You’ll find a lot of
bridge information on the Internet. As with information on any topic, some is
good and some isn’t. An added complication with bridge is that different
bidding systems are used in different countries. We’ve listed websites we feel
are appropriate for our students. Click on the link in italics to go to the
website. Updates will be made from time to time. If you find a problem with a link or want
to suggest other good sites, please let me know.
PLAY BRIDGE ON YOUR COMPUTER FOR FREE
Bridge Base Online Free Download – The most popular
site for free online play at your level with real people in real time. There is
a charge to play in ACBL masterpoint events. MAC users or a limited version that plays in your browser, CLICK HERE. For a fee, those who have downloaded the full version can access the various resources and lessons available in
BBO’s Beginner and Intermediate Lounge.
Vu-Bridge – Play “lesson” deals against the computer. Some hands are for beginners but more are for intermediate and advanced players. Playing can be fun but is sometimes frustrating. Vu-Bridge will make only the proscribed bid or play and does not usually offer a correction at that time. If you are wrong, you have to keep guessing until you choose the correct bid or play. Vu-Bridge might replace the card you play with an equal card in the same suit but is rigid and cannot differentiate from an acceptable play in a different suit so be aware that you might decide to play a spade when the programmer wants a club even though the order is interchangeable. Also the line of play suggested is not always the technically correct line. Despite these flaws you can have fun with Vu-Bridge and it’s FREE! To play hands, click on the “Bridge Hands” button on the left of your screen.
Just Play Bridge - Free computer play against robots courtesy of ACBL and Bridge Base Online. Easy to use site lets you play your hand with 3 robots playing the remaining hands. Not a teaching program and no analysis of bidding or play. Just lets you practice playing and trying to make your plan. (Robots play 2/1, which is not the system we teach but an explanation of each bid is offered so you know what the bid shows.
BRIDGE BOOKS AND SUPPLIES
Baron Barclay Bridge Supply – A reliable source for mail ordering bridge books and supplies.
Masterpoint Press - bridge publishers for downloading bridge e-books.
SevenNoTrump.com
–
Offers a good variety of bridge related items and novelties. Find a fun gift for your bridge partner
here.
BRIDGE REFERENCE SITES
ACBL’s hand of the week problem.
Learn to Play Bridge – Fred Gitelman and the ACBL bring you two free online tutorials to help you improve your game. You get to play (but not bid) a few deals yourself but it’s mostly an interactive book.
Phillip Alder’s newspaper column – one of the best for the average player.
Frank Stewart’s newspaper column courtesy of Baron Barclay.
Larry Cohen's website – Articles, and bid 'em ups. Be sure to click on the top right of Larry’s website to subscribe to his free e-mail newsletter.
Audrey
Grant's Better Bridge website – In
a series of articles called WHAT'S STANDARD? David Lindop discusses
"Standard" in reference to modern bidding methods following the
approach in Audrey Grant's bidding series.
Jerry Helms' website provides advice on a variety of topics from the popular "Ask Jerry" columns appearing in The Bridge Bulletin and Audrey Grant’s Better Bridge magazine.
The Fifth Chair Foundation – Check out Bridge School articles, interactive quizzes and more advanced articles in the Archives.Karen Walker’s website for students of varying abilities.
LOOKING FOR A BRIDGE TEACHER, CLUB OR TOURNAMENT?
When you in an unfamiliar area and have no word-of-mouth recommendations, your chance of finding a good teacher increases if you choose a teacher who has been properly trained. Our local Unit and District 9 websites provide information on what’s going on in bridge in Florida
CLICK HERE to find teachers who have taken the ACBL 10-hour TAP course.
CLICK HERE to find teachers who belong to ABTA, the professional bridge teachers’ organization. (Those marked Master Teacher are the top-rated teachers.)
CLICK HERE to find ACBL sanctioned bridge games and clubs.
CLICK HERE for Unit 128 (most of Florida)tournaments.
CLICK HERE for Unit 102 (Sarasota area) tournaments.
CLICK HERE to see additional Florida Regionals and Sectionals sponsored by District 9.
SCORING AND RULES
Pat’s
Scoring Summary – a printable PDF
summarizing the various methods of scoring.
