Tim and Chris, Championship Pairs winners 2024

Tim Evans and Chris Park will be offering a new Improvers Course starting in October

Chris and Tim are both EBU qualified teachers and they will run this course based on the EBU Green Book – continuing bridge.

It is a 10 week course, 2 hour sessions starting on Monday 6th October at the Risbygate Sports club.

Click here for more details 

There may be a possibility of a beginners course later this year if there is enough demand. Please tell Tim if you know of anyone who may be interested 

Jane, Mo and Amanda with Hampers

Last week's Bridge Tea raised a record £2,250 for St Nicholas Hospice, thanks to a full house at the Blackbourne Centre and strong ticket sales for the 14 hampers on offer. Thanks to everyone who supported the event and also all those who donated cash and gifts for the magnificent hampers.

Special thanks to Bridget and her team of friends who have taken the Hospice Bridge Tea from strength to strength since the first event in 2011. 

The next Hospice Bridge Tea will take place on Friday October 3rd at Elmswell

Josh will be offering one more Friday afternoon Masterclasses this summer, at Nowton Court, 12:45 for 1:00pm start, finish 4:00pm

Friday 27th June: "Leads and Attitude" Click here to enter

Opening leads are arguably the hardest part of bridge, because they can feel random and often like guesswork! An opening lead can be the key to breaking a contract, and as a result they are an essential defensive technique. Who can be sure what the right lead is? And after you've made it, how can you tell if partner likes it or not? This masterclass will look at why we choose certain types of leads and how to be sure that you've given yourself the best chance to beat a contract. We'll also look at how partner can give you encouragement or ask you to switch to a different suit and providing you with essential information. If you want to hear the opponents say the wonderful words "one off" a lot more often, then join me on Friday the 27th June!

It is nearly 20 years since the EBU introduced its national code of conduct with the immortal words “Bridge Players are Lovely People” which we all know to be true. But in the white heat of competition, even the loveliest of people can forget themselves and inadvertently affect their opponents’ and their partner’s enjoyment of the game

We would like to revisit Best Behaviour At Bridge at Abbeygate this Autumn, starting with this reminder of our solemn duty to be nice to everyone in the bridge room, even under pressure. We will start by placing this shortened version of BB@B on the tables at the start of play

Please call the director if your enjoyment of the game has been affected by something said or done at your table, or indeed elsewhere in the room. The directors will remind us all of our duty from time to time, in the nicest possible way of course.

You can read the original article in the EBU magazine from 2006 here, and the full EBU BB@B code of conduct here, or via the link under EBU in the main menu on the left

David	Phil	Paul	Tony	Sekhar

Five Abbeygate members have recently qualified as EBU recognised Club Tournament Directors following a four day course hosted locally by Abbeygate Bridge Club. All five participants found the course to be somewhat challenging, with huge relief at passing the assessment on the final day. Abbeygate, Harry Huson Bridge Club and Clare Bridge Club all contributed to the cost of training. Abbeygate member Derek Brinkley also qualified, sponsored by Stratford St Mary Bridge Club. Several other participants from across Suffolk and neighbouring counties also took part and qualified as TDs, which is a significant addition to the pool of directors now available to local clubs

Nowton Court

We play duplicate bridge at Nowton Court every Tuesday and Wednesday evening. Tuesday is our regular club night, Wednesday is a more relaxed session for beginners and improvers. Visitors are welcome at both sessions. No partner needed on Wednesday, just turn up and you will get a game. If you would like to play on Tuesday evening we will try to find a partner for you, click partner broker here or on the menu to the left. For directions and times please click club information here or on the menu.

Are you interested in learning to play bridge? Our successful beginner programme restarted in September 2023, and we are planning improver courses in 2023/24. If you would like to find out more click here

ONLINE BRIDGE

Abbeygate Bridge Club is running its online Club nights on RealBridge on Monday evenings at 7 pm.

These events are open to Abbeygate members only and table money will be £2.50, for which you will be invoiced later.

See Realbridge Link in the Menu on the left hand side of this page. 

If you are unfamiliar with the RealBridge platform it does enable you to see and talk to your opponents, for more information please go to:
https://realbridge.online/player-guide.html

Please make sure you have read the guide before you log in for the first time.

You can test your microphone and camera here:
https://play.realbridge.online/camera.html

The RealBridge Room will be open from 6.30 pm on Mondays.   Please log in no later than 6.50 pm.
After clicking on the link please fill in your forename and surname, e.g. Ian Jones (not I. Jones) and ID number (which is your EBU number).  Once you have logged onto the site please sit at a table with your partner and chat to them and your opponents while you are waiting for the start.

If you require any further information regarding the event please contact Tim Evans: tim@suffolkclocks.co.uk

Edward Wallbutton has kindly offered to be the Partner Broker  edward@wallbutton.uk 

There is a dedicated tournament for Bury, Abbeygate and Stowmarket members on Realbridge on Wednesdays at 7.00 pm. Bury Bridge Club is also now back face to face at Southgate Community Centre on Thursdays, 6.45 for 7.00 pm.   See the Bury St Edmunds Bridge Club website for details:

https://www.bridgewebs.com/bury/

Abbeygate Bridge Club is registered as a club on Bridge Club Live (see below). Members can play at any time of the day or night.

There are plenty more opportunities for taking part in online tournaments and the Suffolk Teams Leagues on the Suffolk Bridge website:

https://www.bridgewebs.com/suffolkbridge/