The North American Bridge Championships (NABC) offers an excellent chance to dive into the world of bridge and explore the best of a new city.
More advanced players can play in premier events awarding platinum masterpoints; those looking for gold points will have plenty of opportunities, too. Newer players, and even absolute beginners, can learn and hone new skills in a dedicated space just for them.
Whether you’re here for a day, a weekend or all 10 days, it’s a wonderful time full of meeting fellow bridge players from all over and playing the world’s best card game.
Reservations through our housing bureau ConferenceDirect close February 9. After this date please contact the hotel directly for your reservation. Please note you may not get the bridge rate if you reserve after February 9, 2024. Please note contact center will be closing at 5 EST/2PST on Wednesday and will be closed Thursday and Friday in recognition of the Thanksgiving Holiday. Online reservations will still be available.
Hotel Cancellation Policy
The ACBL will no longer charge a one-night room deposit to the credit card of a guest at the time of booking their hotel reservation. ACBL will charge a $150 CANCELATION FEE starting at sixty (60) days prior to that NABC’s Major Arrival Date, in addition to any cancelation fees the hotel may charge. Request for cancelation policy exceptions should be directed in writing to the ACBL Meeting Services Manager at nabc@acbl.org.
Parking & Transportation
Galt House
$20 Self parking per night
$30 Valet parking per night
Each NABC has a wide variety of events each day, whether you’re just starting out, looking for gold points or aiming for an NABC title. The Full Schedule shows each event broken down by date and time and is color coded to help you find games to suit your interest.
Full Schedule
Wednesday, March 13
12 & 5 pm
BALDWIN NORTH AMERICAN PAIRS FLIGHT A 2 qualifying & 2 final sessions; Pre-qualification required
Thursday, March 14
10 am
International Fund Pairs Thu-Sat Daylight Series International Fund 299er Pairs
10 am & 3 pm
BALDWIN NORTH AMERICAN PAIRS FLIGHT A Int’l Fund/Ed Found Open Pairs (unlim./4000/1500) Int’l Fund/Ed Found Gold Rush Pairs IF/EF Bracketed Round Robin Teams
3 pm
Educational Foundation Pairs Thu-Sat Daylight Series Educational Foundation 299er Pairs
Friday, March 15
10 am
Terri Chandler “Play Pretty” Friday Morning Side Pairs Thu-Sat Daylight Series 299er Pairs
10 am & 3 pm
KAY PLATINUM PAIRS 2 qualifying, 2 semifinal & 2 final sessions; Qualification required LEBHAR IMP PAIRS 2 qualifying & 2 final sessions SENIOR MIXED PAIRS Must have been born before Jan. 1, 1960; 2 qualifying & 2 final sessions Ellen Kozlove Open Pairs (unlim./4000/1500) Woody Woodworth Gold Rush Pairs Howard H. Hall Memorial Open Bracketed Round Robin Teams
3 pm
Ralph Letezia Friday Afternoon Side Pairs Thu-Sat Daylight Series 299er Pairs
7:30 pm
Friday Evening Side Pairs Fri-Mon Evening Series
Saturday, March 16
10 am
Saturday Morning Side Pairs Thu-Sat Daylight Series 299er Pairs Bridge Plus+ (0-20) Free: 12 deals (0-20), follows 8 am lesson
10 am & 3 pm
LEBHAR IMP PAIRS SENIOR MIXED PAIRS KAY PLATINUM PAIRS NABC+ OPEN PAIRS 2 qualifying & 2 final sessions Duane Andrews Open Pairs (unlim./4000/1500) Missy Hubbuch Memorial Gold Rush Pairs Brian Ross Top-Flight Swiss Teams (unlim./6000/4500) Stephanie Hope Carpenter Bracketed Round Robin Teams (0-4000)
10 am & 3:30 pm
0-10,000 SWISS TEAMS 2 qualifying & 2 final sessions
3 pm
Jane and Jim Gormong Saturday Afternoon Side Pairs Thu-Sat Daylight Series 299er Pairs
7:30 pm
Saturday Evening Side Pairs Fri-Mon Evening Series
Sunday, March 17
10 am
Billie Brown Sunday Morning Side Pairs Sun-Tue Daylight Series James D. Olson 299er Pairs Bridge Plus+ (0-20) Free: 12 deals (0-20), follows 8 am lesson
10 am & 1 pm
Fast Pairs
10 am & 3 pm
