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News from
N Fair Oaks
Mojo
Pasadena
Bridge Club <https://pasadenabridgeclub.com>
BridgeMojo <https://bridgemojo.com>
Courses <https://pasadenabridgeclub.com/available_courses>
ABTA Master Teacher
649 N Fair Oaks Ave #201
Pasadena CA 91103
(626) 247-4457
pasadenabridgeclub.com <https://pasadenabridgeclub.com>
This past Saturday while doing the Saturday Workshop and game, I
mentioned that the Saturday afternoon event is probably the best deal at
the bridge club, and got no argument.
On Saturday afternoons we have a real 40 minute or so workshop complete
with practice deals to bid or play, followed by a snappy 12-board fun
bridge game.
If you're under about 300 points, this is a great opportunity! It's a
great way to spend a Saturday afternoon. And yes, it's all for the
regular $10 card fee.
NAP Qualifier Wednesday
August is the last month when players can qualify to advance in the
North American Pairs. We have two NAP Qualifiers on the calendar: this
Wednesday August 16, and again on Wednesday, August 30.
The NAP games pay half-black, half-red masterpoints and lots of them.
The stratification will be based on the highest point player in each
pair, at Open, 2500, and 500.
Players in the top 50% of each strat qualify to advance to the District
Final on October 1. (Interesting twist for Flight C, if there are five
or fewer C pairs, all pairs qualify to advance!)
Special STaC week games
Clubs in three western districts covering most of the Western US will be
participating in a Sectional Tournament at Clubs (STaC) during the week
of August 21-27.
For the STaC I'm *adding a game on Thursday, August 24**,* at 11:00 AM.
Open Pairs. The game is available now for reservations.
On *Saturday, August 26*, in place of the "workshop and short game"
we'll play a 0-750 silver point game.
Card fees for all STaC games will be $11.
Classes this week
Anyone is welcome to drop in for a single session of any course for $25.
Let me know you're coming if you can! Here are the topics at this week's
classes:
* Wednesday 7:00 PM *Defense* "Defensive Signals"
* Thursday 7:00 PM *Two Over One Game Force* "Practice Hands"
* Saturday 9:30 AM *Competitive Bidding* "Practice Hands"
There will also be a topic "2-Level Simple Overcalls" at the Saturday
afternoon workshop and game.
Next Bridge Basics 1 - Introduction
This is the starting point for non-bridge players to discover our
favorite game.
Six Thursday evenings, 7-9 PM, starting August 31.
Let your friends and family know! Here's the link to register with PCC
online
<https://pasadena.augusoft.net/index.cfm?method=ClassInfo.ClassInformation&i…>.
Coming Up ...
The weekend of September 9-10 we're going to try hosting a sectional
tournament for the Glendale Verdugo Unit, taking advantage of the
"community room" down the hall from the bridge club.
Reservations will be required, and the games will be limited to 20
tables for Open Pairs, and 10 tables for 0-500 pairs.
We'll have more information and maybe a flier next week.
Also, watch for an announcement about Thursdays in September. I'll say
no more! :)
Best regards,
Mojo, Jane, Zachary
Tomorrow (Saturday) morning at 9:30 I have some newer players coming for
a social game.
If you like to play social bridge, answering questions from players when
they have them, or just hanging out at the bridge club with fresh
coffee, consider volunteering to be a social game mentor.
You may or may not fill a seat at a table.
Free play at the club for any mentors. :)
Mojo
--
build message
Morris "Mojo" Jones
mojo(a)PasadenaBridgeClub.com
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News from
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Mojo
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Bridge Club <https://pasadenabridgeclub.com>
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Courses <https://pasadenabridgeclub.com/available_courses>
ABTA Master Teacher
649 N Fair Oaks Ave #201
Pasadena CA 91103
(626) 247-4457
pasadenabridgeclub.com <https://pasadenabridgeclub.com>
Jane and I took advantage of some quiet travel time this past week to
work on the club's social media presence.
If you visit our web site <https://pasadenabridgeclub.com> now, you'll
see icons for Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube, You can "like" or
"follow" the Pasadena Bridge Club on any of those platforms.
