MINI NEWSLETTER 20 SEPTEMBER, 2021

ELECTION DAY IN CANADA

Politicians in Canada are only permitted to campaign for 78 days. It all comes to a head on Monday September 20th: Our Federal Election Day. We have three main parties here in Canada, unlike our neighbours to the south in USA.

Please, Canadians, get out and vote according to your beliefs. If you don't vote, you should not have a right to an opinion. It is our privilege to live in a society with a free and fair election system. Remember to take your legal photo ID with you as this is the law in Canada.

Americans, these are the three candidates hoping to become Prime Minister.

Picture from National Post

A BIT OF THIS 'N THAT

AT THE MOVIES: Alex and I used to love going to the movies. What is more fun than a bag of buttered popcorn, a bottle of pop and a good movie on the big ? All of that fell to the wayside during Covid and we are all grateful to Netflix and other media for watching shows and series on television. Sadly, this has had a huge impact on the world of movies and Hollywood. Now the focus of today's big- screen movies seems to be more on being politically correct than on entertaining us. Hopefully, both of these can soon merge so we go back to sitting on the edge of our seats or laughing our heads off.

We have been to five movies in the past week at the movie theatre. Tonight's movie just came out: "Cry Macho" with Clint Eastwood as Director and lead actor.

Macho is a rooster. We enjoyed the movie. A good yarn as my dad would have said. Can you believe that Clint Eastwood turned 91 in May this year. He is still directing and acting and we are filled with awe. Some just go through the motions but he wrote the book on acting. He is revered as a Director also.

Our favourites that he directed: Must-sees, if you have not already done so: Invictus: Morgan Freeman plays Nelson Mandela. Matt Damon also performs. A powerful story. The Bridges of Madison County: Eastwood stars with Meryl Streep in a poignant love story. If this does not move a chilly heart, nothing will. Sully: The story of the landing of the plane on the Hudson River with Tom Hanks performing.

Clint Eastwood started out in 1955 playing small parts in bad movies making $75.00 a week. To make ends meet, he dug swimming pools and did garbage collection. He ultimately became Mayor of Carmel, where he still lives.

A great line from last night's movie: "Shang-Chi and the Legend of The Ten Rings": As someone teaches archery to a young girl: "If you aim at nothing, you will hit nothing." We have all heard the adage: "Ready, Aim, Fire". So often in bridge, players Fire before they Aim and they aren't Ready!

ONLINE BRIDGE: What is the commonest word used when playing bridge on BBO? "Misclicked." It often covers the moments when your brain has gone on a short vacation.

NEW ONLINE FALL UPCOMING CLASSES WITH BARBARA

I have two new online classes coming up very soon. The first one is on Sep 29th: All proceeds go to Laos. The second one is on October 13th. That one is to pay for retirement 101 that I keep failing.

On Wed. September 29th. at 4.00 pm Eastern Time, I will be teaching a class on Zoom:

TOPIC: TIMING & MAGIC IN DECLARER PLAY

COST: $55.00 (MINIMUM DONATION) and all of it will go to purchasing water filters in Laos. Sign up online at

https://go.barbaraseagram.com/sept-29-2021-lessons-checkout

Take your Declarer Play to a whole new level! Watch the spots and learn to develop extra tricks like magic. Suit contracts and NT contracts. To pull or not to pull (trumps that is). All that and more...

Donate now, just a minimum of $55 CAD to join us LIVE online on September 29th, 2021 at 4:00 pm Eastern for "Timing and Magic in Declarer Play" Lesson! OR listen to and view recording anytime you wish after that date. Lesson notes and recording available for unlimited time for you.

All proceeds go to Adopt A Village in Laos to buy water filters. or send a check to

Barbara Seagram 220 Lawrence Ave East Toronto, ON M4N 1T2 Canada

WATCH LIVE OR LATER AT YOUR CONVENIENCE. You will be sent a link for the recording.

One water filter costs $125.00 CAD or $100.00 USD. If you donate one or more water filters, you will receive a receipt from Adopt A Village in Laos.

