You will learn more by losing to good players
than you will by winning against poor players
"There will never be another World Bridge Champion who plays only 'Simple Bridge'"
Benito Garozzo - World Champion
!s !h !d !c The waiting Bid
A Useful Bid
A very long time ago, when the 2/1 bidding system replaced the Goren 4-card major method, some dim witted player was given the
assignment to find a response to the artificial 2!c strong bid. He didn't come up with a very good idea.
"Let's just use 2!d as a waiting-bid and let the opener tell us his suit." DUMB !
Back in the late 1970's, I was very lucky to play with Hermine Baron, a world-class champion, for an entire summer.
She said to me and her other partners, "There aren't enough bids available to waste one on a 'waiting bid,' so let's give
partner some useful information!"
Now, more that 50 years later, I have seen many agreements for bidding over a 2!c opening. Here's a description of what
Hermine taught her partners that summer: "We are going to use step bids that tell partner how many Controls we have."
So... what is a control and what do the steps tell partner?
Hermine told us about the old Neopolitan Club system, which was used for years by the Italians to beat the world, and how
they defined a king as one control and an ace as two controls. There are 12 controls in a deck, and responder uses
step bids to show how many he has. They used this agreement after a strong 1!c opening bid, but Hermine modified it
for us.
2!d with 0-1 control
2!h has 2 controls
2!s has 3 controls -- an ace and a king
2N also has 3 controls, but it's three kings
3!c has 4 controls
etc
Whadda ya think? Are "waiting Bids" dumb?
One summer, about twice a week, I was lucky enough to be Hermine Baron's partner, and although she preferred the
Goren style, she was learning the new 2/1 system. I don't believe she ever felt comfortable with it, but World Champions
learn quickly!
Roy Wilson - Emerald Life Master I am 91 years 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.
Our Next Unit Game is Sunday, August 16
Next Unit Game - August 16
Our Unit Sectional Starts Today
Do you still need those silver points? Do you enjoy playing with good competition Call Lisa Walker if you would
like to register! 818 321-1789
District 22 Newsletter & Home Website
Here is the August Issue for District 22 ...
HIDDEN TEXT
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 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 see many interesting bridge discussions and explanations.
WEB PAGES AND WEB SITES
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Unit 559 Membership Report
Ranks are updated quarterly after the 7th of the month.
Please note that some of the players listed in a rank
may not actually hold that rank, but they do have enough
Master points to be included there. They probably
need to fulfill the silver or gold requirements.
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 339
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 227459
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
Click on the
photo for a description of Extended Precision - Roy
Mike Marcucci
