F2F Lessons are returning to MObridge

               Register by phone: (905) 403-1333 or email: mail@mobridge.club              (e-mail preferred as the Club is open for 3 games per week right now)

MOBRIDGE LESSON SCHEDULE

First up .... 

FALL Semester

BEGINNER BRIDGE ▪ 8 Lessons

Commencing Wednesday, October 19^th, 2022 ▪ 12:30 – 2:30pm

This 8-week course is designed to introduce bridge to the beginners.  It will cover the bidding, the play of the hand and some basic defensive techniques.

COST:  $215 (Book Included)

For a full listing of our planned Lessons (to date), click here.

At MObridge we endeavour to do our utmost to protect our players et al from COVID if it is at all in our power to do so.

If you do test positive for COVID and have been at the Club recently, please notify us asap via mail@mobridge.club and we will do our utmost to contact all that may be at risk.

We also ask that you not come to play at the Club if you test positive for COVID or have symptoms.  Maybe the Virtual options work for you at this time.

As always, we thank you for your full cooperation and your support.

September Update from MObridge Board of Directors

We hope that everyone had a great summer!  Your Board of Directors, Club Manager and Lead Director have been working over the summer to better understand our current strengths and challenges and to develop a going-forward plan for return to in-person (F2F) play in support of our core mission:

To provide a home for friendly, competitive bridge in a community of new to highly skilled players

Current Status

We are currently running 3 F2F games each week (table counts are for the period June-August)

• Monday evenings (0-1500) - avg 3 tables
• Tuesday afternoon (Open) - avg 5 tables
• Thursday afternoon (0-2500) - avg 7 tables

As well, we continue to run virtual games through BBO.  Our regularly attended virtual games:

• Monday afternoon (0-1000) & avg 7 tables
• Monday evenings (Open) - avg 4 tables
• Tuesday evenings (Open and 0-100) - avg 7 tables
• Wednesday afternoon (0-500) - avg 8 tables
• Friday morning (0-100) - avg 7 tables
• Friday afternoon (0-500) - avg 5 tables

To put this into context, to achieve financial stability over the long term, we have established the following minimum goals to be reached before the end of 2023:

• Retain our membership at a minimum of 250 members for 2023 (currently 500) providing funding through annual membership dues
• Reach a stable F2F weekly table count of at least 40 tables (currently 15)
• Maintain our virtual weekly table counts of at least 30 tables (currently 38)

As the COVID crisis recedes and we all get back to a more normal life, we are hopeful that bridge will return to a more sustainable level.  Reaching these goals will take some time; on the positive side, we have sufficient financial reserves to take the time needed to rebuild.

Near-Term Plans

Game Schedule - We will continue to closely monitor the table counts for F2F games.  As we achieve stable attendance at these, we will slowly add additional games to the schedule.  Our first expansion of the schedule will be the Saturday morning OPEN game beginning on Saturday, October 15 at 10:00 am (same timeslot as before COVID).  As this game is stratified, we welcome players of all levels so come out and support this addition to our schedule.  In addition, we plan to offer a monthly F2F Swiss game (schedules will be announced after Thanksgiving).

Host Program - The Host Program is active (but we need more host volunteers).  This program ensures that any member or guest who would like to play F2F at MObridge can be guaranteed a partner.  Details can be found on our website.  Please volunteer your time and expertise to support this essential program.

Special Games - There will be at least one “Special event” scheduled each quarter.  Our first will be an Anniversary Celebration on the evening of Sept 28^th.   We will be planning a party followed by upgraded Club Championship game (mega extra MPs with regular game fees).  Mark your calendars - details to follow.

Prize draws - Our membership drive for renewals for calendar year 2023 will begin in October.  Each member purchasing a 2023 membership prior to the end of 2022 will be eligible for a draw (to be held in early January) for a free 10 game card.  In addition, starting in January, every time a member plays an in-person game, they get an entry into the quarterly draw for a free 10 game card.

