News
15-September-2020
AGM Tomorrow, League layout and Cup draw
Email invites to the online AGM have now been sent and captains have received an overview of the arranagment for the new season.
Those are principally here of course; see the link left to the '2020-21 Season' for all information.
2-September-2020
Guides for Online Play
We have revised the guidelines for online play. When, in April, the long period away from face-to-face bridge became evident we issued instructions for continuing the 2019-20 season. We have been pleased with the response and almost all matches have been completed (and we may yet have 100%). The match regulations were deliberately liberal to encourage players online and they clearly succeeded in that. We have now moved to a more formal approach.
Match conditions have changed and we have separated those from our recommendations for online play. We therefore have two documents:
- Matches Played Online (also menu left)
- How to create matches and play, Getting Started on BBO.
This is an unusual season, it is important that all players read both documents before play. Dip into the video links: they are mercifully short and to the point.
The principal changes to matches are:
- Match length
- 24 boards in halves with mandatory exchange of opponents. Optionally, by mutual agreement, 20 boards (2 x 10).
- Kibitzers
- Prohibited.
- Undos
- None (neither bidding nor play).
- Barometer Scoring
- Off. Other table contracts and IMPs only at completion of play.
- Identity
- Real name in BBO profile.
- System Cards
- Strongly encouraged. BBO or email face-to-face version.
- Alerts and disclosure
- Essential for players to explain copiously.
- Home/Away
- Retained for description but otherwise of little significance; either team may set up the match – select the person most qualified.
29-August-2020
AGM Wednesday 16th September, 6pm online via Microsoft Teams
Agenda
The business of the Association has been reduced to a minimum allowed by the Rules. Reports by officers other than the treasurer have been waived. Notwithstanding the changed circumstances, the secretary would be pleased to receive any proposals or nominations for office or committee membership by 6th September (10 days prior to AGM).
- Opening by chairman (preceded by technical advice)
- Apologies for absence
- Approval of the minutes of the 2019 AGM
- Matters arising from the 2019 AGM
- Presentation of accounts
- Election of officers and committee
- Appointment of auditor
- Any other business
At the completion of business there will be a Captains' Meeting where team representatives will be separated into rooms specific to their division.
Supporting documents
- Minutes of 2019 AGM [PDF]
- Fixtures Sheet (blank) [PDF]
Despite the virtual nature of the Captains' Meeting, a hard copy of the Fixtures sheet may well be useful.
26-August-2020
2020-21 Season – Update
Invitations to register for the 2020-21 season have been sent to 2019 captains.
As it was already online, there are no significant changes to the process of entering the new season. The 2020-21 season begins as usual, after the AGM, this year on 16th September. The AGM itself will be different, the first to be held online. And payment for competing in 2020-21 cannot be taken in person but instead can be made by cheque or bank transfer (details on registration).
Each new season experiences some uncertainty as to make-up of the League (often until the last moment) and that is exacerbated this year. We were pleased with the positive survey response for initial online play but we are not completely sure of our own numbers. But additionally, with other avenues for match play closing, it looks as if we will be welcoming new teams.
All that means that we may have to reorganise the existing League structure. However we are guided by much earlier feedback that suggests limiting divisions to either five or six teams and we will abide by that if at all possible.
Lastly, after issuing guidelines for play online in April to encourage participation, we have revisited those and will be publishing an updated version shortly.
19-August-2020
The 2020-21 Season
The committee met earlier this week to decide the broad outline of the 2020-21 season. The important points:
- There will be an online AGM on Wednesday 16-September held on Microsoft Teams.
- That will be followed by a captains' meeting, separating AGM attendees into virtual 'rooms', one per division.
- The 2020-21 season will begin under the stipulation that if either team wants to play online the match must be played online.
- Registration for the new season will be as previously and invitations (including to at least one new team) will be sent shortly.
- The SURDOC Teams will most likely be in spring 2021, the Selfridges Pairs will be held online in November. We are considering a Saturday for both events.
- We will update the online playing guidelines (details to follow).
- To those new to online play we will offer online tutorials to individual teams.
The committee reserved the option to return to face-to-face play if sufficient safety emerges. That decision would not simply be triggered by government easing of indoor restrictions, or that some bridge clubs open. It would account for the availability of venues to host matches and the conditions there and at company premises, as well as the dispositions of those having to use public transport. The committee's decision to return to face-to-face bridge as the default format would be taken very conservatively.
