Release 2.19m
| Dates for your Diary |
31st October - Andrew Robson Seminar at Stone |
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| Partners for afternoon sessions |
Should you require a partner for either Monday or Wednesday afternoon please seek Sam`s assistance by phone, 01785 818682, mobile 07931702776, text or email.
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| How can you help? |
It would be much appreciated if everyone could help in small ways at the start (getting scorecards etc out) and at the end of sessions (loading the dishwasher, checking the windows are closed and the room is tidy) don't leave the director to do everything!
Presently volunteers are requested to act as stand bys on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month, please contact Terry if you are willing to do either of these dates. Presently the Tuesday host system has had to be suspended due to lack of volunteers.
If you would like to try your hand at scoring or directing please contact Terry Maltby or Michael Metcalf, more volunteers for these duties are always needed.
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| Please Arrive 15 minutes before play |
At all club sessions please arrive at least 15 minutes before play is due to start, 6:45 for 7 p.m. start, 7 for 7:15 start, 1:15 for 1:30 start. If you are running late please ring the club, 01785 246611, to let the scorer know you are on your way so that they can factor you in when setting up the movement and scoring systems.
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| EBU |
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2019 EBU Master Point Promotions
2 Star Master (15,000 MPs)
Advanced Master (7,500 MPs)
Master (5,000 MPs)
County Master (2,500 MPs)
- D Jackson
- C Lord
- J Palmer
District Master (1,000 MPs)
Area Master (500 MPs)
Club Master (200 MPs)
- J Brown-Bullivant
- R Taylor
Local Master (100 MPs)
For 2018 and earlier entries see website. See also the leader board.
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| Polite Notice. |
A number of members sadly have health issues effecting their immune systems. Members are politely asked to refrain from playing at the club when suffering from infections. Super clean hands too at all times please to prevent any infection passing via the cards.
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| CLICK here for Local Weather |
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| No Bridge 22nd August - 26th August |
See information regarding Devoted event below. There will be no bridge sessions or lessons from the 22nd August until 26th August, normal sessions reume on Tuesday 27th August.
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| Forthcoming Events and Notices |
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Severe restrictions on vehicle access to the Showground will be in place throughout this period. Moreover, NO access of any sort will be permitted on Monday August 26th (Bank Holiday Monday). There will therefore be NO bridge session on that date.
On Thursday 22nd and Friday 23rd August, no cars will be permitted on site except for blue badge holders. All other cars must use the parking area the other side of the Weston Road. Blue badge users are themselves subject to these further rules: those planning to play in these sessions must give advance notice, including names of their passengers, if any. Blue badge drivers must follow instructions about routes and parking inside the Showground. Most importantly, no cars will be permitted onto the site, nor allowed to move inside the site, between 6.30pm and 7.15pm. These times may be varied without warning should the Devoted programme be running late.
Michael Metcalf
Club Chairman
Following a survey of Thursday and Friday players it has been decided to cancel both bridge sessions and the Friday morning lessons. We will resume normal service on Tuesday August 27th!
Tuesday 3rd and Thursday 5th September 6:45
Early start for consultation with the players regarding the mid week evening sessions, see notices by the tables.
SSCBA Summer Sim Pairs - 8th August
Seven and a half tables for this at Stafford, winners at Stafford were Geoff and Anne with John and Geoffrey second and Ivor an Pat third. Paul gets a gold star for his lessons, one of his pupils came in fifth!. Watch SSCBA results page for overall positions.
Robin offered sincere thanks to Terry for all his help with the Thursday Lessons in the last year. Also, many thanks for the super food and wine/drinks brought by the pupils. When the results are viewed you will see an "information" tab at the top right hand end (ranking, scorecards, matrix, travellers, hands, information), click to get Robin's commentary on the hands. Please take time to read the commentary to get the most from taking part in the event, Robin has gone to great lengths to produce the commentary. This "information" feature for an event results listing is a first time tried by the webmaster - should it be used more often?
