Duplicate Bridge Tournaments
Unlike a Tennis Tournament. Organized competitive bridge is presented in 'tournaments', although the meaning is somewhat different than for a tennis tournament, for example. The idea is the same -- whoever wins the tournament is the best player, but there are new bridge 'mini-tournaments' every day or even several times each day. They're called 'events'. You aren't eliminated when you lose -- you just find another 'event' the next day or even later the same day.SectionalsThroughout the year, local ACBL clubs and ACBL Districts will hold tournaments called Sectionals.
These are a series of events lasting several days, over a weekend, at which special recognition is granted the winners and others who place. Silver master points are only awarded at sectional tournaments.
(We generally play in sectionals on busy holiday weekends like Memorial Day, the 4th of July, Labor Day, etc. It's good bridge with no traffic).
Regionals
Even larger events called Regionals are held by ACBL District organizations, which cover several clubs or units as they are called. The area may include several towns or even several states in sparsely populated areas. Large ones last 10 days over two weekends and the intervening weekdays. Most last at least three or four weekend days - Thursday through Sunday or Friday through Sunday.
Nationals
Three times a year, there are the North American Nationals. These are held in convention cities throughout the country: in New York, San Francisco, New Orleans, Seattle, Toronto, etc. They are 10 or 12 days in length, but as in any tournament, you can play as little as one session, or as much as three times a day for all 12 days !.
At national tournaments, individual pairs and teams are selected by competition for top national and world class events, and dozens of events are offered for every level of play. They are the most fun of all tournaments because of the crowds, the best players, the big events and the great places where they are held. Be sure you attend at least one National - they are the really big time for duplicate players.
International and World Events
There are international and world class events, but they are by invitation only, and invitations are won by those scoring high in National Tournaments and other elimination events. When you get top be a world-class player, you will need to know more about them than this series covers.
(c) Robert D. McConnell, 1998 All Rights Reserved