Class will be from 4.00 - 6.00 PM on Zoom. You also receive a full set of notes.

NOTE that all those who have made a donation to Adopt A Village in Laos this year (the NGO with whom we work) will also be sent the Zoom link so that they can attend the lesson or watch the recording later.

The following class proceeds do not go to Laos.

On Wed. October 13th. at 4.00 pm Eastern Time, I will teach another class on Zoom. Purchase this class here:

https://go.barbaraseagram.com/oct-13-2021-lessons-checkout

TOPIC:

You have this hand:

S Q52 H AQ862 D AJ8 C 32

Your partner opens 1D. You respond 1H. Partner now bids 1NT. Your bid.

If you bid 3NT, as the cards lie, you go down. BUT partner had three-card support for your Hearts and you could have made 4H. BUT if you bid

2H it shows 6-9 points and this is non-forcing 3H it shows 10-12 points and this is non-forcing. 4H it shows 13 points but partner may have two little Hearts.

This is why you need NEW MINOR FORCING as part of your tool box. It is an important convention. Join me as I teach this on Wed. Oct 13th. I promise to make it easy.

ALEX'S BRIDGE TIP

Often in a partnership, there are different opinions as to what conventions are to be used. I suggest that the stronger, more experienced player should accommodate the less experienced player. The best conventions are the ones that both partners have agreed on and remember well.

Whenever you have a choice of two bids to make, pick the one that you know your partner will understand.

Whenever we decide which conventions to play, we always pick the ones that occur most often.

After each game, you and your partner should spend 15 minutes to half an hour looking over the boards where you did poorly. Sometimes there was nothing you could have done about it; the opponents just got lucky. But very often, it was either your partner's or your partner's mistake!!!!

BARBARA'S MINI-TIP:

WORST IN BRIDGE: Singleton Queen, Doubleton Queen or Singleton or doubleton King. Unless partner has bid this suit, it is almost always wrong. Please avoid these (unless you are playing against me!!) ______

SMOLEN is an excellent convention. See the presentation below by Robin Stephens, professional bridge player. ______

THE QUIZ WILL RETURN IN THE NEXT NEWSLETTER

WANNA PURCHASE RECORDINGS OF PREVIOUS ONLINE LESSONS? Go to www.barbaraseagram.com ______

BALTIC CRUISE: AUGUST 2022 with Barbara, Patti Lee and Alex: Book now. We have 95 already booked. If you book after Sep 30, the price goes up 15%.

Email Paola at [email protected] Paola is on vacation till 16 September but she will reply as soon as she can. ______

GET AWAY THIS WINTER: BARBADOS FEB 13-20, 2022

USD $1,155.00 PER PERSON (DBL. OCC.) $1,470.00 SINGLE OCCUPANCY

includes 7 nights accommodation, all meals and drinks. And airport transfers. Scroll down for details. ______

JOSEE HAMMILL'S BRIDGE LESSONS START THIS UPCOMING WEEK. EMAIL HER AT [email protected] 416-300-9140

See below for more information. ______

TELL YOUR NON- PLAYING FRIENDS ABOUT THIS SITE. Click on the video on this site. It is excellent.

https://acbl.org/learn/#duplicate

SHAW FESTIVAL

The Shaw Festival is back in beautiful Niagara-On- The-Lake. Indoor theatre with carefully planned distancing and many other precautions. www.shawfest.com to buy your tickets or call the box office at 905-468-2172 or 1-800-511-7429. Alex and I go every year to see the wonderful actor, Patrick Galligan perform. This year he is in Charley's Aunt and Trouble in Mind. Go and enjoy shopping and visiting this magical town and then enjoy some theatre. Stay over at a B and B or one of the lovely guest houses or hotels.

