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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>
We had a strange thing happen before this week's Saturday game. Someone
who needed a computer mouse, I suppose, decided to take the one from our
director's desk. Of course they needed the USB dongle that goes with it,
so they took that too.
Luckily when Zach let me know what happened, I was able to rush over
from home with a spare mouse and keyboard, and everything went fine.
We'll have spares on hand from now on.
Changes to card fees starting August 1
One of the goals in building the Pasadena Bridge Club is to make it a
viable endeavour for the long run. In order to do that, it has to be
financially successful for future owners and employees. I expect that at
some point the business will be transferred to a non-profit, but even
then it will have to be able to attract and pay directors and teachers.
I'll also never compromise on the quality of the playing and learning
experience. I built the club to be as close as I could come to a "bridge
palace," comfortable and attractive to non-players who would see the
place and think "I'd like to spend time here and learn to play this game."
We're also charging less than every other major bridge club in LA county
or nearby.
Starting August 1st, all regular duplicate games will have a card fee of
$12. Special games such as STaCs, NAP Qualifiers, most charity games,
will be $13 to cover extra sanction fees.
To help ease the transition, we will be selling five-game punch cards
for $50 each. We'll have them on sale through August 15, and you'll be
able to buy as many as four of them (20 games). (We don't have the cards
yet, but should by the end of the Regional around July 7.)
August changes for the Saturday 299ers
If you've played on a Saturday afternoon the past few weeks, you know
it's been a very complex pair of games to set up and complete. The
popularity of both games means we could potentially reach the capacity
of the club very quickly.
We've also been unable to have the popular pre-game bridge workshop
before the 299er game.
Starting with the August 3 game, the 299er game will begin at 10:00 AM,
with a pre-game 20-minute bridge workshop at 9:30. We'll be able to use
the main room for our workshop and game, and not have to use the small
classroom (unless the game gets huge!).
These workshops will not be what you're used to — no teacher standing at
a white board talking bidding conventions! Instead, I have a collection
of 300 interesting bridge hands with bidding, play, and defense problems
from Eddie Kantar. We'll play the hand, then talk about what could have
happened. It should be great fun!
Next classes
*Introduction to Defense* will help you work with your partner to take
as many tricks as possible on defense.
* Wednesday evenings, starting July 31, 7:00 - 9:00 PM
* Six sessions, $120, includes textbook
* Full course description here
<https://pasadenabridgeclub.com/course/intro-to-defense>
* Enroll here <https://pasadenabridgeclub.com/contact/course_enrollment>
*Bridge Basics 1 - Introduction* is the starting point for non-players.
Learn the mechanics and basics of the game and start to enjoy playing
bridge.
* Thursday evenings, starting Aug 1, 7:00 - 9:00 PM
* Six sessions, $100 with textbook
* Full course description here
<https://pasadenabridgeclub.com/course/bridge-basics-introduction>
* Enroll here
<https://pasadena.augusoft.net/index.cfm?method=ClassInfo.ClassInformation&i…>
through Pasadena City College Extension
Coming up ...
Jane and I will be traveling to Toronto on July 13. I'll be presiding
over the American Bridge Teachers Association convention, and hopefully
getting in a couple of games at the Toronto NABC. We'll be flying home
on July 22.
Paula Olivares will be helping out for the Wednesday game, and Zachary
will be busy working the other weekday and Saturday games.
Hopefully we can settle into some time of healthy players, great
classes, and fun bridge games for the rest of the year!
Best regards,
Mojo, Jane, Zachary
Folks, the club has been having a cluster of COVID cases this week.
Fortunately we're in a time where this is just a nuisance for most of
us. Nevertheless, please:
* Take a COVID test
* If you have symptoms, please stay home from the game
* Please mask while at the club. I'll have a supply of masks available
I just tested negative again, but I'll mask up for the rest of the week.
Please let me know as soon as you can if you change your plans to play.
