Ask someone who plays bridge why it’s good, and they will give a long list of reasons. But is that the opinion of a single fanatic, or of everyone who plays  Researchers at Stirling University, in partnership with English Bridge Education & Development, asked over 6,000 people of all ages why they played bridge, and the answers demonstrate that bridge is so much more than just a card game.

It’s enjoyable

  • Bridge is very stimulating.
  • Every hand is new, so you never get bored.
  • It’s absorbing, frustrating, challenging, addictive, satisfying - I love it.

It’s mentally challenging

  • I enjoy the mental gymnastics, the infinite variety,and the succession of unique challenges. The mental challenge of judgement, assessment,
    interpretation - one can always improve at bridge.
  • It’s a family activity.  My wife and I wanted something to do together - as we both were logically-minded and played other card games, we took up bridge.
  • My husband, sometimes uses a wheelchair so it is an activity we can do together.

It’s competitive

  • I love the achievement in winning without being aggressive towards others - it’s friendly competition.
  • I enjoyed all sports and when I was disabled I had to take on something to fill in and I got hooked into bridge.
  • “Walking into the club, greeting friends, chatting, then being totally absorbed by the bidding and playing of each hand is a wonderful way to spend a happy
    and sociable evening with the huge bonus of enhancing brain power”

You can socialise

  • I play to socialise and catch-up with friends doing an activity we enjoy.
  • I enjoy being part of a team or partnership - it’s more sociable than games such as chess.

You can meet new people

  • I learned as a way to get to know people when I moved city - there’s a real bridge community.
  • I play to meet new friends and enlarge my social group. I recently returned from abroad after many years and it got me back into the community.

You can keep your brain healthy

  • It gets me out of the house and with people. It gives me focus.
  • When things go well I feel good.
  • I play because my mother had dementia and I consider that the onset of this was delayed because she played bridge.
  • It keeps the little grey cells in trim.


For the full report on the research from Stirling University visit
www.ebedcio.org.uk/health-wellbeing-research

Here is a link to the flyer published by English Bridge Education & Development and the English Bridge Union.