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Your Favourite Bridge Book

#1 User is offline   FelicityR 

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Posted 2019-September-16, 05:02

Only occasionally do I buy a new bridge book as there are plenty to pick up from charity shops, secondhand booksellers and eBay. However, I am really glad I found this one by accident as it is very instructive and funny, too.

Master of Bridge Psychology by Jeppe Juhl and Peter Fredin.

It deserves to be a bridge bestseller. Having read the book, I can conclude that Peter Fredin is the Scandinavian equivalent of Zia Mahmood, not only an excellent bridge player but a larger-than-life character too.

Not only do I like the idea of a biographical - Jeppe Juhl is a personal friend - analysis of Peter Fredin, I personally like the way the book is presented. Anecdotes asides, I enjoyed the format where you are given the opportunity to think like Fredin, only to realise that your own bridge psychology and play is, for me, never going to be anything like his, and then actually admire how brilliantly intelligent the man is.

I found it a great read, brimming with good humour, published in easy to read print, and it has now replaced 'Bridge in the Menagerie' by Victor Mollo as my favourite bridge book. And whilst I still like 'Menagerie' and the St Titus monastery articles of David Bird, there is a difference reading about a real bridge character as opposed to imaginary ones.
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#2 User is online   eagles123 

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Posted 2019-September-16, 06:21

how to read your opponents cards by Mike Lawrence
"definitely that's what I like to play when I'm playing standard - I want to be able to bid diamonds because bidding good suits is important in bridge" - Meckstroth's opinion on weak 2 diamond
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#3 User is offline   Winstonm 

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Posted 2019-September-16, 09:07

Championship Bridge - Jose le Dentu
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#4 User is offline   Vampyr 

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Posted 2019-September-16, 16:42

Right Through the Pack - Darvas and de Hart.
I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones -- Albert Einstein
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#5 User is offline   miamijd 

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Posted 2019-September-17, 10:33

The Rodwell Files
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#6 User is offline   PhilG007 

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Posted 2019-September-17, 13:36

I have two "The Play of the Cards" by Reese and Dormer and "Play these Hands with Me" by Terence Reese
"It is not enough to be a good player, you must also play well"
- Dr Tarrasch(1862-1934)German Chess Grandmaster

Bridge is a game where you have two opponents...and often three(!)


"Any palooka can take tricks with Aces and Kings; the true expert shows his prowess
by how he handles the two's and three's" - Mollo's Hideous Hog
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#7 User is offline   msjennifer 

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Posted 2019-September-18, 01:17

Sir.There are many that are my favourites but to mention only two (1)WINNING DEFENCE by BROWN.(May be out of print).((2)FROM A TO Z by George S Coffin. Thanks.
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#8 User is offline   PhilG007 

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Posted 2019-September-18, 13:40

Another book you should consider reading is "Story of a Scandal" By Terence Reese The account of the Reese-Schapiro cheating allegation
at the World Championships in Buenos Airies in 1965.
"It is not enough to be a good player, you must also play well"
- Dr Tarrasch(1862-1934)German Chess Grandmaster

Bridge is a game where you have two opponents...and often three(!)


"Any palooka can take tricks with Aces and Kings; the true expert shows his prowess
by how he handles the two's and three's" - Mollo's Hideous Hog
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#9 User is offline   diana_eva 

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Posted 2019-September-20, 12:46

View PostKarert, on 2019-September-19, 16:18, said:

Choosing a "favourite" is impossible.

But one of the best I've read is Easley Blackwood's Complete Book of Opening Leads.

Even in terms of bridge books, a very heavy tome, and only dealing with the first card played. An excellent piece of work, and something Easley should be better known for…


Posted at the request of user too new to be allowed to reply to this topic.

#10 User is offline   paulg 

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Posted 2019-September-23, 06:59

View PostFelicityR, on 2019-September-16, 05:02, said:

Only occasionally do I buy a new bridge book as there are plenty to pick up from charity shops, secondhand booksellers and eBay. However, I am really glad I found this one by accident as it is very instructive and funny, too.

Master of Bridge Psychology by Jeppe Juhl and Peter Fredin.

It deserves to be a bridge bestseller. Having read the book, I can conclude that Peter Fredin is the Scandinavian equivalent of Zia Mahmood, not only an excellent bridge player but a larger-than-life character too.

This book has just won the Masterpoint Press book of the year, according to the WBF bulletin from the world championships.
The Beer Card

I don't work for BBO and any advice is based on my BBO experience over the decades
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#11 User is offline   FelicityR 

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Posted 2019-September-23, 10:42

View Postpaulg, on 2019-September-23, 06:59, said:

This book has just won the Masterpoint Press book of the year, according to the WBF bulletin from the world championships.


Thank you for that information. It's an entertaining and enjoyable read: a bit different than many other run-of-the-mill bridge books. I loved it.
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#12 User is offline   mikestar13 

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Posted 2019-September-27, 11:57

S. J. Simon's Why You Lose at Bridge.
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#13 User is offline   neilkaz 

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Posted 2019-September-28, 11:07

View Postmiamijd, on 2019-September-17, 10:33, said:

The Rodwell Files

Superb
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#14 User is offline   LBengtsson 

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Posted 2019-September-29, 04:14

View PostFelicityR, on 2019-September-16, 05:02, said:

Only occasionally do I buy a new bridge book as there are plenty to pick up from charity shops, secondhand booksellers and eBay. However, I am really glad I found this one by accident as it is very instructive and funny, too.

Master of Bridge Psychology by Jeppe Juhl and Peter Fredin.



A good book. Makes me look like a amateur. lol Bridge at the Edge and The Rodwell Files are also favorites.
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#15 User is offline   RuflRabbit 

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Posted 2019-October-11, 21:22

Bridge in the Menagerie was the first bridge book I read. For me, everything else pales in comparison. :)

RuflRabbit
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#16 User is offline   WrecksVee 

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Posted 2019-December-29, 12:22

I agree with the above choice of S J Simon's "Why You Lose at Bridge". I re-read it every few years.
"A stopper is neither weak nor strong but thinking makes it so." H. Kelsey
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#17 User is offline   dave251164 

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Posted 2020-October-04, 15:26

I'd suggest trying Best of Bridge: Introduction to the Wohlin Collection by Victor Mollo
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#18 User is online   helene_t 

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Posted 2020-October-04, 21:13

I like Hugh Kelsey's "Winning Card Play". It goes through card play techniques in a systematic way, and it's a pleasant read.

For those who can read Dutch, "Een goede speler is niet eerlijk" bij Joost Prinsen offers insights in the community of top players. A very interesting book.
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#19 User is offline   mcphee 

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Posted 2020-October-05, 11:47

All the choices mentioned are excellent books, but Adventures in Card Play is exceptional, not for newer players though.
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#20 User is offline   pescetom 

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Posted 2020-October-05, 14:29

It's dated, somewhat contorted and in Italian, but "La logica del bridge naturale" by the late Franco di Stefano remains my favourite.
"Card play technique (or the art of being lucky)" by Victor Mollo and Nico Gardner comes second, although I have yet to finish it as my partners well know.
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