Even if you don’t haven’t read the book or seen the Kubrick-directed movie, you’ll know the familiar scene from A Clockwork Orange featuring Alex with his eyes forced open, made to stare at re-plays. While I don’t condone strapping down any bridge players, one thing that can be taken from the image is that seeing is always learning – and what you look at influences what you’ll learn.

If you’re newly picking up the game of bridge or just want to better your game, kibitzing, reading and seeing bridge played are some of the most useful things you can do other than physically playing the game.

Here’s a six-step learning routine that’ll get your brain into gear for thinking bridge.

Step 1: Kibitz Double the Games You Play

Watching bridge can teach you just as much as playing bridge. Seeing games in action prepares you for new player strategies, bidding you didn’t think of and other things you might learn easier if you spot other players doing it first.

It’s a good rule of thumb to kibitz double the games you play, at least in short bursts for a few days: You’ll be amazed at what your mind can learn to notice in this time about different player intricacies.

Step 2: Watch Some Bridge Documentaries

Bridge documentaries are a great way to get to know everything around the game, including developments, technology, technique and just all ’round cool stuff. In addition to your learning role as more frequent kibitzer if you want to learn new things, watch some bridge documentaries – most are available through streaming services.

Step 3: See At Least 1 Bridge Lesson Per Week

Head to YouTube, type in “bridge lesson” and click on a new one.

It doesn’t have to be one that’s part of the same series every time you click: It doesn’t even have to be the same area of bridge expertise.

Making a regular “thing” of bridge lessons is useful even to advanced players: Even if the information is already familiar to you as a regular player, you are likely to enjoy the hundreds of thousands of ways in which it can be presented with new perspectives.

Step 4: Read More Bridge Books

There’s a wealth of bridge books out there to read with new ones being released pretty regularly. Every possible topic is covered, and there’s even a spike in fiction centered around bridge. Read more bridge books!

Step 5: Do the Daily Website Check

A daily check of bridge columns, articles and news relating to bridge keeps you informed about anything new happening today. And of course, it helps to keep the game thriving.

Step 6: Keep an Eye on the Bridge Calendar

If you don’t keep a calendar of bridge events, start now – and include worldwide events even if you don’t plan on attending in person. (In most cases, you can still keep an eye on these events and games online all over the world as they’re happening).

Why include international events if you don’t plan on going? It’s great perspective on what bridge players are doing right now.