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Suit yourself | Scene Through the Lens

Bridge city

July 28, 2025: Louis-Amaury Beauchet, a professional bridge player from Brittany, France, takes a break between game sessions in an empty ballroom during the North American Bridge Championships taking place at the Center City Marriott with some 4000 card players in town through Aug. 3.
July 28, 2025: Louis-Amaury Beauchet, a professional bridge player from Brittany, France, takes a break between game sessions in an empty ballroom during the North American Bridge Championships taking place at the Center City Marriott with some 4000 card players in town through Aug. 3.Read moreTom Gralish / Staff Photographer

The American Contract Bridge League (ACBL) is hosting bridge players from all over the world for a week of meetings, events, classes and the North American Bridge Championships in Philadelphia.

Founded in 1937, the ACBL is the largest bridge organization in North America, with over 120,000 members (down from around 165,000 before COVID).

Bridge draws players of all ages and walks of life. Fictional characters James Bond and Snoopy both played, as do billionaires Bill Gates and Warren Buffett (who sometimes play as partners).

The Philadelphia area, covering from King of Prussia to the Jersey Shore, boasts an active community of 2,200 bridge players and 27 community bridge clubs.

Since 1998 a black-and-white photo has appeared every Monday in staff photographer Tom Gralish’s “Scene Through the Lens” photo column in the print editions of The Inquirer’s local news section. Here are the most recent, in color: