All News

  • The Bridge Zone Radio Show - 046

    15 May 2019

    This weeks sahow includes:   Today we talk   Education,mathematics,nuisance bidding, low level interference Rolling the dice,is it loaded Gambling... How to calculate masterpoints WAPs inter provincial results Debbie Marcroft... read more here

  • Auckland News with Douglas Russell

    14 May 2019

    It’s a funny old game. When we first start out on our Grand Journey To Becoming A Good Player, we are inclined to grab tricks wherever we see them and hope something miraculous happens to give us the remainder that we need, whether as... read more here

  • Inter-Provincial Results

    14 May 2019

     Seven regions, four grades (Open, Women, Seniors, Intermediate) and plenty of excitement throughout the country over the weekend..a few regret, too. There were a few regrets on this board from the Auckland- Northland heat, too. Could you... read more here

  • New To The Table. The Play of the Hand.

    12 May 2019

    Justifying the Good Bidding  Two days ago, we guided you through a difficult choice of opening bid, responding to an opening bid with just 5 high card points (hcps), a forward going bid called a reverse and recognising the forcing nature of... read more here

  • Central Districts News with George McLachlan

    10 May 2019

    It was very fitting that Bob Hurley (partnered by wife Evelyn) should win the recent Dannevirke Open.  Bob's father, Arthur, was a founding member of the club. A recent newspaper article referred to his involvement with the N.Z. Army during... read more here

  • New To The Table

    10 May 2019

    “Reverse”.. but move forward to Game. Going “back” to move “forward”. This bridge language might seem like “Double Dutch” at times. It is certainly true that bridge terminology does take a bit of... read more here

  • Tales of Akarana

    10 May 2019

                        FOUR MIGHTY HANDS What have the following four hands got in common other than they all appeared at Akarana this week and they, one... read more here

  • The Bridge Zone Show - 045

    8 May 2019

        Today’s show includes:     China is coming…we begin our Chinese translations for various parts of the show   Thanks to Yuzhong Chen for adding another layer to the Bridge Zone    ... read more here

  • Introducing the "Mixed Blacks"

    7 May 2019

    Thank you to everyone who gave their ideas for the name of the New Zealand Mixed team. The "Mixed Blacks" was the most popular choice from around 150 suggestions. Bridge Blends, Bridge Mixers, Full Packs, Bridge Kiwis, Kiwi Kings and Queens, Black... read more here

  • Play and Defend Better: for improving players

    7 May 2019

    “Sorry seems to be the hardest word” “I had my 10 high card points. I held two aces. Why shouldn’t I overcall?” muttered East after the opposition’s game contract slithered home. East was not finished yet,... read more here

  • New To The Table. The Play of the Hand.

    5 May 2019

    Reaching the Right Game….and making it! A couple of days ago, we left you with your hand and dummy and asked you to plan how to make your game. You have enough high card points to be in game and enough trumps to make the heart suit... read more here

  • New To The Table

    3 May 2019

    Reaching the Right Game. “Never mind the quality, look at the length” is a bastardised version of a well-known saying of which bridge players should take heed. While it is nice to have the ace and king of the suit you decide to be... read more here

  • Tales of Akarana

    3 May 2019

    A SECOND CHANCE It was a night oozing with slam possibilities. They were generally making if you bid them though two of the more appealing contracts, both on the same deal, were likely to fail. Most found their way to 6 on these North-South... read more here

  • Club level Director Exams for 2019

    2 May 2019

    Details here read more here

  • The Bridge Zone Show -044

    1 May 2019

          This show includes: Howdy partner, John Wayne shares a thought with us     Word of the day – be gentle out there….   Judge Julie      When to correct the... read more here

  • Top of The South News with Jenny Pomeroy

    1 May 2019

    Picton had a good turn out for its Junior tournament on 23 March, with 12 tables.  Michelle Gunn and Sue Glue (the Greymouth Glue Gunns) taking top slot, with Richmond’s Val and Mike Fitzsimons in second place.  Chris Marshall was... read more here

  • National Congress News - April 2019

    30 Apr 2019

    One more new event at the National Congress. For several years, we have run the Back to the Future Teams for those players who did not make it to the top 56 pairs in the New Zealand Open Pairs and in more recent years for those who played in the... read more here

