Bridge players?
 

We have some friends that play and I want to learn. I'm a how-to book freak and am looking for some suggestions.

Any suggestions for a newbie bridge player, but an experienced partnership-trick-taking card player (e.g. spades, euchre)? Bridge for Dummies or Idiot's Guides any good? Others?

Thanks!

Also, where would you suggest I play online after I learn a bit?

Re: Bridge players?
 

I play here:

http://zone.msn.com/en/root/default.htm

When I get home I'll suggest a book.

Re: Bridge players?
 

Bridge Base Online is by far the largest and best site for online play.

As This URL suggests, it has links to just about any site worth reading (and a lot not worth reading).

As for beginner's books, there's a bazillion. The bridge litterature outnumber the poker ditto by a gazillion. Find something on amazone with "beginner" in the title. Well established writers in that area are Eddie Kantar, Mike Lawrence and Hugh Kelsey to mention a few. When you have found some interessting books feel free to ask for an opinion before buying

Re: Bridge players?
 

I've enjoyed Bridge Base (bridgebase.com). I'm bignumber3 if you ever see me on there. Others will give better book advice than I can.

Re: Bridge players?
 

[ QUOTE ]

As for beginner's books, there's a bazillion. The bridge litterature outnumber the poker ditto by a gazillion. Find something on amazone with "beginner" in the title. Well established writers in that area are Eddie Kantar, Mike Lawrence and Hugh Kelsey to mention a few. When you have found some interessting books feel free to ask for an opinion before buying

[/ QUOTE ]

Holy crap, there are a lot of bridge books!

Eddie Kantar wrote "Bridge for Dummies." It has good reviews and I have some Dummies books.
However, one review says that is uses "a weird ... non-standard point system" that it seems many don't use. Would this hurt me? Any comments on this one?

Re: Bridge players?
 

Play online at bridgebase.com

Go to the same website and download "Learn to Play bridge" 1 and 2, they are free and good tools for a beginner.

Re: Bridge players?
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]

As for beginner's books, there's a bazillion. The bridge litterature outnumber the poker ditto by a gazillion. Find something on amazone with "beginner" in the title. Well established writers in that area are Eddie Kantar, Mike Lawrence and Hugh Kelsey to mention a few. When you have found some interessting books feel free to ask for an opinion before buying

[/ QUOTE ]

Holy crap, there are a lot of bridge books!

Eddie Kantar wrote "Bridge for Dummies." It has good reviews and I have some Dummies books.
However, one review says that is uses "a weird ... non-standard point system" that it seems many don't use. Would this hurt me? Any comments on this one?

[/ QUOTE ]

I don't know that particular book but Eddie Kantar is surely one of the worlds best writers, for advanced players as for beginners. I don't know which review you've read, but I simply don't believe that the book uses a weird point system. All over the world (USA, Denmark, Kenya, Chile, The South Pole....) beginners are taught (sp?) (variants of) the same system.

Re: Bridge players?
 

I used to recommend Five Weeks to Winning Bridge by Alfred Sheinwold, but I haven't kept current with what's available for beginners. I still see it for a couple of bucks at used book stores. I doubt anything in it is still considered controversial. It's very well written and easy to understand.

Re: Bridge players?
 

If you are in NYC (going by the Mets logo), stop by the Honors Bridge Club on 57th b/w Park and Lex. (The building w/the NY Health and Racket club in it; north side of 57th almost smack in the middle of the block.) They have a big library there and can help you out.