I am so enjoying learning the game of bridge but must constantly remind myself I can’t learn it all at once! I wonder if there are others in the same boat as my partner and myself in not clearly understanding what needs to be alerted or bridge etiquette? For example, a player making the lead should put the card face down in case they are not the correct player to make the lead; what to say when a player places a bid that is not higher than the previous player etc. We are learning these and lots of other things but I feel somewhat uncertain about what I might be doing incorrectly. The club members are absolutely fantastic and so gracious and kind and for that we are very grateful. I wonder if 5 minutes or so before the game starts we could have teaching moments for us newbies which might also serve as a reminder to more seasoned players? I would also love to have a chance to play a few hands before or after a game where a discussion might take place on both the bidding and play of the hand with some of the more proficient players. We learned to play using certain conventions but find there are so many others and are unsure of which ones we should still be using and which ones are not used as often by better players. Convention Card changes and meanings would also be beneficial.

My partner and I are planning to attend the Rochester Tournament and look forward to this event.

Getting to this rank has been purely fun for me!  I just love the game and look for opportunities to play.  I feel lucky to live in an active bridge playing area and have enjoyed the many sectional and regional competitions available.

Learning to play bridge, was one of  the best things I ever did. My husband was an avid bridge player, so I had to learn. You know how the husband teaching the wife works – it doesn’t.  So I went to our local YWCA and took lessons.

 In 2008, after my husband died, I came to live in Delaware.  I was alone & didn’t know one person.   Fortunately, the community I settled in had a social bridge game.  It was fun, bridge and lunch.

I met a lot of nice people, one of whom asked if I would like to play duplicate bridge.  I had only played  duplicate a few times in my pre-Delaware life.   My new friend & I set off to Ocean View, Dini Romito’s game.  Social bridge is interesting but duplicate is even more so, I thought.  I liked it very much and played twice a week at Dini’s game, then at Dorothy Hand’s game and Anna Delapo’s game in Rehoboth.

Over the years I traveled to many tournaments.  During Covid, I played from my couch in virtual clubs.  Entering the Bridge at the Beach tournament, I had garnered enough black, red & gold points so I only needed 0.05 gold for Bronze Life Master.

Getting 0.05 gold at home, in Rehoboth Beach, just made it that much more special.  My team, Bob Breen, Cindy Hoardley & Marilyn Haskins were excellent!

Thanks to Kim Holm for running a wonderful tournament and to the ACBL.