Martha’s Vineyard Bridge Club results

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The Edgartown Bridge Club (EBC) is now organizing an effort to partner experienced and novice duplicate bridge players for the afternoon game on the first Monday of each month. Manager Gail Farrish told The MV Times that she hopes to encourage bridge players who may have found the duplicate style of bridge playing competition daunting in the past to revisit the game.

At the Thursday, January 17 Island Bridge Club (IBC) game Robert Fokos and Bob Iadiciccio took first place with a 59.72 percent average game. Bea Phear and Cecily Greenaway came in second (58.33 percent average game), and Sue Collinson and Barbara Besse took third with a 56.25 percent average game. Eighteen bridge players were at the tables.

On Tuesday, January 15 at the Martha’s Vineyard Bridge Club (MVBC), Cecily Greenaway and Bill Blakesley took first place (60.42 percent average game). Dotti Arnold and Foster Greene came in second (59.90 percent average) and the Cabots (Dan and Nancy) took third place with a 55.09 percent average game. Six tables were in play.

There was no Edgartown Bridge Club (EBC) game on Monday January Jan. 21 in observance of Martin Luther King Day.

Tips for better play

Life Master and IBC director Ed Russell reminds duplicate players that there must be a “captain of the hand.”

He explains: At different stages in the bidding, one player or the other is in charge of the hand; they are the captain, directing how the bidding should proceed.” This is best seen with an opening one No Trump and the transfer bids by responder. At this stage the responder is the captain, because s/he is the one who knows the total strength of the combined hands: opener’s 15 to 17 high card points plus whatever the responder holds. Twenty-six HCP will usually produce nine tricks in No Trump or ten in a suit if a fit of eight cards or better is found.

The responder bids two Diamonds or two Hearts, asking declarer to bid the next higher suit, a “transfer” to two Hearts or two Spades. This allows the stronger hand to remain hidden.

Once the declarer has bid, if the responder passes, s/he shuts down the bidding for their side. S/he may have no points at all.

If the responder has sufficient points to go on, s/he tells the declarer with her/his next bid how many points and how many cards in the transferred suit s/he has. If the responder judges that their side has enough strength for a game contract, s/he will bid three No Trump with only five cards in the transfer suit (opener can go back to the transfer suit with three or four cards in the suit). With six or more cards in the major, responder raises the major suit to game. With intermediate total strength, responder’s points are shown by bidding two No Trump (with only five cards) or raising to three of the major (with six or more). Now the opener can pass with a minimum opening or bid game with a maximum.

The American Contract Bridge League (ACBL) sanctions all three of the Island duplicate bridge clubs although it is not necessary to belong to the ACBL in order to play in these duplicate competitions.

The MVBC game is held on Tuesday evenings at 7:30 pm at the Stone Church in Vineyard Haven. Admission is $4. Contact Sue at (508) 693-9396 or posturepal@aol.com for assistance in finding an available partner.

The IBC game is held Thursday evenings at 7 pm at the Howes House in West Tisbury. Players needing a partner are urged to contact Gerry at (508)693-2889 or gsaverill@gmail.com by noon on Wednesday for assistance. Admission is $5.

The Edgartown Bridge Club (EBC) meets on Monday afternoons at 12:30 pm at the Edgartown Yacht Club. Players need to come with a partner, admission is $6. Novice players wishing to be matched up with an experienced player need to contact Mrs. Farrish at (508) 627-5476.