Each month, we will have a new online quiz, consisting of six hands to bid. A panel of experts, from the YC, and other international players will also bid the hand with comments. Scores are then awarded to all the bids made. After six months, the highest ranking YC contestants play a challenge match on BBO versus the panel. Annual prizes are awarded at the end of the year.

The YCBC 2018 quiz is managed by club member François Picard, who created BridgeChallenge.com, and has run quizzes for several years with top panellists.

♣ ♦ ♥ ♠

Item posted 8 January 2018

In April, Nevena Senior will begin another of her popular series of lessons. There is one topic per week (with one‑week breaks in both May and June when Nevena is otherwise engaged). Each lesson starts at 10.30am on a Tuesday and is repeated at the same time on the next day, Wednesday. There will be eight different themes. Each topic is individual and you can just turn up for any session. The lesson includes an hour of play of predealt boards following the teaching session, with follow‑up notes later in the week. The charge is £25 per player paid on the day.

The topics for the series are:

• Jacoby 2NT after 1 Major or an Acol 1 Minor Opening—Tuesday 24 & Wednesday 25 April
• Secondary (Subsequent) Defensive Signals—Tuesday 1 & Wednesday 2 May
• Reverses in Constructive Bidding and in Competition—Tuesday 15 & Wednesday 16 May
• Basic Squeezes and Their Technique—Tuesday 22 & Wednesday 23 May
• Protecting Oneself or the Partnership from Real or Pseudo Squeezes—Tuesday 29 & Wednesday 30 May
• What You Need to Know to Play Successfully vs “Strong and 5”—Tuesday 5 & Wednesday 6 June
• Leads after Partner Has Doubled (either in Mid-auction or the Final Contract)—Tuesday 19 & Wednesday 20 June
• When to or not Play in Ruff and Discard—Tuesday 26 & Wednesday 27 June

Please email Nevena to let her know know if you will be attending.

♣ ♦ ♥ ♠

Item posted 12 April 2018

The Young Chelsea held a 12‑hour half marathon on Saturday 28 April. The event was scored by cross‑IMPs over three sessions and a total of 82 deals. Twenty‑five pairs took part.

Congratulations to convincing winners Norman Selway & Kay Preddy who finished on a magnificent 152.45 IMPs, nearly 60 IMPs clear of the second‑placed pair.

Here is the  overall ranking. Individual session results are on Pianola:

• Session one of three
• Session two of three
• Session three of three

In second place were John Atthey & Claire Robinson on 93.18 IMPs.

In third place were Nathalie Shashou & Nick Sandqvist on 71.36 IMPs.

And in fourth place, the last to get a prize, were Paul Fegarty & Catherine Curtis on 66.28 IMPs.

Presenting the prizes, the man in the middle of each picture is committee member Mike Eden.

The leading results may give the impression that it was a mixed pairs event, but inspection of the lower places reveals that it was not.

♣ ♦ ♥ ♠

Item posted 29 April 2018

We are very sad to report that Julian Cotton, a Young Chelsea member of long standing, died peacefully on Tuesday 8 May 2018, aged 79. Our sympathies go to his wife, family, and friends.

Julian’s cremation will not open to the public and no one will be attending, following Julian’s wishes.

♣ ♦ ♥ ♠

Item posted 12 May 2018

The Young Chelsea held its retro pairs 50th anniversary event on Tuesday 8 May 2018. Spoken bids and travellers were used instead of bidding boxes and bridgemates. Boards were hand‑dealt and duplicated, there was no alerting, and no EBU masterpoints were at stake.

Forty‑five pairs took part in two sections. Thanks to Mahmoud Sadek and Mike Eden who scored the sections by hand. Mahmoud also collated the scores to produce the handwritten results.

Congratulations to winners Nigel Elliott & Andy Forster on 67.86%, well clear of second place.

♣ ♦ ♥ ♠

Item posted 13 May 2018

We are very sad to report that Martin Hoffman, who played from time to time at the Young Chelsea, has died aged 89. Martin was a hugely popular player, and was considered for a time to be the best pairs player in the world. He enjoyed a long string of successes, both in the UK and abroad, spanning half a century. He played 11 times in the Lederer Memorial Trophy. Our sympathies go to his family and friends.

