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>
Greetings all from the American Bridge Teachers Association annual
convention in Minneapolis this year. I'm here with 50 bridge teachers
from all over North America (and even Portugal). We're hearing talks
from notable bridge pros on materials and techniques for teaching bridge.
The ABTA also gives out annual awards for "Bridge Book of the Year" in
different categories, and certifies Master Teachers. (You can see my own
badge right there under my picture!)
ABTA also designates a Teacher of the Year. The winner this year was
Lorraine Eaglesham from Ontario, and the runner-up was Jan Weber from
Vero Beach, Fl. I felt like I had a strong application, but I'm really
delighted that we have great bridge teachers like Lorraine and Jan in
their parts of the world.
Here are the three courses that are starting up the coming week:
Bridge Basics 1 - Introduction
Here we go on a new adventure! This is the course for /non-bridge
players/ to learn the basics of the game. By the end of the first class,
the mechanics of bridge and much of the vocabulary. During the six
sessions, we'll practice analyzing bridge hands, finding extra tricks,
and introduce the the language of Standard American bidding.
* Six Wednesday evenings, 7:00-9:00 PM, starting July 15
* Enroll for $85 to PCC Extension, plus $15 materials fee for book
* Full lesson plan here
<https://pasadenabridgeclub.com/course/bridge-basics-introduction>
* Register for the course here
<https://pasadena.augusoft.net/connect/ClassInfo/ClassInformation?int_class_…>
Improving Your Judgment - Doubles
In /Bridge Basics 2 - Competitive Bidding/, we introduce the concept of
the takeout double. Most newer players miss opportunities to use the
double call to their benefit, and this class gives you lots of practice
in doubling in different contexts. We also learn guidelines for
advancing partner's double, and potential rebids by doubler. As always
there are great "play of the deal" puzzles and defense tips as well!
* Six Wednesday afternoons, 3:00 - 5:00 PM, starting July 15
* $120 includes textbook by Audrey Grant
* Full lesson plan here
<https://pasadenabridgeclub.com/course/iyj_doubles>
* Register for the course here
<https://pasadenabridgeclub.com/contact/course_enrollment>
Bridge Basics 3 - Popular Conventions
There are a handful of bidding conventions that are the most useful and
ubiquitous for helping partnerships discover HOW HIGH and WHERE. We'll
study Stayman, Jacoby Transfer Bids, strong hand openings, and slam bidding.
Pasadena Bridge Club's resident wizard Zachary Vedro is instructor for
this course.
* Six Thursday evenings, 7:00 - 9:00 PM, starting July 16
* $120 includes textbook by Audrey Grant
* Full lesson plan here
<https://pasadenabridgeclub.com/course/popular-conventions>
* Register for the course here
<https://pasadenabridgeclub.com/contact/course_enrollment>
More tidbits ...
If you're waiting for a daylight (or semi-daylight) session of Bridge
Basics 1, we have one in the fall catalog for PCC Extension. It'll be on
Wednesday afternoons starting October 28.
Don't forget you can always drop in for a single session of any course
for $25. Each class usually stands along fairly well, and I try to keep
the topics visible on the front of the web site
<https://pasadenabridgeclub.com>.
For the full novice/intermediate program at the club, including
workshops, games, and casual bridge, see the schedule here
<https://pasadenabridgeclub.com/schedule#novice>!
Hope to see you soon at the bridge club!
Best regards,
Mojo, Jane, Zachary, Lisa, Susan
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>
At the Pasadena Bridge Club our course catalog has seven courses, from
/Bridge Basics 1/ to /Two Over One Game Force/.
We have three sessions at the club that are dedicated to class work:
Wednesday afternoon at 3:00, Wednesday evening at 7:00, and Thursday
evening at 7:00.
In each of those three sessions, we usually cycle through the seven
courses in order, so there's usually something for every level of
player, and every course should come up three or four times a year.
The courses make up a sequence of learning, and always work best having
had the experience of playing games of bridge at the club. Once you have
some playing experience, you can really take any course in any order you
like.
