Bridge players who want to try out duplicate as well as newcomers to the game have a variety of opportunities through the Powell River Duplicate Bridge Club.
Vivian Thickett owns and is the director of the club, which is sanctioned by the ACBL (American Contract Bridge League). In duplicate bridge, the same deal of the cards is played at each table and scoring is based on comparisons of scores with all the other tables in a game.
The club offers three regular games a week, on Monday mornings, Tuesday evenings and Thursday afternoons. Vivian and her husband, Tony, are regular players as well as providing a relaxed and comfortable atmosphere for club members. The social aspect of the game is very important, said Vivian. “Our club is like an extended family,” she said. “Everybody knows everybody, cares about everybody.”
Vivian has added some new features to attract more newcomers to the club. For the next three months, there are going to be 12 regular players away, she pointed out. “I thought this is a really good time to introduce new members to the club.”
On Monday mornings in February, when there is a regular game happening, Vivian will be giving a beginner’s lesson, using Learn To Play Bridge, a program that is available through the ACBL. The lesson, which is designed for people who have never played bridge, will last about an hour, then the learners will sit in and watch other people play.
The beginner’s lessons start on February 4. Part two unfolds on Mondays in March. People who take the lessons will be given mentors and will play with them at the tables. “They’ll feel very comfortable in a short period of time,” Vivian said. “Most people will know each other and they will know each other from the time they’ve been coming and watching.”
As well, Vivian is hoping to attract people who play bridge already to experience duplicate bridge through the mentoring program. “There are so many people here in Powell River that play bridge, but they think that it may be scary to come to the club. We’re making it less scary by having mentors.”
The bridge club is a nice, friendly place, Vivian said. “If you happen to make a mistake, it’s not the end of the world. We all make the same mistakes, over and over.”
Newcomers to the club who already play bridge can be paired with mentors and play on Thursdays or Mondays, if they wish, Vivian said. All the mentors will be using the second part of the Learn to Play Bridge program, she added, so newcomers will be receiving the same information.
The beginner’s lessons cost $20 for four lessons. Playing in a club game costs $4 a game. However, both mentors and their protégés will play for only $2 a game.
Club games are held at the Alano Club, 5856 Arbutus Avenue, next to St. John Ambulance in Townsite. Game times are Mondays at 9:30 am, Tuesdays at 7 pm and Thursdays at 2 pm. Car pooling is available for players who don’t like to drive.
The club has special, little events all the time. One of the new events is Evite, an email invitation, which is popular with participants. “It’s every second Wednesday night,” Vivian explained. “You go to somebody’s home. It’s a learning program, but a really comfortable learning program. You can stop in the middle of a hand and say, I should have done this or ask, what should I have done.”
She and Tony usually go, Vivian said, and help players out where needed. “We’re sort of mentoring through the evening.”
Interested readers who would like more information, or who would like to be paired with a mentor or sign up for the beginner’s lessons, should contact Vivian at 604.485.4430 or email at [email protected]. Readers can also visit the club’s website.
