I wish to attend on the21st September 2014and I enclose my payment of £55

Name: ………………………………………

Address:………………………………………

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Postcode: …………………………..

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Please enclose a cheque payable to Robert Bakerand send to:

Bridge Day, 17 Holly Close, Nailsea, Bristol BS48 1QT

(entry forms to arrive by29.08.14, but an early indication would be appreciated)

What is included:

  • All bridge fees
  • Tea/coffee and biscuits on arrival
  • Buffet lunch
  • Tea/Coffee each session

About Benji Acol and Weak two-bids

In traditional Acol, game-forcing hands are opened with 2♣ and powerful hands with 8+ playing tricks and a long, strong suit are opened with a bid of 2♦, 2♥ or 2♠

One of the drawbacks of this method is the comparative rarity of such powerful hands - it is not unusual to play a session of bridge without having a single hand worth an opening 2-bid

It is more useful to have available a system that allows you to deal with hands that are quite common rather than those that occur relatively rarely. Consequently, most pairs who play duplicate bridge have adopted the use of weak two-bids, allowing them to get into the bidding more often

Used in a disciplined way, weak two-bids enable partner to judge further bidding accurately and still make life tough for the opponents, who usually have to start bidding at the three-level

Although the opening bids of 2♥ and 2♠ are no longer available when you have a strong hand with a major suit, the bids of 2♣ and 2♦ can now be used for all strong hands not suitable for an opening bid of 2NT. This will allow you to bid your (fairly rare) strong hands but also compete more effectively with those(fairly common) hands with less than opening values and a long major suit

We shall look at a comprehensive and yet straightforward structure of opening bids at the two-level which has now been adopted by most regular partnerships at club level

A friendly and instructiveday of bridge run by Bob and Jacky Baker

We shall look at the most popular method of opening bids at the 2-level in club bridge: “Benji Acol” with weak two-bids in the majors

The formatis a seminarin the morning on the strong opening bids of 2♣ and 2♦ and a second after lunch on weak opening bids of 2♥ and 2♠. Comprehensive notes are providedand there will be prepared hands designed to consolidate your understanding of the topic

There will also beafriendlyDuplicate Pairs competition(with prizes)

The Programme:

10.00Acol strong 2-bids and the Benji 2♣ and 2♦ opening bids

10.45 Prepared hands - Benji 2♣/2♦ bids

11.45 Tea/Coffee Break

12.00 Pairs Competition (1)

13.00 Buffet Lunch

14.00 Weak opening bids of 2♠ and 2♥

14.45Prepared hands - Weak two-bids

15.45Tea/Coffee Break

16.00 Summary of the Benji Acol structure

16.15Pairs Competition (2)

17.30 Prize presentation and depart

The Venue

We are delighted to have secured as our new venue the DoubleTree by Hilton Cadbury House Hotel. The meeting facilities and catering are excellent, providing a first class environment in which to improve your bridge

DoubleTree by Hilton, Cadbury House, is easily accessible from both Bristol and Bath. For those attending from further afield it isjust minutes from both junction 20 and 21 of the M5 motorway and from the A38

Doubletree by Hilton Cadbury House
Frost Hill, Congresbury, BS49 5AD

Tel: 01934 834343

About Bob and Jacky

Bob has been playing competitivebridge since the age of sixteen. At 23 he became a Life Master of the English Bridge Union, and he is now a Premier Life Master. He has had success at National Level in various bridge competitions

Bob is also a Professional Member of the English Bridge Union Teachers’ Association (the highest level of qualification)

For the last fifteen years he has been teaching bridge in the West of England. He has developed a unique series of PowerPoint presentations on all aspects of the game. These have been endorsed by the EBU

Jacky is a Life Master of the EBU and, with Bob, has been helping to run bridge holidays and short breaks in this country and abroad for the past few years

If you would like further information about this or other bridge tuition days and weekends please contact Bob via