Can Credit Union Times Writer Play His Cards Right?

It's all in the cards for Jim Rubenstein, the Southwest freelance correspondent for Credit Union Times. Reubenstein, of Scottsdale, Ariz. and who has been writing for Credit Union Times since 1992, is an avid duplicate bridge player. “Playing cards and card games runs in the family since my grandfather used to play gin rummy and pinochle with me as a kid on a Saturday night while my parents were out playing bridge,” says Rubenstein, who is now a Silver Life Master in bridge. The Silver Life ranking, accorded by the American Contract Bridge League in Memphis, indicates he has accumulated more than 1,000 masterpoints (he actually has 1,250) and plays four or five times a week (when he isn't on a writing assignment.) “Sometimes I can play hooky to sneak off and play at a local Scottsdale bridge club,” says Jim. Duplicate bridge, in which each playing hands are contained in metal boards and are moved from table to table, is a lot more competitive than regular “party” or social bridge, he says. “There are lots of special rules to live by and you have to push for the ultimate contact to score high. I have a long way to go to understand this game but it can be absorbing and very relaxing.” He started playing serious duplicate about 15 years ago during off time when he moved to Scottsdale to take care of his parents. Rubenstein, a Chicago native, is the former Chicago Bureau Chief for the American Banker newspaper and later was a magazine editor at the old Bank Marketing Association, which merged into the American Bankers Association. “It's a lot more fun covering credit union executives who certainly don't get paid the way bankers do or have the power in local communities, but they are certainly a lot more down to earth and share their stories.” – jrubenscut@aol.com