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>
October is Club Appreciation Month. The ACBL expresses its appreciation
by awarding what are essentially "club championship" masterpoint levels
for two weeks with no extra charge.
This week and next all of our Open Pairs games will be Club Appreciation
games. Come play and rack up points!
We also have two dynamite courses starting up this week. On Wednesday
evening, Popular Conventions (Bridge Basics 3), and on Thursday evenings
Intro to Defense.
The Bridge Basics 1 course on Wednesday afternoon had 22 new students.
Our next Bridge Basics 1 will start in April on Thursday evenings.
We had a lot of big winners during the STaC week! You can see the
district-wide overall results for each session
<https://tournaments.acbl.org/schedule.php?sanction=2510502#schedule> at
this link.
NAP District Final
The Pasadena Bridge Club is hosting the North American Pairs District
Final on Sunday, October 26. You might recall that we held qualifier
games for this event during June, July, and August. Did you qualify?
<https://web2.acbl.org/documentLibrary/play/NAP_Qualifiers/NAP_D23.htm>
With the new A flight capped at 6,000 masterpoints, there are more
opportunities to qualify to a national game. Since I'm no longer NAP
coordinator, I'm looking forward to getting to play in the event. Maybe
I'll get to represent District 23 in St. Louis in March.
All of the NAP information is available here: https://nap.bridgemojo.com/
The October 26 event is a two-session matchpoint pairs game, with the
two sessions starting at 10:00 and 3:00. Be sure to get your reservation
in as soon as you can! Here's the reservation link
<https://pasadenabridgeclub.com/contact/reservation_for_nap_final>.
Start a bridge course!
Register at this link
<https://pasadenabridgeclub.com/contact/course_enrollment> to join
either Popular Conventions
<https://pasadenabridgeclub.com/course/popular-conventions> on Wednesday
evenings or Intro to Defense
<https://pasadenabridgeclub.com/course/intro-to-defense> on Thursday
evenings. (Click the links for full course descriptions.)
If you're not sure you want to take the full course, try the first
session for $25. If you decide to enroll, get credit for the single session.
Classes This Week
For all of our courses, you're welcome to join a single class for $25.
It's a great way to get a good bite of a subject without a six-week
commitment.
* Wednesday, 3:00 PM, /Bridge Basics 1 - Introduction/ "One notrump
openings and responses"
* Wednesday, 7:00 PM /Bridge Basics 3 - Popular Conventions/ "The
Stayman Convention"
* Thursday, 7:00 PM /Intro to Defense/ "Opening leads against notrump"
Don't forget the Saturday morning *workshop and game* for
novice/intermediate players. We start with a free workshop at 9:30
featuring an entertaining hand from Eddie Kantar's "Thinking Bridge"
series. You're welcome to come for the workshop even if you're not
planning to play in the game.
Coming up ...
On Wednesday, October 29, we'll host a game in the *ACBL-wide Instant
Matchpoint Pairs*, a very special annual event! For every hand and
result, you get your matchpoint percentage immediately after playing the
hand. At the end of the session, there's a special booklet with analysis
from a guest expert on every board.
It's a unique way to play a club game, and our results will be compared
with other clubs in the district and the ACBL. Big games have the
potential for a big district or national point award! Card fees for the
Instant Matchpoint Game will be $14.
I do have a little update on my health situation, and it's all good
news. I have a surgery date of November 20. The lung mass has retreated
noticeably, and we're going to skip the third chemo. I have plenty of
time to recover from the side effects that sidelined me for a while, and
get to enjoy spending some time with you all at the bridge club for the
next month. I'm still not 100%, but getting closer! Thanks so much for
all the good wishes and support!
Best regards,
Mojo, Jane, Zachary, Lisa, Susan
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>
Silver point week! Lulu Minter! New courses! But first ...
I just finished the new novel /A Reluctant Spy/ by good friend of the
club Roselyn Teukolsky. (She and Saul won the Pasadena Unit Game today.)
It's a great adventure of a read. I loved getting to see Ithaca and
Cornell academia through the eyes of Roselyn and her characters. I
cringed through her heroine's many fumbles and missteps, and enjoyed the
twists and turns along the way to a crescendo of a climax. Well worth a
read!
