One could pick any random time of the day, and assume that thousands of bridge tables worldwide are involved in competition at that very moment. Bridge is popular, and there must be an incredible number of matches-per-minute being played at the same time.

For proof, just view the home page of Bridge Base Online at any time to see how many tables are active.

Out of the astronomical number of bridge games that have ever been played, there are some which stand out as legendary. Games that literally made the history books, and matches that every player will come to read about eventually.

The next match you’re competing in might be written about by bridge writers in the near-future. How would you know until you’ve played it?

Here’s a throwback to coverage of 4 great bridge matches from history.

1. The 1930 Anglo-American bridge match

The 1930 Anglo-American Bridge Match occurred during the very height of contract bridge as a competitive sport, and some would say that this match had a great deal to do with its explosion as a household game.

Player Lt. Col. Walter Buller, the inventor of a convention he termed British Bridge, offered up a deal for the famed Culbertson: battling out their bidding systems in a match that would become legendary in bridge circles later.

Convinced of the merits of his convention, he challenged the Culbertson team. Four matches were played in London to establish which convention was the better one.

Culbertson, almost obviously, won.

2. The 1931 Culbertson-Lenz Match

The 1930 Anglo-American match was not the first time that Culbertson was challenged.

The 1931 Culbertson-Lenz match is known as the Bridge Battle of the Century for very good reason. Again, Culbertson found his Blue Book convention being put to the test in public – this time by famous player Sydney Lenz.

The game was particularly heated, with daily coverage of the game beamed to viewers via radio.

Who won?

Again, Culbertson.

3. The 2011 IPBA Hand Of The Year

At the time of writing, Geir Helgemo is still one of bridge’s most prolific players. His playing is creative, skilful, and successful at the same time – and if you want to learn how to think your way out of difficult games, studying Helgemo’s playing is a great starting point.

His playing is in the spotlight often, and this particular hand was listed as the 2011 IBPA Hand of the Year.

Zia Mahmood used his bridge column in The Guardian to call this the ‘”hand of the century.”

Well-played, and well played enough to make this part of the list of legendary bridge games you’re reading right now.

4. The Infamous Doctors

The 7th d’Orsi Senior Bowl played in Bali, Indonesia during September 2013 is a historical bridge game, but famous for all the wrong reasons.

It’s not the spectacular playing of doctor-partnership Elinescu and Wladow which gets this game known, but the suspicious circumstances of their playing. If you ever see another bridge player cringe when you mention the bridge-playing-doctors, here’s why…

During an official hearing in January 2014, the team was found to be cheating the tournament with signals. Their choice was coughing.

Eventually, they were banned from the game.

If you want to be famous in bridge, make sure it’s not for this!