Palo Alto Bridge

Crush Declarer's Contracts! Defend with Malice!
2026-10-06 18:30 - 20:00, 2026-10-13 18:30 - 20:00, 2026-10-20 18:30 - 20:00, 2026-10-27 18:30 - 20:00, 2026-11-03 18:30 - 20:00, 2026-11-10 18:30 - 20:00, 2026-11-17 18:30 - 20:00, 2026-11-24 18:30 - 20:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Bridge Center, 432A Stierlin Rd, Mountain View, CA, 94043, United States
Chris Chung
(339) 245-2082
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Chris Chung has completely changed the way I think about bridge. Rather than asking students to memorize rules, he explains the logic behind the game, making bidding and play much easier to understand and remember. His enthusiasm is contagious, he’s approachable and encouraging, and he makes every lesson enjoyable. Thanks to Chris, I’m not only having more fun playing bridge—I’m also taking my game to the next level.
– Kelly H
They say defense is the hardest part of the game, but Chris prefers defense to declarer play. Plus, you will be defending twice as much as you declare, so you better learn to love it!
In this class, Chris will share his love of defending with you. He will discuss the number one instinct every player should have on defense, the underlying logic that gives rise to this principle, and how our partnership must twist, turn, and maneuver to obey that principle in every way. Along the way, Chris will share real deals that reward this attack, as well as humorous stories of what happened at the table. The results may be shocking — you may break contracts far in advance of them ever getting off the ground, when a less incisive defense would allow declarer to do something nasty to you 9 tricks in the future! And the best part is, you don’t even have to know about declarer’s machinations. All we must do is follow the fundamental defensive principle.
Most of all, Chris wants the class to be full of fun and laughter. Declarer plays alone, but defense is a partnership game!
This course is intended for Intermediate level bridge players with at least one year of duplicate experience. The Class
30 minute lecture and then one hour of play related to the topic.
Lecture materials, guided notes and inks to the hands with suggested declarer play/defensive lines will be provided.
Coffee, tea and light snacks included.
Syllabus

The Fundamental Defensive Principle
The Fundamental Defensive Principle, continued
Attitude Signals, Attitude Shifts – Surgically Tear Apart Declarer
Return Partner’s Lead? – More Surgical Precision, and Friendly Deception!
Give a Ruff, but Don’t be Lazy!
No Mercy! Down 1 is Not Enough! (This is Chris’s favorite)

Course Instructor
Chris Chung has been an avid social bridge player for most of his career, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t take the game seriously! 19th out of 204 in the Life Master Pairs in 2025, and NAP Flight A Championship in 2026, Chris not only plays at a high level, but knows that the game must be played for fun, not for obeying arbitrary rules session in and session out.
He has coached the Stanford bridge club for 7 years, taught people of all ages (9 to 80, seriously!), and is equally welcoming to beginner and advanced alike. When he was more active in the duplicate scene, a few players referred to him as “Mr. Smiles.” Chris will always meet you at your level and try to explain fundamental bridge concepts in an easy and sensical, digestible way.

Payment
After registering, below, you may pay online, by Zelle or check to hold your spot:
Online: Use this link to make your payment.
Zelle: Send $144 to bridge-with-chris. It will show a payment to Yarby LLC under bridge-with-chris
Check: Mail a check made out to Christopher Chung or Yarby LLC in the amount of $144 to:

Chris Chung
3135 Bandera Dr.
Palo Alto, CA 94304

EZ Bridge
2026-10-12 11:15 - 13:15, 2026-10-19 11:15 - 13:15, 2026-10-26 11:15 - 13:15, 2026-11-02 11:15 - 13:15, 2026-11-09 11:15 - 13:15, 2026-11-16 11:15 - 13:15, 2026-11-23 11:15 - 13:15, 2026-11-30 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

Swiss Team Club Game
2026-10-12 11:30 - 15:00, 2026-11-09 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.

Board of Directors Meeting
2026-10-13 16:00 - 17:30, 2026-11-10 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.

Supervised Play Monday Evenings
2026-10-19 18:45 - 20:30, 2026-11-02 18:45 - 20:30, 2026-11-16 18:45 - 20:30, 2026-11-30 18:45 - 20:30
Kathy Harper
(650) 207-1816
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Beginning Bridge
2026-10-19 19:00 - 20:30, 2026-11-02 19:00 - 20:30, 2026-11-16 19:00 - 20:30, 2026-11-30 19:00 - 20:30
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
2026-10-22 - 2026-10-25
Save the date.

STaC Week
2026-11-16 - 2026-11-21
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.
