Bringing back an old tradition, we are recognizing the achievements of our newest Life Masters. To be listed on this page, please e-mail Ed Zuckerberg or postal mail to Ed at 2 Russell Pl, Dobbs Ferry, NY 10522. Please include a recent, individual photo of yourself and a brief bio about your bridge career or personal life.
Toni Schwartz
About 41/2 years ago, a friend suggested that I contact the Bridge Deck for bridge lessons. Little did I realize, at the time, that this would be the beginning of a journey playing a game which was much more complicated that the “social” bridge I remembered from many years ago. In the class, I learned conventions just as Stayman and Jacobi transfers. After completing three or four classes, I figured I was an “Advanced Beginner” and could progress to the Newplicate game. This was a great deal of fun, but I soon realized that I was nowhere near the level of most of the players. I was starting to have a hint of the complexities of this game and hired a teacher to continue my learning. After several years of playing with Warren Rosner, I was picking up new conventions such as: Jacobi 2 NT, the Unusual 2 NT, take out doubles, negative doubles and the 2 over 1 system. All of these I learned through my teacher and my partners and opponents at the bridge table. However, I again had a hint of how little I knew when I began to see the complexities of defense and the play of the hand.
I started to go to tournaments and began to understand the excitement of the various kinds of events and how hard it is to get red and gold points. I began to do a lot of reading and attending more courses. I also added more conventions and was extremely excited when my gold card arrived proclaiming me a life master. I am realizing that my journey playing bridge is just beginning.
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