Bell Acres man teaches players how to bid and win tricks in this card game

William Holt has learned to play with the hand he’s dealt — and he helps other people do that, too.

He is an instructor for bridge, a card game Holt describes as a trick-taking game where two pairs try to outbid each other for the right to play that hand in their best trump suit. In so-called “duplicate” forms of bridge, everyone plays the same hands, and results are graded on a curve compared to the rest of the room, which could be hundreds of pairs in a large tournament, he said.

“Bridge is a fabulous game,” said the Bell Acres resident. “It’s just tremendously interesting and an enjoyable pursuit. The construction of the game is superior to other games in terms of the rewards, good card play and the bidding. Conversations can be delightful and the scoring methods have been perfected. There’s a good risk-reward relationship and if you understand that, it’s kind of exciting.”

Holt, 71, who has been playing bridge since childhood, has been teaching the game for decades online and in person. His most recent students are in the learn-to-play bridge class at the Sewickley Valley YMCA, where Holt is a member. A few Sewickley residents approached him and asked if he would share his knowledge of the game. He coordinated the classes through Sewickley Valley YMCA CEO Trish Hooper.

“Bill came to me several months ago and wanted to teach a learn-to-play bridge class,” Hooper said. “We found the right space and time. It filled up quickly.”

So quickly, in fact, that they offered a second class. Holt is in the middle of teaching that eight-week course, and there will be more classes to come, he said.

Hooper said she is open to hosting such events because the Sewickley Valley YMCA is continually looking for new ways to engage the community.

“Our philosophy is we want to be a place where people can come if they want to be part of an exercise group, a knitting club, a learn-to-play bridge class or whatever activity or event they can think of to build community. All of this fits in perfectly with lifelong learning and social connection here at the YMCA and we support that.”

A Mt. Lebanon native, Holt has achieved the rank of Diamond Life Master. He has been involved in bridge governance for 20 years, including as past president of the Pittsburgh Bridge Association. He is currently vice-president, tournament coordinator and education chair. The association is in the process of finalizing a contract for an event in late August at the DoubleTree by Hilton Meadowlands Race Track & Casino in Washington County.

Bridge is played all over town each week in what’s called club games and socially in a myriad of locations, Holt said. He played at the Edgeworth Club on April 16, where the card game has been played for more than 90 years, he said.

“I’ve worked hard for bridge,” said Holt.

He has three volunteer assistants — Jackie Cavalier, Terri Tunick and Marilyn Sittig — who help with the class at the YMCA. Holt said it’s good to have more than one person helping so they can go to each individual table if questions arise.

“Bill Holt is an excellent teacher who shares his knowledge and expertise with others,” Tunick said via email. “He mixes humor with practical information to create impactful learning and a supportive bridge community. Players learn from each other. Bill is a valuable asset to our community. He puts players at ease when learning the challenges of bridge.”

Holt began with bridge for juniors. He has acquired many books on the topic that fill several shelves in his home. He said he probably has 100 books on bridge.

“Bridge has a reputation of being an old person’s game, but there are young people who like it,” Holt said. “One of the younger students said he wishes more younger people would be involved. Everybody’s playing digital games now and that’s great for your thumbs, but it’s not that good for your brain. Back before there were so many different competing interests for our attention, such as 90 channels of television and all those video games, roughly half the country played bridge.”

The current class at the Sewickley Valley YMCA is on Sunday afternoons. There is a Wednesday afternoon class that’s upcoming at LaRoche University and another in Monroeville at the library. Some of the lessons are free and others have a fee to help cover the cost of expenses such as materials and room rental. Bridge is a game where you are constantly learning, Holt said.

“I’m not the best player in the world, but I’m pretty good at selling the game,” Holt said.

He developed strong selling skills from his career in office and medical sales and hopes to bridge the gap for people trying to learn the game, he said.

“I teach for the growth of the game,” Holt said. “I’m trying to ramp up the efforts to teach this fabulous game to as many people as possible.”

Details: sewickleyymca.org