Palo Alto Bridge

Firecracker Sectional CANCELLED
2021-07-07 - 2021-07-11 | Bridge Center, 432A Stierlin Rd, Mountain View, CA, 94043, United States
Unfortunately, we will not hold our Firecracker Sectional this year. Come back next year and enjoy the largest Sectional in Northern California.

Monday Morning Bridge Club
2021-07-19 11:45 - 15:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Bridge Center, 432A Stierlin Rd, Mountain View, CA, 94043, United States
Please see Club Games for additional information including:

game times
strata
reservation requirements
COVID requirements
youth discounts

Director:

John Schwartz
(650) 353-1461
Send Email

Conventions You Need to Play IN PERSON
2021-09-14 09:00 - 11:00 | Bridge Center, 432A Stierlin Rd, Mountain View, CA, 94043, United States
Kathy Harper
(650) 207-1816
Send Email

Useful conventions for basic intermediates including Jacoby and Texas transfers, Stayman and Garbage Stayman, and minor suit bidding when partner opens one notrump.
This Basic-Intermediate Bridge Class builds upon our Beginning Bridge Classes and prepares our students for our Intermediate Classes.
Notes will be emailed for all classes. No make-up classes are offered for missed classes.
Our course instructor is ABTA Master Teacher Kathy Harper. Kathy and our wonderful volunteers give students individual attention which helps our students learn in a fun environment.
Please contact Kathy Harper at (650) 207-1816 email for additional information.

Conventions You Need to Play
Dates

Takeout Doubles
September 14, 2021

Negative Doubles
September 28

Negative Doubles part 2
October 12

Stayman & Garbage Stayman
October 26

Jacoby Transfers
November 9

Roman Keycard Blackwood
November 23

Jacoby Two Notrump
November 30

Control Showing Cue Bids
December 14

Michaels
February 15, 2022

Splinters
February 22

Non-Life Master Sectional
2021-09-18 - 2021-09-19 | Bridge Center, 432A Stierlin Rd, Mountain View, CA, 94043, United States
Unit 503 hosts a Non-Life Master Sectional for Unit members and friends who are not yet Life Masters and who have fewer than 750 masterpoints each. All events award silver points. Hand records will be available after the events each day.
Saturday, September 18, 2021
9:30 AM and 2 PM – Single session stratified pairs
49er, 299er and 749er Sections
Sunday, September 19
9:30 AM – Single session stratified pairs
9:30 AM & 2 PM -Single session stratified SWISS
Sign up to reserve your spot. Information & Sign-up

Holiday Party and Game
2021-12-18 12:15 - 13:00 | Online
The event you have all been waiting for! On December 18, we will be holding our annual Holiday Party virtually and an online Game. The Holiday Party will start at 12:15pm on Zoom (link sent by email); we can’t wait to see all of you! The game will be at 1:00pm on BBO and will have a 499er and open section, and the cost will be a bargain 3 BB$! Thank you Will Watson for Directing.
Frank Smoot will be the emcee as we play games and present awards:

Play “Two Truths, and a Lie” and learn about 3 of our members and Bridge Trivia
You have a chance to win prizes
Presentation of annual Awards

No need to preregister, just sign up on BBO as usual. If you haven’t played on BBO before and need some help signing up, contact Stephanie Youngquist at yoyo2000@pacbell.net or 650-862-3467.
This is the Unit’s annual holiday charity game. Usually, members and friends play for free but are asked to contribute gift cards or cash to local charity holiday sharing programs. This year we are providing an online alternative at the lowest price we can to still award masterpoints. Please consider a generous gift to Community Services Agency (CSA) using this link: https://forms.diamondmindinc.com/csacares/unit503?token=1738347040 or to Second Harvest of Silicon Valley at https://impact.shfb.org/fundraiser/3599223. For more information about these organizations, you can go to their websites at https://www.csacares.org/ and https://www.shfb.org/.
If you join in the holiday party and make a donation, you will get one free in-person play at the PABC during Q1 of 2022.
CSA is delivering critical services to homebound seniors and those who are housing or food insecure. CSA also partners with Second Harvest Food Bank.
If you would prefer to send a check or gift card to one of these organizations, please mail it to: Palo Alto Bridge Club, PO Box 391206, Mountain View, CA 94039
We would like to thank Stephanie Youngquist, Kathy Wheeler, Paul Davis and Frank Smoot in advance for making this Virtual Party a success.

Unit Game - Pairs
2022-01-02 | CA
Stratified Pair Game which may be held at our Bridge Center, online or both.

Bridge Center games start at 12 noon and we ask that players sign up so we can plan accordingly. COVID restrictions may apply (proof of vaccination and masks).
Online games usually start at 1pm and do not require advance signup, although we recommend you log into BBO 10 minutes before the game. Players who have not previously played in our online games should contact the director in advance.

