January 2021 Newsletter http:/www.bridgewebs.com/chicagodbc [email protected]

Finally: 2021! As we begin a new year, Chicago Duplicate Bridge is looking forward to the time when we can resume something like a normal life, including in-person bridge. Chicago has begun the process of providing vaccinations against COVID 19, and we can anticipate that we and our bridge friends will be able to be inoculated within the coming months. CDB will be surveying the members in the coming months to learn how you feel about playing in person as well as any input you may have regarding potential locations for a new physical club. In the meantime, stay warm, keep playing bridge, and take care of yourself! We want to see every one of you when we can get together again!

Upcoming Special Events—All on BBO **Tuesday, January 12 – Mentor/Mentee Game at 6:25 pm** DAILY – Open ChicagoDB Games at 12:15 pm Monday and Wednesday – 299er ChicagoDB Games at 12:10 pm Tuesday and Friday—Open NaperDBC Games at 10:30 am Mon, Tues, Wed, Thurs – Open ChicagoDB Games at 6:30 pm Thursday – 99er ChicagoDB Game at 6:25 pm Friday – Treetowns Game at 6:30 pm Saturday – 499er ChicagoDB Game at 12:10 pm

Staying in Touch [email protected] is the best way to reach us.

Beginner, Intermediate/Novice News: Use of Robots in I/N Games With the club closed, Chicago Duplicate Bridge is offering limited masterpoint games on Bridge Base Online. We would like to discourage the use of robots as partners when you wish to play and don’t have a partner lined up. The consensus among our I/N players is that the robots give an unfair advantage in the competition. If you want to play in an I/N game but do not have a partner lined up, try signing up for the Partnership Desk or checking the Partnership Desk to see if there is already someone there looking for a partner. The directors will also try to pair up single players who sign up before the games. Maybe you’ll make a new friend or partner! Or consider playing in the Open games, which begin 5 minutes after the I/N games, so you can always choose to play there with your mechanical friend. As a reminder, limited-MP games are currently offered on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday afternoons as well as Thursday evenings. All of these games are well-established and attract a good number of tables. Because of low interest in limited MP games on other days, we are not offering them right now. However, if there is a group of 16 beginners who would like a formal beginner game added in parallel with one of our other Open games, then it is reasonably easy to do if we know a day ahead. To Alert or Not to Alert? That Is the Question What is Alertable? You are generally expected to let the opponents know when a bid is unexpected. There are rules about what is expected (and non-alertable) and when an alert needs to be given. There is a new alert chart effective January 1, 2021. The full document can be found here: https://web2.acbl.org/documentLibrary/play/AlertProcedures2.pdf. It will take all of us a while to adjust to the changes – please do your best and be understanding.

The alert chart contains some major changes for regular players, covered here. Anyone playing a complicated system should read the whole document. Most alerts have not changed.

Major changes for the regular player • The old “transfer” announcement is replaced by stating the suit that it shows (e.g., when you bid 2D as a transfer, your alert is now “hearts” not “transfer”). • Support doubles and redoubles are no longer alertable or announceable. • The old “could be short” announcement now requires a number (e.g., “could be zero”). • Flannery players must now alert 1N responses that could bypass 4 spades. • Some common systems now require a pre-alert each round: Montreal Relay/Kennedy Club (which a lot of you play), precision, Polish/Swedish/Scandinavian Club systems. Canape systems continue to require an alert. • 4-card majors and weak NT systems do NOT require a pre-alert. • Forcing passes when a 2C bid is overcalled are no longer alertable.

Non-changes that require a reminder • Announcement of *any* 1NT range, including 15-17. This isn't a change, but every 6 months a rumor circulates that it is no longer required. It is announceable, and always will be. • Non-forcing new suit responses to a pre-empt are alertable (e.g., 2H (P) 3C, or 3D (P) 3H; if 3C or 3H are non-forcing, they are alertable. If they are forcing then no alert is required). • Intermediate and strong jump-shift overcalls are alertable (e.g., 1S (3H) if 3H shows 11+ points it needs an alert; if it is weak (e.g., 3-10) there is no alert).

Major changes for more advanced players/more obscure conventions: • The new transfer announcement applies to a far wider range of transfers than previously, e.g., transfer responses to 1C, NAMYATS, transfer advances. • There are changes for NAMYATS and its negative inferences, and top-and-bottom cue- bids. Please read them if you play these methods. • Stopper showing/denying responses to lead-directing doubles of artificial bids are alertable. • The alertability of transfer responses to 1C has changed slightly. • Mixed raises (and all jump-cue bids) are explicitly non-alertable. • Negative free bids remain alertable (e.g., 1C (1S) 2H; if the 2H bid is by an unpassed hand and is non-forcing, that requires an alert).

The full document is comprehensive and covers everything from beginner bridge to top-level tournament bridge, so there is a lot that the average player will not recognize or understand.

Online vs face-to-face Recall that online we alert our *own* bids, not our partner's, but there is no change in what is and is not alertable.

Join Us for Our Popular Mentor/Mentee Games! When we were playing in-person, Chicago Duplicate Bridge ran a mentor/mentee game one evening a month. These games are also very popular on BBO, and we will run one on the second Tuesday night each month, with the next game scheduled for Tuesday, January 12, at 6:25 pm. The games use a manual signup process; email [email protected].

I/N players: You are welcome, regardless of whether you have a partner. Just email us and we will find you a partner. If you have a partner to play with, great; just register normally on BBO.

Mentors: If you are available (or pay for play), email us and we will match you up.

Tuesday night is intended to be a nurturing night, and we hope to see many of you there. Membership Information Since we do not have a physical space to maintain, we will not be collecting membership dues at this time. Your 2019/2020 membership will carry over to 2020/2021. If you are not a member but would like to support the Club by joining, please contact Judy Adler at [email protected]. Dues are $60 per year and would be applied now and for one year after the new dues year begins. Want to be One of the Cool Kids, but Don’t Know How? Admit it – playing on-line with BBO intrigues you but you are really intimidated by the idea. Fear no more! Patt Quinn, one of CDB’s directors, is here to help you. You can call her, and she will walk you through the whole process. Patt may be reached at [email protected] or call her at 630-220-9053.

Beginning this Month: Winter Series Bridge Lessons from Gino! Eldad “Gino” Ginossar is again presenting bridge lessons via Zoom. Advanced lessons are held 10:00 a.m. on Monday mornings; Intermediate lessons, at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesdays. Each lesson is 90 minutes long, allowing participants to play in the CDB Virtual Club game at 12:10/12:15. Cost for each 7-lesson series is $110; cost for both is $200. A portion of the fee goes to support Chicago Duplicate Bridge. For information on how to enroll, contact Gino at [email protected].

❖ Play These Hands with Me—for Advanced Players o Mondays, 10:00 am o January 11: Pessimism Pays Off o January 18: Mini-Lesson; topic TBA o January 25: Fight for Overtricks o February 1: Find the Heart Queen in 6NT o February 8: Playing Safe in Match Points o February 15: Mini-Lesson; topic TBA o February 22: Playing Against the Field in Match Points

❖ Competitive Bidding and Declarer Play—for Intermediate Players o Wednesdays, 10:00 am o January 13: Introduction to Advanced Hand Evaluation o January 20: Mini-Lesson; topic TBA o January 27: Manage your Stoppers as Declarer in NT o February 3: Suit Contract Tactics as Declarer: Discarding Losers o February 10: Competitive Bidding: The Reopening Seat o February 17: Mini-Lesson; topic TBA o February 24: Competitive Bidding: Using Michaels and Unusual 2NT

Gino’s Corner

Advanced Slam Bidding: Establishing the major suit in a Stayman/Puppet Stayman auction

Good partnership slam bidding starts with the search for the best strain. But one partner finding a fit is not enough. Both partners must be aware that there is a fit to start a slam discussion. This important and early stage in slam bidding is called “establishing the trump suit.” This act tells partner: “This is our fit. We have game. Let’s discuss playing in slam.” In many slam auctions, establishing the trump suit may be the greatest challenge of the partnership and the foundation to successful slam bidding.

Ideally you want to establish the trump suit 1 level below game (not 2 levels below game; not at game level or above). For example, if you establish a major suit, use a bid which is above 3MA but below 4MA. If you establish a minor suit, use a bid above 3NT but below 5m. After establishing the trump suit, use any other suit as a conventional, potentially artificial tool to show extra strength and to explore for slams. Use the trump suit by bidding it as an offer to stop, showing minimal strength, lack of a control or KC. I will discuss special slam tools, such as control bids and 4NT RKCB in another lesson. However, these tools are only available once the partnership establishes trump.

(A) (B) (C)

West East West East West East

1NT 2 2NT 3 2 2

2 3 3 3 2NT 3

3 4

After a Stayman or a Puppet Stayman auction, when opener responds a major suit, the use of the other major at 3+ level conventionally and artificially establishes the opener’s major suit as trump and inviting slam. Note that most advanced partnerships agree to play that rebidding 4NT (instead of establishing the major suit) is quantitative and not RKCB.

East (A): AJ98 ♥J10 ♦K1075 AK2

East (B): 42 ♥KJ82 ♦A5 Q10643

East (C): QJ82 ♥J2 ♦AQ52 K86

By bidding 3♥, East (A) shows a spade fit with slam values. This 3♥ bid is artificial and conveys nothing about hearts, but establishes spades as trump. Afterwards, the partnership may show side suit controls, learn if the combined strength is sufficient to bid slam, or just use it as a stepping-stone to bid 4NT as RKCB for spades. Bidding 4NT directly after the 2♠ bid is (generally) used as a quantitative bid, denying a fit, and not as RKCB.

