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Bridge at the Beach returns to Rehoboth

Nearly 1,000 players pack convention center, Atlantic Sands for a week of fun
The American Contract Bridge League District 4’s annual Bridge at the Beach tournament was held the week of April 27. Nearly 1,000 players descended onto Rehoboth Beach, including Cooki Gulkin who was shuffling the deck. CHRIS FLOOD PHOTOS
Chris Flood
May 3, 2026

Nearly 1,000 bridge players from up and down the Eastern Seaboard competed in the fifth annual Rehoboth Beach Regional the week of April 27.

The week-long District 4 regional is hosted by the American Contract Bridge League. Primarily, the players were from Virginia, Pennsylvania, Delaware, New York, New Jersey and Washington, D.C., but there were people from points north, south and west participating.

The tournament is primarily held in the Rehoboth Beach Convention Center – the main floor and the smaller rooms were packed with tables. Last year, the tournament added the Atlantic Sands ballroom to accommodate all the attendees. The hotel space was needed again this year.

The regional tournament used to be held in the Philadelphia or Wilmington areas, but attendance was declining after COVID, so it was moved to Rehoboth a few years ago.

For more information on District 4 of the American Contract Bridge League, go to 4acbl.org or email contact@4acbl.org.

 

Bridge-playing accessories sit ready to be used.
Milton’s Anna DeLapo holds her cards close while she decides what to play next.
Tables typically only had four players at them, but Marian Ewell, far left, was on hand to support her husband and also learn how to play the game.
The Rehoboth Beach Convention Center was packed with tables and players.
The seating assignment for players at the convention center looks confusing, but everyone in attendance knew what it meant.
In addition to the main floor, all the conventions center’s accessory rooms were full too.
Alan Hudesblatt, tournament official, helps an attendee figure out exactly where their seat is.
A box of pencils ready to help people keep score.
Bridge caddie Austin Long collects score slips from players.
For the second year in a row, there were enough players to fill the ballroom of the Atlantic Sands.
Tournament co-chair Kim Holm reviews the lunch menu to make sure there is enough food for the players.
Cases of bridge boards sit ready to be used.

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Chris Flood has been working for the Cape Gazette since early 2014. He currently covers Rehoboth Beach and Henlopen Acres, but has also covered Dewey Beach and the state government. He covers environmental stories, business stories and random stories on subjects he finds interesting, and he also writes a column called Choppin’ Wood that runs every other week. He’s a graduate of the University of Maine and the Landing School of Boat Building & Design.

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