Why Learn to play Bridge ?

WHY LEARN TO PLAY BRIDGE ?

Someone once said, “Learn Economics… not to know how to become rich but at least to know why you are still poor!”  

In the same style, I would like to state “Learn Bridge, not to know and enjoy the beauty of the game, but at least to know what you have missed in life so far.” 

Hundreds of articles are written on ‘Bridge’ and tons of papers are published on the subject. I therefore don’t mind contributing to the increase in weight, even if it is only by a few grams!

·         Bridge is a  Sport

The other day, I read that playing one good game of ‘Chess’  requires more energy than playing 45 minutes of Football! Yes…. it is now scientifically proven that harnessing your grey cells to their limit is a good exercise which will keep you fit and healthy. Like Chess, Bridge is one of the most entertaining mind games having endless variations, to the extent that one never repeats a deal in one’s lifetime. The similarity between Chess and Bridge however, ends here. Chess has been enjoying the elevated status of “A game of intelligent people” ever since its inception, while, it’s not so lucky colleague,” Bridge” took a long time to reach close to that status.  Why, even today, it is given step-motherly treatment and looked down upon, by the masses. And this is despite having the distinction of being the only card game which has been accepted in the category of ‘Sports’. Hence I, an enthusiastic player invite all my fellow-human beings to come on board and partake this intellectual offering – leave aside playing Bridge, just  knowing about this sport  will do you some good in your upper storey J , besides adding a feather to your cap of belonging to the ‘elite club’ and enhancing your knowledge. It is estimated that at any given moment of the day, more than 10,000 people are engaged in playing this brainy game, the world over. In the late hours of the evening,  this number escalates to 150,000 or more, in Europe and America. No other sport in the world can boast of such figures!!!

·         Choose your partner

I reiterate that playing Bridge is one of the best exercises for your brain and it sharpens your mind. The name says it all - ‘Bridge’ implies building a bridge between two minds using a special language of the game called “Bidding” .The two minds are obviously yours and your partner’s. Success in the game depends on how accurately two persons build the bridge of understanding. Some people tend to forget this very basic requirement! …..And at times, bid as if they are playing a diametrically opposite sport - Boxing! This is particularly observed when their partner is totally submissive and accepts all the blame for all the sins committed by the Boxer!  There is however a limit to the victim’s patience and after some sessions the inevitable happens – the disastrous partnership breaks up. ……Then the “Boxer” scouts for a new lamb to slaughter and his earlier victimized sheep has undoubtedly resolved never to play ‘Bridge’. The learning from this situation being, “If you are either too submissive or extremely aggressive then you might as well bid farewell to this game’. Fortunately, there always is a ‘mean value’ that lies between any two extremes, in our case between aggressive and submissive natures are the third category of people who are best described as ‘Assertive’.  Assertive people recognize and utilize constructive criticism, are open to logical arguments, can visualize possibilities in adverse situations and at times, they move forward after ‘agreeing to disagree’! Hence the chances of them succeeding in the game are high. Bridge is all about developing understanding with your partner. So choose your partner judiciously and stop behaving like a Lion or Lamb! Trust your partner implicitly and explore the new World of Bridge, in unison.

·         No gambling or addiction

Most card games which are played by people can be categorized as “Gambling “ and  Bridge was no exception to that,  at least when it originally started  way back in the first quarter of the 20th century. This has created misconception about Bridge among those who feel that playing cards is a sheer wastage of time and money. Fortunately soon, gamblers realized that there are better ways of gambling! Today, gamblers prefer to play other games like Poker, Rummy or Flash instead of Bridge, not only because they lack the intellectual capacity required to play Bridge but also because Bridge is a game of partnership. Unlike most other games, Bridge tests your patience, intelligence, analytical skills, fast decision making ability etc. and yet gives you a feeling of enjoyment and fun. Anything which is in excess spoils the fun…  Bridge is no exception to this. The great Culbertson used to say “Those who know when to stop playing bridge know it better”. The irony is, he used to say so after playing for more than 12 hours! Unfortunately the labels of “ addiction “ and  “gambling” have got associated with this game  and even  today  that perception  lingers on. But the fact cannot be refuted -  “Bridge is the game of smart and intelligent people and not gamblers or addicts.”

·         Bridge on Internet

Since the good old days, Bridge has been mainly played in clubs and at homes (umpteen number of families will vouch for this). For playing Bridge, a minimum of two pairs of players are required. Logically this called for an assembly of 4 persons at one location. With the widespread use of Internet these days, lack of physical proximity is no longer a deterrent. A virtual presence from anywhere across the globe does the trick. And voila…any four Bridge Lovers are at it again, doing what they are best at – enjoying another game of Bridge at any given point of time. There are many websites tempting you to join in the game of ‘Live Bridge’ being played and you can pick your partner from any nook and corner of the world, through the ‘World Wide Web’.

·         Don’t quit !

By now, I am sure you have succumbed to my persuasive skills J Yes, you have decided to join the bandwagon to learn and play this game. At this juncture, my precious words of advice to you are ‘Don’t Quit half way through! One of the greatest masters of the game strongly recommended – ‘Play Bridge only for fun and for no other reason’.  It is said that the great “Charles Goren” started playing this game for the first time with his fiancée, as partner. She was better than him in card handling skills. At the end of many deals, his fiancée passed some sarcastic remarks about Goren. Alas! Goren took these comments to heart. However, he did not quit. Determined to acquire mastery in the game, he plodded on.  And Lo Behold! He reached the pinnacle of success and during this journey he invented a new style of playing Bridge. He introduced the ‘Point Count system’ which is faithfully followed by the entire Bridge Community, till date. Unfortunately, the fallout of this success was that Goren replaced his fiancée with the Game and remained faithful to his new love till the ripe old age of 90 and remained . a bachelor all through his life .

The longer you dwell on a  subject, the more you realize how little you know! There is no end to its depth, so just keep digging till you enjoy, ensuring that you gain knowledge and yet do not miss on the ‘fun’ aspect. You will come across many self-proclaimed ‘Experts’. Just appreciate them and then IGNORE them! J.  Bridge is a serious fun so enjoy it like music !

Never mind that you cannot sing like “Lata” or “Ruffi”, you still have every right to be a ‘Bathroom singer’!

    -------------------- R  J PHANSALKAR

                                May 30^th 2015