Regular readers of this column know I’ve been trying to find a location in South Shelby for the last year and a half to hold a regular duplicate game; with no response we went ahead with our first expansion to the Huffman Road Baptist Church in the Roebuck-Huffman area of N. Jefferson County. We have a regular teaching segment on Tuesday mornings and an open duplicate game on Wednesday mornings.

However, since then I’ve received two phone calls regarding a good place to hold a weekly game in S. Shelby, which I am investigating. More on that as things develop.

Winners this week:

Monday: Jerrie Friar and Liz Milko followed by Linda Floyd and Rosann Dufek. In our evening game Jane Lewis and Jerry Lou Powell finished first with Roy and Guy Martin coming in second.

Thursday: Jill Salmon and John Griffith, Janet Johnson and Barbara Dawson, Kathryn Howell and Judy Converse, Liz and Tom Milko.

Friday: Mac LaCasse and John Lusco, Mel Dupuis and Helen Thrasher, Barbara Dawson and Janet Johnson, Geri Dodson and Jan Lovorn, Judy Chase and Bernie Liberman, Jo Weatherly and Charlotte Lusco, Rita Van Blommesteyn and Frances Hereford.

Saturday: Mac LaCasse and John Lusco, Arlene Owens and Frances Ubben, Jill Salmon and Bonnie Segers, Judy Hasseld and Jerrie Friar, Jo Weatherly and Mary Ellen Peters.

Tip of the week:

In social games, muttering, whining, laughing and good-natured banter is not only permitted but encouraged. However, in duplicate games at a club, the general rule is once you pick up your hand from the board there is no talking until the hand has been bid and played. Conversation at the table should be limited to procedure; “No spades, partner,” “Your lead.” Does that make it less fun? No, it doesn’t. There is plenty of time for banter before and after a hand. Duplicate bridge is a timed event. Each hand should take about 7 minutes to bid and play. Four hands should be completed within a half hour. Any analysis of a hand should be done after all the boards have been played, otherwise a table may get behind and slow everyone else down. Slow play is the bane of all bridge directors.