Bridge – mental gymnastics for all ages

Bridge is fun! And it’s a very social game – you can bring your own playing partner or be paired up with another member.

What game connects James Bond, billionaire Warren Buffett and Microsoft founder Bill Gates? Bridge, of course!

The strategy and mental agility required for Bridge attracts people to the game across the world. But you don’t need to be a genius or have deep pockets to play.

The members of Perth Bridge Club have written a new course so that you can be playing Bridge in just a few months.

Over 20 weeks (split across two terms – one for beginners and one for people returning to Bridge or who want to learn more advanced skills) you will learn everything you need to know about the game that has captured the minds of millions across the globe.

But why Bridge? There are so many reasons to play Bridge and so many different ways that it stimulates your brain. These include:

• Challenge: Bridge is a game that will continue to challenge you as each hand unfolds.

• Entertainment: Most importantly, Bridge is fun! And it’s a very social game – you can bring your own playing partner or be paired up with another member.

• Mental stimulation: Bridge stops the mental rust from forming. People who have played for decades comment that they still learn something new every time they play. Studies have also shown that Bridge can help lower the risk of Alzheimer’s.

• Teamwork: Because Bridge is played in pairs, you learn great teamwork skills that can be used in all areas of life and work.

And it’s not just for grown ups. The whole family can learn to play and here’s how it can be good for children in other areas of their lives:

• Improved test scores: A 2006 study in the USA showed that children who played Bridge performed significantly better on tests than their classmates who didn’t play the game.

• Boosts the immune system: Biologist Marian Diamond, speaking at a meeting of the Society of Neuroscience, said that an experiment showed that Bridge players had an increased number of immune cells after playing. She said that it was “strong evidence” that the area of the brain stimulated by Bridge also boosts the immune system.

• Low cost: There’s no kit, no uniforms to buy and often there are free sessions for juniors (and even if you do have to pay, most clubs charge around £3 a session).

• You can play forever and continue to improve: Unlike a lot of physical activity, there’s no upper age range for playing and you don’t get “too old” for Bridge. And the more you play, the better you become!

Have a look at the course outline on the Perth Bridge Club website, www.bridgewebs.com/perth/ and submit your application. If you prefer to chat to someone first, contact George, PBC Classes Coordinator, on 07789 657236 or by email at georgebridgeclasses@gmail.com.