We play bridge for the social aspect, we play bridge because it’s a great way to develop and preserve the mind. We play bridge to connect with others, and we play bridge because we love the game.

We play bridge for a thousand different reasons, but it’s also true that we play bridge to win.

Competitive spirit is the driving force behind why people like to play tabletop games. Even games that are played for casual enjoyment are still a lot of fun to win.

If you want to learn how to kick ass at the bridge table, it’s going to take more than 10,000 hours. It’s going to take practice, playing, kibitzing, and more practice.

Bridge players can also work on individual skills which impact their game.

When bridge is deconstructed into single elements, aspects like memory count for a lot.

Here are 5 skills to improve (for kicking ass at the bridge table).

1: Memory Matters

Memory matters at the bridge table.

We know that playing bridge can improve your memory, but would you guess that improving your memory can lead to better bridge playing?

Good recall takes practice. Regular practice, even if you just memorize a short string of numbers every now and then to test where you’re at.

Work on your recall skills, and you’ll improve at bridge.

2: Quick Decisions

How quick are your quick thinking skills?

Analyzing several different elements and then making a quick decision is simple survival instinct.

It’s the skill that allows humans to act in life-threatening situations. Often, it’s an automatic reflex.

But in bridge, it should be practiced – and refined.

Playing Just Declare is a great way to assess your card choices. (Now, see how fast you can win.)

3: Overall Strategy

A winning game can be about more than just quick thinking.

It matters if these in-game decisions are the right ones. This takes a lot of practice, a lot of kibitzing, and learning how to adapt to the game you’re playing move-by-move.

Taking on GIB is a great way to work on strategic playing if you’re at all concerned about criticism from human players. Once you’ve done well here, it could be time to shift your strategy knowledge to tournaments.

4: Better Bidding

Bidding isn’t as hard to learn as any new player might think.

If you’re having any trouble, see bidding as its own language. Only a couple of terms are used, and depending on the type of bid (like natural, artificial or forcing, for example), it tells partners different things.

How do you achieve better bidding?

There’s a literal wealth of bridge puzzles available on the internet posted with answers. Have a look at the monthly bidders challenge on BBO.

Start working on some of these every week, and you’ll be a better bidder in what feels like no time.

5: Point Counting

The speed at which you assess the HCPs within your hand is almost as important as how well you’re able to bid.

Don’t let counting points and assessing hands slow you down.

It should be rehearsed as often as a musician runs through scales.