CAMBRIDGESHIRE AND HUNTINGDONSHIRE CONTRACT BRIDGE ASSOCIATION

COUNTY INDIVIDUAL CHAMPIONSHIP 2001-2002

Qualifying heats are to be held in clubs before 23rd December 2001 . To avoid disappointment to members of the County Association who either are unable to play in their own heat or whose club is not intending to run a heat, Cambridge Bridge Club extends an open invitation to their heat which will be held at 7.10pm on Wednesday 24th October 2001 at Shire Hall.

Heats must consist of at least eight players, and each player must play at least 18 boards. A single winner movement must be used. Competitors must be members of Cambs & Hunts C.B.A. and of the E.B.U., but up to three designated non-eligible players may play without standing to complete a movement.

Everyone participating in a club heat should not have played in, nor subsequently play in, a heat run by another club.

Master point awards for the qualifying heats (to be issued by clubs) are to be "C" awards on Scale F to 1/3 of the field (ie the winner of a six table heat gets 48 points).

These awards are only valid for properly constituted heats which meet the requirements for competitors. 20 players will qualify for the final, the number from each heat being proportional to the number of players competing in that heat, except that no player may qualify who has not achieved at least 50%.

The entry fee is £1.50 per competitor, but full-time students may enter free of charge. Entry fees (cheques to be made payable to Cambs & Hunts C.B.A.) and results of heats, listing all competitors, with their percentage obtained, must be submitted to the Tournament Organiser by 30th December 2001, to enable qualifiers to be advised in good time.

The two session final will be held at Trumpington Village Hall on Sunday 27th January 2001 at 2.00 p.m., ending at approximately 8.15 p.m. Table money of £5.00 per competitor will be charged at the final, which will include the cost of afternoon tea. Master point awards for the final will be to Regional Quali-Final Scale QD, to ¼ of the total original entry.

SYSTEMS AND CONVENTIONS

Organisers of club heats are advised that, in the final, competitors will be restricted to the ACOL system and the following conventions and treatments:

• 1NT opening shows 12-14 HCPs. 1NT overcall shows 15-17 HCPs. Stayman in response to 1NT and 2NT - transfers not permitted.
• Fourth suit forcing (in an uncontested auction).
• Double of a suit is for take-out unless partner has made a strength-showing bid, but doubles of no-trump bids are for penalties. Thus, negative doubles are not permitted.
• Jump overcalls (i.e. omitting 1 level) are strong, but not forcing.
• Defence to pre-empts: double for take-out of bids below game level, other bids natural. Double of game level pre-empts is for penalties.
• Simple Blackwood, but Gerber in response to 1NT and 2NT only.
• Leads should be "standard" i.e. 4th highest, top of touching sequences etc.
• Discards and signals should be "natural" i.e. high encouraging, low discouraging.