

Last updated : 27th May 2023 13:07 SAST
The KZN Bridge Club
The KZN Bridge Club
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We play every Thursday Morning - all welcome!

The club operates at their new home, the Presbyterian Church Hall at 154 Lilian Ngoyi (Windermere) Road, opposite the Windermere Centre

Off-street parking ..........

..... see more
Last updated : 12th Apr 2023 19:36 SAST
Le Domaine Bridge Club - Friday Morning
Le Domaine Bridge Club - Friday Morning
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Starting at 9am

The club is thriving with, and has two sections, an A and a B

Visitors are welcome to play at the club, but they need to book in advance. Louise Gibbon has the Le Domaine booking group on WhatsApp. Her number is 082 577 9942. ..........

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Last updated : 12th Apr 2023 19:21 SAST
Westville Bridge Club is open for bridge every Tuesday morning!
Westville Bridge Club is open for bridge every Tuesday morning!
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Westville Bridge Club* is open and free to play! (for now)

Special notice by the Chairman

The numbers have dwindled since then, though, and as a result and the Committee is trying everything to keep the club open.  To do so, more players are needed and a decision has been taken by the Committee to stop collecting table fees (yes it will be free) and also to encourage KZNBU members who would like to play but who do not have a partner, to contact one of them to try and arrange a game with someone else who may also be looking. ..........

..... see more
Last updated : 12th Apr 2023 19:29 SAST
Bridge in Kloof is on Wedneday mornings

Kloof Bridge Club plays at the Kloof Catholic Church (Our Lady of Mercy) Hall 79 Old Main Road starting on Wednesday, 8th February

They will be playing on the first four Wednesday morning’s of each month

For details, contact Lyn de Mattos on 071 526 4406

Last updated : 2nd May 2023 14:26 SAST
What is your bid?
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Hand 20 played on KZN BBO on 24th April

West, your partner, passes and North opens 1NT

You are east with this hand

What action do you take?

What can/should you bid with 18 HCP's and a nice 5 card major?

You really want to bid - after all, it's your best hand of the day.  A juicy double is maybe worth 500.  Or should you simply overcall 2♠ 

Make your choice before reading on. ..........

..... see more
Last updated : 27th Apr 2023 15:32 SAST
A tip for defenders
A tip for defenders
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In a hand played recently most of the field ended up in 3 after West had invited game

Sitting North you start by leading the singleton J.   Partner wins with the ace and returns a diamond, which you ruff

The question is how can you get back to partner’s hand for another ruff.

If partner has the ace of clubs, then a club is called for.  However, if partner has the ace of spades, then a spade is the way to partner’s hand

If you and your partner have no idea about suit preference signals, then it is a guess. ..........

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Last updated : 25th Apr 2023 14:05 SAST
Optimum Contract. What is it?

I find the optimum contract suggested by the BridgeWebs results file often quite interesting

The suggestion, upon analysis, has always made perfect sense

Of course, the assumption that the rest of the field will bid to the optimum, is no guarantee for a good result. So going for -1400 (6♠X vulnerable -5) against your opponents 6 vulnerable slam making for -1430 may not always work out as you might hope

In the expert game, more so, as the rest of the field are likely to bid to the slam

On Tuesday you may wonder why 4SX for - 300 is the optimum contract as suggested on board 14

Until you notice that 3NT is makeable on the slimmest of spade stops, but only if played by West

Remarkably, 3 pairs did reach this shaky game and, what's more, 2 made their contract!

The question is, if East declares in 3NT, how do you make sure you beat it?

In this case, the ♠J seals East's fate

The Jack holds, and a small spade is won by north

North keeps firing hearts through, finally forcing an entry to South's hand and he eventually has to capitulate - 2 down

Last updated : 25th Apr 2023 14:06 SAST
Card reading - 4th highest
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This hand cropped up on Thursday morning, 19th January.

You are West

North opened 1NT and, after South failed to find a major fit, lept to 3NT.

Your partner leads the ♣8 and dummy plays the ♣2

Plan your move. ..........

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Last updated : 25th Apr 2023 14:07 SAST
The fight for part-score
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Although tight games and difficult slams are the "stuff" of bridge columns, the fight for a partscore can be just as rewarding in the pairs game.

This hand cropped upon the 9th January 2023 on KZN BBO

It illustrates the point beautifully

Many pairs were permitted to play in 2 after North put in a spade overcall, with South remaing silent, making 8 tricks for an average, +90

However at some tables South, not content to leave E/W to make their part-score, put in a belated bid "stealing" the contract with the master suit.

If 2♠  makes then an excellent result ensures

However if N/S go 1 down, vulnerable, its -100 and a very poor result

Now its up to East/West to get their +100

East leads the ace of diamonds and, after noting West's encouraging card, must decide what to do next

At one table, East cashed the Q and switched to the singleton club

Declarer rose with the ace, entered hand with a heart and ruffed a diamond

The Jack of spades was tabled, and whether covered or not, had to concede a club and a heart and a trump, to make on the nail, E/W conceding -110 for a very poor percentage

Lets go back to the first trick

Its not easy for East to find the switch at trick 2 to defeat the contract

Can you spot it. ..........

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Last updated : 12th May 2023 15:05 SAST
Results
Midlands
BBO
Le Domaine A
Le Domaine
Le Domaine B
Le Domaine
KZNBC
Windermere
KZN Thurs
BBO
KZN BBO
BBO
Westville Bridge Club
Westville Bowling Club
Midlands
BBO
DDBC Evenings
BBO
KZN Mon
BBO
Midlands
BBO
Le Domaine A
Le Domaine
Le Domaine B
Le Domaine
KZNBC
Windermere
KZN Thurs
BBO
Westville Bridge Club
Westville Bowling Club
Midlands
BBO
DDBC Evenings
BBO
KZN Mon
BBO
Midlands
BBO
Calendar
Mon 29th May 2023
DDBC Evenings
BBO 7:00pm
Mon 29th May 2023
KZN Mon
BBO 9:30am
Tue 30th May 2023
Westville Bridge Club
Westville Bowling Club 9:00am
Tue 30th May 2023
Midlands
BBO 9:00am
Wed 31st May 2023
KZN BBO
BBO 2pm
Wed 31st May 2023
Kloof Bridge Club
Kloof Catholic Church 9 am
Thu 1st June 2023
KZNBC
Windermere 9.00am
Thu 1st June 2023
Domaine Thursdays
RealBridge 9.00 am