Bala Sectionals Are Back!
 It might not look or feel like autumn, but September means the return of Unit 141 Sectionals. Sharpen your pencils, call your partners, and mark your calendars for two upcoming Sectionals at Bala. The first is right around the corner -- September 6-8. The second follows soon after on October 11-13. As always, the Bala Sectionals feature great events, a lovely setting, generous hospitality including breakfast, lunch, and snacks and drinks all day, and optional, free valet parking.
If you have questions or need more information, click the links in Upcoming Events or contact Tournament Chair Meyer Kotkin at [email protected]. We look forward to seeing you at the Sectionals at Bala!
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Yes, It's Possible to Learn Bridge in a Day
 Do you know a friend or spouse who wants to learn bridge? Perhaps you would like to introduce a daughter, grandson, or neighbor to the game? The perfect opportunity arrives on September 21 with the Learn Bridge in a Day seminar.
Learn Bridge in a Day is a one-day program that introduces the fundamentals of bidding, play, and defense. While bridge is certainly a game for a lifetime, this seminar arms new players with a solid foundation and readies them for more lessons or a novice duplicate game.
The course will be held at Bala Golf Club and runs from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. The $75 cost includes lunch, a student manual and other materials, and a gift bag. There is a 10% discount for groups of 4 or more that register together.
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Bridge Fundraiser for Lupus Takes Place on September 30
 The 11th annual Bridge Tournament for Lupus will be held this year on Monday, September 30 at Green Valley Country Club in Lafayette, PA. This event benefits the tri-state chapter of the Lupus Foundation of America and helps raise money to support research and awareness.
The cost to participate is $70, or $225 to play with a pro. Raffle tickets for great prizes are also available. For more information or to register, please call 215-517-5070 or visit the website: www.lupustristate.org.
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Quiz Show 2: Most and Least Likely
 How did you do in last month's quiz on hands, calls, and auctions? Here is part 2 of the quiz series, which this month focuses on probability. Next month...card combinations. Thanks to Richard Pavlicek's excellent website, ( http://www.rpbridge.net/).
1 Which of these bridge hands is the least likely to be dealt? (A) A-8-4 K-9-2 J-10-2 A-8-7-4 (B) 13 cards in the same suit (C) 13 black cards
2 What are the odds against being dealt all four aces? (A) 4 to 1 (B) 64 to 1 (C) 256 to 1 (D) 378 to 1
3 It should not be surprising that a hand with exactly 10 high card points is the most likely to be dealt. What is the second most likely? (A) 9 HCP (B) 11 HCP (C) 9 or 11 is equally likely 4 What is the fewest number of high card points a partnership may hold and be able to make a grand slam? [Answers] 1 (A) because it is one specific hand. Note that "13 cards in the same suit" comprises four specific hands, so it is four times more likely and "13 black cards" comprises millions of hands. 2 (D) The probability of any one player being dealt all four aces is calculated as 13/52 x 12/51 x 11/50 x 10/49 = 11/4165, so the probability of NOT getting four aces is 4154/4165. So the odds would be 4154 to 11 against or about 378 to 1. 3 (A) to the nearest hundredth, the percent chance of occurence for each is: 9 HCP 9.36%, 10 HCP 9.41%, 11 HCP 8.94%
4 5; assume that declarer and dummy's hands are:
A-J-10-9-8-7
8-7-6-5-4-3-2
void
void
6-5-4-3-2
void
5-4-3-2
5-4-3-2
Spades split 1-1 and hearts 3-3 so the heart suit is easily established. |
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Table Tips: The Bidding Box
 [At a club game recently, the director was called to a table because a player fussed with the cards in the bidding box before passing. That incident inspired this reprint of a Table Tips from 2011 about how to use the bidding box. --Ed]
The bidding box is an integral part of duplicate and tournament bridge. Its cards include the 38 legal bids (plus stop and alert) that enable players to speak the full language of bridge. The following tips will help all players use the box like a pro.
3. Use the pass card to pass. It is the only clear sign that you mean to pass. Tapping the table is an ambiguous and unofficial way to pass. Also, the player sitting to the left of a table tapper still has a chance to bid. If he or she takes a moment to think, the table tapper will need to set down a pass card anyway. Why not do the right thing from the start?
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Club News
The Bridge Center of Delaware County (BCDC) wants to remind players that the club has recently acquired Bridgemates, so it will now feature electronic scoring. It has also added a slate of new classes for players at all levels. Please visit the website, www.delcobridge.com, for details about the classes and other information about the club.
Local clubs are encouraged to send announcements, schedules, updates, and special games for placement in upcoming newsletters.
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