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“Try Bridge” Met With Silence

A couple of months ago, I connected with a handful of old friends from high-school days through the wonders of social media.

Things have changed since then. He got married, I got married. He tried crack, I didn’t. (I’m glad to report that the friend’s foray into crack didn’t last.)

It was good to catch up. Things were going better, he said. He was on the edge of planning a tour. We spent some time talking music, guitars, and heavy metal during lockdown.

He was a mean poker player, from what I remembered. (Although unfortunately, he didn’t.)

Then, I told him to try bridge.

“Sure,” he said. “I’ll check it out.”

The discussion stopped there. I’d left something on the stove, and eventually signed off to get back to the kitchen.

Why not bridge? It could have been any number of reasons. Maybe he was busy, maybe card playing was a trigger. I can’t tell.

But it taught me a few things about how to introduce bridge to others better.

When speaking to people about the game for the first time, I’ve learned to adapt a different approach. Instead of just telling someone to try bridge, it helps to point them in the direction of the resources they’ll need. It’s worked better so far..

Here’s how to tell people to try bridge – and how to get a positive response.

1: Point Them To The Basics

The most common question from a lot of newcomers has been, “WTF is a bridge?”

The first thing you should do is to point a player towards the basics. I mean The Very Basics. First, a player has to understand the basics of bidding and tricks, or the entire game will make no sense.

It helps if you sound excited about it.

Beginner resources are everywhere, and in every form. Find a video, an article, or a movie that talks about bridge in a way that’ll grab their attention.

2: Gift A Bridge Book

Do you know someone who might take well to playing bridge?

I think everyone does.

The gift of a first book on the topic could change someone’s life. I remember my first book on creative writing (“Writing Lies For Fun And Profit”), and I remember my first book on guitar (“Guitar For Dummies”).

First books make an impression.

You could be the person that gives someone their first bridge book. That’s a powerful thing. Choose something that’s introductory, and something that fits with the person you’re choosing to give it to.

3: Be Their Introduction

Once someone has gotten to know the basics of bridge, it’s time to find other players who share their interest.

If you’ve mentioned bridge to someone for the first time, it helps to be their introduction.

Challenge them to a game, accompany them to a club, or help them to set up their own BBO account and start your own table.

Involve them in bridge.

After all, you started it!

4: Honeymoon Bridge (And Beyond)

There’s a lot more to bridge than just “bridge”.

Introduce players to the form of bridge that works for them.

Start with Just Declare, Video Bridge, or a private table. Show them Bridge Master if that’s a better fit. Consider Learn to Play Bridge (from the ACBL) essential. Challenge them to a game of honeymoon bridge.

Bridge has more layers than an onion. That’s part of the fun.