Vol.40 No 1 January - February 2012

New South Wales Bridge Association

1st Floor 162 Goulburn St., East Sydney 2010 Phone: 02-9264 8111, ABN 61 000 438 648 Email: [email protected] Web : www.nswba.com.au

] [ Bulletin } { Editor: Peter Jamieson

Directors' Course - Club Level

Date: Saturday, 21st April 2012, 10.00am - 4.00pm Venue: New South Wales Bridge Association Level 1,162 Goulburn Street East Sydney .

Neuroscience Research Australia (formerly Prince of This course will be given by Tony Howes, Head of Wales Research Institute) along with the Australian NSWBA Director Accreditation and will deal with Bridge Federation and Bridge players around aspects of directing needed to run most basic Australia will be participating in the 2012 Bridge for sessions at club level. Brain Research Challenge. Bridge players and clubs are asked to get involved to raise awareness and It will cover: crucial funds. Laws - the most common calls for the Director; Held during the first week of May, competitors will play the same deals. Each pair is playing to win. Movements - simple Howell and Mitchell Playing to win the prizes, playing to win the points, movements, basic team’s movements; but most importantly, playing to beat the greatest health challenge of our time - Alzheimer's disease Scoring - all aspects of matchpoint scoring. and other dementias. At the end of the course, a take-home exam will You might be surprised to hear that Alzheimer's be available for those wishing to become qualified disease is our greatest challenge but it's the as a Director at Club Level. unfortunate truth that we are all touched by the effects of this devastating disease that takes a hold of Cost: $55 per person (inc GST) our loved ones. A recent report predicts there will be over 1.1 million Australians with dementia by 2050 as Enquiries and bookings to New South Wales dementia becomes the largest source of health and Bridge Assoc (02) 9264-8111 aged care spending.

All clubs are invited to host a bridge session and donate the proceeds to Alzheimer's research at NeuRA.

To register your Club or team please contact Stephanie Grové on 1300 888 019 or email to [email protected]

Page 1 NSWBA Bulletin

NSW John Arkinstall State Open Helena Dawson found the elegant play of cashing Teams Final 2011 one top and then ducking a round of trumps from both hands!

By Sartaj Hans Dealer East ] 9 8 5

E/W Vul [ Q J 9 The finals of the State Open Teams were held at the } 5 NSWBA premises in early December. Eight teams { A K Q J 6 2 played a round robin of 14 matches, qualifying West East two for the final. The results at the end of the seven ] J 10 6 ████ ] 4 2 round Swiss qualifying were: [ 8 6 3 [ K 10 7 5 4 2 } A K J 7 2 } Q 10 6 Place Name Wins V P’s { 10 9 { 8 3 1 BLOOM 5 131 South 2 GUMBY 5 124 ] A K Q 7 3 3 GOODYER 4 111 [ A 4 MOTT 3 106 } 9 8 4 3 5 HURLEY 4 98 { 7 5 4 6 MAYO 3 98 7 MCGRATH 2 88 The normal looking play of cashing the second top 8 AUBUSSON 2 85 trump runs into serious issues if the trumps split 4-1. Declarer has to start running clubs now and the This meant Gumby (Pauline Gumby – Warren Lazer, defence can in to play the fourth round, isolating Adam Edgtton – Andrew Peake) would play Bloom declarer from dummy. Instead, Helena’s play gifts the ( Martin Bloom – Peter Gill – Helena Dawson – Sartaj defence their hypothetical trump trick here and now. Hans – Tony Nunn) in a 56 board final. The small trump in dummy acts as a deterrent for cashing diamonds and those club tricks can Bloom took an early lead to lead by 66 imps at half eventually be enjoyed. At the table, trumps were 3-2 time. It is a credit to the Gumby team that they did all along and the team sacrificed an overtrick as we not try any wild swingy actions and made the match notched up +450. At the other table, N/S played 3NT close from that point. The margin was only 4 imps but unfortunately East was on lead and did not find going into the last hand. When the smoke cleared, the surprise diamond attack. While we lost an imp on Bloom hung onto win with the match score 140-124. this hand, in the long term, this is clearly the right way to play teams bridge. Winning at Teams Power The mantra for winning at teams bridge is to bid and make our games and defeat theirs. Voids are powerful features. Especially in a ] 9 8 5 competitive auction, they are a strong argument for [ Q J 9 bidding more. On this hand from the Swiss, Martin } 5 Bloom appreciated the playing strength of his hand { A K Q J 6 2 and avoided “HCP blindness”.

