King Arthur and the Knights of the Bridge table

* anyone would like to contribute to bridge in Oxfordshire or serve on the committee

* any club would like financial or other support to make bridge more accessible

* anyone has an interesting hand for the newsletter (send to OBAeditor@gmail.com)

* any club would like a grant to support the growth of bridge

Three teams have been drawn at random to play in Triangle Round 1, where they will play a 24 board match against each of the other two teams. The top TWO teams based on matches won will go through to the quarter final round.  The team coming 3rd (splitting ties by IMPs if necessary) will be out of the competition, but will have played two matches. SEE DRAW  The three teams are Nick Smith, Peter Finbow, & Nigel Wilkes. Their results can be seen under EBUleague

So this gives 8 teams in the quarter final round, normal knockout with the four teams who lose in round 2 invited to play in the Chair's plate. Everyone will get two matches or more and the President's Cup and Chair's Plate will end at the same time (i.e. before the AGM !)

The norm is to play on Realbridge - see Competitions ... Presidents for links but see regulations.

Peter Litchfield is the Competitions Secretary for this event and he will be sending emails to team captains soon.

A  Face-to-Face Teams competition – for all bridge players in Oxfordshire!

Do you like playing bridge the old-fashioned way, with real cards in your hands, sitting at a real table, opposite real flesh and blood opponents? And do you enjoy playing teams in a fair but friendly spirit?  Then this competition is for you !

The Mercian League is a Face to Face league for teams of four of all standards. It will start in December 2026 and run until the end of May 2027, with teams playing up to five matches during that time. Entry is open to all bridge players in the county (whether or not you’re an EBU member) and teams can be entered either by clubs or by the team captains – so you don’t all have to be members of the same club to join in.

Matches will normally be played in the evenings and you’ll play 20 boards, which can be either hand or machine dealt. You can choose whether to play at someone’s house or at another venue such as your club. No elaborate catering is expected, just a short break for a cup of tea and a biscuit, or a piece of cake if you’re very lucky!

There’ll be a trophy for the overall winners and if you bid, play, or defend a hand particularly well during any match, you can write it up to enter for a small extra prize.

It’s only £20 per team to enter, so what are you waiting for? Grab some team-mates and enter now!   ENTER HERE   Entries by 20th November please

Any questions to Malcolm Currie, Mercian League organiser, mjc@astroprog.org

If the number of entries is fewer than eight, the League will be handicapped using NGS.  If eight or more teams enter, the League will be split in two divisions again by the average NGS of the team.

Oxfordshire changed the format in 2024 which generated significantly more entries and interest (75 pairs competed). Any club pairs duplicate (20+ boards, not gentle duplicates or like) in the weeks commencing 16th November 2026 , 7th December 2026 or 4th January 2027 entitle pairs with 50% or more to play in one of three County Pairs Semifinals. NOTE. Players must have primary membership Oxfordshire. Each player may only play in one Semifinal, so if a player qualifies twice can only enter once and if with two different partners, must choose which partner.

Click here to enter one of the semifinals, dates are Thursday 4th February 7pm, Sunday 7th February 2pm, Monday 15th February 7pm 2027 (24-26 boards, MPs at Regional Scale, £4 per player, all on RealBridge). CLOSING DATE: for each semi is midnight two days before i.e. on 2nd Feb, 5th Feb and 13th Feb. Entries only accepted after this to complete a half table). In proportion to players in each semifinal there will be a 10 table final on Sunday 7th March 2pm (38 boards, Green points awarded, £9 per player, again on RealBridge).  

Swiss Pairs Championship - 6th December 2026    (BLUE POINTED)

It's time to enter this very popular competition. This year's Swiss Pairs competition will be held online (RealBridge) on Sunday 6th December 2026. Please be online by 1.45 for a prompt start at 2.00pm.There will be six 6-board matches. Session 1: 2.00pm - 4.15pm, 18 boards, Session 2: 4.45pm - 7.00pm, 18 boards.   Entry Fee: £18 per pair.

PRIZES: to top 10% of pairs playing, using 20% of entry fees.   

NOTE:  Self alerting in this event.  See here for detailed information

NOTE:   This event requires a full number of tables, so the last pair that enters may not be able to play if there is a half table....

Chief TD: Patricia Hones          CLICK TO ENTER

The Selection Committee is pleased to announce its selection to represent Oxfordshire in the Tollemache qualifier on 7 & 8 November 2026 as follows:

     Abbey Smith and Rob Procter (2 days)             Alan Wilson and Nick Smith (2 days)

     Denis Talbot and Kathy Talbot (1 day)               Graham Orsmond and Tom Rainforth (Sunday)

     Finn Clark and Stuart Forsyth (1 day)                Ian Angus and Tom Rainforth (Saturday)

Midland Counties League 2026-27: 1 | 2 | 3 | 9-High

The Selection Committee has made the following selection for the match against Gloucestershire in NOVEMBER (October is a bye for OBA):

Reserves:    Alex and Joseph, Krys and Sandra                9H Reserve: Danesh Goberdhan and Ray Connew

(Selectors: Alan, Denis, Graham, Mary-Ann, Matthew and Nigel)

     FOURTH THURSDAY - Teams on RealBridge, next one 26th Nov, 7pm, 24-25 boards     CLICK TO ENTER

                 Click here for LADDER     The current ladder is from Jul - Nov 2026. Premiership points are awarded for the ladder.

       This event uses self alerting. click HERE for more information.

It has been decided to discontinue these events

Divisions for November    Ladder

Click to join as a new entrant   New pairs very welcome (30 pairs are already entered). Premiership points are awarded for the ladder.

Click to pay entry fee for 19th November (for current players, and to receive RealBridge link)

       This event uses self alerting. click HERE for more information.