May 2020 - 6

IN FIRST SEAT
Member Services:
662-253-3191

Bridge: past, present and future

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced us all to
focus on the most important things in life: the
health and safety of ourselves, our families and our
friends. Everything else moves to a lesser category.
Bridge players love their pastime, however, and we
are rightfully concerned about the way forward.
The virus is an existential threat to duplicate contract bridge around the
world, at least when it comes to the way it has been traditionally played
for most of its 90-plus years of existence - face to face, in small groups or
large groups.
Online play is a fairly recent addition to the way bridge is experienced,
and it has been an increasingly popular one. For the near future, it may be
the only way we can enjoy the game without risking exposure. The ACBL
has offered sanctioned online play for years, but as this health emergency
began to unfold, the League increased its ties with partner Bridge Base
Online to expand the menu of online offerings, especially games that
allow players to keep connections with their close friends through clubbased contests.
If you've never tried online bridge before, it's rather easy to do with
most computers. You can even play on your smartphone. See the story on
pg. 24 for information about online play and give it a try. Tell your friends
at the club to try it, too, and begin playing together soon. And, yes, you can
even earn masterpoints.
One of the many bridge-related setbacks caused by the pandemic was
the cancellation of the Spring NABC in Columbus. As sad as this is for
the thousands of players who looked forward to attending, it is especially
disappointing to the local committee in Columbus, led by Chair Cheryl
Schneider. The committee planned for several years to throw an amazing
party for players from around the world, only to see it canceled at the last
minute for reasons beyond anyone's control.
The ACBL would nevertheless like to thank Cheryl and each of her
committee members for all of their hard work and planning: Judy Auer,
treasurer; Trish Jones, fundraising; Judy Williamson, volunteers; Terry
James, publicity; Anita Torrence, hospitality; Bob Jiobu and Rikki Rosen,
caddies; Tim Kohl, Michelle Ruf and Luci Secord, Intermediate/Newcomer; Larry Jones, partnership; Luci Secord and Jim Bachelder, restaurant guide; Eileen Erwin and Kathy Fellows, prizes; Kim Music and Jane
Witherspoon, welcome; Marsha Reall and Sherry Mcardle, information.
A special thanks, too, to all of the sponsors for Columbus whose gifts
are deeply appreciated despite the cancellation. See the list on pg. 11.
Paul Linxwiler, editor@acbl.org

6 Bridge Bulletin May 2020

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Bulletin
BRIDGE

Editor: Paul Linxwiler

Managing Editor: Sue Munday
Associate Editor: Chip Dombrowski
Graphic Design /Layout: Cindy Hill
BRIDGE BULLETIN (ISSN 1089-6376) is published
monthly by the American Contract Bridge League, Inc.,
6575 Windchase Blvd., Horn Lake MS 38637-1523,
662-253-3100. $5 per copy, $49 annually. Yearly subscription paid with annual dues. Periodicals postage paid
at Horn Lake MS and at additional mailing offices (USPS
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Canadian Publication rate paid at Windsor ON,
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POSTMASTER: Send address changes to BRIDGE
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Horn Lake MS 38637-1523

acbl.org

http://www.acbl.org

May 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of May 2020