You can read Martin’s obituary and some autobiographical notes by Martin on the EBU website

♣ ♦ ♥ ♠

Item posted 24 May 2018

The partnership of EBED, UK and Irish Bridge Unions and the University of Stirling have provided funding for a three‑year PhD Studentship (fees plus living expenses) for the first ever PhD in the Sociology of Bridge: Bridging the Gap: An Exploration of Transitions in Play through the Lifecourse. We are looking for a PhD candidate ideally with a masters, or an excellent undergraduate degree, preferably within the social sciences or a related discipline. No knowledge of bridge is required.

Bridge is one of the world’s most widely played, stimulating and challenging card games that requires skill, concentration and practice. Understanding what drives individuals to take up bridge and what keeps people playing across the lifecourse is at the heart of this PhD studentship. Bridge provides a contemporary example to understand the role of a mind sport in developing social capital and well‑being through community participation at different ages.

The long‑term goals of this bridge research are to raise awareness about the opportunities bridge offers to prospective players, to attract wider interest in the game which may hopefully lead to increasing the numbers of players and to challenge stereotypical assumptions about bridge. The findings will also be used to create resources to promote the mind sport to different age groups and to ensure that those who play are enabled to get as much from the game as possible.

For further information and application details please see:

https://www.stir.ac.uk/scholarships/social-sciences/bridging-the-gap/

or

http://www.jobs.ac.uk/job/BJO182/collaborative-phd-studentship-provided-by-english-bridge-education-and-development-uk-and-irish-bridge-unions-and-university-of-stirling-bridging-the-gap-an-exploration-of-transitions-in-play-through-the-lifecourse

Further queries can be addressed to Prof. Samantha Punch, s.v.punch@stir.ac.uk

♣ ♦ ♥ ♠

Item posted 29 May 2018

As part of its golden anniversary celebrations, the Young Chelsea is delighted to announce a workshop with David Gold on the evening of Thursday 12 July. The evening will start with a light buffet at 6.30pm, followed by a chat, a question and answer session, and a teaching session with hands to play, with a break for further refreshments half way through.

The inclusive cost is £25.00 with a discount for students.

This event will be suitable for all standards of players and there is no need to come with a partner. David has been representing England internationally for over 15 years and has much wisdom to impart. Who better to celebrate a golden anniversary.

Pre‑booking would be most helpful. Please sign up on the club noticeboard or tell Louisa you will be coming.

Poster

♣ ♦ ♥ ♠

Item posted 31 May 2018

On Saturday 30 June, we are holding our annual Individual event, named in memory of Keith Loveys, starting 2.00pm. It will be followed at 6.00pm by our summer party. Please click here to sign up.

This is going to be a great fun event.

♣ ♦ ♥ ♠

Item posted 31 May 2018, author Louisa Spawls

On Thursday 5 July, the Nippon Club is inviting every YC member to come and play in its Summer Party and Duplicate at the Young Chelsea, starting at 12.00 noon (1.00pm for the duplicate). It costs £7.00 and includes a Sushi buffet and drinks. Please sign up in the club, or email me and I will add your name to the list.

♣ ♦ ♥ ♠

Item posted 6 June 2018, author Louisa Spawls

On Saturday 23 June, the Institution of Civil Engineers is holding a Swiss Pairs event at the Young Chelsea, starting at 11.00am. Fortunately you don’t have to be a Civil Engineer to take part. Anyone can play. It costs £15.00 per person and includes a buffet lunch. Email peter.c.richardson@btinternet.com to register.

Poster

♣ ♦ ♥ ♠

Item posted 6 June 2018, author Louisa Spawls

The inaugural Institution of Civil Engineers and Civil Engineers’ Club James Jones Cup was held at the Young Chelsea on Saturday 23 June 2018. The event, with 13 pairs, was played as a Swiss with six rounds of seven boards each. Director Nicole Cooke filled in as a substitute partner, but diplomatically finished second. Congratulations to the winning pair, on 98 VPs, Peter Richardson & Peter Rogers.

