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649 N Fair Oaks Ave
#201
Pasadena CA 91103
(626) 247-4457
pasadenabridgeclub.com
It's been a record-setting couple of weeks at
the bridge club! We've had our largest ever
Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday games.
We put in a new water dispenser this week. It
looks a little different because the water
bottle sits underneath instead of resting on
top.
It still produces chilled, hot, and room
temperature water, but the controls take a
little getting used to. The big white circle
above the spout is where you press to dispense
water. And to get HOT water, you have to rest
your cup on the shelf and use both hands to
press the "hot" and "dispense" buttons at the
same time. (It's a safety feature.)
Improving Your Judgment
In the catalog of available
courses, there are two with the words
"Improving Your Judgment" in the title, one for
making opening bids, and one for doubles.
These courses are wonderful, because they bring
up how you bend the "rules" for taking action at
the table. They help you to start thinking
like a bridge player when deciding when
and what to do.
When teaching new bridge players, we substitute
"rules" for judgment. The rules serve to provide
a scaffolding for developing judgment. With more
experience (and some help from these courses)
you will start recognizing when it might be a
good time to break the "rules."
It doesn't mean that your bridge game will
instantly get better! It might mean that you
start experimenting, and get some terrible
results for a while. (That's when it's helpful
to have (and be) a partner with a great sense of
humor!)
IYJ - Opening the Bidding
Let's talk about how the guidelines for opening
the bidding change with the situation. In this
course we'll exercise your judgment and provide
new guidelines that can help you with decisions
about opening.
We'll talk about how your seat position affects
opening, when to make obstructive (preemptive)
opening bids, and when to consider making a
strong forcing opening.
Of course it wouldn't be an Audrey Grant course
without having great declarer play and defensive
play tips as well!
Bridge Basics 2 - Competitive Bidding
Also starting on Wednesdays this week is the
dynamite Bridge Basics 2 - Competitive Bidding
course. It's the follow-on to Bridge Basics 1,
of course, but bridge players of all levels will
get new tools and insights to improve your
outcomes during the auction.
Classes this week
Individual classes are available to join for
$25. No need to sign up for a full course.
Mojo's pick: This is the first week for
two courses. Not sure you'd like to take the
whole course? Try one of these classes! If you
decide to stay, pay the difference (and keep the
textbook).
Here are the topics this week:
- Wednesday, 7:00 PM, Bridge Basics 2 -
Competitive Bidding "Preemptive Opening
Bids"
- Thursday, 7:00 PM, Improving Your
Judgment - Opening the Bidding "Opening
at the One Level in First and Second Position"
- Saturday, 9:30 AM, Two Over One Game
Force, "The Forcing 1NT"
Also on tap for Saturday, 1:00 PM, Workshop
and game, "Competitive Bidding: Unusual
Notrump"
Coming up ...
Sunday, March 3 is the Pasadena Unit Game,
held at the Pasadena Bridge Club, and it will
include the annual membership meeting for ACBL
Unit 559 (Pasadena San Gabriel). We'll be
electing board members, awarding players in the
Ace of Clubs and Mini-McKinney races, and
hosting a pizza and salad lunch!
Be sure you have reservations! Space is limited
to 16 tables for the bridge game. Contact Miriam
Harrington to reserve your seat: (626) 232-0558,
or miratpf@aol.com.
Card fees still only $10.
There's a Sectional Tournament at Clubs
(STaC) week coming up March 18-24. The club will
be hosting silver point games on Wednesday,
Thursday, and Saturday.
Our next Bridge Basics 1 - Introduction
course will be on Saturday mornings starting
April 6. The course is live on the PCC
Extension web site now and available for
registrations.
Best regards,
Mojo, Jane, Zachary
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