HE ulletin TPublished by the QueenslandQBA Bridge Association BJanuary-February 2010 Volume 36 No www.qldbridge.com Email: [email protected] 1

The QBA needs the assistance of all bridge From the players to achieve our objectives. The Dlr N ♠ AJ109 principle objective being to facilitate and Vul None ♥ AQJ853 President encourage the appropriate environment ♦ 5 to enable all to enjoy the game. ■ ♣ 87 ♠ — ♠ 7532 ♥ K109742 N ♥ — Qld Mixed Teams W E ♦ QJ4 S ♦ A8763 ♣ J1042 ♣ K653 ♠ KQ864 Keith McDonald ♥ 6 ♦ K1092 n the December message from the ♣ AQ9 IPresident I asked for a new year Kamal resolution to ensure that 2010 was the Sanmugarasa best year ever for the QBA. W N E S The first test for the association is the 1H P 1S f the sixteen teams that competed in P 4D1 P 4NT Seniors Teams hosted by the Sunshine the QBA mixed teams this year, there 2 Coast, February 13/14. This would be O P 5H P 6S were three teams that looked like winning All pass an excellent warm up for the Gold Coast the championship at various stages. Our Congress, February 27 to March 6. The team consisting of Janeen Solomon, 1 Splinter Gold Coast Congress is the 49th and I Neville Francis, Magnus Moren and 2 2 aces am delighted to report that the Premier Roman Morawiecki was near the bottom We sailed into 6S without any trouble. has accepted the position of Patron of of the list after round one, but managed West led a diamond to East’s ♦A and the Gold Coast Congress. The other two to make steady progress and closed the returned a diamond; I won with the king, committments asked of all players are to gap at the top. On the final day we played discarding a club from dummy. The best support the Bridge for Brain Research the leaders, the Jackman team. line, given the high trumps, appeared to event, May 3 to May 9 and the Barrier At the half way stage of the match we bid be cross ruffing for twelve tricks (the♥ A, Reef Congress, June11/14, hosted by a reasonably good slam that went down the ♣A, the ♦K and 9 tricks on the the Mackay Club. due to a bad break (6-0). On the very cross ). I played my singleton heart forms are on the website. next I was faced with the dilemma and West remarked ‘not today’ as he In a few years time, there will be twice of bidding another slam that appeared to followed suit. He was hinting of the the number of 70 year-olds in Australia have lesser odds than the previous one in partner’s hand. East ruffed and the as there are now.The impact of this that went down. Can we afford to go down contract was down one. is huge for bridge clubs but only if we in two slams against a team that we had There is a line of play to make twelve sell the game and all the positive gains to beat if we are to win the championship? tricks - I am sure it would have been an including mental fitness. Advertising In this context it was one of the toughest automatic line for those who left classes is essential. It does not have to be go, no-go decisions I made in 2009. You and right. Ruff a third diamond at trick 3 expensive advertising but it is important to guessed it – it was a go! Here are the to establish the ♦10 winner, pull trumps be professional in appearance. two deals. and finesse hearts/clubs.

Contents From the President...... 1 QBA Qld Mixed Teams by Kamal Sanmugarasa...... 1 Email: manager@ 25 Years Ago by Betty Lee...... 3 qldbridge.com Cuppaidge’s Column by George Cuppaidge...... 4 Phone: 07 3351 8602 GNOT Finals by Richard Wallis...... 6 Mobile: 0412 064 903 From the Manager’s Desk...... 7 Fax: 07 3103 4799 Club News...... 7 Web site: www.qldbridge. Director’s Notes by Richard Wallis...... 8 com

The QBA Bulletin January - February 2010 

Dlr E ♠ — Vul NS ♥ J653 ♦ AQ74 ♣ K10632 ♠ 9532 ♠ KJ1086 ♥ A4 N ♥ 1082 W E ♦ J1065 S ♦ 982 ♣ J74 ♣ Q9 ♠ AQ74 ♥ KQ97 ♦ K3 ♣ A85

