The Best Bridge Books of 2017
By Alex J. Coyne for Great Bridge Links
Are you looking for books to fill your shelf or ebook reader with this January? We’ve collected some of the best bridge books for 2017 for you to take on your way to 2018. Let us know if you spotted any new releases we’ve overlooked!
International Bridge Press Association
2017 Book of the Year
Battling the Best: My Journey through the 2014 Reisinger by Sattaj Hans
Battling the Best is an autobiographical by bridge player Sattaj Hans, published by Bridge Winners Press. If you haven’t read it yet, it’s worth picking up just for the in-game tips and playing walk-through.
Other IBPA Shortlisters
If I Only Had a Heart: Bridge Over the Rainbow
Alex Adamson and Harry Smith (Master Point Press)
Famous Bridge Swings
David Bird (Master Point Press)
Never a Dull Deal: Faith, Hope and Probability in Bridge (Master Point Press)
Robert F. MacKinnon (see lower on this page)
Keys to Winning Bridge
Frank R. Stewart
2017 ABTA BOOK OF THE YEAR
This prestigious award, presented by the American Bridge Teachers’ Association, has been granted every year since 1982, to acknowledge excellent bridge books for students and teachers.
Defending at Bridge: A First Course (Beginner) by Bill Treble
Defending at Bridge: A First Course is split up into eight lessons over 160 pages, and though it was first published in 2016, it was the ABTA Book of the Year for 2017, which makes it more than worth recommending in our books.
OTHER GREAT BOOKS
These books haven’t won awards but are certainly some of the finest publications fro 2017.
The Language of Bridge by Kit Woolsey
Woolsey is a well-known player and writer in both the worlds of bridge and backgammon, and Woolsey is also the author of books like Matchpoints and The Backgammon Encyclopedia. Now, he’s released The Language of Bridge, which explores the language we use around the table at length. Worth picking up for a read!
Bridge Secrets: Don’t Miss a Trick by Julian Pottage
From the book’s description: “When you open this little book, the state secrets of the game of bridge lie in your hands. They cover everything you need to know to go from being a bridge beginner to an international mastermind!” Published by Collins Little Books, an imprint of Harper Collins.
ACBL Laws of Duplicate Bridge
Available from Baron Barclay, this is the updated Laws of Duplicate Bridge – not too many major changes in the official rulebook, but we’d say we always like staying up to date with the latest edition on our bookshelves or e-readers.
Playing 2/1: The Rest of the Story by Paul Thurston
This is the official sequel to Paul Thurston’s highly successful bridge book 25 Steps to Learning 2/1, and it also comes recommended as one of the must-read bridge books to have on your shelf.
A Taste of Bridge by Jeff Bayone
The first thing that got us about this book was the cover. Food and bridge combines two of our absolute favorite things! Jeff Bayone’s Honors Bridge Club is based in New York, USA – and A Taste of Bridge combines their beginner course into a must-have book for bridge players.
Never a Dull Deal: Faith, Hope & Probability in Bridge by Robert F. MacKinnon
If you want to know more about the numbers and science behind playing bridge, this is the book for you. Released in 2017, this book by a retired mathematician is worth it. Also remember to take a look at the cool-named Samurai Bridge: Bridge fiction set in Japan.
Judgment at Bridge 2 by Michael Lawrence
And finally it’s always a treat when one of the world’s greatest bridge authors publishes a brand new book. In his original Judgment at Bridge, Mike Lawrence gave us a lot of great advice on how to think at the bridge table. In Judgment at Bridge 2, Mike continues with his guidance on how to approach the game. Become a great bridge player and an even great opponent!