Armless bridge competitor has a unique style

His little piggies play bridge.

Mike Wilson has a nickname that seems more appropriate for a soccer player than a bridge player: The Foot.

But his card playing skills didn’t earn him that title, he came by it naturally.

Wilson, who was born without arms, uses his toes to pick up and lay down the playing cards.

Wilson, 55, was among hundreds of bridge players Wednesday who packed Mirabeau Park Hotel’s ballrooms for the Spokane Regional Bridge Tournament.

The Northwest event comes to Spokane once every four years, organizers said. Nearly 1,000 competitors are expected during the seven-day tournament, which ends Sunday.

Bridge is played by four people. Partners sit on opposite sides of the table.

A 52-card deck is used and each player is dealt 13 cards.

The nuances of the game come in the language used by the partners to give each other clues as to what type of cards are being held.

“Bridge is the best game because there’s the most to it,” Wilson said. “Bidding has its own language, the contract and defending, the three facets, that’s what makes it great.”

Wilson has been playing cards most of his life. “I more or less put myself through school playing poker.”

The retired stock broker from Vancouver, B.C., apparently has a knack for cards. He is in the top tournament bracket for the regional. His team took first place at the competition earlier this week.

“You can tell he’s good based on who he’s playing,” said Idaho resident Max Thompson referring to a man at the card table with Wilson. The opponent was a professional bridge player; people pay him to be their partner, Thompson said.

“I’m doing reasonably well,” Wilson said modestly. “I’ve won my fair share of regional tournaments.”