BRIDGE – SUMMER 2023

Rita Freedman & Alyson Thomson (Co-Chairs), Libby Borden, Joel Howard, Walter Godlewski.

The goal this season is to ensure that bridge at the Norfolk Country Club is great fun and well attended. As you know, a questionnaire was sent out aimed at providing information to aid the Committee in achieving this goal. Thank you to all of you who responded. The following reflects the decisions that were made as a result.

The committee will be hosting bridge on Tuesday nights and Barroom Bridge on Friday afternoons. The games will begin starting Tuesday, June 6th.


TUESDAY NIGHT BRIDGE

Tuesday Night Bridge commences on June 6th at 7:00 pm and everyone is encouraged to come to the optional dinner buffet at 6:00 pm. All NCC members and their guests are welcome to attend the dinner and to enjoy drinks at the bar or on the porch for as long as the Club remains open.

Tables will be set up in the Great Hall for the bridge players and the game will begin promptly at 7:00 pm. And yes, the bar will be open during play!

There will be a signup each week. An email will be sent out to all those members who have played bridge in the past or have responded to the questionnaire indicating they would like to play. If, for whatever reason, you do not receive these weekly emails, please ask a member of the bridge committee to add you to the bridge players email list and you will automatically receive a timely sign up request emailed to you each week.

All sign ups must be received by midnight Sunday for that week’s Tuesday game. Please indicate at that time if you have a partner and signup as a team. If you need a partner, indicate that in the email. If by the deadline there is an incomplete table, the last individuals on the list should help find more players to fill the table. As is customary, we will try to help fill any partial tables, but alas, if not filled, the last names to sign-up will not be able to play that week. 

SIGN-UP INSTRUCTIONS

Partners: Enter your name and your partner’s name in the email. Please enter both names together. Example: Freedman / Thomson.

Individuals: If you do not have a partner, enter your name only as an individual.


PLAY STARTS PROMPTLY AT 7:00 PM

Weekly Prizes: Three dollars for the kitty will be collected from each bridge player at check-in, with prizes awarded each Tuesday to the four highest scoring pairs of the night.

Guests: Guests are welcome to attend with a sponsoring member and may play unlimited games throughout the season. The guest fee to play bridge is $10.00 (chit basis) per evening. Members must sign in their guests upon arrival.


GAME SCORING

The game scoring method this season is going to be the same as duplicate bridge.

*Four deals are played
*Each deal is scored separately, with an additional 50 points added to the partial score. Bonuses for game are only awarded if the game is bid. There are no partial scores carried over from deal to deal.
*The score is totaled after the four deals.
*The N-S team does not move, the E-W team moves to the next table.

Vulnerability varies from deal to deal in a fixed pattern as follows:

*1st Deal: Neither side is vulnerable
*2nd Deal: Dealer’s side is vulnerable
*3rd Deal: Dealer’s side is vulnerable
*4th Deal: Both Sides are vulnerable

The score for each hand: # of tricks plus bonus 50.
Game Bonus (non-vulnerable): 300
Game Bonus (vulnerable): 500

There will be a more detailed guide on each table and someone from the bridge committee will be present for each game to answer any questions that may arise.


FRIDAY BARROOM BRIDGE

Friday Barroom Bridge (members only) will be held in the Barroom from 4:00 pm until 6:00 pm beginning on June 9th. Barroom bridge?? You bet! It’s about learning in a very casual environment. Bridge Light, if you will!

Laughter and friendship enter heavily into the equation, as does help in playing a hand. Questions are welcome – yes, even in the middle of play. This is the place for anyone wanting a soft, fun introduction to the game. No need to be hesitant about dipping your toe into the world of bridge, as we help you build a level of comfort, as well as a fair amount of skill and confidence!

Afterwards, staying on for the always convivial, delicious dinner is a big plus, and a welcome relaxation after the concentration at the tables. It is simply more laughter and friendship!

All levels are welcome, provided that they are NCC members. Beginners learn, and those with more advanced knowledge enjoy helping the newbies!

And yes, the bar will be OPEN during play!

A call for players will be sent via email on Monday to everyone who has expressed an interest. A request to be included needs to be sent by midnight Thursday.

Please note there are no assigned teams, so we will have individual sign-ups only for Fridays. The tables, of which there are three maximum, will be ‘floating’, meaning players will get to play and learn with a variety of partners with varying skill levels!  As is customary, any partial tables will try to be filled, but alas, if not filled, the last names to sign-up will not be able to play that week. 


FINAL NOTE: Bridge tables can be set up by NCC staff for any member wanting to form private games at times other than Tuesday evenings and Friday afternoons. Contact the manager (860 542-5606).