Duplicate Bridge has been a social pastime in the Cayman Islands for over 55 years, started by Michael Cantin in the old Cayman Arms pub. Sir Vassal Johnson who lived in George Town was Cayman’s first Financial Secretary, also the first Caymanian to be knighted by the Queen was a quiet, dignified, gentleman who loved to play Bridge. He was Cayman’s Bridge club champion for years.

At the Cayman Islands Bridge Club, we play with the emphasis not so much on winning the game as on enjoying it.  

We are primarily a Members Club, but visitors with at least some experience of playing Duplicate Bridge are welcome to come along and play.

Our Duplicate Bridge sessions are on Tuesday evenings and Friday mornings.  We offer Beginner Play/Duplicate sessions on Monday afternoon and Thursday evening for those who would like to practice their game and gain experience in a relaxed environment. Please check the information tab for times and our address.  

We have ongoing training sessions for Beginners and Intermediate players from time to time, always posted on our website. Please follow us on social media for upcoming training events.

There is car parking available on site and game results are available at the end of play and on this website.

Please join us at the Bridge table!

Dear Members and Friends,

October brings a busy month of learning, friendly competition and social events. We look forward to welcoming our beginner students this weekend and seeing members back at the tables after the summer. Thank you for supporting our games and helping new players feel at home.

September Highlights and Duplicate Winners

September’s nine duplicate sessions brought 35 tables into play: five Tuesday evening games and four Friday morning games. Congratulations to Alex Wood and Liam Walsh on their outstanding 74.31% game on September 1!

Tuesday Evening Duplicate

September 1: 1st – Alex Wood & Liam Walsh | 2nd – Arthur Del Rosario & Imee Callueng | 3rd – Steve Pettitt & June Williams

September 8: 1st – Arthur Del Rosario & Imee Callueng | 2nd – Malcolm Todd & Leeann Janissen | 3rd – Steve Pettitt & June Williams

September 15: 1st – Alex Wood & Liam Walsh | 2nd – Cliff Shaw & Malcolm Todd | 3rd – Renee Edwards & Ernest Jehangir

September 22: 1st – Arthur Del Rosario & Imee Callueng | 2nd – Cliff Shaw & Malcolm Todd | 3rd – Renee Edwards & Ernest Jehangir

September 29: 1st – Renee Edwards & Ernest Jehangir | 2nd – Alex Wood & Liam Walsh | 3rd – Steve Pettitt & June Williams

Friday Morning Duplicate

September 4: 1st – Renee Edwards & Shevaun Davies | 2nd – Angela Garfinkel & Joanne Akdeniz | 3rd – Liam Walsh & Elaine Brown

September 11: 1st – Elaine Brown & Joanne Akdeniz | 2nd – Andrew Jones & Tessa Johnson | 3rd – Mary Boxall & Peter Cunningham

September 18: 1st – Alex & Jill Wood | 2nd – Emma Locke & Lindsey Macfee | 3rd – Shevaun Davies & Renee Edwards

September 25: 1st – Jennifer Woodford & Sidney Coleman | 2nd – Renee Edwards & Lucinda Cruickshank | 3rd – Elaine Brown & Emma Locke and Shevaun Davies & Sujata Trivedi (tie)

Congratulations to everyone who played in September. Every table helps keep our club active and welcoming!

October Schedule

Mondays, October 12, 19 and 26: 2:00–4:00 p.m. – Let’s Just Play Bridge! Beginners welcome; no experience required. No regular Monday session on October 5.

Tuesdays, October 6, 13, 20 and 27: 6:15 p.m. – Duplicate Bridge. Everyone welcome!

Thursdays, October 22 and 29: 7:00–9:00 p.m. – Let’s Just Play Bridge! Beginners welcome; no experience required. No regular Thursday session on October 1, 8 or 15.

Fridays, October 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30: 9:15 a.m. – Duplicate Bridge. Everyone welcome!

RSVP Bridge is the system we use to track attendance at club games and practice sessions. Please sign up for each session you plan to attend and cancel your RSVP if you know you cannot attend. For help with your username, password or registration, email caymanbridgeclub@gmail.com.

Audrey Grant Bridge Classes

We have 21 confirmed attendees for our Book 1 course on October 3 and 4. We look forward to welcoming them to the club! Each course includes classroom instruction, guided practice sessions and the Audrey Grant course book.