For home practice we recommend Chicago scoring, where you have to bid the
full extent of each hand in order to win.
ACBL’s table of scores for all contracts – to use for Duplicate or Chicago scoring.
Duplicate scoring from ACBL for use in Duplicate or Chicago scoring.
Imp scoring for team games from ACBL
The Laws of Rubber Bridge from ACBL – Revoke? Bid out of turn? If your social group
agrees to play by the real rules of the game, you can check to see what the
latest rule book says should be done. For Chicago or rubber bridge players. The Laws of Rubber Bridge 2014 replaces The Laws of Contract Bridge 1993.
The Laws of Duplicate Bridge from ACBL – The book that dictates how the club or tournament Director rules when something goes wrong at your table. For Duplicate players.
INFORMATION FOR DUPLICATE PLAYERS
PLAYING DUPLICATE
ACBL’s Introduction To
Duplicate Bridge.
Karen Walker’s online guide for new duplicate players.
ACBL Alert Chart – Lists bids requiring an alert or announcement.
ACBL Alert Procedures – Tells you who should alert or announce a bid and how to do it.
Using bidding boxes and the stop card – Read about the proper use of bidding boxes and the stop card, which is used prior to making any bid – weak or strong – that jumps one or more levels of bidding.
COMPLETING THE CONVENTION CARD
Audrey Grant's Better Bridge website – Filling Out The Convention Card – David Lindop walks you through the process of completing the convention card.
Conventional Wisdom – A series of articles on completing the convention card originally published in The Bridge Bulletin.
FOR FUN – BRIDGE BLOGS
Maggy Simony – This
lively Florida nonagenarian promotes social and sociable bridge in her blog –
an interesting read.
Playing Bridge blog - Read about the trials and tribulations of a novice duplicate player like you. Start with the oldest post ad read forward to watch this player develop.
BRIDGE IN THE NEWS
Million Dollar Hobby - New York Observer article about professional bridge players November 20, 2013.It’s In The Cards – News Press Coastal Life article about Bonita Bridge Club February 24, 2012.
The Best Bridge Players on Wall Street – Business Insider, July 16, 2011
Top Businessmen Play Bridge – Chicago Tribune, August 7, 1996
A Dangerous Game – one writer’s view – Chicago Tribune, February 10, 1987
Younger Players Trying Their Hand at Bridge Table – Chicago Tribune, February 23, 2006
Forget Poker, Bridge Has Its Suitors Too – Chicago Tribune, November 10, 2005
Bring Bridge Back to the Table – New York Times, November 27, 2005
At the Bridge Table, Clues to a Lucid Old Age – New York Times, May 21, 2009
For Students Raised on iPods, Lessons in Bridge – New York Times, April 25, 2011
Turning Tricks –The New Yorker, September 17, 2007
Real Men Play Bridge – Newsweek, February 27, 2012
Improve Your Life With Bridge – US New And World Report, December 18, 2008
Maggy Simony, a one-woman campaign – Wall Street Journal, February 29, 2012. Check our Maggy’s blog listed under Bridge Blogs above.
The Bridge-Playing Champion of Wall Street – Wall Street Journal, June 22, 2011
The Game that Trumps All Others – Wall Street Journal, October 24, 2009
A Man's Passion, Seen in the Cards – Washington Post, May 2, 2006
Mind Games May Trump Alzheimer's – Washington Post, June 19, 2003
Young Hands On Deck – Atlanta Journal-Constitution, July 21, 2006
Bridge Improves Students' Test Scores – Belleville Intelligencer, August 19, 2006
Billionaires and Trump of a Different Ilk – Burlington (Iowa) Hawk Eye, August 3, 2006
Billionaires Build Bridges with Youth – Hawk Eye, August 6, 2006
Bridge Makes a Comeback – KTRK Channel 13, Houston, TX, March 20, 2009
Bridge Resurgence - Keeping Players Sharp and Creative – Minneapolis Star-Tribune, October 2, 2009
Fans of bridge get major helping hand – Omaha World Herald, August 6, 2006
Bridge Builds Devotion Among Loyal Card Players – Los Angeles Daily News, June 11, 2005
Bridge to Brains and Buddies – Santa Clarita Valley Signal, November 14, 2010