REBECCA ROOD'S MAILBAG................

Dear Rebecca ,
The other day I returned to my old club for a night of duplicate bridge only to find a deserted bar room and unused rooms. It wasn't all that long ago that 16 or more tables would be in play but I found myself playing in a very disappointing six table field. 
The club seemed empty and the atmosphere dead. There was no " buzz " about the place , and for me the evening was a massive turn off.
So do these dwindling table numbers represent a trend towards oblivion , one which other clubs are also experiencing ? Is the game of duplicate bridge , as we know it ,  in its death throes ?  

Yours in despair ,
               Hope PInnott


Dear Hope,
It hurts me greatly to read your letter because I too share the same fears and concerns about the future of bricks and mortar bridge clubs. No one can deny that this wonderful game gets people's brains ticking and their hearts pumping , but today's world is technology driven.
At my club both membership numbers and attendances have been falling steadily over the past 20 years. Once the rot sets in it's difficult to stop its progress. One factor has been the growing number of smaller bridge clubs being set up by splinter groups enticing members away. For it seems that people ,  who like to play " social " bridge with players of a similar standard , prefer venues where soft cheating is both overlooked and accepted .
However , I believe the biggest contributing factor to falling attendances is internet bridge, which involves lovers of the game preferring to stay at home. Here they can play bridge for as long as they want , whenever they want.... for no or little expense ,  without the hassle of travelling there and back in all weathers, plus all that waiting around. Moreover , they can elect to play with well behaved robot partners , who will never volunteer any criticism or verbal abuse. 
So no.... bridge is not in its death throes at all , but unfortunately as more and more hands are being played on the internet ( than with real packs )  virtual reality bridge clubs will be the inevitable next chapter in the history of bridge. 

Yours facing up to the facts , Rebecca