Book 1 Learn to Play Bridge

CI$200, including Book 1 • Instructor: Claude Yonnet

Saturday, October 3 AND Sunday, October 4: 9:30–11:30 a.m. AND 2:00–4:00 p.m. each day. All four sessions form one continuous course; please attend both sessions on both days. Arrive by 9:15 a.m. at the latest on Saturday so we can start on time.

Highly recommended practice with Claude: Monday, October 5; Wednesday, October 7; and Thursday, October 8, from 7:00–9:00 p.m. each evening.

Book 2 Continue Your Bridge Journey

CI$120, including Book 2 • Instructor: Claude Yonnet
Prerequisite: Completion of Book 1

Saturday, October 10 AND Sunday, October 11: 9:30–11:30 a.m. AND 2:00–4:00 p.m. each day. All four sessions form one continuous course.

Highly recommended practice: Monday, October 12; Wednesday, October 14; and Thursday, October 15, from 7:00–9:00 p.m. each evening.

Practice builds confidence and reinforces what you have learned. Please keep your attendance up to date in RSVP Bridge. For course information, email caymanbridgeclub@gmail.com or WhatsApp (345) 936-4811.

Social Events

Mark your calendars and join us for bridge and time together away from the regular games.

October 2026 • Wine, Cheese & Bridge at the Club • Tuesday, 6 October 2026

BRINGO: Bridge + Bingo! • Friday, 30 October 2026

BRINGO Prize Donations: The club is seeking donated items to use as prizes for our upcoming BRINGO social event. If you have an item you would like to contribute, please give it to Alison Bennie or Angela Garfinkel. Thank you for helping make BRINGO a fun and successful event!

December 2026 • Christmas Luncheon • Friday, 4 December 2026 • Immediately following Friday morning duplicate.  Location: Hosted at the home of Angela Garfinkel, Crystal Harbour

Mulled Wine & Pie • Tuesday, 15 December 2026

January 2027 • Bridge & Blooms • Bridge Club with a Garden Party Vibe • Date: To Be Announced

February 2027 • Annual Bridge Tournament • Wednesday, 10 February 2027 (Ash Wednesday)

March 2027 • Bridge Club Goes to One GT  • Social evening at One GT Rooftop Bar • Date: To Be Announced

2026 Tables Played

September’s duplicate sessions totaled 35 tables, up from 29.5 in August. Tuesday evenings accounted for 21 tables and Friday mornings for 14. Adding September to the previously reported January–August total brings our 2026 year-to-date count to 414 tables.

Please continue to sign up as often as you can. Every table matters, and your participation helps make our club welcoming and enjoyable for players of all experience levels.

Bridge Bites

Bridge Tip #1 – Count Points Beyond Your Own Hand

The bidding gives you clues about where the missing high cards are.

Suppose you and dummy hold 23 high-card points, and an opponent opened 1NT showing 15–17. That leaves their partner with just 0–2 points.

Use that information when deciding where a missing king or queen is likely to be. Distribution and the play still matter, but the auction gives you a useful starting point.

Remember: Keep listening to the bidding—even after you know your own final bid.

Bridge Tip #2 – Make the Dangerous Opponent Work for the Lead

Sometimes one defender can hurt you much more than the other. Perhaps they can lead through your vulnerable king, or cash an established suit.

When choosing how to develop your tricks, consider which opponent might gain the lead. If possible, choose a line that allows the safer defender to win instead.

This can influence which way you finesse or when you give up a trick.

Remember: Ask not only “Will I lose a trick?” but also “Who will win it?”

Bridge Tip #3 – At Matchpoints, Protect Your Plus Score

In duplicate pairs scored by matchpoints, your result is compared with other pairs playing the same cards.

An overtrick can be valuable—but risking your contract for it may turn a good result into a poor one. Before taking that risk, consider whether your contract is already likely to score well. A safely made game may beat pairs who stopped in a partscore or went down.

Remember: Consider the likely results at other tables before risking your contract for one extra trick.

Thank you for being part of the Cayman Islands Bridge Club. Whether you play every week or join us whenever you can, your participation helps make our club welcoming, vibrant, and fun. We look forward to seeing you at the bridge table soon!

Warm regards,
Cayman Islands Bridge Club
Management Committee