Schools Area

Development of social skills

Bridge develops communication and cooperative skills particularly when played at the table with a partner. A bidding system is in effect an artificial language with 37 words. Using this requires accuracy in transmission and reception. A player very quickly learns "Never lie" to partner since it produces disastrous results either by errors of omission or commission. A player has to learn self control if partner makes what is perceived as a serious error. Shouting at or castigating partner usually achieves a period of total disintegration and the partnership suffers when this happens.

These qualities can't be learned quickly but are vital for those who persevere with bridge. The bidding is learned better on computer but needs practice at the table to make it fully meaningful. The ideal mix is somewhere in between 33% to 50% on the computer and the balance at the table.