25 Bridge Conventions You Should Know

by Marc Smith and Barbara Seagram

Book Overview

It doesn't take long before beginning bridge players want to know more about bidding systems, and especially about conventions. The authors have selected 25 basic conventions and treatments that... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 189415407X
• ISBN13: 9781894154079
• Release Date: July 1999
• Publisher: Master Point Press
• Length: 190 Pages
• Weight: 0.91 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 7.4" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

Terrific bridge book on the essential conventions

If you are looking for a bridge book that covers the most common conventions out there in the "bridge world"...this is the book for you. This book covers all the essentials to learn and understand the most popular bridge conventions. It does it in an easy to understand and precise manner. You will feel confident after reading and studying. The one feature missing.....doesn't give you the opportunity to practice much on each convention. You will have to play to learn that. But this book is worth the price to increase your playing power.

A terrific reference book for the intermediate bridge player

Barbara Seagram has a winner here! I am a bridge teacher in Arizona and have recommended the book to all of my students because it is written in a clear and logical manner. Enthusiastic beginning and intermediate players are playing duplicate bridge because of this book. Many are now quoting the author when discussing bridge hands. I highly recommend this book to bridge players who are looking to improve their game.

Popular & useful book for novice / intermediate players !

We believe Barbara Seagram's (with Marc Smith) "25 Bridge Conventions" is the original, and to us the best, of the growing series of "25 ..." bridge texts. The teaching technique is such that even the early "easy" conventions, such as Stayman or Weak 2's, are covered in enough detail to instruct a player previously unfamiliar with the topic. Yet even those with years of playing experience can refer back to various subjects as their skills improve, sifting out or reinforcing various subtleties of the material. The book is divided into three sections: "Learn These First" (such as Jacoby Transfers and Blackwood); "More Complicated" (such as splinters, cuebid raises and Jacoby 2NT); and "Sophisticated Stuff" (such as Reverse Drury and New Minor Forcing). Each topic is covered in a standalone chapter. There are excellent illustrations of every technique being discussed, followed by half a dozen or so problems designed to test your understanding. A clear explanation of the "right" answers follow, which again helps the student firm up his grasp of the topic. The writing style seems to set just the right level of conversational versus pedantic, and the book is generally a pleasure to use and re-use as time proceeds. We direct a novice / intermediate duplicate bridge game in our spare time and this is the one book we recommend all our players acquire and study. While it is not meant to be read cover to cover, and for sure, some of the topics are better suited to those with a year or two of playing under their belts, it is a fine "first bridge book" for many a player. Highly recommended!

Bridge Intermediates' Bible

This is an excellent book for all bridge players, except perhaps for the complete novice. I own about 25 bridge books, and this is the one that I find myself going back to over and over. It's clear, up-to-date, easy to follow, and has just the right level of detail. The examples are very helpful. It covers Jacoby, weak 2 bids, takeout and negative doubles, as well as more sophisticated stuff.

Best"popular conventions" book EVER! Easy to read!

It is very hard to find a bridge book that won't leave dents in your forehead (when they hit you in the head as you fall asleep). For that reason, never get a hard cover bridge book. Not only is this a reasonable sized softcover, but you can read it without your eyes glazing over. The information in it is dispensed in 3 areas of the book. 1) Learn these first; 2) More complicated; and 3) sophisticated stuff. If you are a beginner player (with some basics under your belt), you can start with this book and grow into it. If you are a bridge teacher, you will find valuable tips and facts (like who is Sam Stayman? - the man who invented the Stayman convention). I am a bridge teacher in Maryland and I have not only bought the book, but am recommending it highly to all my students as well as an excellent resource/reference book for teachers as well. One of my students had to buy two copies - her husband kept "borrowing" hers. BTW, this book recently won the 1999 American Bridge Teachers' Association's Book of the Year Award for Beginner/Intermediate category. -- L. Shafer, Silver Spring, MD