Strong Suit

A master lives within Sun City.

While many tend to ace hobbies that include car repair, gardening, or even writing, Dave Germaine has approached a different field — bridge.

Germaine, who has been teaching (and playing) the card game in the community for almost two decades, has been recognized by the American Bridge Teachers Association — which works in partnership with the American Contract Bridge League – as a master teacher.

Dave Germaine plays cards at a recent round in the card room. (Photos by Chris LaPelusa/Sun Day)

The designation is the highest recognition the association has in the North American bridge teaching community. According to its website, “ABTA Master Teachers are our very best professionals, and we are confident in recommending our master teachers for bridge teaching jobs at any level and in any setting.”

In order to be considered, one must have at least three years of ongoing membership with the ABTA, have at least 100 hours of professional bridge teaching experience, attend a full ABTA convention and seminar, and successfully complete an interview with the Membership Credentials Committee.

The committee, Germaine notes, included two famous bridge writers and three other individuals in the association. After a roughly 75-minute interview that included problem-solving series of bridge problems given to him on the spot and a complex problem given in advance, Germaine received the certification.

“I really don’t know,” he said, laughing, when asked what comes with the designation. “It helps you in your marketing, but I don’t know if I’ll do anything different.”

Germaine’s history with the game extends back into his teenage years — what he believes to be around his junior year of high school. He continued to play the game through his 20s until his children occupied more of his time. At that point, he didn’t play for about 30 to 40 years.

Germaine picked up the teaching aspect when he moved into Sun City. The activities director at the time was seeking a teacher and, upon a recommendation from his wife, Germaine got back into the game.

“I started calling around, because I had no idea how to teach bridge, but they actually have trainers who teach people how to teach bridge. I enrolled myself in that program, spent the weekend there, and came out a certified bridge teacher. That was about 16 years ago, and I’ve been doing it ever since,” Germaine said.

While he offers training to any and all who want to learn the game or even get a refresher, “most everyone in Sun City has taken one of my classes at some time or another,” he notes.

Germaine has also dabbled in teaching privately on the Internet. He currently has students in Tucson, Arizona; Virginia, and even Edinburgh, Scotland.

“I meet with them about once or twice a week, and it has really opened an all new area of teaching for me.”

He’s also partnered with a company that publishes a bridge app called iBridge Plus. The app, which is available via iOS, is publishing Germaine in a weekly column called “Hands of the Week.” It contains a hand Germaine has played on their site and how he goes about solving a problem or the process by which he plays.

Locally, Germaine runs a beginner’s class in Sun City every year. The class, held at the end of January, serves as a chance for new residents or even long-time Sun Citians who are looking to pick up the game. Teaching newcomers, Germain admits, is something he particularly enjoys.

“This game has evolved over the years, so my favorite is an absolute beginner who knows nothing about bridge,” Germaine said. “I can just put everything into their minds, and we don’t have to worry about unlearning old habits. There’s a lot to learn with this game, and there’s a lot of dedication on the part of our students. Those that stick with it, though, boy do they really advance.”

More information about Germaine, his classes and even some of his published articles are available at davegermaine.com.

---

---