████ Dealer West ] 7 5 2 All Vul [ 8 7 } K 7 South { A Q J 9 7 6 ] A K Q 7 3 West East [ A ] 8 6 ████ ] Q 10 9 4 3 } 9 8 4 3 [ A K 10 6 [ Q 9 5 3 2 { 7 5 4 } A 10 8 6 } Q 4 2 { 8 5 4 { — After East opens a weak two in hearts, you get to 4S South as South. West leads a top diamond and switches to ] A K J a heart. You win the ace and plan the play. [ J 4 } J 9 5 3 { K 10 3 2

Page 2 NSWBA Bulletin

West North East South Dealer South ] A K J 10 6 Gill Bloom NS Vul [ 8 4 1D 2C DBLE 3C } A K Q 3H Pass 4H! All Pass { 8 7 6 West East With only 11 points opposite 6, the vulnerable game ] 7 ████ ] 8 4 3 2 comes home easily and we won a game swing [ Q J 6 5 [ — against a heart part score at the other table. } J 3 2 } 10 9 8 7 5 { A K Q 9 3 { J 10 4 2 Technique South While 4H above played like a breeze, this hand from ] Q 9 5 the final required precise play [ A K 10 9 7 3 2

} 6 4 Dealer East ] K 9 { 5 All Vul [ Q J 9 8 6 2

} 10 5 2 Open Room { Q 6 West North East South West East Peake Hans A Edgtton Nunn ] A J 7 5 4 ████ ] Q 10 6 2 - - - 1H [ 10 3 [ K 7 5 2C 2] 3C 4C } J 6 3 } Q 8 7 5C 5D Pass 5H { A 5 3 { J 10 9 Pass 6D Pass 6] South All Pass ] 8 3 [ A 4 The winning manoeuvre was the 1H opening by } A K 9 4 Tony, appreciating the playing potential of his hand. { K 8 7 4 2 The club bids by the opposition helped us identify the lack of wastage in that suit and we finally settled in At one table, Andrew Peake opened 1NT as South 6S. Untangling the heart ruff proved too difficult for and declared 4H via a transfer from North. He the defence as we won a slam swing. received a diamond lead to the queen and Ace. He . crossed to the club queen and ran the queen of hearts. The winning play at this point is to play another club, aiming to set them up for discarding the deep diamond loser. When declarer continued with a heart, hoping for a doubleton heart king, he no longer had the entries to enjoy the clubs. He lost a trick in each suit to go one down.

At the other table, Peter Gill as North was declarer in 4H. He received two rounds of spades. He tried the heart queen and followed it up with the queen of clubs. This technically excellent play initiates the path for setting up the clubs for the deep diamond loser. Declarer rates to make his game even if clubs are

4-2. Lazer ducked the club queen but Gill persisted with clubs, making his game in comfort. He lost a Peter Gill, Tony Nunn, Martin Bloom, Helena Dawson spade, a heart and a club. and Sartaj Hans Ed: Full details of all the deals and results in both the Earlier in the day, Tony Nunn and I outbid our qualifying and the final are archived on NSWBA’s web site. opponents to win this board - see full deal top next http://www.nswba.com.au/tourn/res.asp?yr=2011&dir column. =state/stf&E=0&R=7&T=R

Dealer S; NS Vul Closed Room The path from NSWBA home page is: West North East South Tournaments/Results/State Championships/Past State Gill Gumby Bloom Lazer Events/2011 - - - 3H 3NT 4H All Pass { } ] [ { } ] [ { } ] [ { } ] [

