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.
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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.