Playing Bridge in Whitianga

Who can play bridge?

Bridge can be played at any age from about 10 years up. It's a very social game and a great way to meet people and make new friends. You don't need to be a 'card shark' to pick up bridge. New players can have lessons to learn the game basics and then further develop skills while playing. 

Bridge is condensed life. You need to solve a variety of problems, make a huge number of decisions and face emotional ups and downs.

Boye Brogeland – World Bridge Champion

Why play Bridge?

According to NZ Bridge, research has shown that the game is excellent for developing concentration and problem solving skills. In 2019 The University of Stirling in Scotland researched the game and found that it has positive lifelong impacts on well-being and healthy ageing. Playing bridge gives an opportunity for people to get together for social interaction, use a number of deductive, critical, and reasoning skills in a fun environment.

See the videos below about why people love bridge and why you should try bridge.

Bridge is more than just a card game. It’s a cerebral sport. Bridge teaches you logic, reasoning, quick thinking, patience, concentration and partnership skills.

Martina Navratilova – Hall of Fame tennis star

How do you play bridge?

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.

An opportunity to learn Bridge in Whitianga

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 on Wednesday 11 May. Contact Gavin Hedwig via the Mercury Bay Contract Bridge Club if you are interested or would like more details.

If you like playing cards, then this is the ultimate game for you.

Gavin Hedwig – Mercury Bay Contract Bridge Club

Where to play Bridge?

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.