  • Play and Defend Better: for improving players

    30 Apr 2019

    Creating an Illusion. Pure Cheek: Pure Tempo. A break this week from how you should or should not play or defend a board. We are nevertheless going to give you a declarer problem. You are East below after a very natural bidding sequence to 3NT.... read more here

  • Canterbury News with Max Robb

    29 Apr 2019

    Apologies but the second half of this report which was published last week was incorrect. Brian Ussher 1950-2019. Brian, a Grandmaster of Bridge, was well known locally and at provincial level representing Timaru and Canterbury on many... read more here

  • New To The Table

    28 Apr 2019

    NO TRUMPS: NO NEED TO PANIC “Leave a space for the trump suit, please” pleaded the declarer as dummy put down a side suit in the space normally reserved for the trump suit. “I would” partner replied “were there any... read more here

  • New To The Table

    26 Apr 2019

    STRONG DOUBLES For those new to the bridge table. The Bidding When we make a take-out double of an opponent’s opening bid, we need either an opening hand of our own (12+ high card points) with tolerance for every other suit apart from... read more here

  • Tales of Akarana

    26 Apr 2019

    What a Difference a Lead Makes. That is not a revolutionary statement. Combine a poor choice of lead with an excellent piece of declarer play and you have a 12-imp swing. So, we had better give you the lead problem and see whether you are able to... read more here

  • Play and Defend Better: for improving players

    24 Apr 2019

    A “Sweet” Lead but Just Dessert. When you get what looks like a lucky lead, don’t waste your good fortune. Then is the time to be extra extra careful or else you will waste your good luck and will not be so lucky next time.... read more here

  • Quick Reference Guides for Directors

    24 Apr 2019

    We have produced 6 quick reference guides to assist directors at club sessions making rulings at the table. These are intended to complement the Laws of Duplicate Bridge, not to replace the law book. The Guides are in a flow chart format and can... read more here

  • The Bridge Zone Show - 043

    24 Apr 2019

    This show includes: It was a Thriller at Auckland Easter Teams The Ware theory gets to live another day     Blair Fisher – gets GOLD Hamish Brown gets BOLD   Barry  has to skip lunch sometimes when... read more here

  • A Lighter Look

    23 Apr 2019

                Matchsticks…. It can be hard concentrating while you are playing bridge especially when you are playing 72 boards in one day. You need a period or two of “wind... read more here

  • Welcome to our First Platinum and Emerald Grand Masters

    23 Apr 2019

    We have a select small group of Gold Grand Masters who until very recently had no further targets for which to aim. New Zealand Bridge have established two new marks of achievement, Platinum and Emerald Grand Masters. The targets are tough to... read more here

  • New To The Table

    21 Apr 2019

    The Easter Egg Winning Lead. We left you on Friday with an opening lead problem. We gave you the following hand and bidding sequence and asked you what you would lead. As is often true, the choice of opening lead is vital to the success or... read more here

  • New To The Table

    19 Apr 2019

    A TOUGH HAND TO BID AND TO DEFEAT! This week, we are going to look at a tough pair of hands to bid…and we will later look at whether the defence could defeat the final contract. Firstly, we will give you a bidding problem. Now, you did... read more here

  • Tales of Akarana

    19 Apr 2019

    PUNISH THEM! Who are “they”? Maybe you know some of them. Maybe you are one yourself! “They” just do not know their place! “They” have been given multitudinous “pass cards” (if you use written... read more here

  • Otago- Southland News with Brad Johnston

    17 Apr 2019

    Winter is Coming? Otago/Southland have kept up the standard calendar of having a tournament (nearly) every weekend for those that want to go away. This year there were fewer people taking up the opportunities, especially when, for some reason, it... read more here

  • The Bridge Zone Show - 042

    17 Apr 2019

      This weeks show includes: Upper Hutt Bridge Club – Celebrate their 50th Jubilee in May We speak with President – Biddy RUSH Top of the South – Results from Marlborough Teams and Pairs Event Ray Curnow and Jenny... read more here

  • Play and Defend Better: for improving players

    15 Apr 2019

    Getting the Message Across. As a defender, we are not allowed to speak to one’s partner during the defence. You can communicate by the play of the cards but that is all. We call it signalling. It takes two “to tango” and two to... read more here

  • New To The Table. The Play of the Hand.