Meanwhile we have new bridge courses starting up next week. I'm going to
follow up this newsletter with one to our "classes" email list with
details. You might get two emails from me today.
Silver Point Week
All Open Pairs games this week will pay silver points. Our games will be
combined with other clubs in LA County for potentially large payouts for
overall winners! It's a Sectional Tournament at Clubs (STaC).
Card fees for the open games will be $13 to cover the addtional sanction
fees. Stratification for all open STaC games will be Open/2500/750,
based on the average point holding of each pair.
Free Lulu Minter Seminars
Monday, Wednesday and Thursday mornings Lulu Minter will be offering
free pre-game talks at 10:00 before the 11:00 Open Pairs games.
His topic for all three sessions will be "Bridge Problems, Thinking
Outside the Box"
No reservations required, doors will open at 9:45 on all three days.
Bridge Basics 1 - Introduction Oct 8
Our first weekday offering of Bridge Basics 1 has 19 students enrolled
as of this moment. We limit the course to 28, so it's a good time to
have your friends reserve their seats as soon as they can!
Here's the registration link at PCC Extension
<https://pasadena.augusoft.net/index.cfm?method=ClassInfo.ClassInformation&i…>.
Popular Conventions Oct 15
Here's a six-week course to learn and practice the most useful bidding
conventions in bridge: Stayman, Jacoby Transfer Bids, strong Hand
openings, and slam bidding. This is Bridge Basics 3.
* Wednesday evenings, 7-9 PM
* Six sessions starting October 15
* $120 includes textbook by Audrey Grant
* Click here for the full description
<https://pasadenabridgeclub.com/course/popular-conventions>
* Click here to reserve your seat
<https://pasadenabridgeclub.com/contact/course_enrollment>
Intro to Defense Oct 16
This course may well have more positive impact on your game than any
other we offer. Come learn how to work with your partner to take as many
tricks as possible on defense. Learn to visualize the placement of key
cards and communicate with partner when you can't see each other's cards.
* Thursday evenings, 7-9 PM
* Six sessions starting October 16
* $120 includes textbook by Eddie Kantar
* Click here for the full description
<https://pasadenabridgeclub.com/course/intro-to-defense>
* Click here to reserve your seat
<https://pasadenabridgeclub.com/contact/course_enrollment>
Classes This Week
For all of our courses, you're welcome to join a single class for $25.
It's a great way to get a good bite of a subject without a six-week
commitment.
This week we really only have one session, but it's very worthy of a
drop-in! This is a makeup session for Bridge Basics 2, and it's a great
opportunity to learn and practice competitive bidding skills.
* Thursday, 7:00 PM, /Bridge Basics 2 - Competitive Bidding/ "Practice
Hands"
I am also planning a makeup session on Friday at 3:00 PM for practice
hands for Two Over One Game Force. If you'd like to drop in for that
session, drop me a note.
Coming up ...
Our next two weeks of games following the STaC will be Club Appreciation
games, with lots of extra masterpoints and overall awards for every open
game.
On Sunday October 26, the club will be hosting the North American Pairs
District Final. It's a full-day two-session event. If you qualified at a
club game, make your reservation to play and get information here:
https://nap.bridgemojo.com/
On Wednesday, October 29, we'll host a game in the ACBL-wide Instant
Matchpoint Pairs, a very special annual event! More about that in a
future newsletter.
Personal health wise, I'm in a little bit of a holding pattern for the
next two or three weeks, and expecting to use this time to be active at
the club teaching classes and directing.
Best regards,
Mojo, Jane, Zachary, Lisa, Susan
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 think it's high time I wrote a newsletter. October is a great month
for bridge games and classes. More about my status down below.
As of the end of September, in checking our table count among
face-to-face clubs in North America, the Pasadena Bridge Club is ranked
number 51, with 2,242 tables. That count only includes tables in
sanctioned masterpoint games, so if you were to add our classes and
casual bridge sessions it would be quite a bit more. I think we'll break
into the top 50 by the end of the year!
We have a great location, a great staff, and a great program for bridge!
This week features our regular club games and schedule, but let's take a
look at what's coming up the rest of the month:
Sectional Tournament at Clubs Oct 6-11
All Open Pairs games next coming week, October 6-11 will be silver point
games. Our club will be pooling with the other Los Angeles County bridge
clubs for a Sectional Tournament at Clubs (STaC).
