TAOS, NM — Taos, New Mexico will draw an estimated 1,000 bridge players from across the Southwestern United States as the town hosts the seven-day Regional Duplicate Bridge Tournament (District 17), Sept. 9–15, 2013, for the first time.
“Bridge players from across the country have all been dealt a great hand by being able to visit Taos, New Mexico for the upcoming tournament,” said Tourney Chair, Winifred Stebbins. “Bridge appeals to people of all ages because it requires strategy, memorization of rules, and promotes critical thinking. Plus, it bridges generations who can enjoy playing the game together.”
Reports indicate that the game is growing in popularity among young people, with bridge clubs cropping up in schools across the country. In fact in 2011, the New York Times reported the results of a study which found that a group of bridge-playing fifth grade students in Illinois made larger gains on standardized tests than their classmates.
District 17 of the American Contract Bridge League is composed of Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, along with parts of Nevada, Wyoming, Utah, and Texas. District 17 holds six regional tournaments each year, each which are weeklong events. This is the first time the regional tournament will be held in Taos, NM.
Winners at the Regional Duplicate Bridge Tournament are determined by the number of master points earned per pair or team.
The Tournament will be held at the Sagebrush Inn and Conference Center in Taos, located at 1508 Paseo del Pueblo Sur.
Registration is closed for the tournament; however, the public is invited to watch the tournaments throughout the week. For more information visit tournaments.acbl.org.
During the tournament, Taos is also celebrating the annual Grand Fall Arts – nine weekends of art, music, literary, and culinary events and several major festivals including Taos Fall Arts Festival, Taos Wool Festival, and SOMOS Storytelling Festival from Aug. 30–Oct. 27.
Grand Fall Arts events taking place the weekend before and after the tournament include: Fourth annual Jewelry Show Opening at Millicent Rogers Museum (Sept. 6, 7 & 8); Michael Hearne Big Barn Dance in Taos Ski Valley (Sept. 6, 7 & 8); Ledoux Art Walk (Sept. 6); Taos Chamber Music Group Pre-season Event (Sept. 6); Lecture: David Henry on the History of the Old Taos County Courthouse (Sept. 7); Taos Artist Collective First Saturday Art Show (Sept. 7); Couse Foundation Open House (Sept. 7); Rio Costilla Studio Tour (Sept. 7); Kit Carson Road Art Walk (Sept. 7); and 16th annual Pilar Studio Tour (Sept. 14 & 15).
For more information on the Town of Taos including Grand Fall Arts events or hotel information, visit taos.org.