Clubs play the game in a similar way. Typically, you will play in pairs or the occasional team event.
But if you are a new player, there might not be many other new players at your club. A great way to challenge yourself against competition of a similar level is at a congress.
What is a congress?
Congresses are events where competitive play takes place at a large scale. New players are welcome, with some congresses offering events especially for developing players based on masterpoints (under 20, 100 and 300 masterpoints) and for Novice and Restricted players. Congresses also offer the opportunity to travel with friends and enjoy socialising.
Congresses typically play pairs in a Swiss format, where winners play winners and losers play losers. The risk of getting “beaten up by the strong players all the time” is very low. It is a useful format for advancing your match play.
Tips for congress play
To help new players adjust to congress play, we have this handy Congress Tips Brochure. Print out the brochure on one double-sided page, and then fold it up and take it with you to the congress!
Key congresses
There are a few big congresses throughout the year that attract large numbers of players and take place over a week or longer. They are:
- Summer Festival of Bridge, Canberra (January)
- Central West Festival of Bridge, Orange (April)
- Coffs Coast Gold Congress (August)
- Sydney Spring Nationals (October)
Find a congress
To find a congress that suits your timetable and preference to be face to face (F2F) or online, head to our events calendar.
The Central West Festival in Orange, the largest congress, takes over the town for four full days in April.
Winners of the under 100 MPS at the 2025 Summer Festival of Bridge