Tournament

Aside from the usual fourteen hours/week of bridge, sometimes there are extra sessions. Today, for example. There was a sectional tournament I'd agreed to play in. I had to leave at 11, and just got home (8:30). That's nine and a half hours! Our team came in fifth out of a large group, which earned us 2.73 "master points". Competitive bridge is all about earning these points. I have about 450 of them, and will be a "bronze life master" when I reach 500, which will probably occur within the next year. Not that I care - I play for the fun and the intellectual challenge. Someone at the club passed the 5000 mark the other day and we celebrated with a cake. Woo hoo! Seriously, 5000 is quite an achievement, and very few ever get that many.

Still, this many hours begins to look like the near-equivalent of a part-time JOB. Something to consider.