Stratification for all open STaC games will be Open/2500/750, based on
the average point holding of each pair.
With many clubs playing sessions, there potential is there for big
silver point awards! Card fees for the STaC games will be $13.
Lulu Minter Seminars Oct 6, 8, 9
Monday, Wednesday and Thursday mornings next week, October 6, 8, and 9,
Lulu Minter will be offering free pre-game talks at 10:00 before the
11:00 Open Pairs games.
His topic for all three sessions will be "Bridge Problems, Thinking
Outside the Box"
The games those days will all be silver point STaC games, so these talks
should be a great way to get into focus for the 11:00 Open Pairs!
No reservations required, doors will open at 9:45 on all three days.
Bridge Basics 1 - Introduction Oct 8
This fall marks our first "daylight" offering of Bridge Basics 1 in
quite a while. This is the starting point for those who don't play
bridge, and a great way to get familiar with the mechanics and strategy
of the game.
This is our only course that's offered through Pasadena City College's
Extension program. You'll see it listed in every issue of the PCC
Extension catalog that lands in mailboxes three or four times a year.
There are already 15 students enrolled! Registration should be made
through PCC Extension, and best done online at this link
<https://pasadena.augusoft.net/index.cfm?method=ClassInfo.ClassInformation&i…>.
The course is limited to 28 students.
Classes This Week
This week we'll be meeting our fifth session of Two Over One Game Force
and Bridge Basics 2 - Competitive Bidding. Those two classes are running
a week behind because of having to cancel last week's classes. Make-up
sessions will be held the following week.
For all of our courses, you're welcome to join a single class for $25.
It's a great way to get a good bite of a subject without a six-week
commitment.
All three classes are great practice hand sessions, making them dynamite
for single-session drop-in practice!
* Wednesday, 3:00 PM, /Two Over One Game Force/ "Practice Hands"
* Wednesday, 7:00 PM, /Bridge Basics 2 - Competitive Bidding/
"Practice Hands"
* Thursday, 7:00 PM, /Bridge Basics 4 - Play of the Deal/ "Practice Hands"
Our next courses will be:
* Bridge Basics 3 - Popular Conventions, Wed. Oct 15 7:00 PM
* Introduction to Defense, Thu. Oct. 16 7:00 PM
You can enroll for those at this link
<https://pasadenabridgeclub.com/contact/course_enrollment>.
Coming up ...
October is Club Appreciation Month at the ACBL, and all of our games
during October 13-25 will be Club Appreciation games. These pay extra
masterpoints with overalls, similar to Club Championship games, and come
with no extra card fee!
On Sunday October 26, the club will be hosting the North American Pairs
District Final. It's a full-day two-session event. If you qualified at a
club game, make your reservation to play and get information here:
https://nap.bridgemojo.com/
On Wednesday, October 29, we'll host a game in the ACBL-wide Instant
Matchpoint Pairs, a very special annual event! More about that in a
future newsletter.
Mojo update
Most of you know I had to spend six nights at Kaiser's LA Medical Center
last week, admitted and discharged on Wednesdays. The problem was a rare
side-effect of the immunotherapy treatment I've been receiving for my
lung cancer.
The good news is that we appear to have gotten it under control without
any other undue risks, but my poor oncologist is going to have to make a
revised plan for the cancer treatment. That's still pending.
I'm gradually making my way back to more time at the bridge club,
knowing I'll have other interruptions coming up with chemo and surgery.
We'll just have to take those as they come.
Meanwhile, I think you'll agree that the club has been in excellent
hands with everyone pitching in to keep the games and classes running
smoothly. My gratitude to Zachary, Lisa, Susan Kane, Milo Sketeris, and
everyone who has helped sharpen pencils, push in chairs, and pick up
trash around the club. Thank you!
But special thanks to my beloved wife Jane who has had to do all of the
chores at home (literally the "heavy lifting"), bring me some
non-hospital treats every day, and has been driving me to and from the
bridge club and doctor visits!
Best regards,
Mojo, Jane, Zachary, Lisa, Susan
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>
So much going on this week! Three new bridge courses starting, NAP
Qualifier games, and a new seminar series from Lulu Minter.
