ClaceyJ

Hey Mark I have spent the last 6 years as tournament directtor/chairman/captain of my university bridge club (yes, studying medicine takes a long time) We typically get 8 tables in our first term and 5-7 then onwards, with about another 6-8 who play competitively for the university but not at the club. This is more than we got about 5 years ago. Our organisation is such- We go all out to sign people up during freshers fair. We try to get around 100 sign-ups, of whom around 30-40 come along at the beginning. We then try to keep ahold of them by doing seperate free lessons during our first term, and running a club night in a seperate venue. We try to persuade about 12 or so to carry on attending, thus maintaining out membership. What does this suggest- go all out during freshers. If freshers fair is badly organised, find other ways to approach players during the beginning- if other societies get to them first you've already lost. Have access to beer etc during the night- it doesnt effect the game in general, and adds to a relaxed feeling. Find a way to play competitively- getting peoples winning desires involved is a good way to keep people you get along. Ill see if I think of anything else.

Having now managed to get to go to this event, is there any news on any vugraph planned? Would be nice for my other half and rest of the Oxford university club to watch my poor bridge worthy mistakes. Joe

It appears that someone has decided to be kind. Through no action of the university associations, we have been given permission to go. Someone on the organisation committee of the championship has taken it on themselves to make an exception for us, due to the (insert word here) views of the sports organisations. This personally has made my day, and restored some faith. However, this is still something that will need sorting in the future, as not everyone may find someone to take pity on them. I really appreciate the advice and thoughts of people, its helped. I am also lucky to have some hardworking teammates who have never given up. Thanks to all J

Not particularly silly questions. Yes England has participated almost all previous years. How was it handled in the past?- I dont know the exact answer, but I know in the past someone has backed down (EUSA usually I believe) This year it seems noone is willing to. I think this backing down may have led people to avoid solving the problem permanently. Im pretty sure setting up our own organisation wouldn't work (I suspect you would have to play quite a fee to join EUSA, even if they would recognise two organisations from the same country(which I dont think they would))

This is partially a rant, and partially seeing what other people think of a particularly annoying situation. This October the European Universities championship will take place in Croatia. Myself and my friends, as Oxford University, won the right to represent England by winning the Portland Bowl, the English Universtities knockout competition. Many well known English players have represented England and their university in international university competitions as a result. Only we can't go. The European University Sports Association accepts entries from individual countries University sports federation. It does this as it believes bridge to be a sport, therefore runs the competition. The British University Sports Association refuses to enter us as they dont think bridge is a sport. Neither will budge. (EUSA wont take an entry from the EBU, BUSA refuses to enter us anyway) Therefore this universities championship will take place with no english team present, barring some last minute dec On a personal level, I've put a lot of effort into university bridge, and this is my first opportunity to play. As a medical student with ever reducing free time, it may be my last. To be denied to play either because of peoples unwillingness to compromise, or partly because of the campaign to get bridge named a 'sport' (which is fundamentally where the problem originates from) seems grossly unfair. I dont think writing this will help, but it's something I feel people should know about. Thanks for reading. Joe

Yes, easily. Im suprised anyone bet it wasn't. Jc

Ah, but if south plays low on the spade what does west do? If he wins South can get in, draw trumps and run hearts. If he ducks then South can ruff a club in dummy. J

After the diamond switch, he wins the Ace on table, plays 3H pitching a diamond then ruffs a diamond, ruffs the JC, and now just concedes a spade. Joe

[hv=d=s&v=n&n=s102haqj752da53c109&w=sq864h984dk10ca865&e=s9h1063dj87642ckq7&s=sakj753hkdq9cj432]399|300|Scoring: IMP[/hv] [hv=d=n&v=b&n=sahkq64d85cak9765&s=sk98ha985da109632c]133|200|[/hv] Both of these hands are from the Portland Bowl, the British Universities Championship, of which the Semi-finals and Final were contested over the weekend. The first Hand came up at the bar after the semi final, with my teammates and I noticing that Deep Finesse said that 4S is cold off one, played by either North or South. We couldn't work out how(though we may have missed something obvious), and I was wondering if anyone (without using Deep Finesse) could work out how? Hand 2 was an action hand, also from the Semi final, where the line taken appeared to depend very much on the contract played. How would you play a)7H b)5h and c) probably hardest, 6H (for an extra challenge, whats the line if you suspect trumps are 4-1 with East having 4) all are on the lead of the 7D (at our table declarer went off 4 in 7H, whereas a certain english JLALL played himself off in 5H but then had it handed back to him, to make 5H) For those that are interested, Oxford A won overall, hence I have finally won my first competition of note :) Joe