Page 3 NSWBA Bulletin

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Page 4 NSWBA Bulletin

Vale Chris Diment the job of Board Caddy. From this moment on, Chris went to every Australian National Championships and every major event in Sydney assisting in the area of Floor Manager. Chris Diment passed away on October 30, 2011. He was an important part of the Wollongong area bridge On the international scene, in 1989, Chris drove to Perth from scene as a director, teacher and administrator. He Wollongong (pilots’ strike) to be at the World Championships was also well known on the national and international where he worked as a monitor in one of the playing areas. Over the next 14 years Chris attended most World Bridge bridge scene in various roles in major bridge Championships working mainly on the systems desk but also tournaments. Chris was one of only five directors in some directing. Istanbul in 2004 was effectively the end of Chris Australia rated ‘A Grade A1 (International)’. being invited to World Champs as Systems became automated and Directing was not on offer”. At the memorial service held for him in Wollongong last November, Rob Kinloch, president of the Chris travelled at his own expense in 1990 to the Illawarra Bridge Association spoke about Chris World Championships in Geneva and also at his own Diment. Here are some extracts: expense to Santiago in 1993 seeking and obtaining work with the WBF but otherwise went by invitation. “Chris worked quietly and efficiently to ensure that all who played In 1992 Richard and Chris worked at the 1992 World bridge at our club had every opportunity to really enjoy the Team Olympiad, Salsomaggiore, Italy. Richard and pleasures of the game. Indeed it was his behind the scenes work Chris shared a room on several occasions at world that not only ensured our enjoyment of the game but really championships. reinforced his professionalism as a director. Chris was a pivotal figure in the development of our club. His advice was sought on every occasion because of his knowledge of the workings not only of other clubs but of the affairs in state, national and international bridge. He contributed greatly to committee meetings and would often be the reasoned, cautioning voice in debates. Our club is where it is today because of what Chris put into it.

Chris’s work with beginner players should never be under estimated. New players are the life blood of bridge clubs and bridge in general. He understood that people have different expectations, are at different levels of understanding, and consequently was able to pitch his wisdom at this level. Criticism when given was constructive, informative and non-threatening. While protective of new players he was never patronising. We Chris at work during the 2004 Women’s Playoffs, learned to enjoy the game despite our errors and failings. He Sydney encouraged questions and often at the close of play would have a number of players, not just beginners, listening to his advice on A former office manager at NSWBA, Noella Smith things like dummy reversals or throwing losers on losers. recalls “Chris directed several duplicate sessions (Wednesday Evening and Thursday morning at the Chris always remembered your name, he made you feel NSWBA) over a few years in the early 2000’s as well welcome, special. His preparation and attention to detail as a as some Monday night tournaments and qualifying bridge director were noteworthy. Once the game was underway events when required. He was always pleasant and we were always reassured that because of his knowledge of the humorous as well as efficient and a joy to work with. laws of bridge, we could have a competitive and fair game and Coming all the way up from Wollongong never fazed that if a dispute arose it would be calmly and efficiently settled. Nothing seemed to escape his attention”. him and he was always dependable. I'll always have fond memories of him”. Richard Grenside was at the centre of the national Ed: Chris directed at Royal Sydney Golf Club and the bridge directing scene through several decades in Queens’ Club for many years as well as numerous the 1975 – 2000 period. Richard is a former country congresses. He worked as a director for Secretary of the Australian Bridge Federation and is many years at the Summer Festival of Bridge in a current member of a number of ABF committees. Canberra and some other gold point tournaments. Richard provided some information on Chris Diment’s involvement on the national and At the last Illawarra Bridge Association (IBA) international bridge scene. Here are some extracts Committee Meeting, it was agreed that their annual from Richard’s notes: Congress in June each year would be renamed to “On the national scene, I first utilised Chris at a Spring Nationals become the Chris Diment Memorial Congress. in Sydney at the Lindfield Bridge Club, in about 1988. I gave him

Page 5 NSWBA Bulletin

Donald Evans 31/8/33 — 9/2/12

Don Evans was born in England and came to Australia in the early 50’s. He emerged into top level bridge in Australia in 1953 representing NSW at the Australian National Championships (ANC), partnered by Lt-Commander John Corbett. They played Baronised spiced with some light openings and psychic bids ( see History of Australian Bridge by Cathy Chua, page 131) . The NSW team lost to Victoria that year but Evans was in the NSW teams that won the ANC in 1955, 1957, 1962*, 1963* ( * partnered by Jim Borin)

and 1965. In 1964 Evans was in the Australian Open Team at the Olympiad. In 1982 he was captain of the 2012 NSW SENIORS’ Australian Women's Team at the PABF in Bangkok. INTERSTATE TEAM SELECTION Saturday 5th and Sunday 6th May. The 1970’s saw Evans focusing on bridge directing All players must be born before 1/1/54. at the national level as well as at Lindfield Bridge Enter as a team of 4, 5 or 6. Club. He wrote a weekly bridge column in the 70’s and early 80’s in the Sunday Telegraph titled Country players who play in this event may Modern Bridge which was always a lively read. apply for a country player subsidy

He was a frequent competitor at the Gold Coast The winning team will represent NSW as the Congress winning the open pairs five times (1965, Seniors Team at the 1971, 1973 and 1973 partnered by Ian Weiss and in Australian National Championships in Darwin 1978 partnered by Paul Lavings). He won the Gold 8th – 13th July Coast Teams in 1965, 1966, 172, 1973 and 1978. (subject to Council ratification). He was in the NSW team at the 1973 Bridgerama Challenge in Sydney Town Hall partnered by Ian Entries close 3rd May at 10am Weiss. He was in the winning team at the 1993 All entrants should be members of a club Grand National Open Teams (partnered by Leiv affiliated with the NSWBA. Bornecrantz). All systems will be permitted Non-contending teams may enter Ron Klinger’s Sydney Morning Herald Bridge column More details in PDF flyer at our web site : of Feb 18 carried some personal memories and two http://www.nswba.com.au/pdfs/12ITSSeniors.pdf bridge hands. Klinger and Evans played a season together in 1977-78. ABF Printing Tip { } ] [ { } ] [ { } ] [ { } ] [ I recall playing my first ever congress in 1971 – it To print the card on a full A4 page, and avoid the was the NSWBA Winter Congress held at the need to trim the edges and have a little extra Carrington hotel in Katoomba. My partner (Eileen space for details, use these settings. Gumbley) and I qualified for the pairs final (much to In Printing Options...set.. our surprise and delight). In the final our first opponents were Don Evans—Ian Weiss who Print Width = 372 proceeded to carve us into little pieces. Print Height = 214 In the following years I can recall some Front Left Margin = 6 conversations with Evans – he was always Back Left Margin = 6 enthusiastic and frequently ‘dramatic’ talking about ...and "Save Settings". bridge and that attitude was clearly discernible in his newspaper columns. If you are using conventions you need two circles on your card, one for your basic system In recent years Evans suffered from declining health and a brown circle for the brown sticker conventions. and eyesight. It’s best to remember him in his heyday You can do this by editing the .0a2 file. Visit ABF web when he was a top bridge player, fine director and site (System cards) for details. always something of a livewire ...and a ‘character’. Peter Jamieson Thanks to Rex Livingston for these tips

Page 6 NSWBA Bulletin

Results of the Trumps Festival of Bridge TrumpsTeams February 19 26 December 2011 to 2 January 2012 1 Theo Antoff , Al Simpson Derrick Browne, Joshua Wyner Swiss Pairs 26 Dec 2 Myong Campbell, Arjuna De Livera 1. Kieran Dyke and Jeanette Reitzer Dorothy Jesner, Richard Hills 2. George Bilski and Mischa Solar 3 Kevin Davies, Michael Waring Julian Abel, Rakesh Kumar Australian Bridge Teams 27 Dec 1. Kieran Dyke and Jeanette Reitzer, Sue Great Lakes February 19 Ingham and Terry Brown 1 John Redfearn, Norman Berger, Kevin 2. Theo Antoff and Al Simpson, Derrick Browne Dougall, Angela Dougall and Josh Wyner 2 Sharon Mayo, Greg Mayo, Ian Walker, Ken Wilks Bridge Shop Teams 28-29 Dec 3 Michael Johnson, David Weston, 1. Andrew Peake, Peter Gill, Sartaj Hans, Sally Clarke, Garry Clarke Helena Dawson, Bob Richman, Marlene Watts Some Recent 2011 NSWBA Results Festival Teams Sun 1 Jan: 1. Vanessa Brown, Will Jenner-O’Shea, Josh NSW State Swiss Pairs -Final Wyner, Derrick Browne 1 Sartaj Hans – Helena Dawson 2. Marilyn Chadwick, Toni Sharp, Liz Fanos, 2 David Weston – Julian Foster George Finikiotis 3 Arthur Ramer – Axel Johannsson