Let's get right to it!
Three great free seminars
Monday, Wednesday and Thursday mornings this week, Lulu Minter will be
offering free pre-game talks at 10:00 before the 11:00 Open Pairs games.
These were a big hit last year!
Here are the topics:
* Monday, Aug. 25: "NT opening and beyond"
* Wednesday, Aug. 27: "Do's and Don't's"
* Thursday, Aug. 28: "More Do's and Don't's"
No reservations required! Just come and join the group in the classroom
at 10:00 AM.
NAP Qualifier week
This is the last week to qualify for this year's North American Pairs
district final game. The district final will be on Sunday October 26. To
play in the final, you need to qualify in an NAP Qualifier club game.
These games pay large masterpoint awards, 50% red masterpoints. The
extra $1 card fee goes to help support sending our District 23 finalists
to the national North American Pairs championships at the spring NABC in
St. Louis.
Classes Next Week
For all of our courses, you're welcome to join a single class for $25.
It's a great way to get a good bite of a subject without a six-week
commitment.
All three courses are having their first session this week.
* Wednesday, 3:00 PM, /Two Over One Game Force/ "Introduction"
* Wednesday, 7:00 PM, /Bridge Basics 2 - Competitive Bidding/
"Preemptive Opening Bids"
* Thursday, 7:00 PM, /Bridge Basics 4 - Play of the Deal/ "Play of the
Deal at Notrump"
Club Schedule for Sectional
There will be no regular club or unit games on Saturday or Sunday,
August 23-24. Instead, the club will be hosting the Pasadena Sectional
Tournament. They're holding two Pairs games on Saturday, and a full-day
Team swiss game on Sunday.
*In addition, so we can set up the club and the Community Room, Friday
afternoon social/supervised play is cancelled!*
Coming up ...
PCC Extension has published their fall catalog, including "Bridge
Introduction" on Wednesday afternoons at 3:00 PM starting October 8.
This is our first time to offer Bridge Introduction during daylight
hours! Get out the word for a big turnout.
Best regards,
Mojo, Jane, Zachary, Lisa
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>
We have three new courses starting up at the end of August, providing
some great opportunities to level-up your bridge game.
This newsletter goes to both our News and Classes lists. If you're only
on the classes list, but would like to get the weekly newsletter, drop
me a note!
Bridge Basics 2 - Competitive Bidding
Yes, this is the follow-up to Bridge Basics 1, but it's arguably the
most powerful course in the curriculum for anyone playing in tournament
or club games. Learn how to use the scoring table to your advantage and
get your best results, taking advantage of new bidding language
available when both sides are in the auction.
* Six Wednesday evenings, 7:00 - 9:00 PM, starting Aug 27
* $120 includes textbook by Audrey Grant
* Full lesson plan here
<https://pasadenabridgeclub.com/course/competitive-bidding>
* Register for the course here
<https://pasadenabridgeclub.com/contact/course_enrollment>
Bridge Basics 4 - Play of the Deal
While the language of bidding changes quickly over time, the skills
involved in playing the deal are unchanged. The new textbook by Audrey
Grant won "Beginner Book of the Year" awarded by the American Bridge
Teachers Association this year!
* Six Thursday evenings, 7:00 - 9:00 PM, starting Aug 28
* $120 includes textbook by Audrey Grant
* Full lesson plan here
<https://pasadenabridgeclub.com/course/play-of-the-deal>
* Register for the course here
<https://pasadena.augusoft.net/index.cfm?method=ClassInfo.ClassInformation&i…>
Two Over One Game Force
Learn the patterns and idioms of the bidding system that's currently the
most popular and successful among tournament and club players at all
levels. With one tweak to Standard American bidding, you'll find
yourself better able to find the right game and better slam contracts.
/Take advantage of our daylight Wednesday class schedule!/
* Six Wednesday afternoons, 3:00 - 5:00 PM, starting Aug 27
* $130 includes textbook by Grant and Rodwell
* Full lesson plan here
<https://pasadenabridgeclub.com/course/two_over_one_game_force>
* Register for the course here
<https://pasadenabridgeclub.com/contact/course_enrollment>
Classes This Week
This week we have great opportunities to practice play at two levels.
Both sessions are practice hands for their topics! These are delightful
single-session opportunities.
