Hartford Bridge Club
 
Click here to go to the HBC Home page Click here to go to the HBC Results page Click here to go to the HBC Directions page Click here to go to the HBC People page Click here to go to the HBC Newsletter and Calendars page Click here to go to the HBC Code of Conduct page Click here to go to the HBC Member Standings page Click here to go to the HBC Bridge Links page
             
  Click on a calendar icon to the right to open a new window showing that month's calendar. (To close that calendar window click the X in the top right corner, or click "File" at the top left and then click "Close".)

Click Here for the March Calendar Click Here for the February Calendar  
 

Click here to view the Pairer/Player Calendar.
Click here for the Membership Renewal Form.

   
         
  Board Meeting Agenda   Board Meeting Minutes  
  January 21, 2010   December 15, 2009  
      November 12, 2009  
      October 13, 2009  
 


HARTFORD BRIDGE CLUB NEWS

(added Dec. 16)

Please Note
 
Once approved, minutes of all board meetings are available on the website on the Newsletter/Calendar page.
 
Beginner Bridge Lessons
 
Beginner lessons will be held Monday eveings, beginning in early February.  Please tell your friends.  Call Marsha @ 860-404-2944.
 

BRIDGE LESSONS WITH HELEN

Back to Basics - Major Suit Raises

Classes Begin  Fri, January 15th / Tue, January 19th

Friday 1:30 - 3:30 and/or Tuesday 2:00 - 4:00

Topics Include: Simple Raise, Limit Raise, Jacoby 2NT, Raises in Competition,

Raises by Passed Hands - The Drury Convention

6 - Week Course $120 or "Pay as you Go" $22 per class

All Classes held at the Hartford Bridge Club

For additional information please call Helen Pawlowski at 413-530-1278

or email at hpawlowski@comcast.net

Pairer/Players Needed
 
Volunteers are always needed for the Pairer/Player program.  Sign up at the club.
 
Holiday Schedule
 
Open Dec. 24 and 31 for the 9:30 a.m. game only.  No afternoon or evening games those days.
 
New Year's Celebration
 
Join us New Year's Day--Jan. 1 at 10:30 a.m. for bridge and celebration.
Please bring goodies!
 
TWO Life Master Parties Scheduled
 
   
Frank Macri Life Master Party
Save the Date
Friday, Jan. 15 @ 7 p.m.
Hi-Lo Swiss (Must pre-register)
Bring goodies to help celebrate!
 
   
Carolyn and Phil Olschefski Life Master Party 
Save the Date
Friday, Feb. 5 @ 9:30 a.m.
Bring goodies to help celebrate!

(added Dec. 8, 2009)

 HBC Closure Policy

HBC is no longer following West Hartford school closures.  Donna and the director of the day will determine the status of our games. 

Approximately 2 hours before gametime,

there will be a message on the answering machine,

notification on WFSB (TV and website),

and also an email will be sent. 

Please be aware that a morning closing does not affect the remainder of the day.  Each game opening or closing will be determined at least two hours before game time.

(added Oct. 21, 2009)

POST MORTEMS

There have been an increasing number of complaints by the membership of partners performing post mortems. This has been occurring after the hand is played as well as being carried over to the next table. This has several negative effects including slowing the pace of the game and giving unintended information to the North/South pair at the next lower table. We ask that you make a note on your score card for later discussion and thank you in advance for your cooperation.

(added Sept. 21, 2009)

 

HEALTH REMINDER

As we enter the fall season of beautiful colors, the time of "sniffles, etc." will soon be upon us.  All of us hate to miss a scheduled game.  I would request that  you exercise good judgment when you do not feel 100%.  If you have a cough or flu-like symptoms, please stay home.  Please use this guide:  if you wouldn't visit someone in the hospital or care for a child, then do not come in to play.  Your partner and opponents will be thankful that you have made the right decision.

