Beginner - playing bridge

[McP1605]

I am new to TV. I am trying desperately to join different clubs. One thing I dreamed of learning when I came to TV was how to play bridge. Every time I meet someone who plays bridge I tell them I want to learn and I get something like this... "oh bridge is a really hard game, it's very hard to learn." Well, everyone who plays bridge had to start learning at some point... I am sure they didn't come out of the womb knowing how to play. I have learned how to play spades, hearts, poker, euchre and pinochle in my lifetime. With enough patience, I think I could learn bridge also.

Also, I have been told that it is VERY hard to get into a bridge group once you know how to play. So, any suggestions on how to go about learning to play and then how to get into a group?

Thanks for any info you can give.

[l2ridehd]

Begin by reading a few books on bridge and getting a computer bridge game to practice. Baron and Goren provide both at a reasonable cost and will get you all the basics of the game. You will then have the hand valuations, the play rules and the bidding process understood.

Bridge is a very complex game and even the very best players are still learning. Don't be discouraged and you will find a game of same level players to join once you have the very basics down.

I used to play a lot and had several masterpoints. However I have not played for 40 years so I am back to beginner bridge as well. Once I get there, I to will be looking for a group to start over playing again.

[rubicon]

Begin by reading a few books on bridge and getting a computer bridge game to practice. Baron and Goren provide both at a reasonable cost and will get you all the basics of the game. You will then have the hand valuations, the play rules and the bidding process understood.

Bridge is a very complex game and even the very best players are still learning. Don't be discouraged and you will find a game of same level players to join once you have the very basics down.

I used to play a lot and had several masterpoints. However I have not played for 40 years so I am back to beginner bridge as well. Once I get there, I to will be looking for a group to start over playing again.

12idehd: Master points that impressive. Bridge is very difficult and I enjoyed playing it but once you stop the "law of disuse" comes into play and well you simply forget. I played a lot of double deck pinochle and that game is no where near the difficulty of bridge

[shcisamax]

Gee I played bridge in college and didn't think it was difficult to learn...difficult to play, well....yes, but not to learn. I would love to find a new to bridge game and start again. The big difficulty now is how much memory is left in my hard disk :) without which is a teensy weensy bit of a problem.

[kittygilchrist]

Lifelong learning class starts in Jan.

[redwitch]

Bridge is my passion, much like golf is to many here. I can help people who know the game but really can't teach someone who has never played -- a lot of what I learned way back when is now instinctual and no way could I give the very basics to someone.

At the present, The Villages Duplicate Club is starting a new program for people who want to get back into the game and, possibly (not sure on this), for beginners. It is lessons with play, which is truly the best way to learn.

If you want to learn the game, decide how competitive you want to be -- there is a huge difference between rubber bridge and duplicate bridge. More conventions are used in duplicate. To me, dupe is more challenging and, thus, more enjoyable. The nice, friendly game around the kitchen table is not my cup of tea. I really do want to compete when I play.

A couple of good books for beginners -- Bridge for Dummies; Watson's Play of the Hand (very dry reading but hand's down the best bridge book ever written).

If you'd like the name of some people who give private lessons, LMK and I'll PM you that information.

[zcaveman]

Lifelong learning class starts in Jan.

Your best choice as you will have other learners. Eventually you will all play as a group.

I tried bridge and was not bad at it but was not great. I got tired of the partner yelling at each other for wrong bids and wrong plays. I went back to Hearts.

But don't let my experience deter you. It is a great game with the right group(s).

I always thought that duplicate bridge was great.

Z