I had an interesting international introduction to duplicate bridge at the Army officer’s club while stationed in West Berlin, Germany, during the seventies. The Berlin wall was separating West and East Berlin, Checkpoint Charlie the only entry to East Berlin, and the cold war espionage at its peak. There were players from the English and French sectors of West Berlin, the US State Department, and local Germans which made for a very entertaining game.

 

The director of the game, the wife of a warrant officer, took me under her wing and  played with me as the only bridge I had played previously was in novice type games in the parlor of my college fraternity where the beer was as important as the bridge. There was an unwritten understanding at the bridge club that no one was to talk with their partners during the hand unless their opponents understood their language. The French were incorrigible for ignoring this courtesy which led to many director calls. The Germans mostly spoke English and were very good about refraining from speaking German during the play.    

 

The bridge highlight during my time there was being chosen to be one of four players on the team representing the Berlin Command in the Intercommand European bridge tournament after a couple of years into my tour. There were thirteen commands participating. Best of all, we were given a whole week of leave to attend the tournament in the resort area of Berchtesgaden, a scenic area near the Bavarian Alps. We were fortunate enough to win ten of our twelve matches and bring home the first place trophy. 

 

l completed my military obligation and joined a radiology practice in Chico, Ca. in 1977. Bridge was thriving in our area with two day games and three night games. The Monday night game was held in the rec room at one of the two local junior high schools and routinely had 15-17 tables. My tournament bridge has been limited to nearby sectionals and regionals as raising a family and fifty hour work weeks didn’t allow a lot of  time to travel.  Louie Quiggle, one of northern California’s best players back then,  introduced me to Steve Sellers as he thought we were both up and coming players in the area. Steve has been my favorite and best partner at many sectional and regional tournaments.  I would like to give a special thanks to Doug Jacobs who has been my local partner for well over forty years now.   

 

Being located at the southern edge of our district, we have been like long lost cousins in our district to some degree. I have missed not being able to get to know more of the players from our more northerly environs.  Receiving the old published Trumpet was a great help in staying in touch with the goings on of our district. It is difficult to see the diminishing interest in bridge by our youth.