Story by Mike Davidson (Gator411)
From the time I was old enough to sit up, I found that playing cards was fun. While the early games were very simple and centered around “War,” “Go Fish,” “Spades,” etc., they began to evolve into more sophisticated games like gin, rummy, pinochle, and others. While I had heard about bridge, I really had little interest in learning it.
During my college years, I worked the midnight shift, and since there were only two of us on this shift, we played buck euchre during our free time. Then came graduation and my first job. I started working as a chemist in an office with about ten other chemists.
One day, three guys asked me to come into one of the offices at lunchtime, saying they needed someone to fill in because their fourth had retired and they “needed me.” Of course, I said I knew nothing about the game! They were desperate and said, “Just hold the cards, and we’ll tell you what to do.” I thought, why not?
That was my first exposure to bridge, and after “playing” a little each day at lunchtime, the “bridge bug” got me. I found myself thinking, wow, this is really a very interesting game. With that, I took one of the books they gave me home to learn some of the rules and various conventions. I suddenly realized that all other card games were now very boring, except for an occasional hand of solitaire.
That was many years ago, and here I am nearly fifty years later, still playing and loving the game. I have played duplicate in tournaments, but I most enjoy my game with three guys, now for 16 years. We haven’t missed a week (except for vacations), and even during COVID, Bridge Base was there for us as a wonderful “bridge” to keep us playing together without a hitch.
Dans les films d'Hercule Poirot sur les histoires d'Agatha Christie, il y avait souvent un épisode où la bonne société se retrouvait autour d'une table de bridge. C'est ainsi que ce jeu m'a interpellée.
Pour débuter, je me suis inscrite à une société de loisirs qui proposait le bridge. Nous n'étions que quelques personnes et j'ai pu débuter avec le minimum de bases que l'on a bien voulu m'enseigner. Ce jeu est tellement passionnant qu'il nous "mange" et laisse peu de temps pour d'autres activités.
J'ai progressé avec des livres et je fais partie maintenant d'un Club de la FFB. C'est principalement la complexité du jeu qui m'intéresse, plus que les compétitions.
Dear Mike,
Thanks for your interesting story.
I too enjoyed many card games through the years however
Bridge Bug got me also.
The friends you meet the challenges of the game have kept me refreshed for an interesting life.
Bridge Base On Line has been most enjoyable.
Thank you for your story Mike its always interesting to hear how folks got started playing bridge - mine was similar to Mike's friend asked me to go to bridge classes with her but said no I do not like card games but then she asked me again and I thougt "why not" and I loved it - I realised a lot of it was based on maths which is one of my favourite topics so went to the lessons with her - found my own partner and off I went - now 30 years later still playing and learning although the learning takes more effort now as my partners would say
Mary
My dad loved to play cards and once we got to teens we started playing the more adult games. Pretty sure I have played at least 30 or so different games over time. I never played bridge but we got the newspaper daily and I always made a point to read the bridge columns and a deck of cards handy to try out different scenarios. As I got closer to retirement I decided to try and find a place to play and finally found a place that had night games as I was still working. I called ahead and made arrangements to go there on a saturday as they gave mini lessons for the newer ones.When I got there we chatted and he asked what my experience was, the look of shock made me smile as I told him my experience was reading the bridge columns in newspaper. After a month or so, with still a lot to learn , he told me I do have card sense. MY bidding is still the weakest part of my game but slowly working on it , reading and asking questions. I always look forward to playing no matter who my partner is.I totally enjoy the game and the people that play it.
Bob
I CAN ALWAYS USE HELP
Hi Mary
I too did not want to to learn bridge, but my husband used to p.ay in college and wanted me to learn. It took me 15 years, 2 bridge courses at night before I became a good player. My husband and I spent almost 16 years abroad and bridge was my entrance into many social groups. During my second night session, two of my friends who were the best bridge players ever took myself and a friend into their home and each took one of us.and when that course was done I was an expert. Maybe not to today's standards, but I can hold my own. I have played bridge for 66 years, love it