Take a look at what we've been up to!

Congratulations to Norrie Thomas on achieving the rank of ACBL Life Master! Norrie reached this exciting milestone on October 4 at the Rochester Bridge Tournament in Rochester, Minnesota—her hometown.

The achievement makes this moment especially meaningful. Rochester is where Norrie grew up watching her father play bridge, planting the seeds for a lifelong connection to the game. Now, decades later, she has earned one of bridge's most celebrated milestones in the very city where her journey began.

As the founder of Spades & Company, an ACBL-accredited teacher, and a passionate advocate for bridge education, Norrie continues to share her love of bridge by helping others learn, improve, and build friendships around the table.

Please join us in congratulating Norrie on becoming an ACBL Life Master—a wonderful achievement and a fitting celebration of her lifelong love of bridge!

What a wonderful afternoon at Spades & Company! More than 40 bridge players joined us on September 13 for a special afternoon with Grand Life Master Paul Meerschaert, creating an atmosphere filled with great bridge, thoughtful conversation, and plenty of enthusiasm for the game.

Paul shared his perspective on the art, philosophy, and joy of bridge, drawing on a remarkable career that includes more than 15,400 lifetime masterpoints and the prestigious title of Grand Life Master. 

The afternoon included a catered lunch, Paul's lecture, an open duplicate bridge game directed by Tony Ames, and a panel discussion with bridge luminaries. The event was designed to give players an opportunity not only to play, but also to learn from and engage with some of the game's most experienced players. 

A special highlight was welcoming Ladawna Parham, Executive Director of the ACBL Educational Foundation, who shared an exciting overview of the upcoming bridge movie and gave attendees a glimpse into this new project and its potential to bring even more attention to the game we all love.

We were especially pleased that the event also supported the ACBL Educational Foundation, with a portion of the proceeds donated to help further bridge education and the future of the game.

With more than 40 people around the tables, it was a wonderful example of what we hope Spades & Company can continue to be: a place where bridge players come together to learn, connect, share ideas, and simply enjoy the game.

Thank you to Paul, Ladawna, our panel participants, Tony Ames, and everyone who joined us for making the afternoon such a success. We are grateful to everyone who helped make this a special day at Spades & Company. 

What a beautiful afternoon of bridge, friendship, and remembrance at the Mignon Nearmyer Memorial Bridge Game at the Plymouth Community Center. Thirteen tables—more than 50 bridge players—came together to honor a beloved teacher and mentor who made such a lasting impact on the Plymouth bridge community.

For more than two decades, Mignon brought people together through her patience, knowledge, and passion for the game. Her influence was evident throughout the afternoon as so many of her former students gathered around the tables she helped inspire them to play at. There was something especially meaningful about seeing her students enjoying the game together while remembering the teacher who helped them discover it.

The event was more than a memorial; it was a celebration of the community Mignon created through bridge. Every hand played, every conversation shared, and every friendship around the table reflected the lasting impact of a great teacher.

At Spades & Company, we believe bridge is about much more than the cards. It is about learning, connection, friendship, and the people who make the game meaningful. Mignon’s legacy is a beautiful example of how a teacher can influence generations of players and create connections that continue long after the lessons end.

We are grateful to everyone who came together to celebrate Mignon, remember her contributions, and—most importantly—keep playing the game she loved.

RESULTS

Friday night at Spades & Company was a wonderful reminder of what makes bridge so special: good cards, good conversation, and good people around the table.

Our latest Bridge Mingle brought together a fun mix of players—some joining us at Spades & Company for the first time and others who have become familiar faces through our bridge games and lessons. The relaxed format gave everyone a chance to play, connect, and enjoy an evening of duplicate bridge without the pressure of masterpoints.

We love seeing new players discover Spades while longtime friends continue to make the club part of their week. For us, that is what Bridge Mingle is all about: creating an inviting place to build confidence, meet fellow players, and enjoy the social side of the game.

Thank you to everyone who joined us and helped make Friday night such a success. We hope to see you around the table again soon—and if you haven't joined us yet, there's always a seat waiting for you!

Our very first Bridge Mingle was everything we hoped it would be—a fun, welcoming evening that introduced new players to Spades & Company and to the world of duplicate bridge.