LEVENTRITT SILVER RIBBON PAIRS Must have been born before Jan. 1, 1960; 2 qualifying & 2 final sessions NABC+ OPEN PAIRS Jim Watson Memorial Open Pairs Lexington Bridge Club Top-Flight Swiss Teams (unlim./5000) Lexington Bridge Club Mid-Flight Swiss Teams (4000/1250) Lexington Bridge Club Gold Rush Swiss Teams
10 am & 3:30 pm
KAY PLATINUM PAIRS 0-10,000 SWISS TEAMS
3 pm
Billie Brown Sunday Afternoon Side Pairs Sun-Tue Daylight Series 299er Pairs
7:30 pm
Sunday Evening Side Pairs Fri-Mon Evening Series
Monday, March 18
10 am
Billie Brown Monday Morning Side Pairs Sun-Tue Daylight Series 299er Pairs 99er Pairs
10 am & 3 pm
LEVENTRITT SILVER RIBBON PAIRS Bill Toutant Top-Flight Pairs (unlim./5000) Lexington Bridge Club Mid-Flight Pairs (4000/1250) Lexington Bridge Club Gold Rush Pairs Top-Flight Swiss Teams (unlim./6000/4500) Unit 193 Bracketed Round Robin Teams (0-4000)
10 am & 3:30 pm
VANDERBILT KNOCKOUT TEAMS Pre-registration required by 3:30pm Sunday 3/17 0-10,000 KNOCKOUT TEAMS Pre-registration required by 3:30pm Sunday 3/17**
3 pm
Billie Brown Monday Afternoon Side Pairs Sun-Tue Daylight Series 299er Pairs
7:30 pm
Monday Evening Side Pairs Fri-Mon Evening Series
Tuesday, March 19
9:30 am & 3:30 pm
VANDERBILT KNOCKOUT TEAMS 0-10,000 KNOCKOUT TEAMS
10 am
Billie Brown Tuesday Morning Side Pairs Sun-Tue Daylight Series 299er Pairs 99er Pairs
10 am & 3 pm
ROCKWELL MIXED PAIRS 2 qualifying & 2 final sessions 0-2500 SWISS TEAMS 2 qualifying & 2 final sessions Verna Goldberg Open Pairs (unlim./4000/1500) Mike Lipp Gold Rush Pairs Top-Flight Swiss Teams (unlim./6000/4500) Lexington Bridge Club Bracketed Round Robin Teams (0-4000)
3 pm
Billie Brown Tuesday Afternoon Side Pairs Sun-Tue Daylight Series 299er Pairs
7:30 pm
Tuesday Evening Side Pairs Tue-Fri Evening Series
Wednesday, March 20
9:30 am & 3:30 pm
VANDERBILT KNOCKOUT TEAMS 0-10,000 KNOCKOUT TEAMS
10 am
John Peake Wednesday Morning Side Pairs Wed-Thu Daylight Series 299er Pairs
10 am & 3 pm
ROCKWELL MIXED PAIRS 0-2500 SWISS TEAMS Sharon Austin Top-Flight Pairs (unlim./5000) Belleoflondon Memorial Mid-Flight Pairs (4000/1250) Unit 193 Gold Rush Pairs Top-Flight Swiss Teams (unlim./6000/4500) Sarah Sentman Bracketed Round Robin Teams (0-4000)
3 pm
John Peake Wednesday Afternoon Side Pairs Wed-Thu Daylight Series 299er Pairs
7:30 pm
Wednesday Evening Side Pairs Tue-Fri Evening Series
Thursday, March 21
9:30 am & 3:30 pm
VANDERBILT KNOCKOUT TEAMS
10 am
John Peake Thursday Morning Side Pairs Wed-Thu Daylight Series 299er Pairs
10 am & 3 pm
SILODOR OPEN PAIRS 2 qualifying & 2 final sessions SMITH WOMEN’S PAIRS 2 qualifying & 2 final sessions 0-2500 PAIRS 2 qualifying & 2 final sessions Jim Sorrent Open Pairs (unlim./4000/1500) Mary Van Cleve Memorial Gold Rush Pairs Franny Van Cleve Memorial Bracketed Round Robin Teams
3 pm
John Peake Thursday Afternoon Side Pairs Wed-Thu Daylight Series Sandy Spears 299er Pairs
7:30 pm
Thursday Evening Side Pairs Tue-Fri Evening Series
Friday, March 22
9:30 am & 3:30 pm
VANDERBILT KNOCKOUT TEAMS
10 am
Cynthia Hall Friday Morning Side Pairs Fri-Sun Daylight Series Sandy Spears 299er Pairs
10 am & 3 pm
SILODOR OPEN PAIRS SMITH WOMEN’S PAIRS 0-2500 PAIRS Unit 130 Club Managers Top-Flight Pairs (unlim./5000) Sandy Spears Mid-Flight Pairs (4000/1250) Gold Rush Pairs Top-Flight Swiss Teams (unlim./6000/4500) Bracketed Round Robin Teams (0-4000)
3 pm
Cynthia Hall Friday Afternoon Side Pairs Fri-Sun Daylight Series 299er Pairs
7:30 pm
Friday Evening Side Pairs Tue-Fri Evening Series
Saturday, March 23
9:30 am & 3:30 pm
VANDERBILT KNOCKOUT TEAMS
10 am
Saturday Morning Side Pairs Fri-Sun Daylight Series Sandy Spears 299er Pairs
10 am & 1 pm
Fast Pairs
10 am & 3 pm
GOLDER NORTH AMERICAN PAIRS FLIGHT B 2 qualifying & 2 final sessions; Pre-qualification required PRESIDENT’S CUP NORTH AMERICAN PAIRS FLIGHT C 2 qualifying & 2 final sessions; Pre-qualification required Top-Flight Pairs (unlim./6000/4500) Mid-Flight Pairs (4000/1500/750) Open Bracketed Round Robin Teams
10 am & 3:30 pm
