SpadeHeart 
The Central Mass Bridge Association
 DiamondClub
Release 2.19q
Recent Updates
Home Page
Jul 13, 2025 16:01 CDT
Directors' Corner Archive
Jul 13, 2025 15:21 CDT
Players' Corner Archive
Jul 13, 2025 15:14 CDT
0 0 0 0 0 0
Pages viewed in 2025
Bulletin

We've created a tab for documenting CMBA history with photos.   If you have a photo(s) of people or events relating to the CMBA or member clubs (active or defunct) that you'd like to see on the web page, please send them to UncMike@yahoo.com and include a note identifying the people, approximate date and if possible event.    Most of the pictures we have only go back to 2018 so any older pictures would be especially appreciated.

Welcome to The Central Mass Bridge Association
New Life Masters in the CMBA


Dave Boulay

I started playing bridge in college and occasionally played at the old Cavendish Club with my roommates and friends. Over the years, we would get together for an afternoon of bridge now and then. When I was looking for something to keep me busy after retirement, I found the Wachusett Club in Holden and joined the ACBL in 2018. I feel lucky to have met so many terrific people and have teamed up with some of the best.

 


Growing up, bridge was the go-to family game. My parents and grandparents played often. My father even played penny-a-point games during his commute into NYC. My transition to duplicate didn’t happen until the 2010’s though. My mother urged me to join the ACBL and even paid my first year. I’ve been so lucky to have had great teachers in Illinois, and partners both there and here in Massachusetts. The regional in Newton this past June was a culminating moment where we won 23 gold points in two events. It was a real rush to actually win an event.


Johnson Ford

Last updated : Jul 13, 2025 16:00 CDT
Comment
Players' Corner
June 2025 - Chris Oskirko

Playing cards was basically the unofficial family religion in our house. As kids, we cut our teeth on Go Fish and War, graduated to Rummy 500 and Gin Rummy, and by the time we hit puberty, we were throwing down in games like Poker, Hearts, and Whist.

Family gatherings were always predictable: eat first, deal cards second, talk trash throughout. Grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, even family friends who “just dropped by” would somehow end up elbow-deep in cards and snacks.

But while we kids were having fun with our own games, the adults were playing that most difficult of all card games, Bridge.

My mom and her college friends would often meet for evenings of Bridge and raucous laughter, but in those days, it was less about the bidding and more about the laughs. So when my parents retired, they decided to level up their game to duplicate bridge—and they loved it. They traveled, they played, they competed with the intensity of Olympic athletes—but with more sitting and fewer injuries.

I was inspired watching my parents have fun while staying social and staying sharp.

While I’d had a vague idea how to play Bridge, I’d always found the bidding mystifying. In 2018 I decided I wanted in on the action, so I found a bridge class through the Assabet After Dark program in Marlborough, MA. It sounded perfect: evening classes, a relaxed vibe, and best of all, my husband agreed to come with me. Date night, but with more strategy and fewer calories.

Our instructor, Jim Culhane, was patient, thorough, funny, and somehow made learning the rules of duplicate bridge feel like adult summer camp. He broke down the basics, never made us feel dumb, and even managed to make bidding slightly less terrifying. Our classmates were fantastic too—equal parts friendly and competitive, which is the sweet spot in any card group.

The highlight? We finally got to play with my parents. It was like the family circle was complete—multi-generational bonding over bidding conventions and passive-aggressive table talk. I still play with others from the class—sometimes as partners, sometimes as opponents, but always with a laugh.

Long live bridge—and long live the people who make it more than just a game.


Players' Corner is a monthly feature which spotlights a CMBA player who tells what got them started playing the great game of bridge.

Last updated : Jun 4, 2025 16:27 CDT
Comment
Welcome

WELCOME to the Central Mass Bridge Association, or CMBA Web Site. CMBA is Unit 113 of the ACBL, American Contract Bridge League. Membership is open to all Central Massachusetts contract bridge players who enjoy this challenging, competitive and mind-stimulating card game.

The Greater Worcester area has several games every week at four locations. See below for upcoming games.  Click on the CLUBS in Unit 113 in the upper left hand corner for a list of all clubs with associated club information.

