Bridge Club

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Director – Mário Sá Couto

Cell: 203-722-1495

Hello Fellow Y’s Men!

The Y’s Men Bridge Club is the place you want to join if you want to exercise your brain and keep it healthy, if you love to play bridge, one of the more interesting and stimulating card games available, if you wish to develop and improve your playing skills and if you enjoy socializing and competing with some of our Y’s Men co-members without the pressure of official ACBL bridge tournaments.

We are currently a group of fifteen to twenty members that play every Friday from 12:00 noon to 4:00 pm at the Westport Center for Senior Activities.

By member voted decision at the end of 2015, we play a Duplicate game unless the number of present players does not allow it, in which case a Chicago version will be adopted.

Depending on the frequency and regularity that each player wants to play, the Roster will show him included in the REGULAR or SUBSTITUTE list.

Regular players are expected to show every Friday for play. In case they cannot play, they are expected to notify the Director or the Assistant Director no later than the prior Thursday pm.

Substitute players will be contacted as needed to fill vacancies as soon as these are determined.

Roster of Players – 2023

NAME PHONE NUMBER E-MAIL

First Last HOME CELL

REGULAR PLAYERS (17)

Arthur Ashman 203 247 1127 aash@mac.com

Paul Bieler 203 226 4058 203 246 1544 prbieler@optonline.net

Woody Bliss 203-226-4859 203-515-8535 woodybliss@optonline.net

Bruce Borner 203-500-8793 bruce@cpinyc.com

Gil Ghitelman 203 610-4860 gilstill@mac.com

Steven Heller 203 299 0403 steve2320@gmail.com

Bob Leng 203-845-0860 978 289 0940 leng_7@msn.com

Jesper Mackeprang 203-221-7715 203856-9175 jespermackeprang@yahoo.com

Paul Miller 203 221 1445 paulmillerps@aol.com

Gun Moen 203 227 7118 gun1mo@aol.com

Mario Sá Couto 203 227 4077 203 722 1495 msacouto@hotmail.com

Harold Salm 203 226 5026 h_salm@hotmail.com

Chris Schwab chriss@optonline.net

Harris Usdan 203 246 8698 203 246 8698 husdan@gmail.com

Mark Valeski 203 227 5337 sunshine172400@aol.com

Donald Yanell 203 227 0773 mimiepoppy@aol.com

Doug Weber 203-952-8542 publisher@westportjournal.com

Roster of Players – 2023 (Cont.)

NAME PHONE NUMBER E-MAIL

First Last HOME CELL

POSSIBLE SUBSTITUTES

Herbert Auslander 203 341 9398 203 856 0331 auslahe@me.com

David Benjamin 203 222 7602 203 216 2955 dbenj104500@aol.com

John Bett 203-956-5405 203-503-1008 johnbett827@gmail.com

Richard Burman 203 222 1139 richb@crnradio.com

Andrew Coleman 201 221 9763 andrewcoleman2010@gmail.com

John Fitzgerald 203-226-1735 203-984-3601 jafitz142gmail.com

Jim Light 203-216-5068 202-494-3048 jalightmd@gmail.com

Jack Mitchell 203-341-6402 JackM@mitchells.com

Jack Klinge 203-341-5113 jgklinge@aol.com

Jonathan Rosenoer 707-666-0816 jrosenoer@gmail.com

Lee Schufro 646-325-8196 lschufro@hotmail.com

Elliott Warren 203-858-7094 ewarrenlaw@aol.com

Les Wolf 203-227-0065 203-820-8181 lajw@optonline.net

Basic Bridge Bidding System Booklet

OVERVIEW

The ACBL Standard American Yellow Card (SAYC) Basic Bridge Bidding System was created to be the required system to be used in a Standard Yellow Card event. The object was to provide a simple, modern method that will lead to a good, solid understanding in a partnership when both players have read this booklet.

Because this system was to be used by each player, the game was free of a wide variety of possibly complex systems. There was no necessity to Alert or ask questions since everyone was playing the same method.

When play began on the Internet, players needing a quick way to establish the method to be used in a relatively casual partnership adopted the SAYC. It is also used by players who meet at the partnership desk a few minutes before the game starts.

Players may still exercise bridge judgment, such as opening a four-card major in third seat. SAYC “normally five-card majors” approach can withstand an occasional deviation.

CHOICES

While there are no choices in the present day SAYC, except for an SAYC event in which everyone must play the method as written, a pair could use the SAYC as a base and make one or two modifications. If you do make a modification or two in an open game, you should announce that fact to the opponents — if they think you are playing straight SAYC and they know SAYC, they would not know about your modifications.

GENERAL APPROACH

Normally open five-card majors in all seats.

Open the higher of long suits of equal length: 5—5 or 6—6

Normally open 1D with 4-4 in the minors.

Normally open 1C with 3-3 in the minors.

Notrump openings show a balanced hand, but may also be made with a singleton Ace, King or Queen.

1 NT = 15—17

2NT = 20-21

3NT = 25-27

Strong conventional 2C opening.

Weak two-bids in diamonds, hearts and spades

RESPONSES AND LATER BIDDING AFTER A 15-17 INT OPENING

2C is “non-forcing” Stayman, meaning that the bidding may stop in two of a suit. Opener rebids 2H with 4—4 in the majors. If responder rebids three of either minor, he shows slam interest and at least a five-card suit.

The Jacoby transfer shows a five-card suit and is used for the majors: 2D is a transfer to hearts, 2H is a transfer to spades. Opener accepts the transfer, though he can jump to the three level with 17 points and four-card support for responder’s major. For example:

1NT – 2D

2H = normal acceptance of the transfer.

3H = 17 points and four-card heart support

If, after the transfer is accepted, responder bids a new suit, that is natural and game forcing. Possible calls after the accepted transfer are:

1NT – 2H

2S – Pass = content to play 2S.

– 2NT, 3S = invitational. Over 2NT opener may pass or bid 3S with a minimum hand; bid 3NT or 4S if maximum.

– 3C, 3D, 3H = natural and game forcing.

– 3NT = giving opener a choice between 3NT and 4S

– 4S = placing the contract, with a six-card or longer suit.

A 2S response requires the 1NT bidder to rebid 3C which may be passed with a club bust, or responder may rebid 3D with a diamond bust. Example:

1NT – 2S

3C – Pass = club bust

– 3D = diamond bust (notrump opener passes).

Other responses to 1 NT:

1NT – 3C, 3D = a six-card or longer suit and invitational to 3NT.

-3H, 3S = at least a six-card suit and slam interest (otherwise, responder uses a transfer bid).

– 4C = Gerber, asking for aces. 4C IS GERBER OVER ANY 1NT OR 2NT BY PARTNER, INCLUDING A REBID OF 1NT OR 2NT. Responses show the number of aces, by steps, just as over a Blackwood 4NT. 5C is used to ask for kings.

Ace Asking King Asking

1NT – 4C 1NT – 4C

4D = 0 or 4 aces 4x – 5C

4H = 1 ace 5D = 0 or 4 kings

4S = 2 aces 5H = 1 king

4NT = 3 aces 5S = 2 kings

5NT = 3 kings

If the player using Gerber makes any bid other than 5C that is to play (including 4NT). Asking for kings guarantees that the partnership holds all the aces.

A direct raise of 1 NT to 4NT is natural and invites 6NT. 4NT is slam invitational only because 4C is available as Gerber (to ask about aces).