List of contract bridge books

Bridge, or more formally contract bridge, is a trick-taking card game of skill and chance played by four players. This article consists of lists of bridge books deemed significant by various authors and organizations.

History

Books on bridge and its predecessor games have spanned centuries with the earliest known popular book on the subject of Whist having been published by Edmond Hoyle in 1742[1] or 1743.[2]

The timelines in the evolutionary path to modern contract bridge books are generally as follows:

  • 17th century: the emergence of Whist from earlier games such as Ruff and Honours and Triumph
  • 18th and 19th centuries: Whist is widely played with many variants in scoring methods; similar games such as Vint and Khedive are also played
  • 1886: Evidence that Bridge-Whist has emerged with John Collinson's four page pamphlet entitled Biritch, or Russian Whist.[3] (Earlier, in 1869, Christian Vanderheid, an Austrian writer about card games, published Gründlicher Selbstunterricht zur Erlernung des Jarolasch oder das russische Whist (Extensive Self-teaching of Yeralash (Jarolasch) or Russian Whist). The game described by Vanderheid is almost identical to Collinson's Biritch, with the exception that it is not played with a dummy.[4])
  • 1903–1932: from the first known publication on Auction Bridge (also known as Royal Auction Bridge and simply, Auction) to the last publication of Laws of Auction Bridge by the Portland Club
  • c. 1915: Bridge Plafond emerges in France and Belgium and is essentially contract bridge without vulnerability
  • late 1925: a significant new scoring system was proposed by Harold Vanderbilt introducing the concept of vulnerability, large bonuses for slams and heavy penalties for undertricks. Within two years, "Auction was swept off the tables" in the dawn of modern contract bridge.[5]
  • 1926–1935: numerous books on bidding are published and compete for status as the 'official system' of choice. Ely Culbertson rises to prominence in the US as a self-promoting bridge player, challenging his English and European counterparts to international matches all the while building a business empire based on his bridge writing and related investments. In the early Thirties, Acol is fashioned by S. J. Simon and Jack Marx, and eventually becomes the most popular bidding system in Britain.
  • 1935: Culbertson publishes the first Encyclopedia of Bridge.

Precursor games

The following are books on the various precursor games to modern contract bridge; the first books on contract bridge appeared in 1927.[6]

  • Hoyle, Edmond (1743). A Short Treatise on the Game of Whist: Containing the Laws of the Game and also Some Rules... Bath, London: W. Webster. 86 pages. / London: Thomas Osborne, 10th Edition, 1750, 224 pages
  • Hoyle, Edmond (1761). Mr. Hoyle's Games of Whist, Quadrille, Piquet, Chess and Backgammon Complete. Thomas Osborne, Stanley Crowder and Richard Baldwin (London), 12th Edition, 214 pages.
  • Payne, William (c. 1770). Maxims for Playing the Game of Whist, with all Necessary Calculations; and the Laws of the Game. T. Payne & Sons (London).
  • Mattews, Thomas (1804). Advice to the Young Whist Player: Containing Most of the Maxims of the Old School with Author's Observation on Those He Thinks Erroneous... Various editions to 1828. W. Meyler and Son (Bath), 4th Edition, 1810, 68 pages.
  • Cavendish, pseudonym of Henry Jones, M.R.C.S. (1862). The Laws and Principles of Whist Stated and Explained and its Practice Illustrated on an Original System by Means of Hands Played Completely Through. (Spine title: Cavendish on Whist). Thos. De La Rue & Co. (London), 1st Edition.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) / 8th Edition, 1868, 120 pages; 9th Edition, 1872, 120 pages; 11th Edition, 1876, 268 pages; 12th Edition, 1879, 268 pages; 13th Edition, 1881, 268 pages; 15th Edition, 1885, 272 pages; 20th Edition, 1892, 303 pages; 21st Edition, 1893, 320 pages; 22nd Edition (The Seventy-fifth Thousand), 1895, 306 pages; 23rd Edition (The Eighty-sixth Thousand), 1898, 306 pages; 24th Edition (Containing the New Code of Laws Revised in 1900), 1901, 306 pages. American Editions published by: John Wurtele Lovell (New York), 1880 from the 12th English Edition, 257 pages; John Wurtele Lovell (New York), 1881 from the 12th English Edition, 257 pages; Charles Scribner's Sons, 1899 from the 23rd English Edition, 348 pages.
  • Baldwin, J. L.; Clay, James (1864). The Laws of Short Whist and a Treatise on the Game (Spine title: Short Whist). Harrison (London). / Second Edition, 1870 / First American Edition: Henry Holt and Company (New York), 1874, 153 pages. / New American edition from the second English Edition, 1880, 163 pages.
  • Pole, William (January 1871). Quarterly Review. Article on the evolution of Whist.
  • Pole, William (1874). The Theory of the Modern Scientific Game of Whist... (Cover and spine title: Pole on Whist). Longmans, Green, and Co. (London), 7th Edition, 1874, 112 pages. / G.W. Carleton & Co. Publishers (London) 1879, 144 pages. / Longmans, Green, and Co. (London), 14th Edition, 1883, 112 pages. / G.W. Carleton & Co. Publishers (London) 1884, 114 pages. / Frederick A. Stokes (New York), 1887, 136 pages. / 1889, 128 pages.
  • Cavendish, pseudonym of Henry Jones (1883). Whist Developments. Thos. De La Rue & Co. (London), 172 pages.
  • Pole, William (1884). The Philosophy of Whist. Thos. De La Rue & Co. (London), 218 pages.
  • Foster, R. F. (1890). Foster's Whist Manual. Mudie and Sons (London), 1st Edition. / Brentano's (New York, Chicago, Washington), 2nd Edition, 1891, 168 pages. Frederick Warne and Co. with Mudie and Sons, (London), 2nd Edition, 1891, 168 pages. Brentano's (New York, Chicago, Washington), 3rd Edition with American Leads, 25th Thousand, 1896, 195 pages. Frederick Warne and Co. with Mudie and Sons, (London), 4th Edition, 1899. Frederick Warne and Co. with Mudie and Sons, (London), 5th Edition, Thirty-fifth Thousand, 1900, 168 pages.
  • Coffin, Charles Emmet (1893). The Gist of Whist. J. Selwin Tait & Sons. / Brentano's (New York), 5th Edition, 1895, 109 pages
  • Hamilton, C.D.P. (1894). Modern Scientific Whist. Brentano's (New York), 599 pages.
  • Pole, William (1895). The Evolution of Whist. Longmans, Green, and Co. (New York, London), 269 pages.
  • Doe, John (George Cavendish Benedict) (1900). The Bridge Manual. Mudie and Sons, (London).
  • Melrose, C.J. (1901). Bridge Whist. Charles Scribner's Sons, (New York).
  • Elwell, Joseph B. (1902). Bridge: Its Principles and Rules of Play (Cover and spine title: Elwell on Bridge). Charles Scribner's Sons (New York). / 1903, 136 pages / 1907, 136 pages / 1911, 136 pages.
  • Elwell, Joseph B. (1904). Advanced Bridge: The Higher Principles of the Game Analysed and Explained, and Their Application Illustrated, by Hands Taken from Actual Play (Cover and spine title: Elwell's Advanced Bridge). George Newnes, (London), 277 pages / Charles Scribner's Sons (New York), 277 pages. / 6th Edition, Charles Scribner's Sons (New York), 1907, 297 pages.
  • Pole, William (1905). Whist. George Bell & Sons (London, New York), 104 pages.
  • Ames, Fisher (1906). The Game of Bridge. Little, Brown and Company (Boston), 190 pages.
  • Valet de Pique (1912). Bridge and Auction Bridge. Eveleigh Nash, (London).
  • Bergholt, Ernest (c. 1915). Royal Auction Bridge. George Routledge & Sons, (London).

