Bridge | 22 July 2023

Bridge isn’t a game you can master quickly. Quite the opposite: with every new level you reach, another looms above you. The higher you climb, the more humbling it is: possibilities you didn’t even know existed reveal themselves, yet remain beyond your grasp. Frankly, even Sisyphus wouldn’t swap places. Recently, one of the clients I play with asked how long it takes to become an expert. ‘Without wanting to discourage you,’ I replied, ‘it’s taken me 30 years to get this bad.’

Reading helps. But in my opinion bridge books often underestimate how slow and difficult the learning process is. Books for beginners are generally fine, but those labelled ‘intermediate’ tend to expect too much too soon. The most basic techniques have yet to be drummed in: if you push players to move on, nothing will stick.

It’s the same with lessons. Not long after completing a beginner’s course, a friend of mine booked an intermediate one.