Newsletter 93

April 2013 Welsh

Bridge

Union

confronting a partner Ignorance is who fails in politeness or no defence bullies the opponents. If you are aware that your partner, or one of your There are 93 Laws of team-mates, is a serial offender in this regard, Duplicate Bridge. Very you might consider finding another partner, or few people know them different team-mates, as you would surely do if all. Some may be you knew they were consistently breaching any surprised to know of the of the other laws of bridge. existence of Law 74 - Conduct and Etiquette – which governs A copy of the full policy is being sent to every behaviour at, or indeed away from, the table. club, with summary leaflets for members. The text of the leaflet is on pp. 14-16. Do read it. When you are playing in a congress, or even in your local club, you are probably familiar with * * * * * * * * * * * * * * the call “Director!” (or “DIRECTOR!”). How The end of an era often has this summons been for surliness or sarcasm, or for an North-South pair who have Jill Knight is retiring, both as editor of our talked across you for 80 seconds at the start of Newsletter and as North Wales apparatchika. the round instead of saying hello? Not often. Jill has been a part of Welsh bridge for longer Yet players are entitled to have this law enforced than many of us have been playing. She played just as diligently as the law on revokes or leads Lady Milne as recently as 2009. She has been a out of turn. fixture in the North Wales team for the Spickett The problem is that many people’s enjoyment of Bowl. She was for the game is ruined by the rudeness of a minority. many years organiser Some have voted with their feet and taken up for the Swiss Pairs, knitting or ballet or bowls instead. and has been a member of the We need to persuade players of all standards that Councils of the WBU Law 74 is as important as Law 61 (Revokes) or and NWBA for Law 16 (Unauthorised Information). While it decades. would obviously be disruptive if the director She says her best were to be called every time someone fails to bridge memory is © Gakken Education Publishing Co. say “Good evening”, the occasional call to deal playing in the friendly against Ireland in with a player who has interrogated opponents to Beaumaris and then in Slane. It was such fun the brink of tears about the meaning of she laughed non-stop. “Natural” might be salutary. It was a comfort to me in my early days of We want to encourage players to observe Law competitive bridge to know that if I arrived at 74 at least as carefully as they expect the other the hotel late, I could rely on Jill and Rona laws to be enforced. The WBU’s new policy on Morgan-Edwards to be burning the midnight oil Bridge Behaviour has been designed to do this. and filling the air with smoke. We expect all players to contribute to others’ The late-night social part of bridge congresses enjoyment of the game. For club players, this seems to have vanished, and now Jill is may mean accepting that opponents are entitled vanishing too. She will be missed. to ask (politely) for the more technical laws to be enforced. For expert players, it may mean WBU Newsletter Issue 93 Page 1

Jill’s Quill first Chairman, Adrian, barely stopped to say goodbye at the end of our first Skype meeting I have enjoyed receiving before starting on a tour of clubs to ask what articles and reports from they wanted from the WBU. you, so I write this last He reported back frequently. People filled in editorial feeling a little sad. questionnaires (see Issue 92). Meanwhile A great big thank you to every one of you, more No Fear competitions were organised from regular contributors to the people who and Adrian initiated a third competition for have sent in a one-off, ‘in case you think inexperienced players, in parallel with the people might enjoy it’. They certainly did, and inter-area teams (Perry and Spickett). The the contributions have all gone to making this name agreed was the President’s Cup, Adrian your newsletter. Please keep it up and send vetoing “Thomas Cup” and preferring kudos to Laura anything you think will inform or go to the event itself. entertain other members. The newsletter would be reinstated and the As well as being a publishing one-woman ideal was four publications a year. It was duly band, Laura is better placed for picking up done, but the cost of postage was a problem. interesting items, and has more contacts who Laura tried taking them to events where all can supply her with news. I don’t get around areas were represented and asking someone much these days. Not that I intend to buy a from each area to take them. This was not chair that goes up and down so that you can entirely successful and she will be seeking recline, sit up straight, put your feet higher better ways to make sure everyone gets their than your head and be tipped off in an almost newsletter and competition handbook. standing position (the last two not simultaneously). I might need one, but I’m We have constantly assessed our performance. resisting the temptation. We also have been dealing with several issues at the same time so were disappointed when, I shall also be finishing with the WBU and after a year, we were accused of doing North Wales Committees after the AGM. Our nothing. Things do take time. For example, diaries are crowded with appointments for our “Bad Behaviour” had to be discussed and physical upkeep, repair and smooth running researched before we could approve a policy. (‘walking’ would be an exaggeration). In A think-tank discussed competitions and Jean between, we like to visit our London families, is trialling simultaneous Area qualifiers and and would really love just to go off somewhere suggesting some open entry events. Clubs, on a whim. Besides, I have done my time. areas and individuals from all over have Glad to see younger people take over. Two of helped, and it has been cheering to see so these are Phil Bowers and Fiona Noyce, now many volunteers doing their bit. Masterpoints/Membership Secretary and Treasurer. They are delightful, dynamic We now have a Behaviour policy (summary people. Good luck to them. on centre pages), a report from Phil Bowers on the scheme for submission of Masterpoints by My work as newsletter editor coincided with computer (also in this issue) showing how well three interesting and enjoyable years on the it is going; autonomous selectors work (within Management Committee. We began by guidelines) to pick the best team/s to represent identifying areas that needed attention; one of Wales. Fiona has quickly got to grips with the the most important was making provision for financial side and the MC has had a preview of social club players who had complained that the accounts. Even I can understand them. they got nothing for their Membership fee, and Fiona and Phil wondered if payment of points felt alienated. It was obvious that the majority by Direct Debit would be more convenient for were not interested in competitions, and clubs, but further research showed that it entries were such that the future of national would be more expensive, so it is a no go. events and other competitions was a subject for concern. Some areas had already arranged Neville has initiated the Welsh sims, held special No Fear events because the attitude of twice a year. This was both an attempt at a some competitive players put others off. Our sims competition that was meaningful to WBU Newsletter Issue 93 Page 2 everyone and a means of making money. ”I’m off to my bridge lesson, come with me, There are so many demands on the coffers, its good fun and only a £1” he says with a though none, to my mind, more pressing than twinkle in his eye. So, I duly followed him to the recruitment of young people to bridge. We the local bowling club and my introduction to have not enough young players, even, to raise the game of bridge. They say ignorance is bliss teams for the Junior events. Admittedly, - I agree. Little did I realise what I was letting bridge is out of fashion; most non-players have myself in for. What a game! That was thirteen little idea of how it is played, and less of what years ago and I am still learning... an amazing game it is. Now that I am almost I play in two local clubs, small in membership free, I am already sounding out people I know but strong in experience and occasionally between the ages of 35 and 55 to see whether venture out of my comfort zone and play in they and their friends would like to learn. If area competitions. I remember my first they know younger people they can bring them congress at Llandrindod Wells – along. Meanwhile, they would bridge the gap inexperienced, outplayed, but fascinated. between most of us and the hypothetical Over the years I have played in a great variety youngsters who are going to take up bridge. of venues, from cold, draughty village halls to There’s only one Stephen Loat (see ‘The warm, comfortable hotels; and I’ve met Karate Kid’); but we need 150 more like him. players who do not have a kind word for Forgive the pun on ‘bridge’. I must have anything and others who, for little reward, caught it from El Presidente who is making the have given their time and effort to promote the teaching of university students a priority. game and encourage players to develop their We have actually made great progress in the skills. Their contribution to bridge in Wales last three years, not least because bridge in should not be underestimated. Without them, Wales is supported by an extraordinary the established network of clubs, area number of volunteers, from the people putting divisions and the links with the Welsh Bridge tables out in their club to those who run Union would struggle to function. Where congresses; from those who represent Wales to would I go, as an enthusiastic player, with my those who train and select them. Therein lies £6, without it? the continuity of the Union. So, thank you to I have to admit that in the past I had paid very all the people who give time and expertise and little attention to the events and competitions make good things happen in Wales. outside my club world in Mid Wales. I had Best wishes Jill never wondered who organised them and why, and had never looked at the WBU website. So here I am having completed my first year as Meet Fiona WBU treasurer and have often asked myself A very warm why I said ‘Yes’ to the chief executive’s welcome to Fiona original enquiry. I can put accountancy letters Noyce, our new after my name and draw up a set of accounts, Honorary Treasurer but did not really have a clue what the WBU who has taken on the did or how it functioned. I set to, reading the work of looking after constitution and anything I could lay my hands the Union’s funds on that would extend my understanding, only with enthusiasm and to be more confused than ever. I would like to efficiency. thank the WBU committee members for their help and explanations which enabled me to Shortly after moving to a village in Mid Wales clear the fog. from the metropolis of Slough, I was chatting to a neighbour over the garden gate. He The role of the WBU is going to be meeting an usually passed by with gardening tools or trays interesting challenge over the next few years of young plants, on his way to his vegetable and I hope that the Union will be able to plot. I was curious and I enquired where he maintain and develop systems to support its was going with his notebook and pen and not members and bridge in Wales. wearing his gardening gear. WBU Newsletter Issue 93 Page 3