W N E S P 1C1 P 1H P 2D2 P 2S3 P 3H P 4D4 P 4S4 P 5S! P 6C4 P 6H All pass

1 Forcing 2 Strong with at least 3 hearts Mixed Teams winners: Roman Morawiecki, Kamal Sanmugarasa, 3 4-card heart suit - 10+ hcp Neville Francis, Janeen Solomon (Magnus Moren absent) 4 Cue bids On the next board when partner responded Dlr N ♠ K632 Dlr S ♠ 6 1H to my forcing club opening, I bid 2D to Vul EW ♥ 1065 Vul EW ♥ QJ8754 show 18+ HCP and at least 3-card support ♦ Q765 ♦ 872 in hearts. Roman’s 2S bid showed 4-card ♣ 73 ♣ KJ7 heart suit with 10+ HCP. I can bid 4H to A74 Q10985 J107532 K984 show no extra values (ie. exactly 18 HCP), ♠ ♠ ♠ ♠ ♥ QJ42 N ♥ 873 ♥ A N ♥ 1062 in which case the bidding would have died W E W E down at game level. However, in view of ♦ K2 S ♦ A ♦ KQ10 S ♦ J53 the quality of the trump suit and outside ♣ KJ98 ♣ Q642 ♣ AQ2 ♣ 986 controls I decided to bid 3H to show four ♠ J ♠ AQ hearts and a mild interest in slam. Cue ♥ AK9 ♥ K93 bids followed. My partner should have ♦ J109843 ♦ A964 bid 5C over my 4S cue to show second ♣ A105 ♣ 10543 round control in clubs, but there was no stopping the steam engine! The ♣Q was led. Declarer won in dummy W N E S W N E S and cleared hearts. The ♦K,♦Q & ♦A P P 1D 1D followed, discarding a club from dummy. X 2D 2S 2NT! 1S 2H1 2S 2NT The ♣K and a club ruff established clubs All pass 4S All pass for twelve tricks. I was surprised that neither of these slams I must have a stopper in spades for my 1 Negative free-bid were bid at the other table. Perhaps 2NT bid, but I was prepared to ‘deal with A few boards later a ‘similar’ auction the experienced opponents knew that the crisis’ as the auction developed. To followed, but this time opponents were making one slam and going down in my surprise there was no further bidding. not having any of my 2NT nonsense! another amounts to the same IMP score West led a spade that was ducked around They bulldozed to 4S. Unfortunately for as keeping out of slams altogether. Hey, to my singleton jack! (East was convinced our opponents, this time I really had but what about the excitement? that I had the singleton ace). It got better spade stoppers - in fact the ace and the More action below, from the same match, when I played a diamond towards the queen. The contract was 2 down. Our when my no-trump bids triggered some queen; the king and ace came crashing. team-mates quietly played in a spade unusual results. I claimed 9 tricks. part-score for an 8-IMP pick up. I keep promising my partners that I will be a more consistent bidder in the future, but old QBA Senior Swiss Teams habits never die. My new year resolution The Ivy Dahler Memorial Trophy held at the Sunshine Coast BC is to try harder. ■ 13th & 14th February, 2010 Lead-out-of-turn: attempt to Director: Jan Peach prevent partner from making Enquiries to G.McAuliffe 5445 1491 - www.suncoastbridge.com.au the first mistake.

The QBA Bulletin January - February 2010 

25 Years Ago Dlr W ♠ A6 Dlr W ♠ 42 Vul Both ♥ Q42 Vul Both ♥ AJ74 ♦ AQ10742 ♦ Q1093 Rainforest Rendezvous ♣ J7 ♣ KQ6 he first Annual Tablelands Congress ♠ Q97543 ♠ J8 ♠ KQ10865 ♠ AQ was a marvellous success. As well ♥ K1053 N ♥ 976 ♥ 1085 N ♥ KQ9 T W E W E as being set in one of the most beautiful ♦ — ♦ KJ85 ♦ A2 ♦ KQ85 parts of Australia, it was without doubt S S ♣ K105 ♣ Q943 ♣ 42 ♣ AQ107 the friendliest congress I have ever attended. There were prizes for everyone. ♠ K102 ♠ 973 presented in great style by Shep Humston ♥ AJ8 ♥ 632 as master of ceremonies. to this gathering ♦ 963 ♦ 764 of 22 teams and 42 pairs with players ♣ A862 ♣ 9853 from as far away as Sydney. Excellent tournament directing was provided by Jeff Lathbury for the teams and Agnes Brown East led the ♠J which was won by the As you are contemplating 6S. you realise that the person on your right is also and Barry Kempthorne for the pairs. ace. The ♥J was now finessed losing to the king but West could not now return a thinking. When he doubles for take-out How do you play this hand from the spade without donating a trick. you can hardly believe your luck. qualifying round of the pairs in 4S having The eventual contract of 3C doubled was 6 carefully avoided the cold 3NT? If East had been reading Rixi Markus’s Bols tip about leading low from a doubleton off and +1700 to us. This would have been a great result at teams but unfortunately it A106 honour, West could have returned a ♠ was pairs and we lost the round by –6. ♥ A spade to the jack. If declarer ducks New Year’s Eve entertainment and party ♦ KJ105 the defence can still come to 1 heart, 1 spade, 2 diamonds and at least 2 clubs. followed the second round of the pairs. ♣ AKJ87 As resolutions to count tricks, trumps ♠ 9842 ♠ J3 Our attempts at leading small from a doubleton honour durIng the congress, and points more accurately in the new ♥ J872 N ♥ KQ64 year were being made all around the W E invariably proved beneficial … to the 76 AQ83 room, many were also resolving to ♦ S ♦ opposition! ♣ 952 ♣ 1063 count on returning next year for another ♠ KQ75 This is your hand when partner opens a exceptionally enjoyable experience at the weak 2S, all vul ♥ 10953 second Rainforest Rendezvous. ♦ 942 ♠AQ ♥KQ9 ♦KJ85 ♣AQ107  Betty Lee ♣ Q4

