Bridge
Bridge is a strategy game using a deck of 52 cards. It can be played by four players (two cooperating pairs of players), but is often played in tournaments involving many pairs. In tournaments, the 13 cards of each hand are kept by each player, and the same board is played on other tables to compare the results. Bridge can be played online on many sites.
To learn the game, the best way is probably to visit an introductory class. But it is also possible to learn on your own or with a friend using online ressourses. To practice, online servers often provide a limited amount of free robot games.
Here are some links.
- Einführung in Bridge, in Deutsch.
- Learn Bridge by the American Contract Bridge Association.
- Minibridge. Wikipedia article about a simplified version of Bridge and a link to an online site using robots.
- Deutscher Bridge Verband. Of course, similar organizations exist in around the world.
- Bridge Base Online (BBO) and its Forum. This is the most popular online server. It does offer free games with other players, and a limited amount of free tournaments using robots or a partner.
- Into Bridge. A new server with a nice career path for advanced players, requiring a subscription.
- Fun Bridge. Another server, requiring to buy playing points for unrestricted play.
- Real Bridge. This is the server that is used by many clubs to play online.
I maintain a blog about Bridge, mainly my personal Bridge diary.
I have written a tool to create hands, to play and to analyze them, including double dummy solving (only in Windows). You need a Java Runtime.
