There’s a large, cumbersome elephant in the card room (and it might be one of the most harmful things to bridge as a whole). I think it could be time to consider mentioning it, before we have a stampede.

It’s not cheating. It’s not doping.

It’s stereotyping of the bridge player in their various forms.

What did you think about bridge players before you knew the game? How many geriatric-themed jokes have the punchline of a bridge or bingo game at the end? How many of these common stabs at bridge players are based in reality?

Here’s why stereotyping has been standing in the way of the game’s growth for years (and how players are helping to break down the preconceived ideas of bridge).

Stereotypes: a danger to the game

Stereotypes place preconceived ideas in the minds of those who don’t play bridge yet. If you’ve never been to a game or club, what do you think the average bridge player is going to be like?

The danger is apparent right there.

If you’ve played bridge, you’ll know that the bridge crowd is too diverse to fit into a single box (except when it’s meant for bidding).

If you’ve never played the game, you’ll be reliant on the stereotypes for your first knowledge of what players are like.

It doesn’t work for D&D players.

It doesn’t work for bridge players.

The stereotype is dangerous within any context. Within bridge, it might only keep people away from the game.

The good news is that the stereotypes are falling with the increasing popularity of bridge.

Examining stereotypes

I’ve heard some pretty strange things about bridge players before. At least, about what other people imagine bridge players are like.

We’ve all heard a few. What’s some of the weirdest stereotypes you’ve encountered so far? A look through the average message board like Reddit or Quora can even throw out a couple of options from the occasional poster.

Bridge players must surely all be older. Online card players will only play surrounded by energy drinks and Dorito’s bags. Bridge is a difficult game, only for players who have turned up their noses at chess.

There are a hundred-and-one different stereotypes that could be mentioned. I’ll save readers some time, and condense most stereotypes into a single question… Are any of these common bridge stereotypes true?

No, I’ll have you know.

Before you started playing bridge, what did you hear about it? Name one of your own stereotypes and put it to the test against what you know about bridge today. Stereotypes are nonsense.

The moment you’ve met a bridge player, all preconceived ideas and stereotypes should be right out the door.

And if you’ve heard someone reference a common bridge myth or stereotype, point them in the direction of the bridge table. With every new player introduced to bridge, stereotypes will fall.