Today is May Day - the start of a new month in the most tumultuous of times.
Almost every aspect of life has been altered; our bridge world is no exception.
Once again, we are most grateful for Connie Nelson. When life deals us lemons, Connie reports on the sweetest lemonade available!
Big thanks to Connie - Professors Scott Richardson and Jim Schnepf - and to our new players who are "Passionate about Bridge!"
The month of May should be full of college graduations and summer good-byes. But mid- spring semester, campus life was cut short. Students had to scramble to vacate campuses. Many had to abruptly leave friends, teachers, courses and extra-curricular activities.
This is the story of seven College of St. Benedict students who had to leave behind their year-long Tuesday Bridge lessons --
In September 2019, Professors Jim Schnepf (retired) and Scott Richardson launched an endeavor to introduce Bridge to college students. Scott sent out a letter asking the Honors Students of St. John’s University and the College of St. Benedict if any of them would like to learn to play Bridge. After an introductory gathering, seven students – all women from CSB – continued to attend Bridge Club every Tuesday evening. Several of them didn’t miss a week!
I recently interviewed three of the women. I started by asking them, “Why did you come out for this extra-curricular? It didn’t get you academic credit.” I loved their reasons.
Senior Molly Kluever (English and Theology majors) responded, “I wasn’t big into card games even though I’m from Wisconsin (i.e. Sheep’s Head territory). But, Scott’s passion for the game just jumped off the page. He was quite the salesman!” She kept Scott Richardson’s original email. I especially loved these phrases, “Colleges used to be full of bridge players who endangered their graduations by getting hooked on this opiate-like game...” and “Bridge (uses) a strong dose of codes …, both giving your partner information and deceiving the opponents. It’s a good game for spies!”
Who could resist those enticements?
Junior Olivia Engling (Peace Studies and Psychology majors), said: “My grandmother has her list of Five Wishes she would do if she could start her life over. I have been systematically checking them off. One was to learn to play bridge, so when this opportunity was offered, I jumped!”
Senior Molly Mendel (Biology and Accounting majors), said: “My Grandpa is my best friend, and he plays a lot of cards. I wanted to learn to play “a card game.” Starting with Bridge has been a lot harder than I thought. You can never learn enough about this game - and I like that! I had three classes back to back on Tuesdays prior to Bridge, and I have only missed one week.”
While some students were playing their first-ever trick-taking card game, others had played games such as euchre and hearts. None had played bridge before. And as these interviewees said, “This game is unique in the amount of strategy and thought involved.”
Q: How did you experience the game at first, and how has that opinion changed?
All three said they initially felt “super-overwhelmed!” Molly M said, “I remember thinking there is no way I will be able to remember all these rules.” Olivia chimed in, “I decided to just pretend to know what I was doing.” For weeks, she says she was so scared of making a mistake, but when she just let go and played, she couldn’t believe that several hours flew by. She remembers thinking with pride, “I can actually do this!” Molly K summed it up: “Bridge has gone from terrifying to fun!”
I asked if they have now played with anyone outside of their group. Olivia played with three male co-workers. “That was so out of my comfort zone. But, bridge gave me a common language with them, and the night turned out great.” They told of another Club member player who has been playing online with random people. That member recently said, “I must be getting better… my partners aren’t getting mad at me as often!”
Q: “What has been the most fun or frustrating aspect?”
Molly M responded with something I’m sure we all have felt: “It’s fun to learn so much, and frustrating to realize that the very next thing I learn new, I forget something else!”
All three have loved it. As one said, “I met people I wouldn’t have otherwise known and, together we learned a game we had never played.” They now share insider language, such as “that’s a real Molly hand!” Molly K said, “We like to talk smack to each other. But Scott says that Bridge is a very Polite game, with Decorum!” She laughed, “I’m not sure we’d fit in!”
Q: “What would you like to say to Professors Scott Richardson and Jim Schnepf?”
- Molly K: I am so glad you taught us and were so patient with us. I remember staring at a hand for 20 minutes before laying down a single card. You never showed frustration with us. I hope you do this every year.
- Olivia: You went above and beyond, sharing with us something you are so obviously passionate about.
- Molly M: Tuesday bridge became my sanctuary and fun place during a crazy year of academics. We really bonded over this experience!
And, they appreciated how Scott and Jim taught them. They said their learning progressed as follows: 1) Receiving a few lessons, 2) Playing pre-dealt hands, with lessons embedded, 3) Playing random-dealt hands, with prompts, 4) Independent play, with mentoring, and finally 5) Independent play, with debriefs. Olivia said, “I liked that it wasn’t just another lecture. You wanted us to play and have fun, knowing the learning would happen along the way.” They also said that they appreciated that the scoring came last. As one said, “I didn’t know I just messed up 620 points, so I didn’t get bummed out!”
Q: “What would you like to say to the readers of MN Bridge Blog?”
Molly K: “Now that I love this game, I am disappointed that I can’t find partners near my age. So I would plead with the MN Bridge Blog audience: If each of you could just teach one younger person to play – with special patience for someone who has no experience with cards, I would have potential Bridge partners to look forward to.”
Olivia: “I second that. When I decided to tackle my Grandma’s Wish List, I looked up bridge clubs in several Cities I lived, including Chicago. As a student, it was impossible. All the bridge lessons were during the day, most games were during the day, and none were held on college campuses. I would really like to keep playing, but we need more flexible times/places.”
Q: “What would you would say to other college students about Bridge?”
Molly M said, “I’d just say “Do It!” Olivia said that when her grandfather would play, he would play bridge around the clock. Sometimes he would go to bed, and rejoin a game in the morning. “I used to think, ‘Don’t you have anything better to do?’ Now, I get it! This game bonds people together. With a common language, you work together to defeat your opponents.” They suggested that Scott and Jim not limit Bridge Club to only Honors students, but open it up to any student who is “willing to learn a complicated, fun strategy game.”
I came away from the interview thinking that Scott and Jim have created some new Bridge ambassadors! This was a first-time endeavor on their parts, and they’ve already had a multiplier effect: one of the seven has taught her three siblings how to play. Another has “informed” her brother that he must join the Bridge Club when he enters SJU fall semester.
Last, remember how I started this article with the abrupt campus closure? Well, it didn’t end so abruptly for these seven. Jim created a weekly virtual game for them. He can watch all four hands being played and respond to questions during or after the play. So, during the last five weeks of being safer at home, these women have continued to meet every Tuesday afternoon to play bridge.
Molly K said that in some respects playing online together has made her a better player. “I can’t hold my hand up and ask, “What would you do?” Another agreed: “While the “community feeling” is absent, I think my bridge is getting better. I know I’m using my cheat sheet less and less!” Olivia laughed, “Yeah. I’ve progressed from “Not knowing anything” to “Knowing how much I don’t know!” This is usually called being in the Valley of Despair, but you know what? “I’m really excited to be here!”
Postscript: I asked Molly M. if she had played with her Grandpa as a partner yet. She said she hadn’t felt ready. But I had a hunch that she just might go ask him after getting off the call!
People from left to right, top to bottom: Jim Schnepf, Connie Nelson, Olivia Engling, Molly Kluever, and Molly Mendel.
If any Club would like to see the full text of Scott Richardson’s letter, please let me know!