Since June 16, 2016 -- You are Visitor Number  51560709


ACBL Services for Members:   662-253-3191

Welcome to our unit's website!



The Extended Precison Club System

Montreal Relay

      I've played bridge over half my life...
   The lesser half I wasted.--roy    Chinese Chop for Roy

Roy Wilson --                  
       unit559webmaster@gmail.com
626 340-9575


Unit President:   
Jan Wickersham
626 487-4014
wickershamjanet@gmail.com 		Unit Historian:   
Mike Marcucci
818 903-2471
nstarmgm@att.net 		Unit Game & BBO Director:  
Mojo - Morris Jones
818 695-6114
mojo@whiteoaks.com 		Friendship Chairman:   
Marie Nimmrich
626 448-3304
mareeelizabeth@aol.com 		Unit 559 Webmaster:
Roy Wilson
626 340-9575
unit559webmaster@gmail.com

 








Arcadia Bridge Center Time Game
Diane Gulbrandsen     626 445-3797     Home: 626 357-1590
  Monday    Noon         Open Game    
  Tuesday    11:00 AM         Open Game    
  Wednesday    Closed           No Game    
  Thursday    7:15 PM         Open Game    
  Friday    11:00 AM         Open Game    
  Saturday    10:30 AM         Rookie Game    
  Saturday    1:00 PM         Open Game    
Pasadena Bridge Club       Schedule    
Mojo Jones     626 247-4457
Regency Bridge Club Time Game
Adam Barron     323 318-4308
  Thursday    12:30 PM         Open Game    
Unit Game Time Game
  Sunday     Feb 12    12:30 PM           ABC Flighted    
  Sunday     Feb 26    12:30 PM           ABC Flighted    
  Sunday     Mar 12    12:30 PM           ABC Flighted    
  Sunday     Mar 26    12:30 PM           ABC Flighted    

B U L L E T I N   B O A R D
Information for Unit 559 Members

   

   

   

   

   




You will learn more bridge from losing to good players
than you will from winning against poor players.



Our Unit Board
Pretty soon the board will be announcing that it's time to elect some new board members.  Are you interested?
We have 12 positions on the board, and every year six of them are open.  The election is held in March.  It's a chance to become more involved with this fascinating game we play, and a chance to be of service to our bridge community.  You do not need to be a fantastic player nor a high-ranked one!  All you need is a willingness to help.
    Please contact Jan Wickersham, our current president, if you are willing to help;     626 487-4014

Help!
Would you like to help out by bringing snacks to our unit game?  Cupcakes?  Cookies?  A cake? Maybe a salad or pretzels?  You do not need to do it on a regular basis, either.  Please call Jan if you can help.



Lebensohl
Most all players can usually do a reasonable job of finding the right contract after partner opens 1NT... We have Stayman, Transfer bids, Gerber, etc.  It's not so easy, though, if the opponents interfere, and that's why Lebensohl was developed.  Here's a brief description of how to use it.
    Suppose your partner opens 1NT and the next hand bids a natural 2's.  You might hold either of these two hands:


    Do you see the problem?  With the top hand you want to stop at 3 but with the second hand you want to at least be in game with a small possibility of slam.  If you bid 3, is it forcing?  Obvisously, you cannot bid 3 with both hands.

    The Lebensohl agreement has a solution:
    • A double is for penalty
    • A 2-level response is non-forcing
    • A 3-level response is game forcing
    • A 2NT response is artificial and forces opener to rebid 3
          After the 2NT response and the forced 3 call, responder can pass with a club suit
          OR
          If responder then bids a suit below the overcall it is non-forcing - A suit above the overcall is invitational


    There's more, but the above is enough to start.  After you are comfortable with this, you can add the information below to it.
    • A direct cue bid is Stayman and denies a stopper
    • A 2NT call followed by a cue bid is Stayman with a stopper
    • A direct jump to 3NT has the values for a game, but denies a stopper
    • A 2NT called followed by a rebid of 3NT promises a stopper

    NOTE:   Some partnerships prefer to reverse the meanings of some of the above agreements - your choice.




Stray Words of Wisdom:
The more often I encounter artificial bidding systems, the
more strongly I feel about their futility.
      Rixi Marcus, Top English Player - 1975

The world has changed, and like it or not, no one will ever
be a champion player again by using simple kitchen bridge.
      Jeff Meckstroth, Top World Player - 2016












               




Unit Historian:   
Do you have an old photo or other memorbilia from our past that you can share with us?  Please consider giving a copy to Mike.
Mike Marcucci
818 903-2471
nstarmgm@att.net
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 and the annual John Waken sectional.




How to Find Our Club on the BBO Website
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 556 is enough for Unit 556.  You can use Pasa or 559 for our virtual club.



BBO Virtual Club  --   Our unit members can play in a virtual club game set up by Mojo and Paula...

WEB PAGES AND WEB SITES

   

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Transferred Out
Andrei Verona Greenwich CT
Maria Verona Greenwich CT
Advanced in Rank - 4   New Rank   
Hsing Fang  Junior Master  
Victoria Livingstone  Junior Master  
Xiaoyan Zhou  Club Master  
Kim Ebner  Advanced NABC Master  















Unit 559 Membership Report
Ranks are updated quarterly after the 7th of the month
Other information is updated monthly
The link on the left will take you
to the ACBL website where you
will find the official requirements
for each rank.
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
January Total Membership  355

  Bridge Lessons
  Are you looking for a bridge teacher?

  Our unit has four of the very best!


Mojo - Morris Jones     BridgeMojo.com
Claudia Elmes     elmesclaudia@gmail.com
Zack Vedro     zvedro@hotmail.com
Lisa Walker     ilisawalkerlac@gmail.com

  Maybe you would like to become a certified bridge teacher?  
  take a look at the American Bridge Teacher's Association.
  Visit their website:    ABTA






                Since June 16, 2016 --
You are Visitor Number   51560709

This website was established in 1999 by Roy Wilson













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