Grandslam #39

THE GRANDSLAM

SRC BRIDGE SECTION NEWSLETTER

October/November 06 ISSUE #39

1. Message from the Vice Convenor – Shamim Moledina

As Carlton Parker is somewhere in the Rocky Mountains, I am writing the message on his behalf. This is easy when you have good news to report!

The biggest news of the year is of course the extraordinary performance of our Singapore Youth Team who came in 3rd in the World Championships. Wow!!!

On the home front, after sweeping the top 3 positions in our mid-year SRC Open Teams event, our players went on to take 5 of the top 6 positions in the Siglap CC Open Pairs.

In this year’s Pesta Sukan, we were only represented in the Mixed Pairs where we took 4th place through Prof Yu and Ping. However we romped home with an easy victory in the Tanglin Club’s Double Teams.

I would like to thank all those members who took time to conduct additional training for our beginners and also to those who have been occasionally partnering the novices. This will go a long way to build up their confidence. It really helps when your partner is able to highlight your mistake immediately after each hand.

2. World Youth Championships – 29th July to 8th August

Singapore’s Junior Team (under 26 years) made a mockery of the world rankings by winning the bronze medal at the 11th World Youth Team. Favourites USA and Italy took the top 2 positions respectively. This reflects well on the standard of bridge which is played in Singapore and its prospect in the future.

This prestigious international Bridge tournament was held in Bangkok with a total of 18 teams competing for the Ortiz-Patiño Trophy. The other teams which qualified were Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China Hong Kong, Egypt, France, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Norway, Poland, Thailand and the USA (2 teams). Among a total of 44 pairs from these countries, Singapore’s anchor pair Poon Hua and Loo Choon Chou ranked first in their performance. The other members were Alex Loh, Kelvin Ng, Fabian Tan and Tan Li Yu and captained by Chua Gang (non-playing). What a fantastic birthday present for Singapore!

3. Pesta Sukan Mixed Pairs – 5th Aug

Congratulation goes to Prof. Yu Chun Yee and Zhang Ping for their 4th place finish at the Pesta Sukan Mixed Pairs at the Novotel, Clark Quay. The Pesta Sukan is a prestigious Annual Regional Tournament that attracts the best players from Singapore with representations from our neighbouring countries.

4. Siglap CC Open Pairs – 6th Aug

Once again SRC players dominated this annual event taking 5 of the top 6 positions! The 20 pairs who were participating were a mixed group of novices and experienced players. This is usually a recipe for a volatile result as experience players sometimes get confused by the erratic bidding and play of the novices.

This time, however, there were no surprises as SRC’s Shamim and Zain Moledina romped home ahead of CSC’s Mr. & Mrs, Yung. Tied at third place were Pat Leong and Leong Ngai Weng and Dorothy Wong and Ron Savage. At fifth was Helen and Beng Kiong Tham followed by Richard Lim, who was partnering Molly Wee.

5. CSC National Day Pot Luck Special – 9th Aug

With the 24 pairs dressed in white and red, the Chinese Swimming Club’s National Day Pot Luck Special went off without a hitch under the able organisation of Pat Leong. The players contributed food, desserts and wine to make the occasion a memorable one with lots of fellowship and merry making.

With most of the strong pairs seated in stationary positions, the scores were extremely spaced out with the top 2 positions exceeding 70% - an exceptionally rare outcome.

The match was won by Tan Peng Huat of CSC and Ronnie Oh with Zain Moledina of SRC and David Chew 2nd . SRC also took 5th place through Pat Leong and Leong Ngai Weng.

6. Tanglin Club Double Teams – 30th Sept

The wet weather did not dampen the enthusiasm of the clubs as they played each other in the Tanglin Club Double Team Invitational Shield. After 28 boards, SRC romped home with an easy victory of 218 VP. The SRC team players were Zain/Trevor Li, Shamim/Dulari Uppal, Yu Chun Yee/Zhang Ping and Pat/NW Leong. Hosts Tanglin Club were second with 209 with Singapore Island CC third and favourites Singapore Contract Bridge Association fourth. Congratulations to all for a commendable performance.

7. Singapore Open IMP Pairs – 1st Oct

23 Pairs vied for the trophy in the Singapore Open IMP Pairs over 2 sessions and 48 boards. SRC was represented through Zain Moledina who was partnering Trevor Li. After the morning session, they were in 2nd place but the exhausting afternoon session took its toll as they slipped to 5th position.

The tournament was won by L L Wong and How Yong.

8. SRC 7th Annual Open Pairs – 19th November

Don’t miss out on our event of the year for the Moledina Trophy and big cash prizes. Block out this date on your calendar and watch out for further details.

9. Bridgette Class – August 25th (theory) and Sept 1st (practice)
Sixteen members signed up for this simplified 2-person “board game” version of bridge. The smooth and professional teaching style of the game’s inventor Joli Kansil ensured the class was totally absorbed throughout the 2 sessions. While Bridge emphasizes partnership bidding and complex strategies, Bridgette tactics are simpler with a much greater luck element. As such, it is a great way to eventually move on to bridge.

Watch out for more Bridgette classes in future.



10. Bridge Rules of Thumb

5 tips on Leads

1. Never lead an honour that you wouldn't welcome covered.
2. When leading Partner's suit, play the top of a doubleton or touching honors. Lead low from three or more cards to an honour.
3. It is often correct to lead the unbid suit.
4. When you have no clear action on opening leads, play it safe.
5. Lead a high card to trap the high card in dummy.

11. Bridge Room

Bridge players at SRC will notice that the dart platform has been removed for our Tuesday game. This should come as a relief as several of our players had previously tripped on it. Our thanks especially goes to our Social Chairman Richard Yong, GM Rashid, Games Control Chairman Terence Sheperdson and Darts Convenor Jimmy Tan for all their help in resolving this safety issue.

