Graham Burrows |
We received the sad news that Graham Burrows passed away last Thursday.
He was a talented and enthusiastic bridge player, representing KZN in the annual Inter-Provincials on a number of occasions
He was the Chairman of the KZNBU for many years and served on the SABF Committee
Rest in Peace, Graham.

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Last updated : 9th Jun 2025 13:17 SAST |
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Last updated : 9th Jun 2025 13:04 SAST |
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Hand of the month - May |
Eastern Cape - The Sunshine Coast - Thursday 15th May 2025
The diagramed hand indicates that the only makeable slam is in clubs, declared by west

The bidding is not relevant but could be along the lines of:
2NT 3♣
3♠ 4♣
5♣ 6♣
The way to make this one is by using a coup called Morton's Fork based on the hisorical figure, Cardinal John Morton
You draw trumps in 2 rounds and lead a heart towards dummy (east)
If north rises with the ace, it's all over for the defence, as the diamond loser eventually goes on the ♥Q
No need to try the diamond finesse
If north ducks, you play 3 rounds of spades, discarding a heart and now you throw north in with a heart
With nothing but red cards north has to lead away from the K♦ or give you a ruff and sluff
Peter Bircher
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Last updated : 17th May 2025 10:48 SAST |
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WHY WE NEED THE SABF |
Dear KZNBU bridge players
I am reading emails and hearing comments from people asking why we have an SABF and why do we need to pay R250 a year to the SABF to be affiliated.
I have therefore decided to set down my views in writing as your KZNBU representative on the SABF.
The playing of bridge is recognised by SASCOC (The South African Sports Federation) as a sport that qualifies for the awarding of national colours to players representing our country. The SABF is recognised by SASCOC as the national body representing bridge. So, the SABF is the governing body representing competitive bridge in South Africa.
In saying this I accept that some people see bridge as only a social event and see no need for Master Points and participating against Grand Masters in national tournaments, never mind representing South Africa at international tournaments.
There are many aspects to the role of the SABF, which include:
- Regulating the rules under which bridge is played
- Taking disciplinary action against players who cheat and thereby maintaining fair play in our competitions
- Producing an annual calendar to prevent tournament clashes
- Holding the national license for BBO and distributing the 70% of all BBO tournament fees that are returned to the SABF by BBO, back to the unions
- Licensing tournament directors for BBO tournaments
- Organising the national bridge events, such as Congress
- Awarding Master Points and recognising the grading of players from beginner to Grand Master
- Representing the interests of South African bridge through membership of the International Bridge Federation and the African Bridge Federation
- SABF continually offers workshops and other courses to all the Unions for the benefit of all members
Recognising the need to introduce new players to bridge, the SABF initiated a programme of online courses for beginners, led by Arie Ridderhof and Carol Stanton. This also involved the purchase of hundreds of copies of the teaching books by Paul Marston, for use in these courses. These courses continue to be offered.
Questions have been raised about the need for affiliation fees when the SABF has R3 million is reserves. The SABF has not increased fees since 2019 and the recent R50 a year increase represents an increase that is way below inflation. The view was taken by the SABF that we should not see competitive bridge as a dying sport, but one that will continue into the foreseeable future. So, to deplete the reserves does not make sense, as then a large annual affiliation fee would be required to continue the work of the SABF into the future.
The SABF has also taken steps to tighten the conditions under which players qualify to be subsidised to represent our country in international tournaments. It is not true that a large part of SABF affiliation fees is still used to pay for these players to travel.
Most of the work of the SABF is carried out by volunteers, but there is a need for administrative support that has to be paid for.
I believe that for a cost of just over R20 a month, we get many hours of enjoyment from bridge and are able to grow our skills by playing with and against those who are better than we are. I accept that COVID changed the face of the game as we moved to online bridge, but that is not how it was intended to be played.
I also accept that we need to grow the game and introduce new people to bridge – the initiative of the SABF needs to be given serious consideration by all of us.
Neil Macleod
KZNBU committee member
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Last updated : 22nd Apr 2025 14:29 SAST |
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ONLINE BRIDGE |
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The KZNBU runs 2 events on BBO
Monday morning, starting at 9:30 registration by 9:20
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 a tournament on Friday morning on BBO at 9.00am. Registration by 8.50am. Cost $1.50 per player. Pippa Faul on 082 776 0330
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Last updated : 21st Aug 2024 14:01 SAST |
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FACE-TO-FACE BRIDGE IN KZN
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Last updated : 24th Nov 2023 12:24 SAST |
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Kloof Bridge Club - Wedneday Morning |

Kloof Bridge Club plays at the Kloof Catholic Church (Our Lady of Mercy) Hall 79 Old Main Road starting on Wednesday, 8th February
They play only on the first four Wednesday morning’s of each month
For details, contact Lyn de Mattos on 071 526 4406
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Last updated : 24th Nov 2023 12:23 SAST |
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The KZN Bridge Club - Thursday Morning |
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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 behind a locked gate is available
The entrance is from Yule Lane, which runs behind the church. Overflow parking is in Yule Lane with car guards
There is a pedestrian gate entrance on Lilian Ngoyi
Starting time is 9am with registration from 8am to 8.45am.
For more information, WhatsApp Jenny Ten-Bokum on 083 4850 477
..... see less
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 |
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Last updated : 14th Jun 2023 17:00 SAST |
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Le Domaine Bridge Club - Friday Morning |
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Starting at 9am
The club is thriving running two sections each week; an A and a B section
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. She also requires visitors’ car registration numbers for the security check point at the entrance gate to the estate
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Last updated : 22nd Jun 2023 16:41 SAST |
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Domaine RealBridge Club |
Where players can see and talk to each other while playing online
For events, results, and information on the Domaine RealBridge Club website and Le Domaine face to face Bridge Club please click on this link: www.bridgewebs.com/domaine
MANAGEMENT TEAM CONTACT DETAILS:
Administration and ollection
of playing fees: Louise Gibbon - 082 5779942
Website administrator and
Technical Advisor: Peter Coombe - 082 9604824
Tournament Director: Rod Pienaar - 079 6735077
THE FOLLOWING EVENTS ARE BEING RUN:
Domaine Thursday
- A RealBridge pairs tournament starting at 9am every Thursday.
- Cost R25 per player
- Booking essential through Louise Gibbon
Le Domaine Bridge Club: Chairlady Lu Cholerton 082 8411549
- A face-to-face pairs tournament starting at 9am every Friday at the Le Domaine Clubhouse
- Cost R40 per player
- Numbers are limited and booking essential through Louise Gibbon
Domaine Saturday
- A RealBridge pairs tournament at 2pm if there are enough pairs available to play
- Cost R25 per player
- Booking essential through Louise Gibbon/Rod Pienaar
Social Bridge
- A RealBridge social game is open every day of the week and available for play anytime of the day
- 4 players can arrange to meet on the site and play
- Cost R10 per player
- No booking required
Supervised Play and Teaching
- A supervised RealBridge game can be enjoyed on the social site
- 4 players can arrange for a supervised session with a teacher watching them play and guiding and commenting
- Teachers who would like to teach a group of 4 beginners or supervise the play of a group wanting some input with their game can arrange to meet on the social page for this purpose
- The teacher must contact Louise Gibbon for a link to allow real-time viewing and teaching
- Cost R25 per player (excluding the fees of the teacher)
- Arranging to meet with a group and agreeing on, and collecting the fees is the teacher’s responsibility
Teachers
- Anyone who would like to use this site for the purpose of teaching, please contact Louise Gibbon
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Last updated : 30th Nov 2023 12:54 SAST |
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