If you subscribe to our channel on YouTube, every Saturday morning I'll
be re-releasing a 15-minute-or-so bridge lesson, first produced during
quarantine. The lessons mostly cover some aspect of play or defense.
Great little bites.
STaC game Thursday 8/24
For the upcoming Sectional Tournament at Clubs (STaC), I'll be adding
an Open Pairs at 11:00 AM on Thursday, August 24. The event is live on
RSVPBridge now, and you can sign up to play.
Also Saturday 8/26 STaC
In addition, in place of the Saturday workshop and game, we'll have a
*0-750 Silver Point game*, starting at 1:00, and finished by 4:15 or so.
Club Championships
All duplicate games this week will be Club Championships. That's Tuesday
evening, Wednesday morning, and Saturday afternoon. Extra points, no
extra charge!
Privacy on RSVP
By default, your email address is visible to other logged-in club
members at RSVPBridge.
You can change the visibility this way:
* Log in to RSVPBridge
* Click on your name icon in the lower right corner
* Click on the control "Privacy" from the pop-up menu.
And if it's easier, just drop me a note and I'll take care of it.
Classes this week
Anyone is welcome to drop in for a single session of any course for $25.
Let me know you're coming if you can! Here are the topics at this week's
classes:
* Wednesday 7:00 PM *Defense* "Second Hand Play"
* Thursday 7:00 PM *Two Over One Game Force* "The Choice Between Game
and Slam"
* Saturday 9:30 AM *Competitive Bidding* "The Competitive Auction"
(redoubles, negative doubles, and more)
There will also be a topic "to be announced" at the Saturday afternoon
workshop and game.
Next Bridge Basics 1 - Introduction
The PCC Extension catalog has landed in mailboxes all around Pasadena.
On Thursdays starting August 31 is "Bridge Introduction."
Let your friends and family know! Here's the link to register with PCC
online
<https://pasadena.augusoft.net/index.cfm?method=ClassInfo.ClassInformation&i…>.
Coming Up ...
In September, we're planning to make the *Thursday morning Open Pairs* a
regular game. We'll promote it with postcards, special games, pizza!
The Pasadena Bridge Club will be hosting the *Glendale Sectional
Tournament* on Sept. 9-10. We'll be making use of the Community Room
down the hall from the bridge club.
Best regards,
Mojo, Jane, Zachary
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News from
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Mojo
Pasadena
Bridge Club <https://pasadenabridgeclub.com>
BridgeMojo <https://bridgemojo.com>
Courses <https://pasadenabridgeclub.com/available_courses>
ABTA Master Teacher
649 N Fair Oaks Ave #201
Pasadena CA 91103
(626) 247-4457
pasadenabridgeclub.com <https://pasadenabridgeclub.com>
Welcome to August! The bridge club remains a cool refuge on hot days.
Hopefully the landlord will get the air conditioning in our lobby area
fixed soon!
Respect for Social Bridge
One of the things *we will always* do at the Pasadena Bridge Club is
offer social bridge games. We currently have two sessions: Thursdays at
7:00 PM and Saturday mornings at 9:30 AM. (I'm open to suggestion if
you'd like others!)
In Chicago I spent a lot of time with other club managers and teachers.
Many of us were making the point that that social bridge is a fun and
valuable event in itself, not just a way point to tournament bridge.
In the next few weeks I hope to implement some features to make the
social bridge games their own fun event. We don't call it "party bridge"
for nothing!
Stay tuned for that.
Next Bridge Basics 1 - Introduction
The PCC Extention catalog has landed in mailboxes all around Pasadena.
On Thursdays starting August 31 is "Bridge Introduction."
Let your friends and family know! Here's the link to register with PCC
online
<https://pasadena.augusoft.net/index.cfm?method=ClassInfo.ClassInformation&i…>.
Bridge Basics 1 is six Thursday evenings.
While it's listed in the PCC Extension catalog, the class meets happily
at the Pasadena Bridge Club.