Best regards,
Mojo
--
build message
Morris "Mojo" Jones
mojo(a)PasadenaBridgeClub.com
https://PasadenaBridgeClub.com <https://pasadenabridgeclub.com>
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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'm so delighted to be on the back side of my pneumonia, cleared by the
doctors to work, and enjoying being back in the bridge club.
I know it will take a few weeks to get all my energy back. Right now I'm
at about 0.7 Diane Gulbrandsens in energy level. But my appetite is
back, and my coughs are mostly just ordinary coughs now.
North American Pairs
The North American Pairs is one of two annual "grass roots" tournaments
held by the ACBL.
It begins at the club level each year in June, July, and August. Club
managers are allowed to hold up to two NAP Qualifier games for each
sanctioned club session each month. (We'll have NAP Qualifier weeks in
July and August as well.)
Players who earn a "Q" (Qualified) are invited to compete in the
district final. Some of the larger districts also hold a unit final.
District 23 is fairly small and compact compared to most of the other
districts.
Our District Final is tentatively scheduled for Sunday, October 27.
It'll be a two-session (full day!) event, with the top finishers earning
an invitation to represent District 23 at the Spring Nationals.
One of the cool things is that the top finishers are able to receive
some reimbursement for their travel to the nationals.
The NAP is really three different tournaments! There's the A Flight, or
Open, where the winner at the nationals earns a coveted national
championship (one of the requirements for Grand Life Master).
Then there's the B flight which is restricted to players with fewer than
2,500 masterpoints (as of June 1, 2024). And Flight C, perhaps the most
fun event, limited to non-Life Masters with fewer than 500 masterpoints.
All Open games this week will be NAP Qualifier events! The additional
sanction fee helps support the travel expenses for our winning pairs.
Card fees for the games will be $11. The masterpoint awards for these
games are huge, and they're half-black, half-red!
Classes this coming week
If you didn't sign up for a full course, you're still welcome to join
any individual class for $25. Nearly all of our classes stand alone
nicely for a one-time visit.
Here are the topics this week:
* Wednesday, 7:00 PM,//class 5 of 6/Introduction to Declarer Play
/"Creating extra winners, and long-suit establishment"
* Thursday, 7:00 PM,//class 5 of 6 /Two Over One Game Force/ "Practice
Hands"
* Saturday, 9:30 AM, class 5 of 6 /Bridge Basics 2 - Competitive
Bidding/ "Practice hands"
Mojo's pick for this week: If you're a newish 2/1GF player, I'd pick the
"practice hands" session on Thursday evening. Since hands using 2/1GF
are not all that common, it's great to practice several in concentration.
Coming up ...
Zachary is enjoying a family vacation this week, and I'm so happy I can
cover for him! He's been covering for me while I was out sick, and will
be again while I attend the ABTA Convention in Toronto next month.
Zachary and I are closing the bridge club for three days, on July 2, 3,
and 4, Tuesday Wednesday Thursday, both so we can get a chance to play
in the regional ourselves, and to encourage everyone with the time off
to go enjoy the big games. (And also enjoy the 4th of July with family.)
(Would you like to partner with us for a team game in Long Beach? We're
looking for teammates for the Tues-Wed "Mini-Soloway" event. We need a
pair who's available for both days, of course.)
The next /Bridge Basics 1 - Introduction/ is open for enrollment on the
PCC Extension web site
<https://pasadena.augusoft.net/index.cfm?method=ClassInfo.ClassInformation&i…>.
The class will meet on six Thursday evenings starting August 1.
Mojo and Dragon getting work done
Dragon helps proofread the newsletter.
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>
It's been a long ordeal, and I'm truly seeing the light at the end of
the tunnel.
Probably the most frustrating thing is that the clues were there quite a
bit earlier than when we finally discovered the pneumonia. All that time
I was told and thought I was "getting better" in a normal process, I was
actually getting quite worse. But we did catch it, finally.
I'm on the last day of my antibiotics. Today I had the energy to start
doing more. I've been walking the treadmill for three minutes every
hour, and have stamina to get lots of administrative things done for the
Sectional, the District NAP, and of course the club.
