GRASSROOTS Game — Saturday, May 15

Double black points.  Entry fee is BB$6

SILVER LININGS WEEK — May 24-30

Once again there is an opportunity to earn DOUBLE SILVER points.

We have added 0-1000 MP games to run with our Open games on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

Approximately 50% of our players are under 1000 masterpoints, so adding this will allow players in this category to compete against their peers.  However, it is THE CHOICE OF YOU AND YOUR PARTNER whether you wish to register for 0-1000 or in the Open game. BUT if you wish to play in any ACBL Limited game (e.g., 0-1000), you must have an ACBL number.  A 4-month membership is free to anyone who does not belong to ACBL. 

The daily games (for example Tuesday games) will be listed on BBO two hours before game time as follows:

# Lee's 0-1000 Tuesday Pairs 12:00

# Lee's Open Tuesday Pairs 12:10

NOTE that the Open game will trail the Limited game by 10 minutes but will likely finish at approximately the same time.

Saturday Open game

Lee's Bridge hosts a Saturday Open Pairs game each week at 12:30.

VISITOR  POLICY

The number of Visitors allowed to play in a Virtual Club has been increased to 15% (from 5%).  In addition, visiting pairs are now allowed to play together but will count as two Visitors.

IF YOU NEED A PARTNER FOR A VIRTUAL GAME...

Call Natalie McKeon at 416-233-7474

VIRTUAL GAMES AT LEE'S BRIDGE

RESULTS can be found at...

https://www.bridgewebs.com/cgi-bin/bwx/bw.cgi?pid=display_home&club=lees

or...

https://my.acbl.org/club-results/264143

OUR GAMES

# Lee’s 0-1000 Tuesday Pairs 12:00

# Lee’s Tuesday Open Pairs 12:10

# Lee’s 0-1000 Wednesday Pairs 12:00

# Lee’s Wednesday Open Pairs 12:10

# Lee’s Wednesday Evening Open Pairs 7:00 PM

# Lee’s 0-1000 Thursday Pairs 12:00

# Lee’s Thursday Open Pairs 12:10

# Lee’s Saturday Open Pairs 12:30   [NOTE: the Saturday game starts later than other days]

ACBL RULES FOR VIRTUAL GAMES

Anyone who has played at Lee's Bridge in a LIVE game since January 1, 2019 is a MEMBER of Lee's Bridge.  If you are not a MEMBER, then you are likely a VISITOR.  Should you wish to play with a VISITOR, please provide me with their their BBO Username and if they have one, an ACBL number .  A VISITOR  MUST BE ON THE VISITOR LIST before game time in order to REGISTER.  We are allowed a maximum number of Visitors.  Visitors will be admitted on a first come first served basis but we do not anticipate exceeding our quota.

How do you know if you are a MEMBER?   You can double check by calling me at 416-274-1752 or email me at calendar@interlog.com.

In order to participate, you will need to create an account on BridgeBase Online (BBO), www.bridgebase.com, and purchase BB$ (bridgebase dollars) with which to pay your card fees.  US$1 = 1BB$.  Setting up an account is very straightforward as is purchasing BB$.  If you require any assistance, please contact me at calendar@interlog.com or phone me 416-274-1752 (after 11:00 a.m. Thursday through Sunday).  If you email me, be sure to INCLUDE your phone number so that I can reach you.

See below for how to find our games on the BBO website on game day.  But REMEMBER, if you do NOT have a BBO account, please get your BBO account set up and send me your BBO user name. 

FINDING THE GAME ON BBO

On TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY, & THURSDAY  the day games begin at 12:00 pm, on WEDNESDAY EVENING  the game beings at 7:00 pm.   However, you can register beginning two hours in advance at 10:00 am.  (or 5:00 for the evening game)  We recommend you register in good time.  ENSURE THERE IS MONEY IN YOUR BB$ account.  And be sure I have your BBO username well in advance.

AFTER you log in to Bridge Base online, www.bridgebase.com, you will be at the Events/Categories page which lists categories down the left-hand side of the page.  Under “FEATURED AREAS” you will see a heading entitled “VIRTUAL CLUBS”.  Click on that heading. 

