Good morning

What is the difference between EBU Masterpoints and NGS?

We are often asked about EBU Masterpoints and NGS - and what the difference is between them.

Earlier this year we included an article in the bulletin about what Masterpoints are, how you get them and what you need for the different promotions. To summarise, EBU Masterpoints are the traditional reward system used by the EBU. They are cumulative (i.e. they increase over time) and thus act like a "long-service award (i.e. the longer you have been playing and the more events you have entered, the more Masterpoints you are likely to have). Every time we hold a duplicate session at our club, the pairs coming in the top third of the final results receive Masterpoints - with the top pair receiving the most, the runners-up receiving the next most and so on. When you reach certain milestones you are promoted to a particular rank. For example, when you reach 2,500 Masterpoints you become a "County Master".

On the other hand, the EBU National Grading System (NGS) was introduced in 2010 to give a precise, up-to-date snapshot of your actual playing ability. You can see what your latest grade is on the EBU website (www.ebu.co.uk) by either looking at the NGS leaderboard or going into My EBU. Instead of raw points, the NGS gives you a percentage. For example, an average player has a NGS of 50%. Every time you play, your results are automatically sent to the EBU - and your grade will go up or down depending on how well you did in that particular session. The algorithm that the EBU uses to calculate this is quite complicated, but we will do our best to explain it in next week's bulletin. Watch this space!

Decluttering and re-organising our resources

We are currently using the building work that is going in the studio as an opportunity to declutter and re-organise our resources. As part of this, please note that the tablecloths and bidding boxes can now be found in the cupboard on the far right of the new kitchen area.

Bridge at the Lindum on Bank Holiday Mondays

Tonight, as with most Bank Holiday Mondays these days, we will be holding our normal duplicate session at the Lindum at 6.30 pm. We already have four-and-a-half tables signed up. Why not come along and join us if you are free. The signing-up page can be found on the club website at www.bridgewebs.com/lincoln

"Mix-in Mondays" -  what do you think?

We are toying with the idea of having occasional "Mix-in Mondays". These would be opportunities for members of Bridge School to play in a duplicate session with the rest of you. The sessions would be more relaxed and have fewer boards than usual, and the results would not be published online or shared with the EBU. Those of you who are more experienced could offer help to those who are less experienced - and even, maybe, partner up with them.  Please let us know what you think about this suggestion. You can do so by speaking to, messaging or emailing Jon or Tina. Many thanks to those of you who have already done so.

Team rota for May

At the the table: the Directors' Cut

We still seem to have quite a few people putting their bidding cards away before the opening lead card has been turned face upwards. Not only is this unhelpful to those who want to ask questions about the auction, or use the bidding to decide on their opening lead, but it also makes it harder to check that it is actually the correct person who is making the opening lead. In particular, an " opening lead out of turn" can cause a real headache for the Director when he or she is called to the table to sort things out. More about this in the next few weeks, when we will be looking at some of the common rulings that Directors have to make.

Last week at the club

There were four full tables at the Lindum on Monday night. Well done to Rob & Phil B. who came top with 67.4%, and to Keith & Tony who came second with 61.8%.

At Bridge School on Monday we learned about "leading through strength towards weakness" when we are defending.

There were seven and a half tables at the Lindum on Wednesday afternoon. Well done to Alan & Graham who came top with 62.1%, and to Andrew & Alison who came second with 56.4%.

This week‘s calendar

Monday 25th May: normal duplicate session at the Lindum; please be seated by 6.20 pm, ready to start play at 6.30 pm.

Monday 25th May: Bridge School at the Lindum at 6.30 pm; this week we will pulling everything together that we have learnt about defence over the past weeks, and using it when we are playing a number of randomly-dealt hands.

Wednesday 27th May: normal duplicate session at the Lindum; please be seated by 1.05 pm, ready to start play at 1.15 pm.

Thursday 28th May: Bridge Practice online at 6.30 pm (please let Tina know by at least the day before if you will be able to join us).

Forthcoming county events at Dunholme Village Hall

Sunday 14th June - 12 noon - Veteran Pairs

Please see the Lincolnshire Contract Bridge Association website for more details.