Bridge: Play just for the fun of it

Looking for card-playing fun, mental sharpness and good times? Play bridge at the Bella Vista Duplicate Bridge Club. Someone said recently that 90 percent of the people who play bridge in Bella Vista do not play duplicate bridge. If you're in that crowd, come join us. We don't play social duplicate, but we are trying very hard to be social.

The Bella Vista DBC is passionate about bridge and about attracting community members, no matter their level of expertise, to play bridge with them just for the fun of it.

According to club manager Len Fettig, who makes the wheels spin here, "We might not be able to promise that you will always win, but we can promise we will do our best to make the game more fun." In fact, the words "Be nice" not only appear in all of Fettig's mailings, but he uses those words to remind players to "be nice" before the start of every game. In the words of Kathy Markus, a new player from Rogers, "People are so nice here and they want you to do well." Another new player commented, "Where else can you stimulate your brain, meet new people, and have three hours of fun -- all for $2." Non-POA members pay an additional $2.25 at the front desk.

The Bella Vista DBC is all about serving up a better bridge experience albeit at the duplicate table or during a class. Right now Robert Makela, a resident of Bella Vista, is offering beginner classes on the first and third Tuesdays of the month, from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., at Riordan Hall. "Mentoring and promotion of bridge is part of the culture here," according to Makela. Janet and Jim Callarman, Bella Vista residents, have started coming to the club for that very reason. "We speed up the bridge learning curve for us if we play with a variety of seasoned players," she said. Jim added, "Other players have been very helpful to us."

Is your game growing stagnant or are you frustrated about getting "bad" cards? Try duplicate bridge. Players have an opportunity to evaluate themselves against their peers because each partnership gets and plays the same cards, thereby eliminating the luck of the deal.

Veteran player Sue Van Hook compared bridge to a business. "It makes you assess risk and reward and you do it every time you sit down and play a hand," she said. That doesn't mean we don't permit you to blame "poor cards" for a low score.

One of Fettig's goals is to connect bridge enthusiasts both inside and outside our community. Fettig remarked that "Anyone interested in playing cards is welcomed and will be treated with courtesy and respect. We want you not only to improve your game but have fun doing it."

Andy Fritsch and Bev Zerkel drive all the way from Joplin, Mo., to play here.

"We like to come here," Andy remarked.

"Everybody is so friendly and nice," Bev added.

As new member Sharon Judson commented recently, "When I came here, I didn't know anybody. The members are always willing to play cards with you when you need a partner and help you out in any way they can. I definitely will be playing at their tournament."

Like any game, bridge is more fun if you play it well. One hard truth about the game is that it is complex and not easily mastered unless you work at it and that takes time, a lot of time, maybe years, not months. None of this means that you shouldn't play the game for comradeship and fun. That's what the Bella Vista experience is all about. However, part of the pleasure you get from playing is having a Eureka moment now and then when, all of a sudden, some concept you have been struggling with, such as negative doubles, suddenly makes sense. Finally, you're out of the fog and fully understand what the convention means. And the best part, your game just became more fun because of it.

There are also health benefits to bridge. Studies show that the mental stimulation provided by the game can significantly lower the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease or dementia. Brian Simet, a regular member from Rogers, would agree. "It's very good from the standpoint of keeping mental acuity. It requires continual learning," he said. "You never think you're good enough, even when you hit certain milestones."

Want to join the fun? Games are held at Riordan Hall on most Tuesdays and Thursdays at 1 p.m. Call Riodan Hall at 479-855-8170 to be sure. We hope to see you there.