On the Plus Side

It is more than a congress. A Teaching Forum & Lunch Gathering added value to the Coffs Harbour Super Congress this month. This collaborative event by the ABF and the NSWBA turned out to be a great success, attracting an overflow of 36 participants. New country teachers specially treasured the opportunity to observe how celebrity teachers act in class and to network with their fellow teachers across the state. If you are interested in similar forum in the future, please contact Joan Butts (the ABF National Teaching Coordinator) or Cath Whiddon (the NSWBA Education Councillor).

Coffs Coast Gold Congress
– results, bulletins and photos can be found here

Teaching Forum & Lunch Networking
– a detail report and photos of this special event
(Left) Open Teams Winners – Andrew Braithwaite, Pauline Gumby, Warren Lazer and Ian Robinson. (Right) Less than 1000 MPs Winners – Anne Jackson, Maureen Baker, Penny Corrigan and Judith Crafti.
(Left) Intermediate / Restricted Winners – Max & Kathy Gilbert, Hamid Sadigh and Siamak Parsanejad. (Right) Less than 300 MPs Winners – Malcolm Clift, Kathy Clift, Fran Campbell and Sallie Quarles.
Teachers exchanged their thoughts and experience while enjoying the lunch.
It is more than a game. To encourage new players to compete in a non-threatening atmosphere, Ballina Bridge Club initiated a Friendship Day on the 20th September, with the support of the ABF marketing grant. The event is open to members who have less than 50 master points and will be run along the lines of a Pairs Congress. Find out more >

It is more than traveling half around the world. Tenterfield Bridge Club has a membership of 24 players, on top of this, there are 74 players traveling from Armidale, Gunnedah, Byron Bay, Sawtell, Balina, Glen Innes, Yamba, Stanthorpoe, Mullumbimby, Gold Coast and Brisbane to the club regularly, which gives a total distance of 25,390km – the circumference of Earth is about 40,000km! The Tenterfield Club is grateful to their supporters and would like to welcome you to their annual congress over the 2nd weekend in October. Online bookings are now open >

Registrations are also open for the Pacific Asia Women's Online Bridge Festival. This online tournament is hosted by ABF from 31st August to 4th September. There will be 3 x 12 board matches a day. There are Pairs, Robots and Individual matches, with great prizes available for various categories. Check it out >

 What is more in this issue, our roving reporter Rakesh Kumar is sharing with us the interesting 5+/5+ hands at Ingleburn Teams on 2nd August. Matthew McManus, the Chief Tournament Director, will give advice to both players and directors what is beyond the Laws in psyching situation.

5+/5+ at Ingleburn
– Rakesh Kumar shows you how to handle these hands with care

They haven't got what they promised
– the first article in a three part series by Matthew McManus

Results of all congresses in August can be found HERE.
Upcoming Events
Events highlights from 31st August to 4th October. Click HERE to view congresses in the full year.

Congresses In NSW Local Clubs
Sep 5 – 6 (Sat – Sun) Blue Mountains Bridge Club
Swiss Pairs and Swiss Teams
 Event Details >

Sep 11 – 13 (Fri – Sun) Sapphire Coast Bridge Club
Walk-in Pairs, Swiss Pairs and Teams
Event Details > 

Sep 12 – 13 (Sat – Sun) Port Macquarie-Hastings Bridge Assoc
Teams
Event Details > 

Sep 13 (Sun) Hunters Hill Bridge Club
Teams
Event Details > 

Sep 13 (Sun) Lismore Bridge Club
Teams
Event Details > 

Sep 19 – 20 (Sat – Sun) Glen Bridge Club 46th Annual Congress
Pairs
Event Details > 

Sep 19 – 20 (Sat – Sun) Great Lakes Bridge Club Annual Congress
Swiss Pairs and Teams
Event Details > 

Sep 20 (Sun) Illawarra Bridge Association
Swiss Pairs
Event Details > 

Sep 26 – 27 (Sat – Sun) Mollymook Bridge Club 20th Annual Congress
Swiss Pairs and Teams
Event Details > 

Sep 26 – 27 (Sat – Sun ) Tamworth Bridge Club
Swiss Pairs
Event Details > 
Sep 27 (Sun) Wollstonecraft Bridge Club PairsEvent Details > 

Oct 4 (Sun) Kings and Queens Spring
Swiss Pairs
Event Details > 


State Events
Sep 20 (Sun) NSWBA John Arkinstall State Teams
Metropolitan Final
Event Details >


National (ABF) Events
Sep 9 – 13 (Wed – Sun) NTBA Territory Gold Bridge Festival
Event Details > 

Oct 2 – 5 (Fri – Mon) BFACT Canberra in Bloom Gold Point Bridge Festival
Event Details > 

Featured Articles
Shapely hands can have great playing strength if there is a fit with partner. Let Rakesh Kumar show you how he handled the challenges in bidding the 5+/5+ hands at Ingleburn.
 Read the full article >

Where is the hand opponent said they had? Is it a "psyche"?  Matthew McManus is going to discuss this topic in a three article series. Read this first article to find out, what a player and a director should do when there is a deliberate deviation from the system.
 Read the full article >
Congress Player
of the Year
Your Association is pleased to acknowledge this 2015 Award. There will be four categories.

• Open
• Intermediate < 750 MPs
• Restricted < 300 MPs
• Novice < 100 MPs

Click HERE for our current "interim" list, as at 31st May 2015.

This award is based on masterpoints earned at NSW Congresses held under the auspices of NSWBA during the year.
About the eCongress
The eCongress is a monthly newsletter published by the NSW Bridge Association. It updates you with the latest congresses in the month, interesting hands and analysis from events, and tips regarding the bridge laws.
 Subscribe Now >

NSW Bridge Association
+61 2 9264 8111
office@nswba.com.au
www.nswba.com.au
1/F, 162 Goulburn Street,
East Sydney 2010
Send us your stories
Do you have a story to tell or a photo to share after playing in a congress? Let us know, we will be pleased to publish them.
Submit your stories / photos >
Feedback
It is important for us to know your feedback. Write to us and let us know what kind of topic you would like to know more about.
Write to the Editor >