Post edited 6:56 pm – 16th February 10 by Admin

A game for four people (or groups of four people) playing in pairs, Bridge is a skilled card game believed originally to have been developed from Russian Whist or Biritch. One of the most popular and enduring games in the world, Bridge is regularly played by around 300,000 people in the UK alone!

A game of Bridge involves the even distribution of all 52 standard playing cards between the four players so that each player begins the game with 13 cards in their 'hand'. The pairings are predetermined by the seating position at the table being used – north is paired with south and east with west.

Each pairing then bids, according to the quality of the cards dealt between them, speculating as to the number of 'tricks' they will win in that round, despite the fact that neither player can see the hand of his or her partner. This is known as the bidding part of the game, and one of the reasons why the game of Bridge is considered so cerebral.

The winner of that round, and ultimately of the game, is the pairing with the highest points total.

Bridge is not only the most mentally stimulating card game ever devised, it is also highly addictive!

 If you would like to learn how to play the fascinating game of Bridge, we can highly recommend “Bridge for Complete Beginners” by Financial Times Bridge correspondent Paul Mendelson, the UK's best-selling author on the game of Bridge, as well as a renowned teacher who has taught the game throughout the world.

As one independent reviewer of this excellent book put it, “Having checked out several Bridge tutorials, I took the plunge and bought this book purely on Paul Mendelson's reputation. All I can say is that his reputation as the UK's best-selling Bridge author is completely justified. This book takes you step-by-step through the game, from the number of cards used and their values through to strategy and tactics, scoring, etiquette – everything you need. A great book, opening a whole new world for a bargain price!”

Bridge Courses, Bridge Clubs and even Bridge Holidays are also available at locations throughout the UK. We hope to be bringing you details of these shortly.

Our cards were berries, diggers, jewels and…..I think hearts must have stayed hearts because I can't remember anything else.

I think we'd better set up our own bridge school Lucy, no one else will understand.

Post edited 11:17 pm – 19th February 10 by Me.

A strange story, Michael, I would have thought in a hospital there would have been an abundance of card players. It would seem the extra days he spent in confinement really were spent in vein.

My doctor must be a card player, when I seek his advice he tells me to snap out of it.

I don't mind Mags! Use my quote anytime!

Oh, and thanks for the explanation.

Did you play for matchsticks? We did, or buttons. Something called Queenie springs to mind but I have no idea how we played it.

And dominos, I liked dominos, particularly 5s and 3s

Happy days.