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Hello Josee ,
This is a time sensitive newsletter. There are several events below with fast approaching deadlines.
As you all know Toronto will be hosting the North American Bridge Championships from July 18-28th.
When you go to a bridge tournament or to a bridge club, you and your partner are expected to have with you a properly filled out Convention Card. Following the many requests received from my Toronto students, I am looking forward to teaching a Learn to fill out a Convention Card on Wednesday May 15th. Details below. This lesson is taught in person. Note that there is limited availability.
If you are not in Toronto, It will still be possible to purchase the content of the lesson and also access the recording from the online lesson offered during Covid on the same topic. Just email me.
I have been thrilled to have Lorraine Eaglesham return to teach at Armour Heights this spring. Lorraine and I started working together before Covid. Besides being both French Canadians and loving Lebanese food, we also share a passion for helping students improve in bridge. Note the two lessons titled Bidding and Play of the hand that Lorraine has added to the spring schedule. This is a format that she and I created before Covid which has always been extremely well received. Scroll for more details.
You are all aware of the upcoming NABC. I know I spoke about it 2 paragraphs ago! If you are a Canadian resident you can be eligible to a substantial discount of your playing fees. For this you need to join the Canadian Bridge Federation by June 1. Please scroll to the section below titled NABC and click on the link provided . In this link you will find a highlighted schedule and several answers to the most asked questions. I have prepared for you a pretty comprehensive document especially geared for players with fewer than 750MPs. I hope you find it helpful. We are going to have such a great time in the GRINs room !
Also with a deadline fast approaching is Barbara Seagram’s Cambodia Fundraiser on June 5th. Please support this extremely worthwhile cause!
Speaking of Barbara and the NABC (yes I know again !), mark July 26 as a must play day at the NABC! July 26 is BARBARA SEAGRAM and ALEX KORNEL DAY. I am so honoured that Barbara gave me a chance almost 20 years ago. She is a very special lady, and Alex is always there to answer your questions and mine whenever we reach out to him. Let's celebrate them on July 26th!
In my next newsletter in early June, I will have my Fall schedule prepared. Here’s something to get the Toronto people excited – Beginners and Intermediate I lessons, a 0-5 MP supervised bridge game in the evenings, Bid and Play lessons -The Next Level – for those looking at solidifying such concepts as slam bidding, control cuebidding, Michaels cuebids, pre-empting, responding to a pre-empt, playing in a cross ruff, loser on loser play and more. Stay tuned! All details in the next newsletter and much more! My thanks to you for letting me know how I can best help you improve your bridge!
Until then, the golf course is calling! 😊
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✨ MY NEW IN-PERSON LESSON ✨
Learn To Fill Out Your Convention Card!
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Hot off the press! This week, after finishing my intermediate courses, I received numerous inquiries for some help on how to fill out a convention card. With more and more of you playing in duplicate bridge clubs, and planning to attend the Toronto NABC in July, knowing the purpose and how to fill out a convention card are essential aspects of being a bridge player.
To this end, I am excited to offer a 2-hour course where I will guide you step by step on how to fill out your Convention Card.
Below are two valid reasons why you and your partner should carry your Convention card when attending a duplicate bridge game:
Being on the same page as your partner: Think of your convention card with partner as your bridge dictionary. This lays out the definition of bids you and partner make. Without having discussed and filled out a convention card, partners may have different interpretations of bids and plays, leading to confusion and misunderstandings at the table. A properly filled-out convention card helps minimize these misunderstandings by providing clear agreements on what you and partner have chosen to play.
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Understanding the opponents’ agreements: By the same token, the opponents’ Convention Card is their dictionary which you have full access to. Bridge is a game of full disclosure. Everyone at the table is entitled to understand what is happening. The Convention card allows you to know what your opponents are playing.
DATE: Wednesday, May 15th – from 10 am to 12 pm
PRICE: ONLY $25. Includes PDF of PowerPoint presentation.
LOCATION: Armour Heights Presbyterian Church
105 Wilson Ave, Toronto
PRE-REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED
To register, please contact Josée at mjhammill@rogers.com. For any questions, feel free to reach out via email or call 416-300-9140.
Payment: Once registration confirmed, please send payment by etransfer to mjhammill@rogers.com or by cheque mailed to 1717 Avenue Road, Suite 418, Toronto, Ontario, M5M 0A2.
Space is very limited – Don't be left out! Reserve quickly for this amazing opportunity.
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Take the time to click on this link and read what I have prepared for you. More questions? Can't find the answer? Just email me!
Click here to download the FAQ and schedule in PDF
This event, organized by the American Contract Bridge League, will take place from July 18-28, 2024 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre (MTCC) in Toronto, Canada.
This is an incredible opportunity to be a part of a world-renowned bridge event and to play alongside passionate individuals in the bridge community. I hope to see you there! It will be a great event and super fun!
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DID YOU KNOW THAT? BRIDGE FUN FACTS | |
What is the origin of the term Kibitzer? | |
Kibitzers watching Omar Sharif play bridge | |
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According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, the Yiddish language has given English some particularly piquant terms over the years, and kibitzer (or kibbitzer) is one such term. Kibitzer, from the Yiddish kibitser, came to that language from the German word kiebitzen, meaning "to look on (at cards)." Kiebitzen may or may not be derived from a German word for "lapwing," a type of bird noted for its shrill and raucous cry (and we can speculate that the bird's cry reminded people of the shrill commentary of onlookers at card games.) But it's also a highly inquisitive bird which likes watching other birds build their nests. The dictionary defines a kibitzer as someone who likes meddling in the affairs of others. The word became more popular and widespread after the 1929 play The Kibitzer came out.
