E-News CONTENTS DECEMBER 2017 Presidents’ Notes Edition 4, Volume 3 of 2017 Director’s Corner President’s Notes Recent Club Photos & Results South Perth Personality This year we tried a new format for our Christmas Party which was a great success. We started with a wonderful cold lunch at midday followed by bridge Tournament Committee and ended the day with wine and cheese. Not to forget the Christmas hamper Partnership Coordinator raffle, won by Sue Lissiman. These events cannot happen without planning and preparation both before and on the day. Our thanks go to: Darrell who Bridge Togetherness initially organised the catering by Don who provided a delicious meal. Wilma coordinated the day and set out the seating plan and tables with their Future Events decorations. Jenny, who is always standing by to help wherever needed. Bill, Editors Notes our cheerful barman served drinks at lunch and after bridge, and Fran ran a fun afternoon of bridge. Top Bridge Players Australia wide. We were very pleased to welcome Glenn Cridland, Deputy Mayor and Pat South Perth/ BAWA Results Morris, Marketing Executive for Kings Tours and Travel who joined us for a Sponsors Christmas drink later in the afternoon. This year Kings has become our major sponsor through providing our personal scorers and advertising in our program. This is a new venture and is naturally subject to results. We appreciate their involvement in our club but to ensure it continues we need to support them. I encourage you all to look at their brochures and consider contacting them when you next plan a trip. They run quality organised tours throughout Australia and all over the world as well as plan individual trips. Ian and I have travelled with them several times and can wholeheartedly recommend them to you. I encourage you to try them out and please, and let them know you are from SPBC. Some changes to let you know about: Darrell Williams has stepped down from some of his roles at the club. We thank him for his tremendous contribution to the Club over many years and wish him well. Wendy Harman has stepped back into the role of Vice President, Cassie Morin will take over as Principal Bar Manager and Lyndall Steed will chair the Education and Planning Committee. On the directing scene: Dave Munro will be overseas for the first three months of the year and Fran Muller is having surgery in January taking her out of action until March. Garth Scotford will direct on Mondays, and Jeannie Ravn on Thursdays until their return. We wish Dave and Fran well in their absence. On health matters, we have recently installed two automatic hand sanitisers for your hygiene and encourage you to use them. We have had repeated requests from members for the club to purchase a defibrillator and recent publicity has made it clear they do save lives. A concern was: Who would use it if required? Members responded enthusiastically to our email enquiry and some are already familiar with its use. A representative of St John’s Ambulance attended a committee meeting to explain its function and use and now I am very pleased to let you know Future Events that the Club will purchase defibrillator in the new year. We will organise a familiarisation or training session for members who wish to help if needed. Bridge World Championships Finally, it remains for me to wish you all a very Happy Christmas and New Year. De Jan Howell pg. 1 DIRECTOR’S CORNER – GARTH SCOTFORD WHEN CAN I ENQUIRE ABOUT THE BIDDING OR CONTRACT? The bridge laws about when you can recap or review are quite precise and you may be tempted to think “What’s all the fuss about?” However, these laws are there to protect you. Opponents may unwittingly (or, exceptionally and unfortunately, wittingly) give information to partner through the question that they ask or when they ask it. So, remember to confine yourself to what follows if you wish to avoid the Director being called to your table because you have strayed from what is legal. While you are still in the Auction Period (i.e. before the Final Pass): When it’s your turn to call, you may either ask for all previous calls to be restated (usually not necessary if bidding boxes are in use) or for an opponent’s call to be explained. You can’t ask for a partial review of previous calls or stop the review before it is completed. After the Final Pass and before the Opening Lead is Faced: With leader’s opening lead face down on the table (i.e.it can’t be withdrawn no matter what you ask because it is regarded as played) leader’s partner and declarer (but not dummy) may again ask for a complete