The Welsh Bridge Union’s second annual STRICTLY COME TEACHING competition on REAL BRIDGE has been postponed from it’s original date of 7pm on Saturday 31st January 2026 due to a date clash with 2 other events. Watch this space for updates.
STRICTLY is a COMPLETELY FREE and great fun!
Please get in touch if you would like to play in the 2026 GRAND FINAL with two priceless Glitterball Trophies to be won by one lucky pair!
There are two other prizes up for grabs:
- Best Dressed Pair (* any potential contenders may be asked to stand up so we can check they do not have a DJ on top and PJs on the bottom…….!!); and
- Friendliest Pair – please email me after the competition if any pair has been exceptionally friendly. As this is going to be a ridiculously friendly competition anyhow you will all have to really go an extra mile to win this one!!!
We will send these prizes out after the winners are chosen so will choose something appropriate for them when I know who they are…..!
As the competition is on Real Bridge where you can see and chat to each other all you need is a computer with a camera and speakers.
If you have not used Real Bridge before we will set up two short taster sessions so you can check your system works OK with Real Bridge and see how to use it. Just please let us know if you would like to do this so we can co-ordinate timings with you.
To save blushes only a few top scores will be published on the WBU website with others being listed as “Chorus”…..
Rules and Special Rules…….
This is bridge but not quite as all of you know it! This is a special teacher (“Professionals”) and student (“Celebrity Learners”) competition so a good few of the field will be pretty inexperienced and this will be their first venture into a Bridge Tournament!! Consequently, the following rules will apply:
- You can play either an ACOL weak no trump system or a simple 5 card major system with a strong no trump and either a short club or a better minor
- For health and safety reasons whilst waltzing around the bridge tables you cannot play 2/1, transfer responses over a club or a 2 diamond multi
- You cannot play other weird unusual stuff that you have designed to get around the above rule 2…….! ?
- Please explain your partner’s bids as if you were at a normal club night at the bridge table eg if your partner opens 1NT announce this as 12-14 or 15-17, 2 clubs after 1NT announced as “stayman” etc.
- Professionals, if you bid you MUST absolutely have your bid!! OH YES!!! ? 12-14 is precisely that, not an adjusted 10 or 15 count….!! If you open a weak two you will have 5-10 points and 6 cards. If you pre-empt at the 3 level you will have less than an opening hand and 7 cards! Psyches are not allowed (green, amber and red). Even a “magnolia” psyche (a frisky bid by a PRO!) is not allowed as this is a Celebrity Learner’s tournament!!
- If a Professional wishes to double a Celebrity Learner for penalties (*or pass their partner’s take out double for penalties) this must be preceded by an APOLOGY FOR DOUBLING! Failure to pre-apologise before any penalty double of a Celebrity Learner will mean the Director may be called and the double removed (*unless of course the contract makes!!!). Professionals can double each other’s bids for penalties and Celebrity Learners can double Professionals or each other for penalties as much as they like (and are positively encouraged to!!!!)
- Celebrity Learners, you have free reign to experiment and bid what you want and make as many mistakes as you like!
HELP!!!
Sometimes the Celebrity Learner will face a hand that puzzles them or a bidding sequence that puzzles them. This is what the “Help” button is for (*for this tournament the “Director Call” button is also the “Help” button!)
If you are puzzled just call for Help and Sarah or I will join you at the table to say Hi. We can see all 4 player’s cards and can explain your potential choices!
We may also drop in to say Hi anyhow, especially if there is a sit out with a half table or if we have just made a cup of tea and are bored!
CHAT AND INTROS
You are positively encouraged to chat and we have allowed 8 minutes a board to give time for this!
When you join the table please can each PRO introduce themselves and their Celebrity Learner.
It is a best-behaviour-ever at Bridge competition!
The Cons of Extra Pros…..
In the event that there happen to be any partnerships that, in the cold light of day, appear to be more Pro-Pro than Pro-Celebrity Learner, we reserve the right to apply a suitable handicap…………!! This competition will be won by a PRO and a genuine Celebrity Learner combination!
Partnership Desk
If you are a PRO or a Celebrity Learner and don’t have a partner please just let me know and I will find a lovely partner for you! Teachers, we can happily find partners for your students! ?
I really hope you can join us for what should be another really sociable and fun event!
Best wishes
Andrea Knox
WBU President