The ♠9 is led and you win in hand with the king and lead the ♦9. East wins the queen and has several lines of play open. 2010 a) East returns the ♠J. You win with the ace and play the ♦K. East Gold can take this and give his partner a ruff. However. you can now win the return and draw trumps. Coast b) East returns a heart to dummy’s ace. You again play ♦K. If East wins and returns another heart you ruff with the ♠10, cash the spade ace and play on clubs Congress hoping for a 3-3 split or for the hand with long hearts to have 4 clubs. You discard your losing hearts on the long clubs. West February 27 - March 6 eventually comes to a trump trick but you make your contract. Those on the Gold Coast Mailing Address List will automatically be sent Shaun and Matthew Mullamphy, winners an entry form via email of the pairs. showed their good form by Please remember the GCC Pairs commences on Saturday 27/2/10 at 1pm not bidding the following 3NT to play from Sunday as in previous years and the Teams starts on Tuesday 1pm not 7.30pm the right side; the North hand. West had opened with a weak 2S.

Do not be too upset if your QBA Selection Trials partner at is playing badly. After all, you will Open/Womens Stage 1 have him only once as a partner, but twice as an opponent. March 27/28, Stage 2 - April 17/18 & 24

The QBA Bulletin January - February 2010 

rebid, 3H and North raises to game Improving your Bidding, Unilaterally Cuppaidge’s confident that he has done enough. sing sites like Bridge Base Online, Column West leads the ♦J. How do you play? Uwww.bridgebase.com, is a great way You have done well to avoid the 5-level; to put your ideas to the test. It is futile to partner is to be commended on his discuss these ideas with a random partner, disciplined bidding but you have missed just try them and keep some mental the absolute top spot, 3NT. This is a hand statistics. If your new idea goes horribly which you can always make if you can see wrong you may have upset your partner of all four hands, by taking the club finesse the minute but they are used to it and you George when it is winning and refusing it when have some more data for your statistics. Cuppaidge it is not. On the surface, 4H looks very I have been playing on bbo since its good, one of two . As always in inception, some seven years ago, I can bridge, if you can see a good line look for One of Two Finesses remember when there was not even one a better one. table in play, just me, Fred Gitelman, its ♠ K54 There is a bridge maxim, for which I am founding father and another, looking for a ♥ AQ743 grateful to the column, ‘Bridge with the fourth. Now there can, at times, be 18,000 ♦ A62 Aces’. “There is no which plus players online. Not all of these are ♣ A6 can be better played by you than by your playing, some are watching Vu-graph. opponents.” That is the rationale behind The number swells when a big game is on ♠ 1032 the best, and winning, line. display, rarely does the number of actual players drop below 3000. ♥ KJ652 Draw trumps and eliminate your diamonds. ♦ KQ5 Now refuse the club finesse, playing the I have been collecting stats. on my ideas ♣ QJ queen first, in the hope of a cover, but since the site got really underway. Some when it is not, go up with the ace and exit I have developed and some I have discarded as I have used bbo to test S N with the other. On this particular hand, East has the king, a fifty-fifty chance, them. This article sets out the distillation 1 1H 2C and you have become a certainty. It may of those ideas. They all gel completely 2NT2 3H3 be even better than fifty-fifty because, with my over-arching bidding philosophy, 4H4 holding the ♣K, West would likely cover no invitations (to limited hand such as a 1NT opening or rebid or a simple raise), 1 Without methods you must improvise. your ♣Q. 2NT always forcing and new minor or You need to find, below game, if part- What if West happens to hold the ♣K? 2C (checkback for some) natural and ner has anything to spare. You don’t Well, he must play spades for you. Yes, intend to play in either minor so bid the generally not forcing.