I started playing bridge when I was a midshipman at the United States Naval Academy in the early 1960s. After graduation I played party bridge for seven years. When I was stationed in San Diego, CA a friend of mine and I started playing at the local bridge club 2-3 times a month for about a year. I moved to the East Coast in the late 1970s and a friend of mine and I desired to learn Precision club and play at the Arlington, VA bridge club. We had our ups and downs, but accumulated some master points. In 1978 we moved to New Jersey and I played Party Bridge until about four years ago when I learned 2 over 1 and started playing duplicate again. For the last couple of years I have been playing with the same partner and together we both just passed 100 master points for Regional Masters. We are not sure how much further we can go, but we will give Life Masters a run.
Category Archives: Stories
Shirley Lutz – Sectional Master
My parents who still play and love the game of Bridge, became Life Masters when only 300 points were needed. Now the requirements have risen to 500 points. Both numbers seem unattainable at my age, but I continue to play Bridge because it’s fun (especially when you are winning), challenging, and has enabled me to meet and friend new people! I also play on BBO with my mother, who has helped me enormously with the game.
I belong to Berks-Montgomery Unit 121. I was the Board Treasurer for over two years and continue to be a Board member. I began taking Bridge lessons when I read an advertisement in our local newspaper, for Bridge lessons. My husband and I took the lessons as I would be retiring in a couple of years and thought it would be a good retirement activity. That was about six years ago and I have accumulated 89 master points and the new rank of Sectional Master. The thing about Bridge is I can be in the top two on Monday, and in the bottom two on Friday. Both results keep bringing me back. Why? Because of the reasons stated in the first paragraph!
George Subt – Sapphire Life Master
When I was in High School, I lived 6 blocks from Southern Methodist University (SMU). SMU has some truly beautiful CoEds and I used to go to the student center to observe their beauty. ?? while I was occupied in evaluating the women, I would occasionally hear a call “Fourth” which would extend over the entire cafeteria area. So I would see what they wanted. After a few weeks of observing, one of the players pointed at me and said “You’ve been here before. We need a fourth. Sit down and play.”
When I protested that I didn’t know how to play, he said, “Easy game. You have clubs, you bid clubs. You have spades, you bid spades. Easy game.”
Gail Ruth – Life Master
I started playing Bridge about 8 years ago. I had sold my family business (Zinman Furs) a few years before that and was looking for something to do that would keep my attention and that I would enjoy. I had tried a few other things like Real Estate and taking some classes, but I really didn’t want to stick with anything until I found Bridge. I never thought I’d make Life Master. 500 points seemed insurmountable, but little by little they accumulated and low and behold, I finally made it! I’ve made lots of friends and there’s always something new to learn. Thanks to everyone who’s helped me along the way – My partners and teachers.
James Post – NABC Master
I started playing bridge in college over fifty years ago.Always enjoyed the game but never really learned much about how to play. When I retired in July 2017, I decided to play bridge as a way to make new friends and perhaps learn the game. The bridge community of northeastern Pa. has been great at being mentors and ambassadors of bridge. many thanks to Beth Rosenthal,Joe Distini,George Mansour, and George Marcy for helping and teaching me the game and of course to my many partners. Looking forward to many more years of playing.
Marsha Raines and Steven Gersz – Club Masters
We are happy to share that our teacher, Cindy Reid, is responsible for turning us into Bridge people! We began lessons with Cindy about three years ago. We were one of Cindy’s first students and as she learned to teach, we learned to play! She is a very patient teacher and understood that we needed to be taught not only the fundamentals of the game but also needed much encouragement. Many of our group played with their “life partners” and that, as you know, can be a challenging experience! Cindy encouraged us to play “nicely” and to always treat our partner with respect and kindness.
Cindy recognized that her beginners needed not only lessons but an opportunity to play. She worked with Bruce Toder to establish a “Beginners side of the room” for his Monday evening games. She attended with us, providing reassurance and support as we entered the world of Duplicate Bridge. Cindy also arranged for a supervised play of the hand class so we could practice our new skills while playing in a supportive and non-threatening atmosphere.
We also have to give credit to Ricky Briggs, a great mentor and to all of the more experienced “Pros” who willingly played with us at the Pro/Am games. We have recently begun to take classes with Mary Miller who is also a fantastic skilled teacher! (And who gives her students chocolates at every class!)
Final thanks go to all of the more experienced players who have been patient with our bidding and playing mistakes (Gee Marsha, I don’t think you really want to double your own partner!) To Lois Sanders who puts up with our forgetting our convention card. To the Tournament coordinators who have provided us with Vegan lunches!
We have begun to explore opportunities to play in District and Regional tournaments and have had a great experience!