The Universal Language of Bridge

By Carole Johnson

Like many people, my introduction to bridge began around the kitchen table.

I had played the occasional game in my younger years, but it wasn't until my husband Ian and I settled in Edinburgh in 2021 that I decided it was time to take bridge more seriously. Being married to a former junior bridge champion – albeit one who hadn't played for 40 years – gave me a little extra motivation to improve my game!

I still remember my first visits to the Carlton Bridge Club. I was incredibly nervous. In fact, my hands shook as I held the cards. Looking back, there was no need to worry. The club was wonderfully welcoming and friendly from the moment I arrived.

What I quickly discovered is that bridge clubs are about much more than cards. Alongside the regular games, there are celebrations throughout the year for Burns Night, Halloween and Christmas. Many members arrive early to enjoy lunch together, while tea breaks are accompanied by homemade cakes and good conversation. The social side of bridge is every bit as rewarding as the game itself.

As our interest in bridge grew, we also joined Edinburgh's New Melville Bridge Club, initially to give us more opportunities to play online while travelling. However, playing abroad soon became one of the most enjoyable parts of our bridge journey.

Bridge has taken us to clubs across Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Spain and Canada, as well as many closer to home. Wherever we go, we try to seek out a local bridge club.

What amazes me is how quick bridge breaks down barriers.

You can walk into a room full of complete strangers, sit down at a table and instantly share something in common. The game creates connections that might never happen otherwise. Through bridge, we've met local people, discovered hidden gems, received restaurant recommendations and gained insights into places we would never have found in a guidebook.

For me, bridge truly is a universal language.

In fact, Ian and I sometimes joke that we feel more at home in the Southern Hemisphere, where many players use the same bidding system that we do. It certainly saves us having to explain our conventions before every game! And unlike some clubs back home, there's no need to remember Stop cards – something I confess I occasionally forget.

One of the most fascinating things about bridge is that the more you learn, the more you realise there is still to learn.

It's a game that constantly challenges you. Every hand is different, every session presents new puzzles, and even the most experienced players continue to discover new ideas. That's part of what keeps it so engaging.

Over the years, bridge has become much more than a pastime. It has introduced me to lifelong friends, taken me around the world and given me a hobby that continues to stretch and challenge me.

As my Parkrun times inevitably get a little slower, it's comforting to have something where I still feel I can improve year after year. In my sixties, I'm still learning, still developing and still enjoying every opportunity to sit down at a bridge table.

My only regret is that I didn't start playing properly sooner. But perhaps one of the great things about bridge is that it is never too late to begin.

Whether you're looking for a mental challenge, new friendships, or simply a welcoming community, you never know where that first bridge lesson might take you.

And if my experience is anything to go by, it could take you around the world.