The Grandslam #52 Dec 08/Jan 09

THE GRANDSLAM
SRC BRIDGE SECTION NEWSLETTER
Dec 08/Jan 09 ISSUE #52


1. Message from the Convenor – Zain Moledina
After a lapse of 3 years, we finally rejoined the SCBA 2008 Inter-Club League. We almost didn’t as we wanted to concentrate on the Premier League which was going on at the time. We entered with an objective to get promoted, namely, 2nd Place. I am extremely pleased to report that our team, after winning the Premier League continued their streak with a double. As icing on the cake, we also won the Swiss Consolation in the Knockout Cup! Our team name “Dreamers” says it all. Because only in our dreams did we dare to imagine such results.

A big thank you to those who took the time to submit the survey forms. Cheng Huat and I have read every one. While the novices put a lot of emphasis on training and social bridge, our experienced players focused on tournaments and successes, No surprise here. This does not reflect a shift in the profiles of our members; rather it is a natural evolution that occurs as a player gets better. It was also heartening to see that even novices felt that successes were important to the section and to SRC. Based on these results, it is clear that no significant changes are required to the way we are running the section. One thing that is very apparent is that we need to keep helping our new members and build their confidence. Experienced players please take note. It is vital that we have a large base of improving players where we can draw our future teams.

2. SCBA Inter-Club League April 12th to 25th Oct 2008 – Final Results
When we pulled ahead in the 2008 Premier League, we decided to also enter the Singapore Contract Bridge Association's Inter-Club League and Knockout Cup.
As a new team, we were put into the 3rd Division as per the rules of the contest. Our dreams of a comfortable time were shattered when 1st Division BTCC-A split into BTCC-C who also had to join our division. This spiced up the division and resulted in a 2-horse race.
We had to play some of the stronger teams in the first half and fell into second place. Towards the latter half of the tournament, our efforts to catch up were foiled as 2 school teams gave us walkovers and with it, our chance to take the badly needed full points from them. However, before the last match, these same rules turned in our favour. These same teams also gave walkovers to other teams and were therefore disqualified and everybody’s scores against them were erased. With equity restored and the playing field level once again, we suddenly had a narrow 3VP lead! We made no error on the final match as we took the full 25 points to seal the win.
vs NUS-C Won 18 – 12 vs NTU-B Won 25 - 3
vs BTCC-B Won 25 – 0 vs NUSS Blue Won 21 – 9
vs BTCC-C Lost 14 – 16 vs Hwa Chong Institution (Disqualified)
vs Raffles JC Won 22-8 vs St. Andrews JC (Disqualified)
vs Japan Club Won 25-5

Final placing : 1st SRC Dreamers 150VP
2nd BTCC-C 147VP 3rd NUSS Blue 120VP
Div 1 Winners: Friends of Sheep Div 2 Winners: Saniva

The Inter-Club League Cup was won by the Bridge Bears. However, we managed to top the Swiss Consolation in a field of 22. It was a great job by the team who recovered from a shaky start to end with 4 straight victories. A quote from Dr. Wong Choo Wai, President of the SCBA “In particular, SRC Dreamers (from 3rd Division, but will likely be promoted) did extremely well to overcome opponents from the 1st and 2nd Divisions to win the Swiss Consolations!”

vs BTCC-B (Div 3) Won 78 -49 IMPs vs Bozzetto (Azzurro) (Div 1) Lost 35-47
vs SICC (Red) (Div 2) Lost 27-86 IMPs vs Japan Club (Div 3) Won 24-6 VP
vs BTCC C (Div 3) Won 19-11 VP vs SCBA B (Div 1) Won 20-10 VP
vs D’Rakes (Div 2) Won 16-14 VP
Final Ranking Swiss Consolation: 1st SRC Dreamers 115 VP 2nd D’Rakes 111 VP
3rd SCBA B 102 VP 3rd BTCC “C” 102 VP
A point to note is that we played and won against all the runners-ups making the journey to the top all the more challenging.
The team members are Zain Moledina (Captain), Prof Yu Chun Yee (Vice Captain). Prof C C Chen, Caio Feilhaber, Shawn Tham, Murli Vassanmal, Shamim Moledina, Zhang Ping, N. W. Leong & Pat Leong.. Well done indeed!