Replay these hands with me by Peter Goodman

Today’s hand is from the very popular Inter-  10 City league on BBO. It builds on our recent  A 9 7 theme of planning your play before playing to  J 8 trick 1 (and re-planning at about trick 3 or 4 if . A 5 the play provides further information).  8  -  8 4 2  K Q 10 Board 3  10 9 6 5  10 6 3 2  K 9 Dlr: South  A 9 7 . - . 9 7 4 Vul: EW  J 8  -  J 6 5 . A Q J 5  A Q 7 5  J 8 7 3 2  K . 8  8 4 2  K Q 10 3 West exits with a heart which declarer ducks  10 6 3 2  K 9 4 and East exits safely with the .9. This is the . 6 . K 10 9 7 4 six-card ending:  A Q 4  10  J 6 5  A 9  A Q 7 5  J 8 . 8 3 2 . 5  8  -  8 4  K 10 West North East South  10 6 3  K 9 - - - 1NT1 . - . 7 4 Pass 2.2 Pass 23  - Pass 3NT All pass  J 6  A Q 7 5 1 12-14 . - 2 Stayman Declarer now plays the ten of spades from 3 No 4-card major dummy, needing five more tricks. East is After the lead of 3 we can count two spade, squirming now: a) if he discards a heart we one heart, two diamond and two club tricks, make the 10, two hearts and two diamonds and will need two more. They will be most (taking the finesse); b) if he discards a likely to come from the black suits (Plan A), diamond we can play a small diamond to the though we can visualise an extra red suit ace and another back to the jack, leaving East winner if East holds all three of the missing to bare his K or pitch a club which will allow honours (Plan B). East may also hold Q10xx him to be end-played to lead away from his or K10xx, which will allow us to exert K; c) if he discards a club, declarer exits pressure on him (Plan C). with dummy’s last club (discarding a diamond) and East is again end-played to lead When the K appears at trick 1 we can make away from this red-suit kings. (Note that case three spade tricks (ace, queen and 10), so we c) a sharp East can still beat the contract by are now only one trick short. But we have to exiting with the king of diamonds: declarer look after our entries. We play a club at trick can cross to the J but has no entry back to his 2 and insert the jack. If East tries to be hand to enjoy the queen as long as West holds “smart” and holds off his King, he may soon on to his three cards in the suit to prevent find himself end-played, so he wins and declarer from simply cashing the ace and returns the .10, West pitching a spade. making the 7. But this line still represents Declarer wins and plays queen and another the best chance of making.) spade on which East has some very uncomfortable discards. In summary: We had a Master Plan (A) to make three spades, three clubs, two diamonds and one heart, but also had our fall-back plan (B) to make an extra red suit winner when East

WBU Newsletter Issue 93 Page 4

has all three key cards: an extra 12.5% chance Now we cross to the K and play a small when Plan A fails. trump, covering the queen. East wins and We also need to read the opponents’ discards returns the .J. so that we can resort to Plan C if the 6-card West is unlikely to play the Q from Qx so ending layout was: now that trumps seem to be 4-1, we are  10 looking at three spade losers and one diamond  A 9 for one down unless we can develop an  J 8 endplay. We have to move on to Plan B (note . 5  -  - that this is trick 4 - the time when Plan B is  Q 8  10 3 often put into effect).  10 6 3 2  K 9 Win the club in dummy and play a small . - . 7 4 diamond towards the ace. If East trumps on  - thin air he has eliminated your diamond loser,  J 6  A Q 7 5 so he has to discard (a heart or a club – it . - makes no difference). You now play the A and ruff the jack, then cash your remaining Now if East throws the 10 we throw in west two club winners ending in hand. This is the with the third Diamond 4-card ending: Hand 2  K 8 2 This next hand is replayed from the 2013  - Camrose series and follows our usual theme:  5 plan your play at trick one and replan at trick 3 . - or 4 if events provide further information.  -  10 9 4  10  Q (or .J) Dlr: North  K J 8 2  J 10 7  -  A J 8 . - . -  K 5 4  7 6 . A Q 4  -  Q  A 10 9 4  8 3  10 9 7 4  Q 6 5 2 . -  Q J 10 7 6  9 . 7 5 2 . J 10 9 8 You run the seven of spades to East’s 9 and  7 6 5 3 he is end-played to give you two of the last  K 3 three tricks. If he plays a trump, you have no  A 8 3 2 further trump loser; if he exits a heart, you ruff . K 6 3 in hand discarding dummy’s last diamond.

West North East South The contract is made. - 1.* Pass 1 Pass 3 Pass 4 WBU Directing Course Part 2: Judgement Rulings All pass * Can be 3 cards Lead: Q Following our successful programme of Part 1 We can see three club, two diamond and two courses, we are scheduling Part 2 courses heart tricks and need three more. They will covering judgement rulings for May and June. probably come from the trump suit (Plan A). We want to gauge interest so that venues and Our certain losers are two trumps, if the dates can be arranged according to demand. trumps are 3-2 with one of the honours on our You will need to have completed Part 1 course; left; and one diamond. or have experience as a club director and be looking for a refresher. We carefully win the first trick with the K so that if East has a singleton (likely from West’s Provisional applications (as soon as possible) to: lead) we can later play up to the ace and Neville Richards: Meadow View guarantee two diamond tricks. Llanddewi Llandrindod Wells LD1 6SE Tel. 01597 851149, email [email protected] WBU Newsletter Issue 93 Page 5

Club Master Point Submission Survey

Further to the WBU plans to In the comments section at the implement electronic registration end of the form, there were a of master points, our MP few comments included, but secretary, Phil Bowers, sent a questionnaire to there were NO comments 54 WBU-affiliated clubs. I have put a few expressing definitive findings in bold type because they show that objection to the imposition of clubs’ the scheme is logistically viable and is well mandatory participation in the Direct under way. Upload scheme. The following results are based solely on the Phil Bowers, WBU Master Point & responses received. i.e. out of 48 (88%): Membership Secretary, Six Wells Farmhouse, • 13 clubs now use wireless scoring devices Vale Business Park, Cowbridge. CF71 7PF for most of their regular club sessions. Tel. 01446 771318, Mobile 07793 226631 Of the clubs using Wireless scoring Email: [email protected] devices, 11 are using BM2. Only 2 clubs So, Phil’s survey reveals that half the clubs in use Bridge Pads and none are using Bridge Wales are now uploading their Master Points, Scorer or BM Pro. Only 1 club is still and most of the remaining clubs have the scoring events by hand. capacity to do so. The next step is that Phil will • Of the 35 clubs still using Travellers, only facilitate the transition for them by answering 8 of them score the event on the night to any questions they may have and providing get a result before members leave the club. support. The future is bright.

• 21 clubs own a Laptop or Desktop PC * * * * * * * * * * * * * * whereas only 1 club has no access to a PC at all. At the other clubs, a member uses British Crockford’s Silver Plate his/her PC at home for the benefit of the club. • Only 8 clubs have access to the internet at the club premises but 96% have internet access of some kind. • 33 clubs use Scorebridge as their scoring program. Pairs Scorer being the next most "The British Silver Plate has been won by the popular choice. team led by Mike Tedd of Aberystwyth. His • 9 clubs use Duplimated boards for regular team-mates included John Salisbury, Tony club sessions. (This figure could have been Ratcliff, Roger Penton and Tony Disley. distorted by confusion between regular In the final played in Hereford, Tedd beat the club sessions and Simultaneous events due team led by Nick Stevens of Leicestershire 94- to the interpretation of the question) 64. Last year the Plate was also won by a team • 31 clubs have a website, roughly evenly from Wales. split between the Dragon Server and The Silver Plate is for teams eliminated at an Bridgewebs (with Dragon having the slight early stage of the Gold Cup, the British edge on numbers). 18 Clubs do not upload knockout championships. One hundred teams their results to a website. entered the 2012 Plate. The Stevens team made • 27 clubs are now directly uploading their the final of the Gold Cup in 2007 and 2010 but Master Points to the WBU database. Of had an early fall in the 2012 event. the 16 clubs that issue Masterpoints but do Silver Plate runners-up: N. Stevens & D. not upload, half are printing their own Happer; G. Watson & D. Jones; J. Mason & P. certificates and the other half still using Bowyer (Leics & Warks)." Green Books (8 clubs). Five affiliated (extract from EBU website) clubs do not issue Masterpoints. WBU Newsletter Issue 93 Page 6

Masterpoint Promotions list, October 2012 to end of February 2013 More congratulations to Mark Roderick on his well-deserved promotion to Grand Master

Local Master Maureen Blethyn R Bill Hegarty S Philip Ansell C David Bolwell C Graham James C Carol Baron MG Brian Casson CBY Eira Jones LDB Jenny Barton- C Peter Davies C Margaret Macdonald BEN Greenwood Jeannie Dimyan BRE James Mangles MG Leslie Blincow PN Wafik Dimyan BRE Cedric Margot GA Sandra Collin MG Peter Dutton C Barry Marsh C Peter Coode S Clive Emery CN Steve Martin GA David Crompton BR Bridget Evans AR Howard Mence CBY Bryn Davies NT Kathleen Ferguson PC Sadie Morton RY Julie Davies NT Lesley Fletcher M Ann- O'Brien C Mary Liz Davies MG Vivian Ginn MG Marie Val Davies PN Susan Greenwood CBY Margaret Price MG Michael Drake C Moreen Harrison WS David Scott C Eira Evans CD Vince Haskins GA Marilyn Scott NP Bryn Gough BR Bryn Henley R James Simpson LP Martin Gregson S Julie Hodgson D Lynda Thomas BEN Elizabeth Halligan MG David Hutchinson S Mary Thomas PT Peter Halligan MG Mary Jones T District Master Ann Johnson NT Valda Jones S Roger Boyle A Jean Jones S Dave Lea MG James S Brown M Valerie King W Debbie Lea MG Cherry Cadwallader MG Donald Lovett R Sue Lyden S John Cobby P Margaret McCormack P Tony Marlow LET Magda Corser A Grace Martyn AR Jessica Newton S Barbara Dawe K Joyce Outred CD Ann Owens PR Bob Drinkall C Dave Reed BV Sarah Penny C Dan Gordon R Jeffrey Ridd PT Robert G Pringle CAS Michael Gwynne- CBY Rae Roberts PT Christopher Randles M John Gordon Rothwell R Chris Roberts R Margaret Harrop C David Stringer NP Martin Sheppard H Nova Husbands MER Selwyn Sugarman R Derek Wadeson PR Martin Joseph C Maureen Sweetman S Jill Waterman PN Betty Longley P Peter C. Taylor AR Area Master William J Loughlin LLF John Whiteside AR Mary Barrett R Felicity Maitland- AG Sarah Wilcox C Jan Cole D Jones Terry Margolis NT Janice Williams RY Pete Cole D Vernon Pearn SU Jeff Williams R Keith Dabson PW Joy Seculer PN Valerie Williams BEN Lou Edwards MG Caroline Stephenson C Graham Woosnam MG Glyn Evans LDB Judith Sweeting GA Club Master Ian Evans C Kay Taylor K Peter Balchin GA Barbara Exton PC Berwyn Woolnough RY Steven Bartlett S Barbara Goodwin NP Peter Beynon CRI Richard Harding L

