Experience the Fun of Bridge War!
By Betty Starzec
Bridge War is an exciting blend of both bridge and war that is offered by the ACBL through their online [game at www.bridgewar.com] It is completely free. If you’ve ever tried to engage your family, neighbors and friends to learn bridge this is an exciting first step to get them on their way.
The website offers the “Warrior’s Guide” which illustrates how to play. There are practice duels in “Combat Training” and then playing with the robot partner who is always dummy against another pair of robots in “Enter Battlefield.” The object is to take the first seven tricks – the side that does is the winner of the battle. (Winning one more trick than half of the 13 tricks available is a great way for players to understand the meaning of “book” when they play in the real world.) The player advances from playing notrump contracts to a suit contracts where the website will designate the trump suit. There are guiding messages throughout the game and multiple levels of “battles” for the player to experience.
You can bring the Bridge War battle to your table at home playing with friends using the deck-of-cards version of the game. Full instructions are given on the website in “Battle at Home.” It resembles bridge but lacks the bidding that gives even the most timid newcomer to the game a fun experience.
The ACBL will continue to update the site to make it even better, but it is truly fun right now! Please give it a try and spread the fun!
Betty Starzec is in Unit 174 (Sugar Land). She is the immediate past president of D16, Unit 174 president, Central Region co-chair of the ACBL Aileen Osofsky ACBL Goodwill Committee, plus all of her numerous bridge teaching credentials.