YORKSHIRE CONTRACT BRIDGE ASSOCIATION YCBA NEWS Issue 2 (Previously YCBA Bulletin Issue) November 2015 Editors’ Notes The most radical changes introduced in the last edition in September related to the method of distribution and circulation of the re-named Bulletin. This seemed to have proceeded satisfactorily with no negative feedback - at least so far. In forwarding YCBA News to Club Secretaries it had to be recognised that each club has its own individual circumstances and the importance of flexibility in managing the next step of the process. Much will depend upon the size of club and the facilities available. At least two clubs circulated the publication electronically to their members which sounded like a wonderful idea but I realise that this is unlikely to be common practice. Below there is a request for contributions and I stress the need here – my intention of publishing every two months can only be met adequately if members help me with items to include in future issues. A big thank you is given to this month’s contributors. YCBA’s reputation as top class Congress organisers continues to grow. The recent Great Northern Swiss Pairs was highly successful with a great atmosphere and the hotel was superb. Numbers were up on 2014 and many e-mail compliments have been received. One player remarked that it was the best run Congress of the year. Sarah Teshome & Tom Cohen and Alan Hayward & Tom Copeland high finishing positions added to the YCBA feeling of accomplishment. This edition is circulated immediately after the first round of Yorkshire League matches. The Yorkshire League is, of course, a source of such great enjoyment to so many players across a range of ability levels. Could it be that it has the second largest number of participants in a single event in the country behind the National Inter Clubs Knockout competition? Quite remarkable! Once again my gratitude to Lesley Blanchard must be recorded – she has been a great help in producing this edition by covering my technical ineptitude. David Waxman November 2015 Copy Wanted Special 80th Anniversary Celebratory Event and 1st YCBA Members’ Meeting Please send details of results, successes, Saturday 28 November 2015 achievements for inclusion in the YCBA See also YCBA website and page 6 News and English Bridge to Robin Jepson, Tel: 0113 269 5334, 10.30 Complimentary Brunch on arrival [email protected] 11.00 Members Meeting Welcome by Chairman Contributions to the Bulletin from members National and County Affairs Update are also encouraged and welcomed by the Breakout Sessions: youth, editor: competitions, membership drive, exchange of ideas for running reports on events clubs, charitable status articles 12.45 Coffee Break letters/emails 13.00 Bridge Mini-session 1 other news views and opinions 14.30 Afternoon Tea 15.15 Bridge Mini-session 2 David Waxman, 07710 263452 [email protected] 17.00 Presentation of Trophy Fee Bridge inc Afternoon tea - £10.00 Competition forms and news are also posted on the YCBA website, Venue The Bridge Inn, Walshford, near Wetherby LS 22 5HS Tel: 01937 580115 www.ycba.co.uk YCBA NEWS November 2015 – page 1 Winners of Recent YCBA/Local/National Events August Olicana Invitational Swiss Teams – Stuart Davies, George Bak, Gill Copeland & Steve Blackburn. September Crockfords Cup Final (see below) Brian Senior and Sandra Penfold Isle of Man Congress - Swiss Pairs Stuart Davies & Paul Belsten - Swiss Teams James Thrower Rob Myers & two others Huddersfield Rosebowl - Angela Booth, Peter Radley, Denis Murphy, & Kevin Hawkins EBU Guernsey Congress – Swiss Pairs – Rob Myers and partner YCBA Kath Grimoldby Simultaneous Pairs - Tom Copeland & Alan Jarvis - Leeds BC Garforth Swiss Teams - Richard Hilton, Pauline Cooper, Richard Pike & Pete Waterman Derbyshire CBA 1 Day Events - Swiss Pairs Graham Jepson & David Musson - Swiss Teams Tom Gisborne, Sandy Davies, Baz Caygill & David Waxman October EBU/YCBA Great Northern Swiss Pairs Improvers - Joan & Brian Eager EBU British Autumn Sim Pairs (Monday) - Jack & Simon Stocken (at Wetherby BC) EBU Overseas Congress Rhodes - Swiss Pairs Tom Gisborne & Sandy Davies; Open Pairs Denis & Pearl Murphy; Pivot Teams Tom Gisborne & Sandy Davies and two others; Really Easy Bridge Afternoon - part of EBU Autumn Congress - Overall winners Andrew Pearson & Kathy Pearson playing in Bradford heat 1 of 9 held across country (97 participants) EBU Autumn Congress - Satellite Pairs - Sarah Teshome & James Thrower 2015 What a year! 2015 has been a great year for Yorkshire in terms of national successes. As previously reported the spring Phil Godfrey and James Thrower won the National Pairs; followed up with similar success for Graham Jepson and Dave Robinson in the Corwen Trophy. Now in late summer another major national title was won by YCBA members with Sandra