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BRIDGE BULLETIN
NORTH SHORE BRIDGE CLUB
JULY 2010 |
PRESIDENT'S REPORT
It is hard to believe six months of the year have gone already, but we are past the shortest day now and already there is a small difference in daylight hours. I always think we are especially lucky to play bridge in winter when it is often too unpleasant to do much else.
The idea of a Card Dealing Machine has occupied quite a lot of our time in recent months and it was a real thrill to get such overwhelming support from members when we asked for their vote. We were reluctant to spend the Club's money on this when we heard of the many things that other Clubs had had sponsored for them, so we applied to the Pub Charities in the hope that they would sponsor one for us. They have agreed to pay for this and have deposited the money in the Club's Bank Account. Since receiving the money we have ordered the Dealing Machine and expect to have it delivered on 19 July and operating as soon as possible. One thing we can all look forward to is having the cards recorded accurately – and effortlessly.
Early in the year Norah Hamblin said she would like to donate something to the Club and readily agreed to the suggestion of buying 20 new card tables. It is such a pleasure to look at the room full of identical tables and we are truly grateful to Norah for her generosity and thoughtfulness.
The good numbers attending all sessions are making for some fun times and competitive bridge. Wednesday Social Bridge is very popular with new players and some older members and everyone seems to know each other. Monday night is slowing getting extra people and every pair makes a difference. We have been very spoilt by Heather Hart's fabulous baking at supper each night. Eleanor has a very social learner's group on Tuesday night and supper is also a highlight. Eleanor is such a tower of strength in every part of the Club and we all appreciate her tireless efforts to keep us all happy. Thank you Eleanor for everything you do, including our garden.
Keep warm everyone – soon it will be Spring – and keep enjoying your bridge.
by Judy Patton
WINTER MADNESS
The Winter Madness Day was a great success with Tony Wingfield (who took out 1st prize) arriving unrecognisable as a snowman.
Tony on his way to the Clubrooms
Brian Winsor was very innovative and looked completely mad whilst Gustav Taudien and Iris Berryman had the same idea coming as hardy boogie boarder.
Pictured from left to right:
Brian, Gillian, Annette, Vernon and Val
Vernon Duncum showed her acting skills as a skiing accident victim to the extent that some people are still asking “how is Vernon?” Val Gladwin was on hand as a mad nurse while other members arrived looking a million dollars in their furs.
Three of our newer members:
Joanne Zhu, Alice Linn and Mei Tsai at Party Day
Results were top N/S Dorothy Bollard and June Rea with 62.99%. Two visitors were top E/W but they were closely followed by Vernon Duncum and Jim Sigley with 61.24%.
by Gillian Howard
As usual Gillian puts a great deal of effort into these days making them go with a zing. Thank you Gillian.
Thanks also to the Belmont Lifestyle Village. For our Party Day back in May they provided another of their excellent food baskets for us to raffle and from this we raised $178. The lucky winner was Alice Linn. Thank you for your generosity Belmont Lifestyle Village.
THE OVER 70% CLUB
Ming Huang and Henry Sun make the list yet again – this time with 75.95% which will take a lot of beating!
NEW MEMBERS
Since our March Newsletter our membership numbers have swelled by 17.
Welcome to: Diana Bennetts, Peter Burridge Valerie Dickinson, George Grabner, Pamela Hayward, Alice Linn, Lesa Lomas, Stuart McFetridge, Lorna Perry (rejoined) Ronald Saunders, Gloria Smith, Mei Tsai, Adam Wakeford, Faye Walker, Kathy West, Betty Woolby and Joanne Zhu.
As well as taking up bridge Adam represented New Zealand recently playing Wheelchair Rugby at an international competition held in Australia. Let's hope at some stage Adam will also represent New Zealand at bridge!
WELCOME DAY
On Sunday 27 June 20 of the 30 new members who have joined our Club since the inaugural Welcome Day last October, came along to play with 'older, wiser, experienced' players.
Everyone seemed to enjoy the day and hopefully the new members gained a little 'wisdom and experience' and were not utterly confused. Welcome Days are now part of our annual calendar.
The winners on the day were N/S Mei Tsai (playing with our President Judy Patton) and E/W Lesa Lomas with the assistance of Dorothy Richards.
Thanks to those 'wiser' members for coming. We hope to see new members regularly at the Club from now on.
by Patricia Moore
DEALING MACHINE
The long awaited Dealing Machine arrives/has arrived this week after the enthusiastic support the trial received. From the end of July you will be enjoying computer dealt hands!
