Suspended!

We have suspended Stepping Stones. This is good news – most regular attendees have made the transition to club bridge, always the goal we were aiming at.

We ran alongside each club evening through to Summer 2015, a total of 39 Thursdays. Over that period we often had 6 tables, sometimes 7 and averaged 4.6 over the entire time. All told over 70 different players competed.

As players moved to the main game, we wound down Stepping Stones. Our promise to run a separate section in the main hall in August wasn't called on as most of the players from the Deben Room took seats in the main hall. We are delighted that many have become regulars.

This was a successful initiative and one we will certainly repeat if the demand re-appears.

You can find a list of the talks given before Stepping Stones sessions on our Bridge Pages.

October 2014 – July 2015

This year the club is taking a break from teaching bridge from scratch after completing three two-year courses. In October 2014 we began an 'Encouragement Club' to introduce new players to the main club.

Our primary motivation has always been to recruit players to Thursday club nights and we are pleased many are now regulars. Though we believe our club nights are for everyone and within the reach of all players, we recognise that not all students have made that transition. So in this fifth year of developing bridge at Ipswich & Kesgrave we will start what is, in effect, a separate club, a stepping stone to bridge in the hall.

Stepping Stones is a weekly session of competitive bridge separate to the main game. We have shaped evenings in Stepping Stones to reflect feedback from members. Many clearly value an instructional element and there are now 'Pre-Session Talks' starting a half-hour before play. We remain committed to listening to those who attend and being flexible to the demands of our players.

Details

• A weekly session of competitive duplicate, using the same boards as the main hall. Scores are typically matchpointed against the main club.
• Play begins at 7:15pm in the Deben Room, Kesgrave.
• All Stepping Stones sessions are listed on the website and when there is a Pre-Session Talk, both topic and earlier start-time of 6:45pm are clearly shown.
• Expect around 16 boards initially (numbers may dictate) and to gradually work towards 22/24 as preparation for the main game. If there is an instructional element before or after, there will be 2/3 boards fewer. In any case finish around 10:15pm, roughly the same time as the hall.
• Results are sent to the English Bridge Union. As an 'Encouragement Club' (EBU terminology) sessions are not eligible for Masterpoints but they do earn playing-credits towards receiving the magazine 'English Bridge' and diary from the EBU.
• An experienced pair or player will be on hand – most likely playing – to help with movement, scoring, protocols and answer any questions (without slowing the game too much).
• Come along as a partnership or as a singleton – we'll endeavour to match people up and we'll try to have a host – perhaps you'll end up playing with an 'expert'. One reason for the marginally later start-time (the main club begins at 7pm) is that we might intrigue an unused host from the hall (though we wouldn't insist).
• Stepping Stones will be suitable for your friends too, even if they are new to duplicate. The mechanics of duplicate and aspects like bidding boxes only take a few minutes to learn and all are welcome. We've got a poster which welcomes "Returners to the game or social players" and "Anyone who enjoys bridge and would like to make the transition". Can we persuade you to advertise? Hand out these mini-posters.
• Table money is same as the main club, £2.50. There will be a break around half-time for tea and coffee. We encourage regular players to become members of Ipswich and Kesgrave Bridge Club.