Thank you,

Lou Brown,

President

(added August 26, 2009)

Policies Revised
 
At the most recent Board of Trustees meeting, several policy changes were made.
  1. Effective Oct. 1, 2009,  lunch will no longer be served on Sundays
  2. Effective Oct. 1, 2009,  all punch cards will be eliminated.  We will honor existing punch cards until Nov. 1, 2009.  At that time punch cards will no longer be in use.
  3. Effective Oct. 1, 2009, free game tickets will be worth $5.00 only.
Reminder
 
The Board of Trustees would like to remind you that policy states that there will be no solicitation of any kind at the Bridge Club.  Posting of notices is not allowed without permission of the club manager.

(added July 23, 2009)

Food Issues
 
It is the goal of all members of the Hartford Bridge club to create the most enjoyable atmosphere possible.  Because of a number of recent  "events" related to eating,  we propose the following guidelines and strongly urge all to adhere to them.  We need everyone's help-please encourage your partner to follow them should he/she forget. 
  1. Limit food at the bridge table to dry snacks and drinks that fit in the cup holders.
  2. Sandwiches, cups of soup, bowls of salad, heated meals, etc. should be eaten in the kitchen area only.  If it comes out of the  microwave, it has no place in the playing area.
  3. Absolutely no "double dipping"-use a plate or separate utensil each time you take from a community bowl/jar.
  4. Keep peanut butter and spreads off the duplimate cards.  They are very expensive to replace.
  5. Do not eat as you lean over the food service counter, to keep crumbs from dropping back on the food.
     
Thank you for your cooperation.

 
Donna Feir, Manager
Lou Brown, President

(updated May 20. 2009)

 
Kibitzers
 
HBC Directors have determined the following:
1.  Kibitzers are welcome at open games only, provided they follow ACBL Laws:
 
Spectators
Proper Conduct during Bidding and Play:
 
  1. A spectator must not display any reactions to the bidding or play while a board is in progress.  He should not look at the hand of more than one player without permission from the Director.
  2. A spectator must not in any way disturb a player.
  3. A spectator must refrain from mannerisms or remarks of any kind (including conversation with a player).
  4. A spectator should be seated.
  5. A spectator may not touch any player, player's chair or table.
  6. A spectator may speak to fact or Law only if requested to do so by the Director.
The Directors Role:  The director is completely within his right to impose necessary restrictions on spectators in order to guarantee reasonable playing conditions for the contestants.  Any kibitzer may be barred for cause by the Director.
    Example:  The Director may limit the number of spectators at a given table and eliminate standing spectators or spectators moving from one table to another.  Only in extreme cases should the Director clear the room completely of kibitzers.  Such an action would be warranted if the room is already too crowded with players to accommodate spectators.  At certain stages of a knockout team event, it is within the Director's province to forbid kibitzers from watching specific areas of play.
    The Player's Role:  The players are expected to extend all reasonable privileges to spectators.  A player may not bar all spectators from his table.  He does have the right, however, to object to the presence of a specific spectator and may have one such spectator barred without assigning cause.
    The Role of a Club Manager:  Club officials are urged to extend all reasonable priviliges to spectators and to understand that kibitzing is part of the game.
 
2.  Kibitzers are NOT permitted at HBC during limited masterpoint games.

New policy on psych bids

For all of you who have made psych bids, have been psyched or may someday be psyched, please note the new HBC Board (and ACBL) approved policy.

1.If a player makes a psych bid (one that purposely and grossly misrepresents either distribution or point count) THE PSYCHING PLAYER MUST CALL THE DIRECTOR UPON COMPLETION OF THE HAND and report the psych.  Failure to do so will result in a procedural penalty equal to the top on a board.

2.All players are encouraged to report psychs.  If the psyching player has not reported the psych there will be a procedural penalty equal to the top on a board.

3.If a psych is committed against a player of lesser ability or experience  it will be considered bad sportsmanship and a penalty equal to the top on a board will result.

4.If a player psychs more than twice in one event, there will be a procedural penalty equal to the top on a board.. This does not mean that it is acceptable to psych twice in every game.  Psychs should be rare.

5.Excessive psyching can result in barring from the club for a period of time determined by the HBC board.

