My grandmother taught me canasta when I was 5.  My grandfather taught me gin rummy at the same time.  I picked up chess on my own.  And poker, hearts, spades, cribbage, etc.  I wasted many hours in college playing pinochle.  Okay, fine!  More hours on pinochle than studies.  And during all this time I was an avid fan of crossword puzzles, this last directly from my parents.

While pursuing the daily crossword I was always drawn to the bridge column, by Frank Stewart.  They were always side by each, after all.  I never quite understood the bidding but could usually bring home the contract.  And Frank returned my emails filled with beginner questions!  So in the early-mid 90s at 40 or so I found Yahoo bridge.  I saw a table with a few kibitzers and joined as a kibitzer.  I asked them if it was OK to watch.  Turns out they met every day at 8 in the morning, played for 1 hour and then were off for the day.  During the next 2 weeks these folks became my friends.  They taught me the very basics of the bidding, sent me to Karen Walker's website, https://kwbridge.com/, and even invited me to sit knowing I was, well, whatever I was.  6 months later, my hand no longer sweated on the mouse as I made my bids and play.  Another 6 months and I was playing online tournaments.

I had a regular partner living a state away that I have never met.  But we spent much time on the phone with hand records discussing appropriate bidding and play of the hand.  We eventually found the dealer at contract bridge too frustrating and joined MS Bridge or Games or whatever it was called where we found duplicate.  What a difference!  I still don't always like the dealer but I can scratch playing defense!  OMG!

Despite advice from that original table of friends and my extended chat with my new partner, I was primarily self-taught.  I played my first f2f game with real cards (!) in 2012 after joining the ACBL.  Played my first game with the president of the local club.  Who pleasantly (for the most part) suggested that I needed a better teacher.    I was unaware that I needed a convention card to play the game.  My real bridge education had begun!  And I had already been playing for quite a few years.  I still have a regular date with her each month.  And now carry some 30 convention cards with me to every game.

Since 2012 I have unlearned my bad habits.  Not an easy thing to do.  OK, fine!  I still have some bad habits.  But I have also become a life master, club manager, director, club owner, and a certified teacher.  Absorbing the nuances of ACBLScore and BridgeMate software is a story for another post. 

I will play with anyone who enjoys the game as I do.  I share my time with beginners interested in learning, as others shared with me.  And I try to do it  with a smile on my face and a kind word on my lips.

Had I been exposed to bridge in college, I'd likely have dropped out of school.

Addiction comes in many forms.

Jim

AKQ732
  A3
  KQ52
  4

My p's hand
  J4
  T85
  JT96
  JT53

All my convention cards mention strength or a 4 loser hand.  I have not been talked out of opening this hand 2 .  But I am no expert.  That time may yet come.  That is being talked out of it, not the expert part.   I might need some other encouragement if not for 6 card suit led by AKQ.  But I comfortably have 2 rebids and if my p leaves me in 3 , so be it.  If my p bids 3NT I would likely overcall 4 .  I need a single trick from my P and am willing to take that chance.  Some days you're the windshield, some days the bug.

I will generally only bid the hcp but will look to LTC as long as I have a response to my p.  Position and vulnerability will impact this decision.

As to the partner who left.  Some people just awake and are determined to have a bad day.