[News] One year with the Bridgemate App

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