People and culture

The following books provide insights into the people and culture of contract bridge and while they may contain occasional references to certain technical aspects of the game, they are generally not instructional in theme. Fictional novels with a bridge theme are listed separately.

Fictional novels

Encyclopedias, dictionaries and almanacs

The following are listed chronologically:

Book of the Year Awards

American Bridge Teachers' Association (ABTA)

Each year since 1982,[7] ABTA has recognized one or more books as contributing significantly to the teaching of contract bridge. The following are the award recipients:[8]

  • 1982 – Sydnor, Caroline. How To Win More Tricks. Book Three of the Bridge Made Easy Series.
  • 1983 – Blackwood, Easley (1983). Complete Book of Opening Leads. Devyn Press.
  • 1984 – The Official Encyclopedia of Bridge. Henry G. Francis, Editor-in-Chief; Alan F.Truscott, Executive Editor; Richard L. Frey, Editor Emeritus; Diane Hayward, Fourth Edition Editor (4th ed.). New York: Crown Publishers, Inc. 1984. ISBN 0-517-55272-8, 922 pages.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link) CS1 maint: postscript (link)
  • 1985 – Lampert, Harry (1985). The Fun Way to Advanced Bridge. Simon & Schuster, Inc. ISBN 0-671-53066-6.
  • 1986 – Kantar, Edwin (1986). A New Approach to Play and Defense. HDL Publishing. ISBN 0-937359-01-7.
  • 1987 – Commonsense Bidding by William S. Root
  • 1988 – Goodwin, Jude; Ellison, Don (1988). Teach me to Play: a First Book of Bridge. Pando Publications.
  • 1989 – Baron, Randall; Stewart, Frank. The Devyn Press Bridge Teacher's Manual – Vol I to III; The Bridge Student Text – Vol I to III. Devyn Press.
  • 1990 – Root, William (1990). How To Play A Bridge Hand. Crown Publishers, Inc. ISBN 0-517-57457-8.
  • 1991 – Basic Book: Klinger, Ron (1991). Guide To Better Card Play. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. ISBN 9780395591079.
  • 1991 – Advanced Book: Lawrence, Mike. – Topics on Bridge Series.
  • 1992 – Sands, Norma; Janitschke, Jan. The Bridge Mini-Series.
  • 1992 – Advanced Book: To Bid or Not to Bid, The LAW of Total Tricks by Larry Cohen
  • 1993 – Basic Book: Sydnor, Caroline. How to Set Your Opponents. Book Four of Bridge Made Easy Series. Sydnor.
  • 1993 – Advanced Book: Mahmood, Zia. Bridge My Way.
  • 1994 – Root, William (1994). How to Defend a Bridge Hand. Crown Publishers, Inc. ISBN 0-517-59160-X.
  • 1995 – Lawrence, Mike. The Complete Book Of Takeout Doubles.
  • 1996 – Points Schmoints! Bergen's Winning Bridge Secrets by Marty Bergen
  • 1996 – Kantar, Edwin. Kantar Lessons III (Teaching Book).
  • 1997 – Advanced Book: Hall-Hall. How The Experts Win At Bridge.
  • 1997 – Basic Book: Kantar, Eddie (1997). Bridge for Dummies. IDG Books Worldwide (Foster City, CA) / Second Edition: Wiley Publishing Inc., (Hoboken, NJ), 2006. ISBN 978-0-7645-5015-7.
  • 1998 – Beginner/Student Book: McMullin. Easybridge!.
  • 1998 – Advanced Book: Granovetters. Forgive Me, Partner.
  • 1999 – Basic Book: Kantar, Edwin (1999). Eddie Kantar Teaches Modern Bridge Defense. Master Point Press. ISBN 978-1-894154-02-4.
  • 1999 – Advanced Book: Kantar, Edwin (1999). Eddie Kantar Teaches Advanced Bridge Defense. Master Point Press. ISBN 978-1-894154-03-1.
  • 1999 – Student Book: 25 Bridge Conventions You Should Know by Barbara Seagram and Marc Smith
  • 2000 – Advanced Book: Kantar, Edwin. Kantar Lessons Vol 4.
  • 2000 – Beginner/Intermediate Book: Grant, Audrey. Improving your Judgement – Opening The Bidding.
  • 2001 – Grant, Audrey (2000). Commonly Used Conventions. American Contract Bridge League (Memphis), 359 pages. ISBN 978-0-943855-14-1.
  • 2002 – Bird, David; Smith, Marc. Bridge Technique Series. Master Point Press.
  • 2003 – Beginner/Novice Book: Grant, Audrey. Bridge Basics I.
  • 2003 – Intermediate/Advanced Book: Thurston, Paul (2002). 25 Steps to Learning 2/1. Master Point Press. ISBN 1-894154-46-0.
  • 2004 – Bird, David. Notrump Contracts.
  • 2005 – Bergen, Marty. Declarer Play the Bergen Way.
  • 2006 – Laderman, Julian (2007). A Bridge to Simple Squeezes (2nd ed.). Toronto: Master Point Press. p. 151. ISBN 978-1-897106-26-6. OCLC 154712413.
  • 2007 – Beginner Book: Brown, Gary (2008). Learn to Play Bridge. Master Point Press. ISBN 978-1-897106-39-6.
  • 2007 – Intermediate Book: Harrington, Pat. Major Suit Raises I & II.
  • 2008 – Intermediate Book: Roth, Danny (2007). How Good is Your Bridge?. Master Point Press. ISBN 978-1-897106-32-7.
  • 2008 – Novice Book: Anderson, Joan. Hands on Weak Two-Bids.
  • 2009 – Laderman, Julian (2009). A Bridge to Inspired Declarer Play. Master Point Press (Toronto). ISBN 978-1-897106-44-0. / 176p.