Full Results

♣ ♦ ♥ ♠

Item posted 23 June 2018

The annual Young Chelsea Individual is held in memory of the late Keith Loveys, a popular club member and expert bridge player who had no trouble partnering anyone. Thanks go to Keith’s good friend Paul Casselle (otherwise known as Pablo) who generously sponsored the prizes for this year’s event.

The event was held on Saturday 30 June 2018. Congratulations to the winner, Kath Stynes, who is pictured in the bar holding the Keith Loveys tankard upon which the names of past winners are engraved.

Full Results

♣ ♦ ♥ ♠

Item posted 6 July 2018

We will be holding Sims on Monday 23 July and Wednesday 25 July. We will suspend the “Spring Saver” so it will cost the usual £10.00, but we will not charge anything extra for the Sims levy (usually £3.00). On the Monday, Giorgio Provenza will be bringing some of the Under 16s to come and play. Please come along and make them welcome…

♣ ♦ ♥ ♠

Item posted 11 July 2018, author Louisa Spawls

We are very sad to report that John Simpson, a member of the Young Chelsea Bridge Club for over 20 years, died earlier this year. He used to play at the club with Virginia Manch, but he had not attended for a few years as he had cancer. He died on 22 March 2018. Our sympathies go to his wife, family, and friends.

♣ ♦ ♥ ♠

Item posted 12 July 2018

A tremendous time was had on 12 July at David Gold’s fascinating seminar which included some very interesting hands. Nigel Clayton won first prize of a duplicate game with David Gold. Many thanks to David Gold for his support of the club, the staff for their catering and preparing the hands and to the 22 members who turned up to this remarkable evening. This was the last of this summer’s Golden Anniversary events and the club was pleased to present David with a limited‑edition souvenir Golden Mug as thanks. David first played at the YC when he was a 15‑year‑old junior and has great memories of the Barkston Gardens days. He will add to the memory book shortly.

♣ ♦ ♥ ♠

Item posted 13 July 2018, author Carrie Eden

Over the next three Sundays, we are running a series of afternoon lessons for intermediate and aspiring players. The lessons start at 2.00pm and will finish at 4.30pm.

Topics covered will be:

29 July

• Upgrade your Acol Bidding System to Benji
• Weak 2 Bids in the Majors and Their Defence

5 August

• Opening Leads—How to Improve Them!

12 August

• Stayman and Transfers—Are You Making Their Best Use?

For these classes, there will be a short discussion on the topic (about 30 minutes). Then there will be set hand for the participants to play with supervision. The table money for the above, to include tea/coffee and biscuits is £5.00, payable on the afternoon with students being charged a nominal £2.00.

Sessions are open to ALL bridge players. Notes on each of the topics will be provided to all participants, as well as a copy of the hands played. If the above classes are well attended, then from mid‑September more classes will be scheduled to cover the following topics:

• Defence to a 1NT Opening
• The Use of Doubles in Bidding
• Signals in Defence
• Michaels and Splinters
• Slam Bidding

Thereafter, from early November it is intended to run a “gentle duplicate” bridge session on a Sunday afternoon once a month from 2.00pm to 5.00pm, playing 18–20 pre‑duplicated hands with supervision.

Please do come along and learn some new skills or refresh your existing knowledge. In addition, please pass this information on to friends and family, or even just casual acquaintances, who may be interested.

Looking forward to seeing you there…

♣ ♦ ♥ ♠

Item posted 23 July 2018, author Louisa Spawls

In a break with tradition, the club will additionally hold its regular weekly duplicates on some English bank holidays, and a day between Christmas and New Year.

The club will be open in a month’s time on the Summer bank holiday—Monday 27 August 2018. If you have not already made other plans, please mark this in your diary and come along to the duplicate.

The club will be open between Christmas and New Year on Thursday 27 December 2018. (Friday 28 December was the day originally advertised; the change is due to a Go congress taking place at the club over Friday and the weekend.) If you decide against the EBU Year End Swiss Pairs (over the Thursday and Friday), you can play in either or both of the regular Thursday afternoon duplicate and a matchpointed Thursday evening duplicate.