British Summer Pairs - Monday 22nd July and Tuesday 23rd July
Two more sim pairs events were played on Monday 22nd July and Tuesday 23rd July sessions. As at 7:15 p.m. 24/07/19 first placed Stafford players in the overall competitions were Sylvia and Bill on Monday coming 16th nationally with 70 clubs taking part and 1148 pairs, and Mike and Steve on Tuesday coming 1st nationally with 49 clubs, 773 pairs scored so far (as of Saturday 27th Mike and Steve now 2nd nationally by .02% after 51 clubs with 795 pairs recorded). As of 8/8/19 52 clubs results for 814 pairs now in for Tuesday and Mike and Steve now third nationally, Sylvia and Bill remain 16th nationally for Monday after 71 clubs have sent results in for 1159 pairs. There may yet be more results to be included which will of course change the national placings.
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| Ivor Clarke |
 The Committee are pleased to announce that Ivor Clarke has been invited to become an Honorary Life Member of the Club, in recognition of his 25 years as a Director and many other services to the Club, and that Ivor has accepted the Club's invitation.
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| Members Page - Find a partner |
 Need a Partner?
Check your EBU number?
Check Rankings?
It has been suggested without a host on a Tuesday more use could be made of the BridgeWebs "find a partner" facility. Members need to log on to register that they are looking for a partner, this will then be registered on the events calendar page by (Partner?) appearing next to the selected event. Anyone available to to play can then click (Partner?) for information.
Mike Sherriff, 01889 882296, is still acting as a partner broker for the Thursday session. Sam Holden is still acting as a partner broker of Monday and Wednesday afternoons 01785 818682. The on-line "find a partner" feature is an additional method which may suit some but lacks the personal touch of course. To highlight the sessions where someone is looking for a partner the right hand side of the home page now shows the next three sessions at the top right of the home page rather than the bottom. Please tell the webmaster your views.
A partner will be found for you if you come on your own to a Friday session.
If you have trouble accessing the members only area email webmaster@staffordbridgeclub.co.uk
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| County News |
 County AGM - 1:30 p.m. Sunday 1st September
The SSCBA AGM takes place at Wolverhampton Bridge Club, 4 Shaw Park, Shaw Road, Wolverhampton, WV10 9LE.
Andrew Robson - Thursday 31st October 2019
The seminar takes place at Stone House Hotel Stafford Road, Stone ST15 0BQ (on the A34)
- Morning session 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. After 1 No Trump – Stayman, Transfers, Landy; Bidding bad hands – when a bad hand becomes very useful.
- Afternoon Session 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Listening to the opponents bidding – to find some well-reasoned opening leads; Fourth Suit Forcing – a great convention which is so much more than a stopper-ask.
Tickets are available from Kath Adams, £15 per session or £25 for both. Click here for details and booking form.
If you haven't already been to one of Andrew's master classes they are not to be missed.
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| EBU information |
Please keep your contact details, including email address, up to date. If you do not need a printed version of English Bridge magazine please opt out to help reduce costs and waste. Go to www.ebu.co.uk/members/v2/, log-in and click 'my details' under the "account tab" (extreme right) to update your details and preferences'. Please note that by May 2020 you will need to set 'opt in' in 'my details' to continue to recieve a diary. The default value for all members has been reset to exclude the diary as of August 2019.
The minutes of EBU Board meetings are posted on the EBU website. When minutes are approved at a meeting they are moved in to the archive, accessed further down the page.
The Laws of Duplicate Bridge 2017 is now available for purchase. The new law must be introduced by the end of September but the intention is to use them at EBU events from the start of August to coincide with the annual updates to the Blue Book and White Book. See page 44 of the August 2017 edition of English Bridge. Click this link for more information http://www.ebu.co.uk/laws-and-ethics/new-laws-2017 but note the "erratum"! See also David's notes on the subject.
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The EBU's shop has undergone a rebranding and is now called the Bridge Warehouse.
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Click link for Spring 2019 edition.
EBU change to the magazine, English Bridge.
The EBU magazine, English Bridge, can be read on line if you do not receive a paper copy. There is also an extra section (not updated since 12/17) for news only available on-line. After the December 2017 edition the latest County news will no longer appear either in print or on-line.
EBU Announcing and Alerting
On August 1st 2013 changes were made to the EBU Announcing and Alerting rules. There is a copy of the new rules on the club notice board. There is also a notice on the board regarding permitted agreements (level 4 amplified) that are now the SBC standard.
 The charity English Bridge Education & Development (EBED), set up in 2014, now manages educational programmes and support for teachers, and also provides Tournament Director training for Clubs and Counties. Please check their web site for information on TD and Club Teacher training courses.