  • 2010 – Beginner Book: Seagram, Barbara; Bird, David (2009). Planning the Play of a Bridge Hand. Master Point Press (Toronto). ISBN 978-1-897106-51-8. / 231p.
  • 2010 – Intermediate Book: Kantar, Eddie (2009). Take All Your Chances (at Bridge). Master Point Press (Toronto). ISBN 978-1-897106-55-6. / 160 pages.
  • 2011 – Dufresne, Mary Ann; Ellingsen, Marion. Bridge with Bells and Whistles.
  • 2012 – Beginner/Intermediate: O'Connor, Patrick. A First Book Of Bridge Problems.
  • 2012 – Intermediate/Advanced: Tucker, Patty; Bernhardt, Melissa (2012). Cuebidding 1 – Controls. Atlanta, GA: Whirlwind Bridge. ISBN 978-0615797076.
  • 2013 – Intermediate/Advanced Book: Bird, David; Bourke, Tim (2013). 15 Winning Cardplay Techniques. Poughkeepsie, NY: Vivisphere. ISBN 978-1-58776-183-6.
  • 2013 – Beginner Book: Seagram, Barbara; Bird, David (2013). Declarer Play at Bridge: A Quizbook. Toronto: Master Point Press. ISBN 978-1-897106-91-4.
  • 2014 – Beginner: O'Connor, Patrick. A Second Book Of Bridge Problems.
  • 2014 – Intermediate/Advanced: Grant, Audrey (7 October 2013). Improve Your Declarer Play – Five Steps to Simplify the End Game. American Contract Bridge League. ISBN 978-0-939460-38-0.
  • 2015 – Intermediate/Advanced: Bird, David (2014). Winning Duplicate Tactics. Master Point Press. ISBN 978-1-77140-017-6.
  • 2015 – Beginner/Intermediate: Cohen, Larry (2014). Larry Teaches Opening Leads. Larry Cohen.
  • 2016 – Beginner/Intermediate: Boehm, Augie. Bridge Smarts.
  • 2017 – Beginner/Intermediate: Treble, Bill. Defending at Bridge – A First Course.
  • 2017 – Intermediate/Advanced: Rodwell, Eric. Eric Rodwell's Bidding Topics.
  • 2018 – Newcomer: Bayone, Jeff. A Taste of Bridge.[9]
  • 2018 – Beginner/Novice: Bird, David; Seagram, Barbara. Planning the Play - The Next Level. Master Point Press.[9]
  • 2018 – Intermediate/Advanced: Lawrence, Mike. Judgement at Bridge 2. Baron Barclay.[9]
  • 2019 – Beginner: Berg, Lynn. Startup Bridge and Beyond.[7]
  • 2019 – Intermediate: Bird, David; Cohen, Larry. On the Other Hand: Bridge Cardplay Explained.[7]
  • 2019 – Advanced: Lawrence, Mike. Insights on Bridge: Moments in Bridge, Book 1.[7]
  • 2020 – Beginner/Novice: Grant, Audrey. Five Tips to Simplify the Defense. Baron Barclay.
  • 2020 – Intermediate/Advanced: Bird, David; Cohen, Larry. Defense: On the Other Hand. Master Point Press.
  • 2020 – Advanced: Rodwell, Eric. Bidding Topics: Book Two.
  • 2021 – Beginner/Novice: Cohen, Larry. Larry Teaches Modern Bidding, Volumes 1, 2 & 3.
  • 2021 – Intermediate: Seagram, Barbara. Barbara's Bridge Tips. Master Point Press.
  • 2021 – Advanced: Timm, Neil. Two-over-one Game Force: The Final Word. Trafford Publishing.

International Bridge Press Association (IBPA)

Annually since 2004, the IBPA[10] has chosen one bridge-related title of exceptional merit as follows:

  • 2004 – Pottage, Julian (2003). Play or Defend?. Master Point Press. ISBN 978-1-894154-55-0.
  • 2005 – Kleinman, Danny; Straguzzi, Nick (2004). The Principle of Restricted Talent. Master Point Press. ISBN 978-1-894154-92-5.
  • 2006 – Auken, Sabine (2006). I Love This Game. Master Point Press. ISBN 978-1-897106-06-8.
  • 2007 – Hughes, Roy (2007). Canada's Bridge Warriors: Eric Murray and Sami Kehela, 336 pages. Master Point Press. ISBN 978-1-897106-21-1.
  • 2008 – Pottage, Julian. A Great Deal of Bridge Problems. Vivisphere Publishing.
  • 2009 – Klinger, Ron (11 September 2008). Right through the Pack Again. Weidenfeld & Nicolson/Orion Publishing, 222 pages. ISBN 978-0-297-84476-1.
  • 2009 – Vine, Frank (2008). North of the Master Solvers' Club. Master Point Press, Toronto, 183 pages. ISBN 978-1-897106-40-2.
  • 2010 – Martens, Krzysztof. Owl, Fox and Spider.
  • 2011 – Rodwell, Eric; Horton, Mark (2011). The Rodwell Files. Toronto: Master Point Press. ISBN 978-1-897106-67-9.
  • 2012 – Hughes, Roy (2012). The Contested Auction. Toronto: Master Point Press. ISBN 978-1-897106-86-0.
  • 2013 – Jacob, Bill (2012). Fantunes Revealed. Toronto: Master Point Press. ISBN 978-1-55494-765-2.
  • 2014 – Bourke, Tim; Corfield, Justin (25 February 2014). The Art of Declarer Play. KD Books & Publishing. ISBN 978-1-4942-4725-6., 386 pages
  • 2015 – Martens, Krzysztof. Professional Slam Bidding, Parts 1 & 2.
  • 2016 – Bird, David. The Abbott, the Parrot and the Bermuda Bowl.
  • 2017 – Hans, Sartaj. Bidding the Best.
  • 2018 – Woolsey, Kit. The Language of Bridge. Bridge Winners Press.[11]
  • 2019 - Juhl, Jeppe (2019). Master of Bridge Psychology: Inside the Remarkable Mind of Peter Fredin. Toronto: Master Point Press. 240 pages.[12]