Classes this week
Anyone is welcome to join a single session of any course at the bridge
club for $25. Here are the topics for classes this week:
* *Defense* Wednesday 7:00 PM "Third Hand Play"
* *Two Over One Game Force* Thursday 7:00 PM "Rebids by Opener and
Responder"
* *Competitive Bidding* Saturday 9:30 AM "The Takeout Double"
Saturday Workshop and Game
Every Saturday at 1:00 PM we feature a mini-workshop on a bridge topic
for about 30-40 minutes, always with some example hands. Following that
will be a fun 12-15 board duplicate game, finishing up by 4:00 PM.
The subject this Saturday is "Michaels Cue Bids." It's a great way to
compete with a very special hand. You won't see them often, but when you
do (or your partner does), wouldn't it be fun?
Coming Up ...
I just learned that we have a new STaC (Sectional Tournament at Clubs)
coming up the week of August 21 - 27. We're probably going to add some
special games so everyone can have more than once chance to win some
silver points.
Best regards,
Mojo, Jane, Zachary
Pasadena Bridge Club Logo <https://pasadenabridgeclub.com>
News from
N Fair Oaks
Mojo
Pasadena
Bridge Club <https://pasadenabridgeclub.com>
BridgeMojo <https://bridgemojo.com>
Courses <https://pasadenabridgeclub.com/available_courses>
ABTA Master Teacher
649 N Fair Oaks Ave #201
Pasadena CA 91103
(626) 247-4457
pasadenabridgeclub.com <https://pasadenabridgeclub.com>
It's the little things, you know? Parks Coffee just replaced the coffee
maker in the hopes that I'll be able to make pots back-to-back more
quickly. :)
North American Pairs
This Wednesday is designated as a North American Pairs Qualifier game.
Every year during June, July, and August, clubs hold qualifier games for
the NAP. We'll be having games at the Pasadena Bridge Club on *July 26*,
*August 16*, and *August 30*.
The NAP is really three tournaments: Open, 0-2500, and 0-500. If you
finish in the top 50% of your strat in a club qualifier game, you'll be
invited to compete in the *NAP District Final on October 1*.
If there's demand for it, we could hold a *0-500 NAP Qualifier on a
Saturday afternoon*. What say you? I think maybe we should!
Top finishers in the District Final will be invited to represent their
district at the Spring NABC in Louisville, KY, and the winners even get
a subsidy for their travel!
Double treat: The district final will be held at the Pasadena Bridge
Club! It's a two-session pair game, to be played on Sunday, October 1,
starting at 10:00 a.m.
Wear the Pasadena Bridge Club
The full catalog from Lands' End is now available with the classy
Pasadena Bridge Club logo. Find your shirts, caps, bags, jackets, gear
of all kinds.
The catalog is available online here:
https://business.landsend.com/store/pasadenabridgeclub/
Saturday Workshop and Game
This Saturday I have a fun topic, from Robert Todd's Adventures in
Bridge <https://www.advinbridge.com/>: *"Doubles of Artificial Bids."
*It's a cool way to get the defense off on the right foot.
Saturday at 1:00 PM, followed by a 12-board game for novice/intermediate
players.
Class Topics This Week
Everyone is welcome to join any single class for $25. Look for the class
topics in the weekly newsletter, or on the front page of the web site.
* Wednesday, 7:00 PM, *Defense* "Opening Leads against Trump Contracts"
* Thursday, 7:00 PM, *Two Over One Game Force* "The Forcing 1NT"
* Saturday, 9:30 AM, *Competitive Bidding* "Simple Overcalls And
Responses"
(The Competitive Bidding lesson is particularly good. Learn how to use
cue bids to make a strong raise, and jump raises to preempt!)
Coming up ...
I think in September it's time to add another game to the schedule. What
do you think? Should it be an open game or a limited game? When would
you like to come to the bridge club?
Best regards,
Mojo, Jane, Zachary
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News from
N Fair Oaks
Mojo
Pasadena
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BridgeMojo <https://bridgemojo.com>
Courses <https://pasadenabridgeclub.com/available_courses>
ABTA Master Teacher
649 N Fair Oaks Ave #201
Pasadena CA 91103
(626) 247-4457
pasadenabridgeclub.com <https://pasadenabridgeclub.com>
It's been an amazing few days in Chicago, and I'm writing this as I wait
for the first leg of the trip home.