ABOUT OUR WATER FILTER PROGRAMME IN LAOS

OUR 2021 LAOS FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN IS ON WE HAVE RAISED $20,000.00 TO DATE $40.000.00 IS OUR GOAL THIS YEAR

PLEASE HELP PATTI LEE & with this water filter project

DONATE A WATER FILTER ($125.00 CAD or $100.00 USD) and help a family in a remote village in Laos You will receive a receipt if you donate $125.00 CAD ($100.00 USD) or more

IF YOU DONATE $55.00 OR MORE, YOU ARE INVITED TO JOIN A TWO- HOUR BRIDGE LESSON WITH BARBARA ON WED. SEP 29 @ 4 PM OR WATCH THE RECORDING LATER AT YOUR CONVENIENCE

https://go.barbaraseagram.com/sept-29-2021-lessons-checkout

With your donation of a water filter, you will receive a picture of the family who receives this water filter (or more than one filter). Your name and your country will be on the label.

A water filter is an ideal gift for your grandchildren or children. We can put a picture of your grandchild on the label if you wish or just someone's name that you specify. And/ or the filter can be in memory of someone special. Just give us the information.

The water filters last at least 12 years with very little care and maintenance (just brushing with a small brush every few months)

ALL monies raised go directly to the cause. All volunteers pay their own airfare, meals and accommodation.

You can help by sending us a check made out to ADOPT A VILLAGE IN LAOS to Barbara Seagram, 220 Lawrence Ave East, Toronto, ON M4N 1T2, Canada

or in Canada, email transfer to [email protected]

WE MUST HAVE YOUR POSTAL MAILING ADDRESS & EMAIL ADDRESS in order to issue a receipt You may also donate online at

https://go.barbaraseagram.com/sept-29-2021-lessons-checkout

With online donations, we are forced to ask for 5% more to cover banking and credit card charges. Patti Lee and I used to absorb these charges but can no longer do this.

THE SMOLEN CONVENTION Presented by ROBIN STEPHENS

Smolen is an extension of the . It is used after getting a 2D response to a Stayman bid. You hold 5/4 in the majors & 10+ points. A jump to 3 in a Major shows 4 cards in that Major, 5 cards in the other & 10 + points.

Note: 5/4 in the Majors refers to 5 Spades/4 Hearts or 4 Spades/5 Hearts. It can also be used after a 1NT .

Let’s take a look at the 3 options & games available to you after partner opens 1NT & you have 5/4 in the majors

1. 5/4 in the majors with less than 8 points.

No chance for game so you transfer into the 5-card major & when partner bids the transfer suit pass

[ P'ner = Partner] e.g. Your hand. Partner opens 1NT

S Q9876 H KJ52 D 105 C 86

P'ner - You 1NT - 2H* 2S - Pass

*2H* Transfer to spades

Note: Even with 0 points & a 5 card major you should always transfer into the major. The reason being is that it safer to play in a suit contract than in NT.

2. 5/4 in the majors with 8-9 points:

This is an invitational hand so you start with Stayman

If partner bids a major, then bid 3 of the major, inviting e.g. Your hand. Partner opens 1NT

S K10984 H Q952 D K5 C 86

P'ner - You 1NT - 2C 2H - 3H

If partner bids 2D denying a 4 card major then bid your 5 card major e.g. Your hand

S 109754 H AQ63 D 92 C K5

P'ner - You 1NT - 2C 2D - 2S

3.Smolen - 5/4 in the majors with 10+ points

Smolen is used when partner opens 1NT, 2NT or 1NT. You as the responder have 5/4 in the majors (either way) & game going values (10+) e.g. Your hand

S AJ872 H KJ63 D 8 C J105

Start with Stayman. If partner bids a major then raise to game. If partner bids 2D denying a 4 card major.

Now, the contract of 4H is out of the picture (no 4-4 fit), but 4S is still a possibility (there could be a 5-3 fit). So, responder has to indicate that he has 5 spades.

They are too strong to bid at the 2-level (that would be invitational); they must force to game.

In Standard bidding, they would jump to 3S, showing 5 spades and game forcing values. By inference it shows 4 hearts (otherwise, they would have started with a plain transfer to spades and not used Stayman).

So, in Standard Bidding,

P'ner - You

1NT - 2C 2D

NEXT: 3-of-Major by you shows 5 in that major, 4 in the other major and enough for game. Opener will then choose between 3NT, or playing in responder's 5-card major.

The Smolen convention makes a slight improvement on this auction.

