Taken from The Oro Valley Voice, By Theresa Poalucci

If you are familiar with terms like average hand, bidding box, crossruff,and fifth honor, you are probably a Bridge player. Bridge is a card game, once played by the aristocracy, replacing a similar game called whist that was played hundreds of years ago. The uninitiated might think of their grandparents playing bridge with friends after a dinner party, however the game of Bridge has its passionate followers who can be found at Bridge Clubs. In these bastions for card playing zealots they compete for masterpoints, and bragging rights as to their skill in this complicated game.

"We play Contract Bridge and it developed over many years", said Al Spaet. "Today the American Contract Bridge League has over 168,000 members in the U.S., Mexico and Canada. The League hosts national tournaments for top players, but most players start play at a Bridge Club. Playing Bridge is a very nice social event."

Spaet makes his home in SaddleBrooke now that he is retired. He had enjoyed Bridge as a young man, but work and family began to take up all his time. It was not until some 30 years later, after he lost his wife to cancer and had fought off the disease himself that he went back to playing the game."I moved to Tucson I began playing... but I got the idea to open a Bridge Club in the area, which is under served", explained Spaet.

 

"We opened the Bridge Center of Greater Tucson on November 2, and it is the largest club in southern Arizona. We can easily have 26 tables, which translates into 104 people playing. Play starts at 1 pm daily and finishes about 4:15 pm. Computers assist with scoring, and large screens broadcast the results. Bridge is more complicated than other card games and beginners are sometimes discouraged by this. However the new club gives lessons and Spaet, who is certified in a program called Learn Bridge in a Day, says most people can learn in an afternoon. He also says it is best to come with a partner, although he acts as a host at the club and will be pair up with anyone who comes in alone. We will teach you everything you need to know. Becoming a great player takes time and practice! We provide a great environment, great coffee and snacks. Twice a month we have ice cream and once a month a pizza party and a birthday party. It's all about the fun!"

Spaet is also all about the competition and says he has to curb his own drive to become the winner. "Some people get a bit too competitive when playing the game, but there is "zero tolerance" for rudeness in the club. You should never be critical of your opponents or your partner when playing Bridge." Spaet named some famous players who are known for their sophisticated play, yet politeness. One of those famous players was actor Omar Sharif. Sharif was quoted as saying, "There was a point when I became too keen. It was obsessive. I would play all the tournaments. I would not make certain films if they interfered with my bridge schedule. I dreamt about cards. I was driven by the competition. I was good at it and I wanted to be perfect. But bridge is like golf; you can never achieve perfection. You get better, but because it is a game of partnership there is no way you can get there. You need to perfect a system between you and your partner." Another famous player, Warren Buffet, once said "Bridge is such a sensational game that I wouldn't mind being in jail if I had three cell-mates who were decent players." And Microsoft founder Bill Gates has said "Bridge helps you think. It's a game you can play your entire life and keep getting better and better!"