* Remember that he can give you a hard time by playing the one that gives partner the most room.* it is quite permissible, on bbo, to make ♠Q or ♠J through dummy, but whatever (See note below) a bid and announce its meaning to all 2 Unlimited balanced. Many play 2NT he does, you are better than a fifty-fifty present. here to show extras. The problem is, chance to make a spade trick. Go up with to rebid anything other than NT on the king; you will make one whenever the *To be a little more specific, after a 1NT hands such as this is a gross mis- ace is onside and when the other missing rebid, responder can bid a lower ranking description of your shape. Showing new suit as natural and not forcing; on balanced always puts a dampener on honour is on your right as well. Of course partner’s slam aspirations. With bal- you play low if West leads low. AJ765, 42, Q8643, 5 after an auction 1C-1S; 1NT-2D for example. When anced opposite balanced, you need Here is the hand. your full 33 points combined, the big opener’s rebid is in a suit, a new suit is fit notwithstanding. (ostensibly) natural and forcing, you have 3 Dlr S ♠ K54 Slam try. 2NT, forcing, as well. A minimum rebid by 4 AQ743 Anything but 3NT or 4H is an accept- ♥ opener, in a lower ranking suit, after one- ance of that slam try. 3NT is a clear ♦ A62 over-one is natural and not forcing. alternative. Does anyone consider ♣ A6 3H as invitational? I hope not. Below If you can get partner to agree to, simply, game slam tries are essential to good ♠ QJ86 ♠ A97 “No invitations, 2NT always forcing.” you bidding. Do you, seriously, want to be ♥ 8 N ♥ 109 W E will get better mileage from these ideas allowed to play in 3H after bidding that ♦ J1098 ♦ 743 has begun like this? The principle of S but they stand very well on their own. “greater gain” applies. ♣ 9842 ♣ K10743 These ideas are a big departure from the *The hand demonstrates the need for ♠ 1032 mainstream. Readers are encouraged to a strong, forcing raise. With any sort of ♥ KJ652 voice their disgreement with any of them, two-suiter partner needs so little for slam ♦ KQ5 particulary if their thoughts are supported opposite four-card support. Alert him and ♣ QJ by argument. But far better, let me hear start looking. The old-fashioned forcing of your triumphs. jump raise is one way, as is Jacoby 2NT, If declarer takes a club finesse, East wins 1. Open the bidding! The side which opens but both these bids are an unnecessary and returns one, then all West has to do is the bidding has a huge tactical advantage, waste. Use 2NT as a good raise to three, to insert the ♠8 if spades are led towards like the man who owns the white pieces or better, with four or more trumps and dummy. ■ in chess. Open, do your business, and you can do all that they can do and more. get out, leaving the opponents to clean You can find your games, and your slams, up the mess. All 10-point hands should which are based on that good fit. As well Pre-empt: ‘Pre’ meaning ‘before’, be opened as should all hands containing you can make a very descriptive bid, in therefore ‘to empt before two aces, three kings or an ace, a king competition or not. Here, over 2NT used someone else empts’. and a queen. (This may sound extreme that way, South makes his filth-showing but mountains of statistics bear it out,

