David has been playing bridge and other card games for over 50 years and is an experienced tutor at both the novice and advanced stages of the game. As an experienced EBU Director he is authorised to teach, organise and direct bridge, run competitions and interpret the laws of bridge. 

 

There was a time when there were no computers, TVs, telephones or even cars, but people still came together and played card games. They would play in taverns, in mansions of the rich, in royal palaces and in private homes. Every nation, kingdom and state would have card players battling each other in afternoons and evenings every day of the year.

Nobody remembers exactly when the game of Bridge started. However, we know it was derived from a game of whist invented by the British in 1563. Whist (Shhh!, a natural name for a game that demands silence from players), was played throughout the British Empire and beyond. It is likely that the name Bridge was derived from Russian whist that was called ‘Biritch’ or ‘Britch’; both words do sound Russian, although neither are.

Today, bridge is the world’s most popular partnership card game, but its rules have changed significantly from its 16th  century origin. However, it was not until 1890, when the game was introduced to the USA did it take on a modern look; Harold Vanderbelt, an American multi-millionaire, and 3 times winner of the Americas Cup, whilst on a Cruise suggested that only tricks bid & made should count towards game. Today, we have the World Bridge Federation, of which the English Bridge Union (EBU) is a major part, overseeing the rules that govern both Contract & Duplicate Bridge.