Vision and Guidelines
Goward House was founded as a non-profit Society in 1989 as a place where Victoria area residents 50+ find friendship, wellness and fun, with duplicate bridge as one of its enduring activities. Over the years, the Wednesday duplicate bridge group has grown from three to fifteen tables per week. We have capacity for a maximum of eighteen tables. Participants must be current Goward House members and pay an activity ticket each week to play. Guests are permitted one free play.
Participants are asked to sign in between 11:45 and 12:05, with play commencing sharply at 12:15, usually concluding by 3:45. A short break is provided at about 2:00.
Our vision for duplicate bridge at Goward House is to provide a safe, inclusive, fun and welcoming environment for our members.
Although we are not an ACBL sanctioned club and do not award master points, we use the ACBL Laws (2017) to govern our weekly games, with a few house rules and accommodations added.
- Name tags are provided.
- We use “Jumbo Index” cards for better visibility; we encourage quiet announcements of calls made and cards played for those who need this additional accommodation.
- Cards are thoroughly shuffled prior to the game by volunteers.
- Players are expected to count their cards (face down) both at the beginning and end of each hand.
- Once the final contract is determined, declarer leaves the final contract “card” face-up on the table (including double or redouble cards) until play of the hand is completed.
- At the end of each round, all players should check the results on the Bridgemate for that table.
- Cell phones are to be turned off or muted; if expecting an emergency call, please have it directed to the front desk (250-477-4401).
- Purses are not to be hung over chairs; a large table is set up to hold purses.
- Participants are expected to refrain from the use of perfumes or other scented products.
- No open liquids are permitted in the bridge room, including during the tea break.
- We do not enforce strict time limits for each round, but will occasionally intervene to ensure the whole room is not held up unduly by one table.
- We do enforce the ACBL “Zero Tolerance” policy*, and pride ourselves on our friendly, non-threatening environment; “Play Nice” is the key concept.
- We expect whatever help each person can provide in setting up and putting things away.
- Players are expected to stay at their table until the next round has been called, and keep conversations quiet.
*Excerpt from the ACBL “Zero Tolerance” policy: “The following are some examples of behavior which will not be tolerated: badgering, rudeness, insinuations, intimidation, profanity, threats, or violence; negative comments concerning opponents’ or partner’s play or bidding; gloating over good results; constant and gratuitous lessons and analyses at the table; and loud and disruptive arguing with a director’s ruling.”
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