Please check our Unit Game page for specific about this specific game.

Monterey Clambake Regional
2022-01-03 - 2022-01-09 | CA
Learn. more about this event at the District 21 website (link to follow).
Flyer

Unit Game - Swiss Teams
2022-01-23 | CA
Stratified Swiss Teams Game which may be held at our Bridge Center, online or both.

Bridge Center games start at 12 noon and we ask that players sign up so we can plan accordingly. COVID restrictions may apply (proof of vaccination and masks).
Online games usually start at 1pm and do not require advance signup, although we recommend you log into BBO 10 minutes before the game. Players who have not previously played in our online games should contact the director in advance.

Please check our Unit Game page for specific information about this game.

Celebrity Bridge Seminar with Gavin Wolpert
2022-01-29 09:30 - 11:00 | Online Webinar, Link to be provided to registrants
Dealing With Overcalls by Gavin Wolpert
Modern overcalls are getting lighter and lighter every day. It is critical that we have a firm understanding of what our bids mean in order not to let overcalls push us around. These seminars take a step-by-step approach to discussing the various positions we find ourselves in after the opponent’s overcall.
These seminars will benefit the low intermediate level and work their way up. They cover those pesky situations when opponent’s overcall leaves you scratching your head as to what to bid. They review some common negative double situations, as well as responders 2-level bids in competition. They then shift to discuss opener’s rebid in competition including what is forcing and what isn’t, how to express a fit, when to drive for game.
Details:

January 29 – Dealing With Overcalls 1
February 12 – Dealing With Overcalls 2

Information & Registration

District 21 GNT
2022-02-12 - 2022-02-13 | Bridge Center, 432A Stierlin Rd, Mountain View, CA, 94043, United States
See District 21 Calendar for more information.

Non-Life Master Sectional
2022-02-19 - 2022-02-20 | Bridge Center, 432A Stierlin Rd, Mountain View, CA, 94043, United States
Unit 503 hosts a Non-Life Master Sectional for Unit members and friends who are not yet Life Masters and who have fewer than 750 masterpoints each. All events award silver points. Hand records will be available after the events each day.
COVID restrictions may apply
Information & Sign-up

Speedy Beginning Bridge
2022-03-22 08:30 - 10:30 | Bridge Center, 432A Stierlin Rd, Mountain View, CA, 94043, United States
Kathy Harper
(650) 207-1816
Send Email

Learn Bridge the modern way in this course designed by Pat Harrington! Each class includes both instruction and practice play. Start playing the very first day! Children & teens welcome.
For people who have never played bridge and those people who have played for years but want a refresher course or just to learn the basics.
Notes will be emailed for all classes. No make-up classes are offered for missed classes.
Our course instructor is ABTA Master Teacher Kathy Harper. Kathy and our wonderful volunteers give students individual attention which helps our students learn in a fun environment.
Please contact Kathy Harper for more information.

PLAY & LEARN Beginning Bridge
Dates

Introduction to Bridge
Choosing a Contract
March 22, 2022

Opening Bids and Selecting the Best Game
Opening 1NT
April 5

Major Suit Opening Bids
Minor Suit Opening Bids
April 19

Dummy Points
May 3

Responder Bids Notrump
Opener Bids Notrump
May 17

Takeout Doubles
May 31

Preempts
June 7

Strong 2 Clubs
June 21

Supervised Play Tuesday Mornings
2022-03-22 08:30 - 10:30 | Bridge Center, 432A Stierlin Rd, Mountain View, CA, 94043, United States
Kathy Harper
(650) 207-1816
Send Email

Celebrity Bridge Seminar with Robert Todd
2022-04-02 09:30 - 11:30 | Online Webinar, Link to be provided to registrants
“Is it Forcing? How Forcing is it?”
We’ve asked Robert Todd to deliver another excellent virtual class for our Celebrity Lesson Series. He did a virtual class last year that was received with outstanding reviews.
This time, we’re having him discuss the subject of Forcing Bids, which follows on nicely from Gavin Wolpert’s discussion of Overcalls. All levels will benefit from the class but, particularly, those of you who are intermediates and advanced players.
$25 registration fee. SiVY youth are FREE!
Information and registration

District 21 GNT CANCELLED
2022-05-14 12:00 - 2022-05-15 20:00 | Bridge Center, 432A Stierlin Rd, Mountain View, CA, 94043, United States
CANCELLED
Non-Life Master below 500 masterpoints, the annual GNT for your flight takes place May 14th/15th at the Palo Alto Bridge Club, starting at noon. This is a KO event, playing 24 board matches as long as you keep winning! The first place team will receive a stipend of $2,000 to go to represent Northern California in the National Championships at the NABCs in Providence, RI.
Flight A players, time is running out…entries close on April 30th. The event begins May 7th in Oakland, moving to Palo Alto for semi-finals and finals on May 14th/15th.
To register go to GNT Registration

