June 07, 2019 Pre-Bulletin Editor: Dilip Gidwani WELCOME TO CASABLANCA TO THE AFRICAN ZONAL BRIDGE CHAMPIONSHIPS 2019

The President of the African Bridge Federation, Bernard Pascal and the President of the Royal Moroccan Bridge Federation, also the Vice President of the African Bridge Federation, Chafika Tak Tak, extend a warm welcome to all participants to this prestigious and important event of the African Bridge calendar. The Championship is the Selection for the two best teams to represent the African Zone in the , the and the D’Orsi Seniors Bowl, to be played later this year, in Wuhan, China.

Over the next 8 days, Bridge players and spectators will enjoy the warm hospitality of the host federation and get to play and witness some high quality Bridge games. As is the true spirit of our game, “Bridge for Peace”, the theme of the , is what we all expect to see in the days to follow. Morocco is hosting the African Bridge Zonals for the second time, the first edition having been played in 2005, also in Casablanca. The hosting of this event has been made possible due to the support of Ministére de la Juenesse et ports, Lavazza, Top Class Espresso, Foods & Goods.

The event kicks off with the African Open Pairs Championships played over 3 sessions from the evening of June 07 until June 08. The main event starts from June 09 until June 14. So dear players spectators, and guests, enjoy your 08 days of Bridge in Casablanca.

Bernard Pascal and Chafika Tak Tak in front of Hotel Farah

The AFRICAN OPEN PAIRS CHAMPIONSHIPS 2005

The African Open Pairs Championship, 2005, played in Casablanca, with a field of 73 pairs, worked as a warm-up for the main event. The late Chavannaz and late Beineix from France (ineligible for the Championship) won the 3 session event, more than three percentage points clear of Alami – Cambournac, the home pair from Morocco, winners of the Zonal Title.

One of the hands then reported, is reproduced below:

Session 1 - 13, dealer N, Both vulnerable,

♠ J 7 4 3 It is normal for East to start with a pre-empt of 3♥ after a pass ♥ A 6 from North. West would normally raise to 4♥. Would you like to ♦ J T 5 4 2 play or defend? Cope from South Africa, sitting South, led the ♣ K 9 ♦7. What are east’s chances now? On the table, East let this ♠ K 9 8 5 N ♠ Q 6 ♥ Q ♥ K J 9 7 5 4 2 ride to the ♦K after which he had no chance. Holman, sitting ♦ A Q 9 3 W E ♦ K 8 north, duly ducked the queen, on which Cope dropped ♣ A Q 9 4 ♣ 8 5 the ♥8 (which he told me later was a preference for spades). S East then played the ♠5 to his queen and South’s ♠A. South ♠ A T 2 returned the ♦6 and in the fullness of time, collected a ♦ for ♥ T 8 3 one down. The ♦ lead was indeed most attacking. East would ♦ 7 6 have done well to win the lead in dummy and immediately play ♣ T 7 6 3 2 the trump queen. North must this and East gets back to his hand with the ♦K. Now it’s decision time again – whether to play for the A or T doubleton, in trumps. Here is where Cope’s play of the ♥8 at trick 2 may have led declarer to believe that that the trump T was doubleton. Good play by the South African pair.

ORGANIZATION COMMITTEE

BERNARD PASCAL / EGYPT African Bridge Federation - President

CHAFIKA TAK TAK / MOROCCO Royal Moroccan Bridge Federation–President, ABF-Vice President

JEAN FRANCOIS CHEVALIER / FRANCE Technical Organization

WALEED EL MENYAWI / EGYPT Tournament Director

KHALIL BENSOUDA / MOROCCO National Director

DILIP GIDWANI / GHANA Daily Bulletin

GRAZIELLA NABIL / MOROCCO BBO Broadcast

There is BBO coverage of important matches starting from June 09. Please do look in our Daily Bulletin for more details. Results and daily bulletins will be carried on the Moroccan Bridge Federation web page http://bridgemaroc.ma/.

The African Zone (Zone 8 of the World Bridge Federation) comprises of eight member countries (as listed on the WBF web-site), BOTSWANA, EGYPT, KENYA, MOROCCO, REUNION, SOUTH AFRICA & TUNISIA. BOTSWANA are not participating in this year’s event.

Names of participating players can be found on the official Moroccan bridge federation web page i.e. http://bridgemaroc.ma/. We shall report any changes in the team compositions. Bernard Pascal has

informed that the star Egyptian pair of Walid El Ahmady and Tarek Sadek had to drop out due to pressing personal problems. Now this surely robs the championship of its much wanted sheen. Walid and Tarek have a formidable track record in international events and are the star players of our Zone.

