IMPORTANT: NEWSLETTER FOR FEBRUARY

ALL MEMBERS PLEASE BE ADVISED THE BOARD HAS APPROVED REVISIONS TO THE CURRENT BYLAWS. CBC IS REQUIRED TO GIVE YOU 30 DAY NOTICE THAT YOU WILL BE ASKED TO VOTE ON THESE REVISIONS WHICH WILL BE MADE AVAILALBE TO YOU FOR YOUR REVIEW.

A little while back in a game I directed I had a Director call that you don’t see very often. And to add a wrinkle to the situation, the two main sources of reference Directors use are the ACBL Laws of Duplicate Bridge and Duplicate Decisions, the latter of which is a more verbose version of the Laws and explains some laws in more details. However, that extra text from Duplicate Decisions is going to come into play as you will see.

Midway through a hand, declarer (North) played a card from their hand, but before the East defender played a card, the West defender played one first. The players at the table did the right thing and immediately stopped play and called for the Director. What had occurred is a violation of Law 57 – Premature Lead of Play. I was fairly certain how this situation was to be resolved, but to be sure I went back and consulted Duplicate Decisions as it was on top of the stack at the desk. Per DD, Law 57 states:

They may require offender’s partner to play (1) the highest card or (2) the lowest card they hold in the suit led. They may also (3) prohibit or (4) require offender’s partner to play a card of a different specified suit.

I went back to the table and informed Declarer of their options which by the text above is a choice of (1) or (2) AND a choice of (3) or (4). Declarer made their initial choice of requiring highest card to East and the hand finished out normally. On the lie of the cards it didn’t matter what choice(s) Declarer made, but occasionally it will and you never want to give your opponent options.

A little later I went back and looked at the same Law 57 in the ACBL Laws of Duplicate Bridge. To my surprise, the wording was a bit different.

When a defender leads to the next trick before his partner has played to the current trick, or plays out of turn before his partner has played, the card so led or played becomes a major penalty card, and declarer selects one of the following options. He may: 1. require offender’s partner to play the highest card he holds of the suit led, or 2. require offender’s partner to play the lowest card he holds of the suit led, or 3. require offender’s partner to play a card of another suit specified by declarer, or 4. forbid offender’s partner to play a card of another suit specified by declarer.

Notice in the Laws version it’s (1) or (2) or (3) or (4) versus the Duplicate Decisions version it’s (1) or (2) AND (“they may also”) (3) or (4). I believe Duplicate Decisions is not properly presented as the Laws are what we officially go by, and in this case guided me to technically make an incorrect table ruling. Fortunately for me it did not matter as Declarer was going to get the appropriate number of tricks regardless of the ruling. Directors should always strive to “get it right”, and in cases where they do make incorrect rulings they should take measures to restore equity as best they can. I was fortunate in this case that no harm was done, and more importantly learned something new in the process.

Michael Bitonti

Head Director - CBC

Three Things Most People Don’t Know about Alerts and Announcements

The Alert procedure and the Announcement procedure seem pretty simple: You say the word “Alert” when your partner makes a bid that is unusual in meaning or shows something about his or her hand that you cannot assume the opponents know. An Announcement is made whenever your partner opens 1NT, bids a forcing 1NT response to your major suit, makes a transfer bid, or bids a short club or diamond.

However, it is really not as simple as all that. Here are a few things that many (if not most) people don’t know about the Alert/Announcement procedures.

1) Whenever you say the word “Alert” or make an announcement about your partner’s bid, you are suppose to also remove the alert card from the bidding box and tap it at the center of the table. Note that the tapping of the Alert card also applies to making announcements as defined above. This is because often the opponents either do not or cannot hear you say the words.

2) It is NEVER proper to identify a relay bid by announcing the word “Relay”. NEVER! The proper way to identify a relay bid by your partner is to say the word “Alert” (and tap the Alert card) and nothing else. The opponents can ask if they wish to know.

3) It is NEVER proper to say, “I think that is an alert,” or “I guess I should alert that.” Or “I think I should alert that bid.” Just say the one word “Alert.” If the opponents want to know more they can ask.

4) A support double does not be get alerted.

5) The range for overcalling 1NT or opening 2NT is not announced by partner. Announcing the range is reserved only for partner’s 1NT opening bid.

