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
In the newsletter I said: "Each team of four players (two partnerships)
should have fewer than eight points."
What I actually meant is "eight or fewer," i.e., "Eight is enough." :)
Lots of teams are forming up, but I you can also sign up with a partner
if you like as a twosome, and we can make teams from those folks!
Experienced pairs are looking for newcomer teammates!
We'll find partners for single players too.
Mojo
--
build message
Morris "Mojo" Jones
mojo(a)PasadenaBridgeClub.com
https://PasadenaBridgeClub.com <https://pasadenabridgeclub.com>
Pasadena Bridge Club <https://pasadenabridgeclub.com>
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's been an amazing December at the bridge club. Just today we had 13
tables for a regular Tuesday club game, after 9 tables for the Monday game.
This is the second week of the Gold for Good event. I think several of
our players scored a little gold over the week.
The unit also hosted a splendid holiday party with 13 tables of open
players and five tables of newer players, many attending their first
ever event like that one.
New Year's Eve Teams
This is a very different bridge club from the one last New Year's Eve,
when we had eight teams compete in a Swiss Team tournament. About half
of the teams were new players in their first ever team tournament. There
were very few experienced players.
I've set the "Eight is enough" points to try and make sure that our
newer bridge players get an opportunity to team with an experienced
pair. (Unlike the "over/under" game, you can pick your own partner and
play with a friendly face across the table.)
Here's how it goes. Each player is assigned a number of points based on
their current masterpoint holding. Here's how the points are assigned:
* 3 points: Players over 1,000 masterpoints
* 2 points: Players from 200 - 1,000 masterpoints
* 1 point: Players with fewer than 200 masterpoints
Each team of four players (two partnerships) should have fewer than
eight points.
If we can't make teams from this group, we might have to bend a little
here and there, but I think it will work out.
/You don't have to form a team yourself,/ although you may. If you have
a partnership that would like to play, or are a single looking for a
team, Zachary and I will do our best to put together teammates. You can
sign up on RSVP as a pair or even an individual looking for a team, or
drop me a note <https://pasadenabridgeclub.com/contact/game_reservation>
and I'll add you to the list.
This will be a wine and cheese New Year's Eve party. We'll start about
12:00 Noon (actually 11:59 AM so it will be a "morning" game by the
ACBL). Swiss Teams takes a bit longer to play, but it includes plenty of
social time. We should be finished by 4:30 at the latest.
Kantar Declaring Classes
The last two of the Kantar classes are Wednesday and Thursday evenings.
Each class stands alone, and are $25 each. We had three tables or more
for each class last week, and the "aha!" moments were precious. This week:
* Wed Dec 18: The avoidance play
* Thu Dec 19: Ducking plays at suit contracts
Doors open at 6:30, and class starts at 7:00. If you're not on the list
and planning to come, please let me know
<https://pasadenabridgeclub.com/contact/contact_the_bridge_club>.
Coming up ...
Two great courses in January! "Play of the Deal," Audrey Grant's newest
addition to the Bridge Basics series on Wednesday evenings. Thursday
will be "Competitive Bidding," probably the most effective course in the
catalog to improve you're score at the club games. Reserve your seat
<https://pasadenabridgeclub.com/contact/course_enrollment> in either class.
The next Bridge Basics 1 - Introduction course will be on Thursday
evenings starting April 3.
Best regards,
Mojo, Jane, Zachary
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>
Great things at the bridge club this week! We've had lots of big games
this past week. I think everyone is enjoying getting out in December and
spending the day at the bridge club!
Gold for good
This week is the first of two weeks available for the ACBL's ingenious
charity event "Gold for Good." Here's how you do it:
* Register for the week for $30 with the ACBL:
https://www.acbl.org/portfolio/goldforgood/
* Play in two or more "Open Pairs" events at any bridge club (at least
one face-to-face game) during the week, Monday through Saturday
That's it. You can play with different partners. Your partner doesn't
need to be registered. Pay the usual $12 card fee (or one card punch) at
the club.
At the end of the week, the ACBL will gather your two best games from
the week. Your result is pooled with all of the other GfG participants
in North America, and the top 25% will be awarded gold points!
*The deadline to register for the first week is midnight tonight (Sunday)!*
Club championship week
Let's play Club Championship games all week! Tons of black points, and
maybe some of us will earn a little gold as well, in the Gold for Good
event.
Kantar lessons this week
This week on Wednesday and Thursday evening we'll have two single-topic
lessons. Each class is $25, or join all four (including next week) for $85.
