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.
Today is the first day of Spring...
It's the equinox.
Precision Class
It looks like about nine players want to learn how to use the Precision bidding system, so we will have our first class on
Saturday afternoon, April 8. If you would like to join us, let me know. The class is free and I will provide
the handouts and notes.
Roy Wilson - 626 340-9575 Unit559Webmaster@gmail.com
STaC Game
Our unit game at the end of this month will be be a STaC game...
That's a Sectional Tournament at Clubs and the masterpoint awards will be silver points,
with a chance to win 20 or more of 'em.
The game will be scored locally as well as across the district. Sunday, March 26, at the Arcadia Bridge Center.
Pasadena Bride Club
Mojo announced that he is willing to hold a STaC game during the week before the unit game,
but he needs to know that there will be enough players - Call him! 626 247-4457
Red and Gold
Four days to win both red and gold points! It's the Hollywood Magic Regional on-line at BBO.
This tournament will run for four days from March 23 to March 26. Note: Posted times below are West Coast times.
Daily Two-Session Event at 4:15 and 7:15
Daily Intermediate/Newcomer Events at 1:15 and 4:30
Daily Side Games at 1:15
Stray Words of Wisdom
If you overcall 1NT with the same hand you would open 1NT you will often
have to play the contract with a dead dummy. You don't take many tricks
when you have to lead from your hand everytime you are in. A suggestion
is that players should find a better use for the one notrump overcall. Some
players use that particular overcall to describe a two-suited hand with the
Top & Bottom suits. Michaels takes care of the two top suits and the Unusual
Notrump describes the two lowest suits, but what do you do with a two-suiter
that you cannot describe with either of those two agreements?
The Notrump Zone - Danny Kleinmann
Anaheim Sectional
Well, actually it's in Garden Grove at the United Methodist Church,
and will be the weekend of March 30 - April 1.
The address is 12741 Main Street in Garden Grove.
San Diego Regional
Hey, a full week of bridge! And the points are both Red and Gold.
Mission Valley Mariott
8757 Rio San Diego Drive
San Diego, CA 619 692-3800
April 3-9
3-Level Major Suit Responses to Partner's 1NT Call
Make this agreement with your partner:
After partner opens 1NT, a jump response in a major is Natural and Forcing
Opener's second bid must always be a cue bid, showing an ace, starting at the lowest level possible
If the 1NT bidder does not have an ace, he simply raises responder's suit
Responder's second bid is also a cue bid, but can show either an ace or a void
Any subsequent notrump call by either partner is a cue bid showing either the ace or king of trump
Responder's jump to 3, as with this particular hand, shows a self sufficient suit and require the
opener to cue bid any suit with an ace in it, starting at the lowest level possible. Going past a suit denies holding
the ace of that suit.
If the opener cue bids 4 You can cue bid your void... 4. That will give
your partner the oppportunity to cue bid his trump king -- 4NT.
(That's not Blackwood!)
Your turn... Cue bid the spade suit at the 5-level and be delighted when your partner cue bids 6's
showing the club king.
Bridge is really a very easy game, if you play it correctly.
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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Status Change for our Members
New Members
Jane Crane
Pasadena
Transferred In
Beth Wechsler
New York
Advanced in Rank - 2
Dr Terre Osterkamp
Club Master
Ming Hu
Sectional Master
Deceased
Mary Brow
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
March Total Membership 357
Bridge Lessons
Are you looking for a bridge teacher?