American Contract Bridge League (ACBL) surveys

The ACBL has conducted the following surveys:

1994 survey

The ACBL survey of 1994 was a poll of well-known players and writers only[13] and resulted in the following list of the 20 best books of all time:

2007 survey

The ACBL survey of 2007 resulted in two lists of favourite books[14] as follows:

Top 10 books as rated by Experts – in descending order
Top 10 books as rated by Other Readers – in descending order

The Official Encyclopedia of Bridge (7th edition) recommendations

The 7th edition of the Encyclopedia recommended[15] the following books with the caveat that the "list on this page is by no means definitive. It was influenced to a degree by surveys published in 1994 and 2007 in the Bridge Bulletin", published by the American Contract Bridge League. Listed alphabetically by first author surname.

  • Points Schmoints! Bergen's Winning Bridge Secrets by Marty Bergen
  • Declarer Play the Bergen Way by Marty Bergen
  • 52 Great Tips on Declarer Play by David Bird
  • Another 52 Great Bridge Tips by David Bird
  • Matchpoints Versus IMPs by August Boehm
  • To Bid or Not to Bid: The Law of Total Tricks by Larry N. Cohen
  • Right Through the Pack by Robert Darvas and Norman de V. Hart
  • Bridge with the Blue Team by Pietro Forquet
  • Commonly Used Conventions in the 21st Century by Audrey Grant
  • How the Experts Win at Bridge by Burt and Rose Hall
  • Two Over One Game Force (Revised and Expanded) by Max Hardy
  • The Mysterious Multi by Mark Horton and Jan van Cleeff
  • Canada's Bridge Warriors: Eric Murray and Sami Kehela by Roy Hughes
  • Roman Keycard Blackwood: The Final Word by Eddie Kantar
  • Take All Your Tricks by Eddie Kantar
  • Modern Bridge Defense by Eddie Kantar
  • Advanced Bridge Defense by Eddie Kantar
  • Test Your Play II by Eddie Kantar
  • Topics in Declarer Play by Eddie Kantar
  • Killing Defense at Bridge by Hugh Kelsey
  • Adventures in Card Play by Hugh Kelsey with Géza Ottlik
  • Guide to Better Duplicate Bridge by Ron Klinger
  • Modern Losing Trick Count by Ron Klinger
  • A Bridge to Simple Squeezes by Julian Laderman
  • A Bridge to Inspired Declarer Play by Julian Laderman
  • How to Read Your Opponents' Cards by Mike Lawrence
  • Judgment at Bridge by Mike Lawrence
  • The Complete Book on Balancing by Mike Lawrence
  • The Complete Book of Overcalls by Mike Lawrence
  • Play Bridge with Mike Lawrence by Mike Lawrence
  • Bridge Squeezes Complete by Clyde E. Love
  • Winning Endplay Strategy by Clyde Love
  • All 52 Cards by Marshall Miles
  • Bridge in the Menagerie by Victor Mollo
  • Card Play Technique by Victor Mollo and Nico Gardener
  • The Devil's Ticket: A Night of Bridge, a Fatal Hand and a New American Age by Gary Pomerantz
  • A Great Deal of Bridge Problems by Julian Pottage
  • Thinking on Defense by Jim Priebe
  • Reese on Play by Terence Reese
  • Master Play by Terence Reese
  • Play These Hands with Me by Terence Reese
  • The Expert Game by Terence Reese
  • The Rodwell Files by Eric Rodwell and Mark Horton
  • Commonsense Bidding by William Root
  • The Secrets of Winning Bridge by Jeff Rubens
  • 5 Weeks to Winning Bridge by Alfred Sheinwold
  • Why You Lose at Bridge by S. J. Simon
  • Frank Stewart's Bridge Club by Frank Stewart
  • The Great Bridge Scandal by Alan Truscott
  • Watson's Play of the Hand at Bridge by Louis Watson
  • The Lone Wolff by Bobby Wolff
  • Matchpoints by Kit Woolsey

Mark Horton's recommendations

In his 1999 book, The Mammoth Book of Bridge,[16] Mark Horton lists his recommendations for "Bridge Books You Should Read", grouped as follows:

Classics

General

Bidding

Declarer Play

Defender's Play

Entertainment

For beginners

General

Bidding

Declarer Play

Defender's Play

For advancing players

General

Bidding

Declarer Play

Defender's Play

For experienced players

General

Bidding

Declarer Play

Defender's Play

British Bridge Almanack survey

The British Bridge Almanack[17] reported on a survey of leading British bridge personalities. The survey presented a chronological list of 16 books by British authors deemed to have made a significant contribution to the development of the game. It asked the personalities to add as many as three titles of their choosing and then to identify their top five. Of the 24 reported respondents, 19 identified one or more titles.

