HBC Newsletter and Calendars Page

(added August 25, 2010)

Party Reminder

Life Master Party for Roz Sternberg: Tues, August 31 at 10 a.m. Save the date! Bring goodies to help celebrate.

Special Game Reminder

Join us Thursday evening, Sept. 16 at 7:15 for the ACBL-Wide Instant Matchpoint Game.

Clarification of HBC Policy on Member Illness Announcements

How to Handle Member Illness--At the request of a member, a member's family or a member's friend/bridge partner, the HBC will post the information on the white board and send out an email requesting cards, calls, and/or visits as specified by the member. Members may want to limit specific medical information and just need good cheer. To make a request, call the HBC or speak in person with any of the directors. All directors will give the requests to Donna,the Club Manager, and she will have the information posted. The HBC respects the privacy of its members and will not post any medical information without permission from its members or someone acting on behalf of a member.

A concern regarding extended absence of members who are known to play at the HBC on a regular basis: If you know of a member who is absent, please let Donna know.

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(added August 23, 2010)

5-Week Course on Defense

for Intermediate/Novice Players

Day & Time: Tuesdays 2-4

Dates: October 19, 26, Nov 2, 9, 16

All classes held at the Hartford Bridge Club

Fee: $100 for the 5-week series or Pay as You Go $22 per class.

Questions: please contact Helen at hpawlowski@comcast.net or 413-530-1278

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(added August 19, 2010)

Lessons will take place at the Hartford Bridge Club

19A Andover Dr.

West Hartford, CT

860-953-3177

Contact Marsha

860-404-2944 or 860-841-6087

Beginners & Advanced Beginners

Lessons With Marsha

On Leads Against NT and Suit Contracts

Also Includes Play of The Hand

Tuesdays 9/7 – 9/28

2:00 – 4:00

$20.00 per lesson

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(added June 8, 2010)

Good News and Bad News

First, the good news: Our Monday, Tuesday and Friday games are more popular than ever!

Now, the bad news: Many players are arriving during the last few minutes prior to game time, creating a traffic jam at the director's desk and, in some instances, contributing to a delayed start of play.

Please, make an effort to come a few minutes early. Thanx.

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(added May 14, 2010)

Sunday Game

Sunday, May 16 @ 1 p.m. will be the last Sunday game of this season. If we find that there is support for this game, we hope to resume in the Fall. Come show your support this Sunday!

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(added April 16, 2010)

Table Fees

Effective May 1, 2010, table fees will increase by $1/person.

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(added March 31, 2010)

Game Change

Effective Wed., April 7, the 6:30 game will now be 0-600.

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(added March 11, 2010)

MICHAEL LAWRENCE LIBRARY

The Hartford Bridge Club is pleased to announce the opening of the Michael Lawrence Library. Partab Makhijani and Bill Watson have volunteered to be our librarians.

Currently, the Library owns the following texts:

Author: Michael Lawrence

· JUDGMENT AT BRIDGE 1 copy

· TWO OVER ONE 3 copies

· OPENING LEADS 3 copies

· Play a SWISS TEAMS OF FOUR 2 copies

· DOUBLE 2 copies

· DYNAMIC DEFENCE 2 copies

· Play Bridge with MIKE LAWRENCE 2 copies

· TAKE OUT DOUBLES 2 copies

· How to Play CARD COMBINATIONS 2 copies

· Partnership Understanding 3 copies

· FALSE CARDS 2 Copies

BORROWING PROCEDURES:

A book may be borrowed by an HBC member free of charge for fourteen days. Contact Partab or Bill to borrow or return a book. If they are not available, the Director of the day will assist you. An entry, indicating the date borrowed, will be recorded. It is the sole responsibility of the borrower to return the book by its due date.

Late returns:

A late fee of one dollar will be charged for a book not returned within seven days beyond the due date; two dollars for seven to fourteen days past due. If not returned fourteen days past the due date, the borrower will remit the full price of the book and may lose future borrowing privileges.

Damaged books:

If a book is returned damaged, the borrower will remit the full price of the book.

Advance reservation:

If a book is not available a member may make an advance reservation. That member will have first choice to borrow when it next becomes available.

Renewals

A book may be renewed for an additional fourteen days if no advance reservation has been made by another member.

Pairer/Player Program

Several questions have recently been raised regarding the purpose of and the procedures for the Pairer/Player Program. It is hoped that the following will help to clarify:

The purpose of the Pairer/Player program is to provide a partner to a single player who has notified the game director (typically, in advance) that he/she wishes to play that day and would appreciate the assignment of a playing partner. The Pairer/Player Program should be regarded as a service of the HBC for its members and visitors and is intended to meet occasional needs. It should not be considered as a source of regular partnerships.

The Pairer/Player is not to be involved in the day's pairings as this is solely the responsibility of the game director. It is anticipated that all decisions regarding the day's parnerships will be respected and accepted as given.

All HBC members are encouraged to volunteer to serve as the Pairer/Player and to reacquaint you with the procedures, they are listed below:

The Pairer/Player Coordinator will seek volunteers to serve as the Pairer/Player. When a member agrees to serve, he/she will confirm that commitment by signing the calendar for the agreed upon date(s).

The Pairer/Player will be present on the day(s) of the month as assigned. (Please arrive fifteen minutes prior to game time and report to the game director.)

The Pairer/Player will be assigned as a partner to any pairless player as determined by the game director. It is not the responsibility of the Pairer/Player to assist in pairing and he/she should not attempt to make any arrangement for any player arriving at the HBC in need of a partner. The Pairer/Player will play on the day assigned free of charge.

The Pairer/Player will receive a coupon for a free game to be used at any future HBC game.

If the Pairer/Player's services for the day are not needed as all single players have been assigned partners, he/she will receive an additonal free game coupon.

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(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.

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(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.

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(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

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(added August 26, 2009)

Policies Revised

At the most recent Board of Trustees meeting, several policy changes were made.

Effective Oct. 1, 2009, lunch will no longer be served on Sundays
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.
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.

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(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.

Limit food at the bridge table to dry snacks and drinks that fit in the cup holders.
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.
Absolutely no "double dipping"-use a plate or separate utensil each time you take from a community bowl/jar.
Keep peanut butter and spreads off the duplimate cards. They are very expensive to replace.
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

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(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:

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.
A spectator must not in any way disturb a player.
A spectator must refrain from mannerisms or remarks of any kind (including conversation with a player).
A spectator should be seated.
A spectator may not touch any player, player's chair or table.
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.

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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.

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.

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

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.

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(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!

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(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.

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(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. In the event of a cell phone infraction, the offending player will immediately report himself to the director. If there is a failure to self report,

the offending player's partner will notify the director.
the offending player's opponents will notify the director.
any other player, aware of the infraction, is encouraged to alert the director.

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

4. If you must make a call during the game, please step outside, where your conversation cannot be heard by the other players.

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

6. During game time, members are strongly urged to NOT use the bridge club phone, except in an emergency.

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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

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(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!

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