Better
Bridge in Barry County
By
Gerald Stein
Christmas time in Barry County is always a special
time and season. As bridge players, have you finished your Christmas
gift-giving for your favorite bridge partner, your bridge friends, or for
yourself? Today’s column offers a few suggestions that might light up your
friends’ eyes when they see the thoughtfulness that you have found for them in
their bridge world.
What better gift to get each and every month for the
next twelve months than a subscription and membership to the American Contract
Bridge League? For a mere $28.00, for new members, you will receive the monthly
issue of the Bridge Bulletin for a
full year. Chocked full of articles for the beginning bridge player, the
advancing or intermediate bridge player, or the expert in your group, this gift
will surely please your bridge friends. Leaving town for the winter? The Bridge Bulletin will follow you, and
you will be able to easily find places to play bridge in your warmer winter
climates. Order online by going to www.acbl.org
and find the membership tab on the left side of the home page. Your friends
will have their new welcome packets by Christmas if you order online today.
A column of some time ago mentioned a bridge game
that will make a great Christmas present for grandchildren or younger players
in your life. Called Bidittle, this
board game teaches younger players the fundamentals of bidding, trick taking,
and the beginning of a lifetime of enjoyment in the bridge world. At $19.99,
you can order this game online as well by going to the Bidittle website @ www.bidittle.com.
The ages for this game range from 7-adults, and from 2-4 players, so you will
be able to spend quality bridge time with one or several of your children or
grandchildren. There is a reversible side for future advancement as the
children progress through the basics of bridge playing. This is a great gift
that you will enjoy as well.
Looking for a complete set of 32 duplicate boards,
36 decks of cards, sets of movement cards, recap sheets, convention cards,
traveling score cards, a copy of Duplicate
Bridge by Alfred Sheinwold, and information on how to match point for your
own home bridge club? A special offer from the online bridge supplier Baron
Barclay will provide you a bridge game for up to 16 players at your home. A regular
$200 value, this set can be ordered from www.baronbarclay.com
for $149.00. This set makes a great gift for your friends or for yourself.
Other bridge items at Baron Barclay include 20%
discount on selected wooden bridge tables, chairs, and other bridge items.
Books and software items abound in their catalog or in their online store. Of
real value, if you are looking for a solid software program, take a look at “Bridge
Baron 23,” a newly-released update of a software program for playing bridge on
your computer. A sample of “Bridge Baron 23” can be downloaded prior to
purchasing for your inspection. Want to look at another free software package?
Go back to www.acbl.org
and look at the free downloads for beginning bridge players. This will give you
a good idea of the wonderful bridge programs that are available on your
computer or on your phones. Not to be missed are also the book selections on
Baron Barclay. They extend from bridge texts for students to mysteries,
advanced play, and so much more. Request one of their catalogs be sent to you
when you go online.
Today’s final Christmas suggestion for yourself or
your partner in the event that you will be in Barry County for the winter in
2013: how about taking a bridge class in February through the Institute for
Learning in Retirement program through Kellogg Community College? A four-week
class on the four February Monday mornings will focus on “The Eight Most
Commonly Used Conventions You Should Know.” Requested by the students in the
advanced Defense in the 21st Century class, this class will include
a review or perhaps a new introduction for some into the eight most popular
bridge conventions used in the bridge world. Learning new tricks will be a
great present to you or to others at this Christmas time. Contact the office of
the Institute for Learning in Retirement in Battle Creek for information
regarding times and fees for this class. Most importantly, students wanted lots
of practice as well as instruction on such conventions as Stayman, Take Out
Doubles, Weak Two Bids, Transfers and more.
With Christmas only a few weeks away, I hope that
you will be able to find just the right gifts for your bridge playing friends.
Merry Christmas to all Barry County bridge players.
Gerald Stein
December 10, 2012
Number of words: 800
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