Features
- Cover Type: Paperback with 448 pages
- Published by: Alpha
- Edition: 2nd Edition November 2, 2004
- Written in: English
- ISBN 10 Number: 1592572812
- ISBN 13 Number: 978-1592572816
-
Book Dimensions:
9 x 7.3 x 1 inches
- Weighs: 1.6 pounds
Sunday Denver Post, Nov. 30, 1997
Once again, it is a comprehensive introductory text with plenty of cartoons to take the edge off subject matter that can be difficult for a newcomer. Learning bridge isn't like learning poker or blackjack, where the basic rules can be explained in a few minutes. An entire book is probably the minimum needed for the basics. The bidding part of bridge is much like learning a new language. This book will teach you all the important translations and basics of play as well.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Book Description
Revised, now with the wisdom of a world champion! Learning to play bridge is much like learning a new language. But its enormous, worldwide popularity is evidence enough that people aren’t discouraged by the game’s challenging rules and concepts. And why should they be, when there’s
The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Bridge to teach them the game in a fun and easy-to-understand format?
• First edition has sold well
• Only this second edition contains the wisdom of Michael Lawrence, one of the most respected bridge players in the world
• New edition includes everything from the basics to the latest in bidding techniques
Reader Reviews
This review is from: The Complete Idiot's Guide to Bridge (The Complete Idiot's Guide) (Paperback)
H. Anthony Medley read a degree in Chemistry at UCLA before later taking up bridge - quite successfully it seems. This ostensible piece of trivia is actually important, as most of the book is set out quite logically and the reader may feel some confidence that it is written by someone with scientific training. The book starts by slowly going through the rules of the game, which is obviously essential. The remainder can then be divided into three parts: bidding, play and advanced techniques. By far the major share, in terms of number of chapters, goes into teaching bidding techniques - largely focussing on how to find the correct contract when the partnership has points short of game, but also discussing Strong Two bidding, pre-emptive bidding and slam bidding (including Blackwood although not Gerber). Advice on bidding takes up approximately 50 per cent of the book. In most cases, the rationale behind bidding (ie. counter-balancing the dangers of overbidding with the inherent waste of underbidding) is explained to give the reader an understanding of why bids are made, instead of merely presenting the reader with a long list of conventions to memorise. The sections on play (20 per cent of the book) are also helpful, although less comprehensive and not justified in as much detail as the bidding sections. The advanced sections (10 per cent) are concisely and very effectively written, covering topics such as Weak Two bidding, transfers and cue bids used for finding slam. The single greatest strength of the book is the time the author takes to clearly explain the motivation behind bidding; any careful reader should - if they wish - be capable of devising their own bidding principles after having read the book. That being said, if Medley wants to present the book as some sort of intellectual undertaking it falls considerably short of this, as he contradicts himself several times in the bidding chapters. Although most of the contradictions are relatively minor (involving, for example, a choice between rebidding a 5 card suit at the 2 level versus passing partner's 1 No Trump response), nonetheless it is frustrating for a dedicated reader to be faced with such inconsistencies, and this reader thought someone with scientific training could have done better. The writing style of the book is decidedly anecdotal, which is a strength or weakness depending on the individual taste of the reader. Perhaps an aspiring beginner could expose themselves to contrasting writing styles by purchasing this book in conjunction with a less informally written book such as "ACOl Bridge for Bright Beginners" by Kambites & Kelsey. Nonetheless, Medley's book thoroughly deserves its status as a best seller.
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