Grandslam #40

THE GRANDSLAM

SRC BRIDGE SECTION NEWSLETTER

December 06/January 07 ISSUE #40

------ Special Partner Issue ------

Message from the Convenor – Carlton Parker
For the past month or so we've had the opportunity for lots of challenging play as various clubs scramble to host one last tournament before the year is over. Back in my native California, folks are looking forward to this month's Thanksgiving Holiday. But giving thanks is something we can do anywhere, and perhaps especially during this festive season.
We should all be thankful to have found the fascinating game of Contract Bridge and for the wonderfully diverse and interesting group of players we share it with. Of course we should always remember to thank our partners -- the regular ones and the occasional ones.
However, I'd like to recognize another kind of partnership: the Bridge Clubs with which we have built a special and lasting friendship. So to the Chinese Swimming Club, the Siglap Community Club, the Geylang West Bridge Club and the Serangoon Gardens Country Club we say sincerely, "Thank you, partner."


2. SRC 7th Annual Open Pairs – 19 November

21 pairs battled it out for the Moledina Challenge Trophy but alas, there can be only one winner. At the end, outsiders Ai Leng and Tina hit top form to upset the favorites to win the tournament. Well done! SRC’s Zain & Shamim took 2nd with Prof Yu (SRC) and Ping 3rd, Trevor and Murugesu 4th. The crossword (see below) prize went to the only all-correct entry by Florence Tan.

Our deepest appreciation goes to Mr. Richard Yong our Social Chairman, who awarded the prizes and has been so supportive of our section throughout the years.

Thanks also go to Syqin Edwards, our bridge coordinator, who organized the function and painstakingly keyed in over 700 individual scores into the computer. Thanks to Gerald Tan for directing the event, Murli and Suan Lin for their gifts, Carlton for the computer scoring and program, Zain for the crossword and the bridge committee (and their spouses) and friends for helping out in so many ways.

Open Section SRC Section

1st Chew Ai Leng & Tina Hui 62.8% 1st Shamim & Zain Moledina 59.9%

2nd Yu Chun Yee (SRC) & Zhang Ping 58.8% 2nd Helen & BK Tham 54.9%

3rd Trevor Li & James Murugesu 58.0% 3rd Adelene Sheperdson/Dorothy Wong

3. Batam – SRC Bridge Friendly = 29th – 31st Oct

Forget about the bridge to Malaysia. SRC’s Bridge now spans to Indonesia!

In our first bridge foray outside Singapore, we sent a group of 10 bridge players to the island of Batam to play against the Batam Bridge Club and other players from the Riau Archipelago.

Although several of the Indonesian players were world-class, semi-professional and national representatives, it was surprising to see that they were so unbelievably polite, friendly and humble – always willing to help and point out better lines of play when asked. Singapore has a lot to learn about social skills from the top Indonesian bridge players.

Sunday’s game was a 3-round Swiss Teams event and screens were used. This was a first-time experience for almost all of our players. The outcome was never in doubt as the powerful Indonesians took the top 2 position with a mixed Indonesian/SRC team third.

1st Elfi Amir, Miftahuddin, Dr. Sugiarto, Prijanto

2nd Hidayatullah, Robert Sianipar, Yatno, Elan Ramadanus

3rd Agus, Yesmet, Florence Tan (SRC), Lucy Lim

Florence and Lucy were higher than cloud nine after the game as everybody was congratulating them on their performance.

The next day was the pair event and once again the Indonesians dominated by taking the top 3 positions but SRC salvaged some honours by grabbing the next 2 slots in this impressive field.

1st Agus & Yesmet

2nd Robert Sianipar & Rusliden

3rd Prijanto & Eko

4th Zain & Shamim Moledina (SRC)

5th Ron Savage & Dorothy Wong (SRC)

Our deepest thanks go to Mr. Rusliden, Chairman of the Riau Archipelago and Mr. Soegiarto, Chairman of the Batam Bridge Club and all their members for their hospitality and kindness in organising the games.

Our special appreciation goes to our SRC Management Committee, especially to Mr. Johnny Goh, Capt. Koh, Mr. Richard Yong, Mr. Deepak Singapuri and Mr. Stephen Goh for the support that made this possible. The valuable experience gained will no doubt be eventually converted into future accolades for SRC.