Pricing - we have adjusted our pricing effective November 1, 2022 as follows:

• Annual memberships for calendar year 2023 will be $60.  Member benefits include:
  • Lower F2F game fees than non-members
  • Ability to purchase of 10 game cards at a reduced price
  • No extra fees for special games normally requiring extra fees e.g. STaC
  • Eligibility to participate in prize draws
  • Eligibility to attend and vote in Annual General Meeting
• F2F games will be $10 for members and $12 for non-members
• Members may purchase 10 F2F game cards for $90 ($9 per game)
• Pricing for online BBO games will remain unchanged at 5 BBO$ per game (extra fees may apply for special games)

Education - F2F lessons for Introduction to Bridge will commence after Thanksgiving.  Dates and schedules will be announced soon.  Additional F2F seminars will be scheduled once the introductory lessons are up and running.  We will continue to offer virtual education opportunities as advertised on our website.

Member Communications - MObridge will be starting a regular (frequency TBD) newsletter to inform members of activities and achievements at the club.  A request for volunteers has already been sent out for anyone interested in being a “Club Reporter” or otherwise helping with the newsletter.  Please volunteer early and help with the design and concept of the newsletter and/or content generation on an ongoing basis.  If you are willing to help in any capacity, contact Peter Milligan at nagillim@gmail.com.

We wish to thank all of members who have been supporting the club through your participation in both F2F and virtual games and we look forward to seeing you soon as we rebuild the club together.

Your Board of Directors:

• President: Lee Stem
• Vice-President: Nancy Strachan
• Secretary: Ted Suski
• Member Relations/Communications: Peter Milligan
• Education: Linda Planeta, Jay Hamann
• Treasurer: Marcia Baker

Unless otherwise noted ...   

• All F2F Games are Club Championship Games -- No Extra $$ -- Extra MPs.
  • DOUBLE Vaccination is required for F2F Games.
• All Virtual (BBO) Games are Regular MPs.
• Sept. 28th - MObridge 7 Year Anniversary Celebrations (F2F)
• Oct. 5th - Monthly SWISS @ MObridge (Virtual)
• Oct. 24th - 30th:  ROYAL STaC Week @ MObridge (F2F)

♥  ♠  ♦  ♣  We hope to see you at the tables. ♣  ♦  ♠  ♥ 

We’re excited that face-to-face games are back at our Club!  We enjoy hosting our virtual games and will continue to offer them for our players who aren't ready for in-person activities. However, if you’re comfortable playing in person, we’d love to have you at our face-to-face games again. It helps our club so much more when you’re here, and we’ve missed seeing your smiles when you get that top board!

MObridge Membersip Fee:  $20 for the remainder of 2022.

Note: This is for NEW members and RENEWING members only.

If you renewed your Membership for 2020, or purchased a Membership in 2020, 2021 or 2022,

your Membership is covered thru 2022. 

Until futher notice, all of our F2F games (outside of "other" special event games) are Club Championship Games (Extra MPs) with "Upgraded" Club Championship Games inserted here and there.  All F2F games have the "HOST" feature.  Presently, you can HOST as often as you wish.  All games F2F and Virtual have the "FIND A PARTNER" feature.  For either, just hover over the game in our Calendar and select the respective Icon and take it from there.  Note that you must be a Member to use either of these features.

Members' Rank Achievements for AUGUST, 2022

Our Honour Roll for AUGUST, 2022

This is a listing of players who played in MObridge Games @ 70+%

 BARRY CRANE Top 500 Master Point Race for 2021

We have 10 Members on this list:

Mel Norton (#5)              Andy Firko (#75)                            

Gary Westfall (#87)          Roman Klein (#290)

Steven Mehta (#293)                                Wendy Dooley (#328)    

Iain MacDonald (#350)                Doug Andrews (#415)

 Sum Tang (#474)             Bob Panchuk (#476)        

      MObridge Educational Resources      

 All Lessons & Seminars are on-going and can be booked at any time 

♣ ♦ ♥ ♠ 

          Lessons & Seminars with Pam Husband          

*** NEW *** Cuebid Raises: In Support of Your Partner's Suit Click Here. *** NEW ***

Introductory Bridge: For the New to Bridge Player Click Here. 

