Games through April

Reserve your spots for Wednesday evenings at the Doubleton Club. Regular games don't require signups, but are much appreciated and help us organize the game so we are able to start on time. If you want a special table or direction, reservations are advised.

The game schedule, club closures and special events:

Games suspended until further notice due to coronavirus.  Go to paloaltobridge.org for latest info.

Table fees are $15 for a regular game (includes a light dinner). 

Reserve Your Spot

• Players who have a standing reservation do not need to sign up each week and only need to log in if they need to cancel or want to check who's playing that night.
• For non-standing players, only one person should sign up and include their partner's name
• Only the person who signed up is able to cancel.
• The URL for the Unit 503 sign up page is: signup123.com/unit503bridge (all lower case).  Or just click on "Reserve Your Spot" above.

To find out now who is signed up (including standing reservations), just go to the above link and you will see at a glance.

NEED A PARTNER?  Pianola

Are you looking for a partner for an upcoming Doubleton Club (or other) game? Please use the Partner Finder on Pianola. Log in to your Pianola account, click on "Partner Finder", then click on "Create New Advert".  Did you know there is an ability to specify  people whom you would like to ask to play - (or hear from)?  Click on "Preferences". Alternatively, please let one of us know and we will try to set you up with the most compatible person possible. The more advanced notice we get, the more likely we are to be able to find a partner.

DIRECTOR, PLEASE.

If you disagree with the opponents' statement of the result; if you think there was a revoke; if you don't understand the auction; if the claim went too fast for you -- if there is any irregularity at your table -- call the director. It's not rude - it's the proper action to take.

TIPS TO SPEED UP

1. Don’t talk about the hands until after the game. “Post-morteming,” takes a great deal of time and usually broadcasts to the rest of the room what happened on the board. If there is something noteworthy, circle it in your convention card to review later. It is okay to politely remind your opponents that you are behind in time if they will not stop talking about the previous hand. 
2. Learn to pick up and put down your cards all at the same time. There is no need to pick them up one by one to sort them. 
3. If you are the Dealer, you have the ability to set the pace for the bidding, so try to start the auction quickly. It is tempting to think and ask questions about the previous hand, but that will take up valuable time.
4. Unless you plan on entering the auction, wait until the end to ask for explanations about the alerts. If you ask questions in the middle of a live auction for no reason, you can only help the opponents if they have forgotten a convention. 
5. You can ask the opponents to leave the bidding cards out for an extra moment while you process the bidding. Don’t be the person that asks for a review of the auction, 10 seconds after the bidding cards are put away. 
6. If you are on lead, choose your lead before you write the contract down in your personal score. 
7. If you are the dummy, put down the dummy on the table as soon as the lead is face up. 3 people should not have to wait for you to write the contract down. Additionally, there is no need for the one by one card reveal, just flop quickly them on the table, so the declarer can plan the play and the defenders can plan a defense. 
8. When the board is over, if you are North, enter the score on the BridgeMate before your own personal score sheet. Do not read off all the scores and comment on how you did. It will only make someone feel bad. If percentages/scores are shown (not applicable in our game), you can put the BridgeMate in the center of the table (facing away from you) for the other players to quickly view. You are North, you have the power to set the pace at the table. 
9. If you are East/West and you are done with the round and the pair following you is also done, get up. Let them get a head start on the next round. They might need the time to execute a triple squeeze. 
10. However, if you are E/W, do not go wandering far off while you wait, your opponents should not have to go looking for you. 
11. If you are still playing when it is time for the next round and someone at the next table asks for a board, be gracious and supply it promptly. There's no reason to make that table wait unnecessarily. 
12. Conversely, if the new round has started and you have not received your boards, don't be shy about asking the next table or someone standing close by to give you a board. No need to delay the start of play at your table. 

None of these tips requires you to improve your bridge skill; they are simple, thoughtful and efficient ways that only require mindfulness on your part. Remember that everyone is responsible for the pace of the game, and even if you are following the slowest pair in the room and are forced to start 5 minutes late, you should still make the effort to finish within the allotted time. It will make for a more pleasant game for everyone.  Excerpted from "Playing Faster," written by Gloria Tsoi.

NO PERFUMES OR AFTERSHAVES, PLEASE - many people are allergic.