Playing Bridge in Times of Trouble
by Alex J Coyne
You might already know that poker made for a popular wartime game; it’s a great way to form alliances, gather ‘round for important meetings and pass the time during the waiting times of the war – and there are many photographs and other documented evidence out there of soldiers and prisoners sitting down to play a game of poker – but what about bridge?
Bridge was significantly more popular than poker during World War II, particularly among officers and prisoners of war. A 1942 survey cited in World War II and the Postwar Years in America, identified contract bridge as the most widely played card game at the time. While poker was popular, especially among American troops, bridge was preferred in many military and prisoner-of-war camps due to its intellectual challenge and structured gameplay. Memoirs and historical records show that bridge was used not only as a pastime but also as a mental exercise, helping soldiers stay sharp and engaged during long periods of waiting or captivity.
Digging for Memories
One of our coolest search results shows us this photo from 1941, named Prisoners of war playing bridge at Stalag 383, Hohenfels, Bavaria, Germany from the New Zealand National Library archives – there’s no doubt that there are more photographs like this one out there.
More memories can be dug up in memoirs – usually of soldiers – who might have engaged in a game of bridge in order to pass the time and keep the mind active.
- “We Never Said Good-Bye: Memoirs of a Bombardier from World War II” describes how a soldier and his bridge partner developed “a customized version of the Blackwood system” for their games. (See it here)
- “A Soldier’s Life in War & Peace” tells the story of a soldier who found himself captured by contract bridge when he first encounters the game. In his words, “When the classes started I realised that I was one amongst the few genuinely interested in learning to play contract bridge, whereas the rest had joined merely to make their number with the company commander.”
Wartime Card Decks
Throughout history, playing cards have served more than just recreational purposes—they’ve also been used as tools for education, strategy, and even survival. During both World Wars, special edition card decks were issued to soldiers, often included in military kits. These decks sometimes featured hidden maps, survival tips, or wartime propaganda, ensuring that even in moments of leisure, they provided valuable information.
For example, escape map decks were distributed by the British and U.S. militaries, with hidden maps that could be revealed when the cards were soaked in water. Organizations like the Red Cross and the United Service Organizations (USO) also contributed by distributing decks to prisoners of war to help them maintain morale.
Collectors can still find these historic wartime decks on platforms like eBay and Amazon, with some dating back as far as World War I. However, it’s important to distinguish these from modern military-issued decks, such as the IRAQ MOST WANTED deck from 2003, which was designed to help soldiers identify high-value enemy targets during the Iraq War.
If you’ve ever come across a wartime deck or have one in your collection, we’d love to hear your story!
Are you a bridge player who experienced the game during wartime in one capacity or another? We’d like to hear from you: Tell us how it happened – and of course, your cards!
RELATED ARTICLES
CITATIONS
We Never Said Good-Bye: Memoirs of a Bombardier from World War II
Author: Ryan M. Cooper
Publication Date: February 10, 2021
Publisher: Ryan M. Cooper
ISBN: 978-1736028704
A Soldier’s Life in War & Peace
Author: A. S. Naravane
Publication Date: December 1, 2004
Publisher: APH Publishing Corporation
ISBN: 978-8176484374
