The History of Bridge

The history of card games dates back to antiquity, around the time when Chinese thinkers invented paper and, thus, cards. Card-playing had a checkered reputation among the rulers of Europe for a long time: many cards were used to divine the future, and the use of cards in gambling led to associations with sin. Nonetheless, there were many very popular card games. Bridge is derived from a Roman game called whist, and has been played in some form since the 1700s. President George Washington was one historic fan of an early version of the game. By 1893, a more familiar form of bridge, known by that name, began to appear in various places. It made its way to New York that year courtesy of Mr. Henry Barbey, who produced the first modern set of rules for the game. In 1925, none other than Harold Vanderbilt, the American industrialist, introduced changes to bridge and helped popularize it. Finally, the author Ely Culbertson introduced the game to a wide and willing American audience with a pair of rulebooks. Bridge remains one of the most widely played card games today.

Bridge As An Olympic Sport

Bridge is so popular that there is a burgeoning movement to institute it as an Olympic sport. Olympic sports must satisfy various criteria, including being administered by an international body, and undergoing an official review. The World Bridge Federation began working to meet this challenge in the mid-1990s, culminating in a 2002 decision by the International Olympic Committee to deny bridge official recognition as a “sport.” This setback has not deterred the international bridge movement, and certain achievements of the World Bridge Federation suggest the status of the game may be reviewed in the future. Several other games of a less physical nature, such as chess and even ballroom dancing, have attracted efforts to obtain Olympic status in the past. For now, the future of “mind games” such as bridge in the Olympics remains uncertain.

The Rules of Bridge

There are many variations of bridge, and advanced play can be quite complex. However, the basic rules are easy to grasp. Four players, allocated in two partnerships, play in a game of bridge. A standard deck is used, with cards ranked from highest to lowest – the ace is the highest ranking card, followed by face cards, and then numbers in descending order. Each suit also has a value, descending from spades to hearts, diamonds, and clubs. Play occurs in two phases: bidding and play. In the bidding phase, the two pairs of partners auction for the right to choose the trump suit. A bid consists of a number, one through seven, and a suit – the number is added to six, and this indicates the number of tricks one side must take with a given trump suit. When bidding is complete, the players begin to play “tricks”, in which each person must lay down a card – using the same suit, if able – according to the value of their hands. The winner of the trick is determined by the value of the cards played. However, this basic overview conceals a great number of strategies that can be very complex! Play can continue until a given score or until a pre-agreed number of cards or tricks are played.

For more on bridge, see these informative links:

• Olympic Committee Decides Against Bridge as a Sport: New York Times article discussing the history of the effort to elevate bridge to Olympic status, as well as a landmark decision in 2002 denying recognition to bridge.
• IOC Recognition of Bridge: Page from the World Bridge Federation discussing the Olympic efforts and the ramifications of related International Olympic Committee rulings for the movement’s future.
• American Contract Bridge League: Nationwide bridge organization with a variety of resources for players, teachers, local club directors, and others with varying degrees of involvement in the passionate bridge culture.
• American Bridge Association: Includes a huge amount of information on organized bridge play throughout the United States.
• School Bridge League: Informative website with educational materials, including lesson plans, aimed at exploring the value of learning and playing bridge in the primary school classroom. Includes rules and other resources.
• BridgeAtSchools: Another nonprofit organization dedicated to the educational benefits of bridge.
• Rules of Bridge: Detailed rules provided by the Association of Cedar Rapids Area Bridge Clubs.
• Contract Bridge Rules and Resources: Another explanation of the rules of bridge, with illustrations, charts, and a comprehensive list of Internet resources for bridge players.
• Mastering Bridge: Free, online database of bridge-related articles and information along with a community of bridge players and teachers at a variety of skill levels.
• Great Bridge Links: Comprehensive website dedicated to providing the best Internet links for all needs related to bridge.
• Bidding Quest: Free software for practicing a key component of bridge strategy, bidding.
• The Bridge World Glossary: Free compendium of bridge-related terms from The Bridge World, a trusted magazine for bridge players. Sample articles and other information available free of charge.
• Fifth Chair: A nonprofit organization devoted to fostering quality online instruction in the game of bridge. Includes over a dozen lessons covering various bridge topics, a glossary, links, and more.
• Bridge Encyclopedia: Detailed, cross-referenced encyclopedia-style articles on a large variety of in-depth topics covering strategy and advanced play.
• English Bridge Union: Association of English tournament players. Includes an in-depth Frequently Asked Questions section covering topics from general bridge play to the nuances of tournament play in England.
• World University Bridge: Includes information on the annual European Universities Bridge Tournament and other information on tournament play occurring at colleges and universities around the globe.
• European Bridge League: An international bridge organization covering all aspects of the fierce tournament play among European Union countries.