12. SRC Tuesday Bridge Results from August 1st to Sept 26th

DATE FIRST SECOND THIRD

Aug 1st Rana/Shamim Eng Choo/Ron Oh Zain/Dulari=Ai Leng/Michael
Aug 8th Dulari/Zain Beng Tee/Jane Ron Oh/Soh Hong
Aug 15th Shamim/Dulari Jane/Lucy BK/Helen
Aug 22nd Carl/Leong Ai Leng/Lucy Yu/Ping
Aug 29th Nancy/Ron Oh Shamim/Dulari BK/Helen
Sep 5th Yu/Ping Dulari/Ron Oh Eng Choo/David
Sep 12th Shawn/Zain Jane/Beng Tee Alan/Singh
Sep 19th Shawn/Zain Dorothy/RonS Alan/RonOh
Sep 26th Shawn/Zain Dorothy/RonS BK/Sng = Lucy/Evelyn

13. PUZZLE – 3-2 Trump Fit (it’s easier than you think – try it!)

Most players have had the bizarre experience of being declarer in a 3-2 trump “fit”, typically through a bidding mishap or when partner passes your “short club” bid. What is the most number of tricks that can be won with such a hand against best defense (usually a killing trump lead)?

L I g h t e r S I d e O f B r I d g e

14. A Reason why Bridge is Better
You don't have to hide your bridge magazines

15. Another Reason why Bridge is Better
It is perfectly acceptable to hire a pro to play bridge with you once in a while

16. Antici-pain-tion
One gets used to abuse. It's the waiting to get abused that is so trying.

-- Rueful Rabbit.

17. Int-err
Unlike the physician, a bridge player cannot bury his mistakes.

18. Bottom Line
As long as you make your contract, who cares if the method is wrong.

19. Bridge of Love
Did you hear about the lovesick bridge player who always opens Hearts.

20. Better than Nothing?
Playing Bridge – the dreadful burden of having nothing better to do.

21. Never-ending Story
My partner likes to scold continuously. The problem is that every now and then he stops to breathe.

22. Limited Strategy
During the pressure of a bridge game, you should try to de-stress by taking deep breaths and relaxing your muscles to ease the tension. Relaxing your brain is fatal.

23. Bridge of Happiness?
Bridge can't make you happy ... but it does bring you a more pleasant form of misery

24. Signs that You are a Bridge Addict
You lay awake at night thinking about some hands you played earlier

25. Another Sign that You are a Bridge Addict
You make a simple lay down slam and talk about it to all your bridge friends.

26. Daffy-nit-shuns
Quick Tricks — a last-minute scurry by hookers before the police arrive.

27. Win-Win Solution?
My wife is very happy that I learned to play bridge. She fully approves of anything that makes me miserable.

28. Heart Ache, Heart Break
Q : What did the newly married wife say to her husband after he bid and made 7H?
A: Darling, I love you with all my Hearts.

Q : What did the battle-axe wife say to her long suffering husband after he bid and made 7H?
A : Idiot!! Why didn’t you bid the cold 7NT for the top?

29. Cheap Words
Why is it that every bridge player feels he is qualified to dish out advice even though he has never won a major tournament in his life?

30. One Point Hand
The hostess of her bridge club got a last minute call from one of the players that she was sick. Unable to get a replacement on such short notice, she fixes up her husband with John, a mediocre player with an erratic bidding style.

During the game, John got up and went to the bathroom, leaving the door slightly ajar. Everyone listened as he urinated into the toilet.

Embarrassed, his wife called out, "John, would you please close the door!"

John's partner said, "Never mind, it's the first time since we started playing that I've known what the man has in his hand!"

31. Daffy-nit-shuns - Bore
A bore is a person who you ask about how his bridge game went and he actually tells you all about it.

32. Doggone it
Said an irate tenant to the landlord: “I thought this place allows no dogs, how come every time I am ready for bed, I keeping hearing ‘ruff, ruff’ from next door?”

33. Slow Hand
Bridge is a game that needlessly prolongs the brain power of some of our most useless citizens.

34. Confusion Says ….
Every bridge player will improve to become a bore.

35. Hardball
If you watch a game, it's fun. If you play it, it's recreation. If you work at it, it's bridge.

36. Bottomless Pit
They were looking at the results after finishing their game, to compare it with the others on the Traveling Score Sheet. "This is down one"; "That one is down two"; and one of them pointed another result; "Oooo, this one is the Titanic."

37. Starting Young
Teacher called on six year old Johnny, the bridge player's son, to count for the class.
"One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten-uh, jack, queen, king, ace"

38. Unbalanced
Playing bridge is indispensable for those who have too much brain and very little life.

39. Pointless
Bridge Masterpoints are like a girl in a bikini. They seem to show a lot, but the important parts are hidden.

40. Yam Seng
Do you know what it means when your regular partner smiles and praises you?
It means you are totally drunk and playing with a beginner.

41. Relatively Speaking
A bridge expert loses a little less than everyone else.

42. Daffy-nit-shuns – End Play
End Play: Much less fun than foreplay

43. Answer to Puzzle - 3-2 Trump Fit
All 13 tricks if you are fortunate enough to get the following hand! With CLUBS as trumps,

Say, dummy has: S : 4-3-2 H: A-K-Q-5 D: 4-3-2 C: A-Q-J
and declarer has: S: A-K-Q-5 H: 4-3-2 D: A-K-Q-5 C: K-2
and both Opponents are 3-3-3-4 (4 trumps, of course)

Declarer can win all the tricks, even on a trump lead!

Zain Moledina - Editor
zaris@pacific.net.sg
October 1st 2006