Bridge on Independence Day? Can’t think of anything more patriotic.

Give an American credit for the greatest card game we know. Harold S. Vanderbilt (1884-1970) of Newport, R.I., the railroad tycoon and yachtsman, unveiled the modern rules of bridge on a 1925 cruise aboard his ship Finland.

This quintessential American pastime helped ease our country’s pain during the Great Depression. Ely Culbertson (1891-1955), born in Romania but an American citizen from birth, defeated a fellow Yank, Sidney Lenz (1873-1960), in the 1931-32 Bridge Battle of the Century. The 150 rubbers, played by them and a variety of partners, received massive coverage via newspapers, Western Union and Postal telegraph, transfixing the nation and spreading the popularity of bridge.

Our national card game even played a small role in winning World War II. General Dwight D. Eisenhower played bridge to relax between anxious moments planning the D-Day invasion and the conquest of Europe.

So Clara Hargrave naturally convened the Saturday morning game of the Bridge Club of Martha’s Vineyard at Tisbury Senior Center. Outside, flags draped Oak Grove Cemetery. Inside, Clara wore a blue shirt adorned with red, white and silver fireworks, and Caroline Croft played wearing a headband with two small American flags attached.

You could excuse people for some confusion on a busy July 4. Charged with making an opening lead, one player produced . . . her Pass card. Another, in an honest attempt to bid 2♦ , pulled the ♦2 out of her hand.

There were fireworks on Board 16. Carol Butler and I sat North-South, with North dealing and North-South vulnerable.

NORTH (Kaplan)

♠ A Q

♥ K Q 4 3

♦ 6 5

♣ A K 8 6 3

WEST                               EAST

♠ 9 6 5 4 2                      ♠ K J 10 8

♥ A J 10 6                      ♥ 9 8 5

♦ J 4 2                            ♦ 8 7

♣ 2                                  ♣ J 10 5 4

SOUTH (Butler)

♠ 7 3

♥ 7 2

♦ A K Q 10 9 3

♣ Q 9 7

The bidding proceeded as follows:

North               East               South              West
1♣                  Pass               1 ♦                 Pass
2♥                  Pass               4 ♦                 Pass
4NT                 Pass               5♠*                Pass
6♦                 All Pass

* Shows two of the five key cards (four aces, ♦ K) and the ♦Q.

Opening lead:♥A.

My jump shift to 2♥ showed 19 points (by adding one for the fifth club). With 13 points of her own (by adding two points for the fifth and sixth diamonds), Carol knew we had slam potential. Her key bid was 4♦ , not 5♦ , allowing me to begin the Roman Key Card Blackwood investigation. I actually should have closed it by bidding 6NT rather than 6♦ to guard against a spade lead that would have beaten 6♦.

After cashing the♥A, West shifted to a spade. Carol put up the ace and drew trump. Following three rounds of clubs, she ruffed a club, cashed the ♥K and ♥Q (discarding a spade) and claimed.

Somewhere, a firecracker went off.