The QBA Bulletin January - February 2010  limiting the strength range of “pass” is one often silence the opponents altogether on part-score zone. Avoid too, those people bonus, establishing which side holds the hands which belong to them. who open in NT holding a singleton, you balance of power is another. You cannot 3. Do open a weak two on a five-card should avoid also those who open 1NT know whose hand it is if your partner suit that you desperately want led, at any holding, say, AK764, KQ53, A2, 32. might pass a twelve count. It dramatically vulnerability. How can partner possibly Yes, this does happen on bbo. simplifies your decision-making, whether visualise, say, KQJ75 in diamonds, 6.Open 2C on all 20+ hands which do or what, to open in third or fourth seat.The hearts or spades if you sit mute at your not qualify for an opening bid of 2NT. You old argument that an opening bid should first turn? You avoid that nasty feeling of will get too high sometimes but the main show some number of defensive tricks is hearing the bidding go, after your pass, compensation comes from avoiding a furphy, you can make a grand slam on a 1NT-Pass-3NT. the embarrassment of playing in 1S combined 7 count, but first you must bid. 4. Respond to any opening one of a suit just making with slam in another suit You can never “know” how many tricks bid holding an ace. Everyone knows that laydown etc. Compare with Precision your opponents can make in their best the power of an ace is undervalued by the and other strong club systems. Our 2C contract, you cannot see their singletons point count system, this is just another is the bid for 20+ hands, and we get the and voids, the only sure defensive tricks example. benefit of a more meaningful use of that are trump tricks. The best you can ever most flexible of all opening bids, 1C. 5.Avoid off-shape 1NT or 2NT bids, do is get the very best out of your own Sadly, strong club bidders are hopeless partner’s problems in deciding whether cards and make life as hard as you can at finding contracts, as are or not to move opposite the wide variety for your opponents.) better minor players. ■ of hands that these bids conceal are hard 2. If you can’t open, don’t and enough. Don’t make it even harder. A five- More of George’s bidding recommendations vice versa. If you follow that abominable card major, good or bad, is something will be published in future editions. He practice of “coming in later,” the hand too valuable to hide, particularly in the invites comment at [email protected] almost certainly belongs to the opponents and the gratuitous piece of information which you have provided will be used against you. If you get in first you will BARRIER REEF CONGRESS 2010 QUEEN’S BIRTHDAY LONG WEEK-END JUNE 11, 12, 13 & 14 This event MACKAY CONTRACT BRIDGE CLUB will be held 414 Shakespeare Street, Mackay 4740 - Ph: 07 4951 2147 n a t i o n - E-Mail Address: [email protected] wide from Venue: SOUTHS LEAGUES CLUB M a y 1 - 7 181 MILTON STREET, MACKAY 4740 - PH: 07 4957 2166 2010. Participating clubs are being posted on the website to the event ORDER NOW!! “Common Bidding Mistakes to Avoid - Guidelines for QCBC Improving Players” by Ross Dick Enquiries: Toni at QCBC - 3391 3241 Publisher: Queensland Bridge Association Inc [email protected] Price: A$24.95 (Free postage and handling within Australia) www.qcbc.org.au Orders with payment to: Queensland Bridge Association QCBC NOVICE 22 Mareeba Court, Arana Hills 4054 Phone: 07 3351 8602 Mobile: 0412 064 903 PAIRS Email: [email protected] For players with < 100 MPs as at 31/12/09 - 9.30 am start Sunday February 7 Entry fee: $25 per player Introducing a Major Entries close: Wed Feb 3 Director: Maurie Cullen New Sponsor Systems: Blue & Green GRAND NATIONAL Stores at Browns Plains, Bundaberg, Cairns Central, Caloundra, Capalaba, Carindale, PAIRS Chermside, Clifford Gardens, Earlville, Garden City, Gladstone, Grand Central, Under Life Master as at 1/1/10 Ipswich, Logan Hyperdome, Mackay, Thursdays Feb 4, 11 & 18 Morayfield, North Lakes, Rockhampton, Springfield, Sunshine Plaza, Townsville, also April 14, 21 & 28 at Tweed City & Willows. 7.30 pm $7 per person per session. Head office:41 Bulcock St, Caloundra 4551 Pairs must play all 3 sessions Ph: 07 5437 0666 Fax: 07 5437 0966 to receive Gold Points Email: [email protected]

