About our Pizza Parties
Young bridge players enjoy challenging competition and good food at the monthly Silicon Valley Youth (SiVY) Bridge party.
Aspiring bridge players ages 10-25 are welcome – as long as they know just a little bit about bridge and want to learn more.
Upon arrival the kids play casually and enjoy snacks. After pizza is served many players enter a mini-tournament while others keep playing for fun. Brand new players are taught the basics of the game, learning as they play.
The pairs in the mini-tournament practice skills in bidding as well as play. Prizes are awarded to the winners.
Volunteers are available to help the kids who play for fun.
Near the end of each party, dessert is served, while tournament winners are announced and prizes are awarded
The SiVY monthly events are held to provide kids from our after school classes a chance to meet aspiring players from other schools and organizations. They are also a great way for kids who have learned from adult family to play bridge with other young people.
January 21, 2018
Thirty youth bridge players participated in our January pizza party.
After casual play and pizza, Kevin Rosenberg read a message from Debbie Rosenberg congratulating Michael Hu on becoming SiVY's first Life Master. Kevin and SiVY President Randy Ryals added their own congratulations.
30 youth and 2 fill-ins played in the tournament. 15 in the two sections for experienced and 15 in the section for less experienced players. Congratulations to Michael and Michael, and Kayden and Charlie who finished first in their sections.
During a break in the tournament, one player asked his partner if he had ever had a hand with 38 points. His partner replied "No". "If anyone ever says they have, they're lying - you can only have 37 points in your hand." Think about it.
Overheard from a group of parents while their kids played:
We are so thankful that SiVY exists. When we play bridge at home our kids resist things we tell them. When they hear the same thing at SiVY they accept it.
At the conclusion of play, Frank Smoot revealed a new plaque to recognize SiVY Life Masters, seen here with our first Life Master Michael Hu.
Following that everyone enjoyed cake while Frank read the names of the tournament winners who chose prizes.
After cake, Frank reviewed hands played in the tournament with a group of appreciative youth. Frank will do this after all our Pizza Parties.
The bridge games at our parties 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!).