Welcome to the website of Bridge on the Edge, based in St. John's, NL, Canada.  In 2016 we became a player owned bridge club.  We support a respectful culture, both at the bridge table and in all BOTE communications, for the enjoyment and growth of all members.  

Please check with any Board member if you need additional information.

Members who want to use the member's functions (ie bookings etc), please ensure you've accessed the site using the bridgeweb link bridgewebs.com/onedge/.

For members interested in improving their game through a mentoring program please contact Wanda Lundrigan at wandagail.wl@gmail.com for details and assignment of a mentor

★ ★ ★  STEPHEN OUTERBRIDGE WINS BACK to BACK CLUB CHAMPIONSHIPS  ★ ★ ★

Last week from Monday, November 18, to Thursday November 21 was Club Championships across the lands and Stephen accomplished the very rare feat of winning both BOTE  Events by some pretty impressive margins. Paired with one of his favourite partners, Tom Dale, on Monday, he won the Match Point game (EW) with an impressive 62.96%. This was more than enough for top spot overall. First NS, 2nd. overall, also with a great score of 57.87% were Geri Thompson & Sandra Tobin. Well done ladies! A number of players finished in the overalls wining increased masterpoints allotments. Mary & Michelle were 3rd. OA, Betty & Fran 4th., Marguerite & Regina 5th., followed by Margaret & Rick, Carole & Susan, and Peggy & Shog.

The dreaded IMP Pairs Game came up on Thursday. Try to stay awake as I attempt to explain the methodology that is next to impossible to apply at the table.

IMP Pairs score each board across the entire field! A “par” result is already pre-calculated for that board. You score against the par.  Suppose a hand is played 12 times with 4 results of +620 and 8 results of +170. We add up all the scores = 3840 and divide by the Field number of tables 12. So Board Par = 320. If you bid and make game, your 620 is 300 pts. over par. Now converted to IMPs you win 8 on that board. Players who missed game, but played well to win +170 are 150 below par so they lose 4 imps. Often the freak scores, say a -1100 are thrown out of the average compilation so as to maintain equilibrium.

What’s the winning strategy? Well, there are very few magic bullets & no real routes to stealing any board.

IMP scoring rewards careful play, especially if Declarer take no risks as Overtricks are worth little.

As in teams, we refuse to aggressively double part scores and we are sure to leave them undisturbed in minor suit contracts below game. At IMPs -670 is a kiss of death, while going +100 vs. their 110 is chicken feed. Give away an overtrick on defense - no problem! But always cash the setting trick to obtain your par. Yes.

If a vulnerable game seems about 55-60% or better, maybe give it a go. It will pay off if it makes. However, the poster child in MPs, (which is any NT plus score), goes by the wayside, as that NT bonus (40) is insignificant at IMPs. Alas, sad, but true, a minor suit game is worth about as much 3NT +430.

So this is all the artifice Stephen, playing with Roy on Thursday, had to digest to turn in another monster win, with a score of 67.01 total IMPs. This worked out to be 67.92% & good for fourth place Overall in The Common Game in all of North America; he was just a fraction behind the First Place winner’s 68.90%. Perhaps less than 1 IMP in the difference. A number of good pairs had some similar impressive showings in Thursdays BOTE Club Championship Game. Following successively in the A Overalls were - Peggy & Esther, (EW 1st. B & C) Michelle & Rahul, (NS 1st. B & C) June & Regina, Michael & Pramila and Vehbi & Bink. Then came Judith & Allison, Heidi & Susan (OB), Alice & Shakti (SA) and Kevin & Marguerite (SC).

It was great to see so many participants playing so well in both of our games. Congratulations to all those players who placed and took home masterpoints.

Don’t forget, for those of you who are still around while the big cats are all away in Vegas, we are having a special game for you and any mice friends you might know on Monday, December 2.

It will be a lot of fun. Hope to see you then!

Twenty of our regular duplicate players are going to a National bridge tournament in Las Vegas for ten days, we wish them good cards, good luck and safe travels.  In the meantime, back in St. John’s, on Monday December 2nd, we stay-at-home mice are  going to have a fun day, while the cat’s away.  

First, at about 12:30pm, we’ll have pizza and then, about 1:00pm, we will run a regular duplicate game playing 21 boards at a nice easy pace.  We will keep score, there will be a Director, we will move round the room and play against different partnerships and there will be an opportunity to go over the hands afterwards. We hope to match up a regular duplicate player with a Supervised or Improver players.  Deirdre and Judith (Chief Mouse) will do the partnerships, however if you are a Supervised player and really, really want to play but really, really don’t want to play with anyone but your regular partner, email me at info@bridgeontheedge.ca and we’ll accommodate that. We thought it would be fun to have a few small prizes so if anyone wants to donate a jar of jam, bar of soap or similar bring them in either on the day or beforehand and give them to me.

So, sign up on our website as an individual or as a group on or before Sunday December 1st (we need time to organize the partnerships and know how much pizza to buy). Unless I hear otherwise,  Deirdre and I will treat each person signed up as an individual and assign partnerships . 

See you at the club!

Chief Mouse

Hello Everyone,

Your nomination committee is busy getting ready for the annual election of the new Board to be held during the BOTE AGM on Monday, December 16, at 10:30 a.m.  The AGM will be held at The Royal Canadian Legion, 59 Blackmarsh Road. Our Annual Christmas Dinner will follow the AGM at the same location.

As you know the current Administrative Board of BOTE has done an extraordinary job during this past year infusing our club with new energy, exciting opportunities for team games, novelty games, bridge instruction , and supervised play.  With the AGM will come an opportunity for us all to thank them for their huge and valued effort.