The QBA Bulletin January - February 2010 6

GNOT Finals M 1 ♠ AK M 1 ♠ K76 Bd 3 ♥ 76 Bd 13 ♥ 109742 Dlr S ♦ KQJ985 Dlr N ♦ Q6 Vul EW ♣ AK7 Vul Both ♣ K73 ♠ — ♠ Q106532 ♠ 3 ♠ AQJ1085 ♥ A5 N ♥ 843 ♥ KJ865 N ♥ AQ W E W E ♦ A10643 S ♦ 2 ♦ AK974 S ♦ — Richard ♣ J108432 ♣ Q96 ♣ J2 ♣ AQ1098 Wallis ♠ J9874 ♠ 942 ♥ KQJ1092 ♥ 3 s has happened the past few years, ♦ 7 ♦ J108532 Athe final of the GNOT was held at ♣ 5 ♣ 654 Club Banora, in Tweed Heads, NSW. 62 teams, with teams seeded 1 & 2 (Sydney 1 & 2) having a bye for the first round, W N E S W N E S turned up on Friday morning to fight out P P 1S P the knock-out stages over 4 days, and 2NT 3NT P 4H 2H P 3C P while we (Julia Leung, David Appleton, All pass 3NT P 4S All pass Pele Rankin, Paul Hooykaas, Therese Tully and Richard Wallis) were seeded This board was a chance for a large pick- our table EW did not get very adventurous, at 4, we did not play anywhere near our up to us that went begging due to a mental and played in game, with slam available in potential, suffering the indignity of losing lapse on my part. Therese (North) took a 4 out of the 5 denominations. our first 14-board match to team 61! reasonable shot at 3NT with her 20 points Unfortunately Paul and Pele got to 6H, My continued absence in Perth on business over West’s weak minor opening, and I only really makeable on a double-dummy did not help, and lack of practice showed in could have looked for her longest major basis, and fell 1 trick short to lose 13 Imps systemic errors on a couple of occasions, by bidding 4C/D, but my heart suit would against the –650 from our table. but we all had our highs and lows, so it was play opposite a singleton, so 4H was the a team effort after all. After our first-round obvious bid. 6C is fairly straight-forward on repeated finesses, and a 3-3 club break, losing loss we were straight into the Repechage, On the ♦A lead, even I could not have just to the ♠K. 6S is the most interesting, and up against Sydney 8, containing an gone wrong, but West led the ♣J, and I especially on a heart lead, as East must ex-Qld player, Leiv Bornecrantz, and luckily was able to discard my diamond loser on win on the table with the ♥K, cash the ♦A for state honour we managed a good win. a top club before leading trumps, all the discarding the ♥A, and then take the club Two more wins saw us well placed going time thinking 4H was going to be easy, finesse, twice, if necessary, before finally into the match against Gold Coast 1, but and so it should have been! my systemic slip-up on the last board of playing trumps from the top. Now East can However, West returned a heart, and after the match allowed Neville Francis to play ruff the heart return high and draw the last drawing trumps I led a spade to dummy in 2HX making, for 11 Imps and the match trumps, again a 3-3 break. and got my first disappointment, and to them. The hand is interesting for another then mistakenly called for the ♦K, before general principle, that is mis-fit hands Another win followed by a small loss to correcting the call and asking for the ♠K! belong in notrumps. 6NT has no real Melbourne 1 brought us up against Gold Then I ran the ♦K, discarding a spade, and problems, just the requirement that the Coast 4, and once again we stuttered, could no longer make 10 tricks. this time at the other table, and the 14 club finesse must work, and the spades If I keep the ♠K as an entry and give up the Imp loss took away our slim chance of must be brought home for 1 loser. In 6NT ♦K, I get 11 tricks, if I ruff the ♦K and give up climbing out of the Repechage back into the spades can often be tested while the a spade, I can give up another spade for 10 the quarter-finals. Good wins in the last 2 ♥K remains as an entry to dummy for the tricks. At the other table North bid to 6D for matches pushed us up to 10th place in the club finesse, and 3 discards are available 3 down, so we still gained 3 Imps. Repechage, the highest placed of the Qld on the red-suit winners. ■ teams, but a disappointing result overall. This was a very interesting play problem The complete article is available on that most declarers seemed to get wrong. At the QBA website. Sydney 2 were also pushed into the Repechage, but emerged from there in first place, and went on to win their quarter-final against Perth 3 comfortably, and their semi-final against Sydney 1 by Brisbane Bridge Centre just 1 Imp, but won every quarter of the 104 Frederick St, Annerley. Ph: 3392 7933 final against Canberra 1 to triumph by 98 Imps. Play Sessions Tuesday 9.30 am Duplicate 7.30 pm Duplicate Wednesday 10.00 am Duplicate QBA Mailing List Saturday 1.00 pm Duplicate If you wish to be put on the mailing Coaching Sessions & Monday 10.00 am list for news which is sent out about Beginners’ Classes Tuesday 7.30 pm once a month, please email the Friday 10.00 am manager at [email protected] Enquiries for coaching & beginners’ classes: 3392 7933