Present day computer technology has made information available on the simple push of a key on the keyboard of your computer or a touch on the touch- of your cell phone. Casablanca has a host of activities on offer, information for which can be obtained from “expedia”, “culturetrip”, tripadvisor” and several other similar web-sites. Janine, our ever smiling volunteer who has been receiving all the players and officials at the airport could also help out with tips and tricks on things to do in Casablanca. Her cell number is +212 646 033131. She is available on WhatsApp on this number too. We recommend you use her contacts to book short trips in and around Casablanca.

Your bulletin editor will welcome players’ contribution on hands well played, defended or bid. My local cell number is +212 679 278 427; WhatsApp +91 816 9898 171. Or else, meet me in person please.

The International Bridge Press Association is a body of Bridge journalists world- wide, reporting and covering important Bridge championships. The reports are published in a monthly bulletin that is sent to all members. You can get information about the membership on the web page http://www.ibpa.com/. One

does not HAVE to be a bridge journalist to become a member. Members visiting world championships and European and American Championships have access to the Press room and its facilities, where you can meet star players and also enjoy the hospitality of the host NBO. Your bulletin editor who is also the Vice President (Organization) will be happy to assist you in signing up for membership. At 43 USD (40 Euros or 400 MAD) a year, it’s a steal. BID IN EVEN

The importance of conducting an auction in even tempo, was demonstrated on the following board between India and Jordan in their final encounter (played in the BFAME Zonals in 2005). When this match was played, both teams had already assured themselves of a berth for the Bermuda Bowl in Estoril. However the two teams were battling for the prestigious Adamjee Zakaria Memorial Trophy

Board 18, East dealer, North-South vulnerable .

♠ Q J 9 2 The detailed auction was not available. The Indian East-West ♥ 7 5 4 played in 6♦ after a long and labored sequence of seven bids, ♦ T 7 (some natural and some artificial) making 7. The final contract ♣ T 9 8 5 and result were identical in the other room in favor of the ♠ 4 3 N ♠ A 8 ♥ Q 8 ♥ A K J 9 3 2 Jordanian East-West. However the Jordanian North-South ♦ A K Q 4 W E ♦ J 6 3 2 summoned the CTD and claimed that unusually long pauses had ♣ A K J 7 3 ♣ 4 taken place during the course of the Indian East-West auction. S The CTD duly reversed the result to 4♥ making seven. The ♠ K T 7 6 5 Indian appeal against the CTD’s ruling was turned down. The ♥ T 6 importance of bidding in even tempo thus assumes significance. ♦ 9 8 5 It’s a hard world in the competitive bridge arena, but rapid ♣ Q 6 2 thinking in an even tempo has become a must. Even if a break in tempo is due to time consumed for legitimate thinking, there is the possibility that the subsequent bidding may have been influenced by the pause. The benefit of the doubt, in such situations, is usually passed on to the aggrieved party. India lost 10 IMPs on this board. Even when playing with screens, long pauses can create awkward situations if the hand goes into an appeal situation. Present day appeals are resolved by the tournament directors; their rulings are final and no further redress is possible.

News from the North American Zonal Championships:

USA 1, OPEN TEAM is the NICKELL team, (Nick Nickell/Ralph Katz, Jeff Meckstroth/Eric Rodwell, Stevie Weinstein/ Bobby Levin) USA 2 OPEN TEAM is the FLEISCHER team, (Marty Fleisher/Chip Martel, Geoff Hampson/Eric Greco and Brad Moss/Joe Grue). USA 1 WOMEN’S TEAM: Lynn Baker/Karen McCallum; Kerri Sanborn/ ; Beth Palmer/Sylvia Shi. USA 2 WOMEN’S TEAM: - Hjordis Eythorsdottir/Linda Lewis; Janice Seamon-Molson/Lynn Deas; Sally Wheeler/Cindy Bernstein MIXED TEAMS USA1 - Uday Ivatury/Christal Henner; Howie Weinstein/Cheri Bjerkan; Steve Garner/Jill Meyers MIXED TEAMS USA2 - Andrew Rosenthal//Michael Rosenberg; Chris Willenken/Migry Zur-Campanile. SENIORS TEAM USA 1 is the KASLE team (Gaylor Kasle-Dan Morse, -Kit Woolsey, and Peter Boyd-Steve Robinson) SENIORS TEAM USA 2 is the ROSENTHAL team (Andrew Rosenthal, Debbie Rosenberg, Michael Rosenberg, Chris Willenken, and Migry Zur Campanile).