Card games sessions are not only enjoyable, but they stimulate the mind and provide an easy way to make new friends. Bridge and Whist are card games invented in the 18th & 19th Centuries.
FIRS currently offer “Duplicate” bridge at Heart of England Branch.
Contact the leader of the sessions to find out more. The contact details can be found on our timetable pages.
Introduction to Bridge and Whist
These two card games are essentially similar, in that cards are dealt to four players, who each try to win “tricks”. A trick is where one player leads (places) a card from his hand. The other players in turn follow- in the same suit if they have one. If they don’t have any then they can discard a card of another suit, or “Trump” the trick, by playing a card of the designated “trump” suit. The winner of the trick is the one who has played the highest trump card, or- if no trumps were played- then the player of the highest card of the lead suit.
The winner then leads the next trick. An obvious advantage can be gained by noting who played which card, and which cards have been played. This gives indications of who should have which cards remaining. The game is won by winning the most tricks.
Some versions of both games include a “dummy” hand, which adds an element of chance to reduce the advantage of the more “calculating” player.
Bridge is the more formalised version, where players sitting opposite play as a team of two. “Contract Bridge” is the generally preferred game, where each player in turn “Bids” how many tricks their team can make, after viewing their own cards. The bidding round continues until no player is prepared to “raise the contract”. Bidding has many rules and is used as a code device to get information on what cards your partner holds. This game is won by the final bidding team making its target- no more- no less. Getting to know your partner’s techniques and strategy is important, and pairs will always try to play together.
Venues
- Methodist Church Hall, Balsall Common (Bridge)