Maximum Tabs Open - tabs keep opening after being closed

Is there an option to make it so when I close a tab it stays closed?

I'm sorting thru images using (windows) explorer, so when i spot a duplicate i right click and open the folder in bridge, but after a while I get the Maximum Tabs open warning box. 

I keep right clicking and closing all other tabs, but the next time i right click and open in bridge all of the tabs that I previously closed are open again. 

I have tried looking thru the preferences menu but haven't found anything that sounds like it would fix this.

Thanks,

Melissa