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When the cards align, bridge tourney intensifies

By MARYAN PELLAND
Published June 9, 2006

BROOKSVILLE - They'd sit on a bed of nails if they had to, to play bridge. But the Jerome Brown Community Center is a considerably more comfortable venue for the inaugural Hernando County Sectional Duplicate Bridge Tournament.

The tournament, sponsored by the Hernando County Bridge Association and the Spring Hill Duplicate Bridge Club, began Thursday with 160 serious players from across the state sitting north, south, east and west, putting their cards on the tables. It continues through Saturday.

Ten minutes into the event, chairman John Cleary declared it would become an annual tournament.

There was none of the loud chatter, smoke-filled air and mugs of beer that might typify some card parties.

Seated at 45 tables were women in every kind of garb, from camp shirts sporting prize bridge hands in glitter and applique to afternoon dresses, pearls and heels. The men's uniform was polo shirts and slacks or shorts - casual.

The division of sexes was about 50-50. Of all the players, 159 of them were of pretty much the same age and ilk.

Most have a college background, discretionary income and leisure time. But in the middle of the crowd was Ryan Miller of Tampa. He's 12, going into the seventh grade at Coleman Middle School, and was having a heck of a time.

At the other end of the competitive spectrum were former world senior champion Ed Schulte and former national senior champion Jayne Thomas, both of Tampa.

Between the extremes were ordinary players from novice to expert. Some have played for a few months; some for years. Rita Johnson said she's been playing for 150 years.

Carol Carlson of Land O'Lakes and Rose Paulette of San Antonio are regular bridge partners. Carlson said she needed the experience. Paulette said the socializing brings her out.

All of the players play the same hand of cards against a series of partners who all rank differently. It's a good opportunity, they say, to see how other players handle challenges. There are no prizes; the reward is improving your rank.

Every 20 minutes, like a ballet, players glide quietly around the room and settle at a new table. With brief introductions and briefer small talk, they go at it again. Many will play all three days of the tournament. Some drop in and out. All of them say they enjoy the idea of preserving a healthy pastime.

[Last modified June 9, 2006, 07:02:38]