Ask ACBL to Change Policies "Guest" Policy Jeopardizes Games and Friendships

In this Newsletter Change in ACBL Policies Needed Sample Email to ACBL Join Us for Online Classes Marty Bergen Special Offer on Audiovisual Lessons Continues Planning at Trick 1 by Marty Bergen Bid This Hand Need a Partner for Online Games? Know the Alert Procedure on BBO Sign Up for August Bridge Retreat at Idaho Rocky Mountain Ranch Special Offer on Lumpkins' Lazy River Wines More on "Eight Ever, Nine Never" Virtual Games Schedule and June Masterpoint Winners

Please Help Change ACBL Policies July 7, 2020 Our online games are in jeopardy because of new ACBL policies that blindsided us. Please read this message, which is longer than usual, and help. ACBL suddenly changed its “guest” policy, making it difficult for people to play with their usual partners in our games. Anyone who did not play in our physical game between Oct. 1, 2018 and March 25, 2020 is now considered a “guest” in our virtual game. The number of “guests” is based on the number of tables, and we are so small that some games may not even qualify for one guest. We suddenly dropped from 6 or 7 tables to 3.5 tables in two recent games. No Advance Notice We had no idea that such a policy existed until we received a notice that we had violated it. The following week, many players suddenly were blocked from registering in our game . The same thing happened at clubs across the country. Neither club managers nor ACBL members received any advance notice of this. The policy is designed to protect large clubs in major cities who reportedly are losing players to less expensive online clubs. ACBL appears unconcerned about smaller clubs and the thousands of players who are affected by this one-sided policy. We Are Protesting We have written the ACBL protesting the policy, as well as the way in which it was implemented. You can read a copy of our letter here . We would greatly appreciate it if you will join us in writing the ACBL about this policy. Please also consider writing a letter to the editor of the Bridge Bulletin at editor@acbl.org . A sample letter to the executive director is below. We will be glad to send you more details. --Chuck Abramo and Jo Murray

Sample Email to ACBL Note: Your letter will be even stronger if you add your own comments and a story of how this has affected you personally. To: execdirector@acbl.org I am outraged at the sudden implementation of a policy that is making it difficult or impossible for me to partner with many friends and is jeopardizing the future of our online bridge club, I believe that I should be able to play in my club’s games with partners of my choice, regardless of where they are located or whether they visited my club last year. The limitation of one guest per five tables is unrealistic for a small club, particularly one in a resort area. This policy makes it hard for me to stay in touch with friends, and is threatening the survival of clubs across the country. Please change it.

Join Us for Online Classes Brush up your skills in the extra classes that we have added for the summer. Details are at SunValleyBridge.com under Online Lessons. July 8 - Eliminating Losers, Part 1 July 9 - Developing Defensive Tricks, Part 1 July 13 & 15 - Eliminating Losers, Part 2 July 16 - Developing Defensive Tricks, Part 2 July 20 & 22 - Watching Out for Entries, Part 1 July 23 - Interfering with Declarer, Part 1 July 27 & 29 - Watching Out for Entries, Part 2 July 30 - Interfering with Declarer, Part 2 Cost is $25 per lesson or 5 lessons for $120. You can sign up with jo@sunvalleybridge.com. If you're already registered, it's not necessary to sign up again. Private online lessons also are available.

Special Offer on Marty Bergen Audiovisual Lessons Continues Marty Bergen, 10 times national champion, ACBL Bridge Bulletin columnist, and author of Points Schmoints! and many other books, is continuing his "pandemic special" for Sun Valley Bridge Club players. Marty thinks of himself first and foremost as a teacher, and our students know how often we quote him. You'll receive a significant discount when you buy 5 or more lessons. Click here for more details; click here to order. We have three players who have purchased all 50 lessons! Even better offer: Two people may pool their orders to get the discounted pricing. Call Marty at (800) 386-7432; the website is not set up for pooled orders.

Planning at Trick 1 by Marty Bergen Some deals are easy to play. Unfortunately, most are not. If you can learn the best way to size up the hand BEFORE starting to play, you will find yourself making more contracts than you ever did. How will you play this hand? MORE

Bid This Hand We had several requests for advice on this hand, which is from one of our recent virtual games. How would you bid? See the answer here.

Need a Partner for Online Games? Are you looking for a bridge partner? Next time there is a Sun Valley Virtual Bridge Club game, consider putting your name on the partnership desk. It is just like registering for the game, but you are not obligated to accept a potential partner. If you still happen to be on the partnership desk when the game begins, the director may ask if you would like to play with a robot as a partner to fill the last table. If you play with a robot partner to eliminate a sit-out, you will play for free.    To get your name on the partnership desk, go through the normal registration steps during the two hours prior to a Sun Valley Bridge virtual game, and select “partnership desk” rather than “register.” You may even find somebody on the partnership desk waiting for you. If you know in advance that you will need a partner, contact Jo Murray. She will do her best to help you.

The procedures for alerting and announcing bids on BBO are exactly the reverse of the procedures in our regular games. You announce and alert your own bids, rather than have your partner do it. Additional details on alerts are here.

Join Us at August Bridge Retreat at Idaho Rocky Mountain Ranch We'll have a second bridge retreat Aug. 27-30 at Idaho Rocky Mountain Ranch. Here's what Carla and Don Lewis said about the first one: "The bridge retreat could not have been better in any way. We applaud you for your planning and flexibility (and all the extra work!) to assure everyone's safety and comfort." Read more about it in Eye on Sun Valley.

Special Offer on Lazy River Wines If you've been to a Sun Valley Bridge Club fundraiser for the YMCA, you've enjoyed Lazy River wines.. Ned and Kirsten Lumpkin have generously donated their award-winning wines every year. They are now offering special discounts . Orders can be shipped, and there will be some ability to pick up orders in Ketchum later in the summer . Contact Barb Larimer. 8 Ever, 9 Never: King or Queen? You've heard the ditty, "Eight Ever, Nine Never." This guideline says that when you have 8 cards and are missing the queen, finesse. If you have 9 cards, play for the queen to fall or "drop." The ditty applies only when you are missing the queen. Without the king, finesse with 8, 9 or 10 cards and play for the drop when you have 11 cards.

Virtual Games Join us! Wednesdays, 3-5:15 p.m. MTN Fridays, 3-5:15 p.m. MTN Instructions Congratulations! Click here for June Masterpoint winners at Sun Valley Bridge Club virtual games.

Sun Valley Bridge At The YMCA

Contact Jo

Telephone: 208-720-1501

Contact Chuck

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