I HATE THIS GAME
My first exposure to the game of bridge is a typical story that I’m sure you’ve heard before… Mom, Dad, Grandma and Grandpa are all sitting around a card table: from the outside looking in, it appears to be quite a normal friendly evening game of cards. That couldn’t have been further from the truth. Bickering, shouting, arguing over bidding, declarer play, defense, scoring, closely followed by insults, tears, cards flying across the table — this was all par for the course on any given night. I often wondered, why do they bother to play this game? They can’t possibly be enjoying these evenings of conflict… Could they?
My father tried on numerous occasions to teach me the game. “He must be joking” I would silently reply. Why would I possibly want to subject myself to that criticism, judgments, ridicule and nit-picking? I successfully dodged any attempts he had at assimilating me into the wonderful world of bridge.
So why now, after almost 20 years, do I find myself strangely drawn to the game? I resisted for a long time, and it took a lot of exposure to steer me back into the positive. The comradery at University of my fellow Mathies always looking for a fourth wasn’t enough. My insane competitive nature and love of playing cards wasn’t enough. Marrying into a bridge playing family wasn’t enough. Not even the constant feeling of being left out of conversations over dinner starting with: “you hold… the auction thus far is… what do you bid?” was enough.
So what tipped the scale? I think the combination of all of the above, plus the added desire to restore my brain to its original liveliness and vigor after the mind-numbing haze of pregnancy and motherhood.
I have resisted for so long… but now I realize that resistance is futile. In spite of my past efforts to avoid it, I am becoming a bridge player. If I am going to learn the game anyway, I might as well surrender completely and do it properly.
I guess the first question I need to answer is who will be my teacher?
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I am so excited Luise! We can learn bridge together!! Linda, what do you think?
Luise, you will never regret it. Welcome to the game that has addicted millions of people
all over the globe. Soon you will understand the early conversations witnessed at your
dinner table as a youngster. Your observations and reactions were not uncommon. Bridge devotees speak their own language and live in a world of their own (so it appears to others). And, though there are stumbling blocks along the way — it is well worth the effort. There’s no other game like it! Go for it!!!!!!
Thanks for the encouragement, Judy. I do have a lot of supportive people around me (and great bridge players, I might add), so we’ll see how everything pans out. I know that with a lot of study, of practice and dedication, I have the potential to be a great bridge player. I am looking forward to the adventure.
I thought I was going to find a comrade in the “I hate Bridge” club. But it looks like you have changed your mind. I, unfortunately, have not. Card counting, finessing, partner’s being angry at wrong play, bidding mistakes have made me realize that this is just not for me.
I just started playing bridge — last week. My first thoughts were: points, who gives a f—? Then these old jerks who’d been playing 40 years told me I’m not playing correctly, and I should’ve known (by now) to bid 2 NT, etc etc. It reminded me of all the nerds in college who had very fragile egos…I’ll keep playing, until I find something better to do, like watch the paint dry.