Created as a relaxed Friday night gathering, Bridge Mingle is all about building confidence, making new friends, and enjoying the game in a casual, social atmosphere. With conversation, light refreshments, and no masterpoints on the line, players can simply focus on learning, connecting, and having fun around the table.

A special thank you goes to our featured presenter, Scott Clark, for his outstanding discussion on the importance of the third seat. His analysis of the last 50 hands played at Spades demonstrated just how influential third-seat decisions can be and gave players practical insights they can immediately apply to their own game.

One of the highlights of the evening was welcoming three new players who discovered Spades & Company after hearing fellow players speak so highly of our games while attending the ACBL Nationals. There's no greater compliment than members of the bridge community sharing their positive experiences with others.

At Spades & Company, our mission is to create a thoughtfully designed space where players of all experience levels can learn, grow, and build lasting friendships. Bridge Mingle is a wonderful example of that vision coming to life.

We hope you'll join us at an upcoming Bridge Mingle—and bring a friend, neighbor, grandchild, or family member along to experience why duplicate bridge has become such an important and rewarding part of so many lives.

One of the unexpected joys of attending the ACBL National Tournament in Minneapolis is the opportunity to meet fellow bridge enthusiasts who share a passion for teaching and growing the game. During the tournament, Spades & Company founder Norrie Thomas had the pleasure of meeting accomplished bridge teacher Merry Schainblatt, whose enthusiasm for bridge education and welcoming approach left a lasting impression.

Merry has long been recognized within the bridge community as an active teacher and mentor, dedicated to helping players build confidence and enjoy the lifelong journey of learning bridge.

What made the encounter even more special was discovering that Merry was already familiar with Spades & Company. Through fellow bridge player Mary Meade, she had heard about our thoughtfully designed club and the community we're building in Plymouth. It was exciting to learn that word of our mission—to create a place centered on connection, friendship, lifelong learning, and meaningful experiences around the table—is reaching respected members of the bridge community beyond Minnesota.

Bridge has always been a game built on shared knowledge. Whether through teachers, mentors, books, or conversations after a hand, each generation of players helps the next discover the joy and challenge of the game. Meeting dedicated educators like Merry reinforces our belief that great teachers inspire confidence, encourage curiosity, and make bridge accessible to players at every level.

One of the highlights of attending the ACBL National Tournament in Minneapolis was an unforgettable moment for Spades & Company founder, Norrie Thomas—meeting renowned bridge author and teacher Barbara Seagram.

For Norrie, this wasn't simply meeting a well-known figure in the bridge world. Barbara Seagram's books have been trusted companions throughout her entire bridge journey. As a beginning player, Norrie relied on Barbara's clear, encouraging teaching style to build a strong foundation in the game. Today, even as an accredited teacher, club director, and tournament player, she continues to revisit those same books, discovering new insights with every reading. It's a wonderful reminder that bridge truly is a lifelong adventure, and there's always something new to learn.

Barbara Seagram is the author of many of bridge's most respected instructional books, including 25 Bridge Conventions You Should Know, Declarer Play at Bridge: A Quizbook, Planning the Play of the Hand at Bridge, and Defend or Declare?. Her ability to explain complex concepts in an approachable way has helped countless players around the world gain confidence and improve their game.

Norrie's meeting with Barbara Seagram beautifully reflects the mission of Spades & Company: fostering lifelong learning, meaningful connections, and a passion for bridge that continues to grow with every hand played.

We are thrilled to announce a very special Mahjong event coming to Spades & Company this August. For the first time, we will be welcoming nationally recognized Mahjong instructor Karin Miller from California for an exclusive weekend of advanced strategy, learning, and play. This is a unique opportunity for local Mahjong enthusiasts to learn directly from one of the most respected teachers in the game.

Whether you're looking to sharpen your strategic thinking, improve your decision-making at the table, or gain insights that can take your game to the next level, this weekend promises to be an exceptional learning experience. Karin's engaging teaching style and deep knowledge of the game have made her a sought-after instructor across the country, and we are honored to bring her expertise to our community.

In addition to advanced strategy workshops, players will have the opportunity to enjoy a relaxed social evening with Karin and learn through live play and discussion. Events like this don't come around often, and we expect strong interest from players throughout the region.

