The EBU organises several national events in which Reading Bridge Club regularly participate.
National Pairs
This is a national competition for pairs run by EBU. Any affiliated Bridge Club can hold a heat from which top one third of pairs progresses to the regional heat. Top players from the 6 regional heats play in the final. Green points are awarded in all stages. RBC heat is usually played in February (see Calendar of Events)
National Newcomers Pairs
This is a national competition for non-expert pairs (for unranked players and Club, District and County Masters) run by EBU. As there is usually insufficient number of entries on the club level the members can play in a Regional heat. For more information and entries enquire with Club Competition Secretary.
NICKO (National Inter-club Knockout)
This is a national competition for Teams of 4 run by the English Bridge Union (EBU). Any affiliated Bridge Club can enter as many teams as they wish. In order to take part you must be a member of the EBU, and a member of the Bridge Club which you represent. You may only play for one team during any one competition. Entries are made around August, the competition starts in September and has been known to overrun the start of the following year’s competition. There is a subsidiary Plate event for those teams who lose their first match in the competition, either as a first round loser or as a second round loser following a bye.
Reading Bridge Club permits any group (of at least 4 members) to take part.
The EBU issues a draw, with a closing date, for each round and the matches are then arranged at a mutually convenient time by the captains concerned. The venue is usually the Home Bridge Club, or the home of one of the members of the Home Team. Refreshments (sandwiches and tea or coffee) are usually provided by the Home Team. The draw in the early stages is regionalised so that travelling for an evening fixture should be practicable, but the distances may be slightly further than for a Local or County League game. Matches take place over 24 boards. Because any Bridge Club can enter teams in the competition the standard in the early rounds can be very variable. Some teams may be drawn against a team of experts while others may come up against much weaker opposition. National Master points (Green Points) are awarded to teams winning matches.
Crockfords Cup
This is the Premier English Teams of 4 Knock-Out Championship, English International Players will be appearing in the strongest Teams. Up to 16 teams may be seeded and given byes in the first round. The final 8 surviving teams play in an all play all weekend final in May. Matches are played over 32 boards. Entries are made around July and the competition gets under way in August and runs through to the following May.
The EBU issues a draw, with a closing date, for each round and the matches are then arranged at a mutually convenient time by the captains concerned. The venue is usually the Home Bridge Club, or the home of one of the members of the Home Team. Because the matches are quite extended, refreshments (sandwiches and tea or coffee) are usually provided by the Home Team.
Gold Cup (entries by members directly)
This is the Premier British Teams of 4 Knock-Out Championship, run currently by the Bridge Great Britain (BGB) and as such the top British International Players will be appearing in the strongest Teams. Up to 16 teams may be seeded into the round which involves 128 teams. Matches are played over 32 boards in the early rounds and get longer later on (if you make the dizzy heights of the last 16!!). Entries are made around November and the competition gets under way in December and runs through to the following December.
The BGB issues a draw, with a closing date, for each round and the matches are then arranged at a mutually convenient time by the captains concerned. The venue is usually the Home Bridge Club, or the home of one of the members of the Home Team. Because the matches are quite extended, refreshments (sandwiches and tea or coffee) are usually provided by the Home Team.
There is a subsidiary Plate event (the Silver Plate), run by the EBU for those English teams who lose in either the first or second round, and new Teams can also enter this stage of the competition, when matches are played over 24 boards. Entries from new teams and losers in the first round of the Gold Cup need to be made within one week of the closing date for Round 1of the Gold Cup (early January). Entries from second round Gold Cup losers, who go straight into Round 2 of the Silver Plate need to be made within one week of the closing date for the second round of the Gold Cup (mid-March). National Master points (Green Points) are awarded to teams winning matches.
Hubert Philips Bowl (entries by members directly)
This is the top English Mixed Teams of 4 Championship. You must be a member of the EBU to take part and your team must include one member of each sex at all times. It is a pivot event so you play one third of the match with each other member of the team, which ensures that there are significant possibilities of giant killing due to the unfamiliar partnerships this brings about. It is also almost the only event that is scored by aggregate points with no conversion to IMPs (and Honours count, if you remember). Entries are required by the end of March and the competition runs from April through to the following April.
The EBU issues a draw, with a closing date, for each round and the matches are then arranged at a mutually convenient time by the captains concerned. The venue is usually the Home Bridge Club, or the home of one of the members of the Home Team. Refreshments (sandwiches and tea or coffee) are usually provided by the Home Team. The draw in the early stages is regionalised so that travelling for an evening fixture should be practicable, but the distances may be slightly further than for a Local or County League game. Matches take place over 30 boards. National Master points (Green Points) are awarded to teams winning matches.
EBU Congresses (entries by members directly)
EBU organises several annual congresses which normally comprises of a Pair Event (usually Swiss Pairs) and a Team event (usually Swiss Teams). There are variations on the theme. There are several popular events relatively close to Reading:
All events are listed in EBU Members Handbook and on EBU website.
Other Green Points Events (entries by members directly)
The individual county organisations are organising (in conjunction with EBU) one day events on Saturdays and Sundays. These are usually Swiss Teams or Swiss Pairs events. The events are advertised in EBU Bridge magasine as well as on EBU website.