January 2025 - News - Pasadena Bridge Club

Back to the bridge club
by Morris Jones 21 Jan '25

21 Jan '25

Pasadena Bridge Club Logo <https://pasadenabridgeclub.com> News from North Fair Oaks Mojo ABTA Master Teacher 649 N Fair Oaks Ave #201 Pasadena CA 91103 (626) 247-4457 pasadenabridgeclub.com <https://pasadenabridgeclub.com> I heard this story from a bridge player the other day. He was talking to another bridge player from our area who had lost his home. "Is there anything I can do to help?" he asked. "Play bridge with me," was his response. We have had calls and emails from near and far from people offering bridge club gear, or wanting contribute money for those in hardship. I'm happy that our club is in fine condition, and we're really not equipped to take and disburse donations. I recommend working with any of the better established relief agencies to help. While they're locking down the Eaton fire, we still occasionally get a cloud of fire smoke that can be detected in the club, but usually it vanishes as quickly as it appears. Bridge has been so valuable for relief and connection. Our games this past week were all very well attended. In memoriam Elliott Mazur passed away this past weekend after a very brief illness. Elliott was a fixture at the games in Pasadena and Glendale. Our thoughts go out to his family and friends. Jane and I knew Elliott away from the bridge club as well. He was a patron of the Pasadena Symphony, and we would always see and greet him at his nearby seats. Elliott was passionate about recycling, and he always kept me on my toes to be sure cans, bottles and cardboard all made it into recycling bins. He cared enough that he would take home whatever cardboard boxes I had, and even contacted the property management to ask about their recycling. There will be a service for Elliott Thursday at 1:30 PM. The location is Mount Sinai, 5950 Forest Lawn Dr., Los Angeles. The *Thursday morning game will begin at 9:30 AM instead of 11:00 *this week to allow everyone who wishes to attend the service. *Office Hours for Thursday will not be held this week*. Bridge Classes This Week Each week I'll post the topics for the Wednesday and Thursday classes. Anyone is welcome to join a single class for $25 without purchasing an entire course. This week's classes: * Wednesday, January 22, 7:00 PM /Bridge Basics 2 - Competitive Bidding/ "Simple Overcalls and Responses" * Thursday, January 23, 7:00 PM /Bridge Basics 4 - Play of the Deal/ "Play of the Deal in Trump Contracts" In addition, every Saturday morning at 9:30 we offer a mini-workshop featuring a fascinating bridge hand from Eddie Kantar's "Thinking Bridge" series. In each hand you'll discover how all of the clues you need to find the right contract, the best opening lead, successful play or defense, are all right there when you notice them! The Saturday morning workshops are free and open to all, whether or not you stay to play in the novice/intermediate bridge game at 10:00. The next /Bridge Basics 1 - Introduction/ class starts Thursday, April 3. It's open for registration at this link <https://pasadena.augusoft.net/index.cfm?method=ClassInfo.ClassInformation&i…>. If you get the PCC Extension catalog in your mailbox, you'll find our class listed! *Save the date* for our next *Robert Todd* seminar: Sunday, March 30, all day. Best regards, Mojo, Jane, Zachary

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Bridge this week, and an open letter
by Morris Jones 12 Jan '25

12 Jan '25

Dear friends, I'm delighted that we'll be open for business on Monday, and saddened by the loss we've all shared this past week. Several of our players lost their homes, and some suffered injury. As we prepare to open for a new week, my friend and partner Zachary asked to send this open letter: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ My dear friends, As the smoke fills the air, as the ash imitates rain, as we all stare out the window wondering what will befall us next, I want to take a moment and share something with you. A year and a half ago my life fell apart. Nothing as dramatic as fire, but to me, just as devastating. When these things happen, the future seems impossible, and the past feels like a cruel joke. Not knowing what to do, I just tried to move forward. For me, that was the Bridge Club. It was a place where I could greet you and we could do a silly thing and treat it seriously, we could laugh and gossip and get angry at each other and then forgive each other...because without each other we don't have a game. I also invested myself into the "social" bridge program we created. The new players who are just discovering how wonderful and maddening each hand of bridge is...that feeling of excitement when arranging...dread when we misplay...relief when the finesse holds. On and on and on. For hours and hours we would go through the hands and talk about what we could have done better and how we will NEXT time. Somehow, in this repetition, a new structure in me was made. One that enabled me to move a bit further, and a bit more forthrightly, into a very uncertain future. Forgive my self-indulgence. I say all that merely to say this: when it is safe again please come to the bridge club. Please be around friends and get away from turmoil (if only for a moment). Please structure your way forward around a community who cares for you and needs you. Please think of mentoring a new player. Please think of bringing a friend along. Please think of the happy days ahead and please think of the miserable ones too - I assure you those days will be made better by being in a room, playing cards, surrounded by family. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ This week at the club: * All Open games will be Club Championships * Our two Wednesday and Thursday evening classes will be pushed one week on the calendar, and start this week My wife Jane and I are taking a few days to be together for our 25th wedding anniversary. I'll be at my regular game on Wednesday. Zachary can't wait to open the bridge club on Monday morning. Come play and we'll start healing together. Very best regards, Mojo -- build message Morris "Mojo" Jones mojo(a)PasadenaBridgeClub.com https://PasadenaBridgeClub.com <https://pasadenabridgeclub.com> Pasadena Bridge Club <https://pasadenabridgeclub.com>