restatement or explanation of the contract or a call. Once Play is Under Way: You may require a review of the complete auction at your first turn to play a card. That’s your last chance to do so. Your right expires when you lay your card. However, things are more generous in relation to explanations of bidding. You may ask questions about that all through the play period but only at your turn to play. There is one other thing that you can do throughout the play period and that is to ask “What contract are we in?” but, again, only at your turn to play. But, Beware!......... In any request for explanation, be conscious of the fact that, if you ask about a single call, you may be penalised for asking a “pointed” question i.e. you may be regarded as having brought that bid to partner’s attention for an inappropriate reason and he or she now has unauthorised information. It is far safer to make a general enquiry about the whole bidding sequence. The etiquette of the game also demands that you don’t waste your own time or that of others, so, in general, don’t ask questions about the bidding during the auction period UNLESS one of the possible answers would prompt you to bid. If you have a “no hope” hand and no answer would prompt you to bid, don’t ask at this stage. Leave it until after the Final Pass and then, if important to you, deal with it by a full review request. Don’t ask a question if you know the answer and the sole purpose is to benefit your partner. pg. 2 Finally, if you are the one controlling the Bridgemate, remember that you have no special rights. If you can’t remember at any stage what contract you are in, don’t bring the screen to life to find out unless you do so at your turn to play. Play well ==================================================== SOUTH PERTH BRIDGE RESULTS – a full report may be found at the end of the Magazine. Masters in Teams of Three 1st PLACE 2ND PLACE Val Isle (Master) Sarita Singh, Alfred Leung, Lyndall Steed (Master), Julie Crewe, Chris England Bill Bradshaw and Salim Songerwala (President) Jane Macgregor and Salim Songerwala (President) This year's joint Melville and South Perth Bridge Club's Masters in Teams of Three competition for members with less than 150 masterpoints was played at Melville on Sunday 8th October. Fourteen teams competed, directed by Dave Parham. Each team of three was led by a master and consisted of all members of either club. Our thanks go to the players for supporting this competition. Without this we cannot run the event which helps less experienced players gain practice in teams’ events. As usual everyone enjoyed themselves and a particular thank you for lavish supper provided by Melville afterwards. PHARMACY 77 PAIRS Played on 20th September 2017 1st Trevor and Kirstyn Fuller pg. 3 SOUTH PERTH BRIDGE CLUB MIXED PAIRS 1st: Dave Munro 2nd: Jonathan Free 3rd: Liz McNeill and Doreen Jones and Mei Heung and Tony Stevens ------------------------------------------------ 8TH October 2017 SOUTH PERTH WINNING TEAM IN TEAMS OF TWELVE HELD AT MELVILLE BRIDGE CLUB MELBOURNE CUP - 7TH NOVEMBER 2017 t JOHN COLEMAN TROPHY: HAT PARADE WINNERS AND RUNNERS UP Dave Munro and Pim Bliss pg. 4 A DEAL FOR THE BRIDGE PLAYER WHO LIKES A CHALLENGE In roaming through Bridge articles on the Internet, I came across the following. I have to admit that I have not managed to locate the book as yet but I look forward to doing so, as it must make thought provoking reading and hopefully a many thoughts on play. Geza Ottlik and Hugh Kelsey wrote ‘ADVENTURES IN CARD PLAY’ in 1979. This book is generally considered to be the toughest bridge book ever published. ========================================================== SOUTH PERTH BRIDGE CLUB PERSONALITY I felt it was time to bring to members, another South Perth Bridge Club personality. When I mentioned this title to Elizabeth McMillen, she dissolved into laughter at the word ‘personality’ and said her husband would laugh even louder when she told him. I spent an hilarious thirty minutes with Elizabeth. Her personality exudes fun and confidence. Without too much prompting I learned just a little of her life and I am delighted to bring it to you. The very small part I play in the South Perth Bridge Club, in writing ENews, gives me the pleasure of getting to know the members. I have known Elizabeth for many years, yet now I realise, I did not know her at all. Elizabeth, who is the youngest of three children, was born in Tasmania at Lake Margaret which I understand, is the second wettest place in Australia with annually over 200 inches of rain.