Grandslam #12 May/Jun 2002

Message from the Convenor – Chris Wong

Hi Bridge Section Members,
Time seems to fly, doesn't it? My one-year term, as your Convenor is almost up. During the next Annual General Meeting of the Bridge Section, which will take place on 27th July 2002, the Bridge Section committee members will resign from their posts and a new committee will be elected. We urge all of you to attend this meeting and give us your valuable support and suggestions. Whether as just a participant in the selection of your committee representatives, or (hopefully) as one interested in being a part of the committee, we sincerely welcome you.

Lunch will be served before commencement of the AGM. At the conclusion of the AGM, we will proceed with our second annual Inter-Club Teams Tournament. We're sure it will be as successful and memorable as the first one held last year. Representatives will again come from the People's Association Retirees' Club, Serangoon Gardens Country Club and Changi Beach Club to vie for prizes and the honor of being on the winning Team.

On behalf of the Committee, I take this opportunity to thank you for your continual support and contribution in maintaining the viability of the SRC Bridge Section.

Bridge Course

The Beginner’s course conducted by Rahim will end on 8th May. There are altogether 8 people attending this course, 5 of whom are SRC Members. Watch out for some new faces at our Monday sessions real soon.

3. No Partner?

If you wish to attend our Monday practice sessions and you do not have a partner, do call Dorothy at (H) 63659768
(O) 67782880 (HP) 90351553 before 1pm on Monday. She will try her best to get you one.

4. SRC Bridge Results – 4th Mar to 22nd Apr 2002

DATE Pairs FIRST SECOND THIRD
4 Mar 10 Rahim/Ron Mr/Mrs Nagiah Helen/Jansie
11 Mar 11 Zain/Peter A. Rahim/Ron Mr/Mrs Leong
18 Mar 8 Adelene/Foo Rahim/Ron Zain/Eng Choo
25 Mar 10 Zain/Rahim Mr/Mrs Leong Richard/Jansie
1 Apr 10 Mr/Mrs Siak Rahim/Ron Carl/Chris
8 Apr 13 Rahim/Ron Dr/Mrs Siak Zain/Suan Lim
15 Apr 10 Dorothy/Ron Zain/Rahim Richard/Sei Hian
22 Apr 9 Zain/Richard Rahim/Ron Carl/Chris
29 Apr 14 Dr/Mrs Siak Mr/Mrs Ng Jane/Lucy
Special mention must go to Adelene/Foo for upsetting the odds on 18 Mar and 29 Apr. Well done indeed!

5. Bridge Escapade II – The Casino Strikes Back

This year’s Bridge getaway will again be to Genting Highlands from 30th June to 4th July and costs just $170 or $195.

Based on last year’s trip survey feedback, Karaoke and amusement park rides have been eliminated. In its place, there will be more buffet dinners (from 1 to 4), more Bridge sessions and a trip to Chin Swee Temple. In addition there will be food and gambling vouchers for everyone. Instead of staying in an apartment, there will now be a choice of 2 hotels and a special function room for Bridge. Guests are welcome.

For further details, please contact Shamim at 64486664 or email her at zarish@edsamail.com.sg.

6. Bridge Section AGM

Our AGM is scheduled for Saturday, 27 July 2002 in the 1883 Lounge. All Section members are cordially invited for Lunch at 12pm followed by the meeting and election of office bearers for 2002/3. If you wish to serve in the new committee, please discuss this with Chris. We hope that those who rarely attend our Monday sessions make an extra effort to come and meet their fellow players.
Double Teams Inter Club Invitational

Once again we will be inviting the clubs who have supported us during the year to our Double Teams Tournament to be held after our AGM on 13 July at 2pm. We are expecting a much closer fight, unlike our runaway win last year. If you are keen in taking part in this tournament, please inform any of the committee members of your interest during the regular Monday night Practice Session.

