Hi Everyone,
Week of “Special” Bridge Games at Family Friendly Bridge Club –
Monday, 12:30 PM, 10/19/26 – Club Appreciation Swiss Team Event: Play bridge as teams of 4 players and 5% of masterpoints will be Gold.
Wednesday, 12:30 PM, 10/21/26 – Instant Matchpoint Game: Played across the USA, One Gold Masterpoint to Section Winners, with handbook analysis of every hand.
Thursday, 12:30 PM, 10/22/26 – Club Appreciation Swiss Team Event: Play bridge as teams of 4 players and 5% of masterpoints will be Gold.
Friday, 12:30 PM, 10/23/26 – Club Championship: provided by ACBL for recruiting new ACBL members this year.
FFBC Holiday Luncheon is Currently Scheduled for Monday, January 4 at 11:30 AM ----
Family Friendly Bridge Club – Holiday Schedule Message:
For Veterans Day Observed (11/11/26):
Wednesday, November 11, 12:30 PM: The game at St Camillus, Arlington is NOT CANCELLED.
For Thanksgiving Day Observed (11/26/26):
Thursday, November 26, 2026: The game and the lesson at St Camillus, Arlington are CANCELLED. (“Black” Friday Game is NOT Cancelled)
For Christmas Day Observed (12/25/26):
Friday, December 25, 2026: The game and the lesson at St Camillus, Arlington are CANCELLED. (Thursday Game is NOT Cancelled)
For New Years Day Observed (1/1/27):
Friday, January 1, 2027: The game and the lesson at St Camillus, Arlington are CANCELLED. (Thursday Game is NOT Cancelled)
For Martin Luther King Day Observed (1/18/27):
Monday, January 18, 2027: The afternoon game at St Camillus, Arlington is NOT CANCELLED.
Slow Play Policy: If you are the E/W pair following a pair that’s always late for the next table, you have felt the frustration of slow play. What’s going on at these tables? They are chatting away about the boards as if nothing is wrong. If you are “on time”, go ahead and chat. If you are late, please save the chatting for later and certainly consider “claiming” when you have all the remaining tricks. If everyone keeps an eye on the time clocks, then the games can run smoothly – something that we all want.
Snow Policy: When the weather forecast is predicting snow on “bridge days”, you can check the website, www.familyfriendlybridge.com . In addition, I will send an Email to notify everyone as soon as any bridge game is canceled. If Belmont Schools are closed, then The Beech St Center will be closed. Even if the game is not canceled, please use your own judgment re: whether it is safe to be on the roads during/after the storm. Your personal safety is the most important factor – you can play bridge some other day. Note: The parking situation in Belmont remains very difficult because of snow banks.
If you have a cold or the flu, please do not come to bridge - You will be jeopardizing the health of everyone. Flu and Covid are very dangerous and even possibly fatal to some individuals.
Please be respectful to everyone and stay home when you are ill. Thank you.
Upcoming Bridge Events/Tournaments:
NH Bridge Association- Port City Sectional Tournament: Portsmouth Senior Center, NH on October 31 & November 1.
For Details: https://nebridge.org/event/nhba-sectional-portsmouth-nh-2/ and click on “Tournament Flyer”
EMBA Sectional Tournaments: The next EMBA Sectionals will be held in Watertown on December 12 & 13.
For Details: https://www.bridgewebs.com/cgi-bin/bwop/bw.cgi?club=emba&pid=display_home
North American Pairs (NAP) Qualifying games:
North American Pairs Championship – is played at the ACBL National Spring Event and requires 2 steps to qualify.
1st step: There is a list of club level qualifiers – go https://web2.acbl.org/documentLibrary/play/NAP_Qualifiers/NAP_D25.htm
The 2nd step occurs at the ACBL district level, and is played during The Woburn Regional Event, Nov 10 – 15, 2026.
See https://nebridge.org/event/d25-fall-regional-woburn-ma-2/ for details re: Woburn Regional Event (Note: This is a new hotel for ACBL: Hilton Boston/Woburn, 2 Forbes Rd, Woburn, MA)
If you win/place at district level, District 25 will give you money to compete in the ACBL Spring National event (Dallas, TX).
Bridge Lessons:
For “most up-to-date” schedule of bridge lessons (including “Subject “ of each lesson). Please go to -- https://www.familyfriendlybridge.com/lessons
Mine Usluel: Advanced Beginner Lessons will continue in October & November, Fridays from 9:30 to 11:30 AM, at St Camillus, Arlington.
One-hour interactive lecture followed by one-hour practice of 8 to 12 boards. Cost is $20/lesson and is paid at each class (cash/check, Zelle, Venmo).
If you are not one of the regular attendees, please register by sending an email to mineusluel@yahoo.com
Oct 23 Jump Shifts/Reverses
Oct 30 Fourth Suit Forcing
Nov 6 Michael’s Cuebid
Nov 13 Unusual 2NT
Nov 20 Attitude Signals
For further info, see Bridge Lessons with Mine Usluel
Thanks to all of you for your continued support of our efforts to have a fun place to play bridge.
Bob Gaudet
Cell: (339) 223-6484
Schedule of Bridge Games – a/o 7/15/26
Family Friendly Bridge Club, St Camillus Church, Arlington
Monday, 12:30 – 3:30 PM -- 24 boards, “OPEN”
Tuesday, 12:30 – 3:30 PM, 18-20 boards, 499er Game
(“Restricted to <500 MPs”, unless you are mentoring)
Tuesday, 6:30 – 9:00 PM, 18-20 boards, 499er Game
(“Restricted to <500 MPs”, unless you are mentoring)
Wednesday, 12:30 – 3:30 PM -- 24 boards, “OPEN”
Wednesday, 7:00 – 10 PM -- for Winchester DBC, 24 boards, “OPEN”
Thursday, 9:30 – 11:30 AM, 9 boards, 20 minute lesson at beginning of session,
“Restricted”, must be Skill Level = Non-Lifemaster, unless you are mentoring
Thursday, 12:30 – 3:30 PM -- 24 boards, “OPEN”
Friday, 12:30 – 3:30 PM -- 24 boards, “OPEN”