Although kibitzer usually implies the imparting of unwanted advice, there is a respectable body of evidence for a kibitzer as a person simply making comments.
Bridge is a rich territory for kibitzers watching on the sidelines and sometimes meddling with their comments. During the years, many stories, true and apocryphal, have been told about them. They even appear in the Laws of Bridge under Proprieties. A kibitzer may be removed at a player’s request without cause.
A classic story, and a true one, took place at a well-known New York club. The contract was 5D doubled, and, with the opponents on lead to the tenth trick, declarer spread his hand, claiming the balance, and just making his contract. The opposition completely agreed, and the cards were just about to be thrown in, when the only kibitzer watching pointed out a defensive lead, which would have defeated the contract at that point. Bitter criticism and confusion then followed, and the matter was at length referred to the card committee. The final decision was that declarer be credited with making 5D doubled, the defence be credited with defeating the contract one trick, and the kibitzer be ordered to pay the difference…
A stranger case of kibitzing, also true, was this one. Many years ago, John Crawford, a top American player in the pre-war era, was declarer in 7S on the deal below:
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Crawford, always a lively, charismatic figure, was surrounded, as often happened, by an array of spectators. West had led the CQ and Crawford won in dummy. He was about to lay down his top trumps and claim his contract, when he noticed that the kibitzers were not moving and were sitting on the edge of their chairs...
Quickly, he reasoned, if trumps were about to divide normally there could be no problem. So why, he went on to ask himself, had the spectators not all moved away? Why were they staying so quiet? Crawford thought about it, and the only conclusion was that East most certainly holds all the outstanding trumps. So, he would have to finesse the ten of spades, a line that gains in this situation.
Crawford used his judgement, table presence and intuition to take just that line. The kibitzers had helped him. He finessed the ten.
East indeed held all four outstanding spades and was not amused at all to find the contract being made this way, with help of the most silent kibitzers...
From the book Tales from the Bridge Table:
Contract Bridge 1925 to 1995 – by John Clay
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Bidding & Play of the Hand: Practice Makes Perfect!!! | |
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Lorraine Eaglesham is pleased to announce a compact series of two sessions to improve your Bidding and Play of the hand.
When: Wednesday afternoons on May 29th and June 5th
Time: 1:00 to 3:00 pm
Where: Armour Heights Presbyterian Church, 105 Wilson Ave
Fee: $50 for both lessons, or $30 for one session
You will Bid and Play a minimum of 8 pre-dealt hands: bidding, choosing the Opening Lead, and as declarer you will prepare a plan. Lorraine will stop and review after each of these steps. And on to the next board.
The sessions will cover: Rebids by Opener and Responder, Pulling Trump first or Not, Overcalls, Take-Out Doubles, Jacoby Transfers, 2C Openings and the Blackwood convention, Weak-Two Openings and responses. You will play hands in No-Trump and in Suit Contracts.
At the end of the two sessions, you will take home a PDF of all the hands with commentaries on bidding, lead and play.
To register and for more information: email Lorraine at bridgewithLorraine@aol.com
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NEW ZOOM LESSON WITH BARBARA SEAGRAM | |
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Being a nuisance at the bridge table is important for several reasons.
First, it disrupts opponents' communication, making it harder for them to accurately assess their hands and exchange information.
Second, it can force opponents to bid at higher levels than they initially intended, potentially leading them to bid to a difficult contract.
Third, you create uncertainty and pressure, causing opponents to make mistakes or miss opportunities.
Being a nuisance during bidding adds an element of unpredictability and challenge to the game, which is crucial for gaining an advantage and achieving success at the bridge table.
You are NOT a nuisance if you sit idly by and let the opponents have uncontested auctions and reach their par contracts. You ARE a nuisance if you get on there like a dirty shirt and interfere with their auctions.
Here's What You'll Get With Your Donation Today:
· A Zoom Link To The Live Lesson: "HOW TO BE A NUISANCE AT THE BRIDGE TABLE" on June 5th, 2024 at 4:00PM EST + Access To The Recorded LIVE Bridge Lesson + Barb's Notes
· ALL Proceeds Go To Sustaining Our School And Water Projects In Cambodia.
Donate $55 Today & Receive The Recorded LIVE Bridge Lesson & Full Set of Notes!
You May Choose To Donate $25, $55, $105, $265, $525, $1,050, $1,575 CAD or More On Step 2 Of The Checkout Form.
$25 CAD equals approximately $18 USD. $105 CAD equals approximately 75 USD.
Canadians: Donations Of $105 And Over Receive A Tax Receipt. Canadians may also do E-transfer to Pattilee@sympatico.ca (But must provide email address and postal address for receipt, if donation is over $100).
Americans: If you need a tax receipt, send a cheque instead, payable to A Vision For Clean Water. Mail to Barbara Seagram.
220 Lawrence Ave East, Toronto ON, M4N 1T2 Canada.
Note: There Is A 5% Credit Card Processing Fee On All Online Payments.
If You Have Any Questions At All, Please Feel Free To Email barbaraseagram@gmail.com or Call Us: +1 (416)487-8321 For Assistance!
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