NEWCOMERS are always welcome at CMBA bridge games. Some clubs provide partners if a player arrives 15 minutes before the scheduled game time. To ensure that partner can be provided, please call the club contact, listed under "Clubs". 

DUPLICATE BRIDGE is similar to party or rubber bridge games. Most games are stratified which allows players of similar experience to compete with one another playing the same cards in each session.

 

Monday
Wachusett Bridge Club (NLM) 12:00 PM Holden Senior Center - 1130 Main Street, Holden
Wednesday
Gardner Bridge Club 12:30 PM Westminster Senior Center - 69 West Main Street, Westminster
Thursday
Grafton Bridge Club 9:00 AM Grafton Senior Center (Crafts Room 1st Floor) - 30 Providence Road, Grafton
Friday
Worcester Bridge Club 12:45 PM Auburn Senior Center
Last updated : Aug 1, 2022 08:11 CDT
Comment
WEB SITE SUGGESTIONS

♠  ♣    If you have any suggestions or comments regarding the information on the CMBA Web Site, please contact Roland Galibert at roland.galibert@gmail.com ♠  ♣  

Updated 01/21/2024 by Roland Galibert

Last updated : Feb 14, 2024 13:45 CST
Comment
Club Announcements
Comment
Upcoming Regional and Nearby National Events
Comment
2025 Unit Game Schedule

 

Date Event Type Location
August 9 Open pairs Auburn
August 30 Swiss Holden
September 13 Open pairs Auburn
September 20 Pro Am Holden
October 4 Open pairs Auburn
October 18 Swiss Holden
November 8 Open pairs Auburn
December 6 Open pairs Auburn


Please note:

  • Games in Auburn (open pairs) will be at the Auburn Senior Center and will start at 1:00 p.m.
  • Games in Holden will be at the Holden Senior Center and will start at noon.
Comment
2024 Mini McKenney and Ace of Clubs Winners

 

Category - Mini McKenney -
Most masterpoints in clubs
for last year
- Ace of Clubs -
Most pigmented masterpoints
in clubs for last year
0 - 5 Richard Gram Richard Gram
5 - 20 Matthew P. Vea Matthew P. Vea
20 - 50 Usha J. Upadhyay Usha J. Upadhyay
50 - 100 Paul G. Brodeur Paul G. Brodeur
100 - 200 Mark S. Killilea Mark S. Killilea
200 - 300 Bonnie Knapp Kathleen Foell
300 - 500 David Boulay David Boulay
500 - 1000 Michael J. Roman Raymond H. Oglesby
1000 - 1500 Jeff Xiao Charles Rossi
1500 - 2500 Eric Xiao Bruce Tedford
2500 - 3500 Michelle T. Blanchard Alan R. Berg
3500 - 5000 Anand D. Lele Paul (Tony) A. Wolf II
5000 - 7500 Harris J. Jacobs Harris J. Jacobs


Congratulations to all our winners!!!!

Comment
Congratulations to the Following Unit 113 Members for Achieving New ACBL MP Ranks! 

 

August 2024 Unit 113 Rank Achievements Report

 

NEW BRONZE LIFE MASTERS Joan Kuklinski Worcester MA US


 

Comment
Unit Leaders in Virtual Masterpoints/Aces of Clubs

 

Category - Online - - Virtual Aces of Clubs -
0 - 5 Muni Ramakrishnan  
5 - 20 Bonnie Hirsh Bonnie Hirsh
20 - 50 Karen E. Kantor Karen E. Kantor
50 - 100 Gurcan Gulen  
100 - 200 Robert J. Ring Marybeth Loges
200 - 300 John Mims Bonnie Knapp
300 - 500 Steve T. Knox Ernie Peabody
500 - 1000 Robert J. Reid Michael J. Roman
1000 - 1500 Ronald Klein Emily Gardner
1500 - 2500 Richard W. Healy Susan Frayman
2500 - 3500 Inger Lise Kilcoyne Michelle T. Blanchard
3500 - 5000 Anand D. Lele Anand D. Lele
5000 - 7500 Bonnie Luks Bonnie Luks


Congratulations to all our winners!!!!

Comment