    14 Apr 2019

    A couple of days ago, we looked at the bidding of one hand. We are now to be the declarer and will have to make our contract of 4 spades. We are West. Remember the hands and the bidding? Board 5North DealsN-S Vul    ... read more here

  • New To The Table

    12 Apr 2019

    Bidding to a Game This series is aimed at those who are new or pretty new to the bridge table. Maybe you have just come out of lessons..or even been playing a little while? Perhaps you are a bridge teacher and want some example hands, extra ones... read more here

  • Tales of Akarana

    12 Apr 2019

       When entries are at a Premium. We do not always get the dummy of our dreams, do we? One in particular this week was both a trump and an entry short on requirements! Sometimes, the opposition will come to our rescue but that is not... read more here

  • Volunteer of The Month

    11 Apr 2019

    Liz Burrows - Palmerston North. Our nomination this month comes jointly from the Central Districts Regional Committee and the Palmerston North Bridge Club. Over to Regional Committee President, Mairi Fitzsimons to explain the story behind Liz'... read more here

  • New To The Table

    10 Apr 2019

    This is advance notice of a new feature which will run on this website. It is aimed at new players, perhaps those who have just come out of a Beginners' Class or those who need a bit of a refresher. It is quite likely that such players do not... read more here

  • The Bridge Zone Show -041

    10 Apr 2019

      This week's show includes: How to make the most out of 2 letters? – AK Aces & Knaves  - Memphis premiere Aces and Kings – great cards to lead Attitude & Kount Anna Kournikova – what a set of pins she... read more here

  • Wellington News with Katherine Gough

    10 Apr 2019

    It’s been a busy  couple of months with tournaments in the Wellington Region.The Regional Bridge Mate for Wellington, Katherine Gough, ran a Novice Tournament at Wellington Bridge Club while Wellington Bridge Club ran their inaugural... read more here

  • A Lighter Look

    9 Apr 2019

    A Little Can Go a Long Way. That’s the only conclusion one can draw from the following board, played recently at one of our bridge clubs. You may have bid and made game on a combined 18 count, perhaps 14 or 15 but on this night, the hardest... read more here

  • Play and Defend Better: for improving players

    8 Apr 2019

                Trust your Partner: not their Bidding! The first half of the above statement is definitely true. It is great for partnership morale and it is usually good for your score as well!... read more here

  • Tales of Akarana

    5 Apr 2019

    Game Values: Part-Score Played! So, you open a weak 12-14 1NT with a standardish mid-range 13. Your partner has an unbalanced 12 count with a 5- card major opposite opener’s doubleton. 25 high between the two hands. You would normally be in... read more here

  • Waikato Bays News with Anna Kalma

    4 Apr 2019

    and why should Anna feel guilty about what she is eating? The Youngest, the Tallest....and.... We await confirmation that Hamilton player, Blair Fisher, has achieved the highest ranking of Gold Grand Master at the tender (although that’s... read more here

  • The Bridge Zone Show -040

    3 Apr 2019

       This week's show includes:   Celebrations and celebrity dating – what does this have to do with Bridge… and the Bridge Zone     Are you a mop or a sponge? Book of the week Who would be brazen... read more here

  • Play and Defend Better: for improving players

    2 Apr 2019

    TOO GOOD TO WASTE Most players who have been playing bridge for a while realise that one way they can reduce the losers they have in a side-suit, where dummy has a shortage in that side-suit is to use dummy’s trumps to ruff those losers.... read more here

  • a Helping hand for Youth. A 5 Year Bridge Plan

    1 Apr 2019

    This has been unfolded and approved by the Board of New Zealand Bridge at its last Board Meeting. The aims are to get more young people playing bridge, in schools, at home, on-line, in clubs…everywhere. They may play a little now and put... read more here

  • a lighter look

    1 Apr 2019

                                    ONLY ON THIS DAY.    It is a special day when one... read more here

  • Tales of Akarana

    29 Mar 2019

    LIVING IN A NEGATIVE FREE-LESS WORLD Can we survive? There are those who love this method of bidding who say we cannot! Theirs is the best way, the only way. Let’s look. We are, of course, talking about bidding after the opposition... read more here

  • The Bridge Zone Show 039

    28 Mar 2019

        This week's show includes:   Quote from Zia – 30 minutes is all he needs to do what…..     Aces & Knaves – a Bridge movie premieres this week Statistical Analysis – what a... read more here

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