Responder, instead of jumping from 2D into his five-card major, jumps into his four- card major! Why? Because now, if opener wants to play in the five-card major, it is played from the strong side. As is usually the case after a notrump opening, you want the strong hand playing the contract (for opening lead purposes).

So, using Smolen:

P'ner - You 1NT - 2C 2D

NEXT: 3-of-Major by responder shows 5 in THE OTHER major, and by inference, four cards in the major jumped into.

Now if opener has 3 card support for the 5 card major they bid 4 of that major or they bid 3NT with only 2 of that major

1. e.g. Your hand. Partner opens 1NT

S AJ872 H KJ63 D 8 C J105

P'ner - You 1NT - 2C 2D - 3H

3H is Smolen showing 5 Spades and 4 Hearts & 10 or more HCP

2. e.g. Your hand. Partner opens 1NT

S K974 H AQ842 D K9 C 83

P'ner - You 1NT - 2C 2D - 3S*

*3S is Smolen showing 4S & 5H & 10 or more HCP.

3. e.g. Your hand. Partner opens 2NT

S Q974 H KJ842 D 73 C 82

P'ner - You 2NT - 3C 3D - 3S

*Smolen showing 4S & 5H

Smolen is alertable. The jump after partners 2D bid is alertable. You would explain as 10+ points & 5S & 4H or whichever case it is.

Ed. Note: You and partner must agree on whether or not you are playing Smolen.

If playing Smolen after a 2NT opening bid, then you cannot play BOTH Smolen and Puppet Stayman. You must decide which one you are playing.

Some also use Smolen after partner has opened 1NT and they use Smolen at the 2-level to show 8-9 HCP and 5-4 in the majors. Just agree with partner, before the game, on what you are playing.

My book "Barbara's Bridge Tips" has won BOOK OF THE YEAR AWARD. This is my fourth time winning this award and I am thrilled. This was my first solo book. It was my Editor's idea (Ray Lee of ) and he was an enormous help.

Whether you have been playing for a while or you’re not very experienced, this book will help you to move your game up to the next level. The tips cover all aspects of bridge — bidding, play and defense. Advice and examples are drawn from material Barbara has developed for her students over the last twenty years — it’s like having your own personal bridge coach sitting beside you!

Each chapter is in bite-sized portions and easy to digest.

$24.95 CAD + tax (special price: 22.00 CAD with no tax) or $20.00 USD

Plus postage: $5.75 CAD in Canada or $8.90 USD to USA

Or pick up from Barbara @ 220 Lawrence Ave East Between Bayview & Mount Pleasant on North side of Lawrence

A compilation of all you need to know!

ORDER OUR CHEAT SHEETS Great hostess gifts and partnership survival gifts!!! Laminated fold out sheets with many panels

All cheat sheets and books available by emailing Barbara with your postal address. We will send it to you by postal mail or you can pick up near to Yonge & Lawrence if you live in Toronto.

[email protected]

INTERMEDIATE CHEAT SHEET: Regular bidding: $10.00

DEFENCE CHEAT SHEET: Strategy and signalling: $12.00

CONVENTIONS CHEAT SHEET: All the conventions (see below): $12.00 (Formerly called Advanced)

Takeout double, , , Responsive, Penalty & Lead- Directing Doubles, Splinter Bids, Jacoby 2NT, Roman Keycard Blackwood, Raising Partner's Overcall ( Raises of overcalls and opening bids), , Texas Transfers, Gerber, , Cue Bidding First Round Controls, Unusual NT, Michaels Cue Bid, to Game

DOUBLES CHEAT SHEET: $10.00

TWO OVER ONE CHEAT SHEET: $12.00

SPECIAL: ANY 4 cheat sheets: $40.00 or all 5 cheat sheets for $48.00 Special is on until August 31.

