The detailed specification and plans of the new building are now completed. Our architect has issued an Invitation to Tender (ITT) to 7 builders who we think have a track record in delivering this scale and type of building.

The response will provide a breakdown of a fixed price for the new building along with details about how the builder proposes to respond to our specification. A Tender Panel has already been set up from within the existing project team. The architect will review and evaluate all responses received using pre-set criteria and will engage in discussion and negotiation with builders if any aspects of bids need to be clarified or better understood. The Architect and the Tender Panel will complete the review and financial assessment of the shortlisted builders and the panel will interview one or more of the prospective builders. The end outcome will be a recommendation of a preferred supplier by the Panel to the Trustees.

The Trustees hope and expect all the key decisions to be taken about the new build project over the summer and autumn of 2020.

Congratulations to the overall winners in league 1: Frank Dixon & Paul Brereton with Keith Joules & Dave Waxman second and John Guest & Michael Sturge third. Well done all.

Also congratulations to the winners of leagues 2,3 & 4 : Stuart Kay & Vera Silberberg, Ruth Roberts & Mike Vucevic and David Beck & Glyn Meredith.

The table below shows all the promotions and relegations. Congratulations to all those who have earnt a promotion and commiserations to those that are going down.

The Club is now running 4 Pairs leagues with promotion and relegation each month. We want as many of our members as possible to participate. Matches can be played at any time at the convenience of each pair. You can join in at any time. Results are updated each week and can be seen by clicking the online competitions tab on the homepage.

Support:

We have put support in place for those members who are less technically confident and/or don’t have a partner. This includes:

• telephone support to help you through BBO registration, if required;
• A detailed guide on registering and setting up games (with screen shots to help you find the right place).
• trial games with our support assistants where aspects of the BBO system are explained as you proceed and
• a partner finding service if you would like to take part but don’t yet have a partner (note there may be a wait for this as we try to match others in a similar position).

Please email Sally Gregory at Sgregory@theyorkbridgeclub.com if you would like to receive further details or register your interest in playing.

Following our recent teams match with St Albans Bridge Club we have been talking to some other clubs to organise interclub bridge. As a result, we plan to compete in an Anglo-Roman Bridge League.  This is designed to be a league played each week during June between York, St Albans, Bath, Chester, Louth and Hitchen.

Each team will play against one of the other teams each week. (Five matches in total). The matches will be over 12 boards with IMPS scoring converted to Victory Points (VPs). The number of teams is flexible depending on the interest and will vary from a minimum of five teams (20 individuals) up to ten teams (40 individuals). Teams will be chosen so that a wide range of abilities will be able to play.

If you are interested in playing could you please contact Stuart Kay at skay@theyorkbridgeclub.com  and let him know who you would like to partner.  If you don’t have a partner, we will try and find you one. This is another opportunity to play online bridge during lockdown. Please give it your support.

Match results will be posted each week and can be viewed by clicking on the header to this article or by going to Online Competitions/Anglo-Roman League

Dixon’s Defence by Paul Brereton

Frank Dixon, myself, Phil Godfrey, David Waxman, Keith Joules and Barney Nesbit have been playing in the EBU’s new on-line league. The national league, comprises over 150 teams playing in 10 divisions and plays a complete cycle of matches every month. This deal from our Division 2 match against some young England stars, features a stunning defence from Frank.

               ♠ J5, ♥ 87, ♦ AQ7532, ♣ Q86

♠ A9                                                                            ♠ 42

♥ AJ653                                                                     ♥ KQ1094

♦ J                                                                               ♦ 1098

♣ KJ973                                                                     ♣ 1042

♠ KQ108763, ♥ 2, ♦ K64, ♣ A5

Auction 1♠  2♠ * 3♦  4♥  4♠  P P 5♥  P P 5♠  X all pass.

At adverse vulnerability Frank (west) had the first decision to make over Souths 1S opening. With no perfect solution he chose 2S (Michaels) showing Hearts and a minor. North bid a non-forcing 3D and I made the obvious 4H bid. South bid 4S, back round to me. I bid a risky 5H and North took out “insurance” by bidding 5S, at worst a cheap save.  I doubled to finish the auction, we had bid more than enough on this hand!

Declarer won Frank’s JD lead in hand, East playing the 10, and put Frank to his first test by leading a small S to the J. Has partner got a singleton KS? After some thought and knowing he had a cool strategy to defeat the contract Frank went up with the Ace and now, holding his breath no doubt, executed the 2^nd part of his plan and under led his AH… I played the QH and declarer the …. 2. Frank then ruffed my D return for 1 down, no doubt to the rapturous applause of our partisan online Kibbitzers, having delivered the only possible defence to beat the contact. Frank’s brilliancy brought in 11 imps (our team mates were allowed to play in 4S making at the other table) in a tough match that we won by just 5 imps.

While online bridge does take some time to get used to, it is great fun and a valuable way of getting over lockdown blues.  York Bridge Club has started its own on-line pairs and teams leagues- why not give it a go – contact Sally Gregory Sgregory@theyorkbridgeclub.com for more information.

We are a friendly and active club running 9 pairs sessions per week, visitors and new members are always welcome whatever their experience level. 

Classes are available for those new to club bridge or returning to it. 

For more information please contact Gill Rickard either via email  chairman@theyorkbridgeclub.com, telephone 01904 264166 or mobile 07748155648