The Bridge Zone

Podcast produced and first broadcast at Free FM 89.0 - a platform for direct involvement in the media. Hamilton Kirikiriroa, NZ

The Bridge Zone – Episode 435 Lysandra Zheng received a 12-month suspension from playing, directing, and kibitzing after being caught cheating online - the topic is raised and we discuss next week • New ranking rules will regrade approximately 18–20 frequent intermediate players to open/limited status, causing significant frustration due to short notice and impact on restricted tournament eligibility. The Jinn Man - Otago Tour Highlights • Does the Double The Jinn Man picks up plenty of B points winning both the Otago intermediate pairs (with Deirdre Oliver) and the teams (with Graham Dale and Blair Corlett) during a successful Otago Bridge tour. • Club Visits: o East Taieri, Otago and Balclutha The Bridge Zone Talks with Murray Wiggins – NZB Board Member on Player Rank and Tournament Changes • District Master rank created for current Local Masters with 5 or more A-points. 8 • Novice grade introduced for players who have not yet obtained a certificate of proficiency. 9 • Restricted grade split from the Open grade; it includes Provincial Masters, Masters, and National Masters as of January 1 each year. 310 • Club Masters will remain Junior players even if they have 5+ A-points, reversing a previous rule that automatically made them Intermediate. 311 • Limited tournaments will allow any pairing except those where both players are Provincial Master or above (Open/Restricted players). 45 • Restricted tournaments are intended for Restricted players and below, providing a competitive environment for those who might avoid Open events. 12 Judge Julie rules • Partner mis-explanation (declaring and defending side) • Uncertainty about a bid • Appeals process Got some news or feedback, flick us an email [email protected] Plenty to listen to, just click and hear our discussions See you at the tables The BZ Crew

Hamilton Labour Weekend Congress is approaching with 28 pairs in the Shirley Waymouth open pairs, 23 teams in the team’s event, and 24 pairs in the Swiss pairs. Tournament history is estimated to be around 30 years, possibly starting in 1997, though Barry recalls playing there as an intermediate in the early 90s. Youth participation is highlighted with players like Calexico (Theodore) and Toby attending Congress for the first time. The new Masterpoint scheme will be in effect by the time of the Congress New Zealand Wide Pairs - Tournament field:had approximately 800 players (around 200 tables) Judge Julie rules on Scoring discrepancies in the New Zealand-wide pairs are explained by the difference between local club scoring and scoring across a larger national field. Tournament and club results Barry asks for a bottle of plonk The Gambler tips on Negative doubles - reinforced as a key bidding tool Mr Jinn announces the results of the Jin Club tourneys • Waitomo Restricted, New Zealand-wide Pairs, Hastings Intermediate, Northshore Intermediate, Alex Baker, Barfoot and Thompson Gin Club Championship winner, Cambridge Intermediate and the Waikato Bays Intermediate Championship winner Upcoming Events Otago Southland Congress (Dunedin) for the Jinn man chasing the B points Got some news or feedback, flick us an email [email protected] Plenty to listen to, just click and hear our discussions See you at the tables The BZ Crew

Head Director, Matthew McManus joins the Bridge Zone this He clarifies that simplified versions of the Polish Club system remain permitted for intermediate players, while overly complex relay-based systems are restricted The New Zealand Bridge Board is releasing a new document to resolve existing ambiguities in the regulations Additionally, the directing team for the upcoming Congress has expanded to include three new members, including a national director from Australia Regulations and System Clarifications • Polish Club: • Intermediate Restrictions • Regulation Updates: Director Perspectives and Training • Role Philosophy: Directors are viewed as "servants of the players" and should aim to assist rather than act as an overbearing presence • Law Application, Technology Impact, Information Display, Congress Directing • Staffing: The directing crew for Congress includes two trainees (Justine Hart and Mary Christensen) and Darryl Whitfield from Canberra Mr Jinn announces the results of the Jin Club tourneys • Tournament results were shared for several junior and intermediate events, including Napier, Te Awamutu, Croxford, Matamata, and Paraparaumu. • Rule clarification was provided: a dummy cannot initiate a call to the director for an infraction; another player must first bring it to the table's attention. • Upcoming events include the New Zealand-wide pairs on Friday and several tournaments over the weekend. Barry and Mereana talk about the North Island Pairs in Auckland had a quality field of 16 tables, won by Ashley Bart and Nick Jacob Got some news or feedback, flick us an email [email protected] Plenty to listen to, just click and hear our discussions See you at the tables The BZ Crew