♣ ♦ ♥ ♠

Item posted 29 July 2018

We are starting a monthly Gentle Duplicate this Sunday, running from 2.00pm to 4.30pm. Tea/coffee and biscuits are included in the price of £5.00 (Students £2.00).

All players welcome and will play 14–16 pre‑dealt hands of bridge. Assistance will be available to help with both bidding and card play. There will be a host, so that you will be guaranteed a partner. A copy of the hands played will be available at the end of the session.

To know more please contact Philip on 07712 108645.

Poster

♣ ♦ ♥ ♠

Item posted 21 August 2018

Over the weekend 25 & 26 August, we are running a TD training course at the club. It is a “crash” course for (at minimum) fairly experienced players. Subject to passing the assessment, you will gain the EBU TD qualification. If you would like to attend, please let me know.

♣ ♦ ♥ ♠

Item posted 21 August 2018, author Louisa Spawls

The next Annual General Meeting of the Young Chelsea Bridge Club will be held on Friday 28 September in the Match Room at 6.00pm prompt—light refreshments available from 5.45pm. The normal duplicate will follow.

All Full, Honorary, and Student Members over 16 years of age will be able to attend and vote, and those unable to be present in person are able to vote by proxy.

Please note that in principle all voting members will have one vote, whether attending in person or by proxy.

More details will appear here shortly.

♣ ♦ ♥ ♠

Item posted 21 August 2018

We will be holding Sims on Monday 3 September and Wednesday 5 September. Please come along and compete. We will waive the Sims charge so it’s extra good value.

♣ ♦ ♥ ♠

Item posted 25 August 2018, author Louisa Spawls

I know our seasons are a bit awry, but I think that eventually our Spring Saver must come to an end, at the end of August. Instead we will have a special offer aimed at visitors—no visitors fees until end of December. Please use this opportunity to get all your friends, relations, neighbours etc. to come to the club, and hopefully make them join and start coming along twice a week… That’s what we need…

♣ ♦ ♥ ♠

Item posted 25 August 2018, author Louisa Spawls

The Young Chelsea will hold a half marathon pairs event using matchpoint scoring on Saturday 1 December 2018.

(Yes, we have reverted to the half marathon again after last year’s revival of the 24‑hour marathon. Raise a clamour if you want to see another full marathon in later years. Maybe come along to the AGM in September to make your views known.)

Start time is 11.00am and the event will last about 12 hours, with 80–90 boards being played. If you can’t commit to playing the whole day—or are worried about your stamina—please feel free to add a third player and play as a threesome.

As always, there will be a substantial prize fund.

Poster

♣ ♦ ♥ ♠

Item posted 25 August 2018

We are running a further series of Sunday afternoon lessons for intermediate and aspiring players. The lessons start at 2.00pm and will finish at around 5.00pm.

Topics covered will be:

16 September

• Card Play Techniques—Finessing

30 September

• Doubles in Bidding

7 October

• Card Play Techniques—Suit Combinations

28 October

• Defence to the Opening of 1NT

For ALL the classes, there will be a short discussion on the particular topic (about 20-30 minutes). Following this there will be a session of “gentle duplicate” with some 16 or so pre‑duplicated hands to play. During the session, participants may seek advice and guidance on the bidding of the hands and the playing thereof.

Fee for the above, to include tea/coffee and biscuits, is £5.00, payable on the afternoon with students being charged a nominal £2.00.

Sessions are open to ALL bridge players except, unfortunately, novices and players with a ranking of ten or higher on the EBU’s NGS.

n.b. Notes on each of the topics will be provided to all participants, as well as a copy of the hands played.

For any further information please contact Philip Watson.

♣ ♦ ♥ ♠

Item posted 30 August 2018

The Young Chelsea Bridge Club is delighted to present its second Ladies Swiss Teams. This event will be held at the club over the weekend 10 & 11 November 2018. There will be ten rounds of ten‑board matches, with the first six matches on the Saturday and the last four on the Sunday. The event starts at 10.30am on the Saturday and finishes at 4.30pm on the Sunday. (Play on the Saturday is estimated to finish around 7.30pm. Play on the Sunday starts at 10.00am.) There will be a break of around 45 minutes for lunch on each day. (There will be a buffet lunch supplied on each day, and a reception at the end of play on the Sunday.)

