 Irish Bridge Journal |
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Dear Member
I’m delighted to attach a link to the eighth edition of the CBAI-produced Irish Bridge Journal (Autumn 2024). In it you’ll find the usual selection of articles and quizzes, results and upcoming fixtures, and I hope there will be something that you will enjoy. Thanks as always to our editor, Enda Murphy, our designer, Sue Power, all our contributors, and of course our advertisers – please support them whenever you can.
I hope that you are enjoying the new bridge season, and that things are going well wherever you play. Certainly at national level we are very pleased with our tournaments, which have had pretty much full houses so far. Congresses are also generally reporting increased numbers, which is great news. Let's hope that trend will be maintained for the rest of the season. Many of your regions will be holding their regional pairs qualifiers in the next few days. Please support these local competitions if you can; it's your chance to qualify to represent the region at the national finals in Ennistymon in February, and to compete for a national title at your grade. The bigger the turnout in your regional qualifier, the more qualifying spots you'll get.
While I am writing, we have had a few queries as to why the decision has been taken not to award masterpoints for summer play from now on. In fact, this simply restores the normal position. The CBAI's masterpoint season runs from 1 September to 31 May. This was always the case, and it is noted prominently in our Masterpoint Guide (circulated to all clubs and available on our website). When clubs opened up again for live bridge after the pandemic, in mid-2022, it was felt desirable to give members an additional incentive to return to the table, and to allow those who had elected not to play online a chance to catch up with those who had, in terms of masterpoints. So the decision was taken to offer clubs the option to extend the masterpoint season to the full calendar year if they wished. The need for such incentives has passed, and as a result the original masterpoint season has been restored, with effect from 1 September 2024 (so no masterpoints may be awarded for club competitions between 1 June and 31 August from here on). I trust that this will clarify things.
As we approach the festive season, I hope you will have a very happy Christmas, and that we will all have a healthy and safe new year, full of lots of enjoyable bridge. After some difficulties with suppliers, we have been able to source a variety of new bridge-themed gifts (mugs, coasters, ice-cube trays, tote bags, napkins, tea-towels, etc) and greeting cards, so our shop will have everything you need for prizes for your Christmas Party or gifts for your bridge friends.
With best wishes,
Dermot O’Brien
Chief Executive, CBAI
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| Last updated : 12th Dec 2024 15:10 GMT |
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 C.B.A.I. UPDATE |
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Welcome to the official start of the 2024/25 bridge season.
The CBAI's calendar of competitions is on our website, and the upcoming ones have been opened for online entry. The first is the Duais an Uachtarain, President Catherine Byrne's President's Prize (for Masters and Intermediate As), in the Portmarnock Resort & Golf Links, over three sessions on Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 September. Please make an effort to support our new President if you can.
Our neighbours in the NIBU are also inviting CBAI members to play in their online leagues, on the RealBridge platform. There will be competitions for Masters and for Intermediates, and teams can have up to seven members to cover unavailability. The competition will involve one Thursday night a month for eight months. You'll find full details, including how to enter, on the NIBU website. Closing date for entries is extended until 11 September.
The latest edition of the Irish Bridge Journal (Issue Number 7) has just been published. We've combined it this year with the annual CBAI Newsletter, in which the regions report on their activities during the previous season and their plans for the new one. You'll find the combined publication here. A big thank you as always to our editor, Enda Murphy, our designer Sue Power, all our contributors, and of course our advertisers - please support them when you can. You'll find lots of hotels advertising breaks, including some bridge breaks, if you are so minded. The Irish Bridge Diary is also available from your Regional Secretary or from head office, at a price of €6.
Finally, we hope to see you at some of our national competitions and congresses during the season. There are events for every grade, and you'll be made very welcome. Given that playing numbers in all the national competitions seem to have stabilised again, and that the CBAI's financial position is solid, it has recently been agreed to increase the number of prizes awarded in all these competitions, including the three Simultaneous Pairs events during the season.
As always, if you need any further information on anything raised here, or have any ideas or suggestions for the CBAI, please don't hesitate to contact us.
With best wishes,
Dermot O’Brien
Chief Executive, CBAI
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| Last updated : 9th Sep 2024 14:51 BST |
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| Grand Master Bridge LESSONS |
We look forward to seeing you!
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As you probably already know, statistics show that improving your Bridge can only be achieved effectively if you are taking lessons between club games.
With this in mind, here is the long awaited GMB Lesson programme for Spring 2024.We have a variety of lessons open to you at a number of venues.
We are delighted to be progressing our programme with Elm Park Golf Club whose members can sign up for Absolute Beginners at 5pm on Mondays and a new Improver's Course, with emphasis on playing hands, at 7.30pm on Monday Evenings. Both are starting next Monday the 5th of February and you can register at this link: https://grandmasterbridge.com/bridge-card-lessons/
Similarly, we are continuing a lessons programme with UCD with Absolute Beginners on 5pm on Tuesdays and a new Improver's Course with emphasis on playing hands at 7.30pm on Tuesday Evenings. Both are starting next Tuesday the 6th of February and you can register at this link: https://grandmasterbridge.com/bridge-card-lessons/
Again, we are continuing our lessons programme with Royal Irish Yacht Club with Absolute Beginners on 5pm on Thursdays and a new Improver's Course with emphasis on playing hands at 7.30pm on Thursday Evenings. Both are starting next Thursday the 8th of February and you can register at this link: https://grandmasterbridge.com/bridge-card-lessons/
We are also doing a Basic Bridge course for those who feel they need to get back to basics or have just finished a Beginner's Course in Roundwood, Co Wicklow. This course is starting on Monday the 12th of February and you can register at this link: https://grandmasterbridge.com/product/roundwood-parish-hall-absolute-beginners/
We are doing an Online Absolute Beginners class every Tuesday morning at 10am starting next Tuesday the 6th of February and you can register at this link: https://grandmasterbridge.com/product/absolute-beginners-2/
We are also starting an Online Improver's Course on Friday Mornings starting next Friday the 9th of February and you can register at this link: https://grandmasterbridge.com/product/improve-my-bridge-3/
Don't forget our great Wednesday night game at Taney Parish Community Hall, Taney Road, Dundrum every Wednesday evening at 7.30pm with a partner provided if you're on your own. All Welcome!
