Bridge is a card game that has been around for centuries and continues to be enjoyed by millions of people around the world. It can be both an enjoyable social activity or a challenging competitive sport depending on how it’s played.
If you are looking to learn bridge, there are many great books available for beginners and experienced players alike.
Here is an overview of the best books to learn bridge.
Bridge Basics 1 by Audrey Grant
Audrey Grant’s Bridge Basics 1 is the perfect book for anyone who is just starting out with a bridge. It offers an introduction to basic bridge principles and gives readers a comprehensive understanding of the game.
It explains bidding, card play, and defense in simple terms that are easy to understand. With diagrams and illustrations throughout, it helps beginners gain an understanding of the fundamentals without being overwhelmed by complex rules.
Bridge Basics 1 covers all aspects of the game from basic bidding systems to more advanced strategies. It provides readers with a solid foundation in which they can build their own game-play knowledge upon.
The book also includes several sample hands so readers can practice their skills before playing a real bridge match against other players. Once they’re comfortable, they can then advance to more difficult topics such as slam bidding or declarer play technique.
Bridge Basics 2 by Audrey Grant
Bridge Basics 2 provides readers with a comprehensive review of intermediate-level topics in one easy-to-follow volume. It covers essential conventions such as Stayman and Jacoby Transfer bids as well as advanced techniques like preempts and finesses.
The content is organized clearly so that new players can quickly understand concepts without becoming overwhelmed by too much detail. With its clear explanations, diagrams, and examples this book provides an invaluable learning opportunity for both novice and experienced players alike.
25 Bridge Conventions You Should Know by Barbara Seagram and Marc Smith
The bridge is one of the most popular card games around, and if you’re looking to up your game, then you need to know the basics.
Barbara Seagram and Marc Smith’s book, 25 Bridge Conventions You Should Know, is a great resource for those who want to take their bridge skills to the next level. With this book, readers will learn key bridge conventions that will help them increase their winning potential.
This book provides detailed instructions on how each convention works and advice on when it should be used in play.
It also includes exercises at the end of each chapter so readers can practice what they have learned as they work through the material. In addition, there are several hands featured throughout that demonstrate how each convention can be applied in different real-world scenarios.
5 Weeks to Winning Bridge by Alfred Sheinwold
Alfred Sheinwold’s book 5 Weeks to Winning Bridge is a must-have for any bridge enthusiast! It is one of the most comprehensive books on the market today, providing players of all levels with an easy-to-follow guide to success in the game. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced player, this book has something for everyone.
The book covers topics such as bidding and play of the hand in a step-by-step fashion that is easy to understand. The author also provides many examples that help readers understand the basics quickly and master them with ease. In addition, Alfred Sheinwold makes sure readers stay motivated through his thought-provoking questions and helpful tips.
Beginner Bridge Flipper by Andrew Robson
The book Beginner Bridge Flipper by Andrew Robson has been a great success in the world of bridge. It is an ideal book for those who are just starting to learn how to play bridge.
This comprehensive guide features everything from rules and techniques, to strategies and additional resources that will help players improve their game. Players of any level can benefit from the advice provided in this book while they go on their journey towards becoming experienced bridge players.
Throughout this instructional guide, Andrew Robson provides clear-cut explanations and vivid illustrations of every part of the game that readers need to understand.
He focuses on helping new players become more confident in their playing ability as well as improving upon existing skillsets for veteran players.
His key teaching methods focus on breaking down complex topics into simpler pieces which makes them easier to digest and apply when learning or playing bridge.
Bridge for Dummies by Eddie Kantar (2nd edition)
Bridge For Dummies by Eddie Kantar is the perfect guide to learning and mastering the card game bridge. Written in an easy-to-understand format, this book is ideal for anyone looking to learn bridge from scratch or brush up on their existing skills.
The author, Eddie Kantar, has been teaching bridge since 1971 and has written several books on the subject. He presents a comprehensive guidebook containing strategies and techniques for all levels of players, from beginner to expert.
This book provides detailed instructions on bidding systems, defensive play and declarer play as well as tips on playing with different partners. Also included are quizzes and hands-on practice exercises to help readers hone their skills. Each chapter ends with a summary of what was learned so that readers can review their progress at a glance.
Card Play Technique or the Art of Being Lucky by Victor Mollo, Nico Gardener
Card Play Technique or the Art of Being Lucky by Victor Mollo and Nico Gardener is an insightful and informative book that explores the complex art of card play.
It reveals the general principles that govern card play and how they can be used to improve your game. Victor Mollo, a master bridge player, and Nico Gardener, an expert on play technique, team up to provide readers with practical advice from their combined knowledge.
This book provides a comprehensive analysis of key concepts such as declarer play, defensive technique, bidding conventions, and opening leads. It covers both simple hand patterns and complex ones, giving readers plenty of opportunities to practice new techniques.
The authors also discuss important topics such as endplays, squeezes and safety plays in different situations.
Essential Bridge Flipper by Andrew Robson
If you are an experienced bridge player looking to move up to a higher level, Andrew Robson’s Essential Bridge Flipper is the perfect book for you! This must-have resource contains all the tips and tricks needed to become a champion bridge player. From bidding systems to defensive play, readers will find everything they need in this comprehensive guide.
