I started playing bridge as a 12-year old, with my twin sister and parents. During my 31-year Army career, there were many years without bridge in my life, but when I retired in September 2004, a friend recommended Dotty Ehling’s club in Warminster; and I joined the ACBL in February 2005. For the first 4 years, I never entered a gold-point event, which I regret now, but no one told me to start collecting gold early – the advice I got was: enter the lowest event possible at the tournaments. Gold points were slow in coming: 1.53 here, 2.90 there, until I only needed 0.08 for Life Master, even though I had a total of 650 points. Finally we got that one big win at the 2016 King of Prussia tournament (9.94 gold) which pushed us way over the top (thank you Carolyn and Sheldon Per). Most of my gold was earned with Dave Hallman, and most of my silver with Jean Harney. I have both partners to thank, along with my parents who got me started.
Category Archives: Stories
Layla Dalati – Club Master
I arrived to the States on the 12 of October 2015 from Lebanon, Beyrut. I stayed more than four months before I discovered the Club in Cape May Court House and I called and I had a very nice lady on the phone, Harriette. She asked me to come and play. So I said I don’t have a partner. She replied “I will play with you”. So I went for the first time so uncomfortable not knowing anybody, but they were all so nice warm and welcoming that I felt relieved.
And it was my first day and so comfortable. I was playing Bridge every single day almost in Beyrut. I participated in so many international tournaments before I came here. Now I am playing with very good players here and I am so happy .
Alan Palmer – Junior Master
I played bridge in graduate school and for a short time after I joined Du Pont in 1963 until I was transferred from Wilmington. In 2013 my wife expressed interest in learning the game and took lessons at the Bridge Center of Delaware County. I joined her in the lessons the next year and we began playing with friends in Delaware. They mentioned their beneficial experience with the Bridge Studio of Delaware so I signed up for their Intermediate Lessons in September 2015 even though I live in Pennsylvania. Starting this year I began playing in games at the studio and to accumulate points. I am very pleased and impressed with the principals, teachers and volunteers at the Studio for the quality of the training and the friendly and open atmosphere. I also commend the District for the mentoring program that is being held this summer. I am impressed as are the other newer players at the thoughtful guidance and helpfulness of our mentors as well as their willingness to participate. I recommend that the program be continued on an as needed basis.
Michael Belman – Life Master
I started playing bridge in the army. I continued playing while at Penn, and occasionally play duplicate at Rhoda Gran’s’s at 21st and Walnut. I played occasionally at The Tuesday evening Calcutta at the Cavendish club when it was at the Drake. Than came about 50 years that I took a vacation from duplicate and raised a family, built a business and spent many hour volunteering for for worthwhile charitable organizations. I did continue to play rubber bridge at the Hamilton Club on Saturdays. About 4 years ago I retired and decided to start playing duplicate again. My thrill,(I am sure you don’t remember) was playing against your team in the KOs at Wilmington and winning 13 1/2 gold ,I needed 12 1/2 to make LM. This left me 1.1 silver short,which I picked up in this months STAC. I’ve made lots of new friends and enjoy playing in games and tourneys.
Roald Ramussen – Junior Master
My story is really about my family. Every year for 12 years, my dad and 2 brothers along with our families would vacation in Sea Isle City, NJ. My dad and two brothers knew how to play bridge, but I had not yet learned. I was always interested and loved to play cards, so I thought I would give it a try. We would play a few boards each night as they taught me the basics, bidding, playing, etc. My dad gave me the book ‘The Play of the Hand’ by Watson, I took an evening bridge class at our local high school and I would read up on the internet. The first couple of years were a bit hard and I am sure frustrating. By the 3rd or 4th summer, we were playing at least 24 boards a night 6 of the 7 nights. (My father owned a duplicate set of boards.) That is really how I learned to play. Dad passed away 3 years ago and as a result, we stopped going to the beach.
The oldest brother, Chris, saw the Monroeville bridge tournament and invited me only a week before it began. I just joined the ACBL that Tuesday. Well, I didn’t have any official tournament experience, but I guess you could say that I had a ton of Rasmussen tournaments.
I really enjoyed my experience. I think Chris and I will be planning to attend another tournament in the not so distant future.
Jerry Mancioci – Gold Life Master
How did I became a Gold Life Master. It was not the traditional way, I suspect. I practice law, which is all consuming. I was also married with children. I played when I could, which for a long time was exclusively nights. A tournament appearance for me and rarely involved a Sunday, as I felt a family obligation. I rarely made games in advance because work and family came first.
So how did I improve? I read bridge an average of an hour per day, 7 hours per week. I watched the experts on BBO and at national tournaments. I tried to stay in decent physical shape. I worked on my stamina and did not tolerate table talk, particularly critical talk, which was tiresome to me and keeps me from concentrating on the next hand. I sought out partners who do not offer unsolicited advise. I “kissed up” to no one. This way my way.