By Val Rhead
The secret to becoming a better Bridge player is to get in lots of practice. I don’t want to be discouraging, but Bridge is a game of mistakes! If you play a lot of Bridge, you will make lots of mistakes. But, you will learn from your mistakes.
How do you find time for all this practice? Invite three friends over for casual games of Bridge. Don’t put in a looney. Don’t keep score. Pour out a cup of coffee. Nibble on cashews and cheese and crackers. Share a delicious dessert at the end of the session.
Table talk is allowed and encouraged. If your partner has opened One No Trump and you respond Two Diamonds, and he then bids Three Diamonds, it won’t hurt if you remind him that the Two Diamond bid is a transfer to Hearts and does not show a Diamond suit. Then let him take his bid back. It will help him solidify his knowledge of Transfers so he is less likely to make that same mistake again, in a “real” game.
It will be helpful to your learning process if you place the cards duplicate style in front of you rather than tossing them into the center of the table as you play. Then, if there is a question about a hand, such as you bid Two No Trump and made five, all four of you are able to look at the entire hand and work out how you could have bid it more accurately.
Play of the hand is very important. Frequently, it enhances the learning experience to lay out all four hands face up dummy style. Then bid and play the hands open faced with discussions as you go. This gives you four times the opportunity to learn. Just have a “dummy” sign to put in front of the dummy hand to remind everyone which hand they really can see.
Now, it doesn’t matter whether some of the players are more advanced than others. The main difference between more advanced players and those with less experience is that the more advanced will be making fewer errors. But, they too will be making errors. All will be learning and all will be having fun.
You’re talking about the game as you go along, interspaced with chit chat about your recent trip to Machu Picchu or the challenges you had on the golf course yesterday. Of course, forget that I’ve told you that a true masochist is someone who plays both Bridge and Golf. The most important thing is to have fun. It all makes for a pleasant session and a good Bridge learning experience.
If you wish to promote an activity in your bridge group or ask a bridge question, send the information to [email protected] and I will include it in this column.
HUNTSVILLE DUPLICATE BRIDGE CLUB
Games at the Huntsville Club for the winter Jan-Feb-Mar are now Tuesday 1pm, Trinity United Church 33 Main Street. Please arrive 15 minutes before game time. For partners and information call Susan Marshall 705 787-5454 or email [email protected]
PLEASE NOTE: For the rest of the winter, the Tuesday afternoon 1pm game will be held downstairs in the warm basement. To avoid the long stairs, you also may enter from the door on Main Street.
The game Jan 10 was cancelled due to the weather.
The following winners are for Tuesday, Jan 3 with 10 pairs playing a Howell movement. 1/2. Bev Howard and Gail Lederer; 1/2. Liz Graham and Dorothy Russell; 3/4. Mary Whitehead and Helen Pearson; 3/4. Mary Simonett and Kel Andresen; 5. Beryl Clayson and Paul Clayson
MUSKOKA DUPLICATE BRIDGE CLUB (Bracebridge)
Games at the Bracebridge Club are at the Knox Presbyterian Church, 120 Taylor Road 7pm Monday evenings. Please arrive 15 minutes before game time.
The following winners are from Monday, Jan 9 with 14 pairs playing a Mitchell movement. North-South 1. Mary Luke and Donna McIntosh; 2. Bev Parlett and Vern Foell; 3. Betty Fagin and Brian Brocklehurst; 4. Lyn Walisser and Bev Howard; 5. Yvonne Cox and Helen Pearson; East-West 1. Kel Andresen and Jim Smith; 2. Liz Barnes and David Bryce; 3. Gail Lederer and Hazel Bowes; 4. Joanne Garvey and Don Evans; 5. Joyce Payne and Malcolm Payne
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