Learn + Develop
About Bridge
Bridge is the ultimate trick-taking card game, easily the best fun that four people can have with a pack of cards! It is enjoyed by tens of millions of people throughout the world and offers enormous benefits for its players.
Whether you wish to play casually among your friends, in bridge clubs or in tournaments, you will find it fascinating, challenging and enjoyable.
Watch this brief animated introduction to the Game of Bridge.
What is bridge?
Bridge is a card game for four players which is played in pairs. You and your partner compete against another pair. It is a trick-taking game involving Trumps and, as such, is similar to Euchre and Five Hundred. Pairs sit either North/South or East/West at the table.
Each player is dealt 13 cards, called a Hand and each player plays one card in turn. When all four players have played a card it is called a Trick. The objective of the game is to win as many Tricks as possible.
Aces are high, two’s are low. Jokers are not used.
Before the play there is the Bidding, which is called an Auction to determine the trump suit.
Bridge is a card game which is full of strategy and tactics. It involves logic and probability. It is the only card game that remains interesting when there is no money involved!
Bridge played in clubs is called Duplicate Bridge. This is because every pair in the room is also competing against every other pair sitting in the same direction, not just the players at their table. The same cards are played at each table, providing the basis to determine the best pair on any Hand. It doesn’t matter what Hand you get. How you handle the Hand you get compared with what other pairs do holding the same Hand determines whether you win or lose at Bridge.
Bridge in a club also has a referee, called the Director. The Director runs the Bridge session, resolves disputes and provides the scores at the end of the day.
Is bridge for me?
Here’s how you know if Bridge is the right game for you:
Do you want to stay mentally sharp? It is the aim of this game!
Bridge has a proven track record for keeping the mind sharp and nimble. Bridge gives you the opportunity to exercise your brain cells and use a wide range of skills – logic, problem-solving, sequencing, judgement, partnership skills, memory improvement - all in an enjoyable way.Do you love a challenge?
The universal appeal and fascination with Bridge according to Omar Sharif, is “…the fact that you can never reach perfection”. At WABC we understand that learning and gaining confidence are integral to the game’s appeal. We have classes to suit all levels to challenge and engage you.Do you enjoy social interaction?
With 900+ active members, our regular program of sessions, lessons, and events plus our licenced bar, provides a great way to socialise 6 days per week. There are no barriers of age, language, economic status or gender.
Listen to a Bridge instructor explain why bridge is a great game.
Hear what players from around the world think of playing Bridge.
8 Reasons to play bridge
Bridge is fun and it is the ultimate Mind Sport. It is a game which, once learned, stays with you for life
It is inexpensive to learn and play
There are no barriers of age, language, economic status or gender
It can be played from the age of eight to one hundred and eight!
It is excellent for developing concentration and problem-solving skills. It is the best intellectual exercise out there. You are seeing new situations every few minutes and having to weigh up the loss/gain probabilities
Basic skills can be learned quickly but there is enormous scope throughout a lifetime to develop your game into an incredibly rewarding pastime. It is a game you can never truly master, which makes it all the more compelling. It is also a game where, on occasion, inexperienced players can beat world champions, something which is highly unlikely in tennis or golf
Bridge can be played anywhere there is a pack of cards and four players. It is a great way to meet people and develop friendships, either in a club where you live or travelling throughout the world
It enables partnership aspects of co-operation, communication, trust, and patience. You will always be able to find a game somewhere
OK, so how do I learn?
First, we recommend you look at our page Your Bridge Journey (or read our excellent brochure Your Bridge Journey available from the WABC clubrooms). This will give you an overview of all the services we offer to take you from complete beginner to advanced player. From here you can sign up for beginner lessons run by our Club Professional, Andy Hung.