Oh yeah, the legendary Ireland-England final this year- I was just glad my partner was more sober/can hold her drink better than I can.. Im sure you'll get your revenge this year B)

Yes, well, we certainly didn't mind at the table, it did provide the entire England team with some good laughs in the pub afterwards... It did rather sum up the event for us ;) And I guess the fact we edged ahead of you in the B-final proves that karma is real :)

Ill try and post a few zero's of mine too... my parents were bugging me in the hope they could watch me online- Im honestly not sure if them watching would be a good or a bad thing :P

The European Junior Pairs runs in Wroclaw, Poland, this Tuesday to Friday. I was wondering if there was any plans for Vugraph from this event? I know there's nothing on the Vugraph schedule page, but was wondering if there was anything in the works?

I find most of what Adam says interesting and relevant- My partner and I play regularly in our local club, almost exclusively populated by older people (We are both U25) We play 2C as either any GF or a weak 2 in D. This is alertable (EBU), as are the two standard meanings in the club (any GF, or 8+playing tricks any suit). The majority of old people at the club would assume it to be one of these and not ask. If the auction then proceeds 2C (p) 2D (p) P the situation can become a little tense.. There is very much a question of what to do here- we understand we are under no obligation to do anything but alert, but we acknowledge this is likely to cause more animosity than anything else. Therefore we choose to prealert at the beginning of the round, and sometimes when we haven't, we will announce what it is when we alert. I guess there may be questions on the legality of this, but it seems like common sense. I guess it does boil down to- to what extent should make allowences for opponents lack of bridge nous? If they have failed to look at a CC or ask at the beginning of the round, should you be helpful? I think the answer at club level is yes, but when does the event become serious enough for you to not be helpful? J

I think id play spade to the K, Run the J of hearts. then take the ruffing finesse in hearts later. Something like S to K Run J of hearts Win return AH QS S to the A Ruffing finesse in H If this works I have 3S 2H 3C 2D 1H ruff 1D ruff Dont know if its the best percentage line, but its what id do. Jc

Regarding the specific sequence you have in the given hands (1S-2C-2S), its important to think of a couple of other things first- Does your NT opening include all balanced hands with a 5cM within range? Are you playing 1S-2C-2NT as showing a weak NT? If so, then 1S-2C-2S should promise 6S, as you cant have 4C,4D, or 4H, or be a 5332 shape as this would be within some form of NT opening or rebid. Jc

Before anyone laughs, I open this Benji in one of my partnerships (it is useful sometimes...) otherwise 1H then 3C as others have said already.

Gak. If I open this hand Ekren, which I presume you are referring to, my partner jumps across the table and beats me with a stick. Its wrong shapewise (wanna play 2S with xxx xx opposite?) and strength wise at this vulnerability. I know im a junior, but i'll open Ekren with K10xx K10xx x xxxx 1st NV. Surely assumed fit methods work best when you dont lie to partner about the shape and strength of your hand? Given your later statement- I argue this is exactly what you're doing opening this Ekren.

Mikey, do you and Alex keep your 1 level responses up to strength? Dont know if this has any bearing on the debate. Jc

Hey... some people make Benji work... sort of...

Josh and Art make very valid points regarding the confusion that can arise from X then spades. I was the one spade opener, who being 40 imps down decided sticking in a spade on xx Qxx xxxx Jxxx was a good idea :P The opponents bidding sequence continued X-2S-3C-P-3S-P-4C-P-4S-P-5C-P-5S-P-5NT-P-6C AP. This, shall we say, was not a success...

If you pass on board 1 it goes 2S p p to you. On board 2 if you bid 1S i imagine it goes p 2H p to you. I was wondering what people's general plan for the hand is- assuming you can strongly agree spades, what cues/controls would you need to bid slam? Would people consider just punting 6S, or is that foolhardy?

Apologies, in both cases system is ACOL, so 4 card majors, weak NT. Happy to provide any more details people need (providing I can remember...)

[hv=d=w&v=n&s=saqjxxxxhk10xdackq]133|100|Scoring: IMP P-P-1 to you[/hv] Both these hands are from Oxford University versus Oxford University alumni. The student team is talented but somewhat random. The alumni team is expert standard, with some exceptional players. Format is 32 boards, IMPs. Hand 1, Opposition is the student team, who are at this point ~40imps down. Whats your plan for this hand? [hv=d=w&v=n&s=saqjxxxxhk10xdackq]133|100|Scoring: IMP P-P-1 to you[/hv] Hand 2, Opposition is the alumni team, you are down ~40 imps, assume only the most basic of agreements with partner, though partner has shown himself to be on a similar wavelength to you throughout. Whats your plan for this hand?

I double I think, though I can see how this could go wrong.