North Penn Bridge News

Greetings to the

North Penn Bridge Community!

Week of 06/24/2024

From the Club Manager

Dave Dodgson

The Longest Day. This one day, two game event on June 19 was a big success with over $5000 collected from our generous donors. Thanks everyone for supporting this very worthy cause again this year. We will continue to collect donations until the end of July. If you wish to donate, you have three options:

Online by clicking here: North Penn Longest Day 2024 Contributions
By check made out to the Alzheimer’s Association. Checks may be dropped off or mailed to the Club at 298 Wissahickon Ave, North Wales, PA 19454.
Cash donations and checks can be placed in the Purple Alzheimer’s Association Box at the Club.

KOP Regional. During the tournament this week, the limited games on Tuesday and Friday will be held as usual. There will be no open games on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday.

Club Manager Wanted. After five years as your Club Manager, I am retiring. Accordingly, we are actively seeking someone who would like to step in to schedule the games and make sure the club keeps running. This is a wonderful chance to make a contribution to the club and your fellow players. Click here for a complete job description. Roger and I are available for questions.

July Events

July 4-------Club closed – no handicap Swiss this month

July 10------Four is Enough

July 8-12---.STaC week. Silver points awarded.

July 13------Robot Individual

July 19------0-500 Swiss teams

July 15-19--.NAP Qualifying

July 22-26-.NAP Qualifying

July 24-----.0-99 game

Upcoming Tournaments:

June 24-30 - King of Prussia Regional. Click here for details.
July 8-12 - STaC Week
July 16 - District 4 Online Tournament. 7 p.m.
July 18-28 - NABC in Toronto, Canada

Education

Shuffle & Deal Wednesday, June 26, 9:30 - 11:30 am

Remember, our Shuffle and Deal sessions are open to all who have an interest in supervised play (not just new players.)

Partnership

If you need a partner for a Monday, Wednesday or Thursday Open game, please email northpennbridge@gmail.com. We will do our best to match you with others who are looking for someone with whom to play.

Requests for Tuesday and Friday limited games should go directly to Mitch Snyder at bridge4all@comcast.net

Calendar

Click here to see a file you can enlarge.

Email your questions, or a pesky hand, or something you’d like to know about bidding or playing to Toysie at toysiewalker@gmail.com. She will forward them to the panel, one will be chosen, and the question and answers will be printed in the following week’s newsletter.

We update our Facebook page regularly so be sure to check it out. It’s a great way to stay in touch with all the happenings at North Penn.

Tidbits

Deal of the Week

by Mitch Snyder

This would have been Rex Saffer’s week, but Rex has resigned from the DOTW team. While we consider

our options for this slot, we will publish a hand

from the archives.

The Redundant 5NT

Since North Penn has returned to (some) live bridge, I thought I’d bring you a hand that was played F2F some years ago at a Regional Knockout. It’s about the birth of a new convention: The Redundant 5NT.

Being a knockout there were no hand records so the spot cards might not be exactly right.

My hand:-------------------KQ5

AKT984

In an uncontested auction, Vul against NV my partner dealt and opened 1S and, playing 2/1, I responded 2C. My partner now bid 2S, promising 6, and I knew we belonged in at least 6S so I laid down the 4NT card. Partner bid 5C; 1 or 4 key cards. Having all the keycards I bid 5NT to check on kings and partner bid 5D, showing the King of Diamonds and denying the King of Clubs.

In case you didn’t notice 5D was insufficient.

My RHO didn’t notice either and passed. The pass constituted an acceptance of the 5D bid so I bid 5NT again to see what else my partner had. Partner now bid 6C (brilliant!) to show the Queen of Clubs since she had already denied holding the King. (If partner had the King of Hearts she would bid 6H.) Well, 6C was the best bid I could have hoped for so I took the plunge and bid 7NT.

Had partner bid 6H, there are 12 top tricks as long as one of the black suits runs making 6NT a safer contract than 6S as there is no risk of a ruff and, if playing matchpoints, a better scoring contract.

If partner bids 6S over the second 5NT, denying a second feature, 6S would be the final contract.

My partner’s hand was:---A97852

Q85

Q72

Both black suits cooperated and the contract made. At the other table they bid 6S and we gained 13 IMPs.

Besides a new convention, (not available on BBO), there is another bit of wisdom to take from this. If your opponents make a mistake feel free to take advantage of it. It’s part of the game.