The average bridge player spends a lot of time worrying about conventions and strategy.

These are very important things if you would like to improve your playing skills, but I also believe we have other vital things to think about as bridge enthusiasts.

How comfortable is your online bridge game?

I don’t mean the final, warm feeling you get when your score looks better.

I mean how comfortable you are while you’re playing it.

The more comfortable you are at the seat, the better you are able to think. It’s hard to focus on bridge when you’re dealing with a hard chair, phone notifications, or background noise.

Before starting a game, make sure that you’re comfortable first.

Here are 5 necessary tips for better online bridge comfort.

1. Guard your wrists

Online bridge isn’t physically strenuous, but serious repetitive strain injuries are associated with long periods of device use. Smartphone thumb is a very real type of injury, and I could write entire lengths about how much carpal tunnel syndrome could hurt when untreated.

Take some advice from your friendly neighbourhood bridge column: wrist guards will help you play bridge far more comfortably in the long run.

2. Comfortable seating

Make sure that you’re sitting comfortably. If you aren’t, invest in a decent chair – or just change your preferred sitting-down site when you intend on being there for the length of a bridge game.

It has everything to do with posture, and your body will thank you for paying attention to it.

3. Get pillows

Never underestimate the value of simple pillows for comfort. We live in a world where you can acquire pillows in the shape of anything (and unfortunately, featuring images of anything) – and so, if you can add a few pillows to your online bridge game, please do.

Strain is not your friend for comfortable online bridge.

4. Wear pants

Bridge games are going live at an increased rate, and I would like to take a moment to remind players to wear pants for the game.

While online bridge means that you play the game in a more comfortable environment like your home, the same comfort-rules don’t apply when any recording or broadcasting equipment is involved.

For the sake of everyone who watches bridge, please remember to wear pants.

5. Turn background notifications off

Background notifications are valuable sometimes, but not in the middle of a bridge game when it’s another million-th notification from your browser.

It’s just not comfortable for online games.

Check your device’s settings for this. If it’s not listed under its main settings, check under settings for each app. Background notifications can be turned off to halt their interference, sometimes for a specified time.

What’s your top tip for better online bridge comfort?