Grandslam #41

THE GRANDSLAM

SRC BRIDGE SECTION NEWSLETTER

February/March 07 ISSUE #41

1. Message from the Convenor – Carlton Parker

First Time is a Charm
Have you noticed how a new partnership often does better than expected? "We probably won't do very well," you think to yourself as play begins, "we've never partnered before." And then, at the end of the day, the result turns out pretty good -- surprisingly good. Maybe it's because with a new partner you are generally on your best behavior: bidding properly, playing predictably. Nothing fancy; nothing cute.

Here's a thought. Play every game with your regular partner as if it is your first partnership: steady-on, smiley and supportive and no negative post-mortems. You might just find yourself enjoying the game much more. And do better as well!

2. SRC’s Hari Raya Special – 2nd Jan

A packed room fought it out over 27 boards and 9 rounds. With one of the closest finish ever, SRC’s Carlton and Chris nipped out Lucy and Peng Huat by a solitary point. Well done! Zain and Ron were another point behind.

1st Chris Wong (SRC) & Carlton Parker (SRC) 58.7%
2nd Lucy Lim & Tan Peng Huat 58.3%
3rd Zain Moledina (SRC) & Ron Savage 57.8%
4th Alan Chua & Beng Tee 55.4%
5th Chia CL & Chia BY 52.2%

3. Chinese Swimming Club New Year Pot Luck Special – 30th Dec

23 Pairs celebrated the upcoming New Year with lots of food and drinks and bridge. SRC pairs managed to take the 2nd and 5th places.

1st Chia CL & Chia BY
2nd Shawn Tham & Zain Moledina (SRC)
3rd Alan Chua/Lucy Lim
4th Lilio/David Chew
5th Ron Savage & Dorothy Wong (SRC)

4. Genting Bridge Escapade #8 - Jan 21-25

Our regular Genting Escapade was once again filled to capacity when 34 bridge players and their friends escaped the stormy weather to this cool hill resort of Malaysia. There was, as expected, lots of bridge, mahjong, live shows, casino and best of all -- NO rain!

5. Bridge Rules of Thumb

1. If you are playing with a player less experienced than you, play only the methods he knows.

2. Don't double a contract unless you are prepared to double the contract to which they are likely to run.

3. When you are watching others play, do not speak or display any gesture that would influence the bidding or play.

4.. Make a plan before playing the first card – a poor plan is still better than no plan.

5. Do not use Blackwood with a void.

6. SRC Club Points – 31st December 2006 Update

Moledina, Zain 441
Moledina, Shamim 357
Yu Chun Yee 309
Leong Ngai Weng 168
Murli Vassanmal 81
Chiew Chow Chan, Pat 120
Tham Beng Kiong 135
Wong Kim Eng, Dorothy 144
Parker, Carlton J. 66
Tham, Helen 117
Wong Chee Khuen, Chris 18
Lim Koon Heng, Richard 93
Sim, Irene 12
Tan, Florence 12

Since SRC became a corporate member of SCBA on 1st July 2006, our section members became eligible for masterpoints based on their performance at our weekly Tuesday session, special games and our major Tournaments. Convenor Carl meticulously tabulates the points attained and submits it to SCBA for inclusion into their overall tabulation, which can be viewed at the SCBA website.

Please note that SRC members may not receive points when playing at other clubs, even if it is an SCBA corporate member. Our first 6 months club points as of 31st Dec 2006 are given on the adjacent table. (NOTE: 100 Club Points=1 Masterpoint)

Masterpoints should never be taken literally as an indication of the bridge player’s strength. This is because the person may have been accumulating them for a different time period. Some of the other variables are the frequency of participation, quality of his partner, not being awarded MP for some games and the strength of the field. A much better indication would be the player’s performance in major competitions or better still, just observe the person in action!

