COURT HOUSE –– Eleven retired adults are taking a noncredit Bridge class at Atlantic Cape Community College meeting every Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. to noon for eight weeks.
In order to make three complete tables, instructor Norma Jakominich has enlisted her friend Jim Eberhart to fill in as the twelfth player.
The class focuses on “duplicate” Bridge, a variation of the contract game in which the same hands are drawn or “duplicated” at most of the tables playing, in order reduce “luck of the cards.”
Therefore, Jakominich said it is more competitive because it allows fair comparison of playing skill and heightened competition.
The group, many who are friends living in and around Cape May City, worked hard to get the class together, since the college requires a minimum number of students to form a class. Finding a time everyone could agree on was also not easy, but determination forced results and the class was created.
Now they enjoy fellowship, socializing, air conditioning and of course, Bridge. Some had never been to the campus before and were surprised to learn of the spacious library, which all residents are able to use.
Jakominich spends the first half hour of class time teaching a particular lesson and students use the remainder applying those lessons hands-on. Jakominich prearranges the Bridge hands to reinforce her lessons. Though they have a great time, students take the class very seriously scribbling notes and asking questions.
“It’s a phenomenal card game, never the same and there’s always more to learn,” Jakominich said.
For over six years she’s been a member of the Cape May County Duplicate Bridge Club, which meets twice weekly at Our Lady of the Angels Parish in Court House.
Jakominich is a retired math teacher from Bucks County, Pa. who now lives in Wildwood Crest. Her father played bridge and she learned from him, by taking lessons, learning from friends and by reading about it.
Darla Logue of Cape May had never played before, but credits her involvement to her friend Mary Ellen Norton, a known Bridge fanatic who instigated her friends to take the class.
“We owe it to Mary that were here,” she said.
Marge Conly of West Cape May said she has been playing Bridge for 50 years but this is her first class. Nancy Beale said this is her third or forth beginners class. Jean “Ginger” Esposito is also learning for the first time and said Jakominich is a very thorough instructor. Jakominich stays after class to address additional questions from those who need extra help or for advanced players with inquisitive minds.
In the second week of the class, the lesson was on how to open the bid, respond to a “one no-trump opener,” calculate points for distribution and the various configurations that ensue.
The entry-level class focuses on the norm with some “freaky” hands presented.
“One might play 25 hands in an afternoon with few anomalies,” Jakominich said.
“Partnership communication is extremely important, it’s the key to this game, because it gets very complicated. Bridge has become so specialized, I don’t know how the inventor of the point count system must feel,” she said.
Assistant Eberhart said Bridge has changed in the last 20 years since he was initially taught; though he has played for years, he said he is relearning the game.
Jakominich has a good rapport with her students and offers one-liners like, ““You can only bid five clubs or five diamonds with a note from your mother.”
Jakominich likened learning how to play Bridge to an airplane taking flight. She said it takes a while to lift off, plateaus for a while and lifts again.
“This is not a science, it’s scientific but not in stone, there’s some freedom,” she said.
Jakominich said mathematical skill is heavily applied in Bridge with students constantly counting cards to calculate the likeliness of obtaining a card needed. Jean Drach of Cape May said she joined the class for social reasons and to “keep the brain working.”
Jakominich’s words of advice for Bridge can be applied to life: “Never lie to your partner.”
Contact Truluck at (609) 886-8600 ext. 24 or at: ltruluck @cmcherald.com.
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