NEW Mentoring Bridge Sessions - Complimentary

Meet & interact with other "newer" players  in a friendly simulated Duplicate Bridge setting while learning Duplicate etiquette and having the opportunity to ask bidding / play of the hand questions from more experienced players.

Sessions are stand-alone, no need to attend all to receive the benefit, and will be offered on: 

                          Tuesday, April 7 and 14 from 3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

                           Friday, April  10 and 17 from 12:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.

To register or ask questions, please contact Laura Estes [email protected]

SEASONAL BRIDGE FEE

As our bridge activities and participation increases each year, a $100 Seasonal Bridge Association Fee (per person)  has been established and will be added to November statements. This fee will be applied to all members who participate in Bridge. This includes members that play at their leisure, bi-weekly duplicate games, inter-club tournaments, and all bridge lessons. The card room rules and etiquette are outlined in our annual Bridge Information Booklet, with participating bridge members and phone numbers listed for your convenience.  This seasonal fee contributes toward updating supplies throughout the season, the daily coffee and cookie station, director fees and staff support.

BRIDGE RULES

In order to provide a pleasant atmosphere for all members we ask that all policies are adhered to enhance enjoyment of the Clubhouse.
• CELL PHONES: All phone conversations are prohibited. Texting and e-mail is permitted.
• FOOD SERVICE: Food Service is not offered inside the Ladies Card Room/East Ballroom. Food service is available in the Grill Room or Pelican’s Nest.
• SNACKS: Please enjoy all self- service beverages and cookies. The offerings are to be enjoyed here on property and not taken from the bridge area.
• OUTSIDE FOOD: No outside food and beverage is permitted in the Ladies Card Room.
• RESERVING TABLES: It is not acceptable to reserve tables in the card room. Members are not to place belongings on tables to reserve for themselves or other. If a table has belongings on it and another member needs a table, your belongings will be moved. 
• Bridge play is prohibited in the Ladies Locker Room.
• GUESTS: All guests that play in a card game must sign in. The member that grants guest privileges must accompany his/her guest at all times. Members must register their guest in the guest book located at the Front Desk. Records will be kept of guest’s names, date, and frequency of visits. 
• SEASON GUEST POLICY: November 1 to April 30
Each Member may bring no more than 4 guests per month. No individual guest may come more than 8 visits per season. 
• GUEST FEE: A guest fee of $15.00 per guest will be charged for all guests who attend a sanctioned bridge event with a director. (Guests for the Member-Guest Bridge Tournament will not incur another guest fee. It is included in the registration fee.)

• SUMMER PLAY
o From May 8 through November 1 all play in the Clubhouse bridge area is welcome with no restrictions.
o Food and beverage services are available via the Pelican’s Nest for self-service.

Please note that these policies have been created and approved by the Bridge Committee with the purpose of providing the best member experience.

DUPLICATE BRIDGE ETIQUETTE

• Duplicate is a very competitive game and each player must respect the rights of all other players. The following etiquette should be observed at all times.

• The North player is responsible for observing all procedures and maintaining proper play at the table. North or South is responsible for turning the boards.

• All partners should have completed identical convention cards.

• Cards are not taken out of the board until both teams are present at the table. Before looking at the cards, count them to be sure you have thirteen.

• When bidding, avoid hesitations and fiddling with the bidding box. Be consistent time-wise in your bidding. An unusually long hesitation followed by a pass gives, or is deemed to give, information to your partner. The opponents should call the Director because any subsequent bid by him or her must be very clear-cut based on his or her hand. The Director is the judge of what may or may not be bid and may adjust the score if she thinks the bidding was flawed.

• Develop the habit of using the Stop card for any skip bid (even when opening).

• During the auction you may ask to see an opponent’s convention card or ask about an opponent’s Alert when it is your turn to bid. You may not consult your own convention card while bidding.

• If you are the opening leader, make your lead first before writing down the contract. Place your lead face down on the table to verify you are the opening leader. Any player, except dummy, may now ask for a review of the auction until that person has played to the first trick. A player can ask for the meaning of a bid anytime during the play.

• Once play begins, never detach a card from your hand until it is your turn to play. Do not pull up a card, push it back into your hand, and then pull another card. Never rearrange your hand when you are out of a suit. All of these maneuvers can provide valuable information to the declarer. A card does not have to be on the table to be ‘played.’ It just has to be ‘near’ the table, or seen by another player. It is very inappropriate to ‘slap’ your cards on the table.

• If you are dummy: You may not call the Director. You may not call declarer’s attention to anything except that he is about to lead from the wrong hand or to ask if he is out of the suit being played. You may not play or touch any card in dummy (even a singleton) until declarer calls the card.

• Learn how to score and always check to make sure North has scored correctly – either on paper or on the machine.

• There should be no discussion of the hands during play. Wait until you have completed the entire set of boards with that team for any post mortem. Keep your voices low so other players will not overhead any discussion of the hands. You should not view another hand without permission and only one hand may be out of the board at any one time.

• When in doubt about any irregularity, CALL THE DIRECTOR. The Director’s responsibility includes handling all law and rule infractions as well as running a smooth and pleasant game. The decision of the Director is final.

• Remember your manners. These bridge players are friends and politeness is required. Enjoy the game – and remember at all times that it is only a game.

Gardens Bridge Tournament
Begins Monday, December 8
Future Dates TBD
*Select Group. See Pam Goergen for Details


Duplicate Member-Guest Bridge Tournament
Wednesday, February 25
11:30 a.m. Registration & Lunch
12:30 p.m. Tournament Begins
$100 total for members and guest


Interclub Tournament Bridge*
Home: November 20 (Thursday) vs. Ocean Club
Home: January 8 (Thursday) vs. Jupiter Island
Home: January 22 (Thursday) vs. The Little Club
Away: February 27 (Friday) vs. Everglades
Away: March 19 (Thursday)vs. Gulfstream B&T