The first steps in the evolution of Bridge
First originating in China in 1120, the popular card game Bridge
gradually evolved into its standard form in the hands of the Europeans.
Previously used as tarot cards in Egypt, Bridge was introduced in Europe
through Spain and Italy around 1370-1440. Then it became popular as the
game of whist among the English nobles of the 17th century.
Since Bridge developed out of the primal form of whist, it appears much
more sophisticated but less popular than whist. Because of its
predominant popularity, whist travelled from Europe to the Middle East
quite naturally. In the late 19th century, the basic form of Bridge was
derived from whist in Turkey.
Similarities and differences between Bridge and whist
Whist is played in two partnerships of four players, each of whom
deal with 13 cards from a 52-card deck. Each partnership aims to win the
maximum number of tricks possible. However, unlike the modern form of
Bridge, in whist there is no auction for settling on the trump suit and
scoring is much easier.
With time, whist was modified by adding the ‘double’ ‘redouble’ and
‘quadruple’ calls for forming the betting stakes of Bridge. Also, Bridge
became a distinctive card game when the idea of a declarer against an
exposed dummy was introduced.
Modern Bridge - A merger of plafond and auction
In France, Bridge turned into plafond in which partnership is
required to proclaim how many tricks they want to take. In the rest of
the world, Bridge continued to be played in the auction style
characterised by the action of bidding to decide whether any suit would
be trumps.
The modern form of Bridge emerged in 1925 when the features of auction
bridge and plafond were combined. Harold Vanderbilt, an American
invented the Contract Bridge that had an improved scoring table and
varying degrees of vulnerability. The scopes for scoring both penalty
and success in Contract Bridge quickly made it popular in the USA in the
1930s and 1940s.
In the 30’s Duplicate Bridge became a popular card game. In this, the
hands are dealt in players at one table and then passed on to another
and the others. The world championships held between 1950 and 1957 used
a variation of Duplicate Bridge. However, Contract Bridge still remains
popular because it is easy and mentally stimulating.
|