The QBA Bulletin January - February 2010 7

Noosa cumstances described; it does not apply News from the Phillipa Barnett and Sandy Regan did when the player says that the position is Manager’s Desk themselves and Noosa proud when they undiscussed or there is no agreement.” competed in the GNOT finals at Banora Furthermore, this method is not to be Point, NSW. Out of 92 pairs, the ladies used to verify from the player who made Premier Anna Bligh has agreed to be won not only the Country Pairs but first a call whether his partner’s explanation Patron of the Gold Coast Congress. overall - congratulations. is correct. Should misinformation occur The committee is being formed for the BBC then the appropriate laws are applied at 50th Gold Coast Congress in 2011 - the appropriate time. Best wishes to Trevor & Sarah. anyone interested? Jan Peach We give free entry to any player playing Chairman Accreditation in the Gold Coast Congress who is 100 - I am pleased to announce we have one Teacher Training Programme such player playing in the Open Pairs Saturday 6 February 2010 - name Marion Rice. QCBC, 67 Ipswich Rd, Woolloongabba. Bookings through Kim Ellaway or Joan Club News Butts - Email:[email protected] WebSite:www.joanbuttsbridge.com Phone: 3254 4795/0413 772 650 If you want items about your club in this PO Box 1570. New Farm 4005 section, please send your newsletter or items to Kim Ellaway. On Dec 12 the BBC hosted a farewell Youth Players Wanted dinner for Trevor Strickland & Sarah We have a number of experienced players McCoy. They have now left for the States who have offered their services to mentor where they were married on Jan 2. They young players. We are now looking for plan to live in Cairns on their return so the youth players to take up the offers. BBC will miss Trevor’s directing expertise. If you are interested, please contact Gold Coast We would all like to wish Sarah & Trevor Kim Ellaway 3351 8602, or email me on Received a Gambling Community Benefit every happiness - they were given a [email protected] or mobile Fund subsidy of $12,897 magnificent send off! Mudgeeraba 0412 064 903. Received a Gambling Community Benefit Director Training Fund subsidy of $4,469 Results Surfers he WBF Laws Commission minutes from September 1998 say, “It is held Received a Gambling Community Benefit T illegal to ask a question in order that Fund subsidy of 17,481. In general results will no longer be partner may be aware of the information published in the Bulletin - they are all Hari Baumanis has been made a Life in the reply.” Suppose one player knows available on the QBA website. Member. the meaning of an opponent’s call. He The Gold Coast City Council has made a may not ask for an explanation just to discounted rates donation. make sure that his partner is also aware Toowong of the meaning. The same minutes deal with the very The money raised for Make a Wish was specific situation when it may be T h e J a m e s over $2,000. appropriate for the director to send a O’Sullivan Trophy The club won the Inter-club teams for the player away from the table so that his for 2009 was won by 4th consecutive year. partner may give the systemic agreement Neville Francis QCBC of his own call. “If a player knows that his partner’s call The Bring and Buy annual table netted Queensland-Wide Pairs over $3,000. is conventional but says he cannot recall what was actually agreed the Director North-South may in his discretion send the player 1 D Wenham M Keating - Dalby away from the table and allow the partner 2 D Cowls D Donaldson - Tamborine Mt. to tell opponents in his absence what 3 C Reed J Roughley - Gympie the agreement is. The Director must be East-West called and no action may be taken before 1 B Bonnell N Bonnell - Warwick he arrives. 2 A Maltby D Maltby - Caloundra The partner continues in the action on the 3 C Leeves L Buchanan - Eastern Subs. basis that the player has understood his call, and does not use the unauthorized information that his partner is uncertain Editing of Material of the meaning. Contributors should note that the The Director is strongly urged to remain right to modify submitted material is Kim and Ray Ellaway enjoying the New at the table whilst the hand is completed. retained by the QBA. Year’s Eve party. This procedure is only for the exact cir-