These will all be focused on "play of the hand" topics, taken from an
enormous library of lessons from the late great Eddie Kantar. Here is
the schedule:
* Wed Dec 11: Entries
* Thu Dec 12: Loser on loser plays
* Wed Dec 18: The avoidance play
* Thu Dec 19: Ducking plays at suit contracts
All classes will start at 7:00 PM.
"Black Friday" sale
Get 5-game punch cards good for any regular game at the bridge club for
$55. You can buy up to three. Cards never expire. Sale ends December 31.
Coming up ...
Next Sunday is the Unit Holiday Party with a great luncheon at the
Arcadia Community Center. We'll be hosting about 17 tables in two
sections: Open Pairs and 299er Pairs (similar to the Saturday morning
games). You should already have your reservations! You can pre-pay the
$30 fee at the Pasadena Bridge Club by credit card any time this week,
if you like. (No credit cards at the venue.)
Linda Lucas is looking for a partner for the 299er game at the Holiday
Party. Here's a chance to join in!
On Tuesday, December 31, we'll have a New Year's Eve party, with wine,
cheese, and bridge. It will be a Swiss Team event in the "Eight is
enough" format, much like last year's event. I haven't yet settled on
the "1-2-3" divisions. I'll do that this week. We'll open at 12:00,
start bridge at 12:30, and be finished about 4:30.
Best regards,
Mojo, Jane, Zachary
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>
I had a great time in Las Vegas playing in the North American Bridge
Championships. I had two great days of bridge, and didn't come home with
any big finishes. It was great hearing about the impact the Pasadena
Bridge Club has had from friends near and far.
Audrey Grant was dining next to us at one of the restaurants. She told
me how excited she was about what we're doing, and I was able to
introduce her to several of our folks who were also dining nearby.
Group with Audrey Grant
Lisa Walker, Audrey Grant, Karmen Armoudjian, Mojo and Jane
I might have a new slogan for the bridge club, "The little club that
thinks it's a big club." 🙂
December has several special events to tell you about.
Kantar on Declarer Play
On Wednesday and Thursday evenings, Dec, 11, 12, 18, and 19, I'll be
offering individual classes that each focus on a different aspect of
declarer play.
The source material comes from a treasure trove of lessons and hands by
the inimitable Eddie Kantar. Each class is $25 to attend, or you can
sign up for all four for $85. There is no textbook.
Here are the topics for each session, each starting at 7:00 PM:
* *Entries* Wed Dec. 11
* *Loser on Loser Plays* Thu Dec. 12
* *The Avoidance Play* Wed Dec. 18
* *Ducking Plays at Suit Contracts* Thu Dec. 19
Drop me an email to sign up, and I'll add you to the courses on RSVP Bridge.
Dec. 15 Holiday Party
The unit is putting on a great holiday party on Sunday Dec. 15. The meal
is a tri-tip barbeque from Stonefire Grill.
For bridge we're going to have two sections: Open Pairs like our weekday
11:00 AM games, and 299er Pairs limited to players with fewer than 300
masterpoints, like our Saturday morning games.
Reservations must be made by Thursday, December 5, so drop me a note if
you are coming. You can pay in advance using cash or a credit card at
the Pasadena Bridge Club.
New Year's Eve Party
Last year we had a great time playing a team game on December 31 in the
afternoon. We're going to do it again this year, with plenty of wine and
cheese, and an early start time that will let you get home or to your
own NYE celebration plans. (Probably 12:00 noon.)
I'll have more about that next week.
New Courses in January
January 8 and 9 we'll start with new courses in the Bridge Basics
series, including the *first offering* of Audrey Grant's brand new
/Bridge Basics 4 - Play of the Deal/.
Wednesdays will feature /Bridge Basics 2 - Competitive Bidding/, and
Thursdays /Bridge Basics 4 - Play of the Deal/.
Drop in on the Upcoming Courses
<https://pasadenabridgeclub.com/available_courses> page for all of the
information.
The next /Bridge Basics 1 - Introduction/ will be on *Thursday evenings
starting April 3*, offered through Pasadena City College Extension, as
usual!
Our own "Black Friday" sale!
For December we're selling "5-game" punch cards for $55, a savings of $1
each over the regular $12 game fee. You can buy up to three if you like.
(That's three total, not three at a time!)
I'll print as many as we need. Come January they'll be $60 again, which
isn't a discount, but it's certainly convenient.
More next week!
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's probably not obvious, and there's no signage, but we do have
something of a *"lost and found"* table right next to the coat rack.
It's getting a little rich with lost mugs, books, sunglasses, reading
glasses, and even a watch. If you're missing something and visit the
bridge club, it might be there.
I'm planning to reset it to zero at the start of the year. Have a look
at this photo and see if you recognize something.
lost and found
Gold for good
You may already have heard about this special charity project by the
ACBL. If not, let me direct your attention!