Revisiting any of our courses is an amazing experience. There's so much
detail in all of our topics, seeing the material a second time is like
peeling away another layer of the onion.
Here are the three courses that are starting up the coming week:
Introduction to Defense
This is the fifth course in the catalog, following Bridge Basics 4 -
Play of the Deal. In this course you will learn how to work with your
partner to take as many tricks as possible on defense. It's a great
class for helping to visualize where the missing high cards are when you
can't see them!
* Six Wednesday afternoons, 3:00-5:00 PM, starting May 27
* Course fee $120 includes textbook by Eddie Kantar
* Full lesson plan here
<https://pasadenabridgeclub.com/course/intro-to-defense>
* Register for the course here
<https://pasadenabridgeclub.com/contact/course_enrollment>
Two Over One Game Force
This course introduces probably the most successful bidding system in
the world for club and tournament play. By making a small tweak to
Standard American bidding, it often simplifies finding the right game
contract or explore for slam. In this course you'll learn some of the
patterns and idioms that come with 2/1GF, and be ready to play. This
course includes some of the best play-of-the-hand lessons in the catalog
as well!
Your instructor for 2/1GF will be our own wizard Zachary Vedro.
* Six Wednesday evenings, 7:00 - 9:00 PM, starting May 27
* $130 includes textbook by Audrey Grant and Eric 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>
Bridge Basics 2 - Competitive Bidding
This may be the second course in the catalog, but it's also a course
that's effective for players with quite a bit of game experience. Here
is where you will learn to think like a bridge player, and see what
kinds of decisions will affect your score on every hand. /This is a
great course to revisit!/
* Six Thursday evenings, 7:00 - 9:00 PM, starting May 28
* $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>
More tidbits ...
/Our next session of /*Bridge Basics 1 - Introduction*/will be held on
Wednesday evenings at 7:00 PM starting July 15./
You can always drop in for a single session of any course for $25
The novice/intermediate program at the Pasadena Bridge Club is going strong!
The reason we're learning this game is so we can enjoy playing it! If
you're new to games at the bridge center, your *best first game *is held
on Thursday afternoons at 3:00 PM. We play about 12 hands for about two
hours, hosted by Susan Kane.
We have a great Tuesday evening game hosted by Lisa Walker, starting at
7:00 and finishing by 9:15.
Our Saturday morning novice/intermediate game is a special event
including a free 20-minute workshop at 9:30 followed by a game that
finishes by 12:15, hosted by Mojo.
Hope to see you soon at the bridge club!
Best regards,
Mojo, Jane, Zachary, Lisa, Susan
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're turning over the bridge courses for all three of our dedicated
class periods in a week or two. Here's what's on tap.
It's always a treat to be starting a new session of /Bridge Basics 1 -
Introduction/, this time on Thursday evenings. As of this writing, the
course is nearly full with 20 students enrolled. While we certainly have
room, I set a maximum of 28 for this course.
Two other great courses are starting soon too, read on!
Bridge Basics 1 - Introduction
This course is designed to introduce non-players to the "king of the
card games" in a way that's amazingly fun and still gives a peek into
the depth and fascination of the game that seems endless.
* Six Thursday evenings, 7:00 - 9:00 PM, starting April 2
* $85 paid to Pasadena City College Extension
* $15 "materials fee" for the award winning textbook
* Full lesson plan here
<https://pasadenabridgeclub.com/course/bridge-basics-introduction>
* Register for the course here
<https://pasadena.augusoft.net/index.cfm?method=ClassInfo.ClassInformation&i…>
Bridge Basics 4 - Play of the Deal
Improve your ability to win all the tricks you can as the declarer in a
contract. It's all about planning! Learn to identify many of the
patterns that enable developing extra winners or eliminating losers.
The textbook won /Book of the Year/ in 2025 from the American Bridge
Teachers Association.
