FAQ's

No! cheap as chips some say. To play in a club session there is often a nominal “table money” charge maybe a few dollars to cover their overheads and might even include afternoon tea or supper. To become a member of a club requires an annual sub which also includes $20 (+GST) yearly subscription to NZ Bridge. Each club sets their table money and membership fees based on their own overheads and offerings.

Probably not enough to retire on! There are a handful of professionals who are funded to take part in a sponsor’s team in pursuit of Bridge glory and masterpoints. The top prospects might earn six figure salaries and travel the world but that is the life of very few Bridge players. Prize money is on offer at most organised tournaments around the country which is proportional to the number of entries, the level of competition, and the entry fee. Rubber Bridge, a version of the game usually played at home rather than at clubs where stakes can be set and dollars can change hands.

Fifty years ago, Bridge was a pretty cool game and was played by film stars and the “influencers” of the day. It was also quite common for universities to have Bridge clubs. As competing hobbies and technologies became more widely available, fewer younger people started taking up the game leaving the existing cohort of players to age without clubs being continually replenished with next generation members. However, there are many young people all over the world who enjoy Bridge and what it has to offer – In fact, one of the best performing pairs in New Zealand Bridge this year are a couple of 23 year olds – Jack James (Palmerston North) and Jeremy Fraser-Hoskin (Auckland).

It doesn’t take long to learn the basics … but the subtleties and strategies take a while longer. Lessons/supervised play usually takes place over several months at a Bridge club whilst learners become au fait with the terminology and learn the “language” of Bridge. To master the game might take a lifetime!

One Bridge deal, or hand, takes approximately 7 minutes to play. This includes both the bidding and the subsequent play. At a Bridge club, a Bridge session involves around 20 deals though if you are playing at home, you can play as few or as many as you like.

On each deal, one side (the declaring side) tries to make a certain number of tricks. (There are 13 tricks because each player has 13 cards.) The other side, the defence, tries to stop their opponents getting that number. One side will be successful and points are awarded; positive points for the successful side and negative points to the unsuccessful side. At a club, you try and do better than the other pairs who hold the same cards as you do. The cards are pre-dealt and the same hands are played at other tables. The pairs/ teams who get the highest scores are declared the winners.

You do need a partner to play Bridge and while it is nice to have organised a partner in advance, Bridge clubs will always find you a partner. If you need a partner, it is best to contact the club in advance of when you want to play to give the club officials time to organise a partner for you . Please note, many clubs have players on hand at the start of each session to fill in for those who need partners.

No, not at all. There are certainly other card games which have bidding and card play aspects similar to Bridge, such as whist or “five hundred”. If you familiar with these games, you will have some advantage over those learners who have no previous cards experience. With the help of friendly club players, all learners can soon pick up the basics of Bridge.