MUNCIE, Ind. – Jordan Jackson, a senior at the Indiana Academy for Science, Mathematics, and Humanities, recently represented the United States in the Third World Junior Bridge Pairs Championship.

Jackson, a native of Frankfort, Ind., was sponsored by the American Contract Bridge League and spent 14 days in Prague, Czech Republic, participating in the card tournament.

Prior to the tournament, Jackson had played bridge for only four months.

His interest in the game began during a higher level games class at the Indiana Academy taught by Carol Hartwell, bridge sponsor. Hartwell is a Life Master at bridge, having accumulated more than 300 masterpoints, mostly through tournament play.

"I grew up playing cards and want to learn everything I can about all kinds of card games," said Jackson. "Bridge is a very hard game and I find it to be very challenging."

Jackson practiced by playing bridge with other Academy students and by playing via the Internet with other bridge enthusiasts.

Locally, Jackson has participated in duplicate bridge games where all players receive the same cards and try to handle those cards with better judgment and skill than the other competitors. Players who do well win masterpoints.

Bridge is popular throughout Europe. Thirty-three countries were represented in the tournament. Participants ranged in age from 14 to 26.

"There was definitely major competition among the good players at the tournament, but they were also open to playing with the less experienced players," Jackson said.

Jackson was selected for the American team after applying to the American Contract Bridge League. He will remain a team member until he is 26. He is the son of Ralph and Marietta Jackson.

The Indiana Academy, located on the Ball State University campus, is a statewide residential high school for academically gifted juniors and seniors.

By Kortney Reinitz, Graduate Assistant

(NOTE TO EDITORS: For more information, contact Hartwell at (765) 285-7366.)