4. Outside Tournaments

The Hari Raya Special Game was held at SCBA on October 14th. The sole representative from SRC was Zain Moledina who was partnering Ron Savage and scored 54.9%. The winner was Ivan Mok and Kelvin Ong.

The Bukit Timah CC Annual Open Pairs was held on November 4th and attracted 32 pairs. Again SRC was only represented by Zain who partnered Trevor Li and finished 4th with 58.2%. The winners were Junyi Zhu and Likun Xing.

The next day was the Serangoon Gardens CC Open Pairs which was well represented by 7 players from SRC. The match was won by Wang Pei Yi and C C Loo. Above average scores from the SRC pairs were Zain Moledina (partnering Rahim Rahmat) 54.2%, NW Leong/Shamim Moledina 54.0%, Murli Vassanmal (partnering Tan Peng Huat) 53.4% and Adelene Sheperdson (partnering Helen Tan) 51.0%.

SRC was again well represented at the Geylang West CC 1st Invitational Pairs with 6 players. Top honours went to Sng Tze Cheow/Koh Sei Hian with Ron Oh/Tan Eng Choo second. SRC took the next 2 spots with Richard Lim (partnering Molly Wee) and Shamim & Zain Moledina. Carlton Parker and Chris Wong also put in a good show at 53.4%.

5. Two Points to Ponder

1. Expect partner to play poorly, and he will play poorly.

Treat him as he could be, and he will become what he should be.

2. The concept of bridge partners never having an argument

suggests a lack of spirit only to be admired in sheep.

6. Puzzle – Crossword from the 2006 SRC 7th Annual Open Pairs

Across Clues

6. The last bid but not necessarily the last call (5,2,6)

7. When you do a take-out double, partner will assume you can _____ (8) any remaining suit

8. It’s standard in NT to establish your ____ (4) suit

9. “_____ (6) Minor”

12. When sacrificing, it’s vital to know how many tricks you can afford to ______ (2,4)

14. To open “light” in the balancing position, you need a decent suit and ____ (6) nine HCP

16. It’s the most common movement for fewer than eight tables (6)

19. ____ (4), Indonesia (site of 1995 World Youth Bridge Team Championships)

21. You ruff high forcing declarer to ruff higher thus promoting your partner’s trump to a winner. This maneuver is known as an _____ (8)

22. It’s not for take-out (7,6)


Bridge Crossword Puzzle
By Zain Moledina ♦ Edited by Carlton Parker 1 2 3 4 5
6

7 8

9 10 11 12 13

14 15 16 17 18

19 20 21

22


Down Clues

1. A ____ (6) is when a player must follow suit but doesn’t

2. When your finesse works, try to ____ (6) it if possible

3. In highly distributional hands, length is more important

than ____ (8)

4. After all trumps are ____ (6), you can run your side suit

5. You need about 13 points to ____ (4) at the one level

10. A ____ (3) NT opening bid usually shows a narrow point range

11. Hearts and diamonds are ____ (3,5)

13. See 10-down

15. The author of the Bridge Baron software wrote his first Bridge program in 1958 on a _____ (6) computer

17. Many players ____ (4,2) with some hands before a match

18. It is proper etiquette to not talk ____ (6) during a game

20. Tops of suits (4)

7. Bridge Rules of Thumb

Here are 5 tips which involve your partner.

1. When in doubt over partner's bid, DON'T PASS (All Strange Bids are Forcing!).

2. When your shortest suit is partner's longest suit, imagine reasons to defend.

3. When your partnership clearly has more points then the opponents, play offense or double them when you defend.

4. The most important aspect of partnership understanding is which bids are forcing, which are invitational, and which are sign-off.

5. Mentally place a certain card in partner's hand if it is realistic and necessary to defeat the contract.

8. Choosing A Partner

In this special “partner” issue we look at the issue of partner! Some guidelines to help you find one are listed below.

