The ultimate game of skill, bridge enthrals its enthusiasts because of the continuous challenge it poses and the numerous opportunities it offers to meet with fellow players, promoting an active and stimulating social life.
Why Play Bridge?
The game of bridge:
- Is captivating;
- Relies on intelligence and sound judgment;
- Is full of challenges;
- Does not rely on luck;
- Allows you to develop a great bond with your partner;
- Is universal and knows no language barriers since partners communicate using bidding boxes;
- Is played by 60 million enthusiasts throughout 120 countries;
- Is inexpensive.
Playing bridge comes with many benefits:
- It helps develop memory, concentration, and mental endurance;
- It teaches the art of reasoning and develops creativity, since players must make decisions and identify the best choices;
- It offers multiple opportunities to meet new people and join a new community when played in clubs and tournaments;
- It even helps fend off Alzheimer or Parkinson diseases, according to a very serious study conducted at a Californian university. According to Dr. Judes Poirier*, “With regards to delaying the onset of Alzheimer, one of the greatest successes has been measured in bridge-playing populations. The game of bridge relies on both memory and reasoning and, as a bonus, is played in groups. The best you could do is to play bridge in a club.”
* Professor at McGill University’s Department of Psychiatry and Medicine and Associate Director at the Centre for Studies on Prevention of Alzheimer’s Disease at the Douglas Institute.
Bridge is a sport for the mind that we play for fun and which promotes an active social life.
Why Play in a Bridge Club?
Many newcomers shy away from playing in a club because they fear it is meant only for the initiated. However, the benefits of playing in a club are tremendous, and all clubs are happy to welcome players of all skill levels.
- A friendly space: You can go whenever you want to play in a pleasantly competitive atmosphere. You get to meet other bridge players and will have the opportunity to find partners.
- A structure designed for the pursuit of your favourite hobby: classes, supervised bridge games and competitions for all levels.
- A place to meet experienced players, which will enhance your learning experience and progress.
- Professional training and guidance, important resources to guide you and offer advice.
- A community which also organizes other activities and feels like a big family.
How to Tell if a Club is a Good One?
Separating a great club from an average club is not always easy. Here are a few simple benchmarks that can help you choose the right one for you:
- The atmosphere: There’s nothing like visiting your local club to get you to meet other players. Taking classes will enable you to meet many different people and get to know the local habits;
- The skill level of the organizers: club directors and teachers are good willed players who hold an ACBL qualification and are generally of a high calibre.
When choosing to play in an ACBL-affiliated club, you are guaranteed to receive quality teaching and to follow North American standards when playing bridge.