FOR MEMBERS:   Now you will see a heading entitled “ACBL – NORTH AMERICA”.   Click on that heading.  You will now see a listing of all of the VIRTUAL CLUB GAMES  in which you are eligible to play, i.e, a list of games where you are a club member.  Look for LEE'S PAIRS.  Our TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY, and THURSDAY game titles are found on Lee's Bridge home page each week.

FOR VISITORS:   If you are playing as a VISITOR, go to “FEATURED AREAS”  and click on the heading entitled “VIRTUAL CLUBS”.    Now you will see a list with the heading “ACBL – NORTH AMERICA” at the top, and "ALL CLUBS" at the bottom.   Click on ALL CLUBS.

You can scroll down to find the game title for that day OR there is a SEARCH button in the top right corner of the window if you wish to type the name in there.  Simply click on our game and when the INVITE window opens, invite your partner to the game.

SOME THINGS TO BE AWARE OF WITH ONLINE BRIDGE:

1)  Do not purchase your BB$ through an App on your Ipad or you will be paying a significant premium for the puchase.  But your BB$ directly from the bridgebase.com website by clickin on the blue button that says BB$.

2)  There are no UNDOs.  So be careful before making a bid or playing a card.  AND if you accidentally click on the wrong button, DO NOT COMMENT to your partner.  Extricate yourself the best you can IN SILENCE and move on to the next board.

3)  When playing in an online game, you are required to “self-alert”.  That means that before making a conventional call you push YOUR OWN ALERT button, enter the explanation in the ALERT box and then click on your bid. 

For example, your partner opens 1NT and right-hand opponent passes.  You have a hand with 5 spades and are intending to bid hearts to transfer to spades.  But before clicking on the 2 heart button, FIRST push the ALERT button, enter the description transfer to spades, and  then click on the 2 heart button.  Your partner does NOT see your alert.  But a message is sent to both opponents telling them you have made a conventional bid.  If one of your opponents wants to know further information about your conventional call, they will click on your bid in the auction box in front of them and then click on the EXPLAIN button asking for an explanation.  OR them might send you a PRIVATE message.  Type your explanation NOT the name of the convention being used.   It is quite simple and straightforward.

4)  Be VERY careful when claiming.

5)  3-board rounds will be 21 minutes long.  The 2-board rounds will be 14 minutes long.  If you are not finished after 21 (or 14) minutes, the remaining board will disappear.  The online software should award a score for that board or a summons goes out automatically to a Director to adjust the board.

3 WAYS TO PLAY

Personally, I highly recommend using a computer or a laptop.  But there are other options:

To play from a COMPUTER (Recommended), go to www.Bridgebase.com and become a member

To play from your TABLET, go to www.Bridgebase.com on the web or go to your APP STORE and download "Bridge Base Online" and play on their app

To play from your SMARTPHONE, go to your APP STORE and download "Bridge Base Online".  But DO NOT purchase BBO money through your APP.

This is a new experience for many.  We ask you patience while the fine tuning occurs in these early months.  But above all….ENJOY.

Lee

Natalie McKeon is happy to help find you a partner and can be reached at 416-233-7474.

The Social committee is a group of volunteers who represent the people of the afternoon games at Lee’s Bridge Club.

Some of the tasks performed include:

• helping to arrange partners (Natalie McKeon…416 233 7474)
• preparing and sending cards to people in the club experiencing illness or loss (Brigitte Hohn)
• collecting monies for gifts for kitchen staff at holiday time (Norma Shack and Anne Volpe)
• sending memorial cards/charitable donations in honour of long-standing club members who have died.

Funds are raised to support these initiatives via occasional 50/50 draws. Your support is appreciated. If you know of anyone to whom a card should be sent, please bring it to the attention of any member of the social committee.

Thank you for your support.

The social committee members:   Linda Herman, Brigitte Hohn, Natalie McKeon,  Norma Shack, Joanna Slone, Margot Taylor, Anne Volpe, Cathy White & Lee.