About Bridge

Bridge is a card game, similar to hearts, spades, or pinochle. Unlike other similar games bridge is often played in teams with two foursomes playing identical hands at different tables, then comparing their results. This eliminates most of the luck from the game, meaning that bridge is (like chess or go) a game of skill. Bridge is a part of the Mind Sports Olympiad held once a year.

Since bridge is played in teams, there is much more of a social aspect than other similar games. A major part of the game is communicating with partner (and reading the opponents).

Bridge is the most popular card game in the world, and is the favorite game of famous billionaires Bill Gates and Warren Buffet. While bridge remains most popular among the older generations, the complex and ever-changing nature of the game keeps it fresh and fun for all ages. Gates and Buffet are starting a project to teach bridge in schools, and the American Contract Bridge League and US Bridge Federation have many opportunities for promising young players to compete nationally (and internationally).

Our mission as a bridge club is to play and teach the game of bridge at UCLA, and to field a victorious team in the national collegiate bridge competition. Winning the preliminary rounds provides team members with an expenses paid trip to the national finals over the summer (this year in Las Vegas, Nevada) and scholarships are provided to members of the national championship team (as well as their names and pictures in the national bridge magazine).

To learn how to play the game of bridge, check out the free software developed by Fred Gitelman, available from the ACBL Site or via BridgeBase Online. Our professional bridge teacher, Brian Reynolds, will also be happy to help at any of our club meetings, as will our experienced team members.