About a month ago, one of the host Mom's found out I was a bridge player. She invited me over to play with her family one Thursday night and I accepted. Little did I know that I was being tried out to come and play with her Friday night bridge club. Apparently, I passed because the next Friday night, I walk into a large room with over 20 tables, each of them numbered, and each with a bidding box. On one wall is a large screen television which reports scores of the tournament being held that night. These people are SERIOUS. By the way, at 40 years old, I am clearly the youngest person in the room and one of two non-Italians.
On my first Friday night a few weeks ago, I was AGAIN being tested. Lucilla, the host mom, has a regular partner Ida. The usually play together. Lucilla and I each played half the time with Ida. We did ok. Apparently, I passed another test because the second Friday night I played, I came to the game "stag." Lucilla set me free. I was paired with another guy, Peter, who is a Welshman who has retired to Italy and speaks perfect Italian. Before we started he bombarded with me about strategy. Do I play the Stayman convention (WHAT??????) how do I respond to his opening of 1 "senza". It took me a while to figure out that "senza" means "No Trump".
I returned again to play last night, this time Lucilla and I played together. I'm not sure how the scoring works, but we finished third in the tournament. And, as what happens, people recognized me and I chat with Franco and Tito, in Italian of course. But, I generally get lost when chat turns to bridge or the rehashing of hands. The other thing I find funny is when married couples play together and start bickering at each other. I just sit there and enjoy the show.
This bridge thing is fun. I definitely need to practice and be more aggressive in my bidding. It's hard work on Friday nights to be upping my game in Bridge as well as trying to do it in a foreign language. But, it's AWESOME and something I will definitely remember as a highlight of living in Italy.
On my first Friday night a few weeks ago, I was AGAIN being tested. Lucilla, the host mom, has a regular partner Ida. The usually play together. Lucilla and I each played half the time with Ida. We did ok. Apparently, I passed another test because the second Friday night I played, I came to the game "stag." Lucilla set me free. I was paired with another guy, Peter, who is a Welshman who has retired to Italy and speaks perfect Italian. Before we started he bombarded with me about strategy. Do I play the Stayman convention (WHAT??????) how do I respond to his opening of 1 "senza". It took me a while to figure out that "senza" means "No Trump".
I returned again to play last night, this time Lucilla and I played together. I'm not sure how the scoring works, but we finished third in the tournament. And, as what happens, people recognized me and I chat with Franco and Tito, in Italian of course. But, I generally get lost when chat turns to bridge or the rehashing of hands. The other thing I find funny is when married couples play together and start bickering at each other. I just sit there and enjoy the show.
This bridge thing is fun. I definitely need to practice and be more aggressive in my bidding. It's hard work on Friday nights to be upping my game in Bridge as well as trying to do it in a foreign language. But, it's AWESOME and something I will definitely remember as a highlight of living in Italy.
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