Moving from lessons to club sessions can be daunting. One teacher on the Isle of Man has found success with simple "Chat and Play" sessions to help ease new players into the club. The above photos are taken from a recent Saturday session. The below account is written by one of her students, Maggy:
We all love the ‘cut and thrust’ of playing bridge at the club: The hallowed silence while you and your partner work in perfect harmony to achieve the best score you are able. The fast pace of bidding and card play culminating in yet another successful evening. The satisfaction of knowing you have out witted the opposition and achieved total mastery of the game…..
Lets face it - this does not always happen! There are times we feel less than pleased with our performance and the evening does not go to plan.
We wonder:
- How did the opposition agree that winning contract?
- Why didn’t we win - even with all those points?
- Partner, what was that ‘interesting’ bid supposed to mean?
- That different convention used by a partnership- would it work for us?
Of course, there is no time to ponder these and other questions that arise during play at the club: Bridge etiquette and time constrains forbid it.
So how do we learn to play better bridge?
The answer is of course - Chat and play.
Liz, invites us into her home on a Saturday morning and we play bridge. Sometimes we play with a regular partner and other times with another guest. Levels of expertise and experience vary from beginners to masters. Confident regulars mingle with uncertain learners. People are introduced- friendships formed. All are welcomed.
As the name suggests, chatter about the cards and how they are played is positively encouraged. There is a constant buzz of advice offered, suggestions made, and interesting hands discussed. Liz, David and John are on hand to offer help with bidding and difficult decisions. The atmosphere is supportive, comfortable and inclusive - no question, worry or perceived problem too small. Laughter abounds and we all enjoy learning how to improve our bridge.
Of course we are lucky to have Liz - ‘the hostess with the mostest’, who oversees proceedings, gently encourages everyone and keeps us all on track.
Best of all, Liz makes us a very nice cup of tea.
A very agreeable time is had by all.