After reading two articles on the Daily-Recap website, it is abundantly clear that the main objective of the Nature Coast Bridge Club is to make money. This is clearly stipulated in the table count essay and the article dealing with having a separate 299er game. The year-end figures bear this out: a 6.2% increase in total tables in 2011 over 2010 and a whopping 97.2% increase in the Wednesday game thanks to the 299ers.

An informal poll taken 1 year ago revealed that most of the 299ers would rather play on Tuesdays and Wednesdays in a separate 299er game and most 299ers had no aspirations of becoming Life Masters. Personally, I find that very distressing. How does one become a better player if one does not face better opponents? No amount of cajoling or enticement; i.e., free play, is going to change the mind of someone who does not value the status of LM.

Personally, I will continue to do everything I can to make NCBC a successful operation where I can play bridge with excellent partners against formidable opponents. Perhaps I am too intense in the pursuit of good bridge, but to me, that is the only way to play the game.