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Calendar
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| 20th August 2019 |
| Tuesday Evening - Normal Access |
7 for 7:15
Director: John |
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| 21st August 2019 |
| Wednesday Afternoon - Normal Access |
1:15 for 1:30
Director: Pat |
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| 22nd August 2019 |
| Devoted event - No bridge |
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| Lessons |
Lessons at Stafford Bridge Club. For general enquiries contact the club Captain Terry (01889 801996).
Robin's lessons, 10 a.m. most Thursdays, please email Robin if you would like to attend. Robin has been working with a mix of recently played interesting hands together with other hands to illustrate various conventions. Watch the calendar for dates on/off or check with Robin. A few of Robin's notes - page a work in progress. Robin's lessons take a break during holiday seasons.
Paul's lessons for improvers are on most Friday mornings at 10 a.m, please contact Paul if you would like to attend.
Some interest was shown in beginner's/refresher classes so a 12 week course was run during Autumn 2018. This year the interest shown so for has been for the beginner's course with some starting late who are already confident of the basics. Please contact Ann if you would liketo join her 7 p.m. Monday night group group in 2019 starting 9th September using beginner's 30 week course.
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| Calendar |
| Tues 20th Aug |
Devoted event setting up, Bridge as normal |
| Wed 21st Aug |
Devoted event setting up, Bridge as normal |
| Thurs 22nd Aug |
No 10 a.m. lesson (Thursday lesson term restarts in September) |
| Thurs 22nd Aug |
Devoted event - No Bridge |
| Fri 23rd Aug |
No 10 a.m. lesson (No access to the club) |
| Fri 23rd Aug |
Devoted event - No Bridge |
| Mon 26th Aug |
Devoted event - No Bridge |
| Thurs 29th Aug |
No 10 a.m. lesson (Thursday lesson term restarts in September) |
| Fri 30th Aug |
Paul's Lesson 10 a.m. |
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| Sun 1st Sept |
SSCBA AGM (Wolverhampton) |
| Tues 3rd Sept |
Special Bridge Event - 6:45 p.m. |
| Thurs 5th Sept |
Special Bridge Event - 6:45 p.m.Special Bridge Event - 6:45 p.m. |
| Mon 9th Sept |
Beginners lessons start - 7 p.m. |
| Sat 28th Sept |
American Supper |
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| 7-10th Oct |
British Autumn Sim Pairs |
| Thurs 10th Oct |
First round of the Shelley - 6:45 p.m. tbc |
| Sat 26th Oct |
American Supper |
| Thurs 31st Oct |
Andrew Robson Seminar |
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| Sat 30th Nov |
American Supper |
| 2020 |
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| Sat 25th Jan |
American Supper |
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| Sat 22nd Feb |
American Supper |
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| Sat 28th Mar |
American Supper |
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Sun 10th May |
Annual Dinner |
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| Feedback |
Committee Meetings
Committee meeting dates 19/20 scheduled for Wednesday 19th June 2019, 4th or 11th September, 6th or 13th November, 29th Jan 2020 and 22nd April following the afternoon bridge session. If you have concerns that you wish to be brought up at a meeting please contact any member of the committee at least one week (preferably more) prior to the meeting, or email the Secretary or Chairman, so that the item may be added to the meeting Agenda. It has been proposed to make the minutes available through the website to members only (in addition of course to the existing paper record file in the office).
Website
Please email contributions for the website, club news, hands etc to webmaster@staffordbridgeclub.co.uk. All constructive comment welcome on style, content etc. Some changes introduced for GDPR by Bridgewebs summer 2018 may affect layout and some features.
Duplicate Bridge Round Timer
Webmaster and son's duplicate bridge round timer available.
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| RULES, TIPS AND HINTS |
Some 'RULES' That might be HANDY!
and some Conventions that are used in our Club
Even if you and your partner do not use them, it is useful to know what your opponents are doing!
Please see - 'Tips n Conventions' page.
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Results
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| 19th August 2019 |
| Monday Afternoon |
Director: Beryl Metcalf
Scorer: Terry |
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| 16th August 2019 |
| Friday Evening |
Director: Ann
Scorer: Ann |
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| 15th August 2019 |
| Thursday Evening |
Director: Terry
Scorer: John |
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