Initial list

  • Lederer Bids Two Clubs by Richard Lederer, 1934
  • The Acol System of Contract Bridge by Ben Cohen and Terence Reese, 1938
  • Why You Lose at Bridge by S. J. Simon, 1945
  • Reese on Play by Terence Reese, 1947
  • Card Play Technique by Victor Mollo and Nico Gardener, 1955
  • The Theory of Bidding by Norman Squire, 1957
  • Winning Points at Match-Point Bridge by Norman Squire and Maurice Harrison-Gray, 1959
  • Play Bridge with Reese by Terence Reese, 1960
  • The Expert Game by Terence Reese, 1960
  • The Acol System Today by Terence Reese and Albert Dormer, 1961
  • Develop Your Bidding Judgement by Terence Reese, 1962
  • Killing Defence at Bridge by Hugh Kelsey, 1966
  • The Play of the Cards by Terence Reese and Albert Dormer, 1967
  • Advanced Play at Bridge by Hugh Kelsey, 1968
  • Hoffman on Pairs Play by Martin Hoffman, 1982
  • Partnership Bidding at Bridge by Andrew Robson and Oliver Segal, 1993

Added titles

These additional titles were nominated by respondents.

Most mentioned

These were the leaders by number of selections (as many as five per respondent).

  • 17 mentions: The Expert Game by Terence Reese, 1960
  • 14 mentions: Why You Lose at Bridge by S. J. Simon, 1945
  • 12 mentions: Killing Defence at Bridge by Hugh Kelsey, 1966
  • 11 mentions: Reese on Play by Terence Reese, 1947
  • 8 mentions: Play Bridge with Reese by Terence Reese, 1960
  • 7 mentions: Card Play Technique by Victor Mollo and Nico Gardener, 1955

No other title received more than three mentions.

Biographies
  • Hamman, Bob; Brent, Manley (1994). At the Table. Memphis, Tennessee: DBM Publications. ISBN 0-9642584-0-4. LCCN 94-67897. 314 pages.
  • Mollo, Victor (1968). The Bridge Immortals. New York City: Hart Publishing Company. 256 pages.
  • Sontag, Alan (1977). The Bridge Bum. New York: William Morrow and Company Inc. ISBN 0-688-03197-8. 240 pages.
  • Wolff, Bobby (2008). The Lone Wolff. Toronto: Master Point Press. ISBN 978-1-897106-37-2. 287 pages.

Bibliographies

Encyclopedic bibliographies

Several encyclopedias on the subject of bridge have provided bibliographies of bridge related publications.

The Encyclopedia of Bridge

The Encyclopedia of Bridge of 1935 acknowledges certain authors' publications in their brief biographies but no summary tabulation or categorization of bridge literature or evaluative commentary is provided.

The Official Encyclopedia of Bridge

The Official Encyclopedia of Bridge (OEB) is a publication of the American Contract Bridge League first published in 1964 with the 7th edition published in 2011. Up to the 6th, each OEB edition contains a bibliography of bridge related publications grouped by subject (history, bidding, play, reference, etc.) and rates selected publications as: (a) having made a significant contribution to the technical development of the game; (b) being mandatory for inclusion in a modern technical library; (c) being optional for inclusion in a modern technical library; or (d) none of the foregoing. Subject categories and ratings for a publication may vary between editions of the OEB. The 1st edition bibliography spans 8 pages and lists about 400 titles; the 6th edition bibliography, prepared by Tim Bourke, spans 60 pages and lists approximately 4,100 titles; Up to the 6th, each edition of The Official Encyclopedia of Bridge contains a bibliography of bridge and bridge related books; the following is a summary of their contents.

OEB
Edition		 Year Page Range Number
of Pages		 Number
of Categories		 Number
of Entries
1 1964 684-691 8 15
2 1971 783-793 11 15
3 1976 849-858 10 15
4 1984 902-922 21 17
5 1994 Not numbered 38
6 2001 Not numbered 60 29 4096
7 2011 Not included NA NA NA

The Bridge Players' Encyclopedia

The Bridge Players Encyclopedia (BPE) was published in 1967 by Paul Hamlyn (London) and is an International Edition based on The Official Encyclopedia of Bridge of 1964 but geared to the needs of British and European players. The edition modified American spellings, "translated" bidding structures to the more widely used Acol system, omitted biographical notes on some lesser known Americans and added biographical notes on some British and European players. Although content differs from the 1964 OEB, the publication contains a 9-page bibliography of approximately 500 titles with subject categorization and rating schemes similar to those of the previous OEB editions.

By subject

By author

Other bibliographies
  • Bourke, Tim; Sugden, John (2010). Bridge Books in English from 1886-2010: an annotated bibliography. Cheltenham, England: Bridge Book Buffs. ISBN 978-0-9566576-0-2.

Bibliography

Following are details about books referenced in preceding sections, listed by first named author's surname beginning with:
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

- A -
  • Andersen, Ron; Zenkel, Sabine (1993). Preempts from A-Z. Stamford, Conn.: Magnus Books. ISBN 978-0-9637533-0-4. LCCN 93-079256. 290 pages.

- B -

- C -
  • Chua, Cathy (1998). Fair Play or Foul? Cheating Scandals in Bridge. Melbourne, Australia. ISBN 0-908065-45-0.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  • Cohen, Ben; Barrow, Rhoda (1967). The Bridge Players' Encyclopedia. London: Paul Hamlyn. 674 pages.
  • Cohen, Ben; Barrow, Rhoda (1993). Basic Acol. CollinsWillow. ISBN 9780002184403.
  • Cohen, Larry (1992). To Bid or Not to Bid: The LAW of Total Tricks (9th printing, 1997, revised and expanded ed.). Boca Raton, FL: Natco Press. ISBN 0-9634715-0-3. LCCN 92-80759. 286 pages.
  • Cole, William (1991). Fishheads. Louisville: Devyn Press. ISBN 978-0-910-79190-8.
  • Crowhurst, Eric (1974). Precision Bidding in Acol. London: Pelham. ISBN 978-0-7207-0765-6. 240 pages. (1983) London: Pelham. ISBN 978-0-7207-1488-3. 256 pages.
  • Crowhurst, Eric (1980). Acol in Competition. London: Pelham Books Ltd. ISBN 0-7207-1273-4. 383 pages.
  • Crowhurst, Eric; Kambites, Andrew (1992). Understanding Acol. The Good Bidding Guide. Master Bridge Series. London: Victor Gollancz Ltd in association with Peter Crawley. ISBN 0-575-05253-8. 157 pages.

