Bridge for Beginners: A Step-By-Step Guide To One Of The Most Challenging Card Games

by Paul Mendelson

Overview

Bridge is the ultimate card game. It is truly a mind sport, as taxing on the brain as a decathlon is to the body. Bridge for Beginners is the ultimate introduction.
Bridge for Beginners starts with the basics, even suggesting that the reader remove the jokers from a full deck of cards. With the basics established, the book progresses, and by the end, the beginning player will be ready to go as far as desired, whether it be to social bridge, club bridge, competitive bridge, or trying out for the national team.
Bridge, and this book, is divided into two parts: the bidding, or auction, and the play of the cards. Each is examined closely, in a step-by-step method that greatly simplifies one of the most complex card games.

Chapters include:
Absolute Beginners -The Game Unveiled - The Scoring - The Shape of the Hand - The Bidding-Positions at the Table - Opening and Responding - Supporting Partner - Competitive Bidding - Conventions - No Trump Contracts - Suit Contracts - Finesses - Etiquette - Scoring-Basic Rules

With valuable advice on evaluating hands, working with your partner, and even spotting cheating, Bridge for Beginners is the only guide a novice will ever need.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781592282838
Publisher:	Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Publication date:	04/01/2004
Edition description:	First Edition
Pages:	192
Sales rank:	157,296
Product dimensions:	5.00(w) x 8.00(h) x 0.50(d)

About the Author

Paul Mendelson is the bridge professional at the Roehampton Club in London and has lectured on bridge all over the world. He started his tournament successes by winning the UK National Schools' Championships, and has since played in many top events, capturing two national titles. He was the youngest-ever captain of a winning Devonshire Cup team and is now the bridge correspondent of the London Financial Times.

Table of Contents

Introduction...............................................................................9

Part One
Introduction to Bridge: How it is Played and Scored.........11
1. Absolute Beginners.............................................................13
2. The Game Unveiled..............................................................24
3. The Scoring...........................................................................29
4. The Shape of the Hand....................................................... 35
5. The Bidding (aka The Auction).........................................38

Part Two
The Bidding...............................................................................45
6. The Positions at the Table...................................................47
7. Opening and Responding to 1NT.......................................49
8. Opening and Responding to 1-of-a-suit.............................58
9. Supporting Partner.................................................................67
10. Responding with 1NT.........................................................70
11. Competitive Bidding: Doubles and Overcalls.................73
12. Conventions: Description of Stayman and Blackwood.93

Part Three
The Play of the Cards..............................................................101
13. No-trump Contracts...........................................................103
14. Suit Contracts.....................................................................109
15. Finesses...............................................................................116
16. Defending your Opponent's Contracts:
Basic Strategies and Opening Leads.....................121
17. Defending your Opponent's Contracts:
Simple Signals and Discards....................................130

Part Four
Dull but important information on Etiquette, Scoring,

fs20and Basic Rules.........................................................137
18. Etiquette...............................................................................139
19. Scoring.................................................................................143
20. Basic Rules..........................................................................150

Glossary.....................................................................................154