August 13, 2025
A bit over a year ago, I was honored to be elected President of the Washington Bridge League. I want to take a moment with you to discuss what I've learned. But first, a pop quiz.
Do you know when and by whom contract bridge was invented? While whist, the ancestor of bridge, has been being played since the 18th century, what developed first were games called bridge-whist and auction bridge. Then, in November 1925, American Harold Vanderbilt introduced a series of scoring changes to make the game better. First, while auction bridge awarded game and slam bonuses once you had made the proper number of tricks regardless of the number of tricks you had bid for, in contract bridge you had to bid the number of tricks for game, making attempting game or slam a riskier prospect by increasing the chances of going set. This made the game more competitive by giving the defense a wider target to aim at, and set the stage for explosive growth in the game of bridge.
That means that we are celebrating 100 years of bridge this year, with special events all through November to celebrate the game's centennial!
I also want to share my perspective on the health of the Washington Bridge League. The unit, like most bridge units across the country, was badly hurt by the COVID-19 pandemic. Whether it's because people got out of the habit of going out together for social activities, an aging population that is less likely to drive to events, or simply reflective of a trend first identified in Robert Putnam's 2001 work Bowling Alone, our unit game, once one of the largest and strongest in the country, is struggling. We rarely have sufficient attendance anymore to host separate A/X and B/C/D games. Those games were crucial as it gave rising players a path to tougher competition while also providing a more fun experience as every player could play against peers and enjoy the game. These days, we mostly just have to play one open session. None of us know how much longer we'll be able to afford to host our weekly Thursday night unit game at Ohr Kodesh Congregation.
So what are we doing about it? We've started by trying to expand bridge itself. So far, the unit, working with the Washington Bridge League Educational Foundation, has host a series of bridge lessons, ranging from people who have never played before to an upcoming series for advancing players. This has recruited new players we hope to bring into the fold.
We are also considering changes to the Unit Game itself. At our April sectional tournament, we circulated a survey and there was significant support behind moving to an earlier time so that the game ends earlier, getting everyone home just a bit earlier. We are also experimenting with game types. For example, we are planning to offer a game later this year that matches up less experienced players with more experienced ones, helping to facilitate player growth. We are open to other changes, and if you have requests, please contact me directly and I will ensure you are heard by the board.
But the simple thing you can do to help us is the thing that got us all to sign up with the ACBL to begin with. Just play bridge. Make a plan with a group of friends to play in the unit game so that you have peers and friends to discuss the hands with. Be seen in public playing bridge. If anyone asks what game you are playing, offer them information, even if it's just the ACBL web site. The WBL isn't important in and of itself, but as a part of a bridge ecosystem that gives opportunity to everyone to play.
I hope you choose to come to the unit game soon. While it is assuredly a competitive endeavor, bridge is more that that. It's a community. Trust me. Your friends in bridge miss you! I know because I miss so many players. I hope to see you soon.
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