Festival Pairs Mon 2 Jan: NSW State Swiss Pairs - Plate Finals: 1 Elizabeth Adams – David Beauchamp 1. David Wurth and David Beauchamp, 2 Sophie King – Michael Wilkinson 2. Tony Bowden and Carolyn Greenwich, 3 Wendy Ashton- Peter Gill 3. Tony Nunn and Liz Adams Plate: NSWBA New Year Teams 1. Paul Lavings and Simon Stancu, 1 Paul Lavings, Robert Krochmalik, 2. Kinga Moses and Nazife Bashar, Daniel Krochmalik, Terry Brown 3. Tim McCarthy and Diana Price 2 Kevin Davies, Lester Kalmin,

Martin Bloom, Steven Bock NSWBA Summer Teams February 8 3 Pauline Gumby, Warren Lazer, 1 Warren Lazer, Pauline Gumby, Tony Hutton, Kim Morrison Tony Hutton, Kim Morrison 2 Sartaj Hans, Helena Dawson, Wendy Ashton, Peter Gill 3 Sue Ingham, Tony Ong, Michael Courtney, Linden Raymond The Australian Bridge Federation has recently launched a re-designed Masterpoint Centre web site. Double Bay Teams February 12 1 Bob Richman, Matthew Vadas, The new address is: Damien Czapnik, Alex Riggs www.abfmasterpoints.com.au 2 Jane Dawson Peter Gill Michael Wu, William Zhang The new Masterpoint Centre is much easier to 3= Vanessa Brown, Will Jenner-O’Shea, use and is much faster than the old one. It can Michael Waring, Jamie Ebery also be reached from the ABF home page. 3= Marlene Watts, Michael Kopecky, Select from the menu on the Wendy Ashton, Milan Macura left side of the home page.

Page 7 NSWBA Bulletin

DIARY OF UPCOMING CONGRESSES IN NSW

Date Club Event Contact Phone

March 10-11 Griffith Ex- Pairs (Sat) Carolyn Marsh 6963 6666 Serviceman’s Teams(Sun)

March 9-10-11 Bateman’s Bay Walk In (Fri) Jan Mitchell 4472 8278 Pairs (Sat) Teams (Sun) March 11 Lismore Teams Allison Shepherd 6625 2865

March 10-11 Armidale Pairs Margaret Atchison 6772 3080

March 11 Trumps Autumn Teams Derrick Browne 9969 5959

March 17-18 Maitland Pairs (Sat) Christine Chandler 4932 0706 Teams(Sun)

March 18 Kiama & District Restricted Pairs Jeff Carberry 0408 117902

March 24-25 Central Coast Open and Restricted Sally Clarke 4322 8434 Super Congress Swiss Pairs (Sat) Open and Restricted Teams (Sun) March 25 Ballina Teams Judy Forsyth 6681 5533

April 1 Taree April Fool Swiss Pairs Judy Scott 6553 7878

April 6 Trumps Good Friday Pairs Derrick Browne 9969 5959

April 8 Trumps Teams Derrick Browne 9969 5959

April 14-15 Hawkesbury Autumn Pairs (Sat) Elaine Pugh 9627 4756 Autumn Teams (Sun)

April 22 Peninsula Teams Sue Riley 9970 6527

April 21-22 Tamworth Teams Roy Cottage 6766 4131

April 28-29 Yamba Swiss Pairs Annie Green 6646 1341 both days May 5-6 Bathurst Pairs (Sat) Doreen Kjeldsen 6331 4694 Teams (Sun) April 29 Tilligerry Swiss Pairs Patricia Healey 4982 4109

May 5-6 Port Macquarie- Pairs (Sat) Sue-Ellen Deacon 6853 2948 Hastings Teams (Sun) May 6 Twin Towns Birthday Teams Betty Warner 07 5523 1732

Page 8 NSWBA Bulletin