Why play Bridge?
Bridge is a fascinating, challenging and enjoyable card game whether you choose to play casually or more seriously. Bridge develops your mental ability and helps the brain to stay young and healthy.
Research on Bridge players versus non players aged 55 to 91 has indicated that players outperformed non players in measures of working memory and reasoning.
First and foremost, people play because they enjoy it. Playing bridge is a fun activity which you can enjoy with friends and family of any age, anywhere in the world. All you need is a pack of cards, a table, and some like-minded people. Bridge players love the mental challenge. Each game played will offer a unique challenge of problems and solutions. Every single deal is different; every deal poses a new problem and the challenge of finding the solution is a great source of enjoyment – even more so if you find the answer!
The American Jazz composer Duke Ellington famously said, “a problem is your chance to do your best”, and it won’t come as a surprise to know that bridge players soon develop special skills in problem solving! It’s frustrating for players when they don’t rise to the challenge, but tremendous when they are successful – whether through finding great technical play, by outwitting their opponents, or by co-operating really well to achieve success with their partner. Secondly, bridge is an excellent social game and can be played by everyone – players can meet new people, make new friends, take on new challenges and learn the game through the many bridge clubs and teachers. Like participating in any sport – be it a ‘physical sport’, or a ‘mind sport’ – playing bridge is good for you mentally and physiologically. Finally, you can play bridge anywhere! You can play locally and nationally; there are open, women’s and mixed; senior and junior events throughout the year. Next time it could be you! There is so much potential to play this wonderful game!
Listening, etiquette, concentration, dealing with winning and losing and many other social skills can be enhanced by playing Bridge.
10 reasons why you should play bridge (English Bridge Union)
Listen to “The card game suddenly getting popular” from BBC Sounds, first broadcast on You & Yours in January 2021. The short program explores how young people are increasingly turning to the game as a source of entertainment, challenge and, in some cases, as a way to connect with family
“Bridge is such a sensational game that I wouldn’t mind being in jail if I had 3 cellmates who were decent players and who would be prepared to keep the game going 24 hours a day!”
Warren Buffett, renowned investor and one of the world’s wealthiest people
“I love Bridge. Bridge helps you think. It’s a game you can play your entire life and keep getting better and better. Everybody who is good at Bridge is going to be good at lots of things.”
Bill Gates, investor, philanthropist, author and founder of Microsoft Corporation in 1975.
Research on the Positive effect on wellbeing
Recent research has found that playing bridge has a statistically significant positive effect on wellbeing. Researchers at Stirling University, in conjunction with English Bridge Education and Development, as part of their ongoing work on the health and wellbeing benefits of playing bridge, undertook a survey of over 7,000 people, most of whom were bridge players. A majority of respondents indicated that playing bridge brought benefits to them personally in the form of the game having a competitive element, facilitating socialising with friends, and – most commonly – being mentally stimulating and deriving enjoyment from the activity.
Bridge and Older People
It has been proven that undertaking some form of activity that tests mental agility on a daily basis helps to protect our older population from dementia and Alzheimer’s. There is also a body of research which demonstrates that social interaction amongst the elderly can stave off cognitive decline. Although not a cure for dementia, there is evidence that playing bridge can contribute to helping to keep the brain healthy.
Bridge is Brilliant!
Uganda Bridge Federation can help you get into this intellectual trick taking game with face to face classes held in Bridge Clubs and elsewhere.