Arrived in Herning today and met up with some of the New Zealand contingent. From left to right: Me, Jonathon Westoby ( open team non playing captain ), Linda Cartner, Kris Wooles ( womens team non playing captain ), Tim Schumacher ( mixed team non playing captain ).

Bridge players from other countries are stating to arrive, too, but most won't show up until tomorrow.

Went to the Denmark National Museum in Copenhagen today, relaxing a little and trying to avoid anything to do with bridge before the World Championship start next week.

Wouldn’t you know it, I saw this painting of some card players. Maybe someone was upset when partner forgot the system. 

My wife and I arrived in Copenhagen, Denmark, this morning. We're spending a few days here before heading to Herning, which is where the Bridge World Championships are being held.

The woman who checked us through immigration seemed surprised that we've come half way around the world to play a game of cards!

It's not just a game of cards, was my first thought. My second thought, two seconds later, was hang on, it is just a game of cards. And then two seconds after that, tired from a ten hour flight and then another thirteen hour flight on top of that I thought, dang, she's right! It is a long way to come for a game of cards.

Had dinner at NyHavn. Reminds me of New Regent Street in Christchurch.

When we sit down to play bridge it’s just us, the cards and our opponents. Bridge is a great equaliser and that’s a good thing. 

But we all have lives away from the bridge table and, frankly, I think we’re all amazing. All of us. 

We write, read, compose, sing, run, jump, climb, fly, build, break, fix, cook, eat and so on and on and on. 

And we paint. One of our members, Gerry, sent me this painting, “Cards Playing”.  

Next time I make a video I’m going to use the image as the thumbnail.

 I love it, Gerry. 

I've created a collection of suit combination videos.

Learning suit combinations in bridge is so helpful because it allows you to maximize your chances of winning tricks.

Some of you may be interested in the bidding systems of players at the 2025 World Teams Championships:

view system cards

Ian and I have two systems, one for when we're vulnerable (Berrington-Tuffnell VUL NZ Open) and one for not vulnerable (Berrington-Tuffnell NZ NZ Open).