New Addiction
Story by Stephanie Parks (BBO: Phanya2024) In 1977, at age 33, I was a dedicated...
Story by Judy Daniel (BBO: Judi44dan)
When I landed in Toronto as a first-year teacher, away from my friends and family in a small village in Ontario, playing Bridge seemed like a great way to connect and make new friends. When I was young, I had always wanted to play Bridge, because my friends’ moms in my village played Bridge, except my mom.
So, when I grew up and started teaching, I often saw groups of girls playing Bridge, but never with me. Whenever anyone asked if I knew how to play, I’d reply, “No, but I’d love to learn.” Unfortunately, they also wanted to learn and were looking for someone who could already play. After being passed over three or four times, I was beginning to think I needed two showers a day or something.
Finally, when someone asked again if I knew how to play, I decided to take the bull by the horns and fibbed a little. “Yes,” I said, “I know how to play, a little.” I was invited to join three other girls in a Bridge club that was starting in two weeks’ time. Excited, I bought myself a Bridge book, got out a deck of cards, and every evening before the big day, I dealt out four hands and ran around my kitchen table, playing Bridge with myself.
When the big day came and I sat down with my three new friends, I opened the bidding with “7 No Trump!” completely blowing my cover. After the surprise, the loss, the confession, and the laughter, they admitted they didn’t know how to play either. That was the beginning of several years of Bridge fun and friendship, until one by one, engagements, marriages, children, and careers led us in different directions.
For me, the fellowship of those early Bridge games was a lifesaver. Now, decades later, I’m back at the Bridge table, once again making new friends, and still hoping for a real 7 No Trump hand.
(But take my advice: be very careful about opening 7 No Trump. You never know what you’re getting into.)
You can see all the previous stories here.
Share Your Best Bridge Memories
Share your bridge stories here and we'll publish one every week in the Bridge Lovers Weekly News. If your story is selected to be published we'll give you BB$ as a token of our appreciation.
What a nice story, thank you for sharing.
Had a good smile😊 and wonder if anyone had an 7Nt opening hand, such a low probability (lazy to calculate now).
good
I think I need to learn how to play Bridge. My parents used to play when I was a kid and I never learned. I think it’s time! Great story…😊
Me encantó leer los comentarios. Realmente yo también cuando empecé me hice amigos y sigo jugando con ellos.
👏👏
I’m afraid I missed the point. Was there a real 7 NT opening hand, a hand for which that opening makes sense? If it was, why wasn’t it shown in the story? If not, what is the point? Why open 7 NT, and how could it be the start of something?
(I never had a 7 NT opening hand. If I had, I would most probably open 2 clubs, in the hope of getting doubled at some point, or doubling opponents for something even more profitable. I can always bid 7 NT. Unless... my partner passes 2 clubs.
The point is she revealed immediately that she didn’t know how to play. Fortunately her table mates weren’t proficient either. Their friendship and prowess grew learning the game together.👏🏻😊
40 years ago playing with a novice they passed my 2C opener. 2C made. We got a top when everyone else went down 1 in a slam.
Love it
Perhaps she intended to bid for 7 tricks and announced 7NT!
That is a great story.
I played 7NT some times, but never as opening bid.
Fantastic bridge memory! Ms. Daniel’s experience hits the mark on what is so wonderful about this fantastic, challenging game!
Agree!
“People learn by doing!”
The best advice about teaching I ever received from my education professor at Mount Vernon Nazarene University.
A Great Story !!!
Great story - Bridge is a life line as one gets older - BBO was truly a life line during lockdown - I had list of 16 friends I called on to play
Je confirme que lorsque l'on est débutant, on est un peu trop "audacieux" !
HaHa
Wonderful story.
Yes bridge is so good for making new friends.