Redmond’s Eastside Bridge Center, with beautifully crafted all-wood bridge tables and park-like surroundings, is the place to play duplicate — especially if you want to compete with plenty of other players. Sanctioned bridge is played there at 10 a.m. each Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, and at 9:30 a.m. Saturday. Monday and Wednesday noon games include a light lunch. Evening play begins at 7 Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and there’s a 1 p.m. game Saturday.
On three Saturdays this summer, I’ve enjoyed this well-run game. Even when a regional tournament was going on, enough people for nine tables came to play. A game costs $10, and you don’t have to be an American Contract Bridge League member.
One Saturday, partner Monica Leid, a Baltimore mathematics professor, and I, while playing North/South, encountered East/West players Felipe Souza, 30, and Guilherme Souza, 27. On one board, these delightful brothers from Sao Paulo, Brazil, playing the two-over-one system opened the bidding with one spade. Even though we were bidding diamonds, from their agreed upon repertoire of conventions including cue bids and Roman Key Card, they deftly arrived at the winning 6 spade slam contract.
Young duplicate players are rare at the places I play regularly. Players of these kids’ caliber are even rarer. I asked them how they became interested in duplicate. They said when they were 12 and 10 their father, a retired electronical engineer, began teaching them the game he loves.
“Is duplicate bridge popular in Brazil?” I asked.
“Unfortunately, bridge isn’t popular in Brazil. There are bridge clubs in big cities like São Paulo and Rio where people can play, but that’s it. Most Brazilians don’t know what bridge is. It’s interesting though that Brazil has some very good top players. They won the Bermuda Bowl in 1989, and have placed high many other years.”
“How did your father get interested in the game; is he a life master?”
“He learned in college. I think a friend of his knew how to play. He’s not an ABCL member; there aren’t many ACBL members in Brazil.”
“Does your mother play?”
“No, but she hears us talking about bridge quite often these days!”
These two college graduates are employed as software engineers. Felipe works for Microsoft and Guilherme works for Google.
Like them, my dad had me actively playing cards (including today’s contract bridge forerunner, whist) when I was 7. Hence bridge lovers, please do as my father and Felipe and Guilerme’s parents Carlos and Ligia Souza have done. Work hard at inspiring your kids and friends to take an active interest in this fascinating game.
Call George, 425-422-7936 for information on our local games.