Refresh Your Basic Bidding Skills  Click Here.

The Play of the Hand: Improve Your Declarer Play  Click Here.

Defense: How to Defeat the Opponent's Contract  Click Here.

Takeout Doubles and Responses  Click Here.

Overcalls and Bids by the Advancer  Click Here.

 Bergen Raises: Showing Support After Partner's Major Suit Opener Click Here. 

Using Stayman or Jacoby Transfers After Partner's NT Opener Click Here. 

♣ ♦ ♥ ♠ 

       Seminars with Danielle Gosselin       

 After Stayman and Transfers  Click here.

 Re-bids  Click here.

 Slam Bidding  Click here.

 Make A Plan (Part I)  Click here.

 Make A Plan (Part II)  Click here. 

♣ ♦ ♥ ♠ 

You can also check out the details under the MObridge Educational Resources menu tab.

       LOOKING FOR A PARTNER?  Use our FIND A PARTNER Feature       

The FIND A PARTNER Program is for both F2F & Virtual Games.

Follow the Instructions under the "Find a Partner" Tab on our Home Page.

♥ ♥   Note that this feature services MObridge Members only.  ♥ ♥ 

As a Member, you complete the request, and request can only be removed by you.

Happy FINDINGS!!!

       THE HOST PROGRAM IS BACK!!!       

The HOST Program for F2F Games is Back - Guaranteed Partners

  ... John Rayner    www.johnraynerbridge.com 

 Visit John's site for updates on Seminars/Lessons.  

  ... Steve Overholt    www.etobicokebridge.com 

 Visit Steve's site for weekly lessons, coaching tables and lesson videos.  Also a very extensive collection of Steve's own   bridge articles (including quizzes with answers), with most for newer bridge players, which would be great for our learners.

  ... Barbara Seagram

 Go to the Barbara Seagram tab under External Educational Resources for all info.  Click Here.

  ... Marty Bergen

 Do not forget about Marty’s Interactive Online Lessons - he is not just about Bergen Raises!   Go to the Marty Bergen tab under External   Educational Resources for all info. 

On BBO ... we ask that you ALWAYS:

• Be back at Registration Desk 5 minutes pre-game time.  Click on "something / anything" to verify that you are still logged in.  You may appear to be but if you have had no activity on BBO Site for 20 mins. or so, you may not be logged in.
• Remember that Slow Play affects everyone in the game.
• Remember that once you hit the 3 min. mark, any unstarted boards will be taken away and averages assigned.
• Remember to self-alert/announce your bids - giving a FULL explanation.
  • Pls. type your explanation of your bid on the line provided, before clicking on your bid.
• Use the 3 Bar option to call/speak to the Director.

AND please check that your CC is an actual CC, not Table Text.

As always, we thank you for your cooperation.

   MObridge member Yana Headford wasn't letting grass grow under her feet during COVID.  Not only did she turn 100 during 2021, but she also wrote a book!  Is Bridge involved?  Who knows!  It's a mystery!!  Congratulations Yana!!

Contact information: yheadford@rogers.com OR https://yanaheadford.wordpress.com

MObridge member Brian Gray has also written a few books, which were in the works before COVID.  Congratulations Brian!!

Contact information:  brianrgray@rogers.com OR http://bridgebeginnermentor.ca

       To all our Volunteers -- Past, Present & Future       

  We want you to know that you are appreciated. 

Volunteers are special & add value to everything they touch.

   Thanks for all you do and have done! 

Thank you for your time & expertise and for your amazing generosity & dedication.

Where would we be without you!

  ♥        ♥        ♥        ♥