Attendance of the AGM is strongly encouraged but not subject to the usual financial incentive: fees for 2020-21 will be, per team, £5 registration, £15 League, £5 Knockouts. Payment will be by bank transfer or by cheque, details in team invites.
12-August-2020
Leslie Dodds Cup
The 2019-20 Knockout Cup Final was won by Stock Exchange (Peter Cogliatti, David Hull, Stuart Leigh, Jimmy Strauss) who defeated Civil Service (Mike Bull, Richard Creamer, Roy Westwater, Peter Brook) 61-53 in a match where the lead changed often, right up until the final boards.
28-April-2020
Gainsborough Plate
Congratulations to London Underground (Audrey Hartley, Gary Diamond, Maxine Etkin, Paul Thornton). They went one better than last year, beating RAC Morgan (Marina Chaning Pearce, Terry Smith, Isabelle Morresi, Marie Jose) 74-35 in the first-ever online Plate Final.
27-April-2020
2019/20 Season to be Completed Online
Today we have contacted all captains asking them to complete the 2019/20 season online.
We initially encouraged teams to play matches online but only recently have we seen a swell of intent. This is echoes in our separate experiences with clubs increasingly running 'virtual sessions' online, well supported, often from unlikely participants. More and more players are moving online.
We have consulted and researched online match play: it might seem uphill, but once moving, it is quite easy. We are new to this too but we will give any help we can – because it's fun to be playing again.
See Online Bridge (left) for our recommendations as well as changes to make the transition to online matches easier.
Stay safe, good luck and play well.
16-March-2020
COVID-19 (Coronavirus)
Health is more important than bridge. Players should follow government and EBU rules and guidance, and respect the safety of other players and the wider public.
See the EBU's announcement of 15th March.
It is up to teams to decide whether to play LBHCBA matches, and if so where and when. You could consider holding matches at players' houses or at the Acol (large playing area downstairs, no tables nearby), or organising playing online.
COVID-19 is of course a valid reason to postpone a match. But please give everybody (your team, opponents, venue) good notice of a postponement, and communicate well going forward.
The committee has taken these specific steps:
- The Selfridges Pairs on Tuesday 28th April is postponed.
- The League, Cup and Plate seasons will be extended to 21st August.
- The play-by dates in the Cup and Plate will no longer apply.
We will be writing to captains with, effectively, the text here. If you have entered the Selfridges, Philip Watson will be in contact.
It seems very likely that there will be unplayed league matches when the season ends. We will revisit promotion/relegation decisions and the form of the 2020-21 season as the position emerges.
20-February-2020
Young Chelsea reverts match fees to £80
We have heard today from the Young Chelsea:
At a meeting of the Young Chelsea Management Committee held yesterday, it was agreed by the Management Committee that the Match fees for Business Houses League Matches held at the Young Chelsea Bridge Club will be reduced back to £80, as they were before the increase on Jan 1 2020.
The experiment to increase fees negotiated by David Parry has met with many protests from participating teams. The Management Committee have listened and responded swiftly. Furthermore, we intend to refund the excess paid to any teams that have paid £100 for their matches, by offering a further reduction of £20 the next time they book a match at YC. Please make this known to your participating team captains, and post about the reduction back to £80 and the refunds on your League Website.
David Muller
Young Chelsea Management Committee
14-February-2020
Committee Meeting, 10th February
A committee meeting was held on Monday 10th which highlighted the need for a revision of the existing documentation prescribing the structure and governance of the LBHCBA. It was decided to replace the existing 'Rules and Bye-Laws' by four new items:
- A constitution
- A disciplinary schedule
- Conditions of contest for matches
- A Privacy policy
In other matters, this year's decision to share costs for knockout matches will not be repeated in the 2020-21 season. Also addressed were location of matches and limitations on the structure of the League (number of teams per division, teams from the same club).
See the minutes of the meeting for more explanation.
9-February-2020
Revision of advice on venues and news from the Young Chelsea
The information about venues, provided for teams, has been updated – to reflect recent changes at the Young Chelsea and refresh information about clubs (last updated 2014). See the 'Venues for Matches' from left. Information is provided for four clubs: the Acol, Richmond, TGRs and the Young Chelsea.
Young Chelsea News
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The club has a new website, https://www.bridgewebs.com/youngchelsea.
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The YC has increased its match fee from £80 to £100 (food and tea/coffee included).
