Bidding is one of the many intricacies of bridge – and it’s safe to say that it sets the tone for the rest of the game. How well (or badly) people bid their hands have been the subject of thousands of debate threads, arguments and – I assume – near-murders.
Sometimes bidding is what makes newcomers lose sight of why they’re learning to play bridge. I’ve come to understand that this is highly dependent on how bidding is introduced to you in the first place.
Bidding resources don’t have to be overwhelming – or feel like the worst parts of high-school math class. Instead, find the right bidding book to lead you through.
Access to the right resources (and sometimes, the right teachers) ensures that learning bidding is much easier.
Here are 10 starter bidding handbooks for the bookworm that can help to introduce (or improve) bidding at the table.
#1: The Official Encyclopedia of Bridge
The Official Encyclopedia of Bridge isn’t a purely bidding book, but I consider it an essential one. If you’re new to bidding, new to bridge or new to cards, expect a bunch of questions that you didn’t even think to ask – and odds are that you’ll find the answer in here.
#2: To Bid or Not to Bid
by Larry Cohen
Some bridge players swear by the Law of Total Tricks. To Bid or Not to Bid is one of the bidding books centered around this law – and it can help a new player to decide if following the LOTT is the right course for them.
#3: 25 Bridge Conventions You Should Know
by Barbara Seagram & Marc Smith
When trying to learn essential bidding conventions like Stayman, 25 Bridge Conventions is one of the best books you can have on your shelf. It works great for both learning and quick reference (although since I have a soft spot for this particular book, I might be a little biased!).
#4: A Taste of Bridge
by Jeff Bayone
From the leader of Honors Bridge Club (NY), A Taste of Bridge is a great introductory bridge book that covers a lot more than just bidding – but is on this list because it’s a pretty fresh take that should ensure people take to bidding faster.
#5: 5 Weeks to Winning Bridge
by Alfred Sheinwold
At number 5 on this list, bridge taught in 5 weeks. While it’s one of the earlier published books, it holds up well to reading (and then reading again) – and many concepts that I struggled with, I found an explanation that made sense for in this one.
#6: Goren’s New Bridge Complete
by Charles Goren
Okay, so Goren’s new bridge isn’t “new” by today’s standards – but the basics contained in this book might still be new to a lot of people who have never played bridge, and it still makes for as good an introduction to the game as it ever was.
#7: Opening Leads
by Robert (Bob) Ewen
It’s just as important to teach prospective bridge students what comes after bidding. The book Opening Leads was recommended via another bridge player, and combined with some of the Bridge World’s lessons on starter bidding, it’s a great way to start out.
#8: Bidding in the 21st Century
by Audrey Grant
One of the first things you’ll notice when reading older versus newer bridge books are small, subtle differences in bidding nuances (and often, the amount of HCPs involved). Bidding in the 21st Century is meant as an updated look – and it’s one of the best books for it.
#9: Bridge at a Glance
by Audrey Grant
Bridge at a Glance is one of the all-time bridge classics as far as I’m concerned – and Audrey writes with the tone of the most patient Hogwarts professors (or at least that’s the voice I’ve developed in my head…). Certainly worth it.
#10: Bidding at Bridge: A Quizbook
by Barbara Seagram & David Bird
Many students learn better with quizzes where they have access to the answers for comparison. Here’s a great bidding quizbook that does exactly that – and once you’re done reading this one, there are several more Seagram-Bird combination books out there.