Bridge - the best card game in the world!

By Gavin Hedwig

Bridge, like the game “500”, is a trick-taking card game played by four people in two competing partnerships, with partners sitting opposite each other around a table. A standard 52 card deck is used. There are essentially two parts to each deal in Bridge. Firstly, the players ‘’call’’ (or ‘’bid’’) in an auction to ascertain, on the basis of the cards held, how many tricks they think can be taken. During the auction, partners endeavour to exchange information about their hands, e.g. the strength and distribution of the suits. In the second part of the deal, the partnership with the highest bid at the end of the auction (termed the contract) plays the hand; the other pair become defenders whose objective is to ensure that the contract is not made. Points are awarded on the basis of the number of tricks made or lost.

Millions of people play Bridge worldwide at clubs, in tournaments (regional, national, and international), online, and with friends at home making it one of the world's most popular card games. There are over 140 Bridge Clubs in New Zealand including 8 on the Coromandel Peninsula (at Thames, Coromandel, Whitianga, Hahei, Tairua, Pauanui, Whangamata, and Waihi).

If you live in the Mercury Bay area, there is an opportunity this year to learn to play this fascinating card game. The Mercury Bay Contract Bridge Club in Whitianga is offering a series of weekly lessons beginning in March.

Contact Gavin Hedwig -phone 021 146 9203, (07) 866 2343 or email g.hedwig@xtra.co.nz - if you would like to join the class or would like more details about the game of Bridge.