Alan Hamilton of Angels Camp is a new Gold Life Master. Alan is the director of the twice monthly game at Murphys.

Bobby Ilse

I started bridge at the Stockton Bridge Club at 9 years old with summer lessons from the local directors. I played locally until I went to college and played very infrequently. In the 1990's when my mother was ill, I promised her I would stay in touch with the Stockton Bridge Club, and I used to travel to Stockton about once a month to play in the local games. When we entered the pandemic, face-to-face games were impossible and I began to play with robots on FunBridge (primarily) and BBO. In December of 2023, one of the Stockton players told me that I had reached NABC Master. I was surprised, as I had not been paying attention to my point achievements. She said all I needed were "Colored" points for my LM. In January 2024 I began my tournament journey, with the help of the folks from the Stockton club. I finished my last silver points in Petaluma on March 1, 2025. Thanks to the Stockton Bridge Club for helping me achieve Life Master. Note: He promised his mother that he would keep in touch with her peers whom he calls "the older bridge ladies". Some of those are in their 90's and still playing at the Stockton Club. 

Bonnie Landis of Pine Grove and David McGee of Murphys won the Royal Stac game at the Stockton Club on May 19, 2025. This placed them 3rd in A/1st in B in the District results. Also placing in the district overalls were Frank Klo and Terry Nagode, and Stephen Tu and Henry Clyde.

It was supposed to be a St Patrick's Day Party and a Pi Party. But then it snowed. "Game is still on!" said indomitable director Mike Wells. But then the power went out, the venue was closed, and the Pi Party turned into a Porch Party! From left: Mike Wells, Dana Davis, Sam Park, Tim Davis and Tom Wright.

Sonny Bailey made Easter fun with colorful decorations and candies on every table. From left: Kitty Saul, Sonny Bailey, Bill Saul and Roger Hanlon.

Bonnie Loudin of Lodi has played twice at Stockton Bridge Club recently and has done really well. She is pictured here (left) with Sherrie Barakatt, Queen of Desserts, at the unit game and birthday celebration for Mary Sievers. Mary Wells bumped into a teacher friend at the Las Vegas NABC who had mentored Bonnie, and Mary subsequently looked her up and arranged a partner, Mary Westin, for her. Welcome, Bonnie, and may you play many happy games with us in 2025.

Debbie Dezarn's Stockton Unit report

in the D21 Diamond in the Ruff April 2025 newsletter

Happy Easter and thank you to Maryanne Sievers for sharing her bunny quilt to adorn the Stockton Bridge Club during the month of April. Due to the 3rd Sunday of April being Easter, the monthly Unit Game and potluck will be held April 27 instead. Lunch at noon and game starts at 12:30.

Our Unit has two new ACBL members. Jon Uota joined after taking Wendy Buchanan’s beginner and 2/1 Bridge classes and has been playing about 3 times a month at the Stockton Club. He already has several masterpoints! Susan Andrieux lives and plays in Copperopolis. Welcome!

Rank advancements include Jackie Katzakian, a Wednesday player who reached Junior Master. Last issue I failed to recognize Mary Wells who achieved Silver Life Master status in January. Our Unit’s newest Life Master is Bobby Ilse. He first learned bridge by taking lessons at the Stockton Bridge Club when he was 9. There is a very nice article on the Unit 510 website about his journey to Life Master, which included getting almost all of the needed Gold and Silver points in 14 months by going to tournaments with Stockton players. Despite now living in San Francisco, he still plays in Stockton at least a day or two each month with the “Stockton Ladies” who were friends of his late mother.

The Copperopolis beginners have completed Mary Wells’ series of beginner’s lessons in March and played their first game of duplicate. They had a 9-player individual movement and played 10 boards. They enjoyed it so Mary is running another game in April. She shall be introducing them to the new Bridgemate scoring machines that the Unit lent the Copperopolis game. Monthly workshops are planned. The first one “Preempts” will be held next month.

Wendy’s Stockton class ends in May and a new beginner class will likely be offered in September. Four Stockton women just returned from a European bridge cruise that was a “Regional on the River.” Joy Gotelli, Sue Vogtlin, Debbie Greenberg, and Rose Knutson enjoyed the lessons from Michael Berkowitz, in photo, and Larry Cohen. They did very well, earning over 116 Gold Points (plus some red) among them.

There is rarely a lack of cake at the Stockton Club. March was a milestone birthday month for longtime member Darlene Barnes and the club celebrated with not one, but two beautiful cakes! Not to be outdone, on Zulka Dozier’s April birthday there were three cakes! Of course, they were all consumed as bridge players rarely turn down food. Lynette Foppiano treated the club to Pizza this month as well. And thank you, Frank Klo, for all the bundt cakes you have been bringing to share.

News from the Unit 510 Board of Directors: Paula Monroe agreed to join the Board effective immediately. Please contact any Board member if you would like to join as well. The move of the Oak Park game to the Stockton Bridge Center was finalized with approval from the landlord. Keep up the good work of parking in the back and avoiding all the spots that are assigned to the other businesses in the Erardi Center. Because the Bridgemates and bidding boxes became the property of the Stockton Club there were “extra”.

The foldable Bridge Buddy bidding boxes are available for purchase at $20 for a set of four. Several Bridgemates and the server have been loaned to the Mountain clubs, including the new 49er game in Copperopolis.

Looking ahead, June is when “The Longest Day” games and other events are held to raise money for Alzheimer’s Disease research. Please submit ideas to a Board Member or your individual Club Manager about what we can do to further this effort.

STOCKTON BRIDGE CLUB

Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 11:30 am.

Non-Life Masters (NLM) 2nd and 4th Thursdays at 11:30 am

3rd Sunday Potluck and Unit game at 12 noon.

CLICK BELOW FOR SPECIAL GAMES SCHEDULE

2025 SPECIAL GAMES.pdf

MOTHER LODE BRIDGE CLUB AT MURPHYS 

Murphys Diggins Club House alternate Mondays at 12:30 pm.

GOLD COUNTRY BRIDGE CLUB AT SAN ANDREAS

Alternate Wednesdays and one Monday per month.

12 noon at San Andreas Senior Center.

SONORA BRIDGE CLUB

 Every Friday at the Sonora Senior Center at 11:30 am.

HWY 49ers BBO CLUB

Online at 1:00 pm alternate Wednesdays.

Call 209-768-2936 for more information on the foothill bridge clubs.  

For a full schedule of all the foothill games, click below.

2025 Schedule.pdf

♥  There's lots to see! For your game results click on the date in the green boxed heading under RESULTS on the TOP RIGHT of the screen. Now you should see a list of players and their percentages. Click on your name for a list of your personal scores. Scroll down to the end to see if you were a better declarer than your partner!

   On the right you can see some [PLAY] tabs. Click on one, select the BBO tab, and now you can 1) Replay the hand as you did at the table [NEXT], 2) Replay the hand as you wish you had at the table [PLAY], 3) Let GIB – the super-robot – replay the hand as you should have done at the table [GIB]. Cool stuff!