COMMUNITY

A bridge not too far

Many television shows of the 1950s and ‘60s showed domestic bliss as friends and neighbors met weekly for a bridge game. It may seem anachronistic, many people play bridge today, including members of the Salem Bridge Club.

Though the game is played mostly by older people, the game should appeal to a younger crowd. It is not necessarily your grandparent’s game. 

It takes only rudimentary knowledge to begin playing bridge, though it is not an easy game to learn, and it’s even more difficult to master. But that’s precisely why bridge is popular, and why it’s called “the game for a lifetime.” It is a game of strategy.

A standard 52-card deck is used to play bridge. The suits ranking downward in order are spades, hearts, diamonds, clubs; and the cards ranking downward in order are ace, king, queen, jack, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2.

There are four players, two against two as partners, who face each other across the table. Bridge is a game of strategy, which is why it should appeal to younger people, plus, just like the game portrayed on old television shows, it is a good way to socialize with friends and neighbors.

Millions of people around the world play bridge, including competitive tourneys governed by the World Bridge Federation. 

The Salem Bridge Club plays at Keizer/Salem Area Seniors, located at the corner of Cherry Avenue NE and Plymouth Drive NE. Games start at 11 a.m. on Wednesdays, 6:30 p.m. on Thursdays and 11 a.m. on Fridays, the cost is $6. Unit games are at 1 p.m. on the first Sunday of each month, cost for those games is $8.

Proof of vaccination for players is required, though masks are optional.