Leisure In fact, the game traces its roots back to the 16th-century emergence of trick-taking card games such as whist. By the late 19th and early 20th centuries, whist was on a transformation path that led to the bridge game which we generally know today. Since the late 1800s, it has largely been accepted as the principal intellectual card game in existence. It has been lauded by such famous aficionados as author W. Somerset Maugham, who once said, “bridge is the most entertaining and intelligent card game man has so far devised.” No less enthusiastic is American billionaire business mogul Warren Buffet, who once stated, “bridge is such a sensational game that I wouldn’t mind being in jail if I had three cellmates who were decent players and who were willing to keep the game going 24 hours a day.” Buffett, who is currently 86 years old, also said that playing bridge is like running a business. It’s about hunting, chasing, nuance, deception, reward, danger, co-operation and, on a good day, victory. Here’s my personal considered opinion of the game: bridge offers unrivalled attributes that include mental challenge, team work, entertainment, versatility, development skills, strategic planning, the perverseness of chance and universal socializing. So if the game is that wonderful – and I believe that it is – some might ask why people are not joining bridge clubs in droves. Among some of the reasons advanced is that bridge is shown to have a steep learning curve. A person can fairly quickly learn the basic mechanics of the game, but to achieve any degree of mastery usually requires a much-longer period – even years. There are more than 635 billion possible bridge hands and a daunting assortment of approaches, stratagems and techniques for playing them. In addition, some have said that learning the bidding language of bridge is like learning to speak Russian. Moreover, some seasoned players have little or no patience for the undeveloped skills of new members. Criticism and intolerance can sometimes be credited with new players abandoning the game forever. I confess that I came close to giving it up myself. I had previously played for only six months before work-related obligations led to a 30-year hiatus from the game. Consequently, when I resumed play three decades later, I was a definite neophyte – and it wasn’t easy. Most fellow players were extremely patient as my learning curve developed, but not all. Sharp rebukes cut deeply and can, in some instances, sadly result in wannabe players walking away. Wisely, some clubs have enacted a “zero tolerance for criticism” policy which, if fully enforced, makes it far less likely that a newbie player will leave the game due to berating. However, like many others, I believe that there is a more significant and obvious reason why the young generation has, for the most part, little or no interest in bridge. Simply put – it’s technology – wherein computer and video games have become the new normal. They provide instant gratification in a multitude of gaming environments that offer surprises, challenges, stimulation and travel into alternate worlds filled with fantasy and rewards for skill. Young people and adults alike (a 2014 study done by the U.S. Entertainment Software Association cited the average age of a video game player as 35) have bought heavily into video gaming, a phenomenon that has easily eclipsed card games – including bridge. Actually, player numbers began falling off long before the presence of computers and video games. By 1960, when television sets had become commonplace inmost households, the popularity of parlour bridge began showing signs of decline. By extension, club bridge started following the same trend over the next decade and beyond. It’s unclear how the future of bridge will shake down in numbers and longevity, however, I continue to remain hopeful. My 12-year-old grandson is an avid video gamer, but I can still interest him in playing a game of chess and the leap from chess to bridge is not an unreasonable one. Nevertheless, interesting youngsters in the game that has been loved by somany over the centuries is clearly a tall order in the face of overwhelming technical distractions. In addition, without visible role models, young people will likely continue to regard bridge as a game which their grandparents play. Furthermore, the decline is not entirely driven by young people. Working adults are occupied withmaking a living, leaving little or no time for card playing, especially a game that requires a high level of devotion and patience. In spite of the influences that have contributed to its reputation as an old person’s pastime, it’s arguably premature to suggest that it’s “game over” for bridge. My personal view is that it will not go into a continuous free-fall, but that its popularity will never again reach the level of that long period during which it was universally accepted as the most popular game on the planet. Maybe it will continue to be regarded as an old folks’ game and leave it at that. Maybe the younger generation will connect with online bridge (deemed to be a boon to beginners) since it’s both fast-paced and user-friendly. Maybe international bridge organizations will step up youth-oriented programs. Whatever the case, there’s no crystal ball to predict how the cards will fall for this finest of finest games. CSANews | SUMMER 2017 | 39
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