Family Friendly Bridge Club
St Camillus Church, 1175 Concord Turnpike
(Route 2, Exit 132 (Formerly 57)), Arlington
Hi Everyone,
For Labor Day Observed (9/7/26):
Monday, September 7, 12:30 PM: The game at St Camillus, Arlington is CANCELLED.
For Columbus Day Observed (10/12/26):
Monday, October 12, 12:30 PM: The game at St Camillus, Arlington is NOT CANCELLED.
Sadly – 3 more of our bridge players have died (see pictures above):
Georgia McGuire died at 74 years old. She was very happy to play bridge with us when she wasn’t travelling with her family.
I admired her pleasant personality and how she encouraged new bridge players.
She didn’t survive her heart operation. It is very sad to lose such a wonderful person.
For more details: https://www.beckerritter.com/obituaries/Georgia-Ann-McGuire?obId=49024104
Dave Marshall, a cherished bridge director with a sense of humor, and admired by so many of us.
See a heartwarming photo tribute: https://www.delaneyfuneral.com/obituaries/david-marshall
Al Maltz was a bridge lover for so many years, and help us to start the Belmont Bridge Club.
See more at: https://www.keefefuneralhome.com/memorials/alan-p-maltz/5722251
Upcoming Bridge Events/Tournaments:
Ocean State Regional: Warwick, RI, 9/1 – 9/6, Gold & Red Masterpoints are awarded at Regionals.
For all the Details: https://nebridge.org/
NH Bridge Association- Fall Foliage Sectional Tournament: Hudson VFW, NH on September 26 & 27.
For Details: https://nhbridge.com/ and click on “Tournament Flyer”
EMBA Sectional Tournaments: The next EMBA Sectionals will be held:
----- Watertown, October 3 & 4; Watertown on December 12 & 13.
For Details: https://www.bridgewebs.com/cgi-bin/bwop/bw.cgi?club=emba&pid=display_home
Sectional Tournament at the Clubs (STaC games): October 5 thru 11, 2026 –
Note: almost all bridge clubs in the Boston area will participate in this event.
Results from all participating clubs will be combined for higher overall awards. These games are very popular.
Silver Masterpoints are awarded for these games (instead of the usual Black Masterpoints).
For Details: https://nebridge.org/
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: See if you have made the list of club level qualifiers – go to ACBL.org, look for the “List of District 25 NAP Qualifiers”.
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/ for details re: Woburn Regional Event (Note: This is a new hotel: 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
Free Bridge for New Players: American Contract Bridge League offers many options to learn and play bridge – and most offerings are at NO Cost.
Go to: https://www.acbl.org/learn/
Bob Gaudet: Free Beginner Bridge Lessons (in person) –
Tuesday evenings, 7:00 to 9:00 PM; so far, 16 new players have signed up for these lessons.
Classes start on Sept 8 – at St Camillus Church. 1075 Concord Turnpike (Rte 2, Exit 132), Arlington, MA
Designed for players with little or no experience, and f or people who once played and would like to re-enter the bridge world.
8 week session is “FREE” (optional text book is an additional $15).
Note: Course emphasizes Bridge fundamentals, including modern bidding style,
“play of the hand” and defensive tactics. Each class consists of 1 hour of instruction
on a specific topic- followed by 1 hour of playing bridge hands that cover the
material presented. Come with a partner or as an individual.
To register, please contact: Bob Gaudet, (339) 223-6484, bridgeleader@gmail.com
Easybridge
Bridge Subjects (8 Weeks) Textbook
-----------
Sept 8: Week 1 – Review of Bridge Basics p. 1-30
Sep 15: Week 2 – Bidding to Win (Part 1) “
Sep 22: Week 3 – Bidding to Win (Part 2) “
Sep 29: Week 4 – Defensive Bidding – Overcalls, etc p. 32-35
Oct 6: Week 5 – Opening Leads – Defensive Play Handout
Oct 13: Week 6 – Opening NT Bids and Responses p. 47-53
Oct 20: Week 7 – Opening Preemptive Bids p. 61-62
Oct 27: Week 8 – Bidding to Slam p. 64-66
Mine Usluel: Advanced Beginner Lessons will continue in July and August. 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
Sep 4 No lesson
Sep 11 No lesson
Sep 18 Opening Leads (new lesson)
Sep 25 New Minor Forcing
Oct 2 Leads in the Middle of the Hand
Oct 9 Cuebid Raises
Oct 16 Control Bidding
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 -- 20-21 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”