[News] Let's talk teaching at the table

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&int_class_id=67198&int_category_id=0&int_sub_category_id=0&int_catalog_id=0>. The class will meet on six Thursday evenings starting August 1. Best regards, Mojo, Jane, Zachary