* Six Wednesday afternoons, 3:00 - 5:00 PM, starting April 8
* $120 includes textbook by Audrey Grant
* Full lesson plan here
<https://pasadenabridgeclub.com/course/play-of-the-deal>
* Register for the course here
<https://pasadenabridgeclub.com/contact/course_enrollment>
Improving Your Judgment - Doubles
Most newer bridge players overlook opportunities to use the /double/
call to compete in the auction. This course will improve your ability to
recognize opportunities for a takeout double, and provide some structure
to the bidding and decisions that come after.
IYJ Doubles will be taught this session by our resident wizard Zachary
Vedro on Wednesday evenings.
* Six Wednesday evenings, 7:00 - 9:00 PM, starting April 1
* $120 includes textbook by Audrey Grant
* Full lesson plan here
<https://pasadenabridgeclub.com/course/iyj_doubles>
* Register for the course here
<https://pasadenabridgeclub.com/contact/course_enrollment>
Coming up soon ...
We'll have a brief gap between class sessions in late May. On *Thursday
evenings, May 14 and 21*, I'll be offering a special two-session course
on *Opening Judgment*.
You might feel like you know all you need to know about opening the
bidding, but you can improve your judgement and your results by taking
into account your seating position in the auction. Your decision changes
when you're in 1st or 2nd seat, vs. being in 3rd or 4th seat. You might
be bidding when you should pass, and vice versa!
I'll have details in the next class newsletter.
We've also set our dates for the next Bridge Basics 1 session this
summer. It will be on Wednesday evenings this time, starting July 15.
Check out our full schedule of events for novice and intermediate bridge
players: https://pasadenabridgeclub.com/schedule#novice
By the way, I just put some effort into reconciling our RSVPBridge
player list with the newsletter subscription list. If you hadn't
intended to receive the newsletter, please drop me a note or use your
mail client tools to unsubscribe, and please pardon the inconvenience.
Thank you!
Hope to see you soon at the bridge club!
Best regards,
Mojo, Jane, Zachary, Lisa, Susan
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>
The Pasadena Bridge Club is growing!
Among face-to-face bridge clubs (the best kind!) in North America, we
currently rank #30 out of about 1,500 clubs that have held games so far
in 2026.
Our southern half of California is covered by two ACBL districts: 22,
and 23 (LA County). In the combined districts, the #1 club is the Duncan
Bridge Center in Palm Desert. Our club is #7 out of 67 or so clubs in
our two districts.
In Los Angeles County, the biggest club is Long Beach with 540 tables
through Feb 11. We've moved into #2 with 436 tables.
Those "table counts" are only for ACBL-sanctioned games paying
masterpoints. If they were able to count our classes, workshops, and
casual bridge sessions, the number would be quite a bit higher, and I'm
almost certain that our intermediate/novice program is rare among bridge
clubs!
That said, let's keep it going! We have three new courses starting next
week, in our three class sessions.
Here is the lineup of courses starting next week. Check out *Two Over
One Game Force* on Thursdays!
Bridge Basics 3 - Popular Conventions
There are really only a handful of conventions that most players need to
be competitive in a bridge tournament. You learned about "takeout
doubles" in Bridge Basics 2. In this class we'll add the Stayman
Convention, Jacoby Transfer Bids, strong hand bidding, and slam bidding.
* Six Wednesday afternoons, 3:00 - 5:00 PM, starting Feb. 18
* $120 includes text by Audrey Grant
* Full lesson plan here
<https://pasadenabridgeclub.com/course/popular-conventions>
* Register for the course here
<https://pasadenabridgeclub.com/contact/course_enrollment>
Introduction to Defense
Working from a delightful and readable book by Eddie Kantar and Barbara
Seagram, join us to study the fundamentals of bridge defense. Learn how
to visualize a complete deal, and communicate with your partner to take
as many tricks as possible.
Defense this period is taught by Zachary Vedro, a true wizard!