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County Master Richard Hughes C Peter McColl R Phil Bowers MG Ann Macdougall BV Adrian Micusan L Veronica Burrows C Kim Morgan L Jonathon Richards BR Clive Case GA Judith Owen BV Jonathan Seavers BR Justin Cooper R Pauline Rhodes CD Marion Shewell AR Ann Davis WS One Star Master Leighton Williams AG William Fleming S Mike Cohen LDB Paul Kamal Goswami LDB Isabel Good C Regional Master Miriam Handren VOG Glan James L Steve Burgoyne BR Helen Jordan BV Vic Smith BEN Belinda Davies K Rita Lawrence RY Byron Williams S Pat Morris NT Stella Miller MG Two Star Master George Novak CAS Ian Milton BRE Gwyn Evans R Linda Powell R Lynn Morris L Gerry Morris L National Master Alan Pearce GA Four Star Master Anne Davies S Anthony Stevens H Iain Brisbane AG Laurie Delmonte GA Gareth Stone SU Anita Freeman GA Vida Halford PC Elenid Thomas A Brian Goodman GA Premier National Master Master Five Star Master William Parkinson GA Joan Andrews PN Gwen Davies CD Senior Life Master Pat Clayton AG Brian Hardey PN Monica Garbett- NT Janet Cunnington C Gerry Long MG Edwards Grand Master Christine Jones L Premier Master Mark Roderick BV Glenda Roberts OH Murat Ataç BRE

Frances Robinson BEN Cathy Barlow WS Hazel Rudland GA Heather Cummins CAS Arnold Sandrey MG Helen Davies K Celia Thomas BV Jeremy Dawes CAS Connie Wilson WS Catherine Evans P Advanced Master Ian Grove S Angela Chatfield WS Alan Heath PC Julia Griffiths L June Jones H Frances Ann Maslin A Mary Harris S

John Hockey Top 20 (most MPs accumulated in a season) Congratulations to Dr. Paddy Murphy (El Presidente) 1. Paddy Murphy 214.12 11. Patrick Jourdain 99.69 2. Liz Commins 180.37 12. Susan Ingham 98.26 3. Tony Ratcliff 163.50 13. Dewi Jones 92.43 4. Mike Best 122.55 14. Michael S Brotherton 88.09 5. Julian Pottage 121.37 15. Roger Penton 87.44 6. Terry Evans 120.92 16. Adrian Thomas 86.40 7. Gwynn Davis 120.21 17. Barry Lloyd Jones 85.73 8. Peter Goodman 118.97 18. Mary Moore 82.98 9. Tony Disley 110.90 19. Dave Barwood 77.39 10. Filip Kurbalija 100.90 20. Mark Roderick 71.87

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AREA NEWS (Make sure you get your news to Laura for the next newsletter)

EAST WALES East Wales Congress (YMCA Newport 16th –17th February, TEAMS OF EIGHT Directors Ted Hill, Alan Reid. Congratulations to the Gwent Team of Simon The Swiss Teams winners were Mike Tedd, Gottschalk, Cedric Margot, Ian White, Paul John Salisbury, Simon Richards and Tony Relph, Joan & Herrick Westcott, Bill Ratcliff with a score of 187. Mike and John won Parkinson and Kath Fewster who came 1st out for the second year running, this time with of seven in the Teams of Eight area heat held Simon and Tony who were playing together for at Cardiff Bridge Club Sunday February 3rd. the first time. Second were Mike Kinsey, Mike EWBA COMPETITIONS Fithyan, Owen Leigh and Richard Harris with EWBA Teams of 8 heat (3rd February). 172, third Chris Rochelle, Liz Atkinson, Laura Woodruff, Sue Ingham, Gwynn Davies and st 1 Gwent Bridge Academy Q Simon Gottschalk with 171, and fourth Alex nd 2 Cardiff A Q Maddocks, Rob Lawy, Andrew Thompson and rd 3 Penarth Q Stefan Lindfors on 158. 4th Barrivale 1st reserve 5th Cardiff B The Novice Pairs was won by Brian Quinlan & 6th Chepstow Bob Drinkall 7th Cardiff C

th MID WALES EWBA Webber Cup qualifier (10 February) 1st Davis Q th nd 19 MID WALES CONGRESS 2 Roderick Q rd Green Pointed Swiss Teams 3 Kurbalija Q th th 4th Jourdain 13 –14 July 2013, Metropole Hotel 5th Bond Congress Directors: Mike & Sarah Amos 6th Harden First 3 sessions Swiss Teams. Then: Full results on Cardiff web site.  the bottom 8 or 12 teams (dependent on entries) will be split into groups of 4 and play Perry, Spickett & President’s Cup (Inter-Area each other in a Round Robin. The teams with Events) the highest VP score in each group after the 3 The Perry Shield (Open), Spickett Bowl matches will win a prize. (Ladies) and President's Cup (below Regional th th  Everyone else will play a further 3 x 7 board Master) will take place on 8 and 9 June in matches Prestatyn. Entry fee £49.00 per person including a light Teams selected to represent East Wales: Sunday luncheon. Telephone: 01597 823700 Perry: Filip Kurbalija (Captain), Diane Kurbalija, * * * * * * * * * * * * * Gwynn Davis, Chris Rochelle, Tony Ratcliff, Patrick Jourdain. NEWS FROM DOLGELLAU Spickett: Having lost a few members over recent years we Liz Atkinson, Gilly Clench, Sue Ingham, are pleased to welcome several new members: Noelle Bond. Jim who travels 20 miles from Tywyn twice a week, Sue from Aberdovey, Brian and Christina President's Cup: from the Local U3A bridge group in Barmouth Clive Case, George Williams, Joan Westcott, and Adrian (Thomas) who needs no further Herrick Westcott, Paul Relph, Ian White introduction. WBU Newsletter Issue 93 Page 9

We would like to congratulate Adrian and JACK LOTT Mike Tedd from Aberystwyth on their recent Knighton Bridge Club has lost Jack Lott, who victory in the Welsh Open Pairs competition. was one of our founding members when we In November last year we lost our treasurer, started from nothing 6 years ago. He died George Mandow who, finally despairing of recently in Knighton Hospital after a very short the Welsh climate, has joined his two illness. daughters in New Zealand. We lost not only He was already playing over the border in the a very capable treasurer, but a superb cook Lyonshall Club when we started the new Club in and one of our best players. We miss not Knighton. He had only recently moved to only his culinary skill but also his unfailing Evenjobb from the London area, where he had courtesy and kindness. lived all his life. This was a big move for him as In addition to our regular bridge nights on he approached 80 but he was very happy in the Mondays and Thursdays we hold two bridge area and would not have wanted to move back to days a year, where we play Chicago in the London. morning and duplicate pairs in the afternoon. In recent years we have been pleased to As a first-class bridge player all his life he welcome visitors from Aberystwyth and considered playing in our area as “Missionary Rhayader to these and we sometimes have as Service”. In his first year he took part in the JV many as eight tables. Davies Individual Competition in Mid Wales, which he won. Last year he also won the We have also run a charity rubber knock-out Individual Competition held in Lyonshall and competition this year, which has been great the Herefordshire “Round the Houses “ fun. Each pair is encouraged to give £10 to a competition with his partner Kevin Collins. local charity. The losers of the first round then all play a knock-out among themselves, so He thoroughly enjoyed his Bridge and played each pair is guaranteed at least two games. with great humour as well as competitiveness. Pairs take it in turn to be host or guest, and He could always be guaranteed to make one the hosts provide simple refreshments. We more trick than his opponents in a contract and shall certainly hold it again this year. was always difficult to beat. He always played Playing in Dolgellau brings its own with a smile on his face and a delightful challenges for Adrian. He is frequently heard “chuckle” and was keen to pass on his to say when a contract on another table knowledge to the rest of us weaklings. He is squeaks home by the skin of its teeth, ‘Well, already greatly missed on a Friday night at our it shouldn’t have made’. Club by us all. Kay Taylor After several such boards had given him a Chairman, Knighton Bridge Club less than impressive score one of our members suggested kindly that as he clearly Congratulations has potential maybe Adrian might think of Well done to Stephen Loat on his gold medal having lessons. win in Melbourne in shukokai karate. Stephen is a good bridge player, too, and we look forwards Although we are small in numbers we like to to seeing more gold medals. think we make up for that by our friendliness Castle Bridge club won the MW teams of eight and general good humour. But playing with qualifier: K Shuttleworth, B Nicholls, P Gagne me does test Adrian’s patience to the limit, D Harris, L Mann, C Blackman, G Novak and A and the occasional outburst has led us to Screen consider introducing a system of yellow cards or maybe a ‘fine pot’ for a local charity. Aberystwyth runners-up: M Tedd, Mike Jones. D Hayes, K Bellamy, Jeff Thomas, R Boyle, On reflection, however, the Chairman felt that Dewi Jones, D Raw- Rees yellow cards, whilst good in theory, might be Mixed Pairs: Margaret James and Mike Jones prejudicial to his general deportment and th table manners. came 8 National Open Pairs: Adrian Thomas and Julie Hodgson Mike Tedd were the winners; Keith Shuttleworth Secretary and Brian Nicholls came 4th WBU Newsletter Issue 93 Page 10

