Newsletter 28 May 2026
In our newsletter this week...
- President's Message
- ANC is coming to Canberra!
- New Players
- Fundamentals Course
- Director Training
- Youth News
- Upcoming Events
- Results
- An Interesting Defensive Problem
- Lighter Moments
President's Message
Congratulations to all of our beginners graduating this week! We hope you have enjoyed your introduction to bridge and are excited to continue learning and playing.
A sincere thank you to Barb and all of our teaching team for the wonderful support they provide to those starting their bridge journey. We look forward to watching our new players grow in confidence, enjoy the friendships bridge brings, and continue their bridge journey with the Club in the years ahead.
- Mary
ANC is coming to Canberra!
The Australian National Bridge Championship is scheduled to run from 4th of July to 16th July, don’t miss the chance to play in one of the biggest national events happening right here in our city!
The championships feature a wide range of events designed to be inclusive of all skill levels, from those just starting out to elite players.
- Diverse Categories: Competitive events are organized by masterpoint categories, including sections for Rookies, Novice (typically <100 points), Restricted (<300 points), and Open divisions.
- Prizes for All: While Open events are for everyone, they often include specific prizes for restricted players, rewarding strong performances within that skill bracket even in a high-level field.
- Flexible Scheduling: You can choose from one-day matches or multi-day tournaments depending on your availability.
- Local Support: Pick up a flier at the club or speak to Elizabeth for help selecting the right event for your ranking.
- Click here to Register - 4th to 16th July 2026
The early bird discount ends on 3 June, so players should get their entries in during May.
Volunteers for ANC
The organisers are looking for volunteers to help with tasks such as meeting & greeting, administration, setting up and dismantling the playing rooms, and preparing the room for the Presentation Dinner; if you can help, please contact Lyn Carter at
New Players
Canberra Bridge Club welcomes the following new and returning players:
- Louise Vardanega
- Joseph Philip
- Mladen Posavec
- Pam Kemp
- Stacey Rippon
- Willy Corby
- Kreso Gavran
- Rosalie Kyan
Fundamentals Course
If you know the basics of bridge but are not yet ready to play a social game of bridge, we recommend this course as your next step.
This is a set of 8 lessons that will consolidate what you learnt in your beginner classes.
In this course we will:
- introduce you to competitive bidding
- teach you some new commonly used systems
- discuss the etiquette of duplicate play and teach you how to use Bridge mates
- help you consolidate your bidding system
By the end of this course, you will be able to play a social game of bridge and be ready to try supervised play.
Next course starts on June 3rd on Wednesday mornings at 10:30 am and evenings at 7:30pm.
Director Training
BFACT is seeking expressions of interest from players who would like to attend in director training.
Details are as follows:
• Saturday, 20 June 2026 at CBC - for New directors
• Sunday 21 June 2026 at CBC - Directors' Workshop for both new and existing club directors
Those learning about directing for the first time are encouraged to attend both days.
• Day 1 is theory
• Day 2 is a practical workshop applying that knowledge.
If you are interested, please email the manager.
Youth News
NEW EVENT! BFACT Online Youth Butler Pairs
All players aged 30 years and under are invited to sign up for an online butler pairs event. This invitation is open to interstate and international players too.
It’s being held on Friday June 26 at 6:30pm.
Enter HERE
Cootamundra Congress - 29 & 30th August
Subsidised accommodation is being organised for Youthish players (youth players, chaperones and youth mentors) to attend the 2026 Cootamundra Congress.
Register your interest HERE (same form as the Youth Triathlon)
Youth Triathlon - 27th Sept to 1st Oct (Sunday - Thursday)
3 days of Competition
2 days of Training
1 Winner Crowned
Register your interest HERE (same form as the Cootmaundra Congress)
Next Youthish Nights are Friday June 19 and Friday July 17.
Entry is FREE and includes a Pizza dinner.
All experience levels are welcome, no partner required.