To see what it's like to visit an NABC, I shot a little two-minute
walkthrough on Saturday: https://youtu.be/HbHg4KDrUXY
Last night was also the award dinner for the ACBL Goodwill Committee,
and it's written up in today's tournament Daily Bulletin:
https://cdn.acbl.org/nabc/2023/02/bulletins/db5.pdf
To my right in the photo is Bronia Jenkins, the ACBL's rock star new
executive director.
I even got to play bridge all day Wednesday with Brenda Egeland who
created RSVPBridge. It was a chance to lobby for some new features. We
also had a great time playing bridge!
New courses week!
This is the week we start *Defense*, *Two Over One Game Force*, and
*Competitive Bidding* courses. They're dynamite courses each.
With all of our courses you are always welcome to /try the first class
with no obligation/. If you're not sure it's for you, give it a try and see!
See the full schedule and enrollment links here:
https://pasadenabridgeclub.com/available_courses
Saturday Workshop and Game
The subject this Saturday is "Corrective vs. Forward Going bids." If it
sounds a little obscure, don't worry! It's a common misunderstanding at
the table, and we can help clear things up.
Saturday at 1:00 PM, followed by a 12-board game for 299ers.
Coming Up ...
Our next /Bridge Basics 1 - Introduction/ course will also be in the PCC
Extension catalog. It will be on Thursday evenings starting August 31.
Save the date!
Thanks so much to Paula Olivares and Zachary Vedro for covering the
games and classes last week!
Best regards,
Mojo, Jane, Zachary
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News from
N Fair Oaks
Mojo
Pasadena
Bridge Club <https://pasadenabridgeclub.com>
BridgeMojo <https://bridgemojo.com>
Courses <https://pasadenabridgeclub.com/available_courses>
ABTA Master Teacher
649 N Fair Oaks Ave #201
Pasadena CA 91103
(626) 247-4457
pasadenabridgeclub.com <https://pasadenabridgeclub.com>
I had a splendid time at the Bridge Week Regional tournament in Long
Beach. I was delighted to see a lot of you there! No great results for
me this time around, but bridge is like that.
I'm writing this from the ABTA <https://abtahome.com/> convention in
Chicago. I look forward to spending these days with teachers every July,
harvesting the best ideas from other bridge teachers to bring back to
our own club.
Afterward I'll get to play a few sessions at the NABC. That's always a
treat!
STaC game on Wednesday
This Wednesday will be a *Silver Point* game, including clubs throughout
California. Our results will be combined with other Wednesday morning
clubs for big overall awards.
Card fees on Wednesday will be $11. Paula Olivares will be directing.
Great classes starting
These are the three courses that I feel can have the most impact on your
bridge game, and they're all starting this week! If you can't decide,
not to worry! They'll all come around again.
You can reserve your seat at this link
<https://pasadenabridgeclub.com/contact/course_enrollment>.
Defense
Wednesdays, 7-9 PM, starts July 19
Eight classes, $130
Two Over One Game Force
Thursdays, 7-9 PM, starts July 20
Six classes, $140
Bridge Basics 2 - Competitive Bidding
Saturdays, 9:30-11:30 AM, starts July 22
Six classes, $115
Classes meeting this week
Single class sessions are always available for $25. One class is meeting
this week:
* Wednesday 7:00 PM Play of the Hand "Putting it all together"
Saturday Workshop and Game
Our workshop on Saturday at 1:00 will be on *Passed Hand Bidding*, with
some hands and great material, for about 30 minutes, followed by a
12-board game, all for $10. :)
I'll be flying home on Tuesday, can't wait to be home!
Best regards,
Mojo, Jane, Zachary
Pasadena Bridge Club Logo <https://pasadenabridgeclub.com>
News from
N Fair Oaks
Mojo
Pasadena
Bridge Club <https://pasadenabridgeclub.com>
BridgeMojo <https://bridgemojo.com>
Courses <https://pasadenabridgeclub.com/available_courses>
ABTA Master Teacher
649 N Fair Oaks Ave #201
Pasadena CA 91103
(626) 247-4457
pasadenabridgeclub.com <https://pasadenabridgeclub.com>
A lot of us are planning to play in the events at the Bridge Week
Regional in Long Beach.