- D -

- E -
  • Landy, Sandra (1998). Really Easy Bidding. Aylesbury, UK: The English Bridge Union. English Bridge Union Teachers' Association Committee (EBUTA). ISBN 0-9506279-2-5.
  • Ewen, Robert (1970). Opening Leads. Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice-Hall, Inc. ISBN 0-13-637371-2. 226 pages.
  • Ewen, Robert (1975). Pre-emptive Bidding. Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice-Hall, Inc. ISBN 0-13-695296-8. 162 pages. Also: (1976) London: Robert Hale Books. ISBN 0-7091-5601-4. 162 pages.

- F -
  • Feldheim, Harold (1971). The Weak Two Bid in Bridge. Port Chester, NY: Barclay Bridge Supplies. Revised 1973, further revised 1991.
  • Flannery, Bill (1984). The Flannery 2 Diamonds Opening. Louisville, KY: Devyn Press. ISBN 0-910791-13-9.
  • Forquet, Pietro (1983). Bridge With the Blue Team. A.B. Publications. ISBN 0-575-06391-2.
  • Fox, G. C. H. The Basic Elements of Play and Defence.

- G -

- H -
  • Hamman, Bob; Brent, Manley (1994). At the Table. Memphis, Tennessee: DBM Publications. ISBN 0-9642584-0-4. LCCN 94-67897.
  • Hardy, Max (1989). Two Over One Game Force (Revised and Expanded ed.). Kentucky: Devyn Press. ISBN 978-0-910791-35-9. OCLC 29781186.
  • Hardy, Max (2000). Standard Bridge Bidding for the 21st Century. SQueeZe Books. ISBN 978-1-58776-049-5. LCCN 00-104457.
  • Hardy, Max (2002). Advanced Bridge Bidding for the 21st Century. SQueeZe Books. ISBN 978-1-58776-125-6. LCCN 2002104136.
  • Hayden, Dorothy. Bid Better, Play Better. (1966-1986). First edition 1966: Harper & Row (New York), 196p. / 1966: Award Books (New York), 254p. / 1967: Universal (New York), 254p. / 1967: Award Books (New York), Tandem (London), 254p. / 1970: Award Books (New York), Tandem (London), 254p. / 1981: Pinnacle Books (New York), 235p. / 1986: Perennial Library (New York), 235p. ISBN 0-06-091351-7
  • Hiron, Alan; Hiron, Maureen (1989). Beginning Bridge. Crowood Press. ISBN 9781852233518.
  • Hoffman, Martin (1982). Hoffman on Pairs Play. Faber and Faber (London), 184p. ISBN 0-571-11750-3.
  • Horton, Mark (1994). Step-by-Step Signalling.

- J -
  • Jabbour, Zeke (2004). Lawless Territory. American Contract Bridge League, Bridge Bulletin, August 2004, pp. 27–28.
  • Jannersten, Eric (1972). Card Reading - the art of guesssing right at the bridge table. New York: Hart Publishing Company Inc. LCCN 72-78414.

- K -
  • Kantar, Eddie (Edwin): For a complete listing of Eddie Kantar books, see Edwin Kantar bibliography.
  • Kantar, Eddie (1965). Play of the Hand Complete. Eddie Kantar. 108 pages.
  • Kantar, Eddie (1968). Introduction to Declarer's Play. Wilshire Book Company (North Hollywood, CA), 142p., ISBN 978-0-87980-401-5 / Prentice Hall (Endlewood Cliffs, NJ), 147p. / Muller (London), 1971, ISBN 978-0-584-10393-9, 147p
  • Kantar, Eddie (1968). Introduction to Defender's Play. Englewood Cliffs, N.J., Prentice-Hall. Wilshire Book Company (North Hollywood, CA), 153p. / Prentice Hall (Endlewood Cliffs, NJ), 153p. / Muller (London), 1971, ISBN 978-0-584-10394-6, 153p / Wilshire Book Company (North Hollywood, CA), 1977, ISBN 978-0-87980-322-3, 153p
  • Kantar, Eddie (1974). Defensive Bridge Play Complete. Wilshire Book Company (North Hollywood, CA), 528p. / 1975, 1976. ISBN 978-0-87980-287-5.
  • Kantar, Eddie (1977). Bridge Humor. Melvin Powers Self-improvement Library. North Hollywood, CA: Wilshire Book Company. ISBN 978-0-87980-342-1. 151 pages.
  • Kantar, Eddie (1983). Kantar for the Defense, Volume 1. Melvin Powers Self-improvement Library. North Hollywood, CA: Wilshire Book Co. ISBN 978-0-87980-400-8. 200 pages.
  • Kantar, Eddie (1984). Kantar for the Defense, Volume 2. Melvin Powers Self-improvement Library. North Hollywood, CA: Wilshire Book Co. ISBN 978-0-87980-409-1. 200 pages.
  • Kantar, Eddie (1989). The Best of Eddie Kantar: Funny Stories from the Bridge Table. Granovetter Books. ISBN 978-0-940257-03-0. 214 pages.
  • Kantar, Eddie (1997–2008). Bridge for Dummies. Wiley. ISBN 9780764550157. IDG Books Worldwide (Foster City, CA), 1997, ISBN 978-0-7645-5015-7, 382p. / Second Edition: Wiley Publishing Inc., (Hoboken, NJ), 2006, ISBN 978-0-471-92426-5, 388p. / Large Print Edition: Thorndike Press (Waterville, Me), 2008, ISBN 978-1-4104-0503-6, 563p
  • Kantar, Eddie (1999). Eddie Kantar Teaches Advanced Bridge Defense. Toronto: Master Point Press. ISBN 978-1-894154-03-1. 240 pages.
  • Kaplan, Edgar (1964). Winning Contract Bridge Complete. Fleet Publishing Corp.
  • Kearse, Amalya (1990). Bridge Conventions Complete (Revised and Expanded ed.). Louisville, KY: Devyn Press Inc. ISBN 0-910791-76-7. 1121 pages.
  • Kelsey, Hugh (1966). Killing Defence at Bridge. London: Faber and Faber. 191 pages.
  • Kelsey, Hugh (1968). Advanced Play at Bridge. London: Faber and Faber. 192 pages.
  • Kelsey, Hugh (1985). Simple Squeezes. Victor Gollancz Ltd. ISBN 0-575-03607-9. 120 pages.
  • Kelsey, Hugh. Matchpoint Bridge.
  • Kleinman, Danny (2004). The No Trump Zone. Toronto: Master Point Press. ISBN 1-894154-70-3. 217 pages.
  • Kleinman, Danny (2005). Bridge Scandal in Houston (4th ed.). Danny Kleinman. 146 pages.
  • Klinger, Ron (2001). Guide to Better Card Play. Master Bridge Series (New ed.). London: Cassell in association with Peter Crawley. ISBN 0-304-35769-3.
  • Klinger, Ron. Bridge Basics.
  • Klinger, Ron; collab Pat Husband & Andrew Kambites (1994). Basic Bridge. London: Victor Gollancz. ISBN 0-575-05690-8.
  • Klinger, Ron (1986). Bidding to Win at Contract Bridge, Book One: The Modern Losing Trick Count. Sydney, Australia: Modern Bridge Publications. pp. 122. ISBN 0-9592305-2-1. — (2009) The Modern Losing Trick Count: Bidding to Win at Contract Bridge (13th impression). London: by Cassell in association with Peter Crawley, pp. 143. ISBN 978-0-304-35770-3.
  • Koelman, Johannes M.V.A. A New Losing-Trick Count. The Bridge World, May 2003, Vol 74, Issue 8, p. 26.