* Six Wednesday evenings, 7:00 - 9:00 PM, starting Feb. 18
* $120 includes textbook by Eddie Kantar
* Full lesson plan here
<https://pasadenabridgeclub.com/course/intro-to-defense>
* Register for the course here
<https://pasadenabridgeclub.com/contact/course_enrollment>
Two Over One Game Force
Take you bidding to the next level with this basic system that is by far
the most popular system played in tournaments and clubs. By making a
small tweak to Standard American, 2/1GF makes it easier to find the
right game contracts, and gives you more bidding room to find good slam
contracts (and stay out of bad ones!).
* Six Thursday evenings, 7:00 - 9:00 PM, starting Feb. 19
* $130 includes textbook by Audrey Grant
* Full lesson plan here
<https://pasadenabridgeclub.com/course/two_over_one_game_force>
* Register for the course here
<https://pasadenabridgeclub.com/contact/course_enrollment>
Robert Todd Seminar
Mojo, Robert, Jane
The bridge club will be hosting Robert Todd for a full day bridge
seminar on Sunday, March 15. This is our third year to host Robert, and
it's always an eye-opening and entertaining day!
We're currently taking reservations for the full day seminar. The cost
is $90 for the full day.
Specific topics will be announced soon. The morning session is usually a
bidding topic, and the afternoon is a play or defense topic.
Drop me a note and I'll save you a seat!
Looking for /Bridge Basics 1 - Introduction/?
Our next session of Bridge Basics 1 will start on Thursday evenings,
April 2, at 7:00 PM. The course is now open for registration at PCC
Extension (Pasadena City College). The class does meet at the bridge club.
Here's the link to register
<https://pasadena.augusoft.net/index.cfm?method=ClassInfo.ClassInformation&i…>
with PCC for the course.
Hope to see you soon at the bridge club!
Best regards,
Mojo, Jane, Zachary, Lisa, Susan
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>
One of the things that makes the Pasadena Bridge Club special is our
teaching schedule and course catalog.
We reserve three dedicated periods each week for formal bridge classes:
Wednesday afternoons, and Wednesday and Thursday evenings. Within those
three periods, the goal is to cycle through our available 6-week courses
on a staggered schedule. Every course should come around about three
times each year.
Every course benefits from being taken a second time! Bridge learning
never ends — it's one of the things that make this game so compelling!
Here is the lineup of courses starting next week:
Bridge Basics 2 - Competitive Bidding
In this course we start thinking like a bridge player — considering when
our best result may be to go down in a contract for a small negative
score rather than let the opponents make a contract for a /large/
negative score. You'll discover the /Law of Total Tricks/ that can help
you decide "to bid or not to bid."
* Six Wednesday afternoons, 3:00 - 5:00 PM, starting Jan. 7
* $120 includes text 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
Improve your ability to win all the tricks you can as the declarer in a
contract. It's all about planning! Learn to identify many of the
patterns that enable developing extra winners or eliminating losers.
The course this period is taught by Zachary Vedro, one of the very best
not only at playing the deal, but at presenting the concepts involved.
The textbook won /Book of the Year/ in 2025 from the American Bridge
Teachers Association.
* Six Wednesday evenings, 7:00 - 9:00 PM, starting Jan. 7
* $120 includes textbook by Audrey Grant
* Full lesson plan here
<https://pasadenabridgeclub.com/course/play-of-the-deal>
* Register for the course here
<https://pasadenabridgeclub.com/contact/course_enrollment>
Improving Your Judgment - Doubles
Most newer bridge players overlook opportunities to use the /double/
call to compete in the auction. This course will improve your ability to
recognize opportunities for a takeout double, and provide some structure
to the bidding and decisions that come after.
* Six Thursday evenings, 7:00 - 9:00 PM, starting Jan. 8
* $120 includes textbook by Audrey Grant
* Full lesson plan here
<https://pasadenabridgeclub.com/course/iyj_doubles>
* Register for the course here
<https://pasadenabridgeclub.com/contact/course_enrollment>
Looking for an introduction course?
