Bridge Bridge is a serious game in Victoria. Four public clubs are sanctioned by the American Contract Bridge Association, a non-profit organization with more than 160,000 members across North America. “The Victoria Bridge Centre, Leaders Bridge Club, Capital City Bridge Club and Monterey Centre Bridge Club offer master points for the players who end up in the top 40 per cent of each game,” says Debbie Wastle, co-owner of the Victoria Bridge Centre, a full-time club offering electronic scoring, pre-game lessons and a director to keep the games fair. Victoria is home to national bridge champions who represent Canada in world events. Says Wastle: “It is a privilege to have such players at our club. They are easy-going and very willing to share their expertise with the newer players.” See victoriabridgecentre.com or call 250-382-2913. If you’re new to the game or just want to play for fun, most local recreation centres offer lessons and drop-in games, no partner necessary. For local events and bridge clubs, visit the American Contract Bridge League Unit 41 website at bridgevictoria.com. Poker Poker and commercial gambling developed hand-inhand throughout North American history, starting mainly on the Mississippi riverboats in the 1800s and spreading
across to the Wild West during the Gold Rush. Today, online poker games and world tournaments with huge cash prizes broadcast live on television have propelled the game into a new kind of golden era. From “underground” cash games around the city, to pub poker nights and an overwhelming choice of online games, there are endless opportunities to play, even in the internationally televised World Poker Tour. To meet other players and get a seat at the tables, the BC Amateur Poker League is the best place to start. See bcap.ca. You can also play on Thursday nights at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 91. Visit rclprinceedward91.ca or call 250-478-1828. German Games German Games Night happens two Fridays a month at the Victoria Edelweiss Club (German Canadian Cultural Society) at 108 Niagara St. Don’t worry if you’re not fluent. “Some of the strategy games have no language dependency and just feature German geography,” organizer Michael Poplawski says. “The games we choose to play any particular evening always depend on who turns out. There's always refreshments, plus German-language TV and music in the background, though!” See deutschfreunde.blogspot.com or call 250-589-1293. The Skat Club also meets at the Edelweiss Club on Thursday nights at 6 pm to enjoy Germany’s most popular card game. See victoriaedelweiss.ca or call 250-478-5443. VB
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