Over half of you returned your voting paper with only 16 votes cast against the proposal and the greater proportion approving purchase even without sponsorship.
We will be expressing our very sincere thanks to Pub Charities for their generosity.
by Patricia Moore
TEAMS EVENT
Nine Clubs, including North Shore, and some as far a field as Keri Keri, Dargaville and Whangarei went to the Auckland Centre on Saturday, June 30 to compete against each other in the Teams Event.
Each Club had a representative team in the Open, Intermediate and Junior grades and the scores registered by each were combined to give the Club's total.
Unfortunately North Shore didn't cover itself in glory. Mt Albert were the winners overall - their Junior team especially blitzing the field.
PLAYER NEWS
Joan Stanger hasn't been well lately and is still in hospital suffering from a bad chest infection.
Anne Freeman, a Monday morning player is undergoing chemotherapy at the moment but hopes to be back at bridge soon.
Lorraine Bell has had a major operation on her shoulder but is planning to return to the bridge table this Friday.
It's good to see Pip Blaylock playing again with a real sparkle in her eye.
On a sadder note, two ex-members died recently: Hazel Fraser who was a member for many years and a very good player – and Muriel Kilmister who played regularly on Friday nights until forced to give up bridge because of continuing ill-health.
SCORING
The 'golden rule' for Scorers is that all scores must be recorded exactly as they appear on the travelling sheets. Scorers are not permitted to change any score, even if it is obviously wrong, written in the wrong column or has a '?' beside it.
At our Club, it is South's job to record the contract and score. East is responsible for checking that the score is correct.
In the case of E/W being asked to move for the next round, the Director will show you the travelling sheet with the score. If you don't know what the calculation should be, ask the Director to look it up and ensure it is correctly recorded.
by Liz New
PLAYERS' NAMES AND COMPUTER NUMBERS
Computer Numbers are an essential part of the scoring process. Lately, the Scorers are encountering far too many that are incorrect or illegible. The person recording the players' names should ask each person at the table to record their own computer number (or at least view it to ensure it is correct).
Also, please record players' names in full (not just an initial for the first name) and ask visitors to print their own name on the travelling sheet – it is embarrassing to produce results with a misspelled name that will be repeated each time the visitor plays.
by Liz New
PHILIPPA'S FOCUS
Bridge protocols are based on Politeness and Logic and the Laws of Bridge centre around this.
The job of the Director (or Referee) is divided into two main areas:
Making the game enjoyable: the Director sets up the tables and controls the movement of the boards so that no-one gets an unfair advantage, and makes sure that the play progresses smoothly.
Restoring Equity: when someone has broken the rules by applying the Laws.
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The job of the Player is to make an enjoyable partnership.
There needs to be agreement about the system of play and conventions.
"A player should maintain a courteous attitude at all times." [Law 74A]
Bickering or rudeness to a partner or the opposition has no place at the Bridge Club as it causes embarrassment to everyone. If you don't like something your partner has done, say so pleasantly.
Start of Play.
You've finished the auction and now you are ready to play.The lead card is faced downwards on the table and partner is asked “May I lead”. At that point partner may wish to ask the opposition about the bidding. (Or it may be noticed that the lead should come from the other hand). Why didn't your partner ask during the auction? Possibly because he/she had no reason to do so.
If you ask the opposition a question about the bidding during the auction it is presumed that you may want to bid which suggests that you have some points and cards that may be worth a bid.
If you are never going to bid then the time to ask is when your partner places the lead card down. The card is not faced until you agree that the card may be led. [Law 41B]
The bidding pad is turned over after the third card has been played. Any of the four players can do this and, if it is left on the board, it must not obscure the vulnerability. [NZBridge Law].
Everyone makes mistakes
If there is an infringement call the Director immediately. It is never acceptable for players at the table to decide on a course of action to rectify or punish an error, even if they think they know the laws!
New players should not be bullied by more experienced players. If you are uncertain whether or not an infringement has occurred please call the Director.
If you are not sure of your rights, or haven't understood the Director's ruling please ask for a further explanation. The Director is there to help everyone have a pleasant and fair game and will explain again.
by Philippa Lowe
In future Newsletters Philippa will look at some more common mistakes, how to avoid them and the consequences.
BETH CAMPBELL,
EDITOR