A celebration game was held on Sunday 26th Oct at the Bibik to commemorate the victory. It was a light-hearted individual event that was won by Zhang Ping followed by Greg Basmadjian and Ron Savage.

3. SRC 2008 9th Open Pairs – 23rd November
Our premier pair event of the year for the Moledina Challenge Trophy started off with registration at 2pm. President Johnny Goh graced the event and said a few welcoming words and the relevance of bridge in our aging population.
While some worked feverously against the clock to finish the Bridge Crossword Puzzle (see below), others headed for the snacks.
The grueling 17-round event under the able directorship of Mr. Derrick Heng and Scorer Chum Chan Fai went off without a hitch. An excellent dinner was served after round 13.
The event was won by Sui Sim and Trevor followed by Terje and Ze Ying. SRC represented pairs took the next 3 positions. Congratulations to all.

1st Dr. Trevor Li & S S Chang 65.0%
2nd Lie Terje & Lam Ze Ying 63.1%
3rd Prof Yu Chun Yee (SRC) & Zhang Ping 56.9%
4th Carl Parker (SRC) & Chris Wong (SRC) 54.9%
5th Shamim & Zain Moledina (SRC) 53.6%

4. Serangoon Gardens Country Club President’s Cup -- 2nd November
It was a friendly affair with old friends making contact and catching up on changes during the year. There was a big contingent from SRC and the players did not disappoint. Last year’s runners-up Shamim Moledina, repeated the position again this year with Prof Yu Chun Yee with 64.3% while Zain Moledina and Trevor Li took 3rd. Carlton Parker and Chris Wong were close behind at 5th with Richard Lim and Molly Wee had a very respectable 7th with 55.7%

5. Did You Know?
Some of the new interest in bridge can be traced to a study published in the June 2003 Issue of The New England Journal of Medicine. It suggested that mentally challenging activities, including bridge, could slow the onset of Alzheimer's disease.

6. SRC Bridge Escapade to Cherating Beach Malaysia 13th-16th October
What does paradise look like? How about spotless golden sands, beautiful sunrises, sea-facing resort rooms, a full moon rising over the ocean and a private room for non-stop bridge?
These were just some of the perks that 14 holiday makers and one baby (!) had at the Suria Best Western sited in Cherating on the East coast of Malaysia. Unfortunately, there was a downside. Everyone, without exception, put on weight from the sinful buffets.
Back to bridge. Kudos must go to the winners of “The Most Sporting Pair” prize. Raw Beginner Steven Chew gamely volunteered to play so that we could have no sit-outs and full participation, thereby subjecting himself to a “baptism of fire.” His partner was Pat Leong who cheerfully undertook this challenge and showed much patience and understanding.
Day 1 Pair Results : Tied 1st Tan Soh Hong/Ooi Suan Lin and Rana Gill/Michael Fernandez 3rd Dorothy Wong/Ron Savage
Day 2 Individual Results : 1st Shamim Moledina 2nd Zain Moledina 3rd Rana Gill

7. Conduct & Etiquette
Many claim to know the laws of Bridge but Laws 74 & 90 occasionally slip through their fingers.
A player should:-
1. Maintain at all times a courteous attitude.
2. Carefully avoid any remark or action that might cause annoyance.
3. Refrain from gratuitous comments.
Other propriety offenses subjected to penalty include prolonging play unnecessarily, loud discussion and even touching another's card!
Failure to comply promptly with any instruction of the Director is very serious. These fall under Law 91 and include deduction of points and a suspension of a contestant for the current session.