My wonderful friends and partners are barring me from leaving home this
week until Saturday. We're going to hold every game and class though. It
will be great.
Support Alzheimer's Research on the Longest Day
We've designated *Wednesday, June 19, 11:00 AM* Open Pairs to be our
benefit game for the Alzheimer's Association.
Card fees will be $11, with the extra going to Alzheimer's.
North American Pairs Qualifiers
June, July, and August are when players get to earn a qualification to
play in the District Final for the North American Pairs.
We're planning to hold qualifiers for one full week in each of the three
months.
Our first qualifier week will be all of the Open Pairs games from *June
24 - 29*. I'm adding five additional in July in the week running up to
the John Waken Pasadena Sectional. We'll also have a week of qualifiers
in August.
These are special games, that pay half-red, half-black masterpoints, and
lots of them. The stratification is preset at Open/2500/500.
I'm close to finalizing the date of the District Final. I'll let you know!
Classes this coming week
Let's meet class this week. I'm giving it a try. These are the classes
that were originally scheduled last week. We have a week to get in the
sixth class of each of these courses during the week after 4th of July
(tournament) week.
Lisa Walker is going to cover the Thursday 2/1GF class, and I have
someone special coming to cover the class on Wednesday.
Here are the topics this week:
* Wednesday, 7:00 PM,//class 4 of 6/Introduction to Declarer Play
/"The trump suit, counting losers"
* Thursday, 7:00 PM,//class 4 of 6 /Two Over One Game Force/ "The
choice between game and slam"
* Saturday, 9:30 AM, class 4 of 6 /Bridge Basics 2 - Competitive
Bidding/ "The Competitive Auction"
Coming up ...
Zachary and I are closing the bridge club for three days, on July 2, 3,
and 4, Tuesday Wednesday Thursday, both so we can get a chance to play
in the regional ourselves, and to encourage everyone with the time off
to go enjoy the big games. (And also enjoy the 4th of July with family.)
The next /Bridge Basics 1 - Introduction/ is now open for enrollment on
the PCC Extension web site
<https://pasadena.augusoft.net/index.cfm?method=ClassInfo.ClassInformation&i…>.
The class will meet on six Thursday evenings starting August 1.
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>
I'm happy to report that Arnold Palmers are back at the bridge club.
Parks Coffee has been snakebit with the "Puritea" machines that serve
the tea and lemonade. They've had to replace ours a few times with one
that doesn't dribble water all over the cabinet overnight.
The new machine looks like it's doing well, so I'm hoping for the best.
More Office Hours!
We always have a crowd of friendly players in the afternoon for Office
Hours, Monday through Wednesday.
Zachary has added *Thursdays 3:00-5:00* for one more opportunity for
unstructured, casual bridge.
When you're learning to play, it's essential that you actually /play the
game/ as much as you can! Office Hours is the easy opportunity to hang
out with other new players and get your bridge muscle memory in place.
Support Alzheimer's Research on the Longest Day
We've designated *Wednesday, June 19, 11:00 AM* Open Pairs to be our
benefit game for the Alzheimer's Association.
Card fees will be $11, with the extra going to Alzheimer's.
North American Pairs Qualifiers
June, July, and August are when players get to earn a qualification to
play in the District Final for the North American Pairs.
We're planning to hold qualifiers for one full week in each of the three
months.
Our first qualifier week will be all of the Open Pairs games from *June
24 - 29*.
These are special games, that pay half-red, half-black masterpoints, and
lots of them. The stratification is preset at Open/2500/500.
The date for the District Final has not yet been set. The top finishers
from the District Final will be invited to represent District 23 at the
Spring NABC in Memphis, TN.
Classes this coming week
Individual classes are available to join for $25. No need to sign up for
a full course.
Mojo's pick: the Saturday morning class is dynamite, "The Competitive
Auction." Highly recommended!
