This article first appeared in Open Access Government October 2024. Bridge has three events at the Asian Games in Hangzhou in 2023. People should be encouraged to take up bridge, gardening and Egyptology.
European Bridge League
Bidding.Having shuffled the pack the cards are dealt clockwise, one at a time until each player has 13 cards, after which the bidding phase begins. Beyond these national views, a major hurdle emerged when Sport England refused to recognize bridge as a sport because it lacked physical activity. This decision hit hard, as bridge clubs could not get lottery funding or apply for grants to improve their facilities. Bridge continues to evolve, with new strategies and systems being developed. The advent of online bridge platforms has made the game more accessible, allowing people to play and learn regardless of location.
Slam Scoring
The game’s competitive side grew by a lot, and the World Bridge Series Championships became the life-blood of international competition. These championships, 60 years old, now feature multiple categories including open, women’s, and seniors’ events. Listening, etiquette, concentration, dealing with winning and losing and many other social skills can be enhanced by playing Bridge.
This article “Bridge – A sport based on skill, not luck” explains how bridge is based on skill, not luck. Unlike other activities involving cards, it is only good play, and not good cards, which means you will win. The remaining three players must then follow suit if able; i.e., they must play a card of the same suit. Bidding is the heart of bridge, where you and your partner decide how many tricks you can win and whether to use a trump suit. Bridge combines skill, memory, and communication, making it a favorite among card enthusiasts worldwide. Whether played casually or competitively, it offers endless opportunities for strategic thinking and teamwork.
- In other words, the idea that you should “use it or lose it” is true.
- Thus, Bridge dramatically helps the development of inferential thinking, which leads to better performances in all subject areas, not just math and science.
- In the men’s pair event, the players sitting across from each other at the same table form partnerships as North-South and East-West.
- The European courts have seen some interesting cases, as the English Bridge Union (EBU) fought hard to establish the game’s sporting status.
- Both sides must agree on the number of tricks won by declarer then the deal is scored.
- The game continues to prove its worth, especially when you have older players.
{
|}
{
|}{
|}
{
Basic Rules and Gameplay
|}
Recalling his own bridge-playing experience, Justice Mostyn recognised claims that the game could be recognised as a “mind sport” that exercises the “brain muscle”. He also stated that the game involves more physical activity than rifle shooting. The English Bridge Union, in conjunction with the charity English Bridge more information Education and Development, works to bring bridge to as many people as possible.
The game turns on your dorsolateral cortex, which handles your brain’s advanced functions. Recent studies show that older adults who stay connected through activities like bridge keep their minds sharper. Bridge now follows the same professional standards as other competitive sports and complies with World Anti-Doping Agency regulations.
It does not fit the conventional definition of a real sport as it is not primarily a human physical activity. But the aspect of the fortune in the card games at stake makes it a considerable sport. Research by Stirling University, in conjunction with the charity English Bridge Education and Development, found that playing bridge has a statistically significant positive effect on well-being.
Bridge is one of the two mind sports recognised by the International Olympic Committee, but they are yet to receive a nod to be part of the Olympic roaster. The English Bridge Union, urged on by the recognition by the IOC, challenged a decision by Sport England not to recognise bridge as a sport, and therefore not give them access to funding. Bridge players, of which there are millions around the world, enjoy your game of cards, but don’t think you are playing sport.