The BOTE Executive comprises of 7 positions, several of which have served the first of a two-year term per the BOTE constitution.  Those elected this year will also serve two years thus guaranteeing continued experience on our elected Administrative Board.

•   President -  Roy Perry will serve the second of a two-year term.
•   Vice-President - to be elected
•   Secretary - Judith McIntyre will serve the second of a two-year term.
  
•   Treasurer - Regina Clarke will serve the second of a two-year term.
•   1^st Member at Large - to be elected.
•   2^nd Member at Large - to be elected.
•   3^rd Member at Large - Michelle Walsh will serve the second of a two-year term.

The Nomination Committee's role is to find the best candidate for each position. To that end, we are most interested in hearing from you. If you would like to offer yourself as a candidate for election or nominate a fellow BOTE member to be considered, please contact us at: nominations@bridgeontheedge.ca.  Also, please note that we will be accepting nominations from the floor at the AGM.

Sincerely,
Wanda and Marguerite

The time has changed, nights are shortening, weather is worsening, what to do, what to do?  *Idea!*  . . . .  head on over to the Bridge club for lessons, Supervised Play and fun, competitive games.  Problem solved, phew.

There are lots of interesting things happening this month and next.

Planning ahead Monday 16th December is going to be busy.

First, BotE’s Annual General Meeting will be held at the Legion on Blackmarsh Road at 10:30am.  The  agenda includes Annual Reports from the present Board; elections for the three vacant positions and questions and suggestions from the floor  . . this will be followed by our Christmas Luncheon. Turkey dinner is on the menu with vegetarian and gluten free stir-fry options available, should that be your preference. Price for members $30, non-members $35.  If you plan to attend please let us know and pay before the 2nd of December.  Michelle or  Susan, (or Rahul or the Director of  the day) can take your information and $$. It will be a delicious meal and fun time.  

Following the luncheon we will scoot back to the Swilers’ for The Santa Shuffle, our regular Open Pairs game, with maybe some social tables on the side.

So that’s looking ahead, what’s happening in November? 

The 2025 Membership drive is now underway.  To renew your membership for 2025 simply e-transfer $25 to treasurer@bridgeontheedge.ca using the password Swilers. If you have joined the club since September there is no need to renew you are covered until the end of 2025.  Membership benefits include reduced prices at Supervised Play, lessons and the Christmas lunch and, of course, getting these informative emails delivered to your inbox, lol.  

Supervised Play will continue on Mondays until the 25th of November when it will finish up until January.  HOWEVER!! on Monday December 2nd all but one of the Directors and the Manager will be away at a tournament so we are running ’The Cat’s Away' special event with lunchtime pizza and a mixed game in the afternoon with relaxed rules, timing and some interesting  prizes.  We need SP players to sign up to pair with Regular duplicate players.  This will even out the field and everyone will meet new partners. Sign up as an individual on or before Sunday 1st December.

Special Games with extra points will be held on the 18th and 21st November with IMP scoring on the 21st. 

Bridge Essential Lessons,  taught by Roy Perry, continue through November. Held on Thursday morning at 10:00 am (except there is an extra one on Monday 4th November).  These contain extremely useful information for both newer and more experienced players.  Topics still to be covered include Overcalls, Negative doubles, Takeout doubles, Ace Asking Conventions and Strong Opening Bids.  Cost is $10 for members, $15 for non-members.  Check out our calendar for exact dates.

Food Bank  We are all aware of the increasing demands being placed on our Provincial Food Banks and many members are making their own donations in their own way.  At the club we will have a box available for anyone that would find it easier to bring a donation to the club rather than take it to the Food Bank themselves. One of the Board Members will deliver any contributions. 

Practice Time  If any members would like to come along during a regular game and set-up a practice table we can have some tables in the bar area. If the Director has time they will be happy to help with any questions that may arise.

And finally a big thank you to anyone that takes time to help out at any time, bringing cookies, putting up the bidding boxes, helping clear up after the game, it all helps make the club run more smoothly and more enjoyable for everyone.  

See you at the club!

Bridge on the Edge is happy to announce that we will be offering several Education Opportunities in October and November. All classes will be held at the Swilers’ Club on Crosbie Rd. from 10:00 am to noon. 

For players who already have an understanding of the basics, but want to improve their game, we are offering eight (8) lessons on Bridge Essentials.

These will be taught by Roy Perry, Diamond Life Master, and the dates and content are:-

Thursday Oct. 17th Major suit openings, raises, minor suit openings and raises
Thursday Oct. 24th Stayman, transfers, systems with overcalls
Thursday Oct. 31st Pre-Emptive bidding, weak 2s & 3s and responses, intermediate 4s
Monday Nov. 4th Overcalls, Unusual overcalls and Michaels
Thursday Nov. 7th Negative Doubles & Overcalls - Michael's continuation
Monday Nov. 11th *NO CLASS (POSTPONED) See Nov 28th
Thursday Nov. 14th Take-out Doubles, Responses & Cue bids
Thursday Nov. 21st  Strong 2 Club bids & Responses, Strong 2NT with continuations
Thursday Nov. 28th Defensive Play, Leads, Carding Agreements. Types of Signals
 

There will be instruction and practice hands. Cost will be $10 for members, $15 for non-members, pay-as-you-go.  Registration is available on our website for members, non-members are most welcome and can register at Education@bridgeontheedge.ca.

Please share this information with anyone you know who, as said by Omar Sharif, would like to learn   ’The most entertaining and intelligent card game ever invented’ 

And don’t forget our Supervised Play Monday 9:30am to noon and our Open Pairs games Monday, Wednesday and Thursday starting at 1:00pm. 

See you at the club!!