Bridge is said to be the Rolls-Royce of card games, offering the suspense of poker and the excitement of athletic sports in a social setting. It is enjoyed by millions of people all over the world due to its unending variety. It is the most stimulating, most intriguing, most fascinating, and most challenging of all card games. Each deal has some quality of strangeness providing enjoyment, laughter, and sheer entertainment.
In these days of job sharing, flexi working hours, shorter working week, and early retirements we have more leisure time. Bridge is a wonderful pastime to fill those free hours, with many health benefits, both mental and physical—stimulating the brain, improving memory and concentration.
Investing in a new sport can be costly. However, when you decide to take up bridge all you need is a deck of cards and three other players—a very inexpensive pastime. On average, 12,000 people worldwide are playing bridge for free on the internet at any given time from the comfort of their home.
When embarking on something new it is always better to develop the correct habits and methods from the start. Like every skill, bridge should be learned from a qualified teacher. At Better Bridge Classes you will be taught the game in a structured format by a Contract Bridge Association of Ireland qualified and experienced teacher, Carmel Murphy.
Carmel Murphy is the founder of Galway’s three newest bridge clubs—Galway Education Centre Bridge Club in Cluain Mhuire, Monivea Road, Flannery’s Bridge Club, and the newly formed Galway Centenary Club, also based in Flannery’s Hotel on the Dublin Road. Each class consists of tuition, sample games on a ‘big bridge board’, practice games, comprehensive hand-out with self correcting exercises, recommended reading,and websites.
At 10am on Thursday mornings, Flannery’s Hotel becomes a hive of bridge activity. Members of Flannery’s Bridge Club hold a weekly competition for improvers. The Galway Centenary Club is for beginners. Members of this club start the session at the bridge class—a wonderful opportunity to revise and reinforce bridge techniques on bidding and cardplay. This is followed by a friendly, helpful, bridge session. Both clubs welcome new members.
Attend Better Bridge Classes this winter and learn the thrilling game of bridge. You will find its lure irresistible, its addiction heady and exciting, and it is guaranteed to become a lifelong pursuit. Long winter evenings will seem shorter when you play bridge with friends. You will find yourself looking forward to the Irish winter.
Beginners’ classes start at 10am on Thursday September 22nd in Flannery’s Hotel, Dublin Road, Galway. Contact Carmel Murphy at 087 9240 170 / 091 63720 or [email protected].