JACOBY OPEN SWISS TEAMS 2 qualifying & 2 final sessions WOMEN’S OPEN SWISS TEAMS 2 qualifying & 2 final sessions
3 pm
Saturday Afternoon Side Pairs Fri-Sun Daylight Series 299er Pairs
Sunday, March 24
9:30 am & 3:30 pm
VANDERBILT KNOCKOUT TEAMS
10 am
Sunday Morning Side Pairs Fri-Sun Daylight Series Sandy Spears 299er Pairs
10 am & 1 pm
Fast Pairs
10 am & tba
Top-Flight Swiss Teams (unlim./6000/4500) Playthrough with a short break Bracketed Round Robin Teams (0-4000) Playthrough with a short break
10 am & 3 pm
GOLDER NORTH AMERICAN PAIRS FLIGHT B PRESIDENT’S CUP NORTH AMERICAN PAIRS FLIGHT C
10 am & 3:30 pm
JACOBY OPEN SWISS TEAMS WOMEN’S OPEN SWISS TEAMS
2 pm
Sunday Afternoon Side Pairs Fri-Sun Daylight Series 299er Pairs
Stratification for open regional events is unlimited/2500/750 unless otherwise noted.
Regional top-flight, mid-flight, and side pair events play 26 or 27 boards per session. Gold Rush pairs play 24 boards per session. Swiss and Round Robin team events typically play 24 boards per session, depending on the event or bracket size.
In gold-point events of two or more sessions, overall awards and section tops are paid in gold to any strat that has a maximum of 750 or higher. Side Pairs Series pay gold only to the open strat, and it is necessary to play two or more sessions in the series to earn gold.
All regional team events use the 20-point VP scale.
I/N events are stratified as appropriate at the discretion of the director. No player may be over 300.
All players must have an ACBL member number to participate in any event (ACBL member numbers are valid for life, even if your membership is inactive). Not a member? Join now!
Entry Fees (per person/per session)
All fees are subject to change without notice.
Events
ACBL Members*
Inactive members**
Premier NABC+ (Platinum points, some stages on screens)
$1.50 per entry benefits the International Fund
$40
Not Eligible
NABC+ (Platinum points)
$1.50 per entry benefits the International Fund
$35
Not Eligible
NABC (Gold and Red points)
$25
Not Eligible
Regional / Gold Rush (Gold and Red points)
$22
$27
Intermediate/Newcomer (0-299er, Red points)
$18
$23
* Members who are up-to-date with their membership dues or service fee** Inactive members may renew during the event, or pay a $5 upcharge per session
Team Entry Fees: For team events of three or more sessions, the entry fee is the base price of the event, times the number of people on the team. For example, an event with a base price of $35 is $140 for a team of four, $175 for a team of five, or $210 for a team of six. In all team events, except one- or two-session Swiss events, entry fees are charged on a per person basis.
Screen Fees: Effective January 1, 2024, we are no longer charging screen fees for events.
Youth & Junior Entry Fees
Youth Regional-rated Event Free Entry All Youth members are eligible for free entries that may be used at any Regional-rated event or NABC (MP limited event)***.
NBO Junior Player Free Entry Juniors named to teams to represent Zone 2 NBOs in world competitions (“Junior NBO Player”) will receive free plays for NABCs occurring between the time they are named to the team and the world championship. These free entries can only be used while playing in a team or pair made up of Zone 2’s NBO Junior Players.
These are the amounts that each eligible Junior category will pay during NABCs:
Events
Youth
Full-time Student,
age 21-25
NBO Junior
Player
Premier NABC+
$15
$15
Free
NABC+
$10
$10
Free
NABC
Free
Free
Free
Regional / Gold Rush
Free
Free
Free
Intermediate/Newcomer
Free
Free
Free
*** All Intermediate/Novice and Gold Rush events at NABCs are Regional-rated events
Just getting started? Try the friendly bridge experience of the Intermediate/Newcomer Area at the NABC! This welcoming area features many chances to learn more (often for free) and practice with players at your skill level. Stop by the Intermediate/Newcomer Desk for more information.
Learn Bridge in A Day?
