Bridge - A Beautiful Game
By Matt Betts, English Bridge Union
“They should be encouraged to take up bridge, gardening and Egyptology” – Baroness (Elspeth) Howe, wife of former Tory Chancellor Geoffrey Howe, on how to deal with bored teenagers.
Duplicate bridge is one of the most enduring and popular games in the world; for over 100 years, people of all types and from all walks of life have been fascinated by the game. It is one of the most popular leisure activities in Britain, with around 300,000 people playing on a regular basis. Ian Fleming’s Bond played bridge, as did Christie’s Poirot and in the real world - bridge is played by a good mix of politicians and celebrities. Mahatma Ghandi not only played bridge, but used the game to illustrate the relationship between kharma (fate) and dharma (the action of man)!But what is it that makes the game so intriguing and so popular?
Primarily, bridge is an excellent social game and can be played by everyone –players can meet new people, make new friends and learn the game through the many bridge clubs. Secondly, bridge has been proven to be a very good mind sport and each game played will offer a unique challenge of problems and solutions. Each morning many commuters will play challenging mind games like sudoku and the appeal is evident on a dreary weekday morning. Bridge is very much the same – every single deal is different, every deal poses a new problem and taunts the players to find the solution! It’s frustrating when a player doesn’t rise to the challenge, but tremendous when they are successful – whether through finding a great technical play, by outwitting their opponents, or by co-operating really well to achieve success with their partner.
Players can also play nationally; there are open, women’s, seniors, mixed and junior events throughout the year. There are also international games in the European and World Championships.
The Basics of Bridge
Bridge is for four people deriving from the much older game of whist. It uses a standard pack of 52 cards in four suits, 13 of which are randomly dealt to each player in each deal.
The objective is for each partnership to win as many tricks as possible; each trick comprising one card from each of the four hands dealt. Tricks can be won by high cards – aces are high, followed by the other honour cards: king, queen and jack and then the 10 down to the 2 – or by trumps, cards of a designated suit which always outrank cards in any other suit.
Each deal consists of two distinct stages – the bidding and the play of the cards to the tricks. During the bidding the trump suit is decided and a target number of tricks is set, which must be won before any points can be scored for the side winning the contract. The other two players form the defenders, whose aim is to prevent the contract being made.
One difference from whist is the dummy, whereby one of the four hands is placed face up during the card-playing stage. This is always the hand which partners the declarer – the player who won the auction and contracted to take a particular number of tricks – always more than half the total of 13 available.
The card play stage requires all kinds of skills – planning, counting, reasoning, working out probabilities and often a bit of cunning and deception as well. Bridge is all about teamwork – the defending side has to pull together if it is to do well. When a player first looks at his hand, he needs to assess how good it is – how likely is it to take lots of tricks in conjunction with your partner’s hand?
How do I get Started?
There have been a large number of books written on bridge, covering all aspects of the game for all levels of player, but it is advisable to learn at a club or through lessons. Bridge classes are available throughout Britain and students of all ages, will be taught the basics and learn through practice and playing.
The English Bridge Union (the national membership body for bridge in England) has created a complete “Learn and Play” programme called: Bridge For All and it is advisable to look for a teacher who uses this system. For more information on your local teacher or club, please visit: www.ebu.co.uk/education/teacherspages
Final Thought
The odds against four players each holding all thirteen cards in a suit are 2,235,197,406,895,366,368,301, 559,999 to one - or the same as Posh and Becks being out of the newspapers. Such a deal was first claimed in March 1892, and has been claimed ever since! Maybe winning the lottery isn't so difficult after all.
Who?
Matt Betts is the Communications Officer of the English Bridge Union and his role is to promote bridge throughout the country. If you would like to learn more about the EBU or bridge, please contact him on: Matt@ebu.co.uk or 01296 317 215.
About the English Bridge Union
The English Bridge Union Limited (EBU) is a membership-funded organisation committed to promoting the game of duplicate bridge. It is also a National Bridge Organisation in its own right affiliated to the European Bridge League and the World Bridge Federation. New players are the lifeblood of the game and the EBU are keen to encourage them. Further information: www.ebu.co.uk
Impress your friends with a few "Useless Facts About Bridge" »
Matt Betts
Communications Officer
English Bridge Union
Tel: 01296 317 215
Email: Matt@ebu.co.uk
Website: www.ebu.co.uk
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