XG Handicapping Trial

As previously advised, at its meeting on 12th May the Committee agreed a proposal to trial a change to the Club's handicapping system. 

Based on advice from the Bridge Advisory Group (BAG), a three-month trial of the Compass XG Rating system was introduced on 1st July. The system has been used for Monday sessions and in the recent Parkwood Teams event.

The trial is due to complete on 30th September and, as agreed, will be reviewed by BAG in October.  BAG in turn will make recommendations to the Committee before any decision is made on whether to revert to the previous system or to adopt the XG Rating system on a permanent basis. 

To assist BAG in its review, the Committee is now inviting all Club members to provide feedback on the XG Rating system.  

BAG has asked that feedback should indicate your preference for handicapping as follows:

1. I prefer the XG method (used from July to September)
2. I prefer the previous method
3. I have no preference

Further comments may be added if you wish.

Feedback is requested in writing by Wednesday 1st October - email responses are preferred and should be addressed to Pryor Rowland (pryorrowland@gmail.com), copy to the Club Secretary (waikanaebridge@gmail.com).

While the review process is undertaken, the previous handicapping system will be reinstated with effect 1st October.

"In Brief"

BridgePal

A big thank you to Maureen Pratchett and Chris Farrow for the largely seamless transition from BridgeTab to BridgePal this week. Initial impressions are that things are working well, with few if any issues as we adjust to the new system.

Kapiti/Horowhenua Quadrangular Tournament

This event will take place on 21st September at Otaki.  The team selected by the BAG is as follows:

Open

Derek Snelling and Isobel Ross

Helen Walker and Angela Gattsche

Intermediate 

Lorraine Gaffaney and Vicky Young

Rezea Morgan and Karen Hutchins

Junior 

Craig Jackson and Murray Lobb

Hugh Wolfensohn and Gillian van Raalte

Masterpoints

Just a reminder - if you're looking on the NZBridge website for your current Masterpoints, you will need to search by surname.

"Mind the Gap"

It has been brought to the attention of the Committee of another club that there is potential for unauthorised information to be gained by playing opposite a player using a card holder.

There may be a tendency to separate each suit in the card holder and when a card is played from a particular holding leaving say just one or two cards then that has the potential to give information to that player's partner.

Note that any such information can be used by the opposition quite legally as such information in their hands is not unauthorised.

While our Committee is unaware of any such issues in our own club, players using card holders are reminded to keep ALL cards closely adjacent to one another at all times.

(My thanks to Graham Cheater for this advice)

Wellington Sixes 7th September

Great result for the "Waikanae Wizards" winning today's Wellington Sixes:

• Murray Lobb and Craig Jackson - 1st Junior
• Pryor Rowland and Graham "Gandalf" Cheater - 2nd Open
• Nicky Bradley and Vicky Young - 8th Intermediate

The team also - deservedly - won the "best dressed" prize!

Many congratulations also to Helen and Kevin Walker, winners of  the Open category.

Improvers' Lessons

I’m delighted to announce that Vivienne Cannell has kindly agreed to deliver a series of three Improvers’ Lessons. 

The lessons will be on 15th, 22nd and 29th September.

The topics are:

1. Slam bidding including Roman Keycard Blackwood, splinters and cue bidding.
2. Multi twos, including defence.
3. Pre-emptive bidding, sacrifices, defensive strategies and scoring.

These lessons are aimed at "senior Junior" level players, but needless to say all are welcome.

If you would like to attend these lessons please put your name on the sheet which will be available shortly at the top table and pay $20.00 into the Club bank account.

Separately, NZBridge are running three further on-line lessons aimed at intermediate players. These run from September 29 to October 12 and cover: 

1. transfer responses to 1NT
2. Keycard Blackwood and splinters
3. Michaels cue-bids & unusual 2NT.

Further information may be found here.

Waikanae Intermediate Pairs

Our Intermediate Pairs event will take place on Sunday 28th September.

All Intermediate and Junior players are welcome.  

Please register on the NZBridge website.

Thanks to our sponsors, Parkwood Retirement Village.