NORTH WALES trophy in eight English events this year, teams and pairs. Liz has been selected to play in the WBU SWISS PAIRS Lady Milne with Diane Kurbalija. We wish this new partnership every success. 6th – 7th July 2013 Venue Cymru, Llandudno Last December, three Welsh Pairs took the three £40 per player Merseyside & Cheshire qualifying places in the “The best event in the North” Waterworth Cup, qualifier for the Corwen (see write-up in Newsletter 91) Trophy: Beth and Barry Wennell; Sheila Shea Entries to Nigel Worthington: and Margaret Barnes; and Joan Marray and Jill [email protected] or 01829 770511 Knight. Jill and Joan had to pull out of the final because of Jill’s imminent cataract operation. Two of our well-known contributors to Welsh Good luck to Beth & Barry and Sheila and bridge are at present under medical care. Margaret in the Corwen. Peter Hand, who has occupied the NWBA The John Wain No Fear event, organised by Chair and held a number of posts in the Mark Spalding, was, again, a great success. WBU, including the Presidency, has had an Congratulations to the overall winners, Sue operation and is undergoing follow-up Jackson and Morfudd Fisher. Thank you, Mark. treatment. It was nice to see him, pre- Your work is much appreciated. treatment, at the Perry and Spickett trials. Perry, Spickett and President’s Cup Teams Sarah Amos, our delightful tournament selected are: Director, was taken ill suddenly and spent two weeks in hospital. She has been undergoing Perry: tests and is making slow but steady progress. Beth Wennell and Barry Wennell, Paddy We wish them both a speedy recovery and a Murphy and Barry Jones; Liz Commins and welcome return to bridge. David Stevenson Margaret Owen, formerly Smith, has given Spickett: up organising the Llandudno Swiss Pairs Margaret Barnes and Andrea Martin, Jill Knight because her husband, John, is undergoing and Sarah Amos, Sheila Shea and Jean Hand medical treatment. We wish John all the best President’s Cup: and say a big thank you to Margaret for Angela Mayner and John Arundel, Chris making the Swiss Pairs so enjoyable. Nigel Randles and Lesley Fletcher, Graham Shaw and Worthington, who became our new treasurer Wendy Jenkins two years ago and our Area Tournament Congratulations to: Organiser last year, has taken on the Swiss  Sheila Shea & Wyn Williams and Liz Pairs. All the best to Nigel in all three roles. Commins & Paddy Murphy, 5th and 6th in the

National Mixed Pairs final.  Liz Commins for coming 2nd with Diane Kurbalija in the Lady Milne trials  Yvonne Evans for winning the Vallance Cup Individual  Wendy Jenkins & Graham Shaw for winning the Colwyn Bay heat of the Portland Pairs  Christopher Pope & Andrew Prothero for highest North Wales placing in the Open Pairs National final. hoto courtesy of Merseyside & Cheshire BA hoto courtesy of Merseyside &

P  Dr. Paddy Murphy for top place in the John

Paddy Murphy, Liz Commins, Simon Edwards Hockey. and David Stevenson TEAMS OF EIGHT qualifier: 1st Llandudno nd Congratulations to Liz Commins on 2Shotton 3rd Wrexham becoming a Grand Master and to her and th David Stevenson for walking off with the 4Caernarfon

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WEST WALES National Open Pairs Area Qualifier th DON’T FORGET … 20 January, Llandybie nd The 2 Celtic Congress, Fishguard Bay 1st Peter Milewski, Eric Hartland 59.32 th th Hotel, Goodwick, 14 - 16 June 2013. 2nd Mike Close, Laura Woodruff 59.20 £32 per person for the whole congress 3rd Tony Ratcliff, Kevin Maddox 58.64 £6-£12 per session for individual events. Congratulations to Tony and Kevin, runners-up Friday 14th June in the National Final on 10th – 11th March. International Wales v Ireland National Mixed Pairs Area Qualifier Green pointed Men’s/Ladies Pairs 2nd December, Llandybie Green pointed Mixed Pairs 1st Bob Alderdice, Eleanor Price 65.00 Social Pairs 2nd Jennifer Wardell, Chris Morley 62.27 Saturday 15th June 3rd Mike Close, Laura Woodruff 60.45 Green pointed Teams rd th Social Pairs In the National Final on 23 -24 February, the West almost scored a clean sweep, with 1st, 3rd Sunday 16th June and 4th places. Congratulations to the winners, Green Pointed Swiss Pairs Laura and Mike, who last won the event in 2002. Prizes for players from social sections PERRY SHIELD, SPICKETT BOWL RESULTS and PRESIDENT'S CUP 2013 Teams of Eight Area Qualifier The teams to represent the Western Area are: 3rd February, Llandybie Perry: Congratulations to Haverfordwest on winning Mike Close (Capt.), Laura Woodruff, Steve the Area Qualifier in style. The team was Jarvis, Mike Baker, Peter Milewski, Eric John & Jill O’Sullivan, Anthony Stevens, Hartland. Ashleigh Scrimshaw, Peter Milewski, Lee Collier, Judith Graham-Jones, Gareth Jones. Spickett: Beryl Warner, Wendy Thornton, Eleanor Price, It has now been confirmed that the West will Margaret Lane, Irene Thomas (Capt.), Jenny be allowed 3 teams in the National Final so Vaughan. Carmarthen and Swansea also qualify. President's Cup: st 1 Haverfordwest 92 The team this year has been selected from the nd 2 Carmarthen 63 Area's newest club, Llandybie: Glan James, rd 3 Swansea 59 Geoff Tremlett, Catherine Dudlyke, Kamal Goswami, Gwenda Davies, Marie Craddock; Webber Cup Qualifier NPC Frances Williams 10th February, Llandybie * * * * * * * * * * * * * This was held as two separate heats: Green Section Swansea Charity Event 2012 st 1 Anthony Stevens, Ashleigh Scrimshaw, 62 th Peter Milewski, Lee Collier Friday June 28 : Open/Novice Pairs 2nd Mary Moore, Diana Jones, Kevin 51 Saturday June 29th: Pairs Maddox, John Beard Sunday June 30th: Swiss Teams Red Section 1st Colin Nash & Jennifer Wardell, 69 FULL CONGRESS £20 Frances Williams & Mike Reed SESSIONS Open/Novice £4, Pairs £9, Teams £9 2nd Carmel Wiseman & Beryl Warner, 66 Wendy Thornton & Wally Heaton

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Bidding Tips by David Stevenson

This is from the Merseyside and Cheshire Finally, think of a raise. You hold: Bridge Association newsletter. It is a ♠ K 6 5 response to people who have asked David ♥ Q J 10 6 5 2 Stevenson why he and his partner, Liz ♦ 6 Commins, have been so successful this year. ♣ K 8 7 Here, he explains why he believes he and Liz have gone from strength to strength. The LHO opens 1. (natural), partner bids 1, RHO general tips are universal; the concept of doubles and you bid? No doubt you bid 4, being difficult to play against requires doesn’t every-one? Of course, LHO now bids experience and more than a modicum of 4 90% of the time, and when it comes back daring and luck. after two passes you have to decide whether to Liz Commins and I have had a very sacrifice, with opponents knowing about their successful year and we have been asked what fit. Liz and I would not bid 4: we would bid the secret of our success is. Plenty of 5. Now what do they do? Sure, they may get practice, of course, playing on average four it right, but we have them worried. sessions a week, and discussing things that went wrong afterwards. We also have developed many, many agreements, so we have about a hundred pages of notes. But it is also our aim to be difficult to play against. Suppose you pick up ♠ A 9 8 7 2 ♥ 5 ♦ 10 8 7 ♣ 9 6 5 2 Do you bid? Our answer is “of course”. You When defending a contract we play signals not could open 2, showing a weak hand with just for the first card but often the second and spades and a minor. If RHO opens 1 you third. A quick example: you hold 8 6 4 in bid 1NT which shows a weak 2- or 3-suiter hearts, which are trumps: partner leads a club; with spades. declarer wins and draws trumps. What do you play? Well, 8 then 6 then 4 says you like the How about this hand: club lead, and your spades are better than your ♠ A 6 5 diamonds; 4 then 6 then 8 says you do not like ♥ 6 2 the club lead and your diamonds are better than ♦ Q J 9 8 3 your spades. This and other agreements make ♣ Q 4 3 defence much easier. Your RHO opens a short club (2+ clubs, When I was much younger, players in clubs used common with 5-card majors). Perhaps you to experiment with systems. Nowadays, too scrape up a 1 bid. We don’t: if they do not many people think playing fancy methods is for open a natural bid we like to sow confusion. good players. If you are a middle-of-the-road So we bid 1. No, it is not a psych: over a club player, my advice is take up a couple of odd short club 1 shows 3+ spades and a five- conventions and try them out. Switch from card suit elsewhere. How should opponents Benjamin to the Multi. Try a weak 1NT play double? Penalties and miss a heart fit? overcall. Try five-card majors. Try pre-empts Sputnik, and miss a spade fit? with a shorter suit than previously. Above all, try something, and you too can be difficult to play against – and that is what you want.

WBU Newsletter Issue 93 Page 13

“It’s only a game” Bridge Behaviour and Misbehaviour

A recurring complaint in bridge is that mistake which would have gone unpunished in enjoyment of the game can be compromised their local clubs must be rectified (by the by the poor behaviour of a minority of Director) at a national final, where more than a players. The WBU has therefore adopted a pleasant evening out or a few local points is at policy on bridge behaviour. stake. The Laws of Duplicate Bridge apply to all This is a summary of the policy, the full text levels of competition, from club to of which may be found at www.wbu.org.uk/ international, and no distinction is made publications/bridgebehaviour.htm. A copy between different levels of competition. The has also been sent to your club. rules (other than Law 74) are, however, less The policy considers what should be expected rigidly enforced at social and club level than in of players and what could be done to improve high-level tournaments in which most of the behaviour at the table. participants will be expert players. It distinguishes between two aspects of The policy acknowledges the differences in behaviour at the bridge table: practice between club and tournament a) Compliance with the Laws governing the bridge without in any way suggesting that game itself, including the mechanics of the Laws do not apply to club bridge. play, correction of mistakes and deterring, or redress in the event of, unauthorised SUMMARY information; b) Conduct and etiquette (Law 74). 1. Policy We will promote a playing environment which, by improving attitudes and behaviour at bridge, promotes enjoyment of the game by players of all standards.