* Wednesday, 7:00 PM, /Bridge Basics 1 - Introduction/
* Thursday, 7:00 PM, /Bridge Basics 3 - Popular Conventions/
For all of our courses, you're welcome to join a single class for $25.
It's a great way to get a good bite of a subject without a six-week
commitment.
Join us *every Saturday morning* for a free workshop at 9:30, whether
you stay for the game or not! We'll study a hand from Eddie Kantar's
/Thinking Bridge/ series. Each hand has interesting bidding, play, and
defense to learn from.
Coming up ...
The *Pasadena Sectional tournament* will take over the bridge club on
the weekend of August 23-24. That will affect the club's schedule in two
ways:
* Saturday games on the 23rd will be canceled
* Friday afternoon's social/supervised session will be canceled to set
up the tournament.
This month includes your last chance to qualify for this year's North
American Pairs District Final at the club level. All of our Open Pairs
games August 25-31 will be NAP Qualifier games.
Students are /already enrolling/ for the *next Bridge Basics 1 course*,
starting October 8, on Wednesday afternoons at 3:00 PM. This is our
first time to offer the course on a daylight schedule! Click here to
register
<https://pasadena.augusoft.net/index.cfm?method=ClassInfo.ClassInformation&i…>
for the course with PCC Extension.
Best regards,
Mojo, Jane, Zachary, Lisa
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>
Jane and I had a wonderful trip to Philadelphia. The ABTA convention
went well, and it's always fun to play in the Summer NABC. The second
week of the Summer nationals includes the Youth NABC, and many of the
junior players come early to spend the week playing in the open games.
Unfortunately I had to return Tuesday evening to spend my Wednesday at
Kaiser getting my first treatment for lung cancer.
I'll never know what caused it, and I was never a smoker. Since my
pneumonia last year, we've been watching for it to clear up and it never
did. A biopsy confirmed it, and we started on a plan.
It's a non-small cell adenocarcinoma, and they got all the genetic
markers they could for tailoring the chemo and immunotherapy. It's a
common variety, and the PET scan gave no signs that it's spread to any
lymph nodes so far.
I have three days of combined chemo/immuno therapy, each separated by
three weeks of down time. The only side effect I've experienced so far
is a bit of fatigue, and all the literature encourages me to get
exercise and stay active during this period.
(There is the fact that my white cell and platelets counts will be
depressed during this period. I'd very much like to urge you to stay
home from the bridge club if you are not feeling well! I will be wearing
a mask when I'm working, and I appreciate your understanding!)
After that, I get a lobotomy! By that I mean they'll take out the lowest
lobe of my right lung. 🙂 That will require a few weeks of recovery.
It's going to be an interesting adventure. The tech they have now is
amazing. The expectation is that the treatment and surgery will be
"curative."
In the meantime, I'm very lucky to have Zachary, Lisa, and Susan to help
cover games and classes. Lisa and I will be covering for Zachary over
the next couple of weeks while he visits his dad who's going through
something very similar.
Classes Next Week
For all of our courses, you're welcome to join a single class for $25.
It's a great way to get a good bite of a subject without a six-week
commitment.
We have two courses in progress: /Bridge Basics 1 - Introduction/ on
Wednesday evenings, and /Bridge Basics 3 - Popular Conventions/ on
Thursday evening. Here are the sessions for next week, August 6-7:
This week's classes:
* Wedesday 7:00 PM, "Practice Hands" /Bridge Basics 1 - Introduction/
* Thursday 7:00 PM, "Slam Bidding and Blackwood" /Bridge Basics 3 -
Popular Conventions/
Join us *every Saturday morning* for a free workshop at 9:30, whether
you stay for the game or not! We'll study a hand from Eddie Kantar's
/Thinking Bridge/ series. Each hand has interesting bidding, play, and
defense to learn from.
Coming up ...
Last chance to qualify for the North American Pairs District Final will
be all of our Open Pairs games Monday-Saturday, August 25-30.
PCC Extension has published their fall catalog, including "Bridge
Introduction" on Wednesday afternoons at 3:00 PM starting October 8.
This is our first time to offer Bridge Introduction during daylight
hours! Get out the word for a big turnout.
