Release 2.19q
2023 Level 4 changes and 2022 Announcing/ Alerting Rules

See David's 2023 summary of Level 4 2023 changes, see complete revised Blue Book.

Some changes in the EBU announcing/alerting September 2022. David drew up a summary of the 2022 changes for directors.

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Tollemache Qualifier 9th-10th November

Stafford members, Robin and Dave, were in the SSCBA team selected to take part in the Tollemache Qualifier on RealBridge played over the weekend 9th-10th November 2024.  The Tollemache is the national inter-county teams-of-eight tournament.

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Message from Bridgewebs regarding the website:

The server today developed a problem with the disk. The Data Centre has been running analysis programs to test it out. These are stll being analysed and it may STILL be necessary to do some more maintenance and thus the server may be taken down again.

Our apologies for the loss of service.

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MEMBERS’ WELFARE

If you know of any member of the club who is unwell please let either Pat Martin or a member of the committee know so that appropriate wishes can be sent on behalf of all members.
The quickest response will be to tell either Pat Martin or any member of the committee at the bridge session then a card can be signed & posted immediately. Alternatively, you can email the secretary.

EBU

2024 EBU Master Point Promotions

Advanced Master (7,500 MPs)

  • B Metcalf

County Master (2,500 MPs)

  • D Nelson

Local Master (100 MPs)

  • Jeanette Gillen

For information source see EBU website.  See also the county overall board and SSCBA members ranks and  current NGS scores.

Welcome to Stafford Bridge Club: EBU Affiliated
Shelley 2024/25 -  Round 3 to be played Thursday 19th December

Team captains: Please contact David and Terry asap with your team line up to allow time for handicaps to be calculated.

Second round was played on Thursday 21st November at Haling Dene, with 2 subs in the line up.

Two rounds now played,  October and November. Sadly still only 4 teams.  Again Terry had dealt 4 sets of boards so easy to play  without having to pass boards round.  One exciting hand - board 20 - everyone managed to bid 6NT and made 7!  No one dared to bid 7 and silence observed on the success while boards still in play at other tables.  At the other end of the scale on board 8 everyone was overconfident and went down.  Scoring successfully done on the tablets and Terry had all the handicaps calculated for the players taking part on the day.

The cumulative results over the 2 rounds, Including handicaps' first Janet's team raw +20, handicap --14, cumulative +59, second Carol's team, +6, +3,cumulative 0, third Ann's team -31, +32, cumulative -20 and fourth the Metcalf team +5, -21, cumulative -39, .

Thanks to David for directing, everything ran very smoothly, everyone enjoyed the evening.

The third round of the Shelley will be Thursday 19th December

Stafford Bridge Club Christmas and New Year arrangements
Stafford Bridge Club Christmas and New Year arrangements 

Wishing all members a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year 

 Stafford Bridge Club Christmas and New Year arrangements
Date Venue Time    
Fri 13th Dec Tixall 9:45 for 10 a.m. Friday Lesson  
Fri 13th Dec Holmcroft 6:45 for 7 p.m. Christmas Party and duplicate session Please contact Ann if you plan to come
Mon 16th Dec Haling Dene 1.00 for 1.15 p.m. Festive fare will be available  
Tues 17th Dec Haling Dene 6:45 for 7 p.m. Festive fare will be available  
Thurs 19th Dec Tixall  9:15 for 9:30 a.m. Christmas Party and duplicate session Robin would like to know by 17th if you plan to come 
Thurs 19th Dec Haling Dene 6:45 for 7 p.m. Shelley Round 3 Captains please notify David & Terry by 17th of team members
to calculate handicaps before play
Fri 20th Dec Tixall 9:45 for 10 a.m. Friday Lesson  
Fri 20th Dec Holmcroft 6:45 for 7 p.m. Usual duplicate session  
Mon 23rd Dec     No bridge  
Tues 24th Dec     No bridge  
Thurs 26th Dec     No bridge  
Fri 27th Dec     No bridge  
Mon 30th Dec Tixall 1 for 1:15 p.m. Duplicate session at Tixall Haling Dene closed, please note change of location
Tues 31st Dec     No bridge  
Thurs 2nd Jan Tixall  9:15 for 9:30 a.m. Normal monthly duplicate session All members welcome
Fri 3rd Jan Tixall  9:15 for 9:30 a.m. Special  duplicate session All members welcome No partner required
Fri 3rd Jan Holmcroft   No bridge at Holmcroft (closed) Evening players invited to join the Tixall group at 9:15 for 9:30 a.m.

NB There will be no SBC bridge sessions at Haling Dene and Holmcroft throughout the Christmas and New Year period from Sat 20th Dec. Friday 3rd Jan

Stafford Bridge Club Christmas and New Year arrangements 

Normal sessions resume at all venues from Monday Jan 6th.

 Stafford Bridge Club Christmas and New Year arrangements
Morning Lessons, 10 a.m. Thursday and Friday mornings

Lessons are now at Tixall village Hall, ST18 0XT at 9:45 for 10 a.m.