2. Implementation We will translate our intentions into actions The importance which a player attaches to throughout clubs and tournaments, by asking these two aspects will depend partly on players to observe the spirit, as well as the temperament and partly on the level at which letter, of Law 74 which concerns conduct and he or she is playing. While it is not etiquette; and club organisers and tournament universally true, it tends to be that the higher directors to act firmly to curb bad behaviour. the level of the competition, the more concerned a player is with a) and the less with 3. Operation b). Players in clubs with a very social ethos New players: before they officially join the tend to be concerned more with pleasantness club, new players should be given some and enjoyment, and less with stringent instruction on what is expected of them and of enforcement of the (other) rules. their opponents when they sit down at the There is, however, no intrinsic conflict table, in terms not just of bidding and play, but between the two aspects of behaviour. of the behaviour expected of them. Clubs Experienced players can explain politely to might consider asking new players to sign up their opponents why they are calling the to a code of behaviour before accepting them Director; tournament novices can accept that a into the club.

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Club members: most club players are there to Since the most common causes of ill feeling at enjoy the game, and should feel confident that the bridge table are breaches of Laws 74 their enjoyment will not be spoilt by “experts” (Conduct and Etiquette) and 16 (Unauthorised who invoke rules devised for tournament play, Information), these are summarised below. or who belittle them for their lack of expertise. The Club Director plays a key role in ensuring Conduct and Etiquette (Law 74) this enjoyment. In summary: Expert players: some expert players tend to  maintain a courteous attitude at all times; regard the social aspect of the game as  avoid remarks that might interfere with secondary to the competitive aspect. The another player’s enjoyment of the game; higher the level of the tournament, the greater  don’t make gratuitous comments; the bias towards competitive rigour and away  be courteous in calling the Director; from social convention. Deviations from the  avoid staring at your opponent, or looking rules are expected to be punished. It is at another player’s hand; therefore important:  stay at the table until the round is called i) that players in tournaments be asked to unless you have a good reason not to. observe the same standards of conduct and etiquette that would be expected at club In top-level tournaments, and especially in level, and do not allow their expectation of international tournaments (where there is a higher bridge standards to curtail their screen across the table to prevent you from observance of social customs such as seeing your partner), no one much cares politeness and tolerance; whether you are friendly, as long as you’re not positively rude. Players’ concentration is such ii) that players seeking to move from club to that they may not even notice if you get up and competition be prepared for the more leave the table for a few minutes. That is no stringent enforcement of the Laws, excuse for tournament players to replicate this especially those relating to unauthorised chillier atmosphere in congresses and other information, before their first event. This competitions. Most bridge players want to can be achieved only by advice and/or have a nice, social time as well as playing the mentoring at club level. best bridge they can, and their enjoyment of an event can be affected by the behaviour of others. The Welsh Bridge Union expects players of all standards: a) to observe the usual social courtesies, whatever the context; b) to say “Hello” at the beginning of the round and “Thank you” at the end of the round; c) to refrain from criticism, either direct or implied, of an opponent’s bidding or play; d) to refrain from bullying behaviour such as interrogating an opponent about his system or displaying impatience or amusement at mistakes or making a claim which the opponent at the table may not understand. e) to refrain from shouting at or acerbically criticising their own partners, since this may upset less experienced opponents.

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Unauthorised information (Law 16) A LITTLE LIGHT RELIEF Authorised information: Players are authorised to base their calls and plays on AT THE CLUB TO OPPONENTS information from legal calls and or plays, and Me (to the husband) Who are you playing with from mannerisms of opponents. In other on Tuesday. Is it Mary? words, you may make any inference you Mary (The wife) No, Ann. choose from bids made or not made, and from Husband (to the wife) No, that’s the one I was cards played or not played, and also from with last night. anything your opponents give away by their Mary (to the world and his wife) Oh really? demeanour. Well, I hope she found something worth Unauthorised information: extraneous finding. I haven’t. information that may suggest a call or play, as by means of a remark, a question, a reply to a question, or by unmistakeable hesitation, unwonted speech, special emphasis, tone, gesture, movement, mannerism or the like (and exposed cards and irregular bids such as insufficient bids or calls out of rotation). The Welsh Bridge Union expects players of all standards: OVERHEARD AT THE BRIDGE TABLE a) to accept that unauthorised information, The opponents had failed to bid two however inadvertent, may give their own consecutive slams. side an unfair advantage and damage Opponent A: So we’re quits, then. opponents. Opponent B: No. I just didn’t think of b) to accept an opponent’s decision to call the bidding mine, whereas yours was malice Director, without argument, without taking aforethought. offence and without assuming that he or she is being accused of cheating; c) to refrain from trying to apply the Laws at the table without reference to the Buddy, can you spare an hour? Director*; Our President is looking for volunteers who can d) against an less experienced opponent, to spare an hour once a week to teach bridge in explain the reason why that opponent’s schools. We hope to write to schools during the action is being referred to the Director for next month offering lessons in lunch breaks or a ruling; after school, but we can't do it without you. e) to be polite and refrain from criticism, either of the opponents or of the Director; You don't need to be a teacher (though teachers, and current or retired, are welcome). All you need f) to accept the Director’s ruling without is the confidence to talk to a small group of argument. teenagers. If you don't like the idea of wrestling with 14-year-olds alone, team up with * Many regular tournament players know a friend. We can provide you with lesson the law on unauthorised information outlines, cards and equipment. reasonably well, but surprisingly few know all of it. No player should attempt to And it's not a long-term commitment. You can instruct another, at the table, in the correct do one term (11-12 weeks), or even share a application of the law: he or she should term with someone else. The WBU will act as always refer the matter to the Director. an agency to match bridge players with schools, provided we have enough volunteers. If you have any questions about the new If you can help, please contact Paddy on 01248 policy, please contact Mike Tedd 382375 or at [email protected] by the end ([email protected] or 01970 611518). of May. It's for the future of our game.

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COMPETITION ROUND-UP

RESULTS IN PROGRESS Welsh and Cambria Cups Portland Pairs Both events have reached the semi-final stage: Colwyn Bay heat, 24th March st Welsh Cup 1 Wendy Jenkins, Graham Shaw 57.79 nd In the semi-final Pitts will play Kurbalija and 2 Sheila Shea, Wyn Williams 56.82 3rd Jean Hand, Peter Hand 55.01 Tedd will play Murphy Cambria Cup National Open Pairs Final In the semi-final Penton will play Hand and Murphy will play Best Llandrindod Wells, 10th – 11th March Mike Amos directed, coping magnificently when two pairs didn't arrive. 1st Adrian Thomas, Mike Tedd 62.43 2nd Tony Ratcliff, Kevin Maddox 59.12 3rd Cedric Margot, Gordon Roxburgh 55.66

National Mixed Pairs Final rd th Llandrindod Wells, 23 – 24 February 1st Laura Woodruff, Mike Close 61.44 2nd Noelle Bond, Mark Roderick 59.64 3rd Mary Moore, Tony Disley 55.37

WBU St David’s Day Sims Results Monday 25th February 1st Colin Thomas, Lavinia Thomas PT nd 2 Peter Richards, Peter Richardson PW Colin and Lavinia Thomas, winners of the rd 3 Elwyn Roberts, Gwen Hurst W Monday St. David’s Day Simultaneous Pairs Tuesday 26th February 1st Mary Moore, Wendy Williams PC 2nd Jill Knight, David Jones Y 3rd Sheila Shea, Margaret Barnes Y FORTHCOMING CONGRESSES Wednesday 27th February st Welsh Seniors Congress & 1-day GP Open Pairs 1 Keith Shuttleworth, Brian CAS Newport Nichols 25th – 27th May 2013 2nd Ann Hughes, Su Summerhayes OH 3rd Sheila Shea, Paddy Murphy LFF Celtic Congress with Wales-Ireland matches Fishguard th Thursday 28 February 14th – 16th June 2013 st 1 Tony Ratcliff, Julian Pottage MG WBU Swiss Pairs 2nd Les Mann, Geoff Fielding NT rd Llandudno 3 Beth Wennell, Barry Wennell WS 6th – 7th July 2013 Friday 1st March Mid Wales Congress st 1 Pat Waters, Jean Paxton TW* Llandrindod Wells nd 2 Colin Nash, Jennifer Wardell LDB 13th – 14th July 2013 3rd Colette Davies, Mike Cohen LDB th WBU Llangollen Congress 4 Roger Boyle, Jeff Thomas A 30th November – 1st December 2013 *Tunbridge Wells, Kent

