Grandslam #11 Mar/Apr 2002

Message from the Convenor – Chris Wong

Hi All Section Members,
Let me wish you all a belated Happy & Prosperous Chinese New Year. I hope you have enjoyed some "lo-hei" lunches and dinners with your friends, colleagues and relatives in this Year of the Black Water Horse.
Your Bridge Section committee is also galloping ahead by bringing you more activities this year. The SRC Management Committee has recently informed us that our expense budget for this year has been approved. The good news is that the new budget is slightly higher than last year.
We are now developing the plans for our two major events this year -- the AGM cum Inter-Club Double Teams Tournament in the middle of the year and the Open Pairs Tournament at the end. Besides these events, we would also be sending some of our section members to participate in tournaments hosted by other clubs.
On 5th March 2002, we will start yet another session of the popular "Bridge Beginners Course". We hope to be able to run more such courses if the response is good. We are fortunate to have Rahim Rehmat as the resident lecturer/teacher.
In the meantime, stay tuned for future notices and we hope to see you at our weekly Monday practice sessions.

2. Chinese Swimming Club Open Pairs – 25 Jan

This Tournament attracted over 20 Pairs. A nominal prize fund collection of $3 was followed by snacks. After 24 boards, several of which were slams, Zain/Shamim of SRC came in first with over 70%. Congratulations.
We like to suggest that SRC section members attend this monthly tournament which is held at 2.30pm on the last Saturday of the month at CSC. It will provide them with exposure to top bridge players in Singapore for just $3, including snacks.

Double Trouble

Learning she was going to have twins, the bridge playing wife said, ... "That's just like my husband, doubling me when I'm vulnerable”.

Bridge Course

The Bridge section has appointed Rahim Rehmat to again conduct a Beginner’s course, starting on Wednesday, March 6. SRC members can join at a highly subsidised special price of just $30 for 8 lessons of 3 hour each, inclusive of tea/coffee and notes upon joining the section.
Also, SRC members who have attended a previous Beginner’s course and wish to refresh their memory can join the course free. To register, they should call Shamim 4486664 or submit the registration and section form, which are available at the foyer.

5. Daffy-nit-shuns

People with small minds talk about other people.
People with ordinary minds talk about events. ... ...
People with great minds talk about ideas. ... ... ...
People with warped minds talk about bridge hands.

6. SRC Bridge Results – 7th Jan to 25th Feb 2002

DATE Pairs FIRST SECOND THIRD
7 Jan 9 Carl/Chris Rahim/Stella Eng Choo/Veronica
14 Jan 7 Helen/Jansie Dorothy/Richard Rahim/Zain
21 Jan 10 Shamim/Zain Rahim/Ron Lucy/Alan
28 Jan 10 Dorothy/Richard Zain/Krishnan Mr/Mrs Leong
4 Feb 12 Rahim/Ron Helen/Jansie Soh Hong/Wang Li
11 Feb 8 Carl/Chris Lawrence/Yew Chung David/Zain
13 Feb 9 Alan/Ron Shamim/Zain David/Eng Choo
18 Feb 7 Zain/Krishnan* Ron/Rahim Pauline/Stella
25 Feb 7 Rahim/Ron Zain/Richard Mr/Mrs Leong

*On 18 February, Zain and Krishnan managed 83.3%, which is the highest percentage ever achieved at SRC.


SRC Bridge Section conducted its first “Open House” on 02/02/02 in conjunction with the Re-opening of Basement 2.
During the day, about 20 curious members dropped by to find out more about this fascinating and universal game.

8. Q & A

Q : Do you know what the difference is between a mad psycho serial killer and a bridge partner? ...

A : You can reason with the serial killer.

9. Bridge Escapade to Genting

Due to its overwhelming success last year, we are once again organising a trip to Genting. The main difference is that we will be staying in a hotel and renting a function room for bridge. This is based on last year’s feedback. We will also be incorporating some minor changes to the activities. Two things that will not change is the value for money and having lots of fun.

The dates are from Sunday 30th June to Thursday 4th July. Make sure you book your leave early. Watch out for details in May.

10. Bid Eight Clubs over Seven No-Trumps?

Would you believe that during bridge’s early days, you were allowed to bid at the 8 level? This was the ultimate sacrifice against an opponent’s grandslam contract. Not any more.


11. Bridge Olympics

Bridge was a demonstration sport at the 2002 Olympics at Salt Lake City. In Turin, Italy in 2006, Bridge is expected to become a full fledge Winter Olympic sport, says Jose Damiani, president of the World Bridge Federation.

It will no doubt be interesting to see the slips and slams happening at the bridge table instead of the ice hockey rink.

I can almost picture a team of 4 middle-aged men hobbling their way to the winner’s podium in a stadium of 50,000 spectators with their jaws flat on the ground, totally stunned.

12. Hands Analysis
In Grandslam #10 on hand #1, I mentioned how a contract can be made by partially drawing trumps. On further scrutiny, I now believe that “reverse dummy” would provide a better percentage of success.

For this issue, I have selected a hand from 1964 Women’s Olympiad. The bidding is quite interesting as only Clubs are bid until the final contract!

CLUBS TILL THE END (7S by South))

S : K Q 10 5 BIDDING N-S VUL
H : A 8 3 N E S W
D : Q J 7 4 1C 2C 3C 5C
C : A J P 6C 7S P
S : 8 2 S: 6 3 P P
H : Q 5 H : J 9 7 4
D : 10 9 6 2 D : 5
C : 9 7 5 4 3 C : K Q 10 8 6 2
S : A J 9 7 4
H : K 10 6 2
D : A K 8 3
C : - Opening Lead : C4

North’s 1C shows 16+ points. East’s non-vulnerable overcall of 2C is natural and paves the way for further E-W interference. South’s 3C is a cue bid showing a strong hand and club control with slam interest. West’s 5C is a sacrifice and to block the communications. North’s pass is forcing and asks South to double or bid any slam. East’s 6C further jams the bidding. By now South is fed up and jumps to a grandslam. At another table, N-S slowly bid their way to 6S without interference.

On the opening lead of a club, South discards a Heart on the CA. He still had a Heart loser but the gods favoured the reckless that day. After running all the trumps and diamonds, dummy was left with HA, H8 and CJ. Poor East could not protect both the Jack of hearts and the clubs and ended up with HJ, H9 and CK. The HA and HK dropped all the hearts, making the humble H10 the 13th trick.