The world’s most challenging mental sport, bridge is a game of skill, communication and infinite possibilities. Millions of people worldwide play at home. Many advance to tournament or “duplicate” bridge to enjoy its social and competitive aspects.
Bridge is a partnership game using a standard deck of 52 cards dealt equally among four players. The players bid in a coded language to describe their hands to their partners and then play to make their contract. Generally, one suit is determined as “trump,” leading to the expression, “Play your trump card.” Duplicate contract bridge, in which each competitor or team plays identical hands under similar conditions, is the main form of competitive bridge. The primary goal of members of the ACBL is to achieve the rank of Life Master, requiring 500 masterpoints earned at club and tournament games.
The Jefferson City Bridge Club was started in October of 2008 by Phil Wisdom. In memory of one of Jefferson City's most well known bridge players, it is dedicated in memorial to Art Koester: a Life Master, manager of a successful bridge club, a teacher, outstanding player, wonderful partner, and a friend to all who knew him. In November of 2010 Michael Hughes took over operations of the club from Phil and hopes to continue growing the game of bridge in central Missouri.
The American Contract Bridge League was founded in 1937. Today it is the largest bridge organization in the world, with more than 160,000 members in the United States, Canada, Mexico and Bermuda. A not-for-profit organization, the ACBL determines internationally recognized rules of bridge, sanctions clubs and tournament games, and encourages participation at all levels of proficiency and experience.