Game ChangersConventions You Need to Play
2026-04-13 19:00 - 20:30, 2026-04-27 19:00 - 20:30, 2026-05-11 19:00 - 20:30, 2026-05-18 19:00 - 20:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Bridge Center, 432A Stierlin Rd, Mountain View, CA, 94043, United States
Kathy Harper
(650) 207-1816
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Useful conventions for basic intermediates including Jacoby and Texas transfers, Stayman and Garbage Stayman, Keycard Blackwood and more.
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

Jacoby Two No Trump
March 9, 2026

The Negative Double
March 23

New Minor Forcing
April 13

Stayman including Garbage Stayman
April 27

Jacoby Transfers
May 11

Texas Transfers
May 18

Roman Keycard Blackwood
June 8

Control Showing Bids
June 15

Board of Directors Meeting
2026-04-14 16:00 - 17:30, 2026-05-12 16:00 - 17:30
Usually held on the second Tuesday of every month at 4pm. 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.

March Madness at the Bridge Table
2026-04-16 19:15 - 21:30
Frank Smoot
(408) 306-3901
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Combine your chances to win. Remember: You can’t succeed without an entry.
In this five-week mostly-play course, we will combine structured learning with table practice. The deals provide many opportunities to apply what you have learned. You will improve play technique in a fun, supportive environment.
This course is intended for Intermediate level bridge players with at least one year of duplicate experience.
What you will learn

Choose the best response to partner’s suit opening bids.
Manage trumps effectively, drawing them at the right time.
Identify and combine your chances. Try them in the best order.
Use timing and endplays to bring home tough contracts.

How the class works
Lots of bidding and play of the hand (and a little bit of homework).
We will do exercises in class (homework outside of class) and conclude each evening by playing deals related to the topic. In-class deals are available in downloadable format so you can play the hands at home and receive commentary on the bidding and play (requires Bridge Baron Software).
Coffee, tea and snacks also provided.
Our course instructor is the very popular Frank Smoot who has taught bridge to beginners and beyond in Palo Alto for 30+ years. Frank and our wonderful volunteers give students individual attention which helps our students learn in a fun environment.
For more information contact Frank Smoot (408) 306-3901 email.

The 5-Week Course Covers
Bridge Baron Downloads

Respond to a Suit Opening
Important Suit Tactics
Combine Your Chances
Endplays
Entries & Communications

Respond
Suit Tactics
Combine
Endplays
Entries

Bridge Baron Support
Purchase: BaronBarclay
Instructions for downloading and playing files with Bridge Baron
Students: For additional support contact Alan Templeton or Frank Smoot

Payment
After registering, below, you may pay by Zelle or check to hold your spot:
Zelle: Transfer $170 to either franklinsalias-bridge@yahoo.com or (408) 306-3901.
Check: Mail a check made out to Frank Smoot in the amount of $170:

Frank Smoot
15 Tagus Ct.
Portola Valley, CA 94028

EZ Bridge
2026-04-20 11:15 - 13:15, 2026-04-27 11:15 - 13:15, 2026-05-04 11:15 - 13:15, 2026-05-11 11:15 - 13:15, 2026-05-18 11:15 - 13:15, 2026-05-25 11:15 - 13:15, 2026-06-01 11:15 - 13:15
Duplicate Bridge Made Easy
New to duplicate? Want a relaxed game designed to help you improve? This is for you.
3 Mondays in March
March 9, 16, and 23
Every Monday
11am mini-lesson
11:15am – 1:15pm game
12-14 Boards
$15 per person
ACBL-sanctioned game (0-49 MPs)
Masterpoints awarded.
Ask Questions and Have Fun
Need a partner? We’ll match you up.
Signup for this fun event | Flyer
Questions? Ask John, Will or Alex:
John Schwartz irpdy@yahoo.com
Will Watson watsonbridge@gmail.com
Alex Narasi anarasin@yahoo.com

Supervised Play Tuesday Mornings
2026-04-21 08:45 - 10:30, 2026-05-05 08:45 - 10:30, 2026-05-26 08:45 - 10:30, 2026-06-02 08:45 - 10:30
Kathy Harper
(650) 207-1816
Send Email

Beginning Bridge
2026-04-21 09:00 - 10:30, 2026-05-05 09:00 - 10:30, 2026-05-26 09:00 - 10:30, 2026-06-02 09:00 - 10:30
Kathy Harper
(650) 207-1816
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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.