I'll be drawing an amateur partner to play in the Pro-Am game on Monday
afternoon, and I have a team entering the Tuesday-Wednesday Knockout
Teams. It's potentially a four-session event, so if I make it to the
final round, we'll be playing on Wednesday afternoon!
On Sunday Jane and I will fly to Chicago for the American Bridge
Teachers Association meeting, and a few days playing at the North
American Bridge Championships.
Zach Vedro and Paula Olivares will be helping out with game and class
duties while I'm away.
New Player Games in Long Beach
Monday through Saturday at 10:00 AM, there's a 0-300 game at the
tournament. On Friday they're also offering a game for 0-100 players!
This is a great opportunity for new players to experience being at a big
bridge tournament, and play against other new players.
You don't need a reservation, just come to the game and buy an entry.
There's even a partnership desk where you can meet a friendly player and
join the game.
Each afternoon at 2:15 there's a guest lecture from a great player or
teacher with some tips for your bridge game.
The tournament flier includes the schedule and other information about
the tournament. You can find it at this link
<https://pasadenabridgeclub.com/sites/default/files/fliers/2023-bridge-week-…>.
STaC Game Wednesday July 12
Come earn Silver Points on Wednesday at the 11:00 Open Pairs game. Paula
Olivares is directing, and the card fee will be $11.
Classes meeting this week
These two classes /will be meeting this week/, during the regional.
Single class sessions are always available for $25. Here are the topics
being offered this week:
* Wednesday 7:00 PM Play of the Hand "Managing the Trump Suit"
* Saturday 9:30 AM Bridge Basics 1 "Practice Hands"
Coming Up ...
The next courses starting at the bridge club will all be the week of
July 19, and it's a great lineup! See the list at
https://pasadenabridgeclub.com/available_courses
Best regards,
Mojo, Jane, Zachary
Pasadena Bridge Club Logo <https://pasadenabridgeclub.com>
News from
N Fair Oaks
Mojo
Pasadena
Bridge Club <https://pasadenabridgeclub.com>
BridgeMojo <https://bridgemojo.com>
Courses <https://pasadenabridgeclub.com/available_courses>
ABTA Master Teacher
649 N Fair Oaks Ave #201
Pasadena CA 91103
(626) 247-4457
pasadenabridgeclub.com <https://pasadenabridgeclub.com>
July 3 Pro/Am Game
The first day of the Bridge Week Regional in Long Beach is dedicated to
newer players, with a morning workshop by Marjorie Michelin, and an
afternoon Pro/Am game, where newer players can partner with players from
the top tiers of the game.
Pros Wanted
If you are an experienced bridge player please consider joining in the
event! It's a great chance to pass along your joy and love for the game
and it's players. Drop me a note and I'll pass it along!
New players sign up soon
The sign-up deadline is fast approaching! Find the flier at this link
<https://pasadenabridgeclub.com/sites/default/files/pro-am/workshopproam2023…>and
send your information quickly.
You might draw me as a partner, but there are many better players than I
in the pool as well!
And don't forget we'll be doing this again at the Arcadia Bridge Club on
July 23
<https://pasadenabridgeclub.com/sites/default/files/over-under/OVER-UNDER.pdf>.
Sign up for that event here:
https://pasadenabridgeclub.com/contact/over_under_game
Classes meeting this week
Single class sessions are always available for $25. Here are the topics
being offered this week:
* Wednesday 7:00 PM Play of the Hand "Watching Out for the Opponents"
* Saturday 9:30 AM Bridge Basics 1 "Practice Hands"
Saturday Workshop
Every Saturday at 1:00 PM we're going to feature a short bridge topic --
bidding, play, defense, or strategy, complete with practice hands.
I'm drawing from the vast library of material available at Robert Todd's
delightful "Adventures in Bridge" web site. You can also get access to
the library free by joining at the Clubs level: https://www.advinbridge.com/
The library is so vast, that I'm having a hard time picking a list of
topics to present! If there are specific topics you'd like to see
presented (bidding, play, defense, hand evaluation, etc.) let me know!