Lesson Christmas PartyChristmas party 19th December , note starting 9:30 a.m. (please contact Robin if you would like to attend not later than December 16th). There will be a full 'proper' competition Tournament, with Partners found on the day, or with you regular Partners. Please  provide a little something in the way of food or drink, for a break at about 12:00pm. Any food, drink (soft or wine) would be appreciated. Robin would like to seek help from anyone who is willing to help - please contact Robin!

Lessons:

  • Robin's intermediate lessons: Thursday morning lessons.  On 1st Thursday of the month this will will normally be played as a duplicate session.
  • Terry's Improvers lessons: Friday morning lessons. On 3rd Friday of the month this will will normally be played as a duplicate session.

Robin has produced plenty of material for the website, including one on Splinter bids, Gambling 3NT, CRO, Redoubles, Trial Bids, Jacoby and his all time most read page on McKenny signals and Discards. Summary of his lessons can be seen here with links to the individual lessons.

Robin's Thursday morning popular lessons for intermediates start at 10 a.m. (please contact Robin if you would like to attend) as do Terry's Friday morning lessons for improvers (please contact Terry if you would like to attend those). Please contact Ann if you would like to join beginner's lessons.

IMPORTANT NOTICE - FRIDAY EVENING SESSIONS

From Friday 8th November, Friday evening sessions will take place at Holmcroft Youth and Community centre, 22-38 Newland Avenue ST16 1NL

To find the Centre, turn eastwards into North Avenue at the traffic lights at the A34 (Stone Road) junction with North Avenue and Holmcroft Road. Take the first left into Newland Avenue. The entrance to the Centre is on the right. (Do NOT confuse this Centre with the Stafford North End Community Centre in Holmcroft Road!!) The reason for this change is to spare members from having to use unlit country lanes during the upcoming season of long dark evenings, mists and frost, and hopefully thereby to encourage and enable a bigger regular attendance on Friday evenings.

Michael Metcalf
Chair  

Players are welcome to come on a Friday Evening without a partner but it would be very helpful if you could let Ann know beforehand so she can attempt to have a partner for everyone when the session starts. 

A good turn out for the first session at Holmcroft on 8th November 2024, several old faces who have not managed to get to Friday sessions since May to be seen and finally the tablets performed well despite time pressures to get them up and running!  Please note everything must be cleared away by 10:30 pm so play must start promptly at 7 p.m. and finish by 10:10 pm,  beware the timer will be back in action and enforced! 

Results emails from EBU

The EBU is introducing a new service for members, by which members will receive an email after each game submitted to the EBU within 3 days of play provided the EBU has a current email address for them. This email will include both their results and information on master points awarded, NGS impact, and other statistics such as how many times they have played and how their performance compares with others at the same club. It is a fun and friendly email and the EBU congratulate all players regardless of how well they score. Stafford Bridge Club has opted in to this new system; members can individually opt out via "Account" button on myEBU page.

Results
Ad Hoc teams 3 rounds 8 boards f2f
Scorer: Michael Metcalf - results uploaded by Ann
Friday SBC Club Event at Holmcroft YCC (please contact Ann if coming without a partner)
Director: Terry
Scorer: Terry
Thursday SBC Club Event at Tixall
Calendar
9th December 2024
Monday SBC Club Event at Haling Dene
1 for 1:15 p.m.
  (Partner?)
10th December 2024
Tuesday SBC Club Event at Haling Dene
6:45 for 7 p.m.
12th December 2024
SSCBA League Round 4
ABOUT THE CLUB
ABOUT THE CLUB

Contact Numbers: 

  • 01785 600260 (Chairman),
  • 01785 665020 (Secretary),
  • 01889 801996 (Captain)
  • 07301 777735 (Club mobile number during sessions only)

From Monday 3rd June 2024, The Haling Dene Centre in Penkridge, ST19 5DT, will be the venue for our Monday afternoon (1 pm for a 1.15pm start), Tuesday evening (6:45 for 7 p.m. start)

From Friday 8th November 2024,  Holmcroft Youth and Community centre 22-38 Newland Avenue ST16 1NL will be the venue for our Friday evening (6:45 for 7 p.m. start)

From Thursday 6th June 2024, Tixall Village Hall, ST18 0XT, will be the venue for our Thursday and Friday lessons (start time 9:45 for 10 am).  

Comment
(18th Jul 2022)
County Events
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Midland Counties Congress 3 - 5 January 2025

Face to face at West Midlands Bridge Club 909 Warwick Road Solihull, B91 3EP, click here for details and entry form.

SSCBA EGM was held on Tuesday 8th October on Zoom  decisions made at the inquorate Annual General Meeting were ratified.

For notice click here.  SSCBA AGM Sunday 1st September,  for agenda click here. ..........

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OnLine Bridge
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If you would like to give Bridge Club Live a try click here for the basic instructions, around 35 SBC members are active on BCL. ..........

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In addition BCL are looking to introduce a new virtual club for EBU members as clubs reopen.  See https://www.bridgewebs.com/bridgeclubuk/

Bridge Club Live is the online favourite Stafford Bridge Club Members are invited to use to enjoy the on line club activities, to get going click here to see the basics and here for general information.