Today, Sunday, August 1 is the last day we will be running games on BBO. It has been more than enjoyable to direct these games for well over a year. However, the reopening of our club and others for in-person play have all but decimated our virtual games. We reached the point some time ago that our club is losing money on each virtual game we run due to low player turnout. That combined with our desire to focus limited human resources on providing bridge opportunities where they can be of most benefit to the most members led the Board of Directors to decide to end our on-line play.
One final virtual brunch for all my on-line friends:
Mimosas and Screwdrivers
Papaya and mango nectar
Lox Benedictine
Crisp hashbrowns with Vidalia onions
A second mimosa
Chocolate and almond paste croissants
Green Chartreuse liqueur for a “so long” toast
Enjoy! — Paul
Our club is growing
In spite of the pandemic putting a damper on club activities, I am happy to say that we are expanding our schedule yet again. We will begin a Thursday afternoon Open and 499 game on August 12th during our next ACBL 8 Weeks of Club Championships week. What better way to add to the schedule than to add extra points? And to make it even more of a special week, we will be running a mentor-mentee game on August 15, adding the special club championship to that game as well. Make your plans to join the mentor-mentee game, as they are fun and very important to help develop up-and-coming bridge stars. Contact Elaine Garofalo for more information, and to throw your convention card into the ring! (And to tempt you further — bagels and cookies and donuts! Oh My!) We will look to adding a Sunday game permanently to the schedule in the fall.
I have heard from many intermediate players that they want a separate section, but they don't come to the game to increase the table count enough to make that possible. We are getting closer, but we need you all to come on down! If it is a choice of a three-table 499 game or joining the open, many are currently preferring the open. If we get a couple more tables, the balance will shift to a separate section. Please come help tip the scale!
In regard to our decision to cancel our Labor Day tournament, I just received word from the ACBL that all August tournaments are cancelled. I don't believe the situation will have changed all that much for a tournament that would have started three days later, and realistically, continuing to plan for this tournament risks a major financial loss. To all our disappointed members and bridge community, we are sorry, but it was just not "in the cards".
— Pamela Gorbics
At the club this week
The 12:30 pm games this Monday, Wednesday, and Friday as well as the Tuesday, 9:00 am 299er game are all STAC games. STAC translates to Sectional Tournaments at Clubs. Awards will be increased over normal games and will be Silver Points.
Elaine Garofalo’s Thursday 1:00 pm beginner’s class and Freida Dohrman’s Friday 9:00 am supervised play are both excellent resources for newer players. The Tuesday 9:00 am 299er game starts with a fifteen-minute mini-lesson followed by a matchpoint awarding game.
The Tuesday afternoon 0-750 game is on hiatus until the fall.
Bridge trivia answers
Question 1: What is the “rule of n” in the ACBL’s Convention Charts?
This is one way the ACBL defines hand strength. To calculate it add the number of cards in the hand’s two longest suits to the total high card points. Example: ♠T65432 ♥K ♦AJ94 ♣J76 totals to 19 (10 of the number of cards in the two longest suits plus the total high card points).
Question 2: What is the minimum number of high card points necessary to meet the ACBL’s definition of “Average Strength?”
The ACBL defines Average Strength as a hand that has at least 10 hcp or meets the “Rule of 19.” You can get to 19 with the following hand: ♠Q987654 ♥A65432 ♦– ♣– so the answer is 6.
Question 3: You play that a 4♦ opening shows a stronger version of a 4♠ opening. Your partner opens a natural 4♠ bid. Is this alertable?
Yes, the Alerting rules make it clear that if there are two ways to show the same suit at the same level, you must Alert when partner makes either bid.
Questions for this week
1. If the minimum for your partnership’s natural 1nt opening is 15 hcp, what is the maximum allowed by the ACBL Open Chart?
2. If the maximum for your partnership’s natural 1NT opening is 13 hcp, what is the minimum allowed by the ACBL Open Chart?
3. After an opening bid and response, what calls are forbidden by the ACBL Open Chart?
Word of the week
Sciolist; sciolism
Definition: One who pretends to have knowledge; pretending to have knowledge
Example: Many of Guido’s utterances are examples of sciolism.