Best regards,
Mojo, Jane, Zachary, Lisa
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>
It was /grand/ seeing so many of our players doing well at the Bridge
Week Regional! We had some big rank changes. You can have a great time
perusing the results on ACBL Live here
<https://live.acbl.org/events/2507114>.
Our *Bridge Basics 1 class* filled very quickly with 25 students
attending on Wednesday evenings.
If you're interested in helping out new bridge students, I have a couple
of things: I always need three people to be on standby to help fill an
empty seat at a table. You basically become another student in the
class. Recent class students are the best for this!
I'm also interested to know if anyone would be interested in hosting
practice sessions with Bridge Basics 1 students. (Jane Winer has been
doing this to great effect over the past year!) The ideal time is
probably a weekend morning, but almost any time can be made to work.
Again, someone who recently attended the class is a perfect host.
New courses start this week!
Wednesday afternoon at 3:00 we'll start /Improving Your Judgment -
Doubles <https://pasadenabridgeclub.com/course/iyj_doubles>/. Thursday
evening at 7:00 starts /Bridge Basics 3 - Popular Conventions
<https://pasadenabridgeclub.com/course/popular-conventions>/. Follow
either of those links for a complete lesson plan and course description.
To save your seat in either new course, visit the class enrollment form
here <https://pasadenabridgeclub.com/contact/course_enrollment>. Each
course meets for six weeks, and comes with a great textbook included
with the full course.
Royal STaC This Week
This week the clubs in District 23 (Los Angeles County) will all be
playing the same hands, and pooling their results in a Sectional
Tournament at Clubs (STaC).
This one is the variety called a "Royal" STaC. At the end of the week,
The ACBL will convert all of the masterpoints into 25% black, 25% red,
25% silver, and 25% gold masterpoints.
Card fees for the open games will be $13 this week, or one punch from a
card and $1 extra.
Classes This Week
For all of our courses, you're welcome to join a single class for $25.
It's a great way to get a good bite of a subject without a six-week
commitment.
This week's classes:
* Wednesday 3:00 PM, "The Takeout Double" /Improving Your Judgment -
Doubles/
* Wedesday 7:00 PM, "One notrump opening bids and responses" /Bridge
Basics 1 - Introduction/
* Thursday 7:00 PM, "The Stayman Convention" /Bridge Basics 3 -
Popular Conventions/
Join us *every Saturday morning* for a free workshop at 9:30, whether
you stay for the game or not! We'll study a hand from Eddie Kantar's
/Thinking Bridge/ series. Each hand has interesting bidding, play, and
defense to learn from.
Coming up ...
We have a very special game on *Wednesday July 16*, the Summer Instant
Matchpoint Game. Get assigned your matchpoints at the table with each
hand. I think there is a full gold point available for winners in that game!
This month I'll be traveling to Philadelphia from July 19 through 29.
I'll be presiding over the annual convention of the American Bridge
Teacher's Association (ABTA) and playing for a few days at the North
American Bridge Championships. I usually grab some of the teachers to
play in sessions at the tournament.
July 21-26 will be our second NAP Qualifier week. Come play for 50%
black 50% red masterpoints, and get your "Q" qualifier to compete in the
district final for the North American Pairs!
Best regards,
Mojo, Jane, Zachary, Lisa
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>
"The Longest Day" fundraiser event on June 21 was a great success! The
tip jar for additional contributions was very full at the end of the day.
We collected about $380 in the tip jar, and the bridge club is rounding
up for a $500 contribution to Alzheimer's, in addition to the extra card
fee contributed by the ACBL.
We have some great course sessions starting up for the summer! I know
it's a time when folks might plan vacations or other travel, but if
you're around, it's a great time to level-up your bridge game!
Bridge Basics 1 - Introduction
Our introductory bridge class is offered through PCC's Extension
program. The students register through PCC Extension (Pasadena City
College), but attend the class at the Pasadena Bridge Club.
We have another great turnout for the course! There's still room if you
have friends or family interested in learning to play our favorite game.
* Wednesday evenings 7-9 PM, starting July 2
* Six classes, skipping July 23
* Course fee $85, plus $15 for the textbook
* Register with PCC Extension at this link
<https://pasadena.augusoft.net/index.cfm?method=ClassInfo.ClassInformation&i…>
Bridge Basics 3 - Popular Conventions
Learn the bidding tools and language most useful for playing games in
the club or anywhere: Stayman, Jacoby Transfer Bids, strong 2-club
openings, and slam bidding.