8. SRC Bridge Ranking

Since the advent of computerised scoring last year, we are now able to crunch out various kinds of information. Carl has recently compiled a “ranking” of SRC Bridge players based on Monday’s sessions during the first 3 months of the year. The accuracy of such a ranking over such a short period of time should not to be taken at face value as it does not compensate for the relative strength/weakness of the person’s partner, as well as other variables. Nevertheless, if you are curious to know how you stand, do see Carl on this.

In future, it may be possible to incorporate this kind of data as one factor in a more comprehensive evaluation that includes attendance at our Monday session, among others. It could then, perhaps, be used to optimize selection of players for tournaments.

9. Quick Tip of the Month

Experts avoid the use of Blackwood, but novices love it and even use it with a void!

10. Huh?

Why take a simple finesse to make your contract when you can go down in style on a triple squeeze play.

11. Misunderstanding

“We had a partnership misunderstanding. My partner assumed I knew what I was doing.”


12. Deja Vous

You know you're in trouble when you are the declarer and the opponents start drawing trumps.

13. Quote

I never disliked a man so much that I would return his diamonds
--- Zsa Zsa Gabor

This also applies to Bridge. Once a card is played (Diamonds or otherwise), it is played.

14. Bridge Ethics

Do you know that it is unethical and illegal to think for a long time when it is your turn to bid and then PASS? This provides illegal information to your partner that you have a borderline bid.

Similarly, as a defender, it is highly unethical to hesitate when you do not have an honour in the suit being played. For example, the declarer plays a low Club and there is a CA and CQ on the board. If you are not holding the CK and you hesitate before playing a low Club, this is considered both unethical and illegal as it can be seen as if you are deliberately trying to mislead the Declarer. An ethical player will play smoothly whether he has the CK or not. Do your emotions and facial expressions give unwarranted information during bidding and play? Stop it.

When playing at various clubs, one must always be mindful of the local rules and guidelines there; for example, whether you can use psychic bids or not.

Playing unethically may gain you a few tricks, but your opponents will remember your character. Surely your reputation is worth more than a winning a game? Is it not better to play and bid smoothly and occasionally make a mistake than to be labeled an unethical player?

14. Hands Analysis

In line with the theme of ethics, we have the Alcatraz Coup -- something you will not find in bridge books. Legend has it that an unnamed convict first used it in that notorious (ex)-prison. Although it is somewhat difficult to visualize a gang of cutthroat murderers gathered together for a game of bridge, who am I to say that it didn’t happen. I’m no spoilsport.

ALCATRAZ COUP

S : J 9 7 3 BIDDING BOTH VUL
H : K Q 9 6 2 S W N E
D : K 7 1D 1H X 1S
C : Q 10 P P 1NT P
S : A K 4 2 S: Q 10 8 6 2C 2S P P
H : J 10 8 7 5 H : - 3C P 3D X
D : Q 9 D : 10 5 4 3
C : A 4 C : 7 6 5 3 2 After some shabby
S : 5 bidding, South landed
H : A 4 3 in a decent 3DX contract.
D : A J 8 6 2
C : K J 9 8 Opening Lead : SK

West took the SK and shifted to a Heart. East trumped and led back a club to partner’s CA for another Heart ruff. East led a Spade and Declarer finally got in with a ruff. Having already lost 4 tricks, he could not afford to misplay Diamonds. He won with the DK in dummy and both defenders followed. He now led the D7 and East followed smoothly. With only the DQ left with the opposition, should he finesse the DJ or play for a drop with DA?

Rather than guess, the rogue’s warped mind came up with a unique “solution”. He played the HEART ACE. In the poor light, West thought it was the DA and dropped his DQ. At this point, South apologized and replaced the HA with the correct DA. Of course, if West had discarded, South would have also apologized and, this time, replaced it with the DJ!

It is far from clear what happened to the sneaky declarer. Based on the prison records, he “disappeared” that night and is thought to have escaped. The unsuccessful search was finally abandoned. The prison grapevine had a more grizzly ending. The inmates had beef stew for the first time the following day.

Bon Appetite!