Computer deals up better bridge

Gympie Bridge Club president Kay Kerr with Peter Bush and the new computerised scoring system implemented by the club.

Craig Warhurst

A NEW computer system and dealing machine is set to bring the Gympie Contract Bridge Club into the 21st century and improve the way members play the game.

Bridgemate II and a dealing machine were installed at the Gympie Contract Bridge Club this week and trainer Peter Busch came to the club to give members lessons on how to use the program.

President Kay Kerr said the new dealing machine would mean no more shuffling or dealing by hand.

The machine would also record cards dealt and provide players with print outs of all hands received during a competition.

It would even tell players what would have been the best way to play the cards dealt to them.

“This will allow players to better analysis their games after the day’s play,” Mrs Kerr said.

“The club also has acquired Bridgemate II which is a wireless scoring device,” she said.

Calculator-like units on each card table are connected wirelessly to a central computer.

Players enter their scores of each hand as they are playing and then the computer can instantly produce a report at the end of play, with all the winners and losers.

“Both of these items are now used extensively in bridge clubs around the world and the Gympie club is very pleased to be keeping up with the latest technology,” Mrs Kerr said.

“Before the computer we would have to gather up all the sheets and input the information into a computer – it would take about half an hour.

“Now it will be instantaneous,” she said.

Each calculator-like unit costs $225 and the Gympie club purchased 15 for game play.

The Gympie Contract Bridge Club has been a part of the Gympie community for more than 40 years.

Games are held four times a week and every second Sunday afternoon.

“We have more than 90 members and about 15 people in classes learning the game,” Mrs Kerr said.

“Bridge is a great game for mental stimulation, it keeps the brain activated. Good players are logical and have good card sense, there is no luck involved.

She explained players at, for example 10 tables, would play the same three or four boards (card groupings) in rotation.

The partners with the most skill would get the most points out of those cards.

“It’s a great game, a game you keep learning,” Mrs Kerr said.

“I have been playing for 30 years and I am still learning-it is an on-going thing. The computers will promote more interest in the game,” she said.

She urged anyone who like to play bridge to come along on a Wednesday night from 7 to 9pm at the Tozer Park Rd clubhouse.

Mrs Kerr said prospective players should phone the Bridge Club on 5482 2154 before attending.