* Thursday evenings, 7-9 PM, starting July 10
* Six classes, skipping July 24
* Course fee $120 includes textbook by Audrey Grant
* Register at this link
<https://pasadenabridgeclub.com/contact/course_enrollment>
Improving Your Judgment - Doubles
This course is all about takeout doubles - making them, responding to
them, and figuring out where to go from there.
The takeout double is easily the most flexible and powerful call you can
make at the table. New players need to hunt for them and use them more!
This course will help you do that.
* Wednesday afternoons, 3-5 PM, starting July 9
* Six classes, skipping July 23
* Course fee $120 includes textbook by Audrey Grant
* Register at this link
<https://pasadenabridgeclub.com/contact/course_enrollment>
Classes This Week
There's only one class being held this week, but it's a doozy!
On *Wednesday July 2 at 3:00 PM*, I'll be hosting the final class in
Introduction to Defense. The class is on *"second hand play,"* how to
think about the card you play immediately after declarer leads from
their hand or the dummy. Aside from opening leads, it's probably the
easiest place to make the wrong choice!
Join the class on Wednesday for $25 and improve your defense in two hours!
STaC games July 7-12
For all Open Pairs games Monday through Saturday we'll be participating
in the District 23 "Royal STaC." This is an event where the masterpoint
awards are converted to 25% each black, silver, red, and gold points.
Our open games will be combined with other open games in the district
for big overall awards. All of the clubs will be playing the same hands
at each session. Card fee will be $13 for that week.
Closure for regional
In honor of the July 4th holiday, and the Bridge Week Regional in Long
Beach, the bridge club will be *closed Thursday July 3 through Sunday
July 6*. Zachary, Lisa, and I will be in Long Beach playing in the
tournament. Hope to see you there!
Coming up ...
We have a very special game on *Wednesday July 16*, the Summer Instant
Matchpoint Game. Get assigned your matchpoints at the table with each
hand. I think there is a full gold point available for winners in that game!
This month I'll be traveling to Philadelphia from July 19 through 29.
I'll be presiding over the annual convention of the American Bridge
Teacher's Association (ABTA) and playing for a few days at the North
American Bridge Championships. I usually grab some of the teachers to
play in sessions at the tournament.
July 21-26 will be our second NAP Qualifier week. Come play for 50%
black 50% red masterpoints, and get your "Q" qualifier to compete in the
district final for the North American Pairs!
Best regards,
Mojo, Jane, Zachary, Lisa
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>
All the feedback I've received so far has been positive on the addition
of "Opening Lead" to the game results. While we can't capture the
auction and play of the hand in club games currently, being able to see
the opening lead chosen is a pretty big deal.
NAP Qualifying
The first stage of the North American Pairs begins at local clubs, with
games that qualify players to the district final. These are also great
games for masterpoint awards and competition.
This week is the first of three weeks of NAP qualifier games at the
Pasadena Bridge Club. (There will also be games in the third week of
July and August.)
I'm expecting players from around Los Angeles to make the trip to
Pasadena to get their "Q" for the district final, hoping to move on to
the nationals! Card fees for the open games will be $13 during NAP
Qualifiers.
The Longest Day
ACBL clubs support the Alzheimer's Association every year with games and
activities for The Longest Day benefit. We're planning to hold our games
on June 21, very close to the actual longest day of the year.
The Saturday morning and afternoon games will both be Alzheimer's
benefit games. Card fees will be $13, and our charity games always come
with enhanced masterpoint awards!
Closure for regional
In honor of the July 4th holiday, and the Bridge Week Regional in Long
Beach, the bridge club will be *closed Thursday July 3 through Sunday
July 6*. Zachary, Lisa, and I will be in Long Beach playing in the
tournament. Hope to see you there!
Classes This Week
If you see a topic for a class that interests you, you can always drop
in for a single class for $25 without committing to an entire course.
