Playing Bridge Has Benefits Regardless Of Age (2024)

Bridge diminished in popularity from its halcyon days in the 1930s and 1940s. In the early '60s, there was a nationally televised program for bridge followers, but by then sweeping changes in social and leisure habits began fueling the game's decline. Today poker is all the rage; bridge, to young people, is a vestige of a bygone era. The average age of today's competitive U.S. bridge player is 71.

Luring boomers

While bridge was long ago reduced to niche status, the New York Times still publishes a bridge column. The game received a boost when it was granted exhibition status at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. Bridge loyalists refuse to throw in the cards on the distinguished game. It is still played by millions — socially in homes and clubs, and competitively in tournaments. In recent years it has reached a wider audience online. Lily Hansen, 103, of Ludington, Mich., has played bridge for nine decades. "I am the only silver life master in my town,'' which means she has accumulated 1,000 lifetime masterpoints from the American Contract Bridge League (ACBL). "To become a gold life master, you need 2,500. In my case, I don't think I will be around that long.''

Hansen plays bridge twice a week and is director of a duplicate bridge club, which keeps her math skills sharp. "Everybody asks how come I am 103 and still driving … still around,'' she said. "Duplicate is competitive. It keeps your brain working. I honestly believe that.''

In recent years, the ACBL launched a number of marketing initiatives to lure more boomers, many of whom played the game as youths.

"We've found we can re-attract people in their 50s" through educational and instructional programs, said Robert Hartman, CEO of the ACBL.

The ACBL's primary audience consists of college graduates ages 55 to 75 with annual household incomes in excess of $75,000. Some boomers are new to the game, but many, such as Bobby Levin, 2014 ACBL player of the year, learned to play as children. Levin started playing at 12. By 15, he was a life master, the highest designation for a bridge player at that time.

In recent years, the ACBL launched a number of marketing initiatives to lure more boomers, many of whom played the game as youths.

"We've found we can re-attract people in their 50s" through educational and instructional programs, said Robert Hartman, CEO of the ACBL.

The ACBL's primary audience consists of college graduates ages 55 to 75 with annual household incomes in excess of $75,000. Some boomers are new to the game, but many, such as Bobby Levin, 2014 ACBL player of the year, learned to play as children. Levin started playing at 12. By 15, he was a life master, the highest designation for a bridge player at that time.

"My mother taught me after she was divorced — [playing] was a nice way for her to meet people," said Levin, 57, who is a full-time bridge professional. The best pros earn more than a half-million dollars a year.

Billions of possibilities

Bridge offers big benefits, regardless of age, income or physical condition. It is challenging, inexpensive and can accommodate those with serious disabilities, such as blindness.

Each deal has billions of possibilities. "Every hand is like a snowflake," says George Jacobs, a columnist for the "Bridge Bulletin."

Getty Images

"For a lot of people older than myself, and less capable physically, it is the only outside activity they have," said Paul Kelley, 74, a retired electrical engineer from Plymouth, Mass. "It really does good things for seniors in keeping you mentally sharp, particularly with degradation of memory."

Each deal has billions of possibilities. George Jacobs, 65, a columnist for the Bridge Bulletin, said, "Every hand is like a snowflake."

"The best players make so many errors in a session that, if they were baseball players, they would be fired," said Jacobs, who was captain of the 2002 U.S. Olympic exhibition team. "You keep trying, so your brain has to function harder."

Superstar players