About equal or slightly better than you – to avoid domination (if much better) or frustration (if much worse).
Willing to match your bidding style and share decisions on changes.
Willing to grow with you – slowly adding conventions, discuss hands.
Personality that is supportive and willing to admit mistakes.
A person who is “nice” and “fun” who will not embarrass you at the table.
A person who always makes it easy for you rather than getting you to “work it out” on the table.
Wow! A tall order indeed! (Peter Arnett where are you???? .. z)

Remember to always play with several regular partners to cater for turnover and speed up your development.

9. SRC Tuesday Bridge Results from October 3rd to November 14th

DATE FIRST SECOND THIRD .

Oct 3rd Shawn/Zain Dorothy/RonS Molly/Richard

Oct 10th Molly/Richard RonOh/Rana Nancy/Evelyn

Oct 17th Leong/Pat Alan/RonOh Nancy/Evelyn

Oct 24th RonS/Yu Alan/RonOh Leong/Pat

Oct 31st Leong/Shamim Molly/Richard Shawn/Zain

Nov 7th Dorothy/RonS Leong/Pat LaiMeng/NgKong

Nov 14th Shamim/Zain Shawn/Yung Nancy/RonOh

BROKEN BRIDG –JQK (jokes, quotes & krap)

10. A Reason why Bridge is Better

Your current partner doesn't become upset about people you played bridge with long ago

11. Another Reason why Bridge is Better

If your partner takes pictures of you at the table, you don't have to worry about them showing up in the tabloids and the internet.

12. A Sign that You are a Bridge Addict

After each successful hand, you give tips and advise to your partner.

13. Ace in the Hole

If you get a good partner, you'll become happy; if you get a bad one, there is always poker.

14. Fast Forward

Partner, you're playing worse every day. Right now you're playing like the middle of next week.

15. Winning Move

My partner has made a major contribution to Bridge – he stopped playing it.

16. End Play

My partner's bridge play would improve significantly if he were dead.

17. Perfecting the Imperfect

In the beginning God made idiots. That was just practice. Then he made bridge partners.

18. Shock and Awe
Always acknowledge a mistake quickly. This will throw your partner off guard and allow you an opportunity to commit more.

19. Some Un-chanted Evening

Thank you partner, I had a wonderful evening -- too bad this wasn't it.

20. Reverse Signals

Always forgive your partners. Nothing annoys them so much.

21. Fall Guy

Q: If you drop my partner and a brick out of a plane, which one would hit the ground first?
A: Who cares?

22. Not so Close Encounter
Q: What's the difference between a nice partner & a UFO?
A: I don't know. I've never seen either.

23. Sympathy for the Devil
Ok partner, you are right. I'm cocky and arrogant. But that doesn't mean I'm not a nice person.

24. How’s That Again?

I can win every argument with my partner. As a sign of their great respect, nobody wants to partner me.

25. Developing a Partnership
My partner says he has a photographic memory - I am not sure about the film.

26. All in the Family

Sometimes when I look at my partner, I wish his father had been gay.

27. Perfect Timing
Everyone makes mistakes. The trick is to make them only when your partner goes to the toilet.

28. Burning Love

I love my partner. I am so happy that I found that one special person I can annoy over and over again.

29. Breaking up is Easy to Do

When someone steals your partner there is no better revenge than to let him keep him.

30. Daffy-nit-shuns
Bigamy is having one partner too many. Monogamy is the same.


31. Slip Sliding Away
Finding a good partner is like dipping your hand into a bag of snakes in the hope of pulling out an eel.

32. Neither Nor
I've had bad luck with both my partners. The first one left me and the second one didn't.

33. Confusion Says ….

When partner says too busy to play bridge, he really says too busy to play with you.

34. Answer to Bridge Crossword Puzzle

Across : 6. SEVENNOTRUMPS 7. TOLERATE 8. LONG 9. BETTER 12. GODOWN

14. AROUND 18. HOWELL 19. BALI 21. UPPERCUT 22. PENALTYDOUBLE

Down : 1. REVOKE 2. REPEAT 3. STRENGTH 4. PULLED 5. OPEN 10. TWO

11. REDSUITS 13. ONE 15. UNIVAC 17. WARMUP 18. LOUDLY 19. ACES

Ed’s note : This issue is released 10 days early as I will be out of town during 1st Dec period.

Zain Moledina - Editor

zaris@pacific.net.sg

November 21st 2006