We have things like 3D-chess, multi-chess, and AI for chess because players wanted to challenge the game of the time in new, unique ways.

I’d like to push just a slight bit forward for the same ingenuity in bridge.

Games like Just Declare and Bridge Master are going in the right direction. Bumblepuppy Bridge, HOOL, and Minibridge are also worth mentioning as ingenious, unique forms of the game that exist in modern times.

Now, what more can bridge players do to challenge their play?

Here are 5 unique challenges for your bridge game – and if you choose to attempt them, best of luck!

1: Play Two Games Of Bridge (Simultaneously)

Most bridge players would agree that Just Declare is a fairly simple form of bridge (that is, minus the aspect of bidding and with pre-chosen contracts).

I would like you to play two of them.

Borrow a smartphone, or just use a combination of your PC and phone to fire up two games of Just Declare.

It’s not that easy now, is it?

2: Solve 50 Bridge Puzzles (In A Row)

Bridge puzzles are great, and I know many bridge players who solve them as their daily habit.

I don’t yet know many bridge players who turn bridge puzzles into marathon.

Shall we?

Solve 50 bridge puzzles (or trivia questions) from your chosen platform in a row. The condition is that you cannot get one wrong, or you have to go back to counting at the first.

Considering that condition up there, it’s okay to take several days to complete this challenge.

3: Win Five Games Against GIB (As A Streak)

Winning feels good.

Winning three times feels even better.

How about five?

Play against GIB (either in a live match, or only including GIB to fill up your empty tables). Win five times in a row, and (like the previous challenge) go back to the start if you were to lose one.

Good luck.

4: Play Against GIB (But Intend A Loss)

Just Declare can be used in many different ways, and here’s another one.

If you don’t want the game to affect your profile’s statistics, just don’t log in for it. That simple.

Play against GIB, but intend to lose. Pull out the wrong cards, lose all (or most) of your tricks. Play badly.

What does this do?

Review your game. Make sure that you never do that, and know how to counter bad (but lucky) plays when you see them.

5: Memorize (The Entire Deck) Face Down

It’s the simplest memory exercise in the world, but I’ve always found it to be one of the most effective. Just use a card deck, and arrange faces down after shuffling.

Place somewhere obvious, and take a day to turn cards around. On the next day (after literally sleeping on it), can you remember what they are?

Try the same challenge again, but memorize-and-flip in a few hours’ time.

Congratulations. That’s the difference between short and long-term memory in action (and literally how you forget where you put your keys).

Practice. It gets better.