Parent - Child Duplicate
November 19, 2016
Today was the last parent/child event for this year; next year we hope to have even more events and more pairs starting possibly with January 1, 2017. Let’s get the New Year started right from Day 1!
In spite of the upcoming Thanksgiving break and the Big Game we had 7 tables; three in the advanced section and four in Section B. There were the usual suspects and then some more. Will Watson setup a Howell movement for both sections.
This was a first for Samuel Yang and his dad, Qing Yang (who is an experienced player). Samuel said the best thing about bridge was playing with his dad who is hopefully restarting playing bridge because of him. Qing said he enjoys being able to play with his son but takes no credit for teaching him; says he is impatient and that his son has learned it all through SiVY Bridge’s program at Monta Vista!
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Greg Liu, playing with his dad, said what he likes most is to win at bridge. When he won today he and his dad high-fived each other.
Dierdre Lyell played with her son Jacob Schireson for the first time at this event; we hope now that we will see her playing with her son or daughter at each and every such event!
Not surprisingly, the first three slots in Section A were taken by Brent Xiao (playing with his dad Bo) and Michael Hu (playing with his mother Qing) and Cornelius Duffie (playing with his grandmother Carol Schwerer). Did you all know that Cornelius is a highly accomplished pianist? And now he is also playing the French Horn too. Maybe we will all get lucky and hear him perform some time soon.
In Section B, Greg Liu won the event playing with his dad Hongbin. Tied for second place were Jerry Xia/ Jian Zhang and Floyd and Alan McWilliams.
Young players play with a parent or grandparent as partner, trying to win American Contract Bridge League (ACBL) masterpoints and enjoying each other's company. Director Will Watson plans the game so that each pair would be able to meet and play against almost all the others.
Duplicate bridge is one of the few competitive activities in which people of all ages can participate as equals. Participants in the Parent-Child duplicate range from youth to seniors, but each pair has to work together to score well. Bridge is also one of the few games in which new players have the opportunity to compete against and learn from established stars.
Participants in our events range from duplicate bridge novices to experienced ACBL Life Masters to a world champion--all enjoying the company as well as the challenge of the game itself. A typical reaction was one youth's first words as he and his father left, "Can we do that again?"
Grandparents and parents looking for ways to connect with their young family members and entice them away from their iPods and their Game Boys should consider taking up bridge as a family activity. The youngsters may end up teaching them a few things, and that's a great feeling for everyone.
Bridge games at our events are American Contract Bridge League (ACBL) sanctioned awarding masterpoints (MP) to high scorers. ACBL membership is not required for our games but is strongly suggested. You can join online or at the Bridge Center on the night of an event. Adult membership is $29 for the first year and junior membership only $15 per year. Both include a monthly print magazine and registration of masterpoints (start earning towards becoming a Life Master!).