May 2019 - 46

Newer Players

Startup Bridge
BY LYNN BERG

lberg@cfl.rr.com

Summer fun
After you get a bit of experience in
your local classes and clubs, I hope you
will want to branch out and try new
events and new places, maybe even
some new challenges. If you aren't sure
where to start, the ACBL website is
loaded with information.
Let's say you're going to spend two
weeks away from home in a rented
house, cabin or apartment. What if it
rains? You can use the ACBL website
to find nearby clubs. You'll find contact information (maybe you'll need
a partner?), game schedule, a map, a
link to the club's website. Just click on
Clubs and then Find a Club. There's
a map function so you can see what's
nearby instead of having to guess. If the
club offers limited games and classes,
you can be sure they're "user friendly"
to newer players. Be honest when you
call for a partner about your skill level,
your experience (do you play 2/1, for
instance) and your masterpoint total,
so that the partnership people can find
you an appropriate partner.
You can take a "staycation" without
traveling by playing on a different day
than usual - play in an open game for a
change, or go to a nearby town and play
in their limited or open game. Again,
look for their schedule on the ACBL
website.
If your home club doesn't offer Eight
is Enough team games, try to get one
started. The A players must match up
with C players to participate, and it's
a great way to get started playing with
the open field.
In addition to regular club games, the

46 Bridge Bulletin May 2019

summer season allows clubs to offer
sessions of North American Pairs, a
chance to earn extra points (half of
them red points).
This July, there are 80 scheduled
tournaments available around the
North American continent. The North
American Bridge Championships
are in Las Vegas, and there are eight
regional tournaments around the
country. At any of them, you'll find lots
of events for newcomers and novice
players. The NABC and most regionals
also offer free classes and lectures at
which the best players and teachers on
the continent share their expertise.
At least three units and two districts
around the country have STaC - Sectional Tournament at Clubs - games
scheduled in July. You can play in a
lower-key venue and still earn points as
if you were at a sectional tournament.
There are also 60 sectional tournaments in July, and eight of these are
specifically for non-Life Masters with
under 500 points.
At NABCs and regional tournaments,
gold and red points are offered. One
of the most popular events is called
Gold Rush in most places: two-session
games for players with under 750
points award gold points for section
tops and overall awards. One-session
events pay red points.
All sectionals offer silver points,
whether events are one session or
two. Many sectionals also have limited games concurrent with the open
games.
To find the tournament schedule, go

to the ACBL website and click on Tournaments and then on Find a Tournament (in the menu which drops down
on the left side of the page). Choose the
month and state or district for which
you want information and click Search.
Then click on Info. You'll find the stratification used for events, the schedule by day and time, the name of the
tournament chair and the partnership
chair, even the name of the tournament
director who will be running the games.
The address of the venue is given. Want
even more information? Click on View
Tournament Flyer. It will give you a
printable version of the information.
You'll also find directions to the playing
site and often a list of nearby hotels.
Here are a few tips if you decide to go
to a tournament.
⦁ Be sure of time, location and entry
fee. Directors appreciate the right
change.
⦁ Be on time - a few minutes early
at least so the game setup can be
planned.
⦁ Many clubs and tournaments ban
scent and perfumes because of allergies.
⦁ Take your convention card.
⦁ Take and wear your name tag if you
have one.
It's easy to fall into a rut and not
progress, maybe even get a little bored
with "same-o, same-o." Have some fun
this summer by branching out to new
events and new opportunities to enjoy
my favorite game.
◾

May 2019

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of May 2019