Palo Alto Bridge Silver Sectional
2026-04-23 - 2026-04-26
Save the date.

Supervised Play Monday Evenings
2026-04-27 18:45 - 20:30, 2026-05-11 18:45 - 20:30, 2026-05-18 18:45 - 20:30
Kathy Harper
(650) 207-1816
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Conventions You Need to Play class will be held at the same time. Details to come.

STaC Week
2026-05-04 - 2026-05-09
Go for the GOLD! And the RED! And the SILVER! And the BLACK!

Do you like to win gold, red, silver, and black masterpoints without having to play two sessions and drive a long distance to a Regional tournament? Then call your partners, mark your calendar, and come to the Palo Alto Bridge Center!
Sectional Tournament at Clubs (STaC) games will be held daily at the Palo Alto Bridge Center. STaC game masterpoint “overall” awards for both Open and Limited games are significantly larger than the standard club game! Stratified Open and Limited (most days) Games
Game times and signup may be found here. For planning purposes, we ask you to sign up for the games.

Swiss Team Club Game
2026-05-11 11:30 - 15:00
Swiss Team games are great fun to play and grant generous master point awards at sectional, regional, and national tournaments! Now you have the chance to play at the club level in our monthly games, typically held on the 2nd Monday of the month (check our calendar for changes), hosted by John Schwartz and Will Watson.
These games are a wonderful opportunity to polish one’s Swiss Team skills throughout the year and especially prior to sectional, regional, and national tournaments. If you are less experienced or have never played in a Swiss Team game and would like to play Swiss Teams at future tournaments, these Swiss Team club games are a perfect opportunity to gain experience in a more relaxed club game environment. For those less experienced Swiss Team players, here are slides from a Swiss Team strategy lecture from a Swiss Team strategy lecture given in August 2023..
These games will have an Open and a Limited section. They will award 100% black points.
No lunch is provided. Snacks aree available before and during the game.
For planning purposes, we ask that players sign-up to play at: https://www.signup123.com/unit503bridge/Scripts/slogin.pl

The game reservation system is designed for pairs games and not Swiss Teams. So, to sign up your team, sign up you and your partner in both the N/S and E/W boxes.
Having trouble signing up? Email Will Watson watsonbridge@gmail.com

Don’t have a team of four? The Unit will help you find a team. Email Will Watson at watsonbridge@gmail.com.
Have questions? Please contact Will or Marc Cervellino at marc.cervellino@hotmail.com.

Free Lecture
2026-05-14
Our Unit provides free lectures as part of our education program. Lectures cover areas of interest for new as well as intermediate players. Lectures are held at our Bridge Center. Sign-ups are not required.
More

Gold Club Game - Club Championship Doubleheader
2026-06-06 10:00 - 17:00
Golden Club Championship (10:00 AM)
100% Gold Point F2F Club Game
Open, MidFlight (0-3,000), 0-499er, and 0-49er Sections
Here is great opportunity to win those elusive gold masterpoints (100%) in all sections at a F2F club game.
We anticipate large participation and require that you register.
Afternoon Club Championship (2:30 PM)
100% Black Point F2F Club Game
Open, MidFlight (0-3,000), 0-499er, 0-49er Sections
To guarantee a spot in the games, we ask you to register in advance .
These games are two separate sessions! Play one or both!
Need a partner? Use the registration link and select Need a Partner when registering.