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Colin Smith Teams at Pwllheli by Catherine Spalding Colin Smith, who has died aged 85, was one half of Wales’s leading international pair for Mountains, narrow, twisting, undulating roads two decades. The partnership with the late Dr and comparatively sparse populations John Butler ran from 1963 to 1982 with over characterise rural North Wales. Added to that forty appearances for Wales in the Home narrow peninsulas stuck out into the Irish sea Internationals for the Camrose Trophy. Smith and you’ll realise that affiliated bridge clubs also had a dozen matches as non-playing are small and well spread about. Players often captain. travel thirty miles or more for a game of club bridge! At least it gives good training for travelling to the other three areas of Welsh bridge. One sixty mile trip there and back to a ‘local’ club enables those who dare, to cope with more than three times that to other areas. One Saturday in late summer 2012, inspired by Adrian Thomas, Pwllheli bridge club, headed by their Chair, Eleanor Evans, organised a teams bridge competition. It was unfortunate, to say the least, that none of the larger clubs from the environs of Llandudno and Wrexham were able to field a single team between them. Nevertheless the teams from around the peninsula, Pwllheli, Criccieth and Penrhyndeudraeth rallied round, produced excellent food, a good venue and two and a half teams. Caernarfon, Ynys Môn and His international bridge career began in 1962 Benllech produced another two and a half in the British Junior team partnering David teams and “foreigners” from Dolgellau in the th Hamilton when the age limit for juniors was Mid, were the 6 team. 35 and Britain beat Germany. Later that year El Presidente* himself directed the event and Smith had his first Camrose partnering the late that afternoon and early evening produced a Barry Clowes. very happy occasion- and the food was Smith was educated at Downing College, fantastic- Eleanor proved that a Chairwoman Cambridge where he studied Engineering. could deal with players, food and mountains of After national service he had a job at washing up and still smile at the end of it. Monsanto, followed by RTB at the steelworks *for those who don’t read the newsletter, this in Newport, before becoming a lecturer at the is the pen name of NWBA Member, Paddy Cardiff Institute of Technology. Murphy, this year’s WBU President. Come to His main interest outside bridge was cricket. think of it, if you don’t read the newsletter … He had three children and one grandchild. The results? They did not seem too important- This obituary was sent to me by Patrick except presumably-to the winners! The rest of Jourdain who played with Colin against us enjoyed ourselves Northern Ireland, in Porthcawl in 1966, and in 1 Penrhyn: P Richards, M. Peace, D. Jones, I subsequent matches. David Hamilton played Davies in 1964. There are other people who have 2 Pwllheli Warriors: Geraint Williams, Anne great memories of Colin. For a man to have Edwards, Mollie Evans, Sian Ellis played so consistently for so long, he must 3 Ynys Môn: Cath Spalding, Mark Spalding, have had a lot about him. Why not send an Dylan Rees, Vic Smith email (to [email protected]) sharing a 4 = Dolgellau: Jupp Korsten, David Clay, memory of him with us? Peter Cole, Eric Johnson

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4= Pwllheli 2: Yvonne Brookes, Eirwin Trawling through websites (as you do when Griffith; and (Benllech) Sally Parkes, Rita you are doing newsletters) I discovered more Potter about the competition on the Mid Wales site. 6 The Caernarfon Kisses: David Spalding, Last October half-term he travelled to Wendy Walker, Pat Mullally, Gareth Melbourne with the GB junior team to Humphreys compete in the Kawata Cup in shukokai karate. Stephen won the gold medal in the Thanks to those who took this initiative. under-sixteen individual kata, playing a Lovely to see names from the past when Sir significant part in the GB’s team winning Gawain and I travelled regularly that way for overall in an international competition. bridge. Big Hi to you your end, hosts. I know those who went had a really wonderful time. He is now sixteen and is, according to those JK who know him, a good bridge player and an asset to local bridge clubs in Mid Wales. I am

quite sure he is. His personality came over to The Karate Kid me loud and clear. He can ‘chat’ away (great keyboard skills), analyse his weaknesses and During one of our highly enjoyable and strengths and is determined to crack our game instructive BBO practices organised by Julian of bridge. He is at the same time modest in his Pottage, I came across an opponent who was quest for greatness, and very pleasant different from the usual. He was very chatty company. He plays at the club with his father, and asked and commented throughout the Andrew, who deserves a gold medal himself session. Here seemed someone determined to for bucking the trend and taking time out to make the most of his opportunities. He was bring him into bridge. (We did have a very keenly competitive and showed a joyful likely lad in North Wales, but further disregard for keeping his delight to himself. education has interfered; we hope he will be His appeared to be the ebullience of youth and back.) I was intrigued. So I made enquiries - asked Julian who he was - and I learnt that his name So, can Stephen be the resurgent future was Stephen Loat and he was a GB junior champion of the best game in the world? He under-16 Karate practitioner. (you can play certainly has the right attitude. All we need bridge but I don’t think playing Karate seems are some more like him. We need a few more right) He was also a Karate champion and I like Andrew, too. Even grandparents who, was sent pictures of him wearing his gold let’s face it, have more time on their hands. medal. I beat this drum in one of my earlier newsletter and I am ending my brief journalist career with it. Time and money MUST be spent on young people, like Stephen. He can’t win a gold medal in bridge on his own. Good luck, Stephen.

Michael Byrne Seminar Colwyn Bay Cricket Club, 27th March Having had such a strong commendation from attenders of last year’s seminar organised by the NWBA, I was determined to make it to this year’s tutorials on “Opening Leads” and “Competitive Bidding”, despite having to drive through a mini-blizzard to get there. I was not disappointed. Michael delivered a well-prepared series of topics (supported by handouts) with WBU Newsletter Issue 93 Page 19 opportunities for questions from the floor. We appreciated his dry sense of humour and Around the Ash Bucket slightly anarchic comments on the rules of Just over a year ago I mentioned Richard III, thumb that we all cut our bridge teeth upon. in the context of disposing of children. Since After dollops of theory, the participants of all then, the nepoticidal (now there’s a word I abilities were haphazardly grouped into tables never thought I’d use) king has been unearthed of four and ideas were tested by playing eight from a car park in Leicester, birthplace - the sets of duplicate hands. It was instructive to city, not the car park - of my old dad; and the listen to the subsequent discussions on the younger of my wards has prodigally returned, bidding and play of the hands, and a comfort having discovered that the grass is not always that I was not the only player present to grasp greener on the other side. I am therefore, the wrong end of the stick on several perforce, back in the house in Cornelly, where occasions. the rain has been pouring all winter through holes in the roof (now being fixed by yet In the first seminar, we covered standard leads, another of my distant relations, who happens leads from straight and internal sequences, to be a roofer). choice of suit, trump leads and passive versus active leads; always of course depending upon The school next door is on holiday as I write, whether the contract is in a suit or in no- and Cornelia the goat is availing herself of the trumps. A phrase that sticks in my mind is much greener grass on the other side of the “Listen to the opposition’s bids – and what fence, where she is not allowed during term- they don’t bid” time. Though in fact timid, she looks After a refreshment break, the second seminar fearsome in the (not so well attended) dealt with passes, extreme with her huge doubles and overcalls in the direct seat. Then horns. The scaffolders, we progressed to raising partner’s overcalls. who are mysteriously An established theory of education is that not related to me in “learning should result in a change of any way, were nervous behaviour”. If I take only two things away of poor Cornelia, but I from the evening session these are that: (a) explained that she was no-trump overcalls of opposition suits only the opposite of require stops in the suits they have bid; and (b) aggressive and would Ghestem bids (not recommended by Michael run away when they himself) should have high points in both suits approached. Although shown. this was true of face- To get more “juice” out of the seminar, I will to-face encounters, the need my (somewhat ageing) brain to read and First Scaffolder was not reassured when she reflect upon the points detailed in the sidled up behind him and made little butting handouts, as more material was covered than I movements with her head. could retain at the time. This is where I My old dad, he of Leicester, once told me of a humbly suggest there could be an cousin of his mother’s known as Annie improvement, as the handouts could be more Ulverscroft, who lived in part of the ruined easily assimilated with better layout and use of priory at Ulverscroft, near Loughborough. both emphasis and white space (even if this Bending over one day to gather some coal means sacrificing more forest). from the coal shed, she was firmly butted from Thank you, Michael, for an interesting and behind by the billygoat, and landed headfirst in challenging evening. the heap of coal. Dusting herself off, Annie was not in the least resentful. “It weren’t the David Spalding goat’s fault”, she said. Caernarfon, Ynys Môn and Llanfairfechan Bridge Clubs

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Ask Mikey: What Does It Mean? by Mike Close

I am occasionally asked to arbitrate in the pub players? A few of the (the conversation usually starts, “Look what regular pairs players, my partner did to me here…”). including my man, said On this occasion, my seeker-after-knowledge “To play”. They figure and the other bloke were a first-time that there are a lot of plus partnership, and had agreed to play “Standard (or small minus) scores Acol”. First to speak, his partner opened 1NT available if you have a six (12-14), and the next hand bid 2♥. My man card suit and 5-9 points. now bid 3♦. His partner (a recent addition to But most said “It depends”. This had me our club who had played rubber bridge in the worried – were they about to say it depends on past) scratched his head, and eventually bid how quickly partner bid it? I hoped not, as 3NT. This went four off. this would be very naughty indeed! But no, My man asked me, “Surely 3♦ is to play?” I they all said, “it depends what is in my hand”, said I thought it was forcing. But later, that is to say “invitational” to 3NT with fitting thinking about it, I wasn’t so sure. cards in the minor plus a stopper. Most tournament players are familiar with a Unfortunately the Standard English document convention called Lebensohl (see below), does not mention invitational, so I have no which handles this situation. But what about idea which is right, or if there is a “right”. club players? I started to have a look around. What it does mean is that the cue bid has to (Rubber bridge players will probably say that carry many of the strong hands (you can still bidding a new suit is forcing or at least bid 4. or 4 as forcing, but club players are invitational, as their primary interest is to get reluctant to go past 3NT), and this can be very the 100+ points below the line.) awkward. This is why tournament players In Strong No Trump land, Alan Truscott in his usually play Lebensohl. book Bidding Dictionary makes it clear that a So you might want to ask your regular partners non-jump to a minor is to play. This makes what this sequence means. sense: if partner has 15-17, and one of the i) If the answer is “To play” (as my man opponents has enough to bid, you are much meant it): more likely to hold a six-count than an 11- a) You might then ask how you show a count, so just on frequency it should be to strong hand. play. But the book also suggests that the sequence 1NT-2♠-3♥ is forcing (so as not to b) You have to guess on invitational miss the right game, presumably), which was hands, bidding game when you fancy news to me. it. The EBU have a resource on their website, a c) The cue bid has to ask for a stopper system file for “Standard English Acol” initially, making the sequence 1NT - (2♥) - 3♥ - (Pass) - 3♠ - 4♦ non- http://www.ebu.co.uk/publications/Convention forcing; Cards-SystemsInformation/ StandardEnglishSystemFiles.pdf and hence: In Section B3, Intervention, it says the d) if you want to make a serious slam- sequence is non-forcing. Only jump bids are try you must remember to bid 1NT- forcing, plus the cue bid, which is Staymanic. 2♥-4♦). Not only that, doubles are supposed to be for ii) If it is invitational, you cannot bid 3. or takeout, but I am sure nearly all club (and 3 to play, and the cue-bid is just a rubber) players play double as penalty. general force to game. Confused? Me too. So I did a little poll in the iii) If it is forcing, what do you do with a 6- club, giving them the above sequence. The count and  Q 10 9 6 4 3 2? tournament players all said forcing. The club