We just completed a Bridge Introduction course in November, and our next
one is scheduled for Thursday evenings starting April 2.
Can't wait to get started? There's a course using the highly acclaimed
/Easybridge/ curriculum in Woodland Hills on Saturday mornings, starting
January 17. Here's more information on their course
<https://www.bridgewebs.com/cgi-bin/bwoq/bw.cgi?club=750&pid=display_page9>.
No matter where or how you learn to play bridge, check out our full
schedule of events for novice and intermediate bridge players:
https://pasadenabridgeclub.com/schedule#novice
Save the date ...
Mojo, Robert, JaneThe bridge club will be hosting Robert Todd for a full
day bridge seminar on Sunday, March 15. This is our third year to host
Robert, and it's always an eye-opening and entertaining day!
Watch for details in a future newsletter!
Hope to see you soon at the bridge club!
Best regards,
Mojo, Jane, Zachary, Lisa, Susan
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>
It's a great time to learn to play bridge, or take some courses to
level-up your game!
Our schedule now features a series of courses during daylight hours on
Wednesday at 3:00 PM. It all starts with /Bridge Basics 1 -
Introduction/, this Wednesday, October 8. It'll be followed by the
complete Bridge Basics series.
Our Wednesday and Thursday evening sessions at 7:00 are highlighting the
most popular conventions and defense.
Don't have time for a full course? Drop in for any single class session
for just $25!
Bridge Basics 1 - Introduction
This is the starting point for non-bridge players ready to explore our
fascinating game. In the first class, you'll learn all of the mechanics
and vocabulary for playing the game. In the following five sessions
you'll learn strategy for getting better results, and the basics of the
language we use during the auction.
* Six Wednesday afternoon, 3:00 - 5:00 PM, starting Oct 8
* Course offered through PCC Extension, held at the bridge club
* Full lesson plan here
<https://pasadenabridgeclub.com/course/bridge-basics-introduction>
* Register for the course here
<https://pasadena.augusoft.net/index.cfm?method=ClassInfo.ClassInformation&i…>
Bridge Basics 3 - Popular Conventions
In this course you will learn and practice the four most useful bridge
bidding conventions that many say are all you need to really to compete
in the game: Stayman, Jacoby Transfer Bids, strong hand openings, and
slam bidding.
* Six Wednesday evenings, 7:00 - 9:00 PM, starting Oct 15
* $120 includes textbook by Audrey Grant
* Full lesson plan here
<https://pasadenabridgeclub.com/course/popular-conventions>
* Register for the course here
<https://pasadenabridgeclub.com/contact/course_enrollment>
Introduction to Defense
This course might have the most positive impact on your game score than
any other! Learn the principles of communicating with partner and
visuzlizing the location of the cards you can't see at the table. After
all, during the play of the hand, you'll be defending twice as often as
declaring!
* Six Thursday evenings, 7:00 - 9:00 PM, starting Oct 16
* $120 includes textbook by Eddie Kantar
* Full lesson plan here
<https://pasadenabridgeclub.com/course/intro-to-defense>
* Register for the course here
<https://pasadenabridgeclub.com/contact/course_enrollment>
Full program for novice/intermediate players
The Pasadena Bridge Club is unrivaled in the Los Angeles area for its
schedule of courses, social/supervised play, workshops, and bridge games
for novice and intermediate players. There's something for new players
six days a week!
See the full schedule of our program at the Pasadena Bridge Club web
site here: https://pasadenabridgeclub.com/schedule#novice
We have a great team of teachers and hosts including Morris "Mojo"
Jones, Zachary Vedro, Lisa Walker, and Susan Kane.
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>
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>
It's time for some new classes to start up! The next three weeks will
see the start of three great courses for your consideration.
We just completed a great session of /Bridge Basics 1 - Introduction/ on
Thursday evenings. We'll follow it up with /Competitive Bidding/,
/Popular Conventions/, and /Play of the Deal/ every six weeks in succession.