8. SRC Tuesday Bridge Results from Oct 7th to Nov 25th

DATE FIRST SECOND THIRD .
Oct 7 Zain/Trevor Michael/Selvan Thomas/DavidOng
Oct 14 BengTee/Teodor Yu/Ping Tricia/DavidOng
Oct 21 Shamim/Dulari Zain/Shawn Dot/RonS
Oct 28 Shamim/Zain=BengTee/Sng Evelyn - Jane
Nov 4 RonOh/Nancy Howard/Norma Thomas/Firoz
Nov 11 Carl/Chris DavidOng/Tricia Yu/Ping
Nov 18 Trevor/SSChang Yu/Ping Zain/Caio
Nov 25 Carl/Chris Zain/Trevor Chen/Firoz

9. Who's Who In Bridge - Movie Stars
Can you imagine Elizabeth Taylor playing bridge across from you? Would that be a misdeal with that extra queen in the deck?
For the ladies, wouldn’t the dashing Omar Shariff sitting next to you make you lose concentration?
What if you make a mistake with the likes of big bad bald Telly Savalas (Kojak) as your partner? Scary huh?
Perhaps it is much better to have some extra jokers around? How about the evergreen Marx Brothers or even the cigar chomping George Burns or the goofy Don Addams (Get Smart)?
These are just a few of the many movie stars who have made bridge a part of their life.

10. New Book – ACBL “The Official Encyclopedia of Bridge
Rana Gill has kindly donated the above book to our library. Thank You!

11. Community Service – Air Force Museum 15th Nov
The bridge section leveraged off the SRC Kid’s Club trip to the Air Force Museum by sponsoring 7 boys from the Darul Ma’wa Home. Excited and curious, they climbed all over the planes and missiles (yes, it’s allowed!). To their credit, they were also eagerly asking questions and reading the information panels. This was followed by an ice-cream and burger lunch at the beach.
Thanks to Pat & Leong for their kind donation and also to Chum, Shamim and Zain for their “not too successful” attempt to control the kids! 12. Puzzle : Bridge/Whist History Quiz
Can you match the Person/Place to the Event? To help you get you started: one answer is G3.
E & H should be easy.
A. Barbey 1. First Book
B. Bentinck 2. First Bridge Magazine
C. Cavendish 3. First Duplicate Board used
D. Culbertson 4. First Duplicate Game
E. Goren 5. First Laws of Bridge
F. Hoyle 6. First Movement
G. Kalamazoo (place) 7. Most Popular Point Count System
H. Mitchell 8 First Signal
I. Vanderbilt 9. First Vulnerability

Supplementary Question: My friend claimed he got some help from the internet and therefore got 8 out of 9 correct. True? False? Maybe? What do you think?

ACROSS
1 Position.
3 “_____ the Line” (Rubber Bridge term).
6 They may be penalized by the Director. (4,7)
8 You sometimes have to ruff high to ensure that your opponent is _____ to over ruff.
9 Slam level.
13 Most partnerships _____ the Stayman convention.
14 With 11-down, where the Precision bidding system was developed.
17 It happens in a Mitchell movement to obtain a single winner. (2 words)
19 With a comfortable lead, a pair _____ to bid conservatively.
20 Position.
DOWN
1 It results from an odd number of pairs. (2.3)
2 A Bridge movement.
3 A common lead is fourth _____.
4 Psychic bid, essentially.
5 Position
7 Opponents are obliged to explain what a bid _____.
10 There are computer programs which deal out hands when you _____ your requirements.
11 See 14-across.
12 The _____ highest card is the seven.
15 Position.
16 Lowest cards.
18 What a long suit might do.



Created for 2008 SRC Open Pairs by Zain Moledina

BROKEN BRIDG –JQK (jokes, quotes & krap)

14. Half-Baked
“Bridge is about making mistakes and learning from them.
My Partner got half of it right.”

15. How’s That Again
“Every morning I check the Internet to see if I am on the Forbes 100 Richest List. If I don't see my name, I go and play Bridge.”