At Spades & Company, our mission is to create meaningful opportunities for lifelong learning, friendship, and connection around the table. Hosting a national expert like Karin Miller reflects our commitment to bringing exceptional educational experiences to Plymouth and the greater Twin Cities Mahjong community.

We encourage interested players to review the event flyer for complete details, session information, and registration options. Space is limited, and we expect these sessions to fill quickly. We hope you'll join us for what promises to be an unforgettable weekend of Mahjong, learning, and community.

Register for Friday evening here.

Register for the Saturday AM session here.

Register for the Saturday PM session here.

At Spades & Company, we believe that learning never stops—and our founder, Norrie Thomas, is living proof.

We are excited to share that Norrie has successfully passed the ACBL Club Director certification test, an important milestone that reflects her continued commitment to the game of bridge and the players she serves. Becoming a certified club director requires a deep understanding of the rules, procedures, ethics, and operations that help create a fair, enjoyable, and well-run playing experience for everyone at the table.

The accomplishment was celebrated in true bridge fashion at our Saturday Night Prep for Nationals Supper and Bridge event. Surrounded by fellow directors, players, and friends, Norrie marked the occasion with a special "Director, Please!" cake—a fitting tribute to one of the most frequently heard phrases in duplicate bridge!

For those who know Norrie, this achievement comes as no surprise. Whether pursuing ACBL Best Practices Teacher accreditation, studying advanced bridge concepts, competing in tournaments, or now earning director certification, she is constantly investing in her own growth so she can better serve the bridge community.

At Spades & Company, our mission is rooted in lifelong learning, connection, and creating meaningful experiences around the table. Norrie's newest certification strengthens our ability to provide high-quality games and educational opportunities while continuing to build a welcoming community for players of all levels.

Please join us in congratulating Norrie on this well-earned accomplishment. We are proud of her dedication to the game and grateful for the enthusiasm, leadership, and expertise she brings to our growing bridge community.

Congratulations, Norrie—and yes, Director, Please!

Dreams became reality this past weekend as Spades & Company hosted its official Grand Opening and inaugural 749er Sectional Tournament in Plymouth, Minnesota. The two-day event exceeded all expectations, bringing together a vibrant community of both new and advancing bridge players for a weekend filled with competition, learning, connection, and celebration.

One of the greatest joys was watching players compete with confidence and what bridge teacher Steve Gaynor calls “disciplined friskiness”—the willingness to be bold while remaining thoughtful and strategic.

At Spades & Company, we are committed to creating opportunities for players to grow, challenge themselves, and enjoy the lifelong adventure of bridge, and this tournament showcased exactly that spirit.

Over the course of the event, 68 players participated, with an impressive 52 players earning silver masterpoints. Congratulations to Tournament Champions Dan Ganter of Maple Grove and Thomas Bedford of St. Paul, who played all four sessions and achieved an average score of 55.99% across the tournament. Congratulations to Jane Schmidt who reached Life Master at the tournament!

Events of this caliber are only possible because of dedicated professionals who care deeply about the game.

We extend our sincere gratitude to ACBL Tournament Director Kimberly Hayward for directing the tournament with enthusiasm, professionalism, patience, and expertise. Players consistently praised her leadership, and many were already asking when they would have the opportunity to play in another tournament under her direction. We are also grateful to the St. Paul Bridge Club for sharing her talents with our community.

Special thanks to Tournament Chair Keith Thompson, whose careful oversight helped ensure a smooth and error-free tournament experience for all participants.

And thanks to Jill Wroblewski and Nancy Brunzel who volunteered as convention card coaches which proved to be valuable to I/N players preparing for their first tournament.

Of course, no Spades & Company event would be complete without hospitality. From plentiful snacks to luxurious door prizes, every detail was designed to create a welcoming and enjoyable experience for our guests. What made the weekend truly memorable, however, was the enthusiasm and support of the players who joined us to celebrate this milestone.

As we reflect on our Grand Opening Tournament, we are filled with gratitude for the growing bridge community that continues to support Spades & Company. Watching friendships form, confidence grow, and players achieve new successes reminds us why we created this thoughtfully designed space in the first place.

Thank you to everyone who attended, volunteered, competed, and celebrated with us. If this inaugural tournament is any indication of what’s to come, the future is bright for bridge in Plymouth!

We look forward to seeing you at the table soon.