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> Fall turns out to be beautiful at the Pasadena Bridge Club. The morning and afternoon sunlight on Mt. Wilson is just grand. Drop by for Office Hours For those newly discovering the fascination of bridge, there's no substitute for playing. Playing the game helps develop your "bridge muscles." Your brain starts to recognize the patterns of the cards and internalize them. So Zach and I are *opening the bridge club on Monday and Tuesday afternoons*, from 3:00 to 5:00 PM, for casual bridge. There's no charge, just drop by and play. We can't guarantee there will be /n/ players, where /n/ ≡ 0 (mod 4), but we've already had lots of bridge played in our first week. Sure you can play online, with robots, or the typical rude internet people, but why not grab a tamale at Vallarta and play some cards with friendly people? 🙂 Free Pizza, Thursday Open Pairs Every Thursday at 11:00 join us for 24 or so hands of bridge. For October, I'm getting pizza from Blaze downstairs. (The pizza has been getting good reviews!) Let's have a special game this Thursday. I've earned another *Upgraded Club Championship* from ACBL for recruiting members. Let's use it this Thursday. /Lots/ of extra black points. In fact, since next week is the Instant Matchpoint Game on Wednesday, we'll have a *Club Championship on Wednesday* as well (but no free pizza!). It's Club Appreciation Month. Intro to Declarer Play Saturday mornings starting October 28, at 9:30, join us for six weeks focused on play of the hand as declarer. I'm trying something new this time. My text will be the wonderful classic by Eddie Kantar, /Introduction to Declarer Play,/ 2nd edition, updated in 2019. I have great hands to play. We'll spend three weeks playing notrump, and three weeks playing suit contracts. No bidding required. It should be an ideal course for brand new bridge players, or those who just want to brush up their card play. Sign up for the full course here <https://pasadenabridgeclub.com/contact/course_enrollment>. Classes This Week Individual classes are available to join for $25. No need to sign up for a full course. Here are the topics this week: * Wednesday, 7:00 PM, /Improving Your Judgment - Doubles/ "Balancing and other doubles" * Thursday, 7:00 PM, /Bridge Basics 2 - Competitive Bidding/ "Simple overcalls and advances" * Saturday, 9:30 AM /Bridge Basics 3 - Popular Conventions/ "Practice hands" New on the YouTube channel: The Dangerous Opponent <https://youtu.be/Y7guU6kSK5s> Saturday afternoon workshop (1:00 PM), we've spent a few weeks on declarer play, let's do some basic bidding topics: "*Opener's Rebid: Balanced Opening Hands*" About that Saturday 9:30 class — how often do you get to practice Stayman, Jacoby, strong opening hands, and slam bidding all at once? Here's your chance. 🙂 Next week, Instant Matchpoint Game Make plans to play in the Open Pairs on *Wednesday, October 25*, for a very special annual event, the Instant Matchpoint Game. After the game, everyone receives a booklet that has expert analysis for every hand. There's even *one full gold masterpoin*t to be had by winning your section at the game. Also, the *Sunday Unit Game* is October 22, 12:30 PM, at the *Arcadia Bridge Center*. Drop me a note to be added to the reservation list. Best regards, Mojo, Jane, Zachary