Back to the tables

I played in my first face-to-face game on July 16th. What a treat to be with people, touch cards, use the Bridgepads and bidding boxes! We signed a card for a friend. We cleaned up the room after the game was done. It was all the same old, same old . . . but it meant so much more. We are lucky to share a hobby that makes us think and lets us interact with others.

As much as I enjoyed Bridgebase Online, I missed the real thing.

Welcome back!

Congratulations to our members who achieved new ranks!

JUNIOR MASTER - Pierre Pollin (Huntley)

SECTIONAL MASTERS - John Carbaugh (Polo), Bell Perry (Rockford) and John Schoen (Dubuque)

REGIONAL MASTERS - Lois Morrissey (Huntley) and Mark Degner (Lake in the Hills)

BRONZE LIFE MASTER - Kyle Larson (Rockford)

RUBY LIFE MASTER- Kathryn Chamberlain (Loves Park)

GOLD LIFE MASTER - Marilyn Croft (Saint Charles)

Marilyn Croft is a GOLD LIFE MASTER and shares her thoughts

I began playing bridge around 15 years ago when I semi-retired as the VP of Human Resources at the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago. When I was growing up, my family was very much a game-playing family, including cards, but I had never learned to play bridge. However, I was familiar with the concept of trump and taking tricks. When I retired, I decided it would be fun to try duplicate bridge. 

So a friend and I went to the St. Charles game. Neither of us had played duplicate bridge before. The club players were very kind; teaching us how to use the bidding boxes and how to score and telling us what a director was!!!

I have never looked back. Duplicate bridge is a frustrating but challenging and rewarding game that I enjoy. Ultimately and surprisingly, I became the owner and director of the St. Charles games and the President of Unit 239 and am currently serving a two-year term as the President of District 8. Initially, Darrell, a much better player than me, took me under his wing and really taught me about playing bridge: conventions, signaling, counting, hand distribution, defense, etc. I will be forever grateful for his help.

Then I began playing regularly with Jim McKinney – again, a much better player. Jim passed away last year and I miss my bridge partner very much. We travelled the country together going to sectionals, regionals and nationals. It was a true partnership and very much a friendship. We played against Gates and Buffet and many times against high-level players. We made many friends and acquaintances throughout the country. That is some of the joy of bridge – all the friends you make!

If you are a beginner, take any opportunity to play with a better bridge player. Take their comments and feedback. That is when I learned the most. It is also challenging to play against better players; reminds me of what I don’t know.

I was close to gold life master when the pandemic hit. Without tournaments (where you can earn a number of points in a week or weekend), I needed online play. Thanks to Will Engel, Karl Anderson and Alma Karas for playing with me online to finally get my Gold Life Master. I am also grateful to them with putting up with my numerous mistakes in bidding, play and defense!