16. A Bridge Story - Et tu, Partner?
Weak Response – When your partner passes your Forcing Bid … followed by …
Double – When the opponents double up with laughter … followed by …
Dummy – What you call your Partner … followed by …
Call – What your partner thinks of you … followed by …
Overcall – What you think of your partner … followed by …
Point Count – When he Points out and Counts all your past mistakes … followed by …
Small Slam – When you slam your cards on the table … followed by …
Grand Slam – When he slams his fist into your face … followed by …
Splinter – When you poke him with the pencil tip ... followed by …
Short Club – When he hits you with a cane … followed by …
Vulnerable – When you start to cry … followed by …
End Play – Bye-bye partnership

17. Pass me just one Peanut
Does there exist a person who can stop after playing just one hand of Bridge?

18. Ungrounded
With old age taking its toll, 4 bridge players were complaining."The lettering on the cards seems to be getting smaller every year." moaned the first senior."Yes, that makes it even more difficult to remember them" complained the second."What about the poor printing – the Club and Spades almost look alike." groaned the third.Having heard enough from his three buddies, the oldest and wisest of the group said, "Just be thankful we're still on the right side of the Spades!"

19. Shining Example
A Bridge expert is like a diamond. A chunk of coal that made good under pressure.

20. Like Superman
If you play bridge without ever having to explain your decision or make an apology, then you obviously don’t exist.

21. Spanning the Bridge
Our club has a long tradition of Bridge. Between the time when we won our first tournament and the second, there has been 4 Popes.

22. Stone DeafPay no attention to what your partner tells you ... Remember, no statue has ever been set up in honor of any critic.
23. Daffy-nit-shuns - Bridge
Bridge is basically Poker on Valium.

24. Telling it StraightAny fool can criticize, condemn, and complain - and most fools do.
25. Body Parts
3 sportsmen were lost and wandering through the desert, hungry and hallucinating, when they came upon a dead camel."I play soccer so I will eat the feet” "I play bridge so I'll eat the brain""I play billiards" said the third sportsman "but I seem to have lost my appetite."

26. Balancing Act
There are times when I want to take out my wife and kids for an entertaining evening. Unfortunately there is no place that will make everyone happy. Someone should organise bridge games with free ice-cream in a massage parlor.

27. Daffy-nit-shun : Phantom Endplay
Declarer South holds the DA x with the DQ x in dummy. He carefully strips all the side suits and throws East in to lead away from his king of diamonds. Unfortunately West had it.
This is called phantom endplay.

28. Puzzle : Bridge/Whist History Quiz -- Answers
1742. F1, Hoyle First Book
1834 B8. Bentinck First Signal
1857 C4 Cavendish First Duplicate Game
=1891 G3 Kalamazoo First Duplicate Board used
=1891 H6 Mitchell First Movement
1892 A5 Barbey First Laws of Bridge
1925 I9 Vanderbilt First Vulnerability
1925 D2 Culbertson First Bridge Magazine
1940 E7 Goren 4 3 2 1 Point Count System
Supplementary question: False! It is impossible to get exactly 8 out of 9 correct. The last pair must be correct as well..

29. Crossword Puzzle – Answers
Across : 1. SOUTH 3.BELOW 6. TIME WASTERS 8. UNABLE 9. SIX 13. USE
14. TAIPEI 17. ARROW SWITCH 19. TENDS 20. NORTH
Down : 1. SIT OUT 2. HOWELL 3. BEST 4. LIE 5. WEST 7. MEANS 10. INPUT
11. TAIWAN 12. EIGHTH 15. EAST 16. TWOS 18. RUN

30. JQK till you Drop
For the LARGEST COLLECTION of Bridge Jokes, Quotes and Krap in the WHOLE WORLD (no joke!), visit http://bridgejokes.blogspot.com/. These are extracted from past issues of THE GRANDSLAM. If you also want to read the articles and puzzles as well, visit THE GRANDSLAM archives at http://bridge-newsletter.blogspot.com/
Zain Moledina, SRC Bridge Section Convenor
December 1, 2008, zaris@singnet.com.sg