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The Joy of Bridge: Everything you need to know to enjoy your game
A compendium of tips, techniques and examples designed to brush up your knowledge on the key areas of your game, so that, wherever you play – kitchen, local group or club – you will be more likely to succeed.
Eschewing most conventions, everyday bidding problems are solved logically and clearly, declarer play techniques, from the ubiquitous 3NT to tricky little part-scores, are broken down into the crucial areas for consideration, and defensive decisions are made easier by knowing exactly the target for which you are striving.
For forty years, Paul has lectured live and online and, along with his easy-to-follow guidance, The Joy of Bridge shares a selection of his infamously entertaining stories and hands.
Eschewing most conventions, everyday bidding problems are solved logically and clearly, declarer play techniques, from the ubiquitous 3NT to tricky little part-scores, are broken down into the crucial areas for consideration, and defensive decisions are made easier by knowing exactly the target for which you are striving.
For forty years, Paul has lectured live and online and, along with his easy-to-follow guidance, The Joy of Bridge shares a selection of his infamously entertaining stories and hands.
304 pages, Paperback
Published April 16, 2024
About the author
Paul Mendelson
42 books46 followersPaul Mendelson wrote stories at school when he should have been doing other things, but went on to become the, then, youngest ever playwright performed at the National Theatre, with his play, "You're Quite Safe With Me". This was followed by further work for theatre and, briefly, for television.
For twenty years, Paul has written on mind sports, such as bridge, poker and casino games, becoming the UK's best-selling author within his genre. He has contributed to magazines and newspapers worldwide, has a weekly bridge column in the Financial Times, and also writes interviews and features.
His debut crime novel, "The First Rule of Survival" was published in 2014, making the short-list of the CWA Golden Dagger for Crime Novel of the Year.
His second novel, "The Serpentine Road" was short-listed for several awards, including the CWA Gold Dagger again - an almost unheard of achievement - and received great acclaim in South Africa where it's political elements chimed with many that were in the news at the time.
Book 3, "The History of Blood" was published in July 2016, receiving accolades from reviewers in the national press in the UK, Eire and South Africa. It has been chosen as a Recommended Summer Read, Thriller of the Week and Thriller of the Month.
"Apostle Lodge" is his fourth novel set in Southern Africa, released for export on November 2017 and in the UK in February 2018, and it has received plaudits from around the world, hitting the top-ten Bestseller List in South Africa throughout the Christmas period.
Mendelson's fifth novel is set in England with a new detective.
Paul's novels now appear as audio books, Large Print books, and have been translated into French and German, with more languages to come, including Afrikaans (for the huge crime reading market in South Africa)
Each of the novels in the Vaughn de Vries series are set in Southern Africa, the novels allowing Paul's creative writing once again to come to the fore, and providing the perfect excuse to return to his beloved Cape Town to gain inspiration and time to write.
Paul lives in London (and, sometimes, Cape Town) with his two and four-legged family.
For twenty years, Paul has written on mind sports, such as bridge, poker and casino games, becoming the UK's best-selling author within his genre. He has contributed to magazines and newspapers worldwide, has a weekly bridge column in the Financial Times, and also writes interviews and features.
His debut crime novel, "The First Rule of Survival" was published in 2014, making the short-list of the CWA Golden Dagger for Crime Novel of the Year.
His second novel, "The Serpentine Road" was short-listed for several awards, including the CWA Gold Dagger again - an almost unheard of achievement - and received great acclaim in South Africa where it's political elements chimed with many that were in the news at the time.
Book 3, "The History of Blood" was published in July 2016, receiving accolades from reviewers in the national press in the UK, Eire and South Africa. It has been chosen as a Recommended Summer Read, Thriller of the Week and Thriller of the Month.
"Apostle Lodge" is his fourth novel set in Southern Africa, released for export on November 2017 and in the UK in February 2018, and it has received plaudits from around the world, hitting the top-ten Bestseller List in South Africa throughout the Christmas period.
Mendelson's fifth novel is set in England with a new detective.
Paul's novels now appear as audio books, Large Print books, and have been translated into French and German, with more languages to come, including Afrikaans (for the huge crime reading market in South Africa)
Each of the novels in the Vaughn de Vries series are set in Southern Africa, the novels allowing Paul's creative writing once again to come to the fore, and providing the perfect excuse to return to his beloved Cape Town to gain inspiration and time to write.
Paul lives in London (and, sometimes, Cape Town) with his two and four-legged family.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
November 30, 2023
I have played bridge for many years. I would say that I am an intermediate player. This book seemed great for me. There are clear examples and strategies for how to play, bid and think about bridge.
This book will, I think, work best if the reader has a pack of cards and can set up the situations to play them out. There is much to be gleaned here.
That said, this book is not designed to teach the beginner in my opinion. Even looking at the first section, the assumption is that the reader knows how to bid, what the dummy is, etc.
For the experienced player who wants to improve, this is a good resource. Just a few of the topics included are ruffing losers, nt drawing trumps, valuing no trump hands, which suit to open,Stayman and much more. Read the book in order or go to a topic that is of interest. Remember…a bridge game should be fun and there is always more to learn.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Ad Lib Publishers for this title. All opinions are my own.
This book will, I think, work best if the reader has a pack of cards and can set up the situations to play them out. There is much to be gleaned here.
That said, this book is not designed to teach the beginner in my opinion. Even looking at the first section, the assumption is that the reader knows how to bid, what the dummy is, etc.
For the experienced player who wants to improve, this is a good resource. Just a few of the topics included are ruffing losers, nt drawing trumps, valuing no trump hands, which suit to open,Stayman and much more. Read the book in order or go to a topic that is of interest. Remember…a bridge game should be fun and there is always more to learn.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Ad Lib Publishers for this title. All opinions are my own.
August 27, 2025
Best book about bidding in Bridge that I've read. My partner and I will be making the move to ACOL in October and look forward to trying out the strategies outlined in this book.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews