Bridge Basics 2: Competitive Bidding

by Audrey Grant

Covers the concepts needed when both sides are bidding for the contract. It introduces preemptive opening bids, overcalls and takeout doubles.

Genres: Nonfiction, Games

230 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2005

Reviews

[Monte Lamb · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very good book on competitive bidding in Bridge. It is for the beginning and advancing player to learn the basic concepts. The author's style is very concise and clear in all the concepts that she advances. The teaching is done on A, then B, then C with clear examples to show the concepts. At the end of each lesson is a series of hands to further show how the concept is to be applied. I have found Ms. Grant to be a very good instructor in the several books I have read by her. This is another one.

[Bonnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second Audrey Grant bridge book I've read and continue to be impressed by the clear explanations, quizzes and practice deals. Preemptive opening bids, overcalls, takeout doubles and the competitive auction are covered. I'm sure I'll be re-reading this book and using what I have learned in play. Highly recommended if you want to know more about American Standard bidding.

[Katie Kleier · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you've mastered courting HCP, no trump, Stayman and Jacoby Transfer, but aren't sure what to do next, this book is for you. The bidding techniques in this book will take your game to the next level.

[Brandon F · Rating 1 out of 5]

If you are a bridge beginner, DO NOT USE THIS SERIES to learn bridge, like me. It teaches bridge backwards (the bidding first, then the play.)
Nothing wrong with Audrey Grant, she's a very nice person.

[Rob · Rating 4 out of 5]

Of Bridge Basics 1, 2, and 3, I found this one the most challenging -- preemptive bidding, strong 2s, overcalls, and take-out doubles. I don't agree with making the main response to overcalls being preemptive bids.

[Joyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clear explanations and easy to understand bidding with lots of examples. This book helped me understand preemptive bids and responses as well as takeout doubles and how to respond after a takeout double.

[Molly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bridge is making more sense; it is still many rules. Competitive Bidding makes so much sense.

[Molly Engle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Complicated; clear; confusing.

[Lena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not as good as Bridge Basics 1. Not as many quotable moments

[Diana E. Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

This excellent bridge book is part of Audrey Grant’s Better Bridge Series. I have read many of Audrey’s instructive books and find them to be very easy to understand and presented in a sequential order. I use these as “my bridge bible”.

I read through this book once, and have reread each chapter a number of times, reading the summary and doing the “quiz” at the end of each chapter so that I really get the concepts and use them in real games.

This particular book focuses on competitive bidding (in other words when your opponents have entered the auction and it is your turn to bid). It was the first book that I’ve read on bridge that explains in detail the four roles that are played at the bridge table – Opener, Overcaller, Responder, Advancer. I had never looked at each of these roles before and how they impact your bidding.

I keep this book on my shelf and refer to it often as my husband and I are working on improving our bridge game. Highly recommended!

Diana Young- World Traveler – currently sailing in the South Pacific for six months and #1 Amazon Best-selling author of Financial Fitness for Beginners.

[Mollie *scoutrmom* · Rating 3 out of 5]

Clear and concise, but not scintillating. Only for those who are interested in playing the game of bridge under the latest systems.

[Rodney Bond · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book on competitive bidding.