Celebrating 100 Years of Contract Bridge

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Celebrating 100 Years of Contract Bridge

Celebrating 100 Years of Contract Bridge – Australia Joins a Global Milestone

Some anniversaries come quietly. Others sneak up on you between a bad board and a lukewarm cup of tea at the club. And then there are the big ones — the kind you can’t help but pause for.

This year, bridge players around the international bridge community are marking one of those big ones: 100 years of contract bridge. A whole century of bidding misunderstandings, inspired leads, tragic moments in defence, unforgettable partners, and even the occasional perfect hand.

And yes — Australia has been part of the story pretty much from the beginning.

So… how did contract bridge actually begin?

Contract bridge didn’t appear overnight. It wandered its way here, evolving through whist, biritch and auction bridge before finally landing on the version we all recognise today — vulnerabilities, contracts, and the delicate art of deciding whether 3NT is brave or foolish.

In 1925, American player Harold S. Vanderbilt found himself on a cruise through the Panama Canal and did what many of us do on holidays: he tinkered with bridge scoring. His updates — especially the idea that you only score what you contract to make — reshaped the game into something sharper, fairer and far more exciting.

Clubs in London, New York and Paris quickly adopted the new rules, and suddenly contract bridge had a passport and a global fanbase.

The ABF’s own historical notes gently remind us that Vanderbilt didn’t reinvent the wheel so much as give it better grip. But 1925 is the moment the modern game truly took flight — the one we’re celebrating today.

Bridge lands in Australia (and flourishes quickly)

Did you know organised bridge associations have been active in Australia since the early 20th century?

Learn more in the ABF’s official history

Australia welcomed bridge with open arms — and probably a biscuit tin.

By the early 1930s, NSW and Victoria had established organised bridge associations, with other states soon joining in. As interstate rivalry grew (some things never change), the Australian Bridge Council was formed to bring everyone under one national umbrella.

By the 1960s, the name evolved into the one we all know today: the Australian Bridge Federation (ABF).

Fast-forward to now, and bridge in Australia is:

  • 32,000 members strong[1]
  • Spread across more than 340 affiliated clubs nationwide
  • Supported by teachers, directors, volunteers and organisers who keep everything humming — from weekday club sessions to marquee national events

Whether it’s the Summer Festival of Bridge, the Australian National Championships, or a country-town club session with homemade muffins, bridge has woven itself into the social fabric of Australia.

A 100-year-old game that somehow feels brand new

Celebrating the centenary is a great excuse to look back — but the real magic is how modern bridge still feels.

Why has it lasted? Because:

  • It’s social. Bridge gives people community, connection and somewhere to belong.
  • It’s endlessly stimulating. Every hand is a new puzzle (and sometimes a new adventure).
  • It’s flexible. Play in clubs, at home, online, casually or competitively — whatever works for you.
  • It’s beautifully intergenerational. Kids, parents, grandparents… everyone competes on equal footing.

Despite its age, bridge has adapted magnificently. Online play flourishes, teaching programs are expanding, and the centenary has sparked celebrations from San Francisco to Stockholm to Sydney.

Australia’s place in the global celebration

The centenary isn’t being treated as a single date — it’s a year-long global festival of everything we love about this game.

Australia is right in the mix:

  • The ABF proudly represents Australian players within the World Bridge Federation and the Asia Pacific Bridge Federation.
  • Our players and teams regularly take their place on the global stage — adding to a competitive history that spans generations.
  • At home, our clubs, directors, teachers and volunteers are the heartbeat of bridge in Australia. They’re the ones who keep the game alive day after day.

Across 2025 and into early 2026, we’ll be showcasing Australian bridge stories, shining a spotlight on local celebrations, and inviting newcomers to discover why this game has lasted a century.

How you can mark 100 years of contract bridge

Whether you’re a seasoned tournament veteran or someone who still consider a “Takeout Double” to be an aggressive dating move, there are plenty of ways to get involved.

For existing players

  • Encourage a friend or family member to join their local club’s next beginners course or teach them yourself!
  • Volunteer as a mentor or help run beginner lessons.
  • Share your “how I started playing bridge” story — online or at your club.

For newcomers

  • Join a learn-to-play course at a local club.
  • Ask a friend to teach you the basics.
  • Try an online intro session and then give in-person bridge a go.

If every player brought just one new person into the fold, the next 100 years would be off to a flying start.

Want to get involved?

Visit the ABF website to:

Around the world: how others are celebrating

The centenary has become a global party, with international bridge organisations rolling out special formats, commemorative items and playful tributes to the game’s history.

Here are a few highlights:

It turns out the whole world loves an excuse to celebrate bridge.

Here’s to the first 100 years — and the next deal

A century of contract bridge means millions of hands played, friendships formed, rivals respected, partnerships forged, mistakes laughed off and triumphs savoured.

If the first 100 years have taught us anything, it’s that bridge isn’t just a card game — it’s community, challenge and connection wrapped up in 52 cards.

Here’s to the next century of bidding battles, brilliant plays, questionable sacrifices, and great stories with great people.

[1] Actual numbers — 31,958 members and 343 clubs — are updated regularly on the ABF website

Posted in Latest News on November 21, 2025

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