Ipswich & Kesgrave Bridge Club
Thursday and Monday at 7:00pm
Thursdays: players have a choice; online on BBO or face-to-face in the Ropes Hall, Kesgrave Community Centre, Ipswich. Both sessions start at 7:00pm and although the results are not merged, all participants play the same deals. At Kesgrave we run a cashless system for collecting table money and players are billed for sessions played at the end of each month. Visiting players are welcome and must complete the Visitor Information Form.
Mondays: players in our Relaxed Pairs also have a choice; online on BBO or face-to-face at Kesgrave, both sessions start at 7:00pm. As the same boards are played, participants in both receive follow-up notes on the deals, distributed by email, usually within two days.
Before you play your first online game with us you need to register your details, using the forms, linked from the Online Bridge Club box, right.
If you need a partner, check our Partnership Desk. Non-members can be contacted by emailing Anne for their contact details – before 1:00pm on the day in question if possible.
Any questions, about any format, please let us know, we're here to help.
Challenge Match: Tyler Hill IV
We have again been challenged by Tyler Hill Bridge Club, the fourth in a continuing series against them (previously Jan & Dec 2022, Nov 2023). Currently the score stands 1-2 in their favour. The fourth match will be on BBO, 7pm, Wednesday 11th December.
This is a 'mass participation' match and anyone can play, of every ability and experience. There's no real limit to the number of teams we can field. It's a 'friendly': only 16 boards and if you play on any of our club evenings you qualify, you don't have to be a member. You can enter as a team-of-four or as a pair (we will find you teammates).
Sign up as a pair or a team from this form (more details there too). If you have any questions, contact the Club Captain, Mark Honess.
Autumn Charity Week
Donations
Our second 'Charity Week' of the year incorporated both sessions on Monday 11th November and both on Thursday 14th. All table-monies were donated together with a small top-up for a round number. Accordingly £200 will go to each of our chosen charities.
East Anglian Sailing Trust (EAST) who provide regular sailing sessions for disabled and disadvantaged adults and children. Committee member Peter Hudson is a volunteer with EAST. See the EAST website for more information.
Suffolk Refugee Support (SRS), an independent charity giving practical support to refugees and asylum seekers in Suffolk. SRS have more details of their activities on their website.
Annual General Meeting 2024
The minutes of our AGM are now available [second-top left] together with the 2023-24 accounts.
More below; scroll down or click on:
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| Deal of the Week |
Missed any? All past articles have their own page (also menu-item, left).
deal_of_the_week.js
This week's copy expected shortly…
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| Charitable Activities |
2024 Donations
Autumn
The next 'Charity Week' will that beginning Monday 11th November and again, the table-monies from all four sessions will be donated. On this occasion we have selected two, small local beneficaries.
East Anglian Sailing Trust (EAST) who provide regular sailing sessions for disabled and disadvantaged adults and children. Committee member Peter Hudson is a volunteer with EAST. See the EAST website for more information.
Suffolk Refugee Support (SRS), an independent charity giving practical support to refugees and asylum seekers in Suffolk. SRS have more details of their activities on their website.
Spring
We are pleased to announce that as a result of our Spring Charity Week we are donating £350 to East Anglian Air Ambulance. EAAA have thanked us, writing,
The lives of seriously injured and ill people across East Anglia are being saved today because of you and your fantastic fundraising. Thanks to donations from clubs like yours, friends and family will receive the expert critical care they need in an emergency, support with their recovery and, as well as this, people in the community will be able to learn the life-saving skills of how to deliver CPR – Your club really is making a difference.
2025 Charities
We hope to continue our donations in 2025 and would very much like to hear members' suggestions, espcially of smaller, local charities to support.
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| Malcolm Pryor at WBG |
One of our own is playing in the World Championships in Buenos Aires
Ipswich member Malcolm Pryor and his partner Ed Scerri took the silver medal in the Senior Pairs at the 16th World Bridge Games in Argentina.
That's Malcolm on the far left of the podium (in the shadows). He and Ed battled through the six-day event, qualifying, semi-final and final, three sessions a day.
The championship is the 16th World Bridge Games. Results, bulletins etc. are available on the dedicated Championship site.
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| Learn and Improve |
Teaching at Ipswich and Kesgrave Bridge Club
We run a number of courses aimed at Beginners and Intermediate Players. If you are interested please register your interest and we will be in touch with you to discuss what we offer and how that we might meet your bridge needs.
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| Monday Face-to-Face Anniversary |
Our Relaxed Monday Face-to-Face celebrates its first year!
In September 2023 we started our new face-to-face Relaxed Game.
The emphasis has been very much on being a relaxed and fun game with a bit of education for those who want it, There is always somebody on hand to answer questions and we produce a summary of the deals for anyone who wants to read it.
The game is aimed at being somewhere where someone who has just finished our Beginner's course feels comfortable. We are getting between five and nine tables and hopefully, as we finish each of our courses, the numbers will tick up (fingers crossed).
If you are interested in knowing more about the game email Chris (contact panel left) or come and join us for our Christmas Party on Monday 9th December.
… And how do we celebrate a year? With a cake of course!
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| Suffolk Club Teams-of-Eight |
Suffolk Club Teams-of-Eight
The annual Suffolk Bridge Club Teams of Eight event is being held face-to-face at Highwoods Community Centre, Colchester (CO4 9SR) at 2pm on Saturday 16th November, 2024.
This is for the Abbeygate Shield in which our club has a fine record. The event will be of two sessions with a break at around 4.00pm for a tea provided, as usual, by the local Sea Scouts. The winning team qualifies to represent Suffolk in the EBU Garden Cities Trophy Regional Final.
More details can be found on the SCBA website.
If you are interested in playing, preferably as a pair, please get in touch with Club Captain, Mark Honess (contact panel left).
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| EBU Changes to Announcements & Regulations 2022 & 2023 |
Changes from 7th August 2023
Further to the changes made below in 2022, after feedback, several aspects have been revisited.
Principally the changes extend announcements and constrain alerts of doubles. These are hard to summarise without repeating letter and verse of the text and face-to-face players should consult the updated Announcements Summary.
Changes from 1st September 2022
The EBU has made changes to announcements and the rules for strong openings. The new announcements include the following:
- Responder's transfers into a minor after a 1NT opening.
- Wide-ranging (but non-forcing) 1NT responses to an opening suit-bid.
- Two-over-one responses which force to game.
- Transfer responses to a prepared club.
There is an EBU guide, "Announcements Summary", on what to announce and alert.
There are also new rules on strong and non-strong opening bids, see the first link above or the Blue Book [PDF] for complete information.
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