By rebidding 3♠, East (B) shows a heart fit with slam-going values. The 3♠ bid shows nothing about spades, and merely establishes hearts as trump to explore slam. The partnership may proceed by showing side suit controls, bidding 4NT as RKCB for hearts, or deciding to stop in game if both partners are minimal or missing a side suit control.

East (C) rebids 4♥ to establish spades as trump. Holding 13 HCP, East (C) has a slam-force hand. To explore a grand slam, East (C) must use 4NT as RKCB. However, if East directly rebids 4NT at any stage prior to establishing spades as trump, this bid is used as quantitative 4NT – which partner might pass, or not respond KC in the correct suit, spades. The 4♥ bid establishes spades as trump and enables the partnership to bid 4NT as RKCB.

Convention Cards Convention Cards should be created and used by regular partnerships on BBO. Opponents may ask for your convention card if you don’t have one created. To create a card, go to the right of the screen and select Account and then Convention Cards at the top. Select one of the cards as a starting point. Under Use with partner you enter your partner’s BBO username, and click Use with partner. If you select this from Personal Cards, you will be able to edit it and save. It’s best to change the Title to include your partner’s name, and then edit the card. Click Save Changes often. The card will show up in your partner’s Convention Card list and your partner will be able to edit it too. During a game, to see an opponent’s Convention Card, click on the “hamburger menu” (3 horizonal stripes in a box) and select E-W Convention Card or N-S Convention Card as appropriate.

Upcoming Tournaments Although all in-person tournaments have been cancelled for the immediate future, the ACBL is occasionally scheduling special games that award extra Masterpoints or colored points, including some online tournaments. As soon as we get back to normal, we’ll be providing in- person tournament information. For more information on all upcoming local tournaments, see http://bridgeinchicago.com/tournaments/. For ACBL-wide tournaments, see http://tournaments.acbl.org/.

Player Rank Advancement Congratulations to these players who advanced in rank in November: Sandra Bishop and Arnold Friedlander, Club Masters; Mary Anderson, Marcia Peterson, and Pam Prosch, Sectional Masters; Jacob Breneisen and William Reed, Regional Masters. Unit 123 Rankings Congratulations to players in the Unit 123 rankings posted December 6!

Mini McKinney Ace of Clubs 0-5 0-5 5-20 Peter Bush #1 5-20 Peter Bush #1 David Kovacs #2 David Kovacs #2 Joan Stelmack #8 Joan Stelmack #7 Elise Schreiber #8 Thomas Stelmack #9 20-50 Jacob Breneisen #10 20-50 50-100 Rob Sax #4 50-100 Rob Sax #3 Holly Economos #9 Arllyn Freeman #8 100-200 Kunal Pujara #1 100-200 Kunal Pujara #1 Kathryn Norman #7 Kathryn Norman #6 200-300 James Sturtevant #1 200-300 James Sturtevant #1 Rosalie Sturtevant #1 Rosalie Sturtevant #1 Les White #4 Les White #5 Jan Sax #5 Jan Sax #6 Christine Lyon #8 Christine Lyon #7 Sid Mitchell #9 Sid Mitchell #8 300-500 Aleksander Lishkov #1 300-500 Aleksander Lishkov #2 Sarik Goyal #3 Sarik Goyal #10 500-1000 Judi Katz #1 500-1000 Judi Katz #1 Mini McKinney Ace of Clubs Adriana Humada #2 Adriana Humada #2 George Marx #8 George Marx #7 Beverly Yusim #9 1000-1500 Paul Prez #2 1000-1500 Paul Prez #2 Janet Nachman #7 Janet Nachman #6 Mark Pinkowski #9 1500-2500 Susan Eggebrecht #2 1500-2500 Susan Eggebrecht #2 John Miller #3 John Miller #4 Cory Perkers #5 Rosede Olson #5 Rosede Olson #6 Gerald Landy #6 Joseph Tomlinson #7 Joseph Tomlinson #7 Gerald Landy #8 Cory Perkers #9 Marshall Levine #10 Marshall Levine #10 2500-3500 Tom Fogarty #1 2500-3500 Tom Fogarty #1 Michael Airdo #2 Michael Airdo #2 Bruce Ladin #4 Bruce Ladin #3 Roger Theis #8 Roger Theis #7 George Clark #10 3500 -5000 Kendra Bridges #1 3500-5000 Joseph Stokes #1 Joseph Stokes #2 Matthew Dyer #2 Matthew Dyer #4 Kendra Bridges #6 Carl Nelson #10 Carl Nelson #8 5000-7500 Judy Zhu #5 5000-7500 Judy Zhu #6 7500-10000 Amin Hakim #1 7500-10000 Amin Hakim #1 Eldad Ginossar #3 Eldad Ginossar #3 Barbara Saben #6 Barbara Saben #6 Jack Oest #10 10000+ L. James Phillips #1 10000+ L. James Phillips #1 Claude Vogel #5 Claude Vogel #7