Bridge Ace The Nicest Club in Town
St Demetrios
 
ACBL logo (small)815 NE 15th Ave
Fort Lauderdale, FL 
(954) 304-3191
 

 At Bridge Ace we KNOW bridge!
Deal of the Week
Saturday, September 6
A New Game at Bridge Ace
Barometer
On Saturday, August 23, 2008, we ran our first duplicate pair event scored barometer style. Due to its popularity, it has since become a regular feature at Bridge Ace. We run it every Saturday.
 
A barometer game differs from other pair games mainly in the order everyone plays the boards and by the logistics of the scoring. In the usual pair event, all (or most) of the boards are in play every round. The boards move from table to table at the end of each round so that eventually all pairs play most of the boards at some time during the session. Depending on the number of tables in play and the number of rounds played, many of the boards may not be played at every table. This means that two competing pairs can play many different boards.
 
It may be bridge, but it's not duplicate bridge!
 
In a barometer game the boards don't move from table to table after each round. Each table gets its own complete set of boards. All tables play the same boards at the same time throughout the event. For example, on the first round, all pairs play boards 1-3; on round two everyone plays boards 4-6. This requires many preduplicated sets of boards (which is only feasible with a dealing machine). Each set of boards goes out of play after one round. Perhaps most importantly, every pair in the game plays exactly the same boards as every other pair.
 
As usual, scores are entered into the BridgePad terminals at the completion of each board at every table. As a result, all scores for a given set of boards are available as soon as the round is completed. Actual results are posted every round, so each pair knows exactly where it stands. Any given pair's fortunes rise and fall as the game goes on - hence the name barometer.
Quick Links
Greetings!
 
Our deal this week was the very first board of Saturday's Barometer Pairs. 
 

Board 1

At most tables, North started proceedings with 1 and South responded  2NT, which was a Jacoby Forcing Raise in spades. At this point, North should jump to 4, indicating a minimum opening bid and no slam interest. This should end the auction.

At one table however, North rebid 3NT, which I think he meant to show a solid suit. Perhaps he confused this response with rebidding after a weak-two bid and 2NT response. Playing Jacoby however, this rebid actually indicated extra values and South very reasonably drove directly to slam. Down one.
 
For your information, here is a summary of opener's rebids after a Jacoby 2NT response.
  • With a second five-card suit, show it by jumping to four of the suit.
  • Any other hand that has a singleton or void, bid three of that short suit.
  • Holding extra values (but no singleton or void), describe the strength and pattern by rebidding 3NT with a fairly balanced hand or three of your suit with extra length (6-3-2-2).
  • With a minimum opener with no singleton or void, jump directly to game (four) in your suit. This is the weakest rebid. It shows a fairly balanced hand with no interest in slam.

For example, after you open 1 and partner responds 2NT, your rebids are:

  • 3, 3Diamond or 3 = singleton or void in that suit.
  • 3 = good 15+ points with extra length in your suit (or 19+ points if you're balanced), no singleton.
  • 3NT = 15-18 points, balanced (no singleton or void).
  • 4, 4Diamond, 4 = five-card suit.
  • 4 = minimum hand (12-14 points), no singleton or void.
Bridge Ace Tip of the Week
 
If you're going to play a lot of conventions, make sure you don't get them mixed up, especially when they "sound" alike!
Cheers,
 Rich signature
Directions to Bridge Ace
Map to club
Click on map
 
From I-95: Exit at Sunrise Blvd. East. Continue east on Sunrise Blvd. 2.1 miles. Turn right on NE 15th Ave. (immediately after the Shell station). Proceed past the stop sign. St. Demetrios will be on your right.
 
From the Beach: From A-1-A, head west on Sunrise Blvd. 2.4 miles. Turn left on NE 15th Ave. Proceed past the stop sign. St. Demetrios will be on your right. 
 
 
Free Play 
SUMMER SPECIAL
 
Bring a friend who has never played at Bridge Ace before and you BOTH play free!

Print and clip this coupon. Offer valid with coupon only.

Bridge Ace is owned and operated by Rich Waugh - the most respected director in South Florida for over twenty-five years. Rich is a Silver Life Master and professional player, teacher and director. He has directed duplicate bridge full time, on land and at sea, here and abroad, for over thirty years - countless sections in more than 20,000 games. He knows what players want and need and he knows how to provide it.