The Wednesday-evening imped pairs session is operated for those members who enjoy the opportunity to practise their teams play.
This is played as a pairs event but using teams-style scoring, so you don't need to show up as a team. The precise method of scoring used is Butler-scoring [your score is imped against the datum score on the board] for 4+ tables or cross-imping [your score is imped against that from each other table and the average of these gives you your total] for 2-3 tables.
For example, with three tables in play, the table shows the effect of cross-imping and Butler-scoring for the contracts and results given:
| Table | Contract/Result | By | Score | Imps v T1 | Imps v T2 | Imps v T3 | Average Cross-Imp | Datum | Butler |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4H + 1 | S | 450 | 1 | 6 | 3.5 | 357 | 3 | |
| 2 | 4H = | S | 420 | -1 | 6 | 2.5 | 357 | 2 | |
| 3 | 2H + 3 | S | 200 | -6 | -6 | -6 | 357 | -4 |
As from 1st June 2011, this event is held in the chapel - additional, former-office space which is now used for bridge, and we can accommodate up to 8 tables. In order that interested members can check whether we're running a session at all [regulars will sometimes be involved in matches], whether there's room for them, and whether an individual member is without a partner but looking to play, we maintain a web-page for each week showing who's playing, who's not playing, who's looking for a partner - click on the date on the left-hand side to call up the corresponding page.
To add yourself to the list of members intending to play [as either a pair or an individual], email Nigel Lancaster. If there's a member shown without a partner, click on his/her name to email him/her to offer yourself as a partner.
With eight or fewer pairs, we have to have an even number to prevent unacceptably long sit-outs, so the last pair to register will be asked to play in the pairs session, unless we can press-gang a balancing pair on the night. With more than eight pairs, we can handle a sit-out if we have an odd number.
If you enjoy the occasional teams-style session, and particularly if you play in one of Burnham's league-of-8 teams, do come along - you'll be very welcome. You'll find the atmosphere informal and friendly and, if you regard yourself as a relatively inexperienced bridge-player, you'll find those of us who are a little longer in the tooth are willing to help you along.
As from December 2011, we'll be staging pre-bridge seminars on the first Wednesday of each month. These seminars will be specifically centred on teams-related topics.