Another year is off and running, if you didn’t wash away in the late December rains. So it’s time, or it will be, for another Pro-Am unit game on Saturday night, February 4, at 7 p.m. These are a lot of fun, with friendly players eager to share their experience with newer players. Partnerships can be pre-arranged, but those will not qualify for overall awards. So come on down to the San Jose Bridge Center and try the partner potluck.

Speaking of Saturday nights, I understand Judy Clark will be offering bridge lessons beginning in February. Sorry I don’t have more information, but Judy does at (408)296-4067 or bmcojudy@msn.com. Faye Parsons will have also begun lessons explaining the Standard American Yellow Card (SAYC). These lessons are at 5:00 p.m. on Sundays before her 5:30 game at the club. If you haven’t heard of SAYC, you could prepare for Faye’s lessons by looking it up at http://web2.acbl.org/documentlibrary/play/sayc_book.pdf.

I understand that 59 pairs braved inclement weather for a real potluck feast at our unit holiday party. Thanks to Dan Turkus and Panette Talia for cooking the turkeys and everyone else who contributed. I expect the coffee was better without me (a non-coffee drinker) in charge. I regret being unable to attend.

In the ensuing game, Michael Fleisher & Mindy Foos were first overall in the open game, with Peggy Sprague & Joe Poppo duplicating that feat in the limited game. In the open game, Leon Lee & Jerry Lundquist were second overall and first in their direction, Jim Hayashi & Anne Boboricken were third, with Mike Abrams & Alex Tampilang first in the C stratification. In the limited game, Manju & Raghu Agarwal were second, with Kat Wesolowska & Judy Travis third.

Braving more winter storms, at the Reno regional Bill Langlois, Kit Humphrey & Henri Fahri won a knockout. Richard & Yumiko Glasspool had a strat top in a limited game.

In the tournament substitute known as STAC week, the following unit members had scores in open stratified games of at least 65%. Missy Coy & Bill Yetter, Kit Humphrey & Henri Fahri (74.93), Dave Gambelin, and Ruthann Critchfield & Dan Turkus.

Congratulations to these new masters: Vincent McLoughlin (Junior), Marc Epstein, Eileen Kotecki (Club), Jennifer Gu (Regional), Malcom Stewart (Bronze), Qing Yang (Silver).

Suggestions and corrections should be directed to rayyuenger@comcast.net or (408)379-7717.