Bridge Basics 2 - Competitive Bidding
/Bridge Basics 2 - Competitive Bidding/ will be held on Thursday
evenings starting May 15.
This is the second of the Bridge Basics course series. If you're already
playing games at the club, /this is the course/ (along with Defense)
that will probably have the most impact on how well you do in the results.
If you're new to bridge, this is the course that starts to show how
fascinating the game can be, with strategy and close decisions on every
side. You'll add vocabulary to your bidding language, and tools to get
to the best score.
* Six Thursday evenings, 7:00-9:00 PM, starting May 15
* $120 includes textbook
* Full lesson plan here
<https://pasadenabridgeclub.com/course/competitive-bidding>
* Click here to save your seat
<https://pasadenabridgeclub.com/contact/course_enrollment> (pay at
the club)
Improving your judgment - Opening the Bidding
This course title is one of the "stealth" offerings of the curriculum.
It's easy to think that there's nothing new to discuss about making the
opening bid, but there are many surprising subtleties and judgment that
experts use to modify their choices when opening the bidding.
You'll learn guidelines and recommendations in this course that you
won't hear anywhere else. And of course, being an Audrey Grant course,
it includes great declarer and defense exercises.
This course does not come with a textbook! (There was one, but it has
since gone out of print.) The value in the course is still there. I've
decided to continue offering it at a slight discount.
* Six Wednesday evenings, 7:00-9:00 PM, starting May 21
* $110 for the course
* Full lesson plan here
<https://pasadenabridgeclub.com/course/iyj_opening>
* Click here to save your seat
<https://pasadenabridgeclub.com/contact/course_enrollment> (pay at
the club)
Introduction to Defense
This course (along with competitive bidding) may have more beneficial
effects on your game results than any other. You will learn how to
visualize the layout of cards in a suit when you can't see your
partner's hand. Learn to work with your partner to take as many tricks
as you can on defense.
The textbook for the course is the delightful "Introduction to Defense"
by Edwin Kantar, recently revised and updated by Barbara Seagram. All of
Eddie's trademark humor and clear straightforward lessons are in full
effect.
This is the next in our Wednesday afternoon series! Perfect for bridge
students who'd rather not be out at night.
* Six Wednesday afternoons, 3:00-5:00 PM, starting May 28
* $120 includes textbook
* Full lesson plan here
<https://pasadenabridgeclub.com/course/intro-to-defense>
* Click here to save your seat
<https://pasadenabridgeclub.com/contact/course_enrollment> (pay at
the club)
Novice/intermediate program
The Pasadena Bridge Club has what I believe is the best weekly program
for new players in the country. We have informal "supervised play"
sessions, workshops for more in depth practice, and bridge games
specifically for newer players
See the full novice/intermediate weekly schedule here
<https://pasadenabridgeclub.com/schedule#novice>.
Coming up ...
Our next session of /Bridge Basics 1 - Introduction/ will be on
Wednesday evenings, starting July 2.
As usual it will be followed insequence by the next few Bridge Basics
courses. Let your friends know!
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>
We have a new course session — a *daylight *session on Wednesdays from
3:00-5:00 PM. Play of the Deal
<https://pasadenabridgeclub.com/course/play-of-the-deal> and
Introduction to Defense
<https://pasadenabridgeclub.com/course/intro-to-defense> will be the
next courses offered during the new session. This fall we'll be offering
our first course, Bridge Basics 1 - Introduction
<https://pasadenabridgeclub.com/course/bridge-basics-introduction>,
during the Wednesday afternoon session.
There's still time to join us this Sunday, March 30, for the full day
seminar with noted author and teacher *Robert Todd*. See the flier here
<https://pasadenabridgeclub.com/sites/default/files/fliers/2025-03-30-robert…>
for his dynamite topics, and reserve your seat here
<https://pasadenabridgeclub.com/contact/course_enrollment>.
