Every now and then, I’ll have a search through news archives to see what’s out there about bridge. There’s always something new, wonderful or weird to see. Here are some of the bridge headlines I dug up during a recent search.

Trump’s success “deranges” bridge players, sheddding light on biometrical studies.

(Source: Stat News)

This article proposes research that links the term “notrump” and Donald Trump. Players try harder for notrump contracts – because, well, the words “no” and “trump” seem to fit together well. (In reality, they were instead trying to prove that some studies can link things that could have happened by chance, too, and make them make sense thanks to a below-acceptable p-value that allows many studies to “fly under the radar” and convince masses.)

Card game bridge is not a sport, European court rules.

(Source: BBC)

The debate on whether bridge is a sport or not flares up every now and then. One of the more latest headlines comes from October 2017, when courts (in Europe) ruled that it isn’t (and thus isn’t subject to tax exemption as a sport, either) – but of course, we can expect another flare-up of the same debate soon.

Bridge world No 1 Geir Helgemo banned after failing drugs test

(Source: Independent)

When the world’s number one bridge player was hit with anti-doping regulations after failing a drug test, it made bridge international news in an instant. This article from Associated Press (“Doping in Cards? Bridge ban fuels backlash to Olympic link”) mentioned some of the ripples that moved through other sports as a result.

Later, support for Helgemo came from many places, including the ACBL.

Bridge players and anglers caught with performance enhancing drugs

(Source: Independent)

The concept of taking a little something to increase your performance isn’t a new problem in sport. This earlier article from the Independent explores the phenomenon of doping (in sports like bridge and angling), where it’s not uncommon for players to use drugs like beta-blockers in order to steady their hands.  

Police arrest 32 senior citizens for playing bridge

(Source: Bangkok Post)

Well, this certainly wasn’t a nice headline to spot. Somewhere in 2016, a group of 32 “senior citizens” were arrested in Pattaya, Thailand for playing bridge – apparently when they were mistaken for an underground gambling ring. The fine was up to 5, 000 baht – and more than 12 hours behind bars.

Gambling of any kind is taken pretty seriously in Thailand, and according to the source, they were charged according to the Playing Cards Act: This prohibits people from owning more than 120 cards without officially registering them for use. (Cards also have to carry the stamp of the Excise Department – and only registered sellers are allowed to carry playing cards.) All sales, imports and transactions involving playing cards have to be approved by the Director-General.

The full law is available in PDF at this link.

Video game addiction is rare, real and poorly understood

(Source: Vox)

An unlikely mention of Bridge Base Online from a piece on Vox about gaming addiction from 2018. Now considered a very real potential addiction, one to gaming and technology can be developed – and requires treatment in the same way any other addiction might.

According to the article, “Scott played online card games like Absolute Poker and Bridge Base Online, and massively multiplayer online roleplaying games like World or Warcraft and Final Fantasy XI.”

While the mention of Bridge Base Online is appreciated, it has to be said that everyone at BBO supports responsible playing at all times. If you suspect that you have a gaming or gambling addiction, seek help.

How AI can solve the world’s problems: Challenge it to a game of bridge

(Source: Ozy)

I found this gem in the Ozy opinion’s section.

Artificial intelligence has a lot to learn from bridge. Among other things, the capacity to calculate hidden information – which can be as diverse as the cards that an AI player can’t see, through to hidden cyberattackers in cyberspace as a whole. This is a fascinating take and definitely worth a read.

Warren Buffett spends 8 hours a week playing bridge

(Source: CNBC)

This recent article was published in February this year – and it’s great to see that Warren Buffett is still as much of a bridge player as ever. According to this, he plays up to eight hours per week, and in the article he notes, “I probably play 100 times as often as Bill.” He also calls it the only game where he might have what he calls a slight edge over him.