The pre-paid discount cards available to members may be purchased through the end of September.

The cards expire at the end of December, so you must expect to use all the games this year. The cards are non-transferrable and non-refundable.

Thank you to the participants of this year's Mentor program.

I hope you found the time you spent was helpful, rewarding, fun, or hopefully all of that.

If you have thoughts for improving the program for next year, please email comments to Cordell.

We'll host a book signing event before our Friday September 6 game.

Mary Ann Jacobs is publishing her second book, Peril in Pittman.
Please come and help us celebrate Mary Ann's success!
(Oh, and please stay and play some bridge too.) 

On Wednesday September 11, come early and enjoy a bowl of soup and some cornbread.

A little nourishment certainly won't hurt your game! 

No need to bring anything, come about 6:00, and enjoy some good food, good friends, and good bridge.

In September, we have 3 Club Championships, a handicap pairs game, an IMP pairs game, and everyone's favorite, a new partner pairs game.

The IMP pairs game is on Wednesday 9/11, same day as our soup night. For this game, we'll score the game in IMPs, just like on BBO. Still, it is IMPs, so the focus in on making your contract, bidding your games and slams. Overtricks don't matter (much). So, your bidding, play, and defensive strategies must adapt accordingly.

The New Partner game is on Friday 9/20. This is an open game and everyone is welcome to play with the partner of their choice. For those who play with a partner they haven't paired with this year, you could win a free game (GrandSlam card holders could win $5). This is always a fun game, as exploring a new partnership always is, and we're all doing it together!

The Handicap pairs game is on Tuesday 9/24.There are no Strats in this game, but two ways to win. Half your award comes from playing the best game in the room. The other half of your award comes from beating your personal average more than anyone else. Every pair is assigned a handicap (check the website under statistical reports). Pairs are assigned the average of their individual handicaps. Your handicap represents 10 times the % bonus your score will receive before assigning the handicap awards. E.G. if your handicap is 100, you'll get a 10% bonus.

Check out the calendar, make your plans, and we'll see you at the tables in September!

How good does your hand have to be to open 2C?

Some players think they must have 22+ HCPs, some think 4 or fewer losers. Duplicate law says it's both different and more complicated than these two incomplete views.

Try you luck with these beauties (answers below, don't cheat). Is it legal to open 2C with the following hands?:

1. ♠AKQJx ♥xx ♦Ax ♣AKQJ?
2. ♠AKQJx ♥xx ♦xx ♣AKQJ?
3. ♠AKQJx ♥xx ♦xx ♣AKQx?
4. ♠AKQJx ♥xx ♦Ax ♣KQxx?
5. ♠AKQxxx ♥x ♦xx ♣AKxx?
6. ♠AKxx ♥x ♦xx ♣AKQxxx?
7. ♠AKxxxxxx ♥x ♦Q ♣KQx?
8. ♠AKxxxxxx ♥x ♦x ♣KQJ?
9. ♠AKxxxxxx ♥x ♦A ♣xxx?
10. ♠AKQJTxxxx ♥x ♦x ♣xx?

You must meet one of three conditions below in order to open a normal 2C as per Duplicate law:

1. Any hand with 20+ HCPs
2. Any hand with 14+ HCPs and is within a trick of game (assume even distribution of outstanding cards).
3. Any hand with 5+ controls (Ace is 2, King is 1) and is within a trick of game (assume even distribution of outstanding cards).

Here are the legal answers to the Opening 2C problems above:

1. ♠AKQJx H-xx ♦Ax ♣AKQJ? 24 HCPs, 3 losers.
   YES, meets #1: 20+ HCPs.
2. ♠AKQJx H-xx ♦xx ♣AKQJ? 20 HCPs, 4 losers.
   YES, meets #1: 20+ HCPs.
3. ♠AKQJx ♥xx ♦xx ♣AKQx? 19 HCPs, 4 losers.
   YES, meets #2: 14+ HCPs and 9 tricks (5S, 4C with 333 split).
4. ♠AKQJx H-xx ♦Ax ♣KQxx? 19 HCPs, 4 losers.
   NO, 14+ HCPs, only 8 tricks (5S, 1D, 2C with 333 split).
5. ♠AKQxxx H-x ♦xx ♣AKxx? 16 HCPs, 4 losers.
   YES, meets #2: 14+ HCPs and 9 tricks (5S, 4C with 333 split).
6. ♠AKxx ♥x ♦xx ♣AKQxxx? 16 HCPs, 4 losers.
   NO, in clubs you need 10 tricks to be within a trick of game.
7. ♠AKxxxxxx ♥x ♦Q ♣KQx? 14 HCPs, 4 losers.
   YES, meets #2: 14+ HCPs and 9 tricks (8S,1C).
   The  ♦Q is worthless, but it is HCPs.
8. ♠AKxxxxxx ♥x ♦x ♣KQJ? 13 HCPs, 4 losers.
   NO, there are 10 tricks, but not enough HCPs or controls!
   This one is a real bidding difficulty!
9. ♠AKxxxxxx ♥x D-A ♣xxx? 11 HCPs, 5 losers.
   YES, meets #3. 5+ controls and 9 tricks ( 8S, 1D).
10. ♠AKQJTxxxx ♥x D-x ♣xx? 10 HCPs, 4 losers.
    NO, there are 9 tricks, but insufficient HCPs or controls.