Come to either session or both
- Session 1: 4:30 PM - 6:30 PM
- Dinner: 6:30 PM - 7:00 PM
- Session 2: 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Contact CBC Youth Coordinator Suz Wilkinson
This week’s Youth shoutout goes to Mary Tough and Wendy Boxall CBC and BFACT Presidents, who have been supportive of the many new initiatives that we’ve introduced this year.
Upcoming Events
RealBridge Sessions Links
- 30 May Saturday 1:15 pm - join session here
- 01 June Monday 2:00 pm - join session here
- 01 June Monday 7:00 pm - join session here
Results from Wagga Congress
Welcome Pairs
- 1st N/S - JOHN DONOVAN - IAN DALZIELL
Swiss Pairs
- 2nd Open- BEV CROSSMAN / BRUCE CROSSMAN
- 1st Intermediate - JACQUES CHERBUIN / LIAM MINOGUE
- 2nd Intermediate - JOSH SCHWARTZ / MAXWELL ASHURST
- 1st Novices - LYNDALL KENNEDY / KATE LATIMER
- 2nd Novices - PETER JONES / LILLIAN LESUEUR
Swiss Teams
- 1st - JACQUES CHERBUIN - LIAM MINOGUE and team
An Interesting Defensive Problem
This hand came up in a recent Thursday morning Butler. Most pairs made 3NT by West, but it can be defeated. Put yourself in the South seat after West shows 17-18 HCP and no 4 or 5 card major.
Your partner gets off to the great lead of the HJ through the Qxx, and you encourage as declarer wins the ace. At trick 2, the S2 is led – 8 (or 9) – K and ? If you played the 4 or the 10, the contract can no longer be defeated. You have to unblock the Q!
On paper, this contract should be easy – a 28 or 29 HCP 3NT. But the HQ will be dead if partner has an entry. They can’t have much – maybe the CK, but more likely a jack and/or a queen outside. What if they have the SJ? If so, it cannot be doubleton.
If you think a bit more you realise that if declarer holds AJx in spades, unblocking the queen won’t cost as it’s finessable anyway. And if partner holds the DJ, declarer will just duck the second round of diamonds to your doubleton Q, denying partner an entry in that suit.
I should point out that as the play did not actually proceed this way, this problem is hypothetical. The main lesson for me is not to relax in defence, thinking this will be an easy make, and really try to work out whether partner could have a crucial card.
- Judith Tobin
Lighter Moments
The article above contributed by Judith brought back memories of when many years ago I attended a free talk given by Andy Hung (during the SFOB) where he mentioned that the 2nd trick was the one most likely to determine the fate of a contract. It seemed like a great piece of advice at the time and so I took care to remember it but must admit have not used it much. I was never very good at taking the extra time to plan in advance, my strategy in round 2 is to follow suit if I can and ruff if I can't,
The realisation of what I should have done at trick 2 usually dawns on me around the time I play my 2nd last trick, which is by the way still a vast improvement from when I used to get sudden enlightenments in the middle of the night.
I also recall a similar(ish) tip given to me by a partner who once made 6NT missing 2 Aces (don't ask me how we got there - he thought I was a conservative bidder) - "if you need to do something stupid, do it in the 2nd round before they realise what's going on".
My conclusion is that 2nd round must be important so if you don't know what the correct play is then at least slow down and ponder or speed up and hope.
A better advice however would be to go to the ANC and watch how the experts play their cards. Congresses are a great way to upgrade your bridge skills or at least your resilience level.
If you go, please don't blame me when they call the director on you because you slowed down during play for no other reason but the fact that it was round 2 - apparently I was also told that if you don't hold any key cards you are supposed to play at an even tempo or something like that... yes, there's a reason I am writing all of these under "Lighter Moments".
The only thing worth remembering that I am about to tell you is: "Don't forget the ANC's early bird offer ends next Wednesday".
Elizabeth