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And if you were thinking you don’t get good LEBENSOHL hands when the bidding starts like that, take a look at this hand which happened recently. For those who wish to know more about this useful convention, it is a way of distinguishing between forcing and non-forcing bids after the Board 6 ♠ 10 5 3 2 opponents have meanly overcalled your 1NT Dlr: East ♥ 10 9 7 opening. Vul: EW ♦ K 9 7 2 ♣ 8 2 There are variations, but in all versions a cue ♠ None ♠ Q J 7 bid of the opponents’ suit is Stayman; and ♥ A K Q 8 5 4 ♥ J 6 3 2NT is artificial and forces opener to bid 3., ♦ A J 6 3 ♦ Q 10 8 after which responder can show a variety of ♣ Q 7 5 ♣ A K J 9 hands. In particular, responder can distinguish ♠ A K 9 8 6 4 between hands with a stopper in the enemy ♥ 2 suit and those without. ♦ 5 4 There are thousands of articles about ♣ 10 6 4 3 Lebensohl on the internet, but quite a good, simple explanation of the most common

version may be found on Wikipedia at First to speak, East opened 1NT (12-14) and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lebensohl. Go to South took advantage of the vulnerability to 2. After an overcall of a 1NT opening bid 2♠, setting West a problem. As 3♥ wasn’t for the basic structure. forcing for this partnership, West chose to cue- bid 3♠. North had obviously been told to Lebensohl can also be used after your side has support with support so upped the ante further, made a take-out double of a Weak 2 opening, which helped East since she could quietly pass and in many other situations. (double might have suggested better spades). From this pass, West now inferred that there was likely to be a club control opposite, and bid the slam. West North East South AT A CONGRESS - - 1NT (12-14) 2♠ I saw two ladies we 3♠* 4♠ Pass Pass had played against the 6♥ Pass Pass Pass previous round. I As you can see there are 12 solid tricks. knew I had been rather taciturn at the So don’t forget to ask about the sequence table. One of them asked me if I was all right. 1NT-2♠-3♥ as well! I told them I was sorry if I had been abrupt in my answers to their questions. I had done something wrong at the previous table and my partner was annoyed with me. I was still smarting. The first lady nodded and asked, ‘Is it your husband, dear?’ ‘No,’ I replied. ‘My husband never shouts at me.’ ‘You should change your partner if he shouts. ‘No, he didn’t shout. He tutted.’ ‘Oh,’ said the second lady, ‘a tut! That’s far worse.’ The first lady added, ‘Don’t worry, dear. I’ve been rubber-hosed by Masters in my time. WBU Newsletter Issue 93 Page 22

DIRECTOR’S CORNER: Spreading Rumours by Tony Haworth

Player: ‘Director!’ So do we have a conflict between two Laws? Director: Hope it’s not too complicated – I’m No: it’s just that the Director hadn’t correctly in the middle of playing a hand.’ identified the problem. East: ‘Well, I’ve made the opening lead out of If in fact the lady had started to spread her turn but declarer, South, has placed one of her hand, the Director has given the correct ruling cards on the table.’ under Law 54B: the original declarer now Director: ‘Straightforward – instead of the becomes dummy. This is certainly the more usual five options, the Laws state that when a usual situation. The case here, however, was card is exposed following an opening lead out the more unusual one: declarer had not started of turn, that hand automatically becomes to spread her hand, she had merely played a dummy – so if South now lays out her hand as card (there is no dummy yet, since no cards dummy, North will play the hand.’ have been exposed). This could be reasonably South: ‘But…..’ verified since the ♣9 was in the middle of a 5- Director: ‘No time to discuss, don’t even need card suit: you the book, experienced Directors know this don’t spread your ruling off by heart.’ hand starting with At the tea break, South, a 95-year old lady, the middle card politely approached the Director and asked in a suit. She had him if he wouldn’t mind just checking the Law in fact played the book to ensure that he had given her the card, and in doing correct ruling. As a belated courtesy and just so had accepted to settle her mind, he then read out Law 54A. the lead out of turn. The intended dummy Law 54A: After a faced opening lead out of (North) should then be faced, South is turn, declarer may spread his hand; he declarer, her ♣9 remains played, and the play becomes dummy. If declarer begins to spread continues as normal. his hand, and in doing so exposes one or more This incident occurred in the Porthcawl Club cards, he must spread his entire hand. Dummy (Sat 11th August. Hand 19). When I discussed becomes declarer. it with several other local directors there was Director: ‘I think that clarifies the situation no agreement. Most maintained that South for you – here let me buy you a cup of tea.’ should become dummy, as if she had started to South: ‘But as I tried to explain at the table, I spread her hand. The details were submitted to wasn’t starting to spread my hand. I absent- the great man himself – DS – who accepts that mindedly played the ♣9 to the opening lead. it is an ambiguous situation. He then Despite my age, I’ve kept up with the Law consulted other senior directors, and it was changes, and would suggest that you look at agreed that the Laws do intend to differentiate Law 54B and the more relevant Law 53A.’ between spreading and playing but it is not The Director, somewhat taken aback then clearly stated. In this case, the lady had in fact turned to the two relevant Laws: played the card, hence accepted the lead out of Law 54B: ‘When a defender faces the opening turn, and remains declarer. lead out of turn, declarer may accept the In practice it was of little consequence who irregular lead as provided in Law 53, and played the hand: North/South were in a dummy is spread in accordance with Law41 – hopeless 4♣X, going 3 off whichever hand the second card to the trick is played from was declarer – but that’s not the point. declarer’s hand. I would suggest that in the forthcoming rewrite Law 53A: ‘Any lead out of turn may be treated of the Laws, this situation be addressed by as a correct lead. It becomes a correct lead if way of a footnote to Law54 (unless of course declarer or either defender, as the case may the ‘Play’ Laws are fundamentally re-written, be, accepts it by making a statement to that in which case the clarification can be then effect, or if a play is made from the hand next embedded in the re-write). in rotation ….’ WBU Newsletter Issue 93 Page 23

The State of the Nation(‘s Bridge) by El Presidente

(These puns are getting harder to come up With West opening a with.) light 1♠ it now becomes a Well I played more bridge over the summer much harder task to get to than I thought I would. I think, perhaps, being the cold diamond slam, President isn’t such a chore after all, having and North overcalled 2♣ visited the Llandudno Swiss Paris and the which was raised to 3♣ Aberystywth Congress and thoroughly by South and North made enjoyed both. I can also say I’ve played more and excellent bid of 3♦ rubber bridge in the last two months than I which seems to have worked well, as South bid have in the last thirty years, and it is such an 5♦. North was obviously worried as to the easy game: no systems, just weak or strong quality of the diamond support as he reverted to NT and, if you are lucky, Stayman (of course 6♣. This isn’t the best contract as a heart lead it’s even easier when you pick up back-to- removes dummy entry for the long diamonds back 24- and 25- counts). It was a pleasure to and North will go off. In fact three pairs find not one, but two rubber bridge clubs in reached 6♣ and avoided a heart lead for 97% of existence in my local area and I was the match points, whilst only one pair reached welcomed into the fold and fed tea and 6♦ and went one down. biscuits and told many bridge stories. I was astonished to hear the tale of the lady who Over to the rubber bridge table for me and this runs the Monday night duplicate each week in interesting deal. her house and gets 4 tables; when some clubs ♠ A 4 3 cannot even get 3 tables on a club night. We ♥ K 10 7 5 3 2 must be doing something wrong. ♦ None Anyway, back to some hands of note.... ♣ A 8 6 5 The Llandudno Swiss pairs was, as ever, a ♠ Q J 8 7 ♠ 9 great event, nearly 100 pairs this year and ♥ Q 9 6 4 ♥ A J 8 easy access to a decent chip shop. What more ♦ K 4 3 ♦ A 10 8 6 2 can you ask for? The winners were Sue ♣ 4 2 ♣ Q J 9 3 Richmond and Neil Thomas who won with a ♠ K 10 6 5 2 very narrow margin indeed. Only 5 VPs ♥ None separated the top five pairs. I asked the ♦ Q J 9 7 5 winners for a hand which they though was ♣ K 10 7 interesting and was given a well bid slam from the final round West North East South Dlr: West ♠ A J 8 7 - - 1♦ Pass Vul: EW ♥ 5 1NT 2♥ Pass 2♠ ♦ A K 5 Pass 4♠ All pass ♣ A Q 10 7 6 ♠ Q 9 4 3 2 ♠ K 10 6 5 South did well to bid 2♠ over 2♥ then fell from ♥ K Q 10 2 ♥ J 8 7 4 grace in the play and went off in 4. ♦ 6 ♦ Q 7 4 ♣ K 9 2 ♣ 5 3 The best line is a dummy reversal where the ♠ None South hand takes four heart ruffs. On a ♥ A 9 6 3 diamond lead this is easy as there are four ♦ J 10 9 8 3 2 entries (three diamond ruffs and the .A). If, ♣ J 8 4 however, West finds the demon lead of a small West North East South trump, South must rise with the A and ruff a 1♠ 2♣ 2♠ 3♣ heart or he is an entry short to get back to cash Pass 3♦ Pass 5♦ the established K♥ as his 10th trick. Pass 6♣ All pass

