You will learn more by losing to good players
than you will by winning against poor players
The Montreal Relay and Strong Hands
This is not a well-known system, but the best description of it says that it is a very good transition from 2/1 to more
complicated systems. The popular 2/1 system is good...very good, but it does not have a method for handling those
hands that are strong, but not strong enough for a 2!c call.
Both Precision and the Montreal Relay recognize that good hands need a forcing way to show them on the opening call.
This hand is a good example: Most 2/1 players would open it at the 1-level and then jump in the suit, but because responder
will pass with fewer than 6 HCP, they often do not get to a game contract with such hands.
Suppose responder has 3-4 points? Maybe !cK or the !dA ?.... Hey, even one point would be wunnerful if it was the
!cJTx !
The Montreal Relay has two strong bids...
1. A 2!c opening bid is defined as a balanced hand with 18-20 HCP. It is not forcing!
Responder is allowed to pass with a weak hand and at least a 4-card club suit. Responder's 2-level bids are natural
and non-forcing.
2. Two Diamond opening bids are not defined in terms of points, but are alerted as either 18+
HCP or unusual with strong distributional values. This bid is forcing. The hand above has only 15 HCP, but has
great distribution and would be opened 2!d.
Both Montreal Relay and Precision bidders would often be in game with this sort of hand, but most 2/1 teams might not.
Roy Wilson - Emerald Life Master I am 90 yars old...
and I have played bridge more than half my life...
The lesser half I wasted.
TEXT HERE
Unit Games -- Our unit games are held twice a month, on the first
and third Sundays, at the Pasadena Bridge Club. - Game time is 12:30. Note: Open the link to the Pasadena Club Results for Unit game results.
The Pasadena Bridge Club is hosting Robert Todd for a day-long lecture on Sunday, March 15.
Our next Unit game is Sunday, March 29.
Nearby Sectional and a Regional
Our neighbors in Upland are hosting a sectional, and there's a regional in San Diego...
The link below will take you to the ACBL website where you can find tournament schedules and locations.
(You need to select both the month and State.)
A Lecture Given by Robert Todd
Here's a free lecture by a very good player...
Ed's Edifications
Ed Lechner - EdLechner@gmail.com
Open the link below in the Table of Links, Ed's Newsletter (D4)
Ed plays a difficult 3NT contract.
HIDDEN TEXT
Unit Historian:
Do you have an old photo or other memorbilia from our past that you can share with us? Please contact Mike and
let him make a copy.
Mike Marcucci
818 903-2471
nstarmgm@att.net
March, 2026
Status Change for our Members updated each month in the first week
New Members
Steven Lison
Monterey Park
Yolly Minter
Glendora
Transferred In
Carolyn Cohen
Toluca Lake
Advanced in Rank - 3
Marion Darling
Junior Master
Meera Kumar
Club Master
Carolyn Cohen
Emerald Life Master
Pasadena-San Gabriel Unit 559
Our unit is one of nine in District 23 and we are sanctioned by the American Contract Bridge League.
We have an elected board of 12 members that meets monthly and is responsible for unit games, our Holiday party
and the annual John Waken sectional.
BBO - BridgeBase Online
Pete Hollands discusses the latest software version of the BBO Robots.
Take a look:
Our unit members can play in a virtual club game set up by Mojo and Paula...
When you log on, you are at the Home screen. Click on Competitive and then click on All Tournaments.
There's a Search Box at the top, on the right. Simply type in a few letters or numbers that will help
identify what you are looking for: 23 is sufficient for District 23, and 559 is enough for Unit 559.
You can use either the abbreviated Pasa or 559 for our virtual club.
Use this link if you would like to see the convention card used by the BBO robots.
BBO has many bridge forums where you can discuss almost any aspect or topic related to bridge.
BBO has a site on YouTube where you will find both bridge discussions and explanations.
WEB PAGES AND WEB SITES Two tables of both internal and external links
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2
3
4
a
b
c
d
e
f
A
B
C
D
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Unit 559 Membership Report
Ranks are updated quarterly after the 7th of the month.
Unit 559 Active Members
Click the rank below for a list
Master Points
0-5
No color points needed
5-20
No color points needed
20-50+
No color points needed
50+ 5+ silver points
100+ 15+ silver points
and 5+ gold points
200+ 25+ silver
and 20+ red/gold/platinum
(5 must be gold or platinum)
300+ 50+ silver
and 50+ red/gold/platinum
(25 must be gold or platinum)
500+ 75+ silver
and 100+ red/gold/platinum
(50 must be gold or platinum)
750+ Life Master with
at least 750 points
1000+ Life Master with
at least 1000 points
(200+ must be silver/red/gold/platinum)
1500+ Life Master with
at least 1500 points
(300+ must be silver/red/gold/platinum)
2500+ Life Master with
at least 2500 points
(500+ must be silver/red/gold/platinum)
3500+ Life Master with
at least 3500 points
700+ silver/red/gold/platinum (350+ must be gold or platinum)
5000+ Life Master with
at least 5000 points
1000+ silver/red/gold/platinum (500+ must be gold or platinum)
7500+ Life Master with
at least 7500 points
1500+ silver/red/gold/platinum (750+ must be gold or platinum)
10,000+ Life Master with
at least 10,000 points
2000+ silver/red/gold/platinum (1000+ must be gold or platinum)
10,000+ Life Master with
at least 10,000 points
2000+ silver/red/gold/platinum (1000+ must be gold or platinum)
Must have a victory in an eligble event
March Total Membership 329
The Number of visitors since estabshment prior
to the reset on January 16, 2026 was 1,009,500 Since January 16, 2016 --
You are Visitor Number 8857
This website was established in 1999 by Roy Wilson
Linux version 1.0.0 was introduced March 14, 1994
The First Web Site was established at CERN in 1992 by Tim Berners-Lee.
This website was built in 1999
by Roy Wilson
Mike Marcucci
