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The new normal for congresses
We are pleased to see local congresses and State events have filled many of the gaps in February following the cancellation of the Gold Coast Congress. It is encouraging that both face-to-face congresses and online events have recorded satisfactory entries.  All congress results can be found on the NSWBA website.
The NSWBA Open Interstate Team Selection (OITS) is being conducted on RealBridge this year, thus breaking down geographical restrictions and making it a real "state-wide" event. It has been supported by 62 pairs from all over New South Wales (and beyond). Stage II of the selection event, starting on Monday 15th February, will also be held on RealBridge. A side event, the ITS Online Swiss Pairs will be run in parallel. Enter on the NSWBA website for a challenging game.
More face-to-face congresses are scheduled in February and subsequent months, with restrictions on travel hopefully being further relaxed! Please check the NSWBA Tournament Calendar for the most up to date list.

Keep up-to-date with the latest restrictions in NSW


The Australian Government is monitoring the spread of COVID-19 (Coronavirus) and restrictions are currently in place regarding travel and public gatherings.
For the latest information about restrictions in NSW, please refer to the NSW Government COVID-19 website.
Please also take note of NSWBA Insight for bridge during COVID-19.

Upcoming Events
The NSWBA Tournament Calendar now allows you to filter the list of congresses so that you can see which are face-to-face and which are online – the online congresses can be filtered by platform.

F2F CONGRESSES IN NSW
February 14 (Sun) Sydney Bridge Centre
Valentine's Day Swiss Pairs

Feb 21 (Sun) Trumps Bridge Centre
Summer Teams

Mar 14 (Sun) NSBC@Lindfield
Pauline Evans Swiss Pairs

Mar 27-28 (Sat-Sun) Central Coast Bridge Club
Mini Congress - Swiss Pairs and Teams

ONLINE EVENTS ON BBO
Mar 7 (Sun) MasterBridge Online
March Online Swiss Pairs

Every Friday, 7.30pm start. ABF
National Online Pairs (Open, Restricted and Novice)

Every Sunday, 2.30pm start. ABF
National Online Pairs (Open, Restricted and Novice)

ONLINE EVENTS ON RealBridge
Feb 15 - Mar 1 (over 3 Monday nights) NSWBA
Open Interstate Teams Selection (OITS) Stage II

Feb 15 - Mar 1 (over 3 Monday nights) NSWBA
ITS Online Swiss Pairs
FEATURED ARTICLES
Online Congress Stories by
Rakesh Kumar

The NSBC Australia Day Weekend Swiss Pairs on RealBridge was won by David Fryda and David Hudson. Rakesh reports on the congress, comparing what happened at his table with the two Davids.

Rakesh also played in the MasterBridge Online Swiss Pairs on BBO last weekend. He shares his observations on the rewards of overbidding at IMPs Pairs. 

NSBC Australia Day Swiss Pairs
A tale of two Davids

MasterBridge February Online Swiss Pairs
What's an overbid?
Book Review
Winning at Matchpoints
by Bill Treble

Different scoring requires a different strategy to win. Matchpoints is the most common scoring in our club duplicates. This book is not only a good read for congress players, it will also be ideal for club players. 

Click on the image for a full book review by Paul Lavings:
Be a Director
We are planning to resume face-to-face Director's Courses and will soon announce the details. In the meantime, please express your interest in hosting Director's Courses (if you represent a club) or in taking the Director's Course (if you're a player).

Our service of marking exam papers is also available. If you would like to learn about the Law as a player or you would like to become a club director, please feel free to email office@nswba.com.au for a copy of the exam paper.

To better understand situations that arise when a director is called, Matthew McManus has explained several of them in detail, together with the reasons behind the rulings. His articles are written from the perspective of players – you may find them helpful in your quest to be a better congress player. Review his columns here >
CONGRESS PSYCHE REGISTER
The NSWBA has established a central psyche register for all congresses held in NSW.

The laws permit players to deviate from their systemic agreements so long as the partner of the player who does so has no greater reason to be aware of this deviation than the opponents. Once your partnership has a history of deviating from its agreements in a certain situation you are required to inform your opponents of this tendency.

If you feel that your opponents have psyched against you, please email details of the hand to the psyche register – no action will be taken against players who are reported to the psyche register but once a pair has multiple entries in the psyche register, congress directors will be informed so that they are aware of this history when making their rulings.

A form which can be used for submissions is available HERE.
ABOUT eCONGRESS
The eCongress News is a monthly newsletter published by the NSW Bridge Association. It updates you with the latest congress info, interesting hands and analysis from events, and reviewing newly published bridge books.

Subscribe now >
NSW Bridge Association
+61 2 9264 8111
office@nswba.com.au
www.nswba.com.au
Level 1, 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 it. 
Submit your stories / photos>

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