7. SRC Tuesday Bridge Results from November 21st to Jan 30th

DATE FIRST /SECOND /THIRD
Nov 21 Shamim/Zain Dorothy/RonS Carl/RonOh
Nov 28 Alan/Nancy Evelyn/Veronica Carl/RonOh
Dec 5 Helen/James Ping/Yu Dorothy/RonS
Dec 12 Dorothy/RonS Ping/Yu RonOh/Alan
Dec 19 Ping/Yu Molly/Richard Leong/Lucy
Dec 26 Shawn/Zain Ping/Yu Molly/Richard
Jan 2 Lucy/Wei Jie Jane/Helen Dot/RonS
Jan 9 Shamim/Murli Shawn/Zain Dot/RonS
Jan 16 Shawn/Zain Shamim/Pat Richard/Molly
Jan 30 Shawn/Zain RonOh/Alan Richard/AiLeng

Points to Ponder

8. Coup d’elite
“People who can plan out and execute a successful Smother Coup belong to a most exclusive club in the world.”

9. Unfair Exchange
“With hesitations, body language cues and the familiarity of partner’s style, bridge can never really be a totally fair game.”

10. Be All
“Those who make Bridge a major part of their lives will become no more of value than the game itself.”

11. Puzzle – Not So Grand Slam – very easy (Answer at bottom)
Can you create a Hand with the least HCP you need to defeat any Grandslam?
BROKEN BRIDG –JQK (jokes, quotes & krap)

12. A Reason why Bridge is Better
Foursomes are normal

13. Another Reason why Bridge is Better
No one will ever tell you that you will go blind if you play bridge by yourself.

14. A Sign that You are a Bridge Addict
People in your family get their supply of cards from you

15. Bargain Basement
What do you call a basement full of bridge players?
A whine cellar

16. Fatal Attraction
“I thought I wanted a friendly, social game but it turns out I just wanted to abuse and be abused.”

17. God’s Dilemma
Too many bridge players, not enough brains

18. Daffy-nit-shuns - Experience
Experience : A marvelous thing that enables you to recognise the same mistake you made the last time.

19. Daffy-nit-shuns -- 2 over 1
2 over 1 : More fun than 1 over 1

20. Who’s the Boss?
LKY opens 4H, GCT Doubles, LHL Passes and GY bids 4S.
LKY looks intently at everyone, tears away the bidding slip and again bids 4H on the new slip.
All pass.

21. Important Rules
Leading Through Strength — a sure-fire way to make your queens disappear.

22. Daffy-nit-shuns -- Bridge
Bridge is organised loafing.

23. How’s That Again?
Bridge is 90% mental and 50% luck.

24. Confusion Says ….
Bridge like horse racing. One winner many losers.

25. Musick to the Ears
"The people who gave us bridge and called it a game are the same people who gave us bag pipes and called it music."

26. Ultimate Optimist
“My finesses lose, I can’t remember the cards, my bidding is terrible and no one wants to partner me anymore. Other than that, bridge is great.”

27. From Frying Pan to Fire
The cure for boredom is bridge. There is no cure for bridge.

28. Bad Vibrations
Bridge players must believe in luck. How else to explain the successes of those bridge players we don’t like.

29. Keeping it Simple
Never attribute a mistake to carelessness when it can be adequately explained by stupidity.

30. Fallback Position
Bridge is what is left when you run out of meaningful things to do.

31. Unlucky for Some
If God wanted us to play bridge, he would have given us 13 fingers.

32. Well Protected
“I played Bridge once when I was 10 years old. It was like an inoculation and made me immune from it for the rest of my life.”

33. Important Bridge Rules
Eight Ever, Nine Never —what happens whenever you play 3 NT

34. Bending the Cards
It is always the best policy to admit your mistake, unless of course you are an exceptionally good liar.

35. Comatose
Anyone who plays 3 rounds of bridge in a day should be medically declared brain-dead.

36. Reaching Your Potential.
When you are not doing well in a tournament, cheer up, the worst is yet to come.


37. Puzzle -- Not So Grand Slam -- Answer
You need just 7 HCP (with these cards) to defeat any Grandslam.

A J1098 J1098 J1098

Zain Moledina - Editor
zaris@pacific.net.sg
February 1st 2007