Around 220 million people play bridge worldwide. Famous bridge enthusiasts include James Bond, Radiohead, Martina Navratilova, Bill Gates and Omar Sharif to name a few. What makes bridge such a popular game?
Bridge is social Bridge is a great way to meet people and make new friends. The Golden Bay club has 50 members of all ages.
You play with a partner and, depending on the competition, may play with different partners throughout the year. Communicating effectively with your partner is essential—and it is another valuable skill you will develop.
Bridge is fun and exciting
Bridge challenges the brain like chess, offers the suspense of poker and has the competitive spirit of sport. Bridge has it all.
In bridge, you compete against players at other tables who are dealt the same cards. The results are calculated at the end of each session, according to the movement being used. This makes every game exciting. It is all about finding the best bid with your partner and playing the cards as skilfully as possible.
After 12 lessons, you will have a good understanding of bridge and be ready to play. The learning, however, never stops. People who have played for 30 years say they are still discovering new things and that the game is never boring.
Bridge can be addictive: you may find yourself eagerly anticipating your next game and hoping to do even better than last time.
Fitness for the brain Bridge provides an engaging mental workout, drawing on memory, logical reasoning, calculation, concentration, communication and problem-solving skills. Like many cognitively demanding games, it can help keep the mind active.
Health benefits Bridge combines mental stimulation with regular social interaction, both of which can support general wellbeing. A small preliminary study found that some older players had increased levels of certain immune cells after a game, but the finding has not established that bridge strengthens the immune system. More broadly, research has linked participation in cognitively stimulating activities with better cognitive performance, although it does not show that playing bridge prevents Alzheimer’s disease.
Good value for money Enjoy around three hours of bridge for just $5—less than the cost of many cups of coffee.
♠ ♥ ♦ ♣ Golden Bay and Motueka Bridge Club members after playing the Margaret Cederman
Foundation Trophy in Golden Bay - 2026 ♠ ♥ ♦ ♣