The QBA Bulletin January - February 2010 8

both deceased), and they were playing interstate and overseas players, many of Director’s Notes in the teams at the Gold Coast Congress whom are not familiar with the intricacies when, playing Standard, one of them picked of the various systems and agreements up a nice looking 27-count (how many 27- that we use in Queensland, nor as tolerant counts do not look nice?), and saw that of any lack of systemic explanations at the the other had opened the bidding at the appropriate time. 1-level. The only trouble was, the one with For any congress it is important that every the 27-count was the dealer and his partner player has their systems cards up to date, had opened out of turn! Horror turned to joy but more so when new or unknown players Richard however, when the opponent on his right are in the field, so I urge you all to give your Wallis passed, and since the bid out of rotation system cards a critical review. An important was now condoned, the bidding continued part of your pre-game preparation is the irector’s Notes will be used to the normal 7NT for a flat board. to keep the player up to date setting out of your “pre-alerts”. The correct D The second was my own doing when I was with the latest rule changes, and any use of “pre-alerts” can assist in preventing playing Precision in a congress in Perth, and interpretations thereof, as well as, with unpleasantness at the table when your I had a good 15-count and a 5-card heart your help, to pass on any interesting or opponents find out that your treatment of suit, a maximum hand for a 1H opening in unusual player infractions that required a ‘standard’ bid is different from the norm. the system. I have no excuse, as I was not Directorial assistance during or after the However, it is important to remember that even ‘old’ then, but maybe I imagined a 1S play. These infractions may have been a these “pre-alerts” do not relieve you of the bid on my right, but after what was actually need to alert your opponents when any failure to alert, , play or bid out of 3 passes, I entered the auction with a dou- rotation, or any other, and maybe it was alertable bids come up in practice, even ble! This caused the Director a great deal those covered in a “pre-alert”. In my view the result itself rather than the infraction of amusement, especially since it was me that was interesting. If you have anything the main function of “pre-alerts” is to pre- that made the unorthodox call. He explained warn your opponents of special bids that to contribute, please send it to the Bulletin the options and after I made the obvious Editor, who will pass it onto me, and to set do not require alerting during the auction, bid of 1H, neither opponent was game to such as special treatments for cue-bids the ball rolling, I will relate two of my own disturb it and they defended badly to allow or doubles. stories from many years ago. 10 tricks and a top. Alertable bids are always alertable bids, The first did not involve me, but two of my The Gold Coast Congress is almost having them mentioned on your system friends (Colin Stone and David Lee, now here yet again, and with it, the influx of card or “pre-alert” card does not relieve you of the need to alert them if they crop up during the auction. Also remember that the system cards are there as a QCBC convenience for your opponents, but they 67 Ipswich Rd Woolloongabba do not have to use them. They are entitled Ph: 3391 3241 Email: [email protected] to ask the partner of the bidder as to the meaning of any bid, even if it is explained www.qcbc.org.au on the system card. ■ Sessions: Mon 10.30 am 7.30 pm I would like to thank Jan Peach for all her Tue 10.00 am 7.30 pm contributions over 8 years, and welcome Wed 10.30 am 7.30 pm Richard Wallis. Ed. Thur 10.30 am Fri 10.00 am 7.30 pm Sat 1.00 pm QBA Supervised: Mon 7.30 pm Email: manager@ Fri 9.30 am qldbridge.com Phone: 07 3351 8602 Mobile: 0412 064 903 Coming Events Fax: 07 3103 4799 Feb 7 Toowong Swiss Pairs Web site: www.qldbridge. Feb 7 QCBC Novice Pairs com Feb 13-14 QBA Senior Teams - Sunshine Coast Feb 14 Warwick Swiss Pairs Feb 21 Arana Swiss Teams Feb 27-Mar 6 QBA Gold Coast Congress DEAD Mar 13-14 Proserpine Teams Mar 14 Toowong Novice Swiss Pairs march 8 (noon) Mar 20-24 ABF Selection Trials Open/Womens Contributions to: Mar 21 Dalby Swiss Pairs 33 Royal Pde Mar 21 Surfers Paradise Novice Pairs Ashgrove 4060 Mar 21 Coolum Swiss Teams Ph: 07 3366 1292 Mar 27-28 Rockhampton Matchpoint Pairs Mar 27-28 QBA Selection Trials Open/ Womens - Stage 1 Email: Mar 28 Toowoomba Novice Pairs [email protected] Apr 2-5 Cairns Easter Pairs and Teams Apr 4-5 BBC Easter Graded Pairs and Teams LINE

The QBA Bulletin January - February 2010