Here are the new courses we'll be starting in April:
Bridge Basics 4 - Play of the Deal
Bridge Basics 4 debuted last year with a dynamite presentation of the
techniques and planning skills needed to win as many tricks as you can
as declarer. Plan your play using declarer's ABCs, learn to manage
entries, and watch out for the opponents.
* Six Wednesday afternoons 3-5 PM
* First class April 16
* Course fee $120 includes text book by Audrey Grant
* Full details and lesson plan
<https://pasadenabridgeclub.com/course/play-of-the-deal>
* Reserve your seat here
<https://pasadenabridgeclub.com/contact/course_enrollment>
Two Over One Game Force
Once you're comfortable with Standard American 5-card Major bidding,
it's time to take your bidding to the next level. Two Over One Game
Force (2/1GF) is the most popular system played by experienced players
in clubs and tournaments everywhere.
With one small tweak to Standard American bidding, you'll improve your
ability find good slam contracts, and the right game contracts. You'll
learn the idioms and common "phrases" of 2/1GF. This course also
features some of the best /play of the hand/ lessons you'll see!
* Six Wednesday evenings 7-9 PM
* First class April 9
* Course fee $130 includes text book by Audrey Grant and Eric Rodwell
* Full details and lesson plan
<https://pasadenabridgeclub.com/course/two_over_one_game_force>
* Reserve your seat here
<https://pasadenabridgeclub.com/contact/course_enrollment>
Bridge Basics 1 - Introduction
This is the course to introduce your non-bridge-playing friends to our
favorite game. In the first class you'll learn the mechanics and
vocabulary of bridge - /everything you need to actually start playing/.
The subsequent classes will add skills for analyzing deals and making
contracts, and introduce the language of Standard American bidding to
communicate with your partner.
* Six Thursday evenings 7-9 PM
* First class April 3
* Course fee $100 total includes text book
* Full details and lesson plan
<https://pasadenabridgeclub.com/course/bridge-basics-introduction>
This course is offered by Pasadena City College Extension, and meets at
the Pasadena Bridge Club. To register for the class online, visit PCC
Extension at this link
<https://pasadena.augusoft.net/index.cfm?method=ClassInfo.ClassInformation&i…>.
Student/Novice games and practice sessions
I challenge any club to offer a program of games and practice sessions
for new players as comprehensive as ours!
Workshops and practice sessions (open to all):
* Mondays "Workshop with Zachary" 3-5 PM $10 /reservations available/
* Tuesday and Friday "Social/Supervised Play" 3-5 PM /free (donations
accepted)/
Student and Novice/Intermediate games (reservations available for all):
* Tuesday evenings 7:00 PM *0-300 Pairs* $12
* Thursday afternoons 3:00 PM *0-20 Newcomer Pairs* $10
* Saturday mornings 9:30 AM *0-300 Workshop + Game* $12
Our next Bridge Basics 1 offering will be on Wednesday evenings starting
July 2. Watch for the offering in the PCC Extension Summer catalog.
Mojo, Jane and 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>
Zachary and I have taken some time to revamp our afternoon schedule,
weekdays from 3:00-5:00 PM. It's all about students and newer players!
We're going to continue with casual social supervised play sessions
Tuesday and Friday. We're adding a special workshop with Zachary on
Mondays, new class sessions on Wednesdays, and an official novice 0-20
bridge game on Thursdays.
New classes are starting at the end of February and beginning of March.
See the descriptions below!
March will also feature *free Wednesday morning bridge seminars* by
Platinum Life Master Lulu Minter, and a full day seminar on Sunday March
30 by the amazing *Robert Todd*.
*To enroll in any of the classes* below you can use the form here:
https://pasadenabridgeclub.com/contact/course_enrollment
Weekday 3:00-5:00 schedule:
* Monday starting March 3, Workshop with Zachary
* Tuesday March 4, Social Bridge, Jon and Susan
* Wednesday March 5, Bridge Basics 3 Popular Conventions
* Thursday March 6, 0-20 Novice Duplicate Bridge
* Friday March 7, Social Bridge, Mojo and others
Would you like to help host social bridge on Tuesdays or Fridays? Please
drop me a note!
