By Valerie Rhead
TOURNAMENT FUN
HAPPY CANADA DAY! We are enjoying our Canada Day holiday at the Canadian Atlantic Bridge Tournament in Halifax, Nova Scotia. It is held in The Lord Nelson Hotel, which is where we are staying—very luxurious and very convenient.
Sooner or later some bridge players, particularly those who play duplicate bridge, end up going to a bridge tournament. At tournaments, of course, you play bridge—lots of bridge! A few years ago, we met a woman who squeezed in four games a day. The most that my favourite partner and I can tolerate are two games a day.
People come to this tournament from all over–Calgary, Maine, Newfoundland, Saskatoon, Florida, Toronto, New Brunswick of course, and many other places from around North America. The locals come also. We have been meeting many players from the nearby Annapolis Valley. We didn’t expect to see many people we know as we haven’t been sprinting around the tournament circuit as much recently as we have in the past. But we have met some friends who play in Huntsville in the summer and a man we know who plays in Orillia. Don’t think that tournaments are just for experts. There are separate games to accommodate all players at all levels. To earn masterpoints, you can choose to play with the experts or to play with other players at your own comfort level.
Each tournament is somewhat unique. Of course, it wouldn’t be the Maritimes without a bagpiper. We had one pipe us in as we prepared for our first game. A feature of many tournaments are the short lessons that are given before the games. Yesterday Robert Todd, an American from Florida, gave an interesting lesson on how to deal with pre-emptive bids made by the opponents.
Jerry Helms, one of the columnists of the American Contract Bridge League bridge magazine, “The Bridge Bulletin”, gave a series of snappy, insightful and instructive answers to players’ questions about bridge problems they were having. Jerry is a bit of a maverick. He sometimes throws out the window the rules that we have been taught. For example; so you’ve got four Spades in your hand with a six-card Heart suit. Make your weak Two-Heart bid anyway. He believes that players should be looking for reasons to bid, not excuses to pass.
And then there are the social get-togethers. A couple of years ago, we sailed around the Halifax Harbour on an evening cruise. This year, every evening has a social after the games are over. Tonight’s highlight was Smoked Salmon Cheese Cake. I heard it was delicious, but we were just too tired to go. And there’s a big dinner and dance coming up Friday. We’ll end our week in Halifax with a visit to the Tattoo. It is an evening of marching bands and other entertainment that is marvellous.
Of course, all this comes with a price: the registration fee for each game, meals, hotels, transportation, but what the heck, you only live once.
PLEASE NOTE that my email has changed. If you wish to promote an activity in your bridge group, send the information to vrhead23@gmail.com and I will include it in this column.
HUNTSVILLE DUPLICATE BRIDGE CLUB
Games for the Huntsville Club are Tuesdays, 7:15pm, Trinity United Church 33 Main Street. Please arrive 15 minutes early. Contact Susan [email protected] for information and partnerships.
The following winners are for Tuesday, Jun 28 with 8 tables playing a Howell movement. 1. Josee Hamill and Andrea Killackey 2. Mary Whitehead and Helen Pearson; 3. Ann Cassie and Bruce Cassie; 4. Barb Green and Joanne Garvey; 5. Chris Karn and Vern Foell; 6. Bob Schives and Bruce Elliott; 7/8. Mary Hogarth and Albert Eatock; 7/8. Betty Fagin and Brian Brocklehurst
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. For information or partnerships, call Brian at 705-645-5340 [email protected]
The following winners are from Monday, Jun 27 with 12 tables playing a Mitchell movement. North-South 1. Pamela Jardine and Ralph Mitchell; 2. Bob Schives and David Bryce; 3. Betty Fagin and Brian Brocklehurst; 4. Mary Mitchell and Susan Maddocks; 5. Catherine McMillan and Julianne Guselle; 6. Gail Lederer and Hazel Bowes; East-West 1. Liz Barnes and Lyn Walisser; 2. Yvonne Cox and Mary Whitehead; 3. Laima Stem and Lee Stem; 4. Pat Davies and Sue Scott; 5. Ann Cassie and Bruce Cassie; 6. Art Insley and Don Evans
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