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Bridge club closed until Monday
by Morris Jones 09 Jan '25

09 Jan '25

Zachary, Jane and I feel that it would be best to keep the bridge club closed for the remainder of this week. We'll consider opening for the Monday game if the air quality and overall safety has improved. Here is a photo that Zach took yesterday. (He said it looks about the same today.) Jane and I haven't had power at our home in Monrovia since Tuesday afternoon. We're safe at home for the time being, though it'd be good to have a hot shower and some laundry. :) Our place is outside any of the evacuation zones. We have had a few of our beloved players totally lose their homes in the Eaton fire. Our thoughts and prayers are with them and everyone affected by the fire, along with our hopes for a seamless and productive recovery in the months and years ahead. Best regards, Mojo, Jane, Zachary, Lisa, Melanie -- build message Morris "Mojo" Jones mojo(a)PasadenaBridgeClub.com https://PasadenaBridgeClub.com <https://pasadenabridgeclub.com> Pasadena Bridge Club <https://pasadenabridgeclub.com>

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Staying closed on Thursday ...
by Morris Jones 08 Jan '25

08 Jan '25

Our bridge club remains in a "prepare to evacuate" zone, and (as you know) the air quality is unhealthy. We're going to remain closed all day Thursday. This is a cancellation of the 11:00 game, 3:00 Office Hours, and the 7:00 PM class for Thursday. You'll also probably receive a notice from RSVPBridge. Jane and I are safe in Monrovia, not in an evacuation zone, but we've been without power for quite some time. Our internet is somewhat unreliable using cell phones only. We can think about Friday when the time comes. I know many of you are already away to a safe location. We hope you'll stay safe! Best regards, Mojo -- build message Morris "Mojo" Jones mojo(a)PasadenaBridgeClub.com https://PasadenaBridgeClub.com <https://pasadenabridgeclub.com> Pasadena Bridge Club <https://pasadenabridgeclub.com>

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Bridge club closed today
by Morris Jones 08 Jan '25

08 Jan '25

The bridge club will be closed today. Stay indoors if you can. Evacuate if you must. Please keep safe! Mojo -- build message Morris "Mojo" Jones mojo(a)PasadenaBridgeClub.com https://PasadenaBridgeClub.com <https://pasadenabridgeclub.com> Pasadena Bridge Club <https://pasadenabridgeclub.com>

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Plan your year for bridge courses
by Morris Jones 07 Jan '25

