Dear Members,
What good news WA had this week. I’ve been telling my family that I thought we’d be back in June but it was really wishful thinking! BAWA will be giving us guidelines but I do think we have anticipated much of what they will advise us to do. We have put up extra sanitisers at each entrance. Unfortunately the dishwasher is not installed as the red tape is unbelievable. We are in the process of understanding our obligations and hygiene protocols that need to be implemented. We will not open until we are ready and abiding by all rules set out by the WA Government. We are working towards an opening of week commencing 15th June.
We have some more exciting news for you…. 🥺 when you come to the club you won’t need cash!! No, it’s not going to be free, sadly, but you will be able to pay by card. Credit cards, debit cards and even Amex. When we told you in my first newsletter that we were going electronic, I bet you didn’t think we were going to be one of the first clubs to take credit cards as table money payment!! Those of you who want to pay cash may still do so, but the idea of cash payments has been frowned upon for so many weeks that we should be used to paying by card. We will be hoping that you will be paying your subs on line as well, but nearer the time we’ll give you those details. Exciting isn’t it?
Online Bridge continues to offer the chance for play during COVID-19 restrictions.
Online tournaments are now being regularly run by both Rockingham and Mandurah Clubs with all players from both clubs welcome.
Tournaments are run :
Mondays from 1pm by Rockingham (registration from 11.10am Monday)
Thursdays from 1pm by Mandurah (registration from 11.10am Thursday)
Casual play is offered on Saturdays at 2pm.
The results of the Master Point days are now on our Results Page – thanks to Neville. Click here to access.
For more information on online bridge check the website or contact Mike Fulwood (online coordinator) on mike.fulwood@lca.org.au
Mike Fulwood
Online Co-ordinator
Bio’s Bio’s Bio’s, I don’t know why I hate writing them, maybe because I have been able to push a lot into my so far given years that I don’t want to sound like, been there done that and I have the Tee Shirt to prove it, so here is a very brief snapshot.
I am a madly patriotic Aussie with a big bias for “Westralia”, born in East Fremantle (yes I could hear the siren from “Old Easts” ground). Our family home turns one hundred this year and before being sold was host to three generations of my family.
I started working around Perth in the sixties, being lucky enough to be employed at one stage at 6PR which was THE rock station at the time, in the late sixties I joined the Navy and spent the next twenty odd years living all over Oz and developing a deep and abiding love of this country.
In the eighties my late husband and I returned to Perth and set up home in Safety Bay, I pursued my next career with Australia Post working in Post Offices, Administration and as a training officer.
I have always been involved with clubs and community organisations and currently serve on the board of the local refuge and SCALES I have served on committees and boards from club from state to national level and for many years was involved in the training of Naval Reserve Cadets.
I have played many sports over the years; hockey, netball, lawn bowls, darts and a poor try to golf to name a few. Cards I have played socially ranging from cribbage to canasta and poker since I was about six years old but had never played BRIDGE until my late sixties and can’t believe what I was missing out on; I think if I live to be 150 I should have just about got some of it right.
I am an eclectic reader and enjoy most music, love crosswords even the cryptic one, I really enjoy people, love all animals but have a special fondness for the feline variety, I am a social person but I am also very comfortable with my own company and I am always up for a good debate.
Here are some videos, images that will hopefully bring some joy.
South has 15 HCP (High Card Points) and an awesome suit in ♥.
He’s obviously itching to immediately bid a full game – 4♥. (With a hand like that who needs a partner right? 😏)
Well: Big Mistake!! No, huge mistake (as Julia Roberts said) 😏
An opening bid of 4♥ is a “Sign Off” bid, which usually shows a weak hand, after which partner will bid “Pass”, even if he has a good hand, (and then the partnership stands to miss a Slam).
So South was wise to resist temptation and to open 1♥ .
Of course, after his partner responded 2♥, showing a weak hand, South could proceed to bidding a full game of 4♥, without the worry of missing a Slam. “No hurry no worry” 😏
And now for the correct play and our weekly riddle:
You’re in South. West has lead with the ♠K.
Dummy displays and you can clearly count 4 losers in the black suits.
1. Is there a way you can get rid of one of the losers?
2. How will you play to enhance your chances of making the contract?
We have 7 sure tricks: 1 in ♠, 4 in ♥, 1 in ♦, 1 in ♣
The play seems simple:
We will win with the ♠A and finesse in ♣. If the finesse succeeds, our problem is solved.
But what if the finesse fails? East will continue with ♠ and we might fail to make the contract?
Well, then let’s cut off communication in the ♠ suit, by holding-up the ♠A twice (“Rule of 7”). Now, if the finesse fails, East will not be able to play ♠.
But wait a minute… what if we don’t win with the ♠A and East switches to ♦?
We will win with the ♦A and finesse in ♣, but then, if it fails, opponents will continue in ♦, and prevent us from making the contract.
Worried? Confused?
Let’s take a deep breath, clear our mind and take note of a simple fact: The lead card – ♠2 (4th best) indicates that West started with 4 cards (not more) therefore East too has 4 cards so the opponents can only win 3 tricks at most, so why worry?
Not only should we not have to hold up the ♠A it’s important that we win with it immediately, otherwise we will encourage East to switch to ♦ – This is where the real danger lies!
(One of the opponents has at least 5 cards in ♦, so if the finesse in ♣ fails, the opponents will win 4 more tricks in ♦ and the contract will fail).
The correct play:
1. Win with ♠A (don’t hold-up).
2. Finesse in ♣ – East wins
3. Opponents win 3 tricks in ♠
4. Cash the remaining tricks to make the contract.
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Don’t focus on the lead suit only– try to assess the “full picture”.
Hello to all Members. If you know of any of our members who are not well, please let me know and I will send them an appropriate card.
Thank you.
Betty Philpot.
Welfare Officer.
That’s all folks. Stay safe, keep healthy and if you have any news, stories, jokes and tips that you want to share – please complete the form below.
