Matamata, Te Aroha, Morrinsville Clubs

Just like you do in attack, defensive players should take the time when dummy goes down to look at their likely tricks and make a plan of attack to get that 'setting trick' to take the contract down.

Kathy looks at defence tonight - a solid defence is the difference between a bottom board and an average one at these top tournaments (or so she keeps reminding me!!).

Her handout sheet is attached.

Look forward to seeing you tonight at 6.45pm.

Great to see Kathy back with us ready to tackle the next in her topics ... showing attitude and count.

Attitude

Unlike what the pic depicts (courtesy of one of Cynthia Clayton's hand made cards) ... attitude can be a good thing to show in bridge. It tells your partner that you love love love their lead (or loathe it) ... or lets your partner know the lie of the hands by giving count.

Attached are the notes from tonight's (Thursday 23rd March) tips for better bridge.

Two Matamata pairs did well at the weekend heat of the Waikato Area Pairs which took place in Te Awamutu.

Lesley Quilty and Sonia Crawford were top North South in the afternoon with 62.5% whilst seated East West in the same section - Lynette Morgan and Ian Bond were top with 62.15%.

Combined with their morning scores - Lynette and Ian just pipped Sonia and Lesley on the overall placing being 5th and 6th respectively on the day. Although after two heats of the competition - it is still Lesley and Sonia who are sitting 3rd on the overall ladder - just ahead of Ian and Lynette on 4th. Still four rounds to play though!

Further information and commentary about the event is on the Waikato Bays website under the WAP tab: http://www.waikatobays.bridge-club.org/wap_comment

A few people have been querying how Malcolm qualified for the Novice Tournament considering how many rating points he has ... the rules around qualifying for the novice are that they have yet to receive a Certificate of Proficiency ranking (ie 5B points) OR they have learnt bridge in the past two years . Malcolm learnt his bridge in 2015 which made him eligible.

A late flurry of entries perhaps due to the expected rain saw 7 full tables of newish players come together at the Waikato Bays Novice held in Matamata - a car load from Taupo joined other players from Te Aroha, Waihi, Putaruru,Hamilton, Morrinsville, Huntly and Waikato clubs as well as the host club Matamata.

Congratulations to Hanna Frischknecht and Malcolm Kirkby from Te Aroha club who took home the victory chocolate (and entry to the Novice event at Hamilton Congress)

Winners Malcolm and Hanna

They beat out Barbara Andrews and Lynne Boyack from Huntly and Hamilton who were second.

Second place getters Lynn and Barbara

Some pics of the players mid tournament play follow;

Waikato Bays Novice

Waikato Bays Novice

Waikato Bays Novice

Waikato Bays Novice

Waikato Bays Novice

Waikato Bays Novice

Please note that Kathy is on holiday and will take a fortnight off and her next Thursday night Bridge Tips will be at 6.45pm on 23rd March. She will be covering card play technique; leads and signals, declarer play, defence, blocking and unblocking plays and how to execute a simple throw in and a simple squeeze over the last 4 weeks.

Checkback For the times when your partner has rebid 1NT and you want to tell them you actually have 5 of a major ... or another 4 card major. Because as we know finding your major fit should take priority...

Kathy covers the use of 2 club checkback. A great tool for unearthing the 3 card major support when stopping in 1NT might not be the best contract ...

Attached are the notes from tonight's lesson.

Bidding with your partner, not sure whether you have got a fit or what to bid next ... plus you have enough points to be looking for game? Fourth Suit forcing is what you need to learn ...

Attached are the notes from the third in Kathy's series

lessons

Lessons will start in Te Aroha on Wednesday 8th March from 7-9pm at the Te Aroha Bridge Club (opposite the Domain i-Site at 105 Whitaker Street) and will run every Wednesday evening until end of May.

The first evening is a free introduction to bridge and for those keen to carry on, the remaining lessons will cost a total of $20 which includes tuition, suppers and materials. We will also welcome those who have completed lessons in previous years but would like to brush up on certain aspects of bidding or play.

If you want to be kept informed on what is being covered each week - email Anna to be put on the communication list. For further information or to book a place in the lessons contact Anna on tearohabridge@gmail.com.

For those interested in Matamata lessons; Lessons will be kicking off on 11th April at 7pm. For those interested in booking a space for Matamata Lessons please send an email to matamatabridge@gmail.com

Oh the splinter ... something that occasionally got me in trouble in my fledging partnerships ... but with some practice and solid partnership agreements it is an excellent way of describing your hand on the way to game (and maybe slam) in the agreed suit.

Attached are the notes from Kathy's Tips for Better Bridge #2 for those who couldn't make it tonight (Thursday 16th February).

The Rule of 11 is a canny but deceptively simple bridge rule that relates to leads and helps defenders (and declarers) understand the distribution of cards according to the 4th highest opening card led from defender.

Attached is the handout explaining the rule of 11 for any of those who missed the first of Kathy's Thursday Night Lesson (the first one being Thursday 9th February).

These lessons will be held every Thursday Night from 6.45pm - 7.15pm just before Thursday Night play begins.

On Thursday nights from 6.45pm, Kathy Yule will take a 30 minute instructional for anybody who wishes to attend. The topics may be (but not limited to) things like;

Rule of 11
Rule of 15
Count and attitude
Discarding
7 diamonds ... The Beer Card (ha ha I added that one in!)
2C checkback

Kathy will take a couple of boards from the previous week's play and use this to demonstrate correct play or a new convention.

In a short break in play - Kathy demonstrated her ability to pass on knowledge in a short space of time ... ever heard of a Smith Peter convention?

This is a way of signalling attitude in defence to a No Trump contract.

It is a way of saying to your partner that you love (or hate) their lead (which is often the suit that they are trying to set up in defence as their longest suit).

	32 A8 J87 AQ93
KJ4 QJ6 T954 T82		976 KT742 K3 K74
	AQT8 93 AQ62 J65

For example in this hand, Defending against 3NT - East leads the 4 hearts, partner plays the Jack of hearts which is taken on the first round by the A of hearts. Declarer then leads the Jack of diamonds from hand which wins. West discards their 10 of diamonds showing they loved the heart lead and indicating to partner to carry on hearts when they get a chance.

If West didn't want another heart lead (didn't hold the King or Queen of hearts) they would throw a small diamond to indicate they didn't like partners initial suit lead.

That is what is called a Smith Peter convention.