What does it take?

Love of the game, love of partners, acceptance that no one is perfect in any set of 26 hands, especially yourself and your partner. I heard a story lately of a divorced couple that still played bridge together. When asked why, the answer was “it is hard to find a good bridge partner.” I started 50 years ago with no idea how to play. I had to read, absorb, and apply logic. I’ll never be a bridge great but I’ll keep reading their books and articles.

Thanks to all I’ve played with and against.

I began my bridge journey around 1999 when I started reading the bridge column in the newspaper. It was my first exposure to the game and I was fascinated by the logic presented in the solutions. In 2001 I borrowed a book for beginners from the Los Alamos bridge club and started playing duplicate. I played for about a year and then moved away to a town with very little bridge. I returned to the game in Indianapolis in 2003-2004 before moving and getting married near Scranton, PA. I started playing again in Toledo in 2009-2011 with the goal to become life master and picked up 200 points. Moving to Corning, NY slowed my progress, but I continued to play regional tournaments with my wonderful Toledo partner. We were moderately successful, picking up points a few times a year including all the necessary silver and gold. In 2017 I played a few online tournaments, bringing my total to 299.94 masterpoints. It was very important to me that I win my final points with my amazing partner across the table. We made it to the Pittsburgh Roni Atkins regional this year and got my final points in the first session we played. It was a fantastic feeling, almost 20 years in the making. I would like to thank Sandi Bellner from Toledo for being my partner all these years. We had a great rapport at the table with Sandi being the best sacrifice bidder I ever played with. She was right 99% of the time, it was amazing to witness. It was very special to win my last 0.06 points with her and I am elated to have reached this milestone. There were many people who helped along the way, especially Ralph and Karin Raber for improving my fundamentals and the late Bob Harlow who was an extremely patient, kind and generous teacher. As long as I play the game, I will always remember Bob. Thank you to the Toledo bridge club and everyone I met along the way.

I hope to play more bridge in the Corning area, get more involved in district 4 and attend more tournaments in the area. The game is amazing and I hope to play it for many more years.

My first bridge instructor was David Blumenthal through the Cheltenham Township Adult School. He gave me a solid framework for beginning the long climb toward me being able to say that I play bridge. I want to thank him for instilling in me a good sound set of bridge basics. As the years unfolded I had the opportunity of learning and building on that foundation with Wes Powers and more recently with Bobbie Gomer. These last two teachers who let me call them friends continue to help me refine and improve my game – a game of which I am convinced is a lifetime career!?!

Although I will be forever grateful to these outstanding player/teacher bridge enthusiasts who have instilled in me a love and respect for the game, I would be remiss if I did not share something else I gained when I started my journey through the bidding box. In my very first bridge class I met three women who I love and appreciate as much I love and appreciate the game. We have struggled, laughed, learned, and yes sometimes even felt success in our game times together. I have gained the comradery and respect of 3 very fine women who have allowed me to call them friends – thank you Pat, Linda, and Barbara. Without them bridge might be just a little bit less enjoyable; a little bit more complicated; and certainly a little bit lonely.