- L -
  • Lawrence, Mike (1973). How to Read Your Opponents Cards. First Edition: Prentice-Hall, Inc., (Englwood Cliffs, NJ), 175p. / Second Edition: Devyn Press Inc., (Louisville, KY), 1986, 175p. ISBN 0-910791-48-1.
  • Lawrence, Mike (1976). Judgement in Bridge. Max Hardy, 6th Printing, 1987, 151p. ISBN 0-939460-02-5.
  • Lawrence, Mike (1980). The Complete Book of Overcalls. 202p. Max Hardy (Hawthorne, CA).
  • Lawrence, Mike (1983). The Complete Book on Hand Evaluation in Contract Bridge. Hawthorne, CA: Max Hardy. p. 194. ISBN 0-939460-27-0.
  • Lawrence, Mike (1988). How to Play Card Combinations. Louisville, KY: Devyn Press, Inc. ISBN 978-0-910791-63-2.
  • Lawrence, Mike (1996). Mike Lawrence's Opening Leads, 289 pages. C&T Bridge Supplies.
  • Lawrence, Mike (1982). Dynamic Defense. Devyn Press, 226 pages. ISBN 9780910791014.
  • Lawrence, Mike; Wirgren, Anders (2004). I Fought the Law of Total Tricks.
  • Lederer, Richard (1934). Lederer Bids Two Clubs. William & Norgate. ASIN B0008D0LTO.
  • Levé, Guy (2007). The Encyclopedia of Card Play Techniques at Bridge. Toronto: Master Point Press. ISBN 978-1-897106-25-9. 423 pages.
  • Love, Clyde E. (1959). Bridge Squeezes Complete or Winning End Play Strategy (1st ed.). Long Island City, NY: Barclay Bridge Supplies, Sterling Publishing Company Inc. LCCN 59014249.

- M -
  • Mahmood, Zia; Grant, Audrey. Bridge for Beginners.
  • Marston, Paul; Hughes, Nick (1992). Opening Two Bids. Sydney, Australia: Grand Slam Books. ISBN 1-875282-01-7. 59 pages.
  • Mendelson, Paul (1998). Mendelson's Guide to the Bidding Battle. Cambridge, UK: Colt Books. ISBN 0-905899-86-5.
  • Mollo, Victor (1947). Streamlined Bridge or Bidding without Tears. Illustrated by Anton (1st ed.). London: David Marlowe Ltd.
  • Mollo, Victor (1965). Bridge in the Menagerie. London: Faber and Faber.
  • Mollo, Victor (1968). The Bridge Immortals. New York City: Hart Publishing Company.
  • Mollo, Victor (1983). You Need Never Lose at Bridge: Happy Days in the Menagerie (1st ed.). London: Methuen. ISBN 0-413-52500-7.
  • Mollo, Victor; Gardener, Nico (1955). Card Play Technique or the Art of Being Lucky (1st ed.). London: George Newnes Limited. OCLC 21982767. 381 pages.
  • Morehead, Albert; Frey, Richard L. (1974). Morehead on Bidding (2nd ed.). New York: Simon & Schuster. LCCN 73-21053. SBN 671-21699-6.
  • Mould, Alan (1997). Step by Step Pre-empts. London: B.T. Batsford Ltd. ISBN 0-7134-8163-3. 143 pages.

- O -
  • Ottlik, Géza; Kelsey, Hugh (1979). Adventures in Card Play. London: Victor Gallancz Ltd. in association with Peter Crawley. Also, Adventures in Card Play. (2005) London: Cassell in association with Peter Crawley, 7th Impression. 14 July 2005. ISBN 0-304-36807-5.

