Full Hands and Full Hearts
Story by brownsand (BBO: brownsand) Mom was introduced to social bridge in the e...
As a young boy, I learned bridge over 70 years ago. By the time I reached college I was fairly good, though certainly not great. Afterward, I was introduced to duplicate and played in the weekly club and at an occasional tournament. I managed to accumulate about 30 masterpoints.
One of my highlights was a lunch with Oswald Jacoby, who was visiting my company on business. I did not join the after-lunch rubber game with my boss and others - the stakes and the skill level were both beyond my reach as a young actuary.
I married and my wife did not play, so I gave up the game. Decades later, after she died and during the pandemic, I took up the game on BBO, sharpening my declarer play with robot games. The bidding that I had learned was based on Goren and Sheinwold, so I had to learn 21st century bidding.
After the pandemic and as life returned to normal I played my first face-to-face game in fifty years. I was nervous. I had never used a bidding box and never had electronic scoring. I did not play well and even left my partner in a splinter bid. But he was forgiving.
I was able to achieve Life Master in a little over three years and expect to soon achieve Silver Life Master after a bit more than another year.
Bridge has helped restore my social life as a widower and keeps me mentally sharp as I move into my elderly years. I have gained many new friends as partners and opponents, including the one I left as declarer in a singleton splinter.
📣 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.
It was so interesting to read so many players different experiances. I remember when I started to play my partmer and I played precesion, that is opening 1CL with 16+ HCP. My partner opend 1CL and I passed. I can never forget her expression, filled with rage and empathy we became best of friend afterward and won many tournament.
My much loved Mother in Law told me to NEVER GIVE UP MY BRIDGE GAME! She pointed out that they don't have tennis courts or golf courses at the " Old Folks" homes but they have card tables! I swear, though her husband got sick, and she couldn't go to tournaments to get enough of the "right" pigments after retiring, I've never played with or against a better player. She had uncanny card sense as well as bidding system knowledge.
What an inspiring story.
I started playing bridge as a nursing student in Kingston , Ontario. Kitchen bridge when 4 of us occasionally had the same shift off. Got my ACBL no. eventually and currently have about 200 points.
Covid has taken its toll on bridge, but face to face clubs are returning and I am glad.
Thank you very much Richard. As many have noted, I share a similar history. Played with family and then a lot in college in the late 70s. But that was it until a year ago. Rip Van Winkle! Bidding was a whole new world, as well as the precision and reliance on points and length of suits. Enjoying it now but so much more to becoming proficient!
Thank you, Peter
wonderful that you've returned to the exceptional game of bridge after many years gap well done.
BBO is my savior,,, Im home most of the time because of my sick husband,,, once he's settled I go to my corner and play bridge for hours at time... Its my therapy... and I love every minute of it...
I've had much the same experience. My wise needed constant attention over the last few years of her life if she was to stay in the home. As important as bridge is, it doesn't replace the one who was the center of my life, but since her death it has been a blessing in keeping me mentally active. Thanks for sharing our common experience!
Interesting story. I was getting interested in learning modern bidding but after my partner trumped my Ace we gave bridge up. Hopefully, I can come back to learn and occupy
bridge without imposing on my partner-or at least less often.
Richard,
Consider this auction: Your RHO deals and opens 3C at favorable vulnerability and the bidding goes . . .
3C-Double-4C-Pass; Pass-5C-All Pass
I doubt that you ever left your partner in a 1-0 “fit” at the five level.
I loved this story! Thanks for sharing and keep playing.
I learned bridge in my 20s. I never played much but read a daily bridge column for over 30 years so I thought I knew the game.
But when I passed my partner's bid and he almost leapt over the table yelling, "my bid was forcing," I realized I had some gaps in my understand.
So I read every book about bridge in my library, got better, and joined a duplicate club.
After I became a Life Master, I decided to share what I learned about modern bidding with others who had learned "old style" bridge decades ago. This book, "Coming Back to Bridge" was published by Master Point Press.
I guess I learned a lot, since I've been a proofreader for Master Point Press for more than 10 years. It's a dream job -- getting paid to read bridge books!
And, yes, my family name really is Goldfinger.
Formidable la reprise de ce jeu passionnant, délaissé après tant d'années...
Very interesting Richard. Did something very similar without your level of success!
BTW what’s a Silver Master? Thanks.
Thanks! Your story is similar to mine. Lots of bridge in college, and with family thereafter. Made a number of slams I shouldn't have- on reflection, think my parents may have misplayed on purpose!
Anyway, now that golf is difficult, I am finding joy and challenges with 21st Century play, and making new social connections well outside the dating world.
When I deal in duplicate- played all of 6 sessions by now- I am still apt to blurt out "Pass!". When any one else bids before me, I can remember the bid box.
Cordially,
John
These bridge stories are so interesting and inspiring. I’m a beginner in my seventies and wish I had discovered bridge sooner. Keep these great stories coming please.
Very nice and feel good story! Happy for you!
I am still unable to do f2f or online after losing my bridge partner 17 years ago.
Lovely story yes I think many of us find great companionship and help in our latter years when we can no longer play tennis etc and especially BBO is lovely as we do not have to leave home so driving is not an issue and still we can make new friends and have games to look forward to - I know someone who plays BBO tournaments three times a day and he is well into his nineties so it is a great game and BBO is especially good as you do not have to tidy your hair or clear up your table to play on it - well done the BBO team
Thank you
Mary
what a wonderful story.
I love that you left your partner in a splinter bid and that you are still friends! Happy Bridging to you and well done achieving silver life master👏👏
I learnt Bridge, along with canasta & bezique as a 20 year old technician in the RAF whilst we waited for 111 squadron , The Black Arrows, to complete their training flight. It was a tough environment - I remember being told a number of cautionary points - You can only make a mistake once.
A posting to RAF Idris, in Libya and being required to provide visiting Canberra squadrons with bombs to simulate their nuclear weapons training and having no Omar Sherife about to pass my idle moments my Bridge lift was put on hold.
A non playing wife, a baby and demob didn’t help. But employment with Easter Electricity switched on my joy of the game along with the first exposure to Duplicate.
Now retirement and widow hood, BBO twice a week has rekindled my joy for the game along with the opportunity to learn. Long May it continue.
Hahaha, reminds me of long ago when partner bid 4nt, I replied 5H, and she Passed!! So I played in a 2/3 fit.... Replying to my question later, she said, "You sounded so final". Of course this was before bidding boxes
Good for you. That is heart-warming. Thank you