Tuesday, June 4, 2013

A CARD SHARK FROM WAY BACK...


Hi, it's the bridge diva here, good to meet you! After 40 years or so playing bridge, quite mediocrely I might add, I am now getting serious about this noble art.  Forget boxing or falconry, bridge is THE sport for silver foxes and foxy women like you and me who plan to stay in tip-top cerebral fettle.
      Sitting for hours trying to outwit an opposing team, all on the basis of what you've been dealt from a total 52 cards, may not be everyone's idea of heaven, but you and I know better, don't we?
       Bridge is more than a wonderful way to while away the hours, it's a lifelong journey to seeking mastery of a game that dates back hundreds of years. 
       Ever since I was a child, watching my parents play most weekends with friends, I was hooked. Today I'm a self-confessed competitive-as-hell card shark whose husband would rather run a mile than play with me. (Yes, yes, completely understand, darling).


"For those of you out there considering a commitment to bridge, I guess the first question to ask is: should you partner with your husband or wife?"
   
     My husband and I happily play 500 with friends, but we always play on opposing teams. At my local club, quite a few married couples play amicably together - I guess it's easier berating a spouse when they've done something stupid - but it depends on the relationship dynamics, I guess. No quick, easy answers there - as is the case, I might add, with most bridge-related topics.
    I've had at least half a dozen long-term bridge partners over the years and some of them have been absolute bloody disasters. In the end, I concluded that choosing a bridge partner is as serious as choosing a life partner. You need to find someone who "gets" you and who complements you on some level.
   Me? I need someone calm, rational and patient to balance my impulsive, irascible personality. And I'm in luck, because all three of my current partners get a big tick in this regard which explains why our partnerships tend to do well.
   Most importantly, though, all four of us share a commitment and determination to keep improving our play. We may say we're not paying attention to the scoreboard, but we're lying. We absolutely are! >>>




Originally, cards were used for fortune telling and gambling. Tarot cards,
used for fortune telling, were introduced to Italy in 1420.
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