Celebrity Bridge Seminar with Donna Compton
2022-06-11 09:30 - 11:00 | Bridge Center, 432A Stierlin Rd, Mountain View, CA, 94043, United States
“Using Dummy on Defense” Saturday, June 11, 9:30-11
We’re really pleased to announce that we’ve booked Donna Compton for our third celebrity bridge lesson for 2022.
After three lessons on bidding, we’re going to focus on DEFENSE. “Using Dummy on Defense” explores the three different types of dummies and how to defend against them! Your defense will never be the same.
Information and Registration

Firecracker Sectional
2022-07-06 - 2022-07-10 | Bridge Center, 432A Stierlin Rd, Mountain View, CA, 94043, United States
The wait is almost over. We plan to hold our amazing Firecracker Sectional this year for the first time in two years.
Make your plans to attend this year’s Firecracker which will be held again at our Bridge Center and the adjacent IFES Hall.
Information, results, hand records and more

Bridge Center Closed During Santa Clara Regional
2022-08-30 - 2022-09-05 | Bridge Center, 432A Stierlin Rd, Mountain View, CA, 94043, United States
There will not be any games at the Bridge Center. Online games will still be held.

Polish Your Basics
2022-09-13 08:30 - 10:30 | Bridge Center, 432A Stierlin Rd, Mountain View, CA, 94043, United States
Kathy Harper
(650) 207-1816
Send Email

Review and refine your bidding in this class for second year students or players who have been away from the game. Expand your understanding of the new style of bidding as we explore auctions that are not discussed in many bridge courses. Written by Pat Harrington
This Basic-Intermediate Bridge Class builds upon our Beginning Bridge Classes and prepares our students for our Intermediate Classes.
Notes will be emailed for all classes. No make-up classes are offered for missed classes.
Our course instructor is ABTA Master Teacher Kathy Harper. Kathy and our wonderful volunteers give students individual attention which helps our students learn in a fun environment.
Please contact Kathy Harper at (650) 207-1816 email for additional information.

PLAY & LEARN Polish Your Basics
Dates

Categorize Your Strength! How declarer uses discards. Quick losers.
September 13, 2022

Which Suit do I bid first? Bidding distributional hands.
September 27

Bidding balanced Hands. Stayman.
October 11

When you don’t have game, stop at a reasonable LOW spot.
October 25

Help suit game tries with single raise in the majors.
November 8

Major suit limit raises. Why four-card support?
November 22

“Newplicate”, the “Weak Freak” and how to show a good major raise.
December 6

How to avoid rebidding a five-card suit. Reverses.
December 13

Responder’s only forcing bid.
January 17, 2023

When a New Suit by Responder is NOT forcing.
January 31

Supervised Play Monday Evenings
2022-09-19 18:45 - 20:45 | Bridge Center, 432A Stierlin Rd, Mountain View, CA, 94043, United States

Beginning Bridge
2022-09-19 19:00 - 21:00 | Bridge Center, 432A Stierlin Rd, Mountain View, CA, 94043, United States
Kathy Harper
(650) 207-1816
Send Email

Learn Bridge the modern way in this course designed by Pat Harrington! Each class includes both instruction and practice play. Start playing the very first day! Children & teens welcome.
For people who have never played bridge and those people who have played for years but want a refresher course or just to learn the basics.
Notes will be emailed for all classes. No make-up classes are offered for missed classes.
Our course instructor is ABTA Master Teacher Kathy Harper. Kathy and our wonderful volunteers give students individual attention which helps our students learn in a fun environment.
Please contact Kathy Harper for more information.

Celebrity Bridge Seminar with Adam Parrish
2022-10-01 09:30 - 11:00 | Online Webinar, Link to be provided to registrants
The final Celebrity Bridge Lesson of 2022 will be Adam Parrish who will be covering Preempts.
Adam Parrish literally wrote the book on this subject (the seminar comes with an ebook copy of his newest book, Parrish the Thought Volume 1: Preempts and Overcalls). This 90-minute online seminar will cover these questions and more. If you’ve ever had questions about preempts, you won’t want to miss this one.
Preempts raise so many questions: When do you preempt? How do seat and vulnerability affect preempts? What do you do when partner preempts? How do you handle preempts by your opponents?
Information & Registration

Super Silver Doubleheader Sectional
2022-10-14 - 2022-10-16 | Bridge Center, 432A Stierlin Rd, Mountain View, CA, 94043, United States
Enjoy Face-to-Face Bridge and win lots of silver points at our Open sectional Friday October 14 through Sunday October 16 and again on November 6-8. Information and Signup

Celebrity Bridge Seminar with Adam Parrish Part II
2022-10-22 09:30 - 11:00 | Online Webinar, Link to be provided to registrants
The first class on Preempts!!! was very well received and covered what to do when you have a “preemptable” hand. Class-takers were interested in the other part of preempting bidding: how to respond and how to compete against preempts.

