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 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&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. Mojo and Dragon getting work done Dragon helps proofread the newsletter. Best regards, Mojo, Jane, Zachary