We have updated our online member directory. In addition to 400 Unit 431 members, the directory contains another 160 Victoria area duplicate bridge players who have asked to be included.
Each player entry includes their name, phone number, email address and BBO handle when available.
The directory is available to registered users who can gain access after going to the website, bridgevictoria.ca and then logging in. If you need instructions on the login procedure, click here.
Our website has been experiencing issues over the past few months, including slow page loading, and occasional outages.
To address these problems, we are moving to a new, hopefully more reliable host. We expect the migration to be completed by Friday, November 10. As with any move, temporary glitches can be expected.
If you notice anything not working as it should, please let me know by emailing me atwebmaster@bridgevictoria.ca. You can also use the “Contact Us” button found on the right side of every page of the website.
ACBL’s new convention card was introduced over a year ago, in the March 2022 Bridge Bulletin.
It’s actually much better than the previous one and takes into account the recent changes in alert and announcement procedures.
However, most of us, myself included, haven’t started using it yet.
Why is that? I can think of a couple of reasons:
At our age, we’re set in our ways and change is hard.
Clubs and tournaments haven’t exactly been promoting its use, in fact they still have a large stock of the old ones to get rid of.
So why adopt it?
You’ll need to do it eventually. ACBL is aware that it could take several months for the existing cards in circulation to be replaced with the new one and has stated that “During the transition, either card will be acceptable.” No word yet on when the transition period will end.
It will be a good opportunity to go over your conventions with your favourite partners, and review the new alert/announcement procedures. (e.g. transfers should now be announced by naming the suit transferred to – for instance, after 1NT, 2D, opener should say “Hearts”, no less, no more).
To help you understand the new CC, ACBL published a series of explanatory articles in the BB over the last year. Local player Esther Wiebe has taken it upon herself to collate all of them within the pdf document below (which you can read and also download by clicking on ) in the title bar, below.
<span style=”font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; color: #000080;”>As reported in the July ACBL Bulletin, Unit 431, (Victoria/Gulf Islands) was granted $3500 to subsidize player entry fees for an already successful pilot project aimed at bringing aspiring duplicate players to play at clubs games. Called “Duplicate Light,” the program allows new players to practise duplicate in a relaxed environment before moving to the regular game.</span>
<span style=”font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; color: #000080;”>For more information, head to our <a style=”color: #000080;” href=”/tournaments-and-events/duplicate-light/”><u>Duplicate Light page</u></a>.</span>
Unit 431’s website, bridgevictoria.ca, is dedicated to bringing timely and relevant information to bridge players in the Victoria area.
The site has grown over the years, so we have added a few tools to help you quickly find what you’re looking for.
The top menu shows the main sections of the website. Hovering over a section will open a dropdown menu with further choices.
If you’re looking for a specific item, the quickest way is to type a word or two in the Search box on the right.
The Unit Directory is found in the Members section. It’s a quick and convenient way to find a local player’s phone number or email. To use it, you need to log in (last item in the top menu).
Have any questions or concerns? Click on the blue “Contact Us” button at the right to let us know.
The day that Sandra Fraser attained the rank of Grand Life Master (GLM) there were 3 other GLMs playing at the Monterey Bridge Club in Victoria, BC to help her celebrate. All are Canadian Champions!
From Left: Duncan Smith, Jim McAvoy, Doug Fraser, Sandra Fraser at the post-game pub review
Sandra Fraser:
Won a North American Bridge Championship title and is a 5 time 2nd place winner
Won the 2019 Canadian Mixed Team Championship (CMTC) along with husband Doug Fraser, Jim & Constance McAvoy, and Rhonda Foster & Gerry McCully, all from Victoria, BC
Represented Canada with the above team at the World Mixed Team Championships in China, September 2019
Victoria’s bridge scene is vibrant. The two local bridge clubs running ACBL games are popular. The Monterey Bridge Club, under the direction of Nicole Dupuis, is flourishing post-pandemic with between 16 – 23 tables twice a week.
Greater Victoria has a population of 400,000 and now boasts 7 Grand Life Masters!
These include Doug Fraser, Rhonda Foster, Gerry McCully, Duncan H. Smith, Michael J. Roche, James McAvoy (Aug 2022), and Sandra Fraser (Feb 2023).
Congratulations, Sandra and Jim, Victoria’s newest Grand Life Masters!
By Catherine Mustafa Originally published in the ACBL Bulletin, May 2023 Reproduced here by permission of the author
The Duncan Sectional will be held March 16-18 2023 (Thursday through Saturday) at Eagles Hall, 2965 Boys Rd, Duncan (south end, just before the bridges). The tournament flyer is shown below.
To help our members get there we could set up some carpooling. However, we do need to know ahead of time if you are interested in either getting a ride or sharing your car with other players.
