One of the most persistent myths about bridge is that the game is hard to learn.

It’s also complete BS.

There are many skills, vocations and games out there that take a lot more time and effort to learn than how to play a game of bridge – and yet, these skills and their reputation remain totally unaffected by their reported difficulty levels. Why is bridge? 

The intricacies of bidding and play might take some more time to pick up than the basic rules, but can be learned in practice without having to worry too much about cramming all of this information into a new player’s mind at the very start. 

Here’s a look at some things harder to learn than bridge (and why). 

1. Magic: The Gathering

Magic: The Gathering is the hardest card game out there to learn according to Guinness World Records. 

When it comes to the amount of possible cards to play and moves to make, MTG far outranks the majority of card games and TCGs by complexity.

Bridge seems easier now, doesn’t it? 

2. A New Habit

The science behind how humans form habits says that it takes a minimum of thirty days to establish a new habit in the place of an old one.

Bridge can be learned in an afternoon of paying attention. Even if it takes weeks, it’s still quicker than teaching your brain to do most other things in a different way.

3. An Extra Language

Would you rather learn how to play bridge in a week, or would you rather take on a language with an entirely new alphabet in the same amount of time? 

Learning a new language – particularly one with a different lettering system and word order to the ones you’re used to – takes a lot of time and dedication to achieve. 

Again, picking up the rules of bridge seems a lot easier in comparison.