You’ll nail the basics of bridge in this interactive class that has both instruction and coached play. If you’re just starting, returning to the game or wanting to test the waters before taking formal lessons, this course is for you. Leave the class and take on a newcomer game!
Saturday, March 16
Time: 1– 6 p.m. Fee: $25 pre-registered or $30 at the door – includes textbook
Learn how to bid and respond to Weak Twos and Preempts! This seminar is for players who want to explore basic preemptive bidding, both as an opening bid or an overcall. Topics include when to open weak twos and preempts,
and how to respond with both a strong hand or a weak hand with a good fit. Come join us and explore the ins and outs of these bids!
Sunday, March 17
Time: 1– 5 p.m. Fee: $25 pre-registered or $30 at the door – includes textbook
Beyond the games at the NABCs, members can enjoy educational programs. Below is a listing of the seminars being offered in Chicago. Please check the NABC Daily Bulletin for the exact location of each session.
Best Practices Teacher Workshop
This workshop covers proven techniques that help teachers be more effective in their classroom. The focus is on how, rather than what, to teach. Participants may opt to demonstrate their Best Practices proficiency on Sunday afternoon or Monday morning to earn certification as an ACBL Best Practices teacher. For more information visit acbl.org/bpteacher.
Friday–Sunday, March 15-17 Time: 1–5 p.m. Friday; 8 a.m.–noon Saturday and Sunday Fee: $125
Reception for Club Officials and Teachers
The ACBL hosts this reception to say thank you to the club officials and teachers who recruit and retain our members. We invite club managers, teachers and club directors to attend. A light meal and adult beverages will be served. Event is free, but registration is required.
This program instructs teachers in methods of administering and presenting LBIAD.
Saturday, March 16
Time: 6:30–8:30 p.m. A light meal will be provided 6–6:30 p.m. Fee: $75 Register: Email Patty Tucker at patty@whirlwindbridge.com
Teacher Breakfast Meeting
See presentations from ABTA Master Teachers of award-winning teaching materials and learn how the ACBL and ACBL Educational Foundation can help you. The first 20 teachers who register receive complimentary copies of the materials, and non-ABTA members receive a free one-year membership in the ABTA. Registration will open January 1, 2024.
Louisville is a thriving city that combines heritage, originality and friendliness. It was also listed as one of 52 Places to Go in 2023 by The New York Times. While in this unique city for the NABC, be sure to explore its iconic attractions and vibrant neighborhoods – and enjoy the local bourbon scene!
Louisville is known as Bourbon City, and as such, is home to countless bourbon experiences, like distillery tours, cocktail tastings and more. There are 11 distilleries to explore, from the historic to the artisanal.
The Kentucky Derby Museum is an American Thoroughbred horse racing museum located on the grounds of Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. Dedicated to preserving the history of the Kentucky Derby, it first opened its doors to the public in the spring of 1985.
Leaning like an all-American obelisk on its building, the Louisville Slugger Museum’s signature giant-size baseball bat is recognized as the biggest piece of ash that will never see any action on the diamond. Inside the facility, visitors are treated to a baseball experience that details the history of this iconic Major League Baseball fixture since 1884.
Located in downtown Louisville, the Muhammad Ali Center features two and a half levels of award-winning exhibits exploring Ali’s epic life and core values. The center also includes a five-screen orientation film, Civil Rights Era media footage, video of Ali fights, hands-on boxing fun and art galleries.
n affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, the Frazier is home to one of the largest collections of toy soldiersand historic miniatures on permanent public display in the world, The Stewart Collection. Subjects of other permanent exhibitions include historic arms, bourbon whiskey, and the Lewis and Clark Expedition.
Founded in 2004 as a museum of historical arms and armor, the Frazier has since expanded its focus to cover regional, national, and international history.
The Speed Art Museum in Louisville is Kentucky’s oldest and largest art museums and features a fantastic collection spanning more than 6000 years of human history. Travel + Leisure Magazine calls it one of “The World’s Most Beautiful New Museums.”
Constructed by local architect Arthur Loomis, the Conrad-Caldwell House Museum is nestled in Old Louisville and sits among the largest collection of Victorian homes in the United States. From beautiful woodwork to magnificent stained-glass windows, the historic house has been lovingly restored to the Edwardian Era, complete with items owned by the Conrads and Caldwells.
The Zoom Room is available Monday through Friday, 3:30 pm-5:30 pm (Eastern).
The Zoom Room will be closed from November 22-24 in observance of US Thanksgiving.
Getting help is easier than ever with the ACBL Zoom Chat service.
Simply click the "Join Zoom Chat" button below to be taken to our dedicated zoom room.
Once there, click the "Launch Meeting" button to start your session. To hear us and vice-versa - don't forget to "Join with computer audio."
If the Zoom Room isn't available and you need answers, you can email us at membership@acbl.org.