During the weeks of Dec 9-14 and 16-21 the ACBL is offering the
opportunity to qualify for gold masterpoints by playing at the club
multiple times in the week (or weeks) of your choice.
It works much like the "side game" events at a regional. Each week you
can play as many as six times (Monday through Saturday) in any of the
Open Pairs events at the club. The ACBL will comb through those results
and take your top two best finishes. /You have to play at least twice
during the week/ to qualify.
Your two best finishes will be combined and merged into all other GfG
participants during the week, and the top 25% will earn some gold points.
To join the fun you have to register in advance with the ACBL at this
web page: https://www.acbl.org/portfolio/goldforgood/
100% of the $30 (per week) registration fee will go to disaster relief
for areas affected by the hurricanes from this past summer. There's
nothing to do at the club other than play. There's no extra card fee or
extra reporting.
It's an ingenious event, and if you're planning to play at least two
games during those weeks, it seems well worth doing!
Single-topic classes in December
I've scheduled four single-topic classes on Wednesday and Thursday
evenings. These classes are great for players at all levels! New and
intermediate players will all find nuggets of wisdom.
These will all be focused on "play of the hand" topics, taken from an
enormous library of lessons from the late great Eddie Kantar. Here is
the schedule:
* Wed Dec 11: Entries
* Thu Dec 12: Loser on loser plays
* Wed Dec 18: The avoidance play
* Thu Dec 19: Ducking plays at suit contracts
All classes will start at 7:00 PM. They're $25 each, or $85 for all four.
Coming up ...
The Unit Game this Sunday on December 1st will feature a chinese lunch
before the game. Make your reservations and plan to come early for the
free lunch!
There are no classes on Wednesday or Thursday evenings this week, for
obvious reasons! Next week we'll finish the two courses in progress:
Bridge Basics 1 and Popular Conventions.
Best regards,
Mojo, Jane, Zachary
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>
Bridge game attendance is measured in "tables," with the smallest unit
being 1/2 table. All of our sanction fees and such are paid "per table."
The ACBL keeps a count of tables played in every sanctioned game, and
they publish those counts on their web site. To find it, visit
https://www.acbl.org, click Menu, Club Corner, "Visit Club Corner," and
you'll see a button labeled "Club table counts." The numbers are updated
on the 6th of each month.
As of November 6, our club is #108 in the US. In LA County our club is
#3, behind Long Beach and the Agile club, though if the bi-monthly unit
games were added to the total, we would pass Agile to be #2. (Sorry
Jeff!) :)
And these are only sanctioned game tables — so classes and Office Hours
bridge aren't included in the totals. We're doing pretty well, I'd say!
Join groups on RSVPBridge
You know the bridge club schedule, but when you log in to RSVPBridge
<https://rsvpbridge.com/> some games seem to be missing. I've organized
the club so that each weekly game has its own "group" that gets
reminders and can make reservations.
The first time you ask to play in a game, I add you to the "group" for
that game, so you always get the reminders.
You can also add yourself to other groups. Here's what to do:
* Log in to https://rsvpbridge.com
* At the top of the window, just below the title bar, there's a button
labeled "My Clubs"
* Under Pasadena Bridge Club, look for "Would you like to join any of
these groups?" in script
* Tap on groups you'd like to join and you'll see information and a
"Join" button. (You can even join courses this way.)
Unfortunately you can't "unjoin" a group, but I can remove you from any
you didn't intend to join! Drop me a note.
Royal STaC in progress
The Open Pairs games this week are all part of the Western Conference
Sectional Tournament at Clubs (STaC). Clubs in Washington, most of
California, and the Reno area are all participating by playing the same
hands and pooling their results.
With the large table counts for each session, it's possible for a big
game to score a bushel of masterpoints!
At the end of the week, your earnings from the STaC will be converted
into 25% black, red, silver, and gold masterpoints, giving everyone a
little piece of the requirements to make Life Master and other ACBL ranks.
Overall results are usually available about 24-36 hours after each game
finishes. You'll be able to find the overall results at this link:
https://tournaments.acbl.org/schedule.php?sanction=2411509
Single-topic classes in December
I've scheduled four single-topic classes on Wednesday and Thursday
evenings. These classes are great for players at all levels! New and
intermediate players will all find nuggets of wisdom.
These will all be focused on "play of the hand" topics, taken from an
enormous library of lessons from the late great Eddie Kantar. Here is
the schedule:
* Wed Dec 11: Entries
* Thu Dec 12: Loser on loser plays
* Wed Dec 18: The avoidance play
* Thu Dec 19: Ducking plays at suit contracts
All classes will start at 7:00 PM. They're $25 each, or $85 for all four.
