A Taste of Bridge

There are plenty of bridge books on the market which largely discuss strategy and playing approaches for those who already have the basics of the game well in hand; but A Taste of Bridge is different, appealing to the bare-bones newcomer with no prior familiarity with the game. What sets this apart from other introductions is its process of synthesizing bridge into six easy lessons, which were developed and tested on thousands of students at the nation's largest bridge club. From this, potential players should discern that their first venture into the world of bridge will be easier than with other guides. Unlike competitors, it's a beginner's course that has been "tinkered with, kicked around, and field-tested for over thirty years. It has introduced thousands to the game. The course is fun and it works!" The key word in this description (and in A Taste of Bridge) is 'fun,' and this is emphasized throughout the course, which opens with a quick reminiscence of playing a childhood card game called War, a "game of tricks" much like bridge. As basic terminology is explained, formal and informal methods of picking partners reviewed, and bridge 'tricks' covered, readers enjoy black and white images peppered into a lively discussion of the game's objectives and intricacies: "Look at the cards again. Couldn't you have guessed right away that South would win the trick, simply because she happened to hold the highest card? Yes, but it isn't just South who wins. North wins as well, because North and South are partners." As simple terminology and the basics of the game evolve into more complex topics, readers are treated to vigorous discussions that clarify the underlying meaning and fun routines of bridge. Plenty of introductions and advanced strategy guides to bridge are on the market; but if new players seek an energetic survey designed to add fun into the game, then there's no better introduction to turn to than A Taste of Bridge, which offers fine insights in an accessible, entertaining manner.

Tested for more than 30 years by Honors Bridge Club in New York City (the largest in North America), this set of beginner bridge lessons is exceptional and has been termed “a new approach.” The 215-page softcover book, published by Master Point Press, announces that bridge is “a taste of Haagen Dazs (or Ben & Jerry’s) ice cream; a taste of the good life, a taste of Heaven, a taste of your own medicine … I would hope that somewhere, early on, you’d begin to be awed at bridge’s beauty and logic. It’s a winning combination.” There are 28 chapters, each designed to be read in one sitting of less than an hour. Bayone warns that at the end you should be about as proficient as if you’d spent that amount of time learning Chinese or tennis. The last chapter contains 12 of Bayone’s favorite teaching hands. They are gems! The book’s diagrams are carefully laid out and often there are pictures of single hands or diagrams of all four. I love the gray sidebar boxes with large question marks and then a written-out question, such as “Which of these two suits has more potential?” (The suits given are A K 8 2 opposite Q 5 4 vs. AK432 opposite Q 5.) Basic bridge rules (such as “When you have two five-card suits, open the higherranking one first”) are highlighted and carefully explained in detail. It is refreshing to this writer to have the author say, “With two four-card minors either 1♣ or 1♦ is acceptable.”

I am just a few chapters in, but it is so clear, well-written and absorbing. Ever bamboozled by the intricacies of bridge, this is the book that I have been waiting for to help me crack the secret code.

Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, "A Taste of Bridge" is an ideal and highly recommended addition to personal and community library Bridge collections.

Believe me, you won't be disappointed if you're learning to play bridge and this book is your first exposure to the game. Bayone tells us in his introduction that the course outlined in this book is the one taught at Honors Bridge Club in New York City, the largest-ever club in the United States. And it's easy to see why players flock to his club. Each chapter is short, concise, and focused. Bayone begins not with bidding, but with the play of the cards. This is a sensible approach. Players want to pick up the cards, move them about, and see patterns develop. And it's those patterns that Bayone focuses on, teaching players that counting begins by recognizing hand patterns: 4-3-3-3, 4-4-3-2, 5-3-3-2, 5-4-2-2, etc. If someone in your circle wants to learn to play bridge, this is the perfect book for them to learn from.

I don't know of a better book for total beginners.