This week's classes:
* Wednesday, June 18, 3:00 PM /Introduction to Defense/ "Signals
against notrump contracts"
* Thursday, June 19, 7:00 PM /Bridge Basics 2 - Competitive Bidding/
"Practice Hands"
Every Saturday morning at 9:30, we have a free workshop using a hand
from Eddie Kantar's /Thinking Bridge/ series. Every entertaining hand
teaches players how to think about problems in bidding, play, and defense.
Our next classes will be /Improving Your Judgment - Doubles/ on
Wednesday afternoon, /Bridge Basics 1 - Introductio/n on Wednesday
evening, and /Bridge Basics 3 - Popular Conventions/ on Thursday
evenings. More about those next week!
This fall in October we'll be offering /Bridge Basics 1 - Introduction/
during the Wednesday 3:00 PM class session. Our first daylight offering
of the class! It could turn out to be popular.
Coming up ...
/Bridge Basics 1 - Introduction/ will start up again on Wednesday
evening, July 2. The course is open for registration now, through PCC
Extension. You or your friends can register online at this link
<https://pasadena.augusoft.net/index.cfm?method=ClassInfo.ClassInformation&i…>.
Next week: Club championship games! All of the open games will pay extra
masterpoints, and no additional card fee.
And finally, believe it or not, there will be a bridge tournament right
next door in the community room by the bridge club! Our good friends at
the ABA are holding a "Grade A" Tournament on July 18-20, Friday through
Sunday. I'm really looking forward to having their event nearby and
pledged any assistance I can in terms of supplies and help. Welcome them
to the neighborhood! I'll post their flier on the bulletin board.
Best regards,
Mojo, Jane, Zachary, Lisa
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>
Liza Billington brings an interesting story from playing bridge in Santa
Cruz, CA, this past month.
She reported that the club turns on a feature in the Bridgemates that
lets you *record the opening lead* for every contract. The opening leads
appear in the game results for each hand. For an example see the game
results from one of their games at this link
<https://my.acbl.org/club-results/details/1243431>.
I'm going to try it at a game this week, and see what you all think. I
think it'll be fun. Choosing an effective opening lead is one of the
most important factors in improving your game results. Let me know if
you have an opinion!
Zachary is taking a family vacation next week June 8, so Lisa and I will
be covering the games and workshops on the schedule.
Special games coming in June
*North American Pairs Qualifying games*: We'll be holding games for one
week each in June, July, and August. This month the games will be Monday
through Friday, the 11:00 AM Open Pairs, June 16-20. NAP games pay big
points as well as qualify players to the NAP District Final. Card fees $13.
*The Longest Day Benefit for Alzheimer's*: Saturday, June 21, our novice
game and Open Pairs games will be part of the annual "Longest Day"
benefit held in June every year. Games pay big masterpoint awards, and
the extra card fee goes to benefit Alzheimer's Association.
*Club Championship games*: All games the week of June 23-28 will be Club
Championship games. These come with no extra card fee, but pay lots of
extra points, almost equivalent to a Unit Game, with overalls awarded.
Classes This Week
If you see a topic for a class that interests you, you can always drop
in for a single class for $25 without committing to an entire course.
*Mojo's pick* for this week: Thursday evening's class in Competitive
Bidding can have a dramatic effect on your game results. We'll introduce
negative doubles (also called responder's doubles), and talk about how
things change when the auction becomes competitive.
This week's classes:
* Wednesday, June 4, 3:00 PM /Introduction to Defense/ "Opening Leads
against Trump Contracts"
* Thursday, June 5, 7:00 PM /Bridge Basics 2 - Competitive Bidding/
"The Competitive Auction"
Every Saturday morning at 9:30, we have a free workshop using a hand
from Eddie Kantar's /Thinking Bridge/ series. Every entertaining hand
teaches players how to think about problems in bidding, play, and defense.
Coming up ...
The big Bridge Week regional in Long Beach starts on Monday, June 30. At
this time we're planning to close the bridge club on Thursday and
Friday, July 3 and 4. We may also close on Saturday July 5. (I'm not
sure if the Unit Game will be held on July 6.)
/Bridge Basics 1 - Introduction/ will start up again on Wednesday
evening, July 2. The course is open for registration now, through PCC
Extension. You or your friends can register online at this link
<https://pasadena.augusoft.net/index.cfm?method=ClassInfo.ClassInformation&i…>.
Best regards,
Mojo, Jane, Zachary