Penfold and Brian Senior victorious in the Crockfords Cup Final - England's premier teams event. Alex Hydes, ex-Yorkshire, was another team member - Nevena Senior made up the successful quartet. Not Quite Successes (but highly creditable nevertheless) Fiona Brown’s Bronze medal for England's Women's team in the Venice Cup at the World Championships in Chennai most certainly deserves a highly honorable mention. In the NICKO Plate Final Leeds A (Robin Jepson, Alan Brosgill, Martin Edge & Nick Woolven) lost to Gosport A – see also P7. Another near miss is Susan MacKellar & Anthony Abraham’s 2nd place in the Tuesday session of the EBU British Autumn Simultaneous Pairs (Wensleydale BC). Sarah Teshome & Tom Cohen and Alan Hayward & Tom Copeland finished 2nd and 3rd respectively in the Great Northern Swiss Pairs - more commendable near misses. Dave Robinson Hints Dave Robinson a leading Sheffield based Yorkshire player has agreed to provide a regular everyday situation as a problem for each YCBA News - together with advice in the form of a tip. This is the first: What would you bid teams at favourable vulnerability after 1D P P ? Holding x Qxxxx Qxx . KJxx Dave’s answer at bottom of page 7 YCBA NEWS November 2015 – page 2 Forthcoming Events - Fuller details of all events are available on the YCBA website via the Events link Yorkshire Schools Cup Bridge (teams of four) and MiniBridge 14th November 11:00 am to 3:00 pm York Bridge Centre – Free entry - Partners or team-mates can be found – lunch provided Contact Mark Bratley [[email protected]] or 07764 763874 YCBA Stratified Pairs - 29th November – 1.00pm York Bridge Club £40.00 per pair including food Grade 1 National Masters and above, Grade 2 Star masters and above but below National Masters, Grade 3 Advanced Masters and below, including unranked players Enquiries and entries to Stuart Davies ([email protected]) 4 Moorhead Lane, Shipley, BD18 4JH 01274 598408 Yorkshire Mixed Pivot Teams - 20th December 1.00 pm Bradford Bridge Club Entry fee £80 per team including food - Each team must include at least one man and at least one woman Enquiries & entries to: Stuart Davies [[email protected]] 4 Moorhead Lane, Shipley, BD18 4JH (Tel: 01274 598408) Yorkshire League fixtures matches 2 and 3 – 15 November & 06 December Really Easy Afternoon - part of the EBU Year End Congress Friday 27th December 2015 2.00 pm Bradford Bridge Club Entry fee £16 per pair. It may be able to accommodate individual players. Contact Georgina Wooler [[email protected]] 07962530730 or EBU Events Dept. Early Notice Yorkshire Cup Final - 31 January 1:00pm Leeds Bridge Club Doncaster Swiss Pairs - 07 February 1.00 pm Doncaster Bridge Club Margery Cartwright Simultaneous Pairs - 11 February Participating clubs EBU Spring Congress 19 - 21 February - The Old Swan, Harrogate Yorkshire League fixtures matches 4 and 5 - 04 January, 25 January Dave Robinson’s Bonus Tip For this edition Dave Robinson has kindly offered an extra tip Ed When you are declarer do you always follow suit with your lowest card? Here’s a full deal from a National Inter Club knock out quarter final which my team lost by 4 IMPs K654 KQJ42 10 .K63 Q1073 A92 A986 753 Q973 K654 .10 .972 J8 10 AJ82 .AQJ854 South played in 3NT having shown long clubs. I led 3S and Richard Pike won the Ace and returned the 4D. Declarer could not afford to play the Ace and played the 2 Judging that declarer had 4 diamonds I found the winning defence of QS Dave’s Tip If declarer had played 8 of diamonds I may well have continued diamonds and the contract would have been made. So don’t always follow with your lowest card as declarer: consider how you can scramble the opponents’ signals. YCBA NEWS November 2015 – page 3 Island Congresses While local and regional Congresses have diminished in number over the years (the YCBA Congress remains one of that stands out as an on-going success) three islands of the UK coast sustain retain popular annual events. These are all green pointed, Guernsey and Jersey under the auspices of the EBU with the Isle of Man having its own Manx Union. A number of YCBA players are regular attendees, and, over the years, have been often very successful at all three. Guernsey Isle of Man Jersey Janet Latham describes Gill Copeland calls the Congress Heather Hobson writes of her Guernsey as always being one “a small, friendly, competitive on-going enjoyment of the of Ted's (husband) and her great Weekend in a special place” Jersey Congress: favourite destinations. Early in September the Manx Having been brought up on an Flights from most British Bridge Union run a congress in island (Isle of Man) it is a airports take about an hour Douglas for 3 days - a small- wonderful experience to go to and ferries from Poole and scale, relaxed and very friendly Jersey for the annual Bridge green-pointed event.