Here are the topics this week:
* Wednesday, 7:00 PM,//class 4 of 6/Introduction to Declarer Play
/"The trump suit, counting losers"
* Thursday, 7:00 PM,//class 4 of 6 /Two Over One Game Force/ "The
choice between game and slam"
* Saturday, 9:30 AM, class 4 of 6 /Bridge Basics 2 - Competitive
Bidding/ "The Competitive Auction"
Coming up ...
Zachary and I are planning to close the bridge club for three days, on
July 2, 3, and 4, Tuesday Wednesday Thursday, both so we can get a
chance to play in the regional ourselves, and to encourage everyone with
the time off to go enjoy the big games. (And also enjoy the 4th of July
with family.)
The next /Bridge Basics 1 - Introduction/ is now open for enrollment on
the PCC Extension web site
<https://pasadena.augusoft.net/index.cfm?method=ClassInfo.ClassInformation&i…>.
The class will meet on six Thursday evenings starting August 1.
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>
So much bridge! Zachary and I are really enjoying having the club open
almost every day.
We're still learning how to keep the supplies and snacks available and
ready at all times. Trash pickup becomes a challenge! Players have been
great with helping pick up and clean up after games.
Let's talk teaching at the table
Your partner makes some obvious mistake during a hand and doesn't
realize it. Can you possibly resist mentioning it?
Nurturing and supporting a partner is one of those hidden skills
required of bridge, and makes it so different from solitary games like
chess or poker or almost anything else
There's a great article by Marty Bergen from 2012 that resonates today.
It's posted on Larry Cohen's web site: "21 Rules of Being a Good Partner."
Here's his rule number 1 with a great fun twist:
1. Do not give lessons, unless you are being paid to do so.
"According to an evening paper, there are only five real authorities
on bridge in this country. Odd how often one gets one of them as a
partner. " Punch(British magazine).
Even professional bridge teachers don't give lessons during a game --
they say "let's mark that board so we can talk about it later."
For the rest of Marty's great list, see here:
https://www.larryco.com/bridge-learning-center/detail/618
Players who strive to make the game enjoyable /for their partner/ are
the ones who are always in demand, regardless of perceived bridge skill.
A great partner is someone you want to spend three hours with across a
bridge table.
Our club motto: *Play with joy, humility, and good humor*. This is key
to enjoying a bridge game.
Changes to Thursday Social
With attendance light on Thursday evenings, and Office Hours gaining in
popularity, we're going to cancel the Thursday evening social and add a
Thursday 3:00-5:00 Office Hours session in its place.
The club will still be open on Thursday evenings -- I'll usually be
conducting a class in the classroom. If you have a group who would just
like to use the bridge club to play casually or practice, you're more
than welcome!
Classes this coming week
Individual classes are available to join for $25. No need to sign up for
a full course.
Mojo's pick for this week: Saturday morning, "Takeout Doubles." It's
always a good to reinforce what is probably the most important call in
bridge.
Here are the topics this week:
* Wednesday, 7:00 PM,//class 3 of 6/Introduction to Declarer Play
/"The hold-up play, the danger hand"
* Thursday, 7:00 PM,//class 3 of 6 /Two Over One Game Force/ "Rebids
by opener and responder"
* Saturday, 9:30 AM, class 3 of 6 /Bridge Basics 2 - Competitive
Bidding/ "Takeout Doubles"
Coming up ...
Zachary and I are probably going to close the bridge club for three
days, on July 2, 3, and 4, Tuesday Wednesday Thursday, both so we can
get a chance to play in the regional ourselves, and to encourage
everyone with the time off to go enjoy the big games. (And also enjoy
the 4th of July with family.)
The next /Bridge Basics 1 - Introduction/ is now open for enrollment on
the PCC Extension web site
<https://pasadena.augusoft.net/index.cfm?method=ClassInfo.ClassInformation&i…>.
The class will meet on six Thursday evenings starting August 1.
Best regards,
Mojo, Jane, Zachary
