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A: We will do our very best to accommodate
complete beginners at the Group. A few of our existing members joined the Group
knowing little about Bridge and having played even less, but with a desire and
willingness to learn. This is all we ask - that you should wish to learn, be
patient with us and yourself, and have some fun. Read up about the basics
before you come along if you can, watch other members play a number of hands,
ask some questions about what happened, then bid and play a hand or two when you
feel comfortable to do so. You will find that you will soon get the hang of
it!
We are not professional teachers though, and you may find it useful to attend
evening classes in addition to coming to our Group, as some members have done in
the past.
A: The number attending tends to vary depending on the location and sometimes the time of year. The venues in central South London (Balham, Tooting, Wandsworth, Brixton, etc.) in general tend to be the most popular, and there we regularly get perhaps 4 or 5 tables. Other locations get correspondingly less members attending, with perhaps only 2 or 3 tables in play. However, we have never yet had an occasion where we have had to turn people away because there was no room for them, so you are always guaranteed a game on a Wednesday night!
A: Whilst we do play Bridge according to the rules, we are fairly flexible about things such as table chat, correcting obvious mistakes without penalty, and so on. Our members attend the Group as much for the socialising as for the Bridge, and therefore a certain amount of latitude is prevalent! If you are interested in really serious competitive Bridge, then you should probably also attend a public Bridge Club, as indeed do a few of our members.
A: We never insist on anyone hosting for the Group. One of the pleasures for the Group is the privacy and friendliness that a member's house or flat affords. The host has the opportunity to entertain other members and play some Bridge at home. We have always found that, after about 6 months or so, new members are anxious to host, and ask to be included as a host on the next Venues List. Our Venues Lists are published about every 4 to 5 months for that period ahead. The membership of our Group means that most people find they will host once or maybe occasionally twice in that period.
A: No, you are still welcome. We have a number of members who live in accommodation which is, for a variety of reasons, unsuitable for hosting. Fortunately, some of our members have quite spacious accommodation, and are generous in offering their homes for other members to host for a Bridge evening. The host then makes their own arrangements with the person providing the accommodation over who will provide what for the evening. However, as a general rule, the host will bring the tea/coffee/milk/sugar and the food for refreshments, whilst the person providing the accommodation will provide tables and chairs, the playing cards, and the plates/cutlery/etc.
A; Although our Group is primarily for those living in South London, others are welcome to attend if they feel this Group is for them. There are, in addition to the South London Group, other Groups active in London. Depending on where you live, you may find one of these more convenient and/or more to your liking. Details of these Groups may be found on our other groups page.
A: Of course! Many of our members have returned to Bridge through our Group after years of not playing at all or only very occasionally. Even if your Bridge is rusty, or if you learned to play only Strong No Trump, there is a place at one of our tables for you. Most of our Group play basic Acol as their system - Weak No Trump, Stayman & Transfers over 1NT, Blackwood - with perhaps some extras. But the basics haven't really changed that much. Just come along and see how you get on.
A: Our members' ages currently range from guys in their early thirties upwards - but age is not a consideration for us. All ages are welcome. You just have to share our interest in Bridge and be comfortable and sociable with a broad range of people from diverse cultures and backgrounds!
A: The basics are:
1. Provide enough tables and chairs for those members who come along. If you don't have enough, let us know and we'll get members who are coming to bring some portable tables and chairs where necessary. Note that you don't have to have Bridge tables - just a flat, clean surface big enough to play a hand of bridge on and enough space for four people to sit around!
2. Provide enough packs of cards to go around, and some paper and pens/pencils for scoring.
3. Provide tea and coffee.
4. Provide some refreshments at some point in the evening (usually between about 8 & 9pm). Some members prefer to prepare home-made food, whilst others buy ready-prepared for convenience, depending on their circumstances. When you have been along for a few weeks you will see that this is not as daunting as it may sound.
A: Yes. Currently, the Group is all male, but we have had women members in the past.
:
15 Feb 2004.