Classes this week
Individual classes are available to join for $25. No need to sign up for
a full course!
This week's Wednesday and Thursday classes are both practice hands.
These are great opportunities to drop in and practice! Wednesday will be
basic bidding and play. Thursday will focus on Stayman, Jacoby Transfer
Bids, strong hand openings, and some slam bidding.
* Wednesday, 7:00 PM, /Bridge Basics 1 - Introduction/, class 5 of 6
"Practice Hands"
* Thursday, 7:00 PM, /Bridge Basics 3 - Popular Conventions/, class 5
of 6 "Practice Hands"
Coming up ...
Sunday December 1 is the next unit game. The Pasadena San Gabriel Unit
hosts the game and provides a pizza lunch at 12:00 noon, followed by
great bridge competition at 12:30. Still $10 cash! Make your
reservations for the game.
Yes, we're holding a game on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, as well
as the Friday after! The parking lot will be busy — consider arriving
earlier than usual!
Best regards,
Mojo, Jane, Zachary
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>
Some of you know that my other hobby is astronomy, and I'm always gazing
out our club windows at the Mt. Wilson observatory.
Months ago I noticed a bright glint of sunlight from the 150-ft solar
telescope tower that's always visible (the tower, not the glint!). I
thought it was a reflection from the observatory itself, but it turns
out to be an art project called Sunstar <https://www.mtwilson.edu/sunstar/>.
Whenever you're in the club, take a glance out to the ridge of Mt.
Wilson. Look for the white solar tower to the right of the TV antennas,
and see if it's glowing brightly in different colors!
https://www.mtwilson.edu/sunstar/
Extend your Bridgemate App
This past week I opened the Bridgemate App on my phone to check on a
game's progress, and discovered that it was time to extend the app with
a subscription. That means it's been one year since I first put it into
service!
Those of you who also signed up for it at about the same time will find
that it will soon be time to send Bridgemate a little money. I added two
years to my subscription for about $7. That's not a typo! It's pretty
inexpensive, and well worth supporting their work.
For those who haven't discovered it yet, this is an app for your phone
that will show you scores and results from games played at the Pasadena
Bridge Club. You can actually see how you're doing in the midst of a
game — it updates your scores between each round. But it's much more
useful after the game, for seeing how you did as a partnership.
(Whenever I've glanced at it during a game, I always wish I hadn't!)
Search for Bridgemate in the app store of your phone, make an account
with your ACBL player number, and join "Pasadena Bridge Club." It's free
for the first year. There's a little more information here
<https://pasadenabridgeclub.com/bridgemate-app>.
Royal STaC Nov 18-23
All of the Open Pairs games next week will be Royal STaC games. Clubs in
several western states are participating in the Sectional Tournament at
Clubs (STaC) for the possibility of some big masterpoint awards if you
have a good game.
During the week, your masterpoint wins show up as silver, but at the end
of the week they'll be converted to 25% black, red, silver, and gold.
Get a little of all the "pigmented" masterpoints this week! Card fees
for these games will be $13 to cover some of the extra sanction fee.
Single-topic classes in December
December is always a little awkward for class scheduling with the
holidays. It always seems best to start new courses in January.
So with two weeks between the end of the most recent courses and the
Christmas holiday, I've scheduled four single-topic classes on Wednesday
and Thursday evenings.
These will all be focused on "play of the hand" topics, taken from an
enormous library of lessons from the late great Eddie Kantar. Here is
the schedule:
* Wed Dec 11: Entries
* Thu Dec 12: Loser on loser plays
* Wed Dec 18: The avoidance play
* Thu Dec 19: Ducking plays at suit contracts
All classes will start at 7:00 PM. They're $25 each, or $85 for all four.
Classes this coming week
Individual classes are available to join for $25. No need to sign up for
a full course!
* Wednesday, 7:00 PM, /Bridge Basics 1 - Introduction/, class 4 of 6
"Minor suit openings and responses"
* Thursday, 7:00 PM, /Bridge Basics 3 - Popular Conventions/ "Slam
bidding"
Jane Winer will be hosting practice at the club for Bridge Basics 3 on
Sunday morning at 9:00 AM. It's really great to get together and review
the material with other classmates, and anyone else who'd like to practice!
Coming up ...
Sunday November 17 is the next unit game. The Pasadena San Gabriel Unit
hosts the game and provides a pizza lunch at 12:00 noon, followed by
great bridge competition at 12:30. Still $10 cash! Make your
reservations for the game.
Yes, we're holding a game on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, as well
as the Friday after! The parking lot will be busy — consider arriving
earlier than usual!
Best regards,
Mojo, Jane, Zachary
