Bridge books reviewed - 52

"A New Approach to Bidding: Complete Hand Valuation and the Midmac Bidding System" by Jon Drabble. An introduction to the Midmac system. The limitations of the standard HCP evaluation system are widely recognized, so Complete Hand Valuation, which takes full account of distribution, is designed to appeal to all players below expert class, whether their game is rubber bridge or contract bridge, pairs or teams.

"MIDMAC bidding" by Gijs Haarle, for intermediate and better players. MIDMAC is a bidding system devised by Jon Drabble. Gijs has played this system with several partners and has put his experiences in this booklet, with additional defensive bidding descriptions which are missing in Jon Drabble's book "A New Approach to Bidding". Gijs' booklet is of high quality, took several years to complete, and has been revised by several other players.

"Duplicate Bridge: How to Play, How to Win" by Edgar Kaplan. The secrets of competitive play as revealed by America's top player and teacher - coach foe the American teak for the world championship.
Introduction by Alvin Landy, executive secretary of the American Contract bridge league (ACBL).

"Winning Contract Bridge Complete" by Edgar Kaplan is two books in one; each one with its own sections on bidding and play.
Book 1 - The Fundamentals: a basic course in point count bidding and play for beginners.
Book 2 - The Fine points: expert bidding, play and defense for experienced players.
Introduction by Samuel M Stayman, author of the Stayman convention.

"The Walk of the Oysters: An unholy history of contract bridge" by Rex Mackey. This book is considered by many to be the definitive book on the history of Bridge; it covers the period from the very beginning in the 30's with Ely and Josephine Culbertson up to about the mid 50's.

"How's Your Bridge Game?" by Florence Osborn, bridge editor for the New York Herald Tribune. Contains 200 contract bidding questions and 50 bridge hands to play

"Defense Strategy in Bridge" by Hy Lavinthal. Featuring the Lavinthal (aka McKenny) suit-preference signal, the wonder weapon of contract bridge. Arranged, edited, and with quizzes added by George Coffin.

"Contract bridge bidding and play" by George S. Goodman with Samuel Levine and Freeman Elzey". If you have never played contract bridge, twice through this book should make it possible for you to join a social bridge game. If you are an experienced social bridge player, go through the 24 programmed deals and the thought habits you gain should improve your game by at leasy 100%.

"Bridge at Your Fingertips" by Amalya Kearse, editor of 'The Official Encyclopedia of Bridge'. This book is about bidding and play and also includes best opening leads and percentage plays.
"... primarily an excellent reference guide to standard traditional bidding..." - Alan Truscott, New York Times.

"Endplays in Bridge" by George Sturgis Coffin. A systematic treatise on the three kinds of master plays, eliminations, coups and squeezes; clearly revealing the innermost secrets of bridge scientifically classified for quick reference.

"New Contract Bridge Outlines On Standard Bidding" by William S. Root. Standard American bidding and its most compact form; The most popular bidding conventions; How to reduce partnership misunderstandings.

"Standard Bidding" by William S. Root. Five card major system; Emphazises natural commonsense bidding; Standard bidding in its most compact form, clearly and simply explained.

"Modern Point count contract bridge complete" by Ernest W Rovere. Including a complete text on modern bidding, basic play of the cards with practice hands and diagrammed explanations, ... glossary of card terms, quizzes and answers

The Rubaiyat of Bridge, by Carolyn Wells. A delightful book on bridge featuring a series of eight line poems on various aspects of the game, each accompanied by a full-page illustration.