Questions about the game of bridge are common.

I enjoy reading through message boards like Reddit to spot members talking about bridge. Every time someone asks a question, it invites more discussion about the game.

The more people talk about bridge, the wider the subject can reach.

At the same time, I think a lot of bridge players would agree that some questions have been asked too much.

Have you ever been asked a question about contract bridge that you were tempted to answer with, “You could Google it,”?

Feel free to ask any questions about our wonderful game. But sometimes, Google it first.

Here are some common questions about contract bridge (answered with sarcasm instead).

“Why do people still play bridge?”

The correct answer to this question is that bridge is an engaging, captivating card game.

But if you’ve been asked this a thousand-and-one times before, it becomes tempting to answer that people get together to play the game of bridge as a secret way of summoning the Old Gods and opening a portal.

You’ve got us. The secret is out.

“Do younger people play bridge?”

No, not at all. Everyone who plays bridge is exactly aged 42.

The serious answer is that bridge players aren’t just older people (or younger people), but people everywhere who love a good challenge or card game.

Let’s stop asking.

“Where can I find other bridge players?”

All bridge players have a secret handshake by which we identify other bridge players. If you need to find three others in a hurry, you can summon them by getting a table, then lighting three candles, and then chanting…

No, not really. Just find your nearest bridge players right here on BBO, or get in touch with your closest bridge club.

“Is bridge an Olympic sport?”

Bridge is an ancient Olympic sport. In historical bridge games, Olympic players during the Ancient Greek period would sit down at the bridge table naked and drink wine as a tribute before the game.

Well, no, not really.

There’s no guarantee that it’s not what your neighbors are doing next week Tuesday, but bridge was not in the ancient Olympics (or modern ones yet).

“Why is it called ‘contract bridge’?”

All bridge games are played for a Faustian deal that include the souls of the players at the table. Hence, contract bridge.

(False, false and false, of course. Heh.)

When the named bid is chosen at the start of the game, that’s your contract.

“Is contract bridge legal?”

Well, yes, depending on what you imagine we’re all doing.

Casual, online card play is legal in the majority of the world. Usually, it’s separate from your country’s gambling laws – and if you’re worried, Google is your best ally to figure out what your country thinks.

“Is the game of bridge dying?”

Actually, bridge is the world’s undead card game, and killing it requires both a basilisk tooth and a silver bullet.

If bridge were dying or dead, would any of us really be here?

“Can you play bridge with two people?”

Yes, but then it’s called sex.

For the record, bridge for two people exists. It’s called Honeymoon bridge and contains slightly different scoring rules.