Making New Friends at the Bridge Table

Olivia is a 14 year old High School Freshman – and a bridge player. She’s always loved cards and played a lot of games with her grandmother, who eventually taught both Olivia and her sister a little bridge. But it was only after attending SiVY events that she caught the bridge bug big time.

At last year's Bridge Summer Camp, Olivia really accelerated her learning. She enjoyed the organized instruction and play, learning more in that week than she had in the past year. And she’s coming back for the 2015 Summer Camp this July!

At Olivia’s school, Palo Alto High, there’s been a bridge club for some time. When SiVY and CBE announced the upcoming first ever Bay Area High School Bridge Championship, Olivia set to organizing a team of four to participate. Winners get not only a trophy to take back to their school, but also monetary (gift card) prizes. She found three other players, Cornelius, Claire, and Max, and the four started practicing at least one or two times per week. They play at lunch on Mondays, after school on Wednesdays, occasionally online, and at Casual Fridays (a SiVY event where aspiring youth can play in a low key environment).

The Paly (Palo Alto High School) team is coached by SiVY volunteer, Lynn Bartz. Lynn has been preparing lessons for them and meeting regularly with the group. The team has also practiced in a few adult tournaments, like the Non Life Master Sectional in San Jose.

What is the best part about all of this for Olivia? The people. When asked about bridge, Olivia doesn’t immediately jump to the competition, the strategy, the mental challenge – she says about camp “It was good to meet so many other kids who played bridge. I met many friends there.” And about her high school teammates Claire and Cornelius D. and Max K., -“We have all improved greatly with this practice (for the competition), and we have grown really close.”