Adam Parrish literally wrote the book on this subject (the seminar comes with an ebook copy of his newest book, Parrish the Thought Volume 1: Preempts and Overcalls). This 90-minute online seminar will cover these questions and more. If you’ve ever had questions about preempts, you won’t want to miss this one.
Information & Registration

San Mateo NLM Sectional
2022-10-29 - 2022-10-30 | Bridge Center, 432A Stierlin Rd, Mountain View, CA, 94043, United States
San Jose Unit 498 Non-Life Master Sectional held at our Bridge Center.
Information

Lecture Series
2022-10-31 09:30 - 10:30 | Bridge Center, 432A Stierlin Rd, Mountain View, CA, 94043, United States
Our Unit provides a series of free lectures as part of our education program. These lectures cover areas of interest for new as well as intermediate players. Lectures are held on selected Tuesday mornings at 9:30 AM at our Bridge Center unless otherwise noted.
Information about the lectures an be found here. After the lecture you will also find any handout material provided in class at this link.
This free series is funded by the Peninsula Bridge Education Foundation. Please consider a tax-deductible donation to continue the mission of our foundation.
You do not need to register for this event.

0-499 F2F Halloween Game Special
2022-10-31 09:30 - 14:30 | Bridge Center, 432A Stierlin Rd, Mountain View, CA, 94043, United States
We are excited to announce a 0-499er masterpoint spooktacular to be held on Halloween, Monday, October 31, 2022, at the Palo Alto Bridge Center:

9:30 AM Lynn Yokel 4 Hands Bridge Lecture
10:30 AM 0-499er game at $4.99/player (18 hands)
10:30 AM Open game at regular price (24 hands)
Wear a Halloween costume – prizes awarded for best costumes!

0-499 players – if you haven’t played bridge face-to-face in a while at the Bridge Center, here is an opportunity to do so in a special stratified, 0-499er limited section at a $4.99/player price.
Also, playing in the October 31 game will be a great warm-up for the Palo Alto Unit’s October 14-16 Sectional, with 100% silver points being awarded.
We strongly encourage you to arrive early to hear Lynn Yokel’s legendary “4 Hands” bridge lecture at 9:30 AM. Lynn will review four bridge hands, with learnings to be had on bidding, declarer play, and defense. Lynn is an outstanding teacher, and this is an opportunity to improve your bridge skills.
Lynn is an ACBL Associate National Tournament Director who is well-known to Bay Area bridge players, having directed many Regional and Sectional tournaments in the area (including the 2022 Firecracker) as well as nationally. Lynn is a Diamond Life Master, a long-time bridge club director, and teacher. She received the ACBL’s Jean Molnar Award for excellence in customer service and directing.
Bridge Center games require pre-registration at www.signup123.com/unit503bridge Also, included at that website is a feature allowing one to use the reservation system to find a partner. (The instructions for doing that are on each reservation page.)
COVID Requirements: Players must be fully vaccinated, including booster shots if eligible for them.
There is no mask requirement at the Bridge Center, unless a player at a table requests that they be worn there, so some players wear them and some don’t. We’re also serving coffee, tea, pizza, fresh fruit, various cheeses, breads, pastries, nuts, and other fun munchies, with new snacks each week.
We look forward to seeing you and sharing a Halloween fun time at the Bridge Center (432 Stierlin Road, Mountain View).

Super Silver Doubleheader Sectional
2022-11-04 - 2022-11-06 | Bridge Center, 432A Stierlin Rd, Mountain View, CA, 94043, United States
Enjoy Face-to-Face Bridge and win lots of silver points at our Open sectional on November 6-8. Information and Signup

Holiday Party and Charity Game
2022-12-11 13:00 - 17:00 | Bridge Center, 432A Stierlin Rd, Mountain View, CA, 94043, United States
Celebrate the holidays with us at our Bridge Center for a charity game with extra master points. The game is free and starts at 1pm. We will have light snacks during the game followed by cake, a toast, presentation of awards, and a raffle.
In lieu of game fees we are collecting donations for Community Services Agency (CSA) and Second Harvest.
RSVP until December 7th to join in the fun. Reservations are required.
More information and signup to come.

Board of Directors Meeting
2023-01-11 16:00 - 17:30 | Bridge Center, 432A Stierlin Rd, Mountain View, CA, 94043, United States
Held on the second Wednesday of every month. Meetings are via Zoom. Please see our Event Calendar for possible changes.
Members are welcome to attend. Please contact the board if you would like a subject added to the Agenda.
Please see our Governance page for information about the board, the agenda for this meeting and the agenda and minutes of past meetings.