Details of all our courses are on our website at https://grandmasterbridge.com/
We hope to be sending you more news about seminars ans special offers for GMB Students.
Until then, be good, be safe and be nice to your partner!
Rory & Thomas
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| Last updated : 1st Feb 2024 12:16 GMT |
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| Laws of Bridge - 2017 |
Click to access Amended Laws of Bridge, to come into effect in September 2017
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| Last updated : 31st May 2017 13:55 GMT |
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| TIPS TO ENJOY YOUR BRIDGE GAME |
TIPS TO ENJOY YOUR BRIDGE GAME
At the Start of a Round
- Greet your opponents in a warm and friendly manner
Check that you have the correct boards
Announce the basics of your system – e.g. “forcing club, strength of No Trump opening card, 4 or 5 card majors”
- Check that you have 13 cards then look at your hand and sort it into suits. Don’t shift your cards from one hand to the other or shift suits around after sorting. Keep it fanned and don’t shut it up or put it down on the table.
During the Auction
- Pause a moment before making any call (which includes a Pass). If the opponent on your right has opened with more than one of any denomination or has made a jump bid, do not make any call until 10 seconds have elapsed.
- Remember if you pause for an unduly long time in normal circumstances, you may silence your partner if you then pass.
- Don’t bid after partner has made a pause before passing which was of significant length, unless the bid you make is clearly permissible on your own hand without anything but the minimum your opponents’ bidding would suggest may be in your partner’s hand. The onus will be on you to show that partner’s pause did not influence your bid.
- Bid and play without emphasis. Don’t vary the tone of your bidding – it should always be flat and unemphatic.
- Transfer bids over an opening 1NT are made by announcing “transfer” after your partner makes the bid
- Remember to alert your opponents to any call which is conventional below the level of 3NT. You only need to alert conventional calls above the level of 3NT on the first round of bidding e.g. 1♠ : P : 4♣ (needs to be alerted)
IF USING BIDDING BOXES
Do not allow your hand to hover over or fidget with the bidding cards in the bidding box while you are considering the bid you will make. Perceived uncertainty can convey unauthorised information.
Whenever an alert is required to draw attention to a conventional call made by partner, the ALERT card should be taken from the box and shown to both opponents (making sure it is seen by both), before being replaced in the box.
The next opponent to bid has the option to ask for the meaning of the bid.
If making a jump bid, before you take out the bid you intend to make, place the “Stop” card on the table to alert your next opponent that a jump bid is about to be made e.g a pre-emptive 3 ♥ bid.
Once you place your jump bid on the table, wait 10 seconds before returning the “Stop” card to the bidding box. This allows your opponent to bid “in tempo”, without undue hesitation that could convey information unfairly.
When your right hand opponent employs a stop card, wait for it to be removed before you make your next bid.
At the end of the auction, make sure the bidding is completed by having 3 passes on the table.
Leave the bidding cards on the table until the opening lead is made.
This allows declarer and both defenders to review and analyse the bidding. The opponent on lead has the opportunity to ask for clarification of the bidding e.g. the meaning of a bid etc. It also may help to prevent a lead out of turn.
Opening Lead
- Place the opening lead face down on the table
This prevents you leading out of turn
Your partner now has the opportunity to ask questions about the bidding. If they have none, they should say “Thank you” or “No questions” and you can turn your lead face up. Dummy can then be placed on the table.
Try to keep the board on the table, with North pointed in the correct direction, to ensure there will be no misboarding.
As Dummy
- When placing Dummy’s hand on the table and a suit contract is being played, the trump suit should be placed on Dummy’s right, Declarer’s left.
When Dummy, don’t play any card, however obvious, until asked by partner.
When Dummy, don’t look at opponent’s or partner’s hands or shift around on your seat.
As Dummy, you may alert Declarer if it appears that he/she may be about to play from the wrong hand BUT if you are not quick enough to prevent Declarer from playing from the wrong hand, you cannot intervene at all (Rule 42. b).
At the End of play
- Agree the result before entering the score and lifting the cards that have been played from the table – this allows you to check the cards in the correct order, if there should be a problem. During play, it is common practice to place the card vertically if your side has won the trick and horizontally if won by your opponents.
Don’t take the cards from the board after they have been returned to it after play. Penalties will be incurred if cards are misboarded.
Only move to the next table when the TD has moved the boards and asked you to move.
Calling the Director
- If anything should go wrong at the table, agree with your opponents to call the Tournament Director.
Let one player explain the facts to the TD and avoid raised voices that may distract other players at nearby tables.
Make the Tournament Director your friend – he/she is there to ensure everyone has a fair and enjoyable game.
More details are available in the annual CBAI Diary or from the rule Book – “The Laws of Duplicate Bridge”
Body Language
- Be aware of your own mannerisms and try to remain impassive so that you do not convey any unauthorised information about your hand.
- Be courteous to opponents and to your partner.
ENJOY YOUR GAME!!
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| Last updated : 10th Jun 2024 15:15 BST |
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