Poster.

♣ ♦ ♥ ♠

Entry fee: £300 per team. (Teams may comprise four, five, or six players—all women.)

♣ ♦ ♥ ♠

Teams so far entered (at 10 September 2018):

♣ ♦ ♥ ♠

There will be a good prize pool—amount dependant on entries.

♣ ♦ ♥ ♠

Hotel Options (prices at 10 September):

The Ibis Hotel in Shepherd’s Bush is a few minutes walk from the bridge club. A twin room for two nights (10–12 November) is currently £260, a single room is £240.

The Premier Inn in Hammersmith is a 15–20 minute walk or one stop on the Hammersmith & City Line tube. Their rooms are currently £176 for two nights (10–12 November), rooms are for one or two people.

The Premier Inn in Hanger Lane is a cheaper option. It is about a 15 minute tube ride away. Their rooms are currently £66.50 for two nights (10–12 November) for one or two people.

♣ ♦ ♥ ♠

Results from the first event in 2017.

♣ ♦ ♥ ♠

Entries and enquiries should be directed to Paula Leslie.

♣ ♦ ♥ ♠

Item posted 10 September 2018, author Paula Leslie

We will be hosting heats of the British Autumn Simultaneous Pairs on Monday 1 October and Wednesday 3 October.

The overall national winners will receive £50 per pair. The winning pair of each heat, and each host club, will have a chance to win up to £1000 in the annual prize draw.

For scores, double‑dummy analysis, and hand commentaries after the event visit www.ebu.co.uk/sim-pairs.

♣ ♦ ♥ ♠

Item posted 13 September 2018

The winner of the very‑late‑running final of the YCKO 2017 was team BOWLES, which beat team CALLAGHAN by 23 IMPs on Friday 14 September. Both teams turned out in full. Team BOWLES comprised Graham Osborne, Frances Hinden, Sally Brock, Barry Myers, Mike Scoltock, and Andy Bowles. (The reclusive Andy Bowles had to leave before the prize was presented and escaped being pictured.) Team CALLAGHAN comprised David Burn, Joe Fawcett, Richard Granville, Heather Dhondy, and Brian Callaghan.

Team CALLAGHAN, which was behind by 42 IMPs after 48 deals, exercised the right as undefeated team to play a further eight deals, but there was too much to do.

Congratulations to the worthy winners who received a £1,000 prize; the runners‑up had to be content with £400.

Team BOWLES is eligible for a play‑off match against the team that won the 2018 London Championship Teams‑of‑Four to decide who will represent London in the 2019 Lederer invitation tournament.

♣ ♦ ♥ ♠

Item posted 17 September 2018

The club is very proud to host the semi‑finals and final of the Gold Cup, the British knockout teams event, over the weekend 13 & 14 October. The semi‑finals are on Saturday and the final is on Sunday. Play is scheduled to start at 10.00am and finish shortly before 9.00pm on each day.   Spectators are welcome. Why not come along and watch some of the best players in the country in action?

♣ ♦ ♥ ♠

Item posted 20 September 2018

Thanks to Neil and Christine Tomkin for unearthing more old issues of Chelsea Bridge, the club newsletter. Scans of the newsletters are available via the history page. The newly added issues are June 1972 (the very first), May 1986, and June 1987.

♣ ♦ ♥ ♠

Item posted 23 September 2018

After the success of the inaugural event in 2017, the event was held for the second time over the weekend 10 & 11 November 2018. Club committee member Paula Leslie, organiser of the event, induced 20 teams to enter this year—up by four teams from last year. And she persuaded the tournament director from last year, Jonathan Lillycrop, to come back for a repeat performance.

Congratulations to the winning team The Black Ewes (Trine Binderkrantz, Nadia Bekkouche, Maja Rom Anjer, Stine Holmøy) on 142 VPs (with 100 being average over the ten rounds). Prize money for first place was £1,400. Full results may be found both in EBU score format and on Events in London. More pictures are posted on the Young Chelsea facebook group.

