Branford Bridge Club
Congratulations to Director Margaret Macilvain who has taken on the responsibility of Club Manager for the Shoreline Bridge Club, the Thursday afternoon duplicate game that plays in Branford.
Branford Bridge Club and the Shoreline Bridge Club have a website bridgewebs.com/branfordmadison. The Home Page on the website lists special events, a calendar of coming games, and results from the last 7 days. The website also has a calendar for the month, contact information, a document library, as well as useful links.
Due to “early voting” for the November election taking place in our regular Monday and Friday playing area from November 18 until the election the Branford Bridge Club will play on those days at 1:30 PM in the café area of the Branford Senior Center (same building, different floor). The Shoreline (Thursday) game will continue to play at 12:30 in the Activity Room at the Branford Community House.
On Monday, November 25, the Branford Bridge Club will participate in the Unit 126 Unit-Wide Championship game.
During the week of December 16 in addition to “Stardust” games with 25% Gold masterpoints the Branford and Shoreline clubs will also hold their annual “Holiday Parties”.
The 499’er (non-Life Master) game on Friday in Branford continues to grow, now averaging 12 tables.
Hartford Bridge Club
The Hartford Bridge Club is a member-owned and member-run 501(c)(3) charitable organization with nearly 350 dues-paying members. The club is ranked 23rd in the US by the ACBL (based on the number of tables played per year) and it is the oldest continuously operating bridge club in North America.
Our weekly menu of in-house games currently includes five open games; a Sunday high-low game at which at least one member of each partnership must have fewer than 750 masterpoints; three limited-point games (0-1500, 0-1000 and 0-300); two supervised novice games with a mini-lesson; and a bi-monthly Swiss team game. We also run four online virtual club games a week through BBO.
HBC offers numerous fun and educational events each year. Recent events included:
We also boast a robust Partnership Desk for our in-house games and a well-deserved reputation for friendliness. We are, after all, the “club with the heart.”
Be sure to check out our website at hartfordbridgeclub.org and our Facebook page at
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61564998180580 for our weekly schedule and upcoming special events!
Newtown Bridge Club
Newtown Bridge Club has three weekly in-person games: Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 12:30; both Open and 299er sections are scheduled each of those days. Newtown [CT] Virtual Club games on BBO are Friday through Sunday mornings with our 749er game at 10:00 and Open at 10:05.
New and advancing players are welcome at Newtown Bridge Club at our limited games as well as at our other opportunities to play and learn. Prior to each of our three in-person games, our free 20 minute Lunch and Learn lessons at 11:40 offer pre-game tips before the games at 12:30. Chat Bridge on Wednesday mornings from 9:30 to 11:30 is for those who want to ask questions during bidding and play. Saturday morning Newcomer Bridge includes a free lesson at 9:40 followed by the game at 10:00. Our
mentor program provides 1-on-1 learning for players with 5-200 masterpoints. An eight week class for true beginners on Tuesday mornings began on September 24. More classes will be offered this winter.
Our 8th annual Longest Day event was held in June. Our morning and afternoon in-person games on Tuesday, June 18, had 37 tables of supportive bridge players and an additional 30 Scrabblers who played in concurrent Scrabble tournaments. A yummy potluck lunch added to our festivities. Our BBO games on Saturday, June 22, and Sunday, June 23, had an additional 32 tables. A Silent Auction with donations from club members and local restaurants and merchants, was a successful new addition to our fundraiser. Besides the bridge and Scrabble entry fees, many generous donations from players and their families and friends helped us donate over $24,000 this year. Thank you so much to all who supported this worthy cause.
Our club hosted an Intermediate/Newcomer Sectional Tournament for 499ers/Non-Life Master players, with a separate section for 49er/Newcomers on Saturday, September 21. Along with our local players, others traveled from Massachusetts and Long Island to earn silver points in our sectional. On Tuesday, October 1, we held our always fun “Four is Enough” game where more experienced players are paired with newer players. The following week, we held three days of Swiss Team games where many players were excited to earn their first gold masterpoints. On Wednesday, October 30, we will have an Instant Match Point game (both Open and 749er sections) where section tops will each receive gold!
We will be closed for BBO games October 25-27, and for in-person games November 18-20, to support the Orange Fall Sectional and the Norwich Regional. We hope to see you at both these local tournaments.
Please mark your calendar for our Holiday Party on Tuesday, December 10, with a pot-luck lunch starting at 12:00, followed by both Open and 299er games.
Up-to-date information about games and lessons can be found on the club’s website
www.newtownbridge.org.
For information on all of Connecticut's ACBL-sanctioned Duplicate Bridge Clubs, please see Find a Club on the CBA website.