The BZ Crew talk about • Labour Weekend Congress is seeing strong registration with 27 pairs and 23 teams currently entered • New System Regulations effective October 1st have caused frustration among intermediate players, specifically those using the Polish Club system who are now ineligible for the intermediate section • Disciplinary Actions Any misconduct are being made public by the NZB Conduct, Discipline and Disputes Committee to ensure transparency Judge Julie clears up some things - Director Rulings and Etiquette • Wrong Hand Procedure: If a player plays from the wrong hand, a director must be called Defenders may accept a lead, but they cannot consult each other before doing so • Simultaneous Actions: When multiple actions occur at once, the laws prioritize the person who is next to act • Player Etiquette: Stronger players are encouraged to call the director for errors (even their own) to remove pressure from inexperienced players and ensure correct information is provided • Hesitations: Acknowledging a partner's long bidding time can reduce table stress, though it does not preclude a director's ruling Mr Jinn shares results from around the motu • Intermediate players are now prohibited from playing Polish Club, a regulation change effective from October 1, 2026 • Mr. Jinn currently holds the first-place position on the Local Master ranking list • The JIN Club and The Bridge Zone will host a get-together at the convention center's upstairs bar during the upcoming Congress Got some news or feedback, flick us an email [email protected] Plenty to listen to, just click and hear our discussions See you at the tables The BZ Crew

The BZ Crew talk CONGRESS 2026 with Bridget Hannaray • Sneak preview of events after end of play o Saturday – Election Day plenty of places to go to VOTE close by o Monday - The Jin Club and The Bridge Zone Crew meet and greet o Tuesday - Street Eats and music night o Wednesday - The D Word – Team Costume Parade o Thursday - Street market o Friday - Variety Show @ The Regent on Broadway - a fellow Bridgee may be performing o Saturday - Prizegiving • PNCC - Council Support they rock and we cover parking • Transportation: Apex Rentals is recommended for vehicle hire, with discount codes available on the New Zealand Bridge website • Cupid Bridget is back to matchmaking for this year • Junior Entries Numbers are way up from last year • Congress: 850 entries have been received so far, with one month remaining • PAY YOUR ENTRY FEE by September 30th – go into the draw to get your money back • Congress 40th Anniversary – Get your tee shirt now and we have new pens Mr Jinn shares results from around the motu • Notable Youth/Intermediate Performances: Highlighting Youth Player success – this week Ellie Molloy, Corbin Titter and Alex Shan takeout tournaments • The Jin Club A "cocktail/mocktail" evening has been officially scheduled for Sunday 8th November after play finishes upstairs • Proposed Incentive: Ross suggested raffling off a Grand Master from each region • Poppy Roberts Pairs: The team is seeking information regarding the history and nature of this monthly Wellington-based event Got some news or feedback, flick us an email [email protected] Plenty to listen to, just click and hear our discussions See you at the tables

The BZ Crew talk about • Christchurch Congress, and the upcoming Labour Weekend Congress in Hamilton • Rankings Alan Grant and Rebecca Osborne • Interprovincials Survey • Key achievements Rebecca Osborne and Alan Grant Mr Jinn shares results from around the motu • The Alex Baker and Thompson Gin Club Circuit • Upcoming Tournaments and the B Point Race • Westport Fundraising: • The Judge rules today • Clarification that a declarer is not cheating when they take advantage of a major penalty card resulting from an opponent's revoke • Penalty Cards: It is ethical and legal for a declarer to take advantage of a penalty card on the table • Player Responsibility Players are not responsible for allowing opponents to continue making mistakes; they are entitled to play optimally despite an opponent's infraction • Director Involvement: To avoid disputes, especially when strong players face weaker ones, the director should be called back to the table to make official rulings rather than players deciding the rules themselves Got some news or feedback, flick us an email [email protected] Plenty to listen to, just click and hear our discussions See you at the tables The BZ Crew