07 Jan '25

Pasadena Bridge Club Logo <https://pasadenabridgeclub.com> News from North Fair Oaks Mojo ABTA Master Teacher 649 N Fair Oaks Ave #201 Pasadena CA 91103 (626) 247-4457 pasadenabridgeclub.com <https://pasadenabridgeclub.com> Have you noticed the sharp looking Pasadena Bridge Club name badges around the club? You can order one of your own. I don't send in an order until I have at least four to make, and it takes about ten days to arrive. If you'd like a badge, drop me a note and I'll add you to the list! Give me your name and home city as you'd like it spelled on the badge. When it arrives, you can pick it up and pay $15. Online/F2F Hybrid Game Jan 12 Tom Reynolds has been working with Realbridge and the ACBL to test the feasibility of having a large distributed bridge event by having players bring their laptops or tablets (and headphones) to the bridge club and play the event online. The first test of the event is this Sunday at 1:00 PM, with four clubs in the LA area participating, including the Pasadena Bridge Club. The game won't award masterpoints, but winners will get an opportunity to play a game online with an expert partner. If you'd like to be added to the event, drop me a note! There are several sessions between now and Sunday where you can test your connection to Realbridge and practice using the platform. New Year's Eve Recap Our New Year's Eve "Eight is Enough" game doubled in size this year vs. last year, filling the club with 16 tables. My apologies to a few that we had to turn away! We had a huge mix of visitors, old pros, and new players. Many were playing a team tournament for the first time. The competition was tougher than last year with several well-planned teams. Winning the event was the team of Roy Wilson, Gloria Rommel, Jon Fuhrman and Susan Kane. Bridge Classes This Week We have a strong calendar of courses at the club, with eight different six-week courses to level-up your bridge game. Classes are held on Wednesday and Thursday evenings at 7:00 PM, and we'll cycle through the catalog during the year. See the full list here. <https://pasadenabridgeclub.com/available_courses> Each week I'll post the topics for the Wednesday and Thursday classes. Anyone is welcome to join a single class for $25 without purchasing an entire course. This week's classes: * Wednesday, January 8, 7:00 PM /Bridge Basics 2 - Competitive Bidding/ "Preemptive Opening Bids" * Thursday, January 9, 7:00 PM /Bridge Basics 4 - Play of the Deal/ "Play of the Deal in Notrump" In addition, every Saturday morning at 9:30 we offer a mini-workshop featuring a fascinating bridge hand from Eddie Kantar's "Thinking Bridge" series. In each hand you'll discover how all of the clues you need to find the right contract, the best opening lead, successful play or defense, are all right there when you notice them! The Saturday morning workshops are free and open to all, whether or not you stay to play in the novice/intermediate bridge game at 10:00. The next /Bridge Basics 1 - Introduction/ class starts Thursday, April 3. Coming up ... Let's have a week of Club Championship games January 13-18. All of the Open Pairs games will pay significantly extra masterpoints, and no extra charge. The ACBL grants us this type of game a few times a year. I haven't yet seen a schedule of new Sectional Tournament at Clubs games, but I'll add them to our schedule as soon as I hear. Best regards, Mojo, Jane, Zachary

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New Bridge courses start next week
by Morris Jones 02 Jan '25

02 Jan '25

Pasadena Bridge Club Logo <https://pasadenabridgeclub.com> Learn and play bridge! Mojo ABTA Master Teacher 649 N Fair Oaks Ave #201 Pasadena CA 91103 (626) 247-4457 pasadenabridgeclub.com <https://pasadenabridgeclub.com> Welcome to 2025! It's going to be a great year for playing bridge and leveling-up your game. Our class sessions are on Wednesday and Thursday evenings, featuring another course from our eight course catalog <https://pasadenabridgeclub.com/available_courses> every six weeks or so. We also have our weekly Tuesday evening duplicate game for novice players, as well as our popular Saturday morning game with a free bridge workshop at 9:30. Office Hours feature casual bridge every Monday - Thursday from 3:00-5:00 PM. Bridge Basics 2 - Competitive Bidding Bridge Basics 1 focuses on what we call the "constructive" auction — when one side opens the bidding, the other side is silent. This allows a partnership to focus on HOW HIGH and WHERE to play a contract. But in most bridge auctions, both sides get involved. When the other side makes a bid, you also have the goal of interfering with their auction, as well as finding the best contract for your side. A competitive auction offers new opportunities to add to our bidding vocabulary. Of course it wouldn't be one of our courses without also having tips for winning extra tips as declarer or defender! * Six Wednesday evenings, starting January 8, 7:00 - 9:00 PM * See the full course description <https://pasadenabridgeclub.com/course/competitive-bidding> * $120 includes textbook by Audrey Grant * Click here to enroll <https://pasadenabridgeclub.com/contact/course_enrollment> Bridge Basics 4 - Play of the Deal /Play of the Deal/ was just released in 2024 by Audrey Grant and David Lindop. This will be our first presentation of the course at the Pasadena Bridge Club! While bidding language evolves over time (like all languages!), the principles of card play as declarer are timeless. The techniques and puzzle-solving skills of declarer play are also much deeper than they seem at first! Like all puzzles, skill is achieved through study and practice to recognize common situations and possibilities. * Six Thursday evenings, starting Januray 9, 7:00 - 9:00 PM * Full course description <https://pasadenabridgeclub.com/course/play-of-the-deal> * $120 includes textbook by Audrey Grant * Click here to enroll <https://pasadenabridgeclub.com/contact/course_enrollment> Last year and this year ... At the end of the year, the Pasadena Bridge Club was #99 in North America, with 2,357 tables played in ACBL-sanctioned bridge games. In the US alone, we're #79. In LA County (District 23) we're #3 behind the Long Beach Bridge Center and the Agile Bridge Club. Next on the course calendar will be /Improving Your Judgment - Opening the Bidding/ starting on February 19, and /Introduction to Defense/ starting February 20. This coming year we'll have a special full-day seminar event featuring Robert Todd. If you're saving events on your calendar, keep Sunday March 30 open for that. Our next session of /Bridge Basics 1 - Introduction /will be on Thursday evenings, starting April 3. Watch for the listing in the PCC Extension catalog! Mojo, Jane and Zachary

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