| St Pete Bridge Club 9103 US 19 N, Pinellas Park, FL Call 727-544-5040 |
We provide an enjoyable and comfortable experience for bridge players in the St. Petersburg area
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| Current Schedule at the St Petersburg Club |
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Open and 499er Games*
Monday*, Tuesday, Wednesday*, Thursday, and Friday*: 12:30 pm
Sunday: Handicapped TEAM Game at 1:00 pm
FREE "Chalk Talk" classes with Jack! 45 Minutes before Each Game
*499er games will be held if there is enough attendance
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Open and 499er Games*
Monday*, Tuesday, Wednesday*, Thursday, and Friday*: 12:30 pm
Sunday: Handicapped TEAM Game at 1:00 pm
FREE "Chalk Talk" classes with Jack! 45 Minutes before Each Game
*499er games will be held if there is enough attendance
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| This Week at St Petersburg Bridge Club |
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Greetings!
I hope that everyone had a pleasant and safe Thanksgiving weekend.
Remember that we have a successful 499er game gaining momentum on Fridays and hope to build off of that to other days! (This weekend was just short of a full 499er game, but the 499ers had their own category in the mixed game. Keep it up!)
Also remember that Tuesday is unofficially a non-competitive game, with lots of mentor/mentee pairs. This is also a good game for the 499ers.
Make plans now for two special December events:
1) Our HOLIDAY PARTY will be held on Saturday, December 10, at 5:30, with a shortened game starting at 6:30. The cost is $10 (party and game).
Freida will provide a ham (don't ask for the bone - she's keeping it!). The club will provide "refreshments". We are asking/encouraging some nice potluck participation also! I understand there have been some impressive spreads in the past.
2) Jack will hold a SECRETS OF GOOD SLAM BIDDING seminar on Tuesday, Dec. 13th, from 9:15 to 11:15(ish). The cost is $20, and this is the first of several monthly seminars.
I don't enjoy blowing my own horn very much, but I have been convinced it is time. I have not played a lot lately, but as a player I have won numerous Regionals and Sectionals; I have no idea how many. I have been a featured speaker at numerous Florida tournaments. I was a columnist for the Sunshine Bridge News and Florida Bridge News for almost ten years. My writing has been used by many other publications, including in Barbara Seagram's newsletter. I just came in 5th in the world in the BridgeWorld Master Solver's (December 2022) bidding contest. If you have been attending and enjoying my off-the-cuff chalk talks before each game, just imagine if I am prepared and have handouts! :)
I promise that you WILL learn how experienced players approach slam bidding, both from a philosophical AND a technical standpoint.
Cheers,
Jack
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Jack's thoughts on an interesting hand:
If you have five small trumps, and the opponents are in a 4-4 or 4-3 fit, lead them at every opportunity. It is truly frustrating to watch declarer score their high trumps separately. This may seem contradictory to the forcing game but it really isn’t. You already have more trumps than the declarer (or dummy), so your goal is not to set up your long trump, but to prevent a high crossruff. Here is an extreme example:
Contract: Spades (Four, Six, or even Seven!)
Your hand (opening leader): ♠xxxxx♥QJT♦xx♣xx
Dummy: ♠AJT ♥Axxxx ♦x ♣Kxx
Declarer: ♠KQ98 ♥Kx ♦AKxxx ♣Ax
With the “obvious” heart Queen lead and continuation, declarer can win in dummy and cash the top two clubs. They then play the top two diamonds and ruff a diamond (you can pitch a heart, but it won’t do any good.) A heart back to hand, and another diamond ruff. Heart ruff in hand, one more diamond ruff, and now declarer has only high trumps in their hand. You under-ruffed on the last FIVE tricks, and declarer just made seven. :(
It would be easy enough to construct examples less extreme and/or hands where you get in and lead trump several times. The lesson remains:
Don’t let declarer make high trumps separately!
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Holiday Plans for Merry's Classes
Merry’s Fall classes are ending. :(
**HOWEVER**
Merry’s full set of winter classes will begin the first week of February and will include Two Over One with a Practice Makes Perfect attached, Defense Basics, Back to Basics One, Back to Basics Two (Competitive Bidding), and Next Steps One. More details about content and signing up to follow.
**AND**
During those busy weeks before Christmas and New Year’s Day, we will NOT quit learning. :) Merry will be offering some short classes during those weeks. Here is the schedule:
Mondays beginning December 5: Let’s Bid and Play some Slams
Tuesdays beginning December 6: New Minor Forcing and Fourth Suit Forcing
Wednesdays beginning December 7: Stayman and Transfers, a Thorough Review of the Basics
Thursdays beginning December 8: Losing Trick Count
Fridays beginning December 9: Let’s Play (hands from The Common Game)
If you are currently signed up for a fall class that day, you don’t have to sign up again. You will automatically get a link to the Holiday Hijinks Class. If you are not signed up, simply email Merry at mschainblatt@gmail.com and tell her what days you want to be added to. All classes are one hour starting at ten eastern time.
All of these classes are free, but please make a holiday donation to the St. Petersburg Bridge Club if you have any leftover funds after Holiday Shopping!
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At the club this week:
Monday afternoon is a "UNIT club championships" offering significant extra points. The handicapped Sunday team game is an extra-point club championship. Plan on playing!
ALSO:
Please notice that the Pinellas Park Fire Dept. has put two boxes in our lobby for their annual toys-for-kids program. Please consider sharing with those less fortunate. The need is quite high following the hurricaine. Thanks. :)
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Greetings!
I hope that everyone had a pleasant and safe Thanksgiving weekend.
Remember that we have a successful 499er game gaining momentum on Fridays and hope to build off of that to other days! (This weekend was just short of a full 499er game, but the 499ers had their own category in the mixed game. Keep it up!)
Also remember that Tuesday is unofficially a non-competitive game, with lots of mentor/mentee pairs. .......... | | | |
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| Directors |
Directors
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Mark Smith (813-416-7928) Monday Open and 499er games
Elaine Garofolo (727-348-6183) Tuesday Afternoon (Mentor Focus) game.
Elaine Garofalo (727-348-6183) Wednesday Morning Newplicate (0-20) game.
Elaine Garofalo (727-348-6183) Wednesday Afternoon Open and 499er games.
Gail Haire (813-417-3652) Thursday Open Game
Pamela Gorbics (201-247-1595) Friday Open and 499er games
Pamela Gorbics (201-247-1595) Sunday Afternooon HANDICAPPED team game
As usual, a full schedule for the week can be found in the weekly email and in the upper left-hand corner of the Club's homepage
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| 2022 Board of Directors |
Announcement!
2022 Officers and Board of Directors
| Don Aschenbrenner |
Howard Braun |
Kim Dean |
Elaine Garofalo |
Hazel Getman |
Pamela Gorbics |
Milferd Jones |
Sandy Peterson |
Lee Taylor |
Marianne Timmins |
Gwynne Young |
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President,
Pamela Gorbics
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Vice-President,
Elaine Garofalo
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Secretary,
Sandy Peterson
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Treasurer
Don Aschenbrenner
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| Biographies of Nominees for the 2023 Board of Directors |
CLICK on each NAME, to read their Bio
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