 

What to do when a claim is made

When you claim the rest of the tricks in a hand, all play must cease.  You are required to state your line of play.  “Play it out” is not an option.  If there is any question as to whether the claim is correct, the director must be called.

 

Quiet Please

Post mortem discussions are not appropriate during a round.  Among the bad things that can result are

·   delay of the game,

·   offending your partner,

·   offending the opponents and

·   sharing information with the next pair to play the board. 

If you feel you must discuss a hand with your partner, wait until the round is finished and take the discussion away from the playing area.

(updated Dec. 3, 2008)

Alerts
 
If your partner makes and alertable bid, it is required that you put out the blue alert card when saying "alert".  This will help those players who have a hearing loss.
 
Health Alert!
 
Just a reminder:  If you have a condition that you think might be contagious, please stay home.

(added Sept. 9, 2008)

New Saturday Parking Rules
 
Our next door neighbors, Rayburn, are now open on Saturdays and have requested that our people NOT park in their spaces......they are more than considerate of us, so our members need to be the same.

(added July 5, 2008)

Parking Reminder
 
The area around the dumpsters at the rear of the parking lot is NOT marked for parking.  The trucks that come to empty the dumpsters need room to maneuver and your car is in jeopardy if you park too close to the dumpsters.  Be sure to park in MARKED parking spaces ONLY. 
 
Be sure to lock your car and remove all valuables from sight.  Although we have a security guard at night, break-ins have been reported during the daytime games.  Don't let the fence around the property lull you into a false sense of security!

(added June 13, 2008)

The following two policies were adopted at last night's Board of Directors meeting:
 
1.  Effective immediately, anyone aged 22 or under is welcome to play at HBC as our guest.
 
2.  During game time, members are strongly urged to NOT use the bridge club phone, except in an emergency.

(added June 12, 2008)

Cell Phone Policy Explained

 

A few months ago it was announced that the Board of Directors had updated our cell phone policy to “self reporting”.   We thought the term was “self explanatory”, but it seems to need further explanation.

 

1.  Before the game starts, you must turn the power off on your cell phone.

2.  If your phone rings during the game, it is your responsibility to immediately report yourself to the director to receive your penalty. 

3.  People who incur multiple offences will receive increasingly severe penalties.

4.  If you must make a call during the game, please step outside.

5.  If you make a call after you are finished playing but others are still playing, refer to line 4.

Changes?  Let us know!
 
If you move or change your phone number or email address, please let Donna know.
The email address at the club is:  hartfordclub@sbcglobal.net
or you can "reply" to this email address:  hbcnews@cox.net
 

(posted July 25, 2005)

Cell Phone Policy

At the June 16 meeting, the Board of Directors banned the use of cell phones during the games at the bridge club.  The directors were instructed to remind us at the beginning of each game to turn off all cell phones.  As time went by, it became apparent that the reminder didn't stop the phones from ringing, so at the July 21 meeting, the Board added a "consequence":  a procedural penalty.

 
What is a "procedural penalty"?   Simply put, it is a scoring penalty
 
At the first offence, the player will receive a "1/4 board penalty". 
 
What does THAT mean?  It depends on the movement of the game. 
For example:
If there are 9 (3-board) rounds: top on a board is 8: 1/4 board penalty = 2 points deducted
If there are 13 (2-board) rounds: top on a board is 12:  1/4 board penalty = 3 points deducted
 
Repeat offences will result in an escalating scale of deductions.
 
Remember that bridge is a "partnership game", with no provision for individual scoring, so all penalties will be assessed to both the offender AND his/her partner.  So protect your own score, as well as your partner's score:  TURN OFF YOUR CELL PHONE!

 

To communicate with the club manager or HBC directors
click on this email icon
Click here to email our club manager or HBC directors

To report a website problem to our webmasters
click on this email icon
Click here to email our webmasters

This site maintained by the Hartford Bridge Club Webmasters
© 2000 Hartford Bridge Club

This page last updated March 05, 2010