Introduction to Defense
This six-week course on defender play will cover the essentials of
defense, helping you work with your partner to win as many tricks as you
can.
* Six Wednesday evenings, 7-9 PM
* Starting Feb 26
* $120 includes textbook by Eddie Kantar
* Full details and lesson plan
<https://pasadenabridgeclub.com/course/intro-to-defense>
Improving Your Judgment - Doubles
Let's go into depth on the many ways you can use the takeout double to
compete in the auction.
* Five Thursday evenings, 7-9 PM
* Starting Feb 27
* $100 includes textbook by Audrey Grant
* Full details and lesson plan
<https://pasadenabridgeclub.com/course/iyj_doubles>
Popular Conventions
Daytime class! Join us on Wednesday afternoons to study the most useful
and popular bridge conventions: Stayman, Jacoby Transfer Bids, Strong 2♣
Openings, and Slam Bidding.
* Six Wednesday afternoons, 3-5 PM
* Starting Mar 5
* $120 includes textbook by Audrey Grant
* Full details and lesson plan
<https://pasadenabridgeclub.com/course/popular-conventions>
Bridge Workshop with Zachary
Join us every Monday afternoon from 3:00-5:00 for a fun and intense
bridge workshop in Zachary's inimitable and charming style!
You'll get to play the hands that were played in the Monday Open Pairs
session, compare your results with the best bridge players in Pasadena,
and learn from Zachary how you might be able to improve your score.
One of our specialties is working with partnerships to improve your
communication.
The Monday workshops will be $10 each, with reservations kept in
RSVPBridge. If you already have an RSVP Bridge account, log in to RSVP
bridge <https://rsvpbridge.com/>, click on the "My Clubs" icon in the
top ribbon, find "Workshop with Zachary" and add yourself to the group!
(Or just drop me a note and I'll do that.)
Free Lulu Minter Seminars
Before *every Wednesday in March* (and one in April) Lulu Minter will be
hosting a *free* bridge workshop before the morning game at 10:00 AM.
Lulu is a Platinum Life Master. If you've played against him at the
bridge club, you know that Lulu and his partner (and son) Fredy are a
formidable partnership!
Drop in and learn some of his secrets for playing the game! Here is the
topic list:
* March 5 - Counting
* March 12 - Leads and Signals
* March 19 - Rule of 11
* March 26 - Rule of 7
* April 2 - Q&A - Open Forum
Robert Todd Seminar
Sunday, March 30: Full day seminar with the amazing Robert Todd. See the
event flier here
<https://pasadenabridgeclub.com/sites/default/files/fliers/2025-03-30-robert…>.
* Morning session 9:00 AM: Hand evaluation + re-evaluation.
* Afternoon session 1:00 PM: Compete when they open
Join the full day for $90, or one session only for $55. Register here
<https://pasadenabridgeclub.com/contact/course_enrollment>.
Saturday Morning Workshop and Game
Described as *one of the best deals at the bridge club*, every Saturday
morning at 9:30, we have a workshop hand from Eddie Kantar's "Thinking
Bridge," followed by a 15-board novice/intermediate bridge game (0-300).
Finished by 12:15.
Make your reservations on RSVP Bridge <https://rsvpbridge.com>, or just
reply to this email to join in!
Next Bridge Basics 1 - Introduction
This course is the starting point for anyone thinking of trying our
fascinating game! The course is part of the PCC Extension catalog, but
meets at the Pasadena Bridge Club.
Our next course series begins on Thursday evenings, April 3, 7:00-9:00 PM.
You can register for Bridge Introduction at this link
<https://pasadena.augusoft.net/index.cfm?method=ClassInfo.ClassInformation&i…>,
and be sure to pass it along to your friends!
Rest assured, we will also be offering a session of Bridge Basics 1
during the new Wednesday afternoon 3-5 period in a few months!
Mojo, Jane and Zachary