Matches in the new Young Chelsea Super League will be played on fixed Wednesdays. This means that there could be 20 tables in that competition alone on some dates: 19 February, 4 March, 18 March, 1 April, 15 April, 29 April, 13 May, 27 May. Other Super League dates are less concerning as numbers are lower. It is likely that the club will accept (some) other matches on the above dates, but there might be an adverse effect on playing conditions.
If you have already fixed a match on such a date, it would be prudent to check that the club can still accommodate you.
3-November-2019
Early Knockout Draws!
A possibly unprecedented event: Round One of the knockout was completed ahead of schedule so the draw for both the Leslie Dodds Cup and the Gainsborough Plate has been made.
Diverging from past years, an attempt has been made to 'balance' the first two rounds in terms of homes and aways. This is inexact as there were more home-wins (6) than away-wins (4) and further complicated by a bye and a walkover. The previous constraint that in rounds one and two teams from the same 'business house' would not meet each other has been preserved.
The play-by date for round two is Friday 27th December.
Note that as there are five byes in round two of the Plate, there is also a quarter-final match, RAC Spitfire v Buttons 'B'.
24-October-2019
Goldhawks League 2020
The Young Chelsea is launching a new non-expert league in 2020 and holding a taster-event on Thursday 7th November. They write:
The Young Chelsea Bridge Club, long known as a top club for bridge experts, is now opening its doors to those players who don't take the game quite so seriously.
January sees the start of the Goldhawks League, Thursday evenings from 9th January 2020.
Teams of four non-experts will face each other in head-to-head matches, competing for the Goldhawks Trophy
Taster evening on Thursday 7th November
Drop in from 7pm to 9pm. Come on your own, with a partner, or as a team. Play some fun bridge and meet the organisers. Refreshments and great company supplied
Download a poster [PDF] with additional details.
23-October-2019
Selfridges Pairs 2020 – date now confirmed
The 2020 Selfridges Pairs will be held at the Young Chelsea, Goldhawk Road, on Tuesday 28th April next year. See item left for further details.
17-October-2019
Update to Results Submission
I have updated the webpage by which scores are submitted, bringing the League in line with way Knockout scores are reported. Now League results can now only from the division tables – there is no general way to select division, team etc. In addition I have added a few more validations on the submissions (to make my life easier).
- IMPs must be valid number
- Match date must be proper date
- Player selections checked for duplicates
- When adding a player, check against blank entry
- Match date now used (previously 'match date' was submission date)
- Changing a league result was already time-limited, now that applies to knockout results too
- VP result now displayed
As ever with new software, be vigilant; if there is any odd behaviour please report it.
13-October-2019
Sharing of Refreshment Costs for Knockout Matches
It has been pointed out that at the AGM, in item 11 relating to the 'Playing of League and Cup Matches', a motion for teams to share the costs of refreshments for knockout matches was passed. The minutes [PDF] have been amended accordingly.
4-October-2019
SURDOC Trophy
Civil Service captured the SURDOC in a tightly-contested event, congratulations to Richard Creamer, Mike Bull, Roy Westwater and Alex Allan.
| Team | Civ | Sto | Lav | Sto | Lon | KPM | Liv | VPs |
| Civil Service | 0 | -7 | 11 | 7 | -3 | 18 | -4 | 22 |
| Stock Exchange B | 7 | 0 | 7 | -6 | 14 | 1 | -7 | 16 |
| Lavender Blue | -11 | -7 | 0 | -14 | 3 | 32 | 11 | 14 |
| Stock Exchange Bulls | -7 | 6 | 14 | 0 | -4 | -8 | 1 | 2 |
| London Underground | 3 | -14 | -3 | 4 | 0 | -7 | 11 | -6 |
| KPMG Blue | -18 | -1 | -32 | 8 | 7 | 0 | 14 | -22 |
| Livesey | 4 | 7 | -11 | -1 | -11 | -14 | 0 | -26 |
See the full results including line-ups and cross-IMPs.
14-September-2019
AGM Summary
For those not at the AGM the minutes [PDF] are available. The committee changed slightly, John White stepping down and replaced by Mark Hutton.
- Chairman:
- Marina Chaning Pearce
- Vice Chairman
- Andrew Kisiel
- Secretary:
- Peter Wagon
- Treasurer:
- Peter Cogliatti
- Results Secretary:
- Chris Chambers
- Tournament Organiser:
- Philip Watson
- Committee Members:
- Audrey Hartley & Mark Hutton
There is still space to enter the SURDOC (13 teams max.), see '2019 SURDOC' to the left, entries close 30th September.