Fast Pairs and Furious Doubles: NABC in Toronto
Story by Martha Smith (BBO: MRSmith4) “I don’t know, Carol. Maybe we should...
My only regret about learning to play bridge is that I didn’t start sooner!
I know a lot of people learn when they're young, play at Uni, then stop to have a life, career, family, etc. before coming back to bridge in the ‘September of their years’, so to speak, often using bridge to bridge (no pun intended) the gap that comes with retirement.
My bridge journey didn’t start until I was in my early 40s but, as I often tell people, it’s never too late to start.
I was hooked on sport – mainly badminton but also tennis and table tennis. I played several times a week and, working full-time, it was the perfect antidote to a sedentary occupation.
Then I got a frozen shoulder. Oh no! I would miss the rest of the league season. It served as a stark reminder that I wasn’t going to be able to play at a competitive level for ever, as the big five-zero loomed large ahead. I needed to find a less physical alternative.
While holidaying in the Caribbean on a cruise, we saw advertised ‘An Introduction to Bridge for Beginners’ in the daily newsletter. There is often bridge for people who can already play on cruise ships but there was little or no provision for complete beginners in those days.
We went along to the bridge room at the prescribed time. The bridge host was a lovely lady from New York. We waited a few minutes but nobody else turned up so we said she didn’t need to stay just for the two of us.
Her reply was (and I quote) “No, that’s fine. I can’t teach you how to play bridge in an hour but I can tell you a bit about the game.”
She then proceeded to tell us, not about the mechanics of the game but about how she went into high schools in the Bronx and Harlem to teach bridge. She said she wasn’t teaching these (often challenging) youngsters how to play a game – she was teaching them life skills: partnership understanding, risk management, anger management(!), dealing with victory graciously, dealing with defeat graciously, patience, understanding, tolerance, empathy, accepting partner’s mistakes, avoiding the temptation to criticise, rolling with it when life is unfair, putting a bad result behind you and focussing on the present, getting back on the horse after a dreadful session, biting one’s tongue …the list went on. I was fascinated.
We returned to the UK and promptly booked a course of 12 lessons for beginners at a local club. From there I went on to play my first game of Duplicate Pairs, a gentle novice session (hands shaking!), and eventually progressed to mainstream club sessions, with much reading and studying the game on an ongoing basis.
I kept in touch with the lady who had got me started on this path in 2004 and, over the next two decades, she was delighted to hear when I won my first club competition, attended my first congress and eventually qualified as a Club Director and EBU bridge tutor and started hosting bridge holidays and cruises, just as she had done!
Next milestone is Life Master but I won’t live long enough to be a Grand Master, hence the regret I started so late in life. I’ll never be a great player but, as with everything, we can only strive to be the best that we can be.
We all know how bridge can be a rollercoaster but it never ceases to fascinate and long may it continue to keep the grey cells alive.
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I was on a cruise when I walked by the novice lessons. I heard one lady say, "I hate Stayman! The responses are so hard!"
nice story) thx for sharing
I've played bridge since I was in my mid 20's. When I started working in IT 4 guys played at lunchtime, one day one of them was off sick and they asked me to be dummy. I was hooked. I wish I had money to cruise and play bridge! But I have 3 children instead. lol
Just got back from an Alaskan cruise on the Norwegian Lines (booked by my son for a family vacation) where I was disappointed to find nobody who played bridge. Should have checked first. Loved all your stories.
It's never too late to start playing bridge. I learned duplicate when I was about 75 yrs old. I said I'd never live long enough to get my Life Master. I never had a regular ptnr, so it took me longer than most. I finally earned my Life Master & then my Silver at age 94. Still playing.
hi liked your article and will look at playing on line and going back to leasons again. Tony
A nicely written piece.. I liked (a) ...... I will never be a great player, but......,and (b) we all know how bridge can be a rollercoaster but it never ceases to fascinate.....
Fun story-thx for sharing!
Love it! I learned in college, played for a few years and then quit except socially while working and raising kids. I started back in 2013, playing duplicate (much easier to find players at a club). I am now a Silver Life Master and hope for Ruby in a couple of years. I also direct occasionally.
Really like the part where the teacher said she was teaching the students life skills: partnership understanding, risk management, anger management(!), dealing with victory graciously, dealing with defeat graciously, patience, understanding, tolerance, empathy, accepting partner’s mistakes, avoiding the temptation to criticize, rolling with it when life is unfair, putting a bad result behind you and focusing on the present, getting back on the horse after a dreadful session, biting one’s tongue... That really says it all!
I played bridge on a cruise in 1969 and met a USA gent, who told me he had started a travel club, and would I like to be in it, I agreed and am now the oldest surviving member still active at the age of eighty eight. It was such a lucky encounter, due to bridge, I have been able to travel the world, stay in multi millions of dollar homes. Had several MM$ friends stay at my place, all at a minimum cost. Thanks Bridge for enabling me to enjoy a much more interesting and enjoyable life, for fifty five years.
Wow, great stuff!!! I am 82 and learned to play at my parents' knees - literally.
I am today in my 80s. As a young girl in my late teens I dated Norman Kay one of the top bridge players in the Philadelphia areas. Following many dinner dates we wound up in a center city apt where Norman played bridge and I sat there bored! Today I play bridge on many of my extensive cruises. Should have paid attention 65 yrs ago
When I had access to the best!
Wonderful story! I too started bridge late in life. It's a great game!
What a wonderful story
Very beautiful and inspiring story. I am a passionate cruiser and enjoy this beautiful game every time I sail the seas of the world.
Io ho giocato per la prima volta sulla Costa Firenze e non volevo più smettere!
Started my bridge journey on a world cruise and still improving ten years later.
Loved the story- I was a latecomer to Bridge - can relate to Trixie in many ways. Bridge has given me friends , entertainment and many challenges over the last 25 years. Love bbo too!