Regular meetings:

Thursdays beginning at 7:00 p.m., meetings run as small (unrated) four-round tournaments, usually with two divisions based on player strength, so novices are not matched against experts. Players are invited to arrive as early as 6:00 p.m. for warmup games. Attendance averages about 32.

Policy on late arrivals:

By popular demand, the director(s) will make a concerted effort to start the first round no later than 7:05 p.m. every Thursday. There will be no matchup for anyone arriving later than 7:20 p.m. -- that is, you won't play the first round if you're that late! Those arriving between 7:05 and 7:20 will be asked to play their first game with an appropriate reduction in their allotted play time; the wall clock in our playing room will be the final arbiter of anyone's arrival time. We will also call a halt to games in which one or more players are into penalty time, if they are still in progress when all other games are done and the group is waiting for second-round matchups.

Informal Sunday afternoon meetings:

From noon to 8:00 p.m. in cold-weather months and on rainy summer Sundays. Attendance averages about 10. To confirm Sunday meetings or obtain additional information, please email Joel or Larry Sherman at icenine@panix.com.

Director:

Former World Scrabble® Champion Joel R. Sherman. Indahouse!

Our hosts:

The Honors Bridge Club, at 133 E. 58th St., room 1202. The club phone number, (212)752-3321, can be used to reach us only during Scrabble® sessions. At all meetings, Honors provides complimentary snacks and beverages.

Fees:

Thursday night, $15 for the four-game session (sorry, no rebates for playing fewer games). Student rate (to all players age 20 or under) is $10. The Sunday open-house fee is $13 regardless of how many games you play. No matchups, no prizes, but experts are often available to tutor newer players.

Please note: 

Club #56 is a nonprofit international conglomerate with holdings in Guatemala, Monaco, and Nauru. Of our Thursday fees, $13 per person goes in rent to the bridge club, and the other $2 to our prize fund. To prevent occasional equipment shortages, contestants are urged to bring their own Protiles and game timers. Tiles may be purchased at club; timers from chess suppliers and various Internet sites.

Travel directions:

By subway, R, N, 4, 5, or 6 train to Lexington Ave. (59th Street) or E or V train to Lexington Ave. (53rd Street). By bus, M31, M57, M101, M102 or M103 to 57th Street and Lexington Ave.