- R -
  • Reese, Terence: For a complete listing of Terence Reese books, see Terence Reese bibliography.
  • Reese, Terence (1964). Bridge for Bright Beginners. Sterling Publishing Co. (New York). 151 pages. / Dover Publications (New York), 151 pages. / Oak Tree Press (London), 151 pages. / Oak Tree Press (London), 1965, 151 pages. / Cornerstone Library (New York), 1968 and 1969, 144 pages. / Dover Publications (New York), 1973, ISBN 978-0-486-22942-3, 151 pages.
  • Reese, Terence; Bird, David (1989). Bridge: Tricks of the Trade. Master Bridge Series. Victor Gollancz (London) in association with Peter Crawley. ISBN 978-0-575-04504-0. 144 pages. / 1991, ISBN 978-0-575-05024-2, 144 pages.
  • Reese, Terence; Dormer, Albert (1974). The Complete Book of Bridge. Saturday Review Press / E.P. Dutton & Co., Inc. ISBN 0-8415-0277-3. 485 pages. (1985), Faber, ISBN 978-0-571-13528-8, 469 pages.
  • Reese, Terence; Pottage, Julian (1986). Positive Declarer's Play. Master Bridge Series. Victor Gollancz (London) in association with Peter Crawley. ISBN 978-0-575-03839-4. ISBN 978-0-575-03838-7, 128 pages.
  • Reese, Terence; Pottage, Julian (1985). Positive Defence. Master Bridge Series. Victor Gollancz (London) in association with Peter Crawley. ISBN 978-0-575-03562-1. ISBN 978-0-575-03612-3, 128 pages. / Master Point Press (Toronto) 2005, ISBN 978-1-894154-93-2, 160 pages.
  • Reese, Terence; Trézel, Roger (1984). The Mistakes You Make at Bridge. Master Bridge Series. Gollancz (London) in association with Peter Crawley. ISBN 978-0-575-03424-2. 1989, ISBN 978-0-575-03409-9, 168 pages. / Reprint: Houghton Mifflin (Boston) in association with Peter Crawley, 1992, ISBN 978-0-395-62891-1 / New Edition: Gollancz (London), 1994, ISBN 978-0-575-05785-2, 168 pages. / Revised Edition by Ron Klinger: Cassell (London) in association with Peter Crawley, 2006, ISBN 978-0-304-36811-2, 160 pages.
  • Rigal, Barry. Step-by-Step: Deceptive Declarer Play.
  • Rigal, Barry. Step-by-Step: Deception in Defence.
  • Robinson, Steve (1996). Washington Standard. Devyn Press (Louisville, KY). ISBN 978-0-939460-59-5. 300 pages.
  • Robson, Andrew; Segal, Oliver. Partnership Bidding.
  • Root, Bill; Pavlicek, Richard (1981). Modern Bridge Conventions. Crown Publishers Inc. ISBN 978-0-517-54573-7. 244 pages; Three Rivers Press (New York), ISBN 978-0-517-88429-4, 244 pages; 1992, Crown Publishers Inc., Crown Trade Paperbacks (New York), ISBN 978-0-517-58727-0, 244 pages.
  • Root, Bill (1986). Commonsense Bidding. Crown Publishers Inc. (New York). ISBN 9780517561300. ISBN 0-517-56130-1 (hardcover), ISBN 0-517-56129-8 (softcover), 216 pages; 1995, Three Rivers Press (New York), ISBN 0-517-88430-5, 216 pages.
  • Root, Bill (1998). The ABCs of Bridge. New York: Crown Publishers Inc. ISBN 0-609-80162-7.
  • Roudinescu, Jean-Marc. The Dictionary of Suit Combinations.
  • Rubens, Jeff (1971). The Secrets of Winning Bridge (2nd ed.). New York: Grosset & Dunlap. ISBN 0-448-01746-6 (hardcover), ISBN 0-448-02094-7 (softcover)

- S -

- T -

- W -
  • Watson, Louis H (1934). Watson on the Play of the Hand at Contract Bridge. New York: Lewis Copeland Company. p. 492. — (1958) Enlarged and modernized by Sam Fry, Jr.
  • Wei, C.C.; Andersen, Ron (1992). Profits from Preempts. Louisville, KY: Devyn Press Inc. ISBN 0-910791-37-6. 162 pages.
  • Wolff, Bobby (2008). The Lone Wolff. Toronto: Master Point Press. ISBN 978-1-897106-37-2. 287 pages.
  • Woolsey, Kit (1982). Matchpoints. Shelbyville, KY: Devyn Press Inc. p. 343. ISBN 978-0-910791-00-7. OCLC 13491401. — (reprinted 1988 and 1992) Louisville, KY: Devyn Press Inc., pp. 343, OCLC 477153995.
  • Woolsey, Kit (1980). Partnership Defense in Bridge. Shelbyville, KY: Devyn Press Inc. p. 303. OCLC 7498214. — (reprinted 1991), pp. 303, ISBN 978-0-910791-68-7.
  • Woolsey, Kit (1981). Modern Defensive Signalling in Contract Bridge. Port Chester, NY: Barclay Bridge Supplies Inc. p. 64. — (reprinted 1992) Louisville, KY: Devyn Press Inc., pp. 64, ISBN 0-910791-40-6.

See also

Lists

Books

References
  1. Truscott, Alan; Truscott, Dorothy (2002). The New York Times Bridge Book. New York: St. Martin's Press. p. 1. ISBN 0-312-29090-X. 263 pages.
  2. "Bibliography, Section A" in Francis, Henry G.; Truscott, Alan F.; Francis, Dorthy A., eds. (1994). The Official Encyclopedia of Bridge (5th ed.). Memphis, TN: American Contract Bridge League. ISBN 0-943855-48-9. LCCN 96188639.
  3. "Biritch, or Russian Whist". Pagat.com. This page gives a transcription of the booklet "Biritch, or Russian Whist" by John Collinson
  4. Bob van de Velde. "Yeralash or the discovery of a missing link" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-04-04.
  5. Goren, Charles (1961). The Sports Illustrated Book of Contract Bridge. Chancellor Hall, Ltd. p. 14. LOC 61-17743. 518 pages.
  6. Bourke, Tim; Sugden, John (2010). An Annotated Bibliography of Bridge Books in English 1886-2010. Cheltenham, England: Bridge Book Buffs. p. vii. ISBN 978-0-9566576-0-2. 711 pages plus supplement.
  7. ACBL Bridge Bulletin, September 2019, page 33.
  8. "ABTA Book Awards" (PDF). ABTA. American Bridge Teachers’ Association.
  9. ACBL Bridge Bulletin, September 2018, page 29.
  10. "IBPA Official website".
  11. "2018 IBPA Awards, p. 21" (PDF). International Bridge Press Association.
  12. IBPA Book of the Year, awarded at the IBPA AGM at the World Bridge Championships in Wuhan, September 23, 2019
  13. ACBL Bridge Bulletin, June 2007, page 20
  14. ACBL Bridge Bulletin, June 2007, pages 20-22
  15. Manley, Brent; Horton, Mark; Greenberg-Yarbro, Tracey; Rigal, Barry, eds. (2011). The Official Encyclopedia of Bridge (7th ed.). Horn Lake, MS: American Contract Bridge League. p. 432. ISBN 978-0-939460-99-1.
  16. Mark Horton (1999). The Mammoth Book of Bridge, Carroll & Graf Publishers Inc. (New York), ISBN 0-7867-0691-0, pages 272-278.
  17. Hasenson, Peter (2004). British Bridge Almanack. London: 77 Publishing. pp. 156–165. ISBN 0-9549241-0-X.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.