More than 100 bridge players from across Scotland will come to Perth to play in a tournament across eight city centre pubs.
These include the Royal George Hotel, Capital Asset, St Matthew’s Church, Cullach Brewing Taproom, Twa Tams, Parklands Hotel and the Giddy Goose.
Competitors will will travel in from Dundee, Stirling and Blairgowrie, as well as far-afield places such as Kyle of Lochalsh, Oban, Elgin, Edinburgh and Prestwick.
The event on Saturday, August 19 will mark the first time Perth has hosted Café Bridge.
The game is currently played in only five other locations in Scotland but is very popular in the Netherlands and Belgium.
What is bridge?
Bridge is a trick-taking card game involving four people who form two partnerships, taking the points of the compass.
North plays with south and east with west.
Each player receives 13 cards (your hand) which should be sorted into suits: spades, hearts, diamonds and clubs.
The game is divided into two phases, bidding and play.
In the first phase the partnerships use the bidding to determine which player will be the declarer and how many tricks he or she must win with the chosen trump suit (or without trumps if desired).
The second phase sees both sides attempting to win as many tricks as possible.
Why do people like it?
Miriam Drysdale, one of the Café Bridge organisers said: “Unlike some other card games, bridge is a game of skill, not chance.
“It is taught in secondary schools in China, Poland and many other countries as a way of improving logical thinking and mathematics skills as well team play and partnerships.”
Fellow organiser Marijke Lafferty is a member of the Perth Bridge Club.
“The game is not only very sociable but also a great way to exercise the brain,” she said.
How does the tournament work?
The tournament begins at 12.30pm and the last round ends at 5pm.
There will be seven rounds of four boards and a continuous flow of players in all venues; 12 in each of them throughout the tournament.
Marijke explained: “So 12 players will start round 1 in say, the Royal George Hotel, and then move to, for example, the Capital Asset for round 2 and so on.
“Other players will start round 1 in a different venue.”
Check-in is at St. Matthew’s Church between 10.30am and 12.15pm.
“The aim of the tournament is to bring bridge to the community and the community to bridge,” Marijke added.
“Café Bridge is gaining popularity in Scotland and our aim is to make it an annual event in Perth.
“It has been recognised as a mental sport by the International Olympic Committee.”
How can locals play bridge?
Perth Bridge Club in King Street, founded in 1937, is offering tree taster sessions in September.
From the following month there will be courses for beginners and play sessions for players of all levels.
Please check the Perth Bridge Club website for details.
Contact details are Marijke Lafferty on mclz@blueyonder.co.uk and Victor Lesk on brianplaysbridge@gmail.com.
People can register for the tournament online at www.brianbridge.net/perth2023.
Everyone is welcome.