♣ ♦ ♥ ♠

In second place, picking up £600, was team Four Belles (Sarah Bell, Gilly Clench, Sally Brock, Lizzie Godfrey) on 129 VPs.  

♣ ♦ ♥ ♠

Just ahead of the pack in third place, picking up £400, was team Grand Slam Drag Queens (Gunn Tove Vist, Tonje Brogeland, Torild Heskje, Lisbeth Glaerum) on 113 VPs.

♣ ♦ ♥ ♠

Item posted 14 November 2018

Friday 21 December will be the last day before Christmas on which the club will be open, when there will be the usual cross‑IMP duplicate at 7.30pm.   Between Christmas and the New Year the club will be open for bridge on one day: Thursday 27 December. In addition to the regular Thursday afternoon duplicate at 1.00pm, there will be a matchpointed Thursday evening duplicate at 7.00pm. Please come along and take part if you are in London and not playing in the EBU Year End Swiss Pairs.   The new year will kick off with a supervised play session at 1.00pm on Wednesday 2 January 2019. (Regular duplicates move from Wednesday evenings to Thursday evenings in the new year, so there will be no session on the Wednesday evening.)

♣ ♦ ♥ ♠

Item posted 22 November 2018

The Young Chelsea committee has produced a provisional calendar of special events to be held at the club on Saturdays, Sundays, or whole weekends in 2019. More events, particularly in the second half of the year, will be added in due course. Please save the dates in your diary. You will find the events in the calendar, but note that exact timings have not been finalised for every one of them.

♣ ♦ ♥ ♠

♣ ♦ ♥ ♠

Item posted 22 November 2018

The Young Chelsea held a 12‑hour half marathon on Saturday 1 December. The event was matchpointed over three sessions and a total of 88 deals. Twenty‑three pairs took part. Congratulations to the winners Heather Dhondy & Brian Callaghan who finished on 57.90% in a closely contested race. They picked up the £400 first prize. The overall ranking and individual session results are on Pianola:

• Overall ranking

• Session one of three
• Session two of three
• Session three of three

In second place, getting £150, were Rob Cliffe & Brian McGuire on 56.53%.   And in third place, getting £100, were Stefano Tommasini & Sebastian Kristensen on 55.17%.   Thanks to Margaret and Martin Nygren for their generous sponsorship of the entry fees of the junior players, to David Muller for devising the movement and donating his time as tournament director, and to the staff at the club for their work behind the scenes keeping the contestants fed and watered.

♣ ♦ ♥ ♠

Item posted 2 December 2018

The Autumn 2018 ladder finished on Wednesday 12 December, having run for 28 sessions, taking into account scores from the regular Monday and Wednesday duplicates.

Ranking is by average of the six best scores. To qualify for a ladder prize someone had to take part in at least three Monday sessions, at least two Wednesday sessions, at least one more Monday or Wednesday session, and play with at least three different partners. (Any duplicates scored by IMPs are converted to percentages for ladder purposes; the Cross‑IMPs page explains how.) The only three players who managed to satisfy all the criteria get prizes.

Congratulations to the winner on 56.12%, Carrie Eden, who gets first prize of £150.

Runner-up on 54.40% was last year’s winner Sarah Bell whose prize is £90.

And in third place on 53.79% was Chris Duckworth, getting £60.

Honourable mentions go to Olivia and Alan Woo, who each played in as many duplicates, twelve, as Carrie and they would have been in the frame if Wednesdays had been more convenient for them.

Autumn 2018 final ranking.

A new Spring ladder starts on Monday 14 January and covers results in Monday and Thursday evening duplicates. (Thursday evening duplicates are free throughout January as an added incentive to take part.)  

♣ ♦ ♥ ♠

Item posted 14 December 2018

Thanks to Maciej Sczczerczak for lending the club another old issue of Chelsea Bridge, the club newsletter. (Perhaps he kept the issue for its reference to a confused Pole.) Newsletter scans are available via the history page. The newly added issue is Summer 1992.

♣ ♦ ♥ ♠

Item posted 16 December 2018