This week, let's take a look at 3rd Seat Openings, and how you can take
advantage of opportunities you don't have in first or second seat.
After the workshop, stay for a short bridge game. Bring a partner or
pick one up at the game! One $10 card fee covers both game and workshop!
Coming Up ...
Many of our games and classes will be dark the week of July 3, while
many of us are in Long Beach playing at the Bridge Week Regional.
I'll update everyone in the next newsletter with more specifics.
The next courses starting at the bridge club will all be the week of
July 19, and it's a great lineup! See the list at
https://pasadenabridgeclub.com/available_courses
Best regards,
Mojo, Jane, Zachary
Pasadena Bridge Club Logo <https://pasadenabridgeclub.com>
News from
N Fair Oaks
Mojo
Pasadena
Bridge Club <https://pasadenabridgeclub.com>
BridgeMojo <https://bridgemojo.com>
Courses <https://pasadenabridgeclub.com/available_courses>
ABTA Master Teacher
649 N Fair Oaks Ave #201
Pasadena CA 91103
(626) 247-4457
pasadenabridgeclub.com <https://pasadenabridgeclub.com>
*Saturday afternoon's workshop* on the BBO robots was well received and
attended, along with requests for repeats. I'll be sure to bring it back
soon.
Indeed the format of having a single-topic workshop before a short game
on Saturday afternoons appears to be a winning formula.
I'll be taking requests for one-time workshop topics, and will start
this Saturday with *Help Suit Game Tries*.
Sign up on RSVP or drop me a note!
The Longest Day
June 21st is the beginning of summer in the Northern Hemisphere, and the
day bridge clubs all over North America play to support the Alzheimer's
Association.
Alzheimer's is a disease that strikes close to the heart of many of us
in the bridge world, and I can't think of a better cause for ACBL
Charities to support.
On Wednesday, our open game at 11:00 AM will be a benefit game for the
Alzheimer's Association, with an $11 card fee. The masterpoint awards
are huge, and all sanction fees collected by the ACBL that day will be
donated to the Alzheimer's Association.
I've already been taking small donations to supplement the contribution
to Alzheimer's, and I'll be happy to accept more at the club that day.
Partner with a Pro
There are two great opportunities this month to play with a "pro"
partner: Monday, July 3, at the Long Beach Regional, and Sunday, July
23, at the Arcadia Bridge Center.
The Bridge Week Regional in Long Beach always starts with a day
dedicated to new players -- there's a free workshop with Grand Life
Master Majorie Michelin at 10:30, and a game at 1:00 PM where all
novice/intermediate players will be randomly paired with a "pro"
experienced player.
We'll do much the same on Sunday, July 23, with the Peter Szesci
Memorial "Over/Under" game at the Arcadia Bridge Center. We'll gather at
12:30 PM, when you'll be randomly paired with a player who is /at least/
a Life Master, and the game will start after having some time to meet
your partner and discuss bidding.
For the July 3 Regional, find the flier at this link
<https://pasadenabridgeclub.com/sites/default/files/pro-am/workshopproam2023…>.
For the July 23 Over/Under game,find the flier at this link
<https://pasadenabridgeclub.com/sites/default/files/over-under/OVER-UNDER.pdf>.
/Be sure to registe/r for each event, using the information from the
flier. Space is limited! For the Over/Under game on July 23, you can
register at this link
<https://pasadenabridgeclub.com/contact/over_under_game>.
Classes meeting this week
Single class sessions are always available for $25. Here are the topics
being offered this week:
* Wednesday 7:00 PM Play of the Hand "Watching Out for Entries"
* Thursday 9:00 AM Popular Conventions "Practice Hands"
* Saturday 9:30 AM Bridge Basics 1 "Major Suit Openings and Responses"
Coming Up ...
The next courses starting at the bridge club will all be the week of
July 19, and it's a great lineup! See the list at
https://pasadenabridgeclub.com/available_courses
Best regards,
Mojo, Jane, Zachary
