Building Bridges: Sev Mironov and Bridge for Beginners

For more than a decade Sev Mironov has helped people discover the game of bridge together with the joy of learning, friendship and community. After joining Centrepoint in 2015, Sev has led the Bridge for Beginners group with patience, enthusiasm and a passion for teaching.

The group began in a simple and organic way. There was already a regular bridge group at Centrepoint and Sev noticed that one participant was struggling to keep up. Wanting to help, he offered guidance and encouragement. Helping one person soon grew, new beginners appeared, interest increased and before long Centrepoint provided a regular time slot for lessons and practice games. The group welcomes people of all experience levels and there was also an evening group to accommodate working members who could not attend during the day. Although the evening group eventually ended, the spirit behind it remains the same: creating opportunities for people to connect and learn together.

Teaching beginners takes patience and encouragement, qualities that Sev brings naturally to the group. He finds inspiration in watching newcomers discover the pleasure of bridge and gain confidence faster than expected. Many participants who start in the beginners group later feel comfortable joining other bridge communities – an important step into a wider social network. Others simply enjoy the excitement of friendly competition and the satisfaction of learning something new. The impact of Sev’s volunteer contribution reaches far beyond the card table as, in an increasingly digital world, activities like bridge create meaningful human connections through shared experiences, conversations, laughter, teamwork and challenges. Bridge can also expand your vocabulary with special jargon like ruff, dummy, and squeeze!

Bridge is often described as a “mind sport” but for Sev it is much more than that. Having played since he was a young student — long before internet tutorials or AI chatbots existed—he sees it as a unique combination of logic, strategy, intuition and teamwork. Players solve problems together, think ahead and receive immediate feedback. He describes the game as drawing on both arithmetic reasoning and almost musical-style pattern intuition.

Research has shown that mentally challenging activities such as bridge have important benefits for cognitive health[1]. Games that require concentration, memory, strategic thinking and communication help stimulate the brain and encourage the formation of new neural connections. Regular mental exercise, especially when combined with social interaction, help maintain cognitive flexibility and keep the mind active and engaged. Bridge offers these benefits in a setting that is stimulating and fun.

Outside of the bridge table Sev is equally active and creative. After moving to the Basel area with his wife in 2014, he embraced life in Switzerland through cycling, skiing, walking and birdwatching from his window. He is also an accomplished artist who has participated in more than twenty exhibitions in Switzerland and France, including two major exhibitions at Centrepoint. In addition, he continues to pursue a Master’s degree in Data Science at Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts (Hochschule Luzern / HSLU).

Bridge for Beginners is a reminder of what makes Centrepoint special: people volunteering their time and talents to create community through learning and fun. The group meets every Tuesday, 09:00 to 12:00. (bridgeclub@centrepoint.ch). Check it out!

Text by Roxane Baxter

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[1]Hen-Herbst, L., Lamash, L., Fogel, Y., & Meyer, S. (2023), Mind Sports: Exploring Motivation and Use of Cognitive Strategies in Bridge, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20064968 ( MDPI full-text article )