WBU Newsletter Issue 93 Page 24

More rubber bridge excitement with 40 in and helping run a club, teaching, or recruitment of at game up (what’s this strange language you new bridge players please contact the secretary speak?) you (South) pick up: of your nearest club or myself and I will try to help. In addition if you would like to  A Q x x x, ♥ K x, ♦ x, ♣ A K Q J 10 contribute to the newsletter on any level, please West North East South try writing a bridge article. It can be an 1♥ Pass 1♠ interesting story, humour, interesting hands, Pass 2♥ Pass Pass (i) basic systems, bridge problems, improving 3♦ 3♥ 4♦ 6♥ your bridge or the history of the game etc. Pass Pass Dbl All pass Please do, and contact the editor with your Partner opens 1♥ and you think “OK, how do articles. we bid this?” and start with 1♠. Partner * * * * * * * * * * * * * replies 2♥ and you think “Perhaps I should Answer to problem: Finesse the J then cash ask for aces”. “Partner do we play the Q and triple squeeze East for ten tricks. Blackwood?” you say and on hearing the Full hand: answer “No” you settle for an easy life and pass (40 in remember!). No one has ever ♠ J 2 heard of Mike Lawrence in Penmaenmawr ♥ Q J 5 but they were not letting it lie in 2♥ and ♦ K 6 5 4 swiftly bid a super aggressive 3♦, an even ♣ A 7 6 5 more aggressive 4♦, and an “I trust you pard” ♠ 8 5 ♠ A 10 7 6 3 double over the catch up bid of 6♥. ♥ A K 10 6 4 3 2 ♥ None ♦ 7 3 ♦ Q 10 9 2 North’s hand was a very suitable ♣ 10 8 ♣ Q J 9 4 ♠ K x, ♥ A Q J x x x x, ♦ Q x, ♣ x x x. ♠ K Q 9 4 Finally a problem: how do you play this hand ♥ 9 8 7 in 3NT at pairs? ♦ A J 8 ♣ K 3 2 ♠ J 2 ♥ Q J 5 * * * * * * * * * * * * * ♦ K 6 5 4 ♣ A 7 6 5 First rule of bridge … you must be able to count to thirteen  ♠ K Q 9 4 We four players, with well over 100 ♥ 9 8 7 years of experience among us, dealt the ♦ A J 8 first hand of the evening duplicate, bid ♣ K 3 2 and played it out without a claim and West North East South return it to the board. But my partner, - - - 1NT reflecting, and unable to sum the tricks 3♥ Dbl Pass 3♠ to 13, retrieved his hand to discover only Pass 3NT All Pass West leads the A then K, East discarding twelve cards. the 3 (suit preference) and the .4; then How come the trick-taking had not been switches to the .10. Answer below. affected by his having only twelve I hope to be speaking to all the secretaries of cards? We had not been alerted by one the union’s bridge clubs over the coming hand’s having too many cards. months to try to get a feel for what the clubs We retrieved the rest of the cards to see in the WBU want from the union, the where the missing card was. We had 12 organising committees and even the President. If you feel you have any burning each. desires to get involved in organising bridge, From Mike Best

WBU Newsletter Issue 93 Page 25

CALENDAR MAY The great and the good … th th 17 -19 Senior Camrose (Cardiff) David Bird commentating on this year’s th th 25 – 27 WBU Seniors Congress & Open Camrose, Part 1 Swiss Pairs (Newport) DB: Did X play that card deliberately? JUNE Reply: (Yes) 8th – 9th Perry, Spickett, President’s Cup (Prestatyn) DB: Well Oops! then. 14th – 16th Celtic Congress & Wales-Ireland 23rd Teams of Eight Final (Llanidloes) JULY … and the improving 6th – 7th WBU Swiss Pairs (Llandudno) Members of Dolgellau were excited in seeing 13th – 14th Mid Wales Congress (L. Wells) their names appear in latest Masterpoint 20th – 21st Pre-trial (Mid Wales) promotions list of November 2012 newsletter. 27th – 28th Aberystwyth Congress Some of the ladies of the club were interested AUGUST in knowing how they could become mistresses 3rd – 4th GP Pairs & Teams (Newport) rather than masters. The men didn't know but 31st – 1st Welsh Foursomes (Newport) volunteered to be part of the assessment team! SEPTEMBER Fancy having a title of 2 Star Mistress or 2nd – 6th Autumn Simultaneous (Clubs) Grand Mistress? Sounds more exciting than 7th – 8th Invitation Pairs (St Mellons) being a Master. 21st – 22nd International Training Weekend

TRIAL RESULTS Lady Milne Trial 2013 Held on 26th – 27th January at the Metropole Hotel, Llandrindod Wells (directed by Tony Haworth). Rank Names M1 M2 M3 M4 M5 M6 M7 Total 1 Aida Aris & Linda Greenland 23 18 17 16 14 24 16 128 2 Liz Commins & Diane Kurbalija 24 20 16 19 21 6 19 125 3 Margaret Lane & Val Kennewell 15 11 20 14 22 20 11 113 4 Sue Ingham & Laura Woodruff 7 19 19 11 24 3 15 98 5 Sarah Amos & Jean Hand 22 12 10 15 9 14 15 97 6 Jennifer Wardell & Chris Norman 8 10 13 17 8 25 14 95 7 Irene Thomas & Jenny Vaughan 1 23 11 15 16 10 16 92 8 Jo Copping & Chris Forbes 15 7 14 13 6 16 14 85

Seniors’ Trial 2013 Held in Llandrindod Wells on 16th – 17th March (directed by Tony Haworth). Rank Names M1 M2 M3 M4 M5 M6 M7M8 M9 Total 1 C Rochelle & L Atkinson 16 24 23 25 22 17 10 12 18 167 2 M Best & D Birt 19 25 18 21 5 8 17 18 18 149 3 P Felman & G Evans 14 20 10 25 6 22 16 18 14 145 4 P Jourdain & G Jones 14 10 20 18 25 10 20 8 18 143 5 S Shea & W Williams 10 18 17 9 14 13 14 22 20 137 6 P Hand & J Hand 18 6 13 13 24 17 13 14 12 130 7 T Disley & R Penton 16 4 20 17 8 18 22 14 10 129 8 B Wennell & B Wennell 20 14 7 5 18 20 8 16 12 120 9 G Davis & M Hirst 11 16 10 1 16 13 18 16 16 117

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CAMROSE 2013

Lucky 13 for some, but not for Wales this new pairings this year but we cannot put the year. results down to lack of familiarity. There was The first weekend was in Belfast in January. a little of that but there had been lots of The second weekend, in Dublin, saw the same practice games (thanks to Julian and others) – line-up for Wales – the two “new” pairs of we just hadn’t played to our best at any time. Filip Kurbalija with Patrick Shields, and Tim The main failure (to me) was that we didn’t Rees with Gary Jones, completed with Peter collect any big scores against the weaker Goodman and Mike Pownall and Alan teams; beating the stronger teams consistently Stephenson back as captain. The first weekend is difficult, but big scores outside that would saw Wales just 2 VPs above average, not their give us some headroom. Next year! best performance it must be said but closer to (A very brief extract from Patrick Shields the leaders than they were at this time last detailed and most interesting account of both year. weekends. If you haven’t got a computer it is The second leg, in Dublin saw no change in worth buying one for Patrick’s selection of Wales’ 4th position, so this year was not hands and commentary.) Wales’s finest by any means. They had two

Gary Jones, Filip Kurbalija, Alan Stephenson (NPC), Tim Rees, Patrick Shields, Mike Pownall, Peter Goodman

WBU Newsletter Issue 93 Page 27

INFORMATION PAGE

Contact Neville: Neville Richards, Chief Executive, Welsh Bridge Union Meadow View, Llanddewi, Llandrindod Wells, Powys LD1 6SE Telephone: 01597 850050/05602 941492, email: [email protected]

ATTENTION WOMEN MEMBERS We are hoping to revive the Ladies’ Welsh Cup, Wales’s oldest competition. The provisional date is 28th – 29th September, in Mid Wales. So that we can gauge interest before confirming a venue, we would like to hear from teams, pairs or even individuals who want to help bring back this most enjoyable of competitions. Laura has offered to act as a “dating agency” for women who want to play but haven’t got a female partner or team- mates. The format is multiple teams (of 4, 5 or 6 players), and the more teams we get the more interesting the competition becomes. The whole event is played in a friendly and cooperative spirit, and there’s usually no acrimony. It’s a great introduction both to tournament bridge and to teams. Gail Jones narrowly won the prize for the best You don’t need to commit yourself at this stage, lady’s Easter hat at Gwent Bridge Academy but please email Laura if you think you might be interested: [email protected]. Club and Area Secretaries Please make sure you inform your Area Secretary of any changes of Officer, venue and/or changes in club meetings and times, as soon as possible after your AGM. Remember to inform of any changes during the year, also. Similarly, will Area Secretaries do the same and inform Phil Bowers as soon as possible, to avoid errors. Email: [email protected]

Thank you to all those who have contributed to this newsletter. Feedback seems to indicate that many readers enjoy anecdotes and human interest stories more than lengthy accounts of bridge hands. Please continue to send interesting hands (especially funny stories about hands), but we particularly welcome stories about your bridge holidays, club events and comical incidents. If you can send a photograph with your article, it helps to make the newsletter more interesting and readable. Letters about articles in previous newsletters, about WBU policy and any aspect of bridge organisation are also welcome. We try to publish articles in their entirety, but reserve the right to edit them in the interests of clarity and accuracy, or to make them fit on the page. All contributions should be sent to Laura Woodruff at [email protected] (or by post to Hall Farm, Hall Drive, North Cornelly, Bridgend CF33 4HR). If you wish to speak to me my telephone number is 01656 741748, but not before 11 a.m. please. WBU Newsletter Issue 93 Page 28 Published by the Welsh Bridge Union, Meadow View, Llanddewi, Llandrindod Wells, Powys LD1 6SE and printed by Edson Print (Services) Ltd, Unit 11 Palmerston Workshops, Palmerston Road, Barry, Vale of Glamorgan CF63 2YZ