Pasadena Bridge Club Logo <https://pasadenabridgeclub.com> News from N Fair Oaks Mojo ABTA Master Teacher 649 N Fair Oaks Ave #201 Pasadena CA 91103 (626) 247-4457 pasadenabridgeclub.com <https://pasadenabridgeclub.com> /*Office Hours*/ looks like a big hit. It's great to be able to drop in and play casual bridge. Zachary reported having five tables last Thursday! Mondays and Tuesdays, 3:00 - 5:00, the bridge club will be open for casual card play. Everyone is welcome, even non-bridge players curious about the game. This week is also the Ventura Regional Tournament. Good luck to everyone heading out to play! (I'm playing in the Bracketed Teams on Friday.) Instant Matchpoint Game The *big game at the club this week* is the ACBL's annual Instant Matchpoint Game, held all over North America on Wednesday, October 25. (There's a digital version in July, but this event is only for face-to-face clubs.) Here's how it works: Each board in play will have a printed score sheet tucked underneath. After playing the hand, North will consult the score sheet, and each pair at the table will know exactly their matchpoint award for that hand (as a percentage from 0-100). At the end of the event, everyone will receive a lovely booklet with expert analysis of each hand. This year the experts are champions (and brothers) Zach and Adam Grossack. Here's the kicker: the top score in each direction will be awarded *one full gold masterpoint*. The remaining awards are half-red, half-black, at 81% Sectional rating. There's even a chance to rank in the top pairs nationally, if you have an extremely fortunate day! Grab your partner and make a reservation for the *Wednesday Open Pairs <https://pasadenabridgeclub.com/contact/game_reservation>.* Card fee for this game will be $12, to cover the booklet and extra sanction fee. Intro to Declarer Play Saturday morning, 9:30 - 11:30, six weeks of play of the hand as declarer. In the first three classes, we'll only deal with notrump hands. The second three will be on suit contracts. First class this Saturday, October 28. (We'll skip the Saturday of Thanksgiving weekend.) $115 for all six classes includes the classic /Introduction to Declarer Play/, 2nd edition, by Eddie Kantar. This course is great as the next step after Bridge Basics. We'll put aside bidding and focus only on making contracts! Click here to sign up <https://pasadenabridgeclub.com/contact/course_enrollment> Novice Tuesdays 7:00 PM Bridge is a game where mistakes and failure aren't just possible, they're guaranteed! And that's true at *every level of the game*. (I made some doozies in the game I played on Sunday.) Once you embrace that fact, you're ready to succeed at bridge. The only way to play bridge (or live life) is fearlessly! Dive in with us for a real bridge game on *Tuesday evenings*. We play about 12 hands, for a quick two-hour game, and I nearly always have friendly single players seeking a partner. No sharks in the game. You don't have to know how to keep score, or the mechanics of the game. Everyone is happy to guide you through it, and delighted to have you come play. Lots of new players win their first masterpoints in the Tuesday game! Click here and let me know you'd like to play <https://pasadenabridgeclub.com/contact/game_reservation> Classes This Week Individual classes are available to join for $25. No need to sign up for a full course. *Mojo's pick for this week*: Thursday's class on the takeout double. Who doesn't need another look at takeout doubles? Here are the topics this week: * Wednesday, 7:00 PM, /Improving Your Judgment - Doubles/ "Practice Hands" * Thursday, 7:00 PM, /Bridge Basics 2 - Competitive Bidding/ "Takeout Doubles" * Saturday, 9:30 AM /Intro to Declarer Play/ "Sure tricks, and establishing tricks" New on the YouTube channel: Quick vs. Slow Losers <https://youtu.be/ss1D5AZeDGk> Saturday afternoon workshop (1:00 PM): "*Opener's Rebid: Unbalanced 1-Suited Hands*" followed by a quick 12-or-so board game. Don't forget Thursday Let's have one more Thursday with *free pizza*, and make it a *club championship* game. Why not? Best regards, Mojo, Jane, Zachary