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Quiz about Contract Bridge Through the Ages

Contract Bridge Through the Ages Quiz

Bridge remains the most popular card game played at a competitive level with an estimated 20 million players worldwide. Do you know the history of the game?

A multiple-choice quiz by kaapie. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
kaapie

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
258,213

Updated
Aug 25 23

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
681

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. The origins of Bridge can be traced back to a card game first played in the 16th Century. What was the name of this game?

Hint

Whist

Cribbage

Poker

Old Maid

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Question 2 of 10

2. In which century was a game known as Bridge first played? Hint

17th

20th

18th

19th

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Question 3 of 10

3. Which American multi-millionaire transformed the game from Auction Bridge to Contract Bridge in 1925 - the game we play today? Hint

Jacob Astor

John Paul Getty

Harold S Vanderbilt

Andrew Carnegie

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Question 4 of 10

4. In 1931, the best-selling book in the USA was a bridge book, written by the first entrepreneur of bridge. What was its name? Hint

Bridge on the River Kwai

Culbertson's Blue Book

Goren's Complete Bridge

A Bridge Too Far

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Question 5 of 10

5. Which American President was considered an expert at the game? Hint

Franklin Delano Roosevelt

Richard Milhous Nixon

Lyndon Baines Johnson

Dwight Eisenhower

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Question 6 of 10

6. The trophy for the first world championship was named after the place where it was first played - what is the name of the trophy, still played for today? Hint

The New York Cup

The Paris Cup

The London Bowl

The Bermuda Bowl

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Question 7 of 10

7. From 1957-69 one country remained undefeated at bridge at world level - which one? Hint

Italy

France

USA

China

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Question 8 of 10

8. Women have had their own Bridge World Championship since 1970, with the trophy again named after its first venue. Name the trophy. Hint

The Venice Cup

The Paris Shield

The Rome Vase

The Moscow Cup

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Question 9 of 10

9. Has the International Olympic Committee recognised any "mind sports" ? Hint

Bridge and Chess have both been recognized

Only Chess has been recognized

No mind sport has Olympic recognition

Only Bridge has been recognized

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Question 10 of 10

10. Which heart-throb actor has represented his country at Bridge? Hint

Omar Sharif

Pierce Brosnan

Sean Connery

Rudolf Valentino

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. The origins of Bridge can be traced back to a card game first played in the 16th Century. What was the name of this game?

Answer: Whist

The first book completely devoted to Whist was written by Edmund Hoyle in 1742.

2. In which century was a game known as Bridge first played?

Answer: 19th

Whilst there remains dispute as to whether the game was first played in India or Egypt, and whether the substance of the game drew most heavily from Whist, Plafond (France) or Biritch (Russia)- it is known that the game was first played in London and New York for the first time in the 1890s.

3. Which American multi-millionaire transformed the game from Auction Bridge to Contract Bridge in 1925 - the game we play today?

Answer: Harold S Vanderbilt

Harold Vanderbilt felt that insufficient bonuses were given to players who contracted to make a high level of tricks (hence the name contract bridge as opposed to Auction Bridge as it was then called). Whilst on a cruise in 1925, he devised a new set of bonuses and method of bidding that with some changes is still in use today.

4. In 1931, the best-selling book in the USA was a bridge book, written by the first entrepreneur of bridge. What was its name?

Answer: Culbertson's Blue Book

Ely Culbertson, though not a great player himself, managed to convince the public via his salesmanship, that he was the world's leading authority on the game. Many of the ideas he espoused were those of his wife Josephine (who was a great player) or other professionals he hired to play on his team.

5. Which American President was considered an expert at the game?

Answer: Dwight Eisenhower

Eisenhower used to play with experts nearly every Saturday night, and attended national tournaments whenever possible.

6. The trophy for the first world championship was named after the place where it was first played - what is the name of the trophy, still played for today?

Answer: The Bermuda Bowl

The first official World Championship was held in Hamilton, Bermuda, in 1950 between USA, Europe and Great Britain - the USA were victorious.

7. From 1957-69 one country remained undefeated at bridge at world level - which one?

Answer: Italy

The team known as the Squadra Azzura was undefeated for thirteen years - at which point the team retired. Since then, the game was dominated until recently by the USA and to a lesser extent France. The Italians along with the USA have been the dominant force of the last 15 years, with Italy again the title holders in 2005.

8. Women have had their own Bridge World Championship since 1970, with the trophy again named after its first venue. Name the trophy.

Answer: The Venice Cup

The first women only World Championship was held in Venice in 1970, and won by the USA who have dominated ever since.

9. Has the International Olympic Committee recognised any "mind sports" ?

Answer: Bridge and Chess have both been recognized

In 2002 the Olympic Committee recognized Bridge and Chess as the only two mind sports, and Bridge was played as a demonstration sport prior to the 2002 Olympics - whether it will ever receive full status and official medals be awarded is still under deliberation.

10. Which heart-throb actor has represented his country at Bridge?

Answer: Omar Sharif

At one time Sharif virtually gave up his film roles to play Bridge full time, touring the world with the Omar Sharif Bridge Circus (comprising the top Italian stars of the day) challenging all comers to exhibition and high stake matches - they were only ever beaten once by The Dallas Aces.

He first played at World level in the 1964 Olympiad for the United Arab Emirates, and subsequently represented Egypt at the 1968 Olympiad.

Source: Author kaapie

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Bruyere before going online.
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