Enjoy Beginning Bridge

Most beginning bridge books are written by truly gifted experts who have long forgotten what it was like to be a beginner. They have understandably forgotten that learning bridge is akin to learning a second language. As a result, most beginning bridge books are written in "bridge-speak" and the beginner has the same experience as anyone watching a foreign film without sub-titles. This book is unique in that the author was a real recent beginner when writing this book and knew how to convert "bridge-speak" into language a beginner can understand. Because of the need to teach in the same language that the beginner speaks, the author employs an effective technique for introducing bridge terms for the first time. For example, the term VULNERABLE is first introduced capitalized in bold, followed by a clear definition of the term. Also, a robust 8 page Glossary is provided. With this approach, the beginner becomes "fluent" in bridge as he is being introduced required bridge skills. Enjoy Beginning Bridge is also unique in that it recognizes that a bridge player must be prepared to assume four different roles, requiring four different skill sets depending in which of the four seats he is assigned. To prepare the beginner for this challenge, each one of these four roles is assigned a separate chapter. The book's format is specifically designed for a beginner, with three separate sections within each major chapter: a narrative that explains the specific bridge skill that is introduced; a matrix that summarizes the guidelines discussed in the narrative; and, lastly, a series of quizzes which include solutions and a "lessons learned" section that transcends the specific problem. Perhaps the biggest challenge for a beginning bridge book is the narration of all the bridge skills needed to enable the beginner to participate in the END-GAME, the final event in bridge which includes the playing of the tricks. As in opera, when i

Andrew Giordano, having retired twice: once, from a 31 year career in the U.S. Navy; and, the second time from a series of executive positions in "corporate America", finally heeded his wife's pleas to learn bridge. The first "pothole" he encountered was a dearth of books dedicated to the Beginner. Most basic bridge books are written by truly gifted experts who rarely acknowledge that learning bridge requires learning a second language. As a result, the process is painfully similar to watching a foreign movie without sub-titles! Having authored articles on logistical issues for professional journals, the author became convinced that he could distill complex issues into ones that "my mother can understand". Andrew Giordano has "broken the code" of beginning bridge; he has authored perhaps the only book dedicated to beginners and written by a recent beginner. It is now possible to "enjoy beginning bridge!"