Bridge is an intellectual card game with a rich history and global recognition. Its full name is contract bridge, but in everyday use the shorter form – bridge – has long since become standard. Behind this name lies a complex system of strategies, calculations, and partnership play. Bridge has become more than just a popular game – it's a cult passion for lovers of logic and strategic thinking.
Today, bridge is a globally recognized sport with clear international rules, an official ranking system, prestigious championships, and thousands of clubs united under national and international federations.
History of the game
The history of bridge begins with whist – a card game that was widely played in 18th-century England. Whist is considered the foundation of bridge: despite its simple rules, it already featured trick-taking and early forms of partnership play, which would later become central to the new game. Gradually, whist became more complex. New variations appeared – first introducing elements of bidding and trump selection, and later a more advanced bidding system.
One of the key transitional forms was the game biritch (also referred to in British press as Russian Whist). This name came from the fact that the game arrived in England from the Balkans and the French Riviera, where it was popular among Russian-speaking players. Additionally, the word biritch likely originates from the Old Slavic term “birich” – a herald (someone who publicly announced orders), which symbolically relates to the bidding system in the game.
The name biritch was first printed in 1886 in the British magazine The Field. This game already featured bidding, trump selection, and contracts to win a certain number of tricks – innovations that distinguished it from classic whist and laid the foundation for bridge’s key elements.
The next major step was the emergence of “auction bridge” in the early 20th century. In this version, players took turns bidding and, for the first time, had to declare a contract to fulfill. This format retained whist’s mechanics but added new elements of strategy and partner communication.
The defining turning point came in 1925, when American businessman and card game enthusiast Harold Stirling Vanderbilt proposed a new set of rules during a sea voyage. He restructured the game: introduced the concept of the contract, distinguished games from part scores, and implemented a new scoring system. Thus was born contract bridge – the modern form of the game, which first gained popularity in the United States and later achieved international recognition.
Rise and official recognition
By the early 1930s, bridge had become one of the most popular intellectual pastimes in the United States. In 1937, the American Contract Bridge League (ACBL) was founded, and it still governs competitions, trains players, and publishes rankings. In Europe, bridge was also gaining popularity: clubs and tournaments emerged in France, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and other countries.
In 1958, the World Bridge Federation (WBF) was established, bringing together national associations from dozens of countries. Since then, bridge has held the status of an organized international sport, with its own tournament calendar, judging standards, and title system.
Bridge in the USSR and Post-Soviet Space
Despite its reputation as a “bourgeois pastime,” bridge found its place in the Soviet Union – especially among engineers, scientists, and students. In the 1960s–1980s, it was played at universities, dormitories, research institutes, and hobby clubs. The game had no official status but maintained steady popularity: magazines published game analyses, and regular meetups and club tournaments kept the interest alive.
After the collapse of the USSR, bridge remained a popular intellectual activity – particularly in major cities – and continues to develop within the national federations of CIS countries.
Interesting facts
- In 1929, the magazine The Bridge World was founded – the first professional publication dedicated entirely to contract bridge. Its founder, Ely Culbertson, played a key role in popularizing the game.
- Since 1995, bridge has been officially recognized as a sport by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) – the only card game with such status.
- In 2002, bridge was included in the program of the World Mind Sports Games (WMSG) in London, alongside chess and go – iconic strategy games.
- Warren Buffett and Bill Gates are longtime bridge enthusiasts. They regularly play as a pair and believe the game improves memory, strategic thinking, and teamwork.
- There are 635,013,559,600 possible card deal combinations in bridge. This makes every hand truly unique.
Bridge is not just a card game, but an intellectual pursuit with a rich history that spans eras, nations, and cultures. It has evolved from aristocratic entertainment into an international mind sport. Thanks to its depth, history, and strategic richness, bridge continues to unite generations of players across the world – at the card table and beyond.
Today, you can play bridge online for free – anytime and from anywhere in the world. Give it a try – this might just become your favorite game!