The author provides easy-to-follow instructions on how to master various concepts quickly and effectively. He also offers plenty of practice drills that allow players to assess their progress and pinpoint areas for improvement.
Experienced players will appreciate the detailed analysis which helps them hone their skills and make informed decisions throughout each game. Additionally, every concept is accompanied by helpful diagrams that illustrate key strategies in an easily understandable way.
How to Read Your Opponent’s Cards by Mike Lawrence
The game of bridge is a popular card game that requires strategy and quick thinking. One way to gain an edge over your opponents is by learning how to read their cards. This book, How To Read Your Opponent’s Cards by Mike Lawrence, will teach you the secrets of this skillful practice.
Lawrence provides readers with a comprehensive guide on how to locate missing high cards and gain an advantage while playing the game.
He explains in detail tips and techniques such as counting the number of cards left in a suit, following patterns established by your opponents’ bidding style, using visual clues from the play, understanding which hands are more likely than others to possess missing high cards, and much more.
Points Schmoints! by Marty A. Bergen
Marty A. Bergen’s book, “Points Schmoints!” is a must-read for any bridge enthusiast. Whether you are a beginner or experienced at the game of bridge, Marty A. Bergen provides essential tips and tricks to help improve your game.
Bergen’s approach to teaching bridge helps readers understand how the strategies are applied in real-life situations and how to effectively use those principles in their own games.
With an emphasis on understanding the basics of the game, this book covers topics such as bidding systems and defensive play techniques.
Tips for Intermediates by Andrew Robson
Andrew Robson’s book, Tips for Intermediates, is a must-have guide for those looking to take their bridge game to the next level. Robson provides essential advice on how to improve your playing skills and strategies, as well as practical tips on how to apply them in actual games.
He explains topics such as bidding techniques, defense, and declarer play with clarity and authority. His advice is backed up by numerous examples from some of the world’s top players.
Robson also offers valuable insights into the tactical aspects of the bridge – when it is necessary to be aggressive or defensive in different situations.
He also provides invaluable guidance on card reading and planning your strategy during a game based on your opponent’s approaches.
An entire chapter is devoted to helping intermediate players master their mental approach toward bridge so that they can confidently compete against more experienced opponents.
Ron Klinger’s Master Class by Ron Klinger
Ron Klinger is one of Australia’s most renowned bridge players and authors.
In his book Ron Klinger’s Master Class. Provides readers with an in-depth look at all aspects of bridge play, such as bidding and defense systems, declarer play techniques, opening leads, and endplays.
Additionally, readers will find advice on how to use “card combinations” – sequences that can help you solve common problems during the play of a hand – as well as comprehensive examinations into topics such as slam bidding and defensive tactics.
The Cardturner by Louis Sachar
The Cardturner by Louis Sachar is a coming-of-age story about a young man’s journey to understand the game of bridge and his growing relationship with an elderly, blind bridge player.
The novel follows Alton Richards, a 16-year-old who reluctantly agrees to be the card turner for his great-uncle. As Alton works with his great uncle, he discovers the beauty of playing bridge and finds joy in teaching him how to play again. Through this experience, he learns valuable lessons about friendship and family and grows as an individual.
Along with its themes of growth and connection, The Cardturner explores the complexities of learning something new through vivid descriptions of Alton’s experiences at bridge tournaments.
Sachar also writes insightfully about how people can adapt to loss or disability; as Alton helps his great uncle learn how to play again despite his vision impairment.
The Fun Way to Serious Bridge by Harry Lampert
The Fun Way to Serious Bridge by Harry Lampert is the perfect book for anyone interested in learning how to play one of the most popular card games in the world.
With an engaging and humorous writing style, Lampert offers readers a comprehensive guide on how to become an expert bridge player in no time. The book teaches readers basic strategies, techniques, and tips while also providing a look into the game’s rich history and its many variations.
The Fun Way to Serious Bridge takes readers through every step of becoming a master bridge player from understanding what tricks are needed to win each round, to developing your own personal strategy.
It also features helpful diagrams and illustrations that make complex concepts easier to comprehend. Whether you’re just starting out or looking for ways to improve your existing skillset, this book has all the information necessary for mastering bridge quickly and easily.
Watson’s Classic Book on The Play of the Hand at Bridge by Louis H. Watson
Louis H. Watson’s book “The Play of the Hand at Bridge” is a classic in the bridge world. It is one of the most comprehensive and authoritative books ever written on card play strategy, offering an in-depth look into the fundamentals of successful card play.
The book has been embraced by bridge players around the world for its value as a reference and teaching tool for contract bridge strategies.
Watson’s book provides detailed instruction on analyzing hand patterns, bidding strategy and tactics, developing defensive strategies, and applying psychological principles to success at contract bridge.
He explains basic concepts such as counting losers, establishing tricks in notrump contracts, setting up side suits, and drawing trumps with clear examples that even beginners can understand.
Advanced players will find plenty of challenging material too; from recognizing squeeze plays to situational judgment plays.
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