Reno and Sparks Middle School’s Bridge Teams are moving into their second semester of bridge classes. New students are joining the classes after hearing what fun their fellow students have been having learning the game of bridge. The high spot of the fall semester was the opportunity to play in the American Contract Bridge League (ACBL) Regional Tournament on Friday, December 30th. The students were able to compete against their fellow students in an interscholastic Pairs event at the Grand Sierra Resort. About 80 students from participating schools in the Reno Youth Bridge teaching program participated in the Tournament. Each school had at least three or four members of their team come and play. So far this school year, there have been over 205 students register for the after school classes. Last fall, Pine Middle School put into effect the teaching of bridge as one of its elective courses in the new Exploratory class that has been introduced in one or two of the schools here in Washoe County. The Pine teacher selected two card games, cribbage and bridge, as a means to give the students a practical experience using the math exercises in the normal play of the game. In bridge, each player has to keep track of how many cards in each of four suits have been played as the tricks are taken. This simple process has the student adding and subtracting as each trick is played. Since there are 52 cards in the deck of cards and the game challenges each partnership to win as many of the thirteen tricks of four cards as possible, it is necessary to remember whether or not the opponent holds a higher card in a suit or how many cards they have remaining in the trump suit. Volunteer teachers at each of the participating schools are learning the game at the same time that they are teaching it. The students had a taste of playing in a real tournament during the Christmas Holidays and are getting ready for the next big tournament scheduled for April 21st at the John Ascuagas Nugget Hotel and Casino. The April Tournament is played as a team game and the winning team will not only earn trophies for themselves but they will earn the prestigieous RYB “Silver Cup” which is given to the school represented by the winning team. Last year it was Depoali Middle School and the students at Depoali are getting set to defend their right to continue to have the cup on display in their trophy case.
Several of last year’s students have been playing bridge on the internet on a program called Bridge Base Online. Some other students have been participating in the Reno Bridge Center’s Club games and have won some fractional Master Points too. In March of this year, Reno Youth Bridge will hold a team game between two schools on Bridge Base Online. While four of the members of each school will play in the game, other students and interested parents or friends can watch the progress on their computer right at home. School teams may challenge each other to a match at any time until the end of the school year. Winning team members will earn 25 RYBAP Points each and the Loser team members will be credited with 10 points each.
Shown at left are members of the Depoali team this year practicing their game so they can challenge other schools in a one hour 6 board match. An announcement of time and date will be sent out on the email and on Facebook when the event is scheduled. One condition for play on the internet BBO software is that each participant must keep a reasonable pace of play. If the teams run out of time , the Director will make a judgement about who was the least prompt player and his or her team will be penalized. 5 international match points after the game is concluded. Playing on the internet requires that each student follow the rules provided by the sponsors of the game. Obscene language is forbidden and anyone violating the conduct rule will be given a “Yellow” card and if it happens again, they will receive a red card and be thrown off BBO site and disallowed to return. Everyone is urged to be kind to your partner, never leave the table while a hand is being played and don’t give lessons unless asked.
Reno Youth Bridge, a 501(c)(3) non profit Nevada Corporation, is funded by the generous contributions from individuals, families and charitable foundations here in the Reno Community. None of the RYB Directors or Officers receive compensation for their services. WCSD Certified teachers at each of the participating schools do receive a stipend for their volunteer efforts to teach the game of Bridge to WCSD Middle School Students. If you would like to help us fund our program we have provided the convenience of Pay Pal Credit card services. Just click on the Donate Button on any page or call Bud Brewer at 775-849-4113. Thank You!
