District 8 President's Report
District 8 President's Report
Frequently, when you talk to social bridge players and suggest they try a sanctioned duplicate game, they’ll quickly respond about an experience they had or had heard about. This is often how we duplicate bridge players get a bad reputation. We can’t correct this overnight – but we can certainly try.
In my Unit (Northern Illinois Unit 239), we have a laminated card we frequently place on the card table at club and tournament games. Following is the verbiage.
IT’S SO EASY TO BE POLITE!
1. When your opponents come to the table – be certain to say “hello” and exchange names.
2. When you call for a Director or Caddy, why not add “please”?
3. The bridge table isn’t the place to teach your partner (or opponents) the finer points of the game.
4. Turn off “all” beeping items – phones and watches.
5. When your partner fails to bid correctly and/or misses something in the play of the hand, keep it to yourself – without frowning or looking up at the ceiling. You might mess up the next board.
6. Club games are where players try/learn new conventions. Mistakes will be made.
7. While we have “zero tolerance,” we prefer not having to remind anyone of it.
8. Relax and have fun. While it’s duplicate bridge, it’s still only a game.