Please email our tournament coordinator, Ruth Davies at tournaments@bridgevictoria.caif you are requesting or offering transportation.
If you currently hold fewer than 300 master points and want a chance to get some silver, our Ace of Hearts Sectional Tournament is just the ticket. All the information you need is in the flyer below:
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be a bridge director on a cruise ship?
Jon and Caroline Preston have been doing it for several years. Jon recently published an article in the American Bridge Teachers’ Association magazine which is reproduced below for your reading pleasure. Note that this is a scan from the paper copy of the magazine. If you prefer downloading a possibly more legible text-only version, click here.
Many local players will recall seeing our Unit’s historical records displayed at VBC when it was located on Head Street.
These records include Unit presidents since 1956, Life Masters since 1962, as well as the impressive trophy rack.
Unfortunately we now have no physical location to keep and display these mementos of past achievements.
All is not lost, however. We have uploaded the lists onto our website (bridgevictoria.ca) where you will find them in the “Members” section.
Both lists are easily searchable, so if you happen to be wondering who was president in, say, 1973, it will only take you a few seconds to find out.
As to the trophies, we will be photographing them and adding the pictures to the site in the near future. For a preview of what this might look like, have a look at theKirkwood Trophy.
Our favourite director, Matt Smith (now retired), was inducted into ACBL’s Hall of Fame in 2020. However, because of Covid, the ceremony was only held recently on November 28, 2022.
As most Victoria players know, the Kirkwood Trophy is awarded to the District 19 resident who wins the most masterpoints at District regionals in a calendar year. Our four district regionals this year were Leavenworth, Penticton, Lynnwood and Whistler.
You can find more information, including this year’s rankings and the list of the past 54 winners by accessing D19’s Kirkwood Trophy page.
The page also features an awesome video of the actual Kirkwood Cup. Watch it and you can answer the following question: What was our District called when the cup was created? You won’t get a prize but I will appreciate receiving your answer (just click on the Contact Us button at the right).
The top 10 Victoria area players are shown in the table below:
Just a reminder, folks. If you know people who might enjoy playing duplicate bridge, but are unsure of how to go about it, our weekly Duplicate Light game might be just the ticket. It’s a gentle introduction to the game with no pressure to perform.
You can access the Duplicate Light page on the Unit’s website for more information. If you prefer to talk to the organizer, call Jill at 250-686-4747.
Prospective players can also simply turn up at the Monterey Recreation Centre, any Tuesday, alone or with a partner.
Players will register in the Dogwood Room with a bridge ticket ($5 per person) purchased at the reception, from 11:30 am.
Play is from noon to 3:30-ish. Sometimes there will be a brief bridge lesson before the game.
The Whistler Regional ran from November 3-9 and was well-attended by Victoria players. Twenty-nine of us made the trip, braving snow and ice on the way up.
The Michael Hargreaves/Gordon McOrmond partnership came in second overall, each garnering 120.49 MPs. The complete list of Victoria players and their score is shown at the bottom of this page.
With a substantial number (21) of up-island players also showing up to do battle, Vancouver Island was very well represented as shown in the pie chart below.
The Oregon Coast Regional in Seaside is always a popular destination for Victoria bridge players. This year was no exception with eighteen of us making the trip south. Another six players from up island were also present.
Sandra and Doug Fraser scored big with 66 MPs, coming in 24th and 25th out of a field of 682 players.
Here are the scores and ranks of all Victoria attendees.
As Robbie Burns put it, the best laid schemes o’ mice an’ men gang aft agley (often go awry)
Regrettably, scheduling conflicts and space limitations right now at the Monterey Centre have resulted in our having to postpone the start-up of Duplicate Light.
We are continuing discussions of the options with the Monterey Centre management this week and will communicate the outcome with you as soon as possible. We may consider playing alongside the Saturday noon game rather than Tuesdays, but will let you know. Check back on the website (bridgevictoria.ca) under “What’s New”.
Welcome back to Duplicate Light, a weekly game where social bridge players are gently introduced to the art, mechanisms and protocols of duplicate bridge.
Participants will become familiar with using bidding boxes, numbered pre-dealt decks in boards, electronic registration of scores, and they will get to know a number of other keen players.
Games will be held Tuesdays, starting October 25, at noon, at the Monterey Rec Centre, 1442 Monterey Avenue. We will be in a side room next to an open duplicate game, and we will play about 18 hands at a comfortable rate.
The cost is $5 per participant, kindly subsidized by the Victoria ACBL Unit to encourage the growth of bridge here.
Registration is in the large room overlooking Hampshire Road, near the cafeteria. Until the Monterey Centre prepares D-Light tickets for sale, please be prepared to pay by cash.