Kathy O’Connell was a professional bridge player and teacher for 15 years, during which she rubbed elbows with top players across the United States. In her final year as a pro, she spent 176 nights in hotel rooms. She never had to advertise—her reputation alone kept her booked, with every job coming strictly through word of mouth. Kathy has lived in SaddleBrooke since 2021. Here is her story.
A Late Start, A New ChallengeKathy grew up playing cards, but had never learned bridge. That changed when she was 40. A friend finally challenged her: “If you think bridge is so amazing, why don’t you take lessons?“ That question was the push she needed. Kathy signed up for beginner lessons at her local bridge club, stepping into a world she knew nothing about. “I had no idea what I was in for,“ she admits. “The bidding, the scoring—it was all so foreign. I found it overwhelming.”
Fueled by ResistanceJust a few weeks into her lessons, Kathy and another beginner decided to test their skills at a Thursday evening Duplicate game at the club. Duplicate bridge, where the same hands are played across multiple tables and scores are compared, is a challenging format for beginners. The club’s Director tried to dissuade them. “She told us we weren’t ready, that Duplicate was too advanced,” Kathy recalls. “But we hung around anyway. We wanted to see what it was really like.“
That first game was a struggle, but it planted a seed. Kathy noticed that many players, despite years of play, hadn’t reached the rank of Life Master—the first major milestone in the American Contract Bridge League (ACBL) system. Inspired, Kathy set an ambitious goal: to become a Life Master quickly, despite starting later in life. When she shared her plan, she met resistance. “The Director told me it would take five to eight years if I played a lot,“ Kathy says. “That skepticism lit a fire in me. I decided to prove her wrong—and fast. I’ve always loved a challenge!“
That resistance was what truly hooked Kathy on bridge. She threw herself into the game, studying books by bridge legends like Mike Lawrence and Eddie Kantar, and playing as often as she could. She kept returning to Duplicate games, undeterred by the steep learning curve. Her hard work paid off: in just one year, Kathy became a Life Master, shattering the Director’s estimate and stunning her local bridge community. “I was driven by the challenge,“ she says. “I started late, and I wanted to make up for lost time.”
Life Master was never Kathy’s ultimate goal—it was just the first leg of her journey. She soon achieved higher ranks, including Bronze Life Master, Silver Life Master and beyond, each milestone a testament to her growing mastery of the game.
From Life Master to ProAt a National tournament in Houston, she played against a man who was impressed by her skill and determination. “He said he liked the cut of my jib,” Kathy laughs. He approached her with an offer to play as a professional—a role where players are hired by clients to partner them in tournaments—for an agreed upon fee, plus all expenses. Kathy accepted, marking the start of her pro career.
“I gained a couple more clients, and then a couple more,“ she says. Kathy enjoyed the competitive side of playing pro—her bold style and quick thinking led to several strong finishes. But what she loved even more than the games themselves was the analysis that followed. “The best part was between and after sessions, when we’d go over the hands,“ she says. “Breaking down what worked, what didn’t, and why—that’s where the real magic happened.”
Teaching How to “Think” BridgeHer true passion emerged in teaching. She had a unique approach: rather than focusing on rote mechanics, she wanted her students to understand the why behind the game. “I wanted to teach people how to ‘think’ bridge, not just play it,“ she explains. “I was drawn to students who craved a deeper understanding—the inner workings of the game.“
This philosophy led Kathy to focus on intermediate and advanced lessons, where she could dive into the nuances of strategy, bidding systems and card play. Her classes became a haven for players who wanted to go beyond the basics.
Kathy’s teaching style was analytical yet encouraging. She often started with a hand from a recent session, walking her students through the thought process behind each decision. “Bridge is about patterns and logic,” she says. “Once you learn to see the game that way, it opens up a whole new world.” Her students appreciated her patience and her ability to make complex ideas accessible, often leaving her classes with a renewed love for the game.
A 15-Year Legacy and a New PassionWhile Kathy still loves bridge, she has recently found a renewed passion in Texas Hold’em Poker. “I never played poker growing up, but now I’m hooked,“ she says. “There’s something about the bluffing, the psychology, the risk—it’s a whole new challenge, and I’m loving every minute of it.“ This shift reflects Kathy’s lifelong love for cards and her eagerness to explore new games, even after taking on one as complex as bridge.
For anyone who sat at Kathy’s table, whether as a partner, opponent, or student, one thing is clear: she didn’t just play the game—she taught others to understand its heart, one hand at a time. And now, as she shuffles a new deck for Texas Hold’em, Kathy continues to prove that her passion for cards is as strong as ever.
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