THERE ARE SEVERAL bridge clubs in the Las Vegas area, these clubs run duplicate games every day and do a nice job of catering to new players. Most clubs will provide a partner for a new player or one can come with their own partner. These clubs also provide lessons for a nominal fee for beginners and up to advanced lessons.

The way duplicate bridge works is: the cards are shuffled and put into a tray (called a board) as hands are played out the cards are returned to the board so that the hands remain intact. They are then passed to another table, where the are replayed, then passed on to table after table, so that at the end they have been played a number of times by a different set of players. A pair will be designated East-West or North-South and will remain playing in that direction for the event. A pair's result is entered on a score sheet that travels with the board. At the end of the session each hand will be scored on the bases of how you did on that hand compared to the results when played by other pairs. Your score is then totaled up for each hand played and you have a total result for all the hands played.

This way of playing is quite competitive, and that is what makes it more fun to play. There are games for novice players as well as for experts. I recommend that you come to any one of the clubs and introduce yourself to the club director. They are very helpful to new players and will help you to get started playing and/or taking lessons.

Here is a partial list of local clubs, come in and learn to enjoy this great pastime!

Seville Terrace 2000 N. Rampart 645-5778
Las Vegas Bridge Center 610 E. Sahara 735-5141
Spring Mountain Bridge Club 450 S. Buffalo 278-8614
A Bridge Connection 2041 N. Jones #101 648-4739
Bridge World 2 800 S. Brush 735-3114

You can contact any of these clubs to get started or phone me at 804-5341 and I will recommend the best places for new players. You can come and watch at any of the games if you would like before you actually play!

A quick quiz on responding to partners preempt: Your partner opens 3 Diamonds. You hold AQxx-KJxx-x-KQxx Pass in a hurry, you will not come close to making 3NT as partner will have something like: xx-xx-KQJxxxx-xx or x-xx-AQJxxxx Qxx AT BEST. This time you hold Axxx-x-Axxx-Jxxx. Raise to 5 diamonds, You probably will not make it, but it would be naive to think you could buy for 3 with less than half the points between you and one heart in your hand. Your left hand opponent is almost certain to come in with 3 or 4 hearts. Do not wait around for the opponents to find their fit. Moral: Sacrifice prematurely or not at all. With a fit raise partner to the level of total # of trump between your 2 hands ( with 9 the 3 level 10 the four level and 11 the 5 level).