The Quimper Bridge Club hosted its first pro-amateur duplicate bridge game on Sunday, Dec, 7 at the Port Townsend Community Center.

Approximately 50 bridge players from across the Quimper Peninsula attended the special event, which paired seasoned players with less experienced players.

The event was sponsored by the club as part of its regular schedule of games. All games are open to the public.

The club hosts a game at noon on the first Sunday of every month, typically featuring a potluck buffet lunch, and also every Wednesday night at 6 p.m., with coffee and snacks. All games take place at the Port Townsend Community Center, 620 Tyler St.

The pro-amateur game was the culminating event of bridge instruction classes organized and conducted by Tim Berta (of Port Townsend and Sequim) during the past several months.

“Many students are reluctant to play in what they perceive to be more competitive environments,” said Berta. “So I have organized this event to give my students the opportunity to have fun while playing with more experienced partners who will treat them nicely and give them a taste of the enjoyment and relaxation we experience during our games.”

Berta conducts classes for those who are “just interested” to beginners to longtime players wanting to polish their game. He brings his expertise, passion and patience to his classes, so his students leave with greater confidence and understanding of the sometimes complex game. To learn more about these classes, contact Berta at 360-452-4087.

CLUB HISTORY

The Quimper Bridge Club began hosting its monthly First Sunday afternoon games in 2013. In March 2014, the club was sanctioned by the American Contract Bridge League to hold additional Wednesday-night games each week.

The Quimper Bridge Club is organized as a cooperative among its players. John McClure is the club’s manager and most often is director at its games. He can be reached at 360-821-1880.

The Quimper club is part of a network of duplicate bridge clubs on the peninsula, others being located in Chimacum, Port Ludlow, Kala Point, Sequim, Cape George and, on Friday afternoons, at the Port Townsend Community Center.

Most of these clubs are sanctioned by the American Contract Bridge League, the local unit of which sponsors two sectional tournaments each year (one in January at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds and the other in midsummer in Sequim) that regularly attract top players from the around the peninsula, Seattle, Oregon and Canada.

To learn more about duplicate bridge on the peninsula, visit sequimbridge.com or acbl.org, or contact any duplicate bridge player.