An entertaining and beloved card game. One of the most entertaining and beloved card games of all time, the call bridge game is the perfect game for all seasons, genders, and ages. It can be a perfect choice for older adults living in retirement communities because finding a foursome for a game is easy! Playing Bridge is not only fun, it’s challenging and can help keep seniors keep their brains sharp and their social skills intact. Many seniors enjoyed playing bridge years ago, but even those who have never played the game can learn. There is no one way to learn Bridge, but here are several options to consider.
Join a Bridge club
Like many games, Bridge is played with a foursome, which may be difficult for bridge lovers who cannot find four people to play with. For this reason, many who love spades will be willing to teach anyone willing to learn. A good start is finding a local Bridge group or club, either in the senior living community or in the greater local area. Many Bridge clubs offer classes and are willing to help mentor new learners to help expand their organizations. According to the American Contract Bridge League, more than 3,000 bridge clubs across the United States provide an online tool to help newcomers find one near them. The American Contract Bridge league also offers free software programs “Learn to Play Bridge I” for beginners and “Learn to Play Bridge II” for those who have mastered the basics of the game.
Meet up with Meetup
One of the many benefits of the internet is locating people with shared interests nearby. When it comes to learning the call bridge game, the Meetup website offers a great way to get together with other Bridge newbies and learn the game with others who are also just beginning or starting your own meeting. The Meetup Bridge Beginners site helps people join a local group and offers links to events for all Bridge enthusiasts, including beginners and intermediate-level players.
Try YouTube
The depot for all things, YouTube has a wide variety of videos about Bridge in general, specifically how to play the game. For example, the video, How to Play Bridge (Complete Tutorial) takes the spades game one step at a time from dealing the cards, to the objective, to bidding, gameplay, scorekeeping, rules, strategy, and an example. The video is only about 15 minutes long and can be watched over and over again to help new players understand the intricacies of Bridge before they take it on life with other players. The video from gathertogethergames.com also provides a link to a written game overview. Check out YouTube for many more Bridge-for-beginners videos from a range of experts.
Take lessons
Like anything new, Bridge has a learning curve, and new players can only benefit from taking a lesson or two from experts. The website, bridgelesson.com, offers lessons for beginners to advanced levels for a small fee. Another possibility is 60secondbridge.com, which offers online lessons and requires registration but also offers a free trial. Learn Bridge Online also offers lessons from experts from around the world, with sessions spread over several weeks. Fees are charged for classes. Also helpful is ateacherfirst.com, which offers a long list of topics for free, and inexpensive Pocket Guide for Beginner Bridge, and password-protected content. One more to consider is bridgebears.com, a site run by a retired teacher with more than 50 years of Bridge-playing experience. This website offers a simple step-by-step process for beginners and more advanced players. For an expansive list of online lesson options, try coursef.com.
Many seniors who are not internet savvy may prefer to learn the basics of Bridge the old-fashioned way, in a book! Here are a few of the top-rated books on Bridge to choose from:
The Times Beginner’s Guide to Bridge, by Andrew Robson, provides a step-by-step process with illustrations.
Bridge for Beginners, by Game Nest, presents the basics, tips, strategies, and concepts.
A Taste of Bridge, by Jeff Bayonne, is a series of six lessons designed to get new players started on a life-long love of the game.
Gary Brown’s Learn to Play Bridge: A Modern Approach to Standard Bidding with 5-Card Majors, by Gary Brown, is the winner of the American Bridge Teachers Association Book of the Year Award and is perfect for every level of learner event those who have no experience with card games.
Bridge: Beginner to Intermediate (Puzzle Power), by Mark Horton, was a runner-up in the beginner/novice category of the American Bridge Teachers Association 2020 Book of the Year Awards and offered beginners an easy way to get started on learning the game and all its complexities.
More award-winning Bridge books can be found on the American Bridge Teachers Association’s website.
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