Anyone who doubts that bridge keeps your brain sharp in old age should have a game with Bernard Teltcher. Bernard recently celebrated his 95th-and-a-half birthday (very touching, I thought), but don’t be fooled by his frail demeanour or his wheelchair. He’s a formidable opponent. Not only is he one of the best high-stake players at the Portland Club; he also can’t seem to stop winning matches and tournaments.
His biggest result came last month, when he won the Summer Festival Swiss Teams. I couldn’t have been more pleased for him; indeed, I felt a benign rush of hope that he’d keep it up until his next half-birthday and beyond… All of which just goes to show how little I know myself. Because I’d forgotten that his team was due to play mine in the ‘Hubert Philips’ — a knockout tournament we actually managed to win last year.
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