OR if you live in Canada email transfer to [email protected]

Barbara Seagram 220 Lawrence Ave East Toronto ON M4N 1T2 Canada

BARBARA'S QUIZZES

MY NEW BOOK IS SELLING WELL

$22.00 CAD but on special for $18.00 CAD or $16.00 USD

plus postage (if you cannot pick up in Toronto) Pick up in Toronto is at 220 Lawrence Ave East (between Bayview & Mt Pleasant)

Postage anywhere in Canada for ONE book: $5.75. Postage anywhere in USA: $8.95 for one book More if other items are ordered.

SO much work has gone into it. This is the preface:

Order by emailing Barbara [email protected]

In Canada, you may pay by etransfer to [email protected] but email me so that we have all your postal and email details.

Americans, you can mail a check to: Barbara Seagram, 220 Lawrence Ave East, Toronto, ON M4N 1T2 CANADA but email first so we can get the book on the way to you.

OR you may order from our online store but above is best for us. Canadian Store: store.barbaraseagram.com

USA Store: storeus.barbaraseagram.com

JOSEE HAMMILL'S FALL BRIDGE LESSONS

LEARN FROM THE 2020/2021 TEACHER OF THE YEAR!

BRIDGE BASICS

BEGINNERS BRIDGE SERIES...PLEASE TELL YOUR FRIENDS!

Our newsletter does not reach beginners so we rely on you to tell others about this amazing game and why they should learn to play!

Tuesdays 9:30 am to 11:30 am (EST) beginning on September 21st for 8 weeks

$240 CDN ($188 USD). Price includes taxes and Barbara Seagram Basic Bridge textbook. INTERMEDIATE I BRIDGE SERIES

Tuesdays 4 to 6 pm (EST) beginning on September 21st for 7 weeks.

For those who feel rusty and need a refresher and for those moving up from Basic lessons. Opportunities to play and practice online will be provided. Lessons are recorded and can be watched on your own time.

$210 CDN ($165 USD). Price includes taxes and Barbara Seagram Intermediate I textbook. INTERMEDIATE III BRIDGE SERIES

BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND!

Wednesdays 4 to 6 pm (EST) beginning on September 22nd for 6 weeks.

 Intermediate III is a full course on Defence and Conventions!

$180 CDN ($142 USD). Price includes taxes and Barbara Seagram Intermediate III textbook.

PRE-REGISTRATION FOR ALL CLASSES IS REQUIRED

 Contact Josée Hammill at [email protected]  or call 416-300-9140.

BARBADOS SUN SEA & SLAMS BRIDGE FEBRUARY 13-20, 2022

ACBL SECTIONAL BRIDGE TOURNAMENT SILVER MASTER POINTS: LOTS OF THEM!

SEVEN NIGHTS ACCOMMODATION INCLUDING ALL YOUR MEALS & DRINKS

USD $1,155.00 PER PERSON (DBL. OCC.) $1,470.00 SINGLE OCCUPANCY

Pay cash or you pay 5% surcharge if paying by credit card

EXTRA NIGHTS: $165.00 USD per person DBL OCC. or $210.00 per person SGL OCC.

Come early or stayover to tour this lovely island.

HOTEL: BARBADOS BEACH CLUB MAXWELL COAST ROAD, CHRIST CHURCH

THIS IS A VERY SPECIAL RATE

BREAKFAST, LUNCH, AFTERNOON TEA, DINNER & LOCAL DRINKS ARE ALL INCLUDED. HOUSE WINE WITH DINNER. MANAGER’S COCKTAIL PARTY. CLOSING BANQUET SAT EVE. TAXES INCLUDED. GRATUITIES ARE NOW INCLUDED. HOTEL GOVERNMENT LEVY INCLUDED.

Contact Roglyn Hinds [email protected] so she can arrange transportation to and from airport

TO BOOK: Contact Reservations Department at Barbados Beach Club 1-246-428-9900 or email [email protected] BOOKING CODE IS BRIDGE 2022

One night’s deposit is required by the hotel by credit card Cancellations within 28 nights of arrival: Penalty of 3 nights

TOURNAMENT CHAIR: ROGLYN HINDS 246-231-0149

Barbara Seagram Bridge | 220 Lawrence Ave. East, Toronto, Ontario M4N 1T2 Canada

[email protected] www.barbaraseagram.com 416-487-8321