September 2022 - 8

IN Box
impact of winter.
The bridge community needs to
understand that a very new world has
opened up, a world that offers many
positive attributes for a large segment
of the bridge-playing population.
COVID and online bridge may simply
have caused an evolution that was inevitable,
namely the demise of clubs
that were not truly viable in the first
place. Technology and improvements
in technology have brought about
fundamental changes in daily life.
Ten years ago, we were not wedded to
our cell phones but now, they are considered
vital. Furthermore, online
bridge is a comfortable and familiar
modality for the generation that grew
up with computers as an integral part
of their life.
Finally, I have thoroughly enjoyed
meeting players from all across
North America and Europe. That is
not possible playing F2F unless you
are able to attend large regional or
national tournaments. I have made
new friends and am in regular correspondence
with them, which has
added richness to my retired life.
ANNE LLOYD
Pontypool ON
Without BBO, people like myself
would never be able to learn the game.
I have read multiple opinions about
how the online world of bridge is killing
the club games. I feel like the club
games are killing themselves.
Our local club offers three games a
week at 12:30 p.m. Central Time. People
who are still young and working
simply can not play enough to master
the game with such limited availability.
It takes playing repetitively
to start to get the grasp of the game.
You simply can't play enough with the
club schedule if you are working.
I have read multiple opinions about
how this game we love is dying as
the population who plays it ages. If
that is to change, people in charge of
8 | Bridge Bulletin | September 2022
local clubs need to reevaluate their
approach to the game. To get younger
people like myself involved, we need
access to games. The online world offers
that. Our club does not even offer
virtual games. Through BBO, I met
someone with a large, inclusive virtual
game that embraces drawing more
people in. I am thankful for that.
The cost of the games is not the
issue as I have heard suggested. It is
access. Advertise your games. Reach
out to businesses and colleges in your
communities to stir up interest. Offer
tutorial games. Offer an online presence.
Perhaps offer night or weekend
games. Try something different.
If local clubs stay stagnant in
their approach to the game, it will
not grow. That is sad. I applaud the
ACBL's support of online games and
hope it continues. Perhaps more clubs
will start thinking outside of the box
to draw people in. I wish ours would.
DEANNA K. STEWART
Hattiesburg MS
Better protocol?
A factor that unquestionably impacts
attendance at live bridge events
is the issue of players being blocked
from participation at club games, sectionals,
regionals and nationals based
on their vaccination status.
As we all know by now, COVID
vaccines don't prevent us from
catching the virus; they just minimize
the damage. Both unvaccinated
and vaccinated/boosted players
have the potential to put the player
population at risk. This has become
evident by the outbreaks traceable to
sanctioned club games/tournaments
in the months since the vaccination
requirement was implemented, all
caused by vaccinated players.
If the goal is actually to prevent
the spread of COVID, the best way to
determine if a player is safe to participate
in a club game or a tournament
is with one of the several options of
rapid swab tests, and an evaluation
of any symptoms a player exhibits at
that time, such as elevated temperature,
cough, headaches, chills, general
malaise, etc. Either a positive swab
test and/or the presence of symptoms
would be valid reasons for a player
not to participate in a live game at any
given time. This screening approach
is used by health care organizations
all across our country. I know this
because as a federal employee, I must
take and pass this same test several
times a month in the course of my
work. Is it 100% accurate? No. Is it a
more effective policy than a vaccination
requirement? Absolutely.
In the interest of full disclosure,
I am vaccinated/boosted, but I still
contracted COVID in January. I
tested positive though I experienced
no symptoms before, during or after.
Had I not taken a swab test, I would
never have known, and I unknowingly
could have infected many others.
It is reasonable to expect that the
loss of players who have been shut out
of participation at their local clubs/
tournaments - as well as their partners
who might be vaccinated but
prefer to play with a regular partner
- will continue to have an impact on
the numbers of tables at clubs across
the ACBL. In addition, the intentional
absence of players who fear
catching the virus at a F2F game or
tournament isn't likely to abate. It is
both reasonable and understandable
that these folks will continue to play
in the games on BBO.
L. JANICE CARDUFF
Wichita KS
Letters to the editor are welcome
by regular mail and email. Brevity is
considered a virtue, as is subject matter
with relevance to a majority of ACBL
members. Unsigned letters are not
considered for publication, so please
include your name and hometown. Letters
may be edited. All letters will receive a
response. Send emails to editor@acbl.org.
September 2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of September 2022