6) Yes, you DO have to announce the range of your partner’s 1NT opening even if it is the very common 15-17 HCP. Whoever told you that they read in the bulletin or got an email from ACBL or was told by a director that you did not have to announce a 15-17 HCP no trump opener is wrong (ACBL does not have any such policy).

7) You NEVER alert a Stayman bid after your partner has opened 1N or 2NT or overcalled 1NT; however, you do alert partner’s response to your Stayman bid if it shows anything other than whether or not she has a 4-card major.

8) A direct cue bid of your opponents opening bid that shows two-suits and is anything but Michael’s Cue Bid should be alerted. If it is a Michael’s Cue Bid, it should not be alerted. In addition, you NEVER alert an Unusual 2NT bid.

9) You NEVER alert any Gerber or any Key Card asking bids or responses (but see item 10 below).

10) Once the auction is over and you are the declarer, you MUST explain what the responses to your Ace asking bids or Key Card asking bids mean. You MUST do this whether or not the opponents ask and it must be done before the opening lead.

Your copy should address 3 key CBC Members Double the Unit's Donation

For the eighth (!) year in a row, members of the CBC reached into their hearts and wallets and more than doubled the Unit 160 donation to PALSS - Palmetto AIDS Life Support Services! We made a combined donation of $1,750.

This donation is earmarked for testing, treatment, and outreach. They provided free and low-cost ($15) testing and treatment for anyone, as well as outreach and education to South Carolina universities, colleges, churches, shelters, and other organizations.

In addition to these services, PALSS also has a food pantry, provides counseling and support services, primary health care, housing assistance, and so much more. Since COVID, several of the few organizations in the state that provide these services have closed, so it is more important than ever to support PALSS.

For those of you wondering, we have donated over $13,000 to PALSS since 2016.

THANK YOU ALL!!!

Columbia Future Life Master Winter Sectional and GNT Club Qualifier Game

Our FLM was a success! Though we always want more to attend, we had 32 tables in two days, earning CBC $500 in proceeds. A big thank you to Lee Webb and Shelby King for organiziting and conducting this tournment. Jack and Mary were on hand to preforn their duties as Directors..thanks to both for an excellent job. A special thank you to Sue Hopke, lead and Sally McCarlde and Judy Shillinglaw for arranging lunch both days, carefully monitoring cost as well as providing a plentlyful and tasty lunch both days..Your service to CBC is so appreciated!

A FEW WORDS FROM THE PRESIDENT:

It’s February…love is in the air! I hope you were able to celebrate Valentine’s Day in some form or fashion. I went to a brunch and played bridge at CBC…life is good!

I didn’t look back, but I’m relatively sure that my newsletter article of February 2023 mentioned the strong affection I feel about being in relationship with my fellow CBC members. It bears repeating—you all have no idea how much coming to the Club and spending time with you means to me. Joining CBC, playing here and becoming involved in our activities has enhanced my life tremendously…thank you!

My term of office as President will be over soon (May 31^st). I still have a few months to share ideas with you, as well as to encourage you to participate in the many opportunities our Club has to offer.

CBC’s resurgence since COVID lockdown has been a process (we’re doing great). As we add back new games, and as our games grow, challenges arise. EACH AND EVERY ONE of us needs to register for our games. We don’t like to cancel—but it’s inconvenient for our members to come to the Club and find out that there aren’t enough players to have a sanctioned game. I’m pretty sure that I mention this here every month. If you don’t know how to register, call me or any Board member; we’d be happy to help.

Speaking of help—CBC could use a bit of help from you. We have recently introduced a couple new games that are sometimes making, sometimes not. This is not unusual! The Saturday Open Pairs games needs a bit of increased support, as does the once a month Tuesday Four is Enough game. One or two more pairs would ensure that these games will make…please consider registering for these games by 9:00 pm the night before. The Monday 0-500 game is vibrant – so much so that Susan and Laura are requesting that those planning to play register. Please help CBC with these issues.

I’m so happy that Spring is just around the corner. It’s such a nice time of year to be out and about. I hope you will be out and about at CBC soon and often…I’ll look forward to seeing you!

Judy

Silver Life Master Bibs Hurt

NABC Master Toni Elkins

Regional Master Velma Pruitt

Sectional Master Marian

Pender

Club Master Almateen Benton

Junior Master Maria Bullis

John Schuller