bridge & chess

[pdmunro]

When I read an article like the link below, I can't help wondering why bridge hasn't got similar books for kids. Is it because we can't break the game down into simpler bits for kids?

 

http://beta.uschess.org/frontend/news_7_525.php

[Hanoi5]

Unfortunately for Bridge, Chess has been around for more than 2000 years making it more widely known. I think one of the main priorities of bridge federations is making the game known and popular. Which ain't easy...

[barmar]

You can teach a kid how to play chess in under an hour. All they really need to know is the way each piece moves, how you capture pieces, and the object of the game.

 

Other trick-taking games, like hearts and spades, can also be learned quickly.

 

But bridge, because of the complexity of bidding, is much harder to teach. And while kids are usually good at learning things (the pre-pubescent brain is wired for it), it seems like the types of analytical processes required for bridge are not well suited to them. It doesn't seem like there are as many bridge prodigies as chess prodigies; it could be just because kids aren't exposed to bridge as much, but I think this was also true in decades past when bridge was an extremely popular pastime. We consider it noteworthy when a pre-teen achieves Life Master, which isn't really that much of an accomplishment compared to being a chess grand master.

[ArcLight]

A few points:

What would Bridge kids books be?

Bridge for Dummies?

The bidding is complex. Its not so easy to teach.

Will most kids be interested? Or do they just want to "play the game" (i.e. try and make the contract)

 

Also, because Bridge is a partnership game, it takes a lot of "together" time to play well.

"Why the F^*$% did you pass?" "Because my hand sucked, F^*$% you too"

This is common enough in adults, I wouldn't expect it to be less common in children.

 

-----------------------------------

There are a huge number of excellent bridge books. I know because I have read them. Look at this quote from the article

 

>One of the things I love the most about chess is its profoundly anti-social nature

 

In my limited experience many bridge players are not into reading books on Bridge. And Spades players (a Whist derivative) are even less willing to read articles. Perhaps becaus eof its anti-social nature, chess players may be more likely to be loners and perhaps more willing to read books. (This is speculation, I have no proof). The only annecdotal evidence I have is my father said he grew disillusioned with chess because of the anti-social aspect. (He was a good player when younger, rated in the top 50 in the USA)

 

There are also a number of EXCELLENT Bridge CDs. All of the ones Mike Lawrence has written. There is also Bridge Master.

 

 

The article mentions "chess books for teachers". Thats a little different. I'm not aware of Bridge books aimed at teachers, unless the ABTA has some. On his website Richard Pavlicek has materials he will sell to other teachers.

 

One problem with teaching bidding is the partners may have different ideas. They will favor different styles and conventions, and there is so much to discuss and agree upon.

 

In chess we can all read the same book on end game strategy and come away with something.

 

 

For kids to learn and want to play Bridge they need to see their parents or others they interact with play it. How can they be exposed to Bridge? High School? College? I have no idea. I'm not sure its easy or normal for elementary school kids to be interested.

[skjaeran]

Bridge is easily teached to kids if you start with "Minibridge". That means extremely simplified bidding - one partner in each partnership delivers his partner a note telling his distribution and hcp. The captain in the pair place the contract according to a decision table (if the strenght is more or less evenly distributed between the two sides there might be a competitive auction between the two captains).

 

Thus they learn what's generally needed of values to bid game, small slam and grand slam, and can develop their playing abilities.

 

Later on they can move on to real bridge and learn true bidding. Having more than basic playing skills and having learned the purpose of the bidding, this should be an easy transition. And best of all, at this point you'll have only those really interested staying. Which means it'll be even easier to be a teacher. And you'll have a good chance of getting these players to continue playing and become club members and tournament players.

[Hanoi5]

Activities can be made to fit kids needs in bridge. In fact minibridge attempts to do just that, introduce kids to bridge. Where I live the problem with bridge (and maybe this happens everywhere?) is that it is played with cards and cards are associated to gambling and not so good activities. If bridge could be taught in schools as chess is (in someplaces I agree) it'd be wonderful. More people would know about it and be hooked to it, just as they're hooked to other pasttimes.

[HeavyDluxe]

Interesting thread, actually... As I've mentioned elsewhere, I love bridge and am bummed that I have only gotten around to playing 'seriously' (bad) in my adulthood. I want to expose my kids to 'thinking games' in general, and bridge obviously is a particular idol I'd like to see come to the fore.

 

I agree with what's already been said in this thread: Chess is easier to teach kids than bridge. Teaching young children to play *well* is also easier, I think, since so much of early chess development is tactical. Since all the moves are right there in front of you, kids start to see the patterns relatively easily.

 

My plan of attack for developing my 6 year-old into the next Belladonna looks something like this:

Right now, exposure to card games and other games as 'fun'. Our son love to play games, and we merrily go along. No pressure, just enjoyment. For card games, we've been using this guide to card games for kids as an idea source.

 

Right now, our son loves Uno, chess, and a homemade whist-ish thing we came up with (played with half decks - 8-A or 2-7) called "Follow [and beat] the leader". He's learning about the suits, ranks (which, with the number cards is a counting/math thing), and how to win/lose graciously.

 

Eventually, something like minibridge will probably come into play - assuming he's still interested. Adding up 'points', some inference, and strategy etc. And on, and on it goes.

 

Based on what we've seen, just get them playing cards and having fun. As they start to get the idea of a particular game, add a complication or move to a new game that stretches them. Above all, make it fun. The reasoning to really start thinking about bridge will come with time, and I think the kid will let you know when the time is right.

[Mbodell]

Growing up as a kid our family played a number of games including bridge. Bridge is hard to play because of needing exactly 4 players, but both my parents played socially and I have a sister so the 4 of us could sometimes play. We also played good pre-bridge learning games like screw-the-dealer, hearts, and euchre.

 

I think euchre played 9-A followed by euchre played 7-A is a good intro into bridge like skills.

[zasanya]

The one great difference between the two 'thinking games' is that if you tell me my 6th move in Sicilian Najdorf was wrong I can bring out my chess board and checkmate you to prove my point.No one can dispute the superiority of my move till I am defeated.

In bridge you may be the finest card player and the greatest bridge theoretician ,yet it will be years before-perhaps never- you are recognized as such.

I think all competitive kids want to show their superiority in any field here and now.Therefore bridge will be the last option for any kid.

For adults its the other way round.If I lose I can blame the stupid P, the idiotic teammates,the cheating ops, the crazy field,the bidding system ,card luck,the organizers ,the loud music on the street,the BFI rules which dont allow my beloved conventions or .....something or someone.Very comfortable for my middle age+ ego.

[pdmunro]

They're doing something right in Atlanta:

http://home.earthlink.net/~atlantajuniorbr...sults070901.htm

http://home.earthlink.net/~atlantajuniorbridge/cphoto07.htm

[y66]

Wow! Atlanta Junior Bridge rocks!