I was introduced to the card game "bridge" many years ago while on "Alert" in the Air Force back in the 1970s. I started playing tournament bridge in 1988 and have been hooked since. Anyone else out there play?

 

In college, I used to work for the school paper. After the issue would go to the printers, a small group of us would sit around and play 2-3 rubbers, usually until sometime around dawn. Dummy would have to go down to the 24-hr coffeehouse on the second floor and get back to the Tech office on the fourth floor with the snacks before the hand was played out.

I met my girlfriend (and later fiancee, though we never actually ended up getting married) because she and her friend saw us playing bridge and they were flirting with my firend Harold. They ended up working for the newspaper, and a few months later we were dating.

I even picked up some fraction of a masterpoint by winning one round of Swiss Pairs at a tournament.

But I was always just a social rubber bridge player, not a club duplicate player. After college I came back home (and the engagement broke up). I eventually taught my dad, sister, and brother-in-law some of the basics. About once a year (usually around Christmastime) we'll play 2-3 rubbers. My dad and I are better at it than my sister and brother-in-law. But anybody who plays regularly in a club environment would slaughter me.

 

Funny hand from Tuesday (this could be boring).

I had

S: AKQJT
H: AQJx
D: xxx
C: x

and my partner opened 3NT gambling (solid 7 or 8 card minor suit with no outside values).

After my right hand opp passed I bid 7NT. It made when the opening lead was a heart. My LHO. had a very nice solid diamond suit but couldn't get into the bidding to give her partner a clue on the opening lead. I probably wouldn't take a chance on the grand slam at a tournament but at the local game I thought "what the hey."

 

Fun. I think I've only bid and made seven a couple times. It does tend to make you feel like the King Of The World when it happens....

Guess you dumped the diamonds on some clubs?

 

Pard had eight clubs headed by the AKQJ. As long as a diamond was not led it was cold. I know I should have just bid 5 clubs but my hand looked sooooo good. Turns out it makes six clubs on a diamond lead as partner only had one diamond. Everyone else was in five clubs making six or seven depending on the lead.

 

Yes, I have played bridge since I was about 11 years old, although not recently. My mother is an excellent bridge player and still plays once a week when she is able. I love to play - need to teach the +1 so we can start it up again.

 

My mom played bridge for many years. As a kid I remember Bridge Club meetings at the house.

She taught me and I played through college. Fraternity bridge tourneys were still a big thing. I haven't played since then.

Kind of forgot about bridge, but it'a great card game that takes lots of skill and lots of signals .

fltsfshr

 

Have not played since college, but I did enjoy the game back then.

 

Yes, communication is the KEY although you should only signal with your cards and bids. Getting more creative will get you in big trouble at a tournament.