The BZ Crew talk about • Upcoming bridge tournaments, including the TOPS Friday Fundraising Tournaments • North Island Pairs held at Remuera Bowls and Bridge Club scheduled for October 10–11 • Numbers for the Congress 2026 looking strong and talking to Bridget – Gatekeeper of Congress • The mighty Jack – Mereana agrees with the new nickname The Gambler Barry shares a technical tip from the International Coaching Session 67% or 90+% Playing Cupid • Hello, anyone out there looking for a partner for Congress One of our listeners Deirdre from Tauranga Bridge Club is looking for a partner - Restricted Open grade Drop us a line, contact details below Mr Jinn shares results from around the motu • The "Cathy Parker" hand 5-club X with a 20 count . • Player Pet Peeves Expressions of a dislike for players who hold cards vertically on the table and press them down, causing them to wobble • B-Point Pursuit: Ross is currently at 162.48 B-points, trailing Jack James' record of 209 and he hit the podium twice over the weekend The Bailiff joins us today • Purpose of Announcements and Information Accessibility • Room Layout and Movements, some table arrangements are confusing, middle table logic and the primary goal is to help players find their tables particularly in Swiss Pairs • Personal Anecdote: The Bailiff recalled navigating the long distance to the “Gandhi room” on crutches while recovering from an Achilles injury during a past New Zealand Pairs event, many moons ago Got some news or feedback, flick us an email [email protected] Plenty to listen to, just click and hear our discussions See you at the tables The BZ Crew

The BZ Crew talk about • Cranmer Bridge Club an update and a theory Photos Before and After • A successful youth camp in Christchurch and a well-attended tournament in Hamilton • Waikato Bays 10A Swiss Pairs at Hamilton – 27 tables (108 players) and sponsored by AFT Pharmaceuticals • Prizes: Nearly $2,000 in prize money and approximately 200 A points were awarded. Mr Jinn shares results from around the motu • Levin Multigrade, Thames Restricted, Whangarei Ashbury Heights, Picton Intermediate and Papakura Intermediate (Alex Baker League) • Mr Jinn heads to Howick and Matamata this weekend The Bailiff joins us today and we discuss a specific bridge scenario • A player made an opening bid in the wrong suit and stopped momentarily before their partner responded • What can they do? Director Guidelines for Corrections – how they get to a decision • Eligibility for Change, Criteria for "Clear Error", Evidence of Mistake, Impartiality: The Gambler tips today Second player, plays low Got some news or feedback, flick us an email [email protected] Plenty to listen to, just click and hear our discussions See you at the tables The BZ Crew

The Bridge Zone – Episode 427 The BZ Crew talk about • South Pairs: Glenn Coutts and Graham Stout won the event, Jesse Pelienato and Brad Johnston finished second, and Sam Coutts and Nick Bailey finished third • Moss Wylie and Jeremy Fraser Hoskins won the plate • WAPS: Jennifer and Christine Gibbons won with a first-session score of 70 and a second-session score of 63.3 • However, Barry and Liz Fisher took the A-point in the afternoon session with a top score • Cranmer Bridge Club Mereana achieved a top score during a session at the House of Cards . • Club Visits On the trip from Dunedin to Christchurch, Bridge Clubs in Oamaru, Timaru, and Ashburton got their photos taken • Travel Hazards Heavy snow and traffic delays of nearly two hours on the Kilmog outside of Dunedin eventually led to the road closure • Local Trivia Barry gets grilled on this as we trip from Christchurch to Dunedin Mr Jinn shares results from around the motu • Ashburton Intermediate, Hutt Intermediate, Tudor-Biggs Intermediate (Auckland), Tauranga Intermediate, Junior and Novice, Kaikoura Junior and Novice • Gin Club Circuit: The Alex Baker, Barfoot & Thompson Jin Club Circuit continues, and Mr Jin gives a roundup • Ross shared an embarrassing story about accidentally backing his trailer into a tip in Taupo • Feedback – Are you a couples who met over the Bridge table? – Barry and Jenny met outside an Appeal room – Does that count? Judge Julie is covering Jury service today and returns next week The Gambler tips today Play up to honours Got some news or feedback, flick us an email [email protected] Plenty to listen to, just click and hear our discussions See you at the tables The BZ Crew