Bridge is one of the most enduring and popular games in the world. It is one of the most popular participation sports in Britain, with around three million people playing on a regular basis. Part of the attraction is that it can be played by everyone, from all walks of life and of all ages together. It is a very sociable game - anyone can join a club, meet new people and make new friends in an environment where there are no social pressures and where everyone is treated as an equal. It's frustrating when you don't rise to the challenge, but tremendous when you are successful - whether through finding a great technical play or by outwitting your opponents.
Bridge is a partnership game for four people deriving from the much older game of whist.
The objective is for each partnership to win as many tricks as possible, each trick comprising one card from each of the four hands dealt. Each deal consists of two distinct stages - the bidding and the play of the cards to the tricks. During the bidding the trump suit is decided and a target number of tricks is set, which must be won before any points can be scored for the side winning the contract . The other two players form the defenders , whose aim is to prevent the contract being made. The bidding is conducted in a special bridge language where the words are the same all over the world, but the meanings given to the bids made can vary enormously.