A proper game isn’t just about trumps and tricks.

Good bridge games are about the psychology. Cards are wargames, and wargames are battles of wits and mental strength rather than physical aptitude. (I, for one, am glad bridge doesn’t involve any running.)

Winning a bridge game is about outwitting your opponents, and sometimes outwitting yourself.

It’s a good idea for any player to work on their knowledge of psychology. Learn about skills like cold reading and body language. As a player, it’s useful. As a human being, it’s essential.

Skills apply to how not to get screwed as a consumer or card player. If someone ever tries to pull a scam, or seems too good at cards, you’ll know it if you’ve learned these essentials.

Here’s what you should be reading for cards, bridge, and the psychology of how to grow as a card artist.

Caro’s Book Of Poker Tells

By Mike Caro

Yes, horror and thrills, I’m starting the list with a book about poker.

Pick this book up because it’s pretty damn good. In fact, it’s several expletives of great.

Why does this book of poker tells apply to bridge?

People can’t help but reveal basics about themselves and how their day went by the way they hold and handle their cards. Even if you are trying not to pay attention, you’ll eventually notice. We’re all human, and it shows.

The Mental Game Of Poker

By Jared Tendler

Okay, so there’s one more poker book on this list. It’s for the same reasons as the last one: People holding cards tend to display the same kind of tells no matter what the game in question might be.

Whether bridge or poker,  learning what these tells are can be useful.

The Mental Game Of Poker describes techniques like confidence, variance, and tilt control.

What’s tilt control when you aren’t playing pinball?

You’ll find the answer here.

The Art Of Card Reading At Bridge

By Fred L Karpin

The Art Of Card Reading At Bridge takes the concept of reading people at the table to something more specific.

The book is from the early 70s, the era of smoking. Good luck finding a copy that doesn’t smell a little of stale tobacco – if you can find one at all. A friend might be able to track down a scan, or you can find used copies around the internet if you’re looking for it.

It’s worth it, and still applies to the game as it’s played today – even online.

A little more information about The Art Of Card Reading At Bridge is available at the WBF’s Youth website. http://youth.worldbridge.org/the-art-of-card-reading/

Master Of Bridge Psychology

By Jeppe Juhl

Master Of Bridge Psychology is player-specific, and explores the techniques of 2009 European Pairs Championship player Peter Fredin.

Still, it speaks about bridge and its mental techniques enough to be practical.

Even players who aren’t familiar with Fredin yet will enjoy (and learn from!) this book.

For Love Or Money: The Life Of A Bridge Journalist

By Mark Horton and Brian Senior

Readers who love the occasional biography, books on journalism, or anything about bridge writing should add For Love Or Money to their reading list.

It’s great because of its bridge story angle, and even better because it feels like the Fear & Loathing of bridge.

As an added bonus, it speaks about the psychology of bridge players, and adds some stories about the bridge and the famous. Cool, right?

Can you recommend any books to the list of bridge psychology reading?