THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, September 30, 1994 TAG: 9409290178
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 10 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JEAN GEDDES, CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Medium: 65 lines
Some of the nation's finest bridge players gathered recently at the Virginia Beach Resort Hotel for ``Bridge by the Sea.''
The event featured American Bridge Association players who ranged from aspiring duplicate bridge players and emerging bridge stars to the Who's Who in bridgedom. They were from Hampton Roads and from as far away as Florida and Texas.
``We have about 300 bridge players this time,'' said Lee Rucker, tournament chairperson of the Tidewater Bridge Unit and a resident of Virginia Beach. ``They come annually to play because they love it here.''
Rucker, a human resource specialist who trains area postal employees, said she has been an avid bridge player since she was 13. A cousin needed her to be a substitute for a game and taught her to play. Today she continues to play a couple times a week.
``Bridge is to whist what chess is to checkers,'' Rucker said. ``Most people can play checkers but they need to study to play chess and so it is with duplicate bridge. You must study it. . . . ''
The weekend was also a social event for participants to renew old acquaintances and make new friends.
Mae Clark from Arlington, Texas, has been a regular since 1972.
``I love bridge,'' she said. ``I've gained so many friendships here in Virginia Beach, and I look forward to this time both as a challenge and a nice social time.''
This tournament was Ann Gist's third visit to Virginia Beach. A Jacksonville, Fla., resident, she travels throughout the nation competing in bridge tournaments. When she's at home, she plays bridge about three times a week.
``It doesn't matter what profession you're in. You could be a doctor, judge or lawyer, and nobody would care,'' Gist said. ``All we're interested in is, `Can you bid three no trump?' ''
People who play duplicate bridge, in which teams are dealt the same hand and then ranked by point score, are serious about their game. Many have been playing for decades. People in their 80s still enjoy the competition and the socializing.
Bridge, sometimes called ``a mind regulator,'' also has been described as a game of mathematics, problem solving, probability theory and percentage play. Early in the 16th century, it was derived from the British game of whist. The American Bridge Association was founded in 1932 to encourage duplicate bridge playing among black players. The organization, now integrated, has continued to grow annually and now has a membership numbering in the thousands.
Organized in Buckroe Beach by African American bridge enthusiasts who were barred by race from tournaments sanctioned by the American Contract Bridge League, the association has grown into a national fraternal network with 229 clubs. MEMO: For further information regarding membership, contact Lee Rucker at
424-9840 or Eunice Moore at 623-6516.
ILLUSTRATION: Graphic
How they finished
[for copy of list, see microfilm]
by CNB