bid_em_up Posted December 27, 2007 Report Share Posted December 27, 2007 has been pestering me to teach her to play. Sad as it may be, I am certain that I do not have the patience to do so. I have called Patty Tucker (organizer of the World Youth Championships in Atlanta 7/08) and asked her recommendation of beginning bridge books geared towards young children. She recommended "Teach Me To Play: My First Bridge Book" as a good start, and I have purchased it (but it hasnt arrived yet). Does anyone else have any other good book suggestions for young(er) children? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pclayton Posted December 27, 2007 Report Share Posted December 27, 2007 Let her play the cards when you play on-line, even if she doesn't have an idea what she's doing. Just tell her what to do and explain the reasons why. Stay off bidding for awhile. What a great opportunity for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
macaw Posted December 27, 2007 Report Share Posted December 27, 2007 "The Fun Way to Beginning Bridge". Lots of cartoons which really explain things B) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matmat Posted December 27, 2007 Report Share Posted December 27, 2007 while they're not really children's books, and the bridge in them may still be a tad out of reach, but not so if you explain stuff, if she likes to read stories, the menagerie series by Mollo might be good Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hrothgar Posted December 27, 2007 Report Share Posted December 27, 2007 I think that its much easier to learn to play bridge if you've been exposed to other trick taking games like Hearts. You might want to start with that and see how things go. If your daughter likes solo study, Bridge Master is always a good choice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HeavyDluxe Posted December 27, 2007 Report Share Posted December 27, 2007 What hrothgar said... Other trick taking card games are always helpful. And I honestly think MiniBridge is a helpful and oft overlooked tool. Simplified auctions, but all the rest of the mechanics of the game are there. There's also a free computer game of it for her to mess with... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdonn Posted December 27, 2007 Report Share Posted December 27, 2007 I read her recommended book probably 12 years ago. It's a great book for children to just get started, because it's interactive almost like a puzzle book. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Jlall Posted December 28, 2007 Report Share Posted December 28, 2007 When I was 10 I read my first book... five weeks to winning bridge. After that I was hooked. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CSGibson Posted December 28, 2007 Report Share Posted December 28, 2007 If you ever play in a more relaxed atmosphere, let her play the dummy and watch. Teach her the 4-3-2-1 point count system and let her count the points and whisper them to you. Let her sit in on defense when you have bad hands, and move from there. Oh, you asked for books you say? Sorry, no ideas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tola18 Posted December 28, 2007 Report Share Posted December 28, 2007 I find the idea of using BBO to letting her play the cards after the auction is over as marvellous. A good help for newbies. The minibridge is also good I believe. Here is the trick, I think, to try and interest also some other youngsters. Preferably her pals. But if not some others she can met and play with... Books? i know there are books to learn children Acol. Perhaps even one by Klinger?Basic Acol should btw be a good first system to teach.* PS:*This said, I believe Acol is also good enough for serious competitive bridge too, and modern Acol? Your ability is the main limit. The only drawback of Acol I can find from a young beginners view is most on BBO use Sayc or similiar... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bid_em_up Posted December 28, 2007 Author Report Share Posted December 28, 2007 Thanks all for your suggestions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barmar Posted December 28, 2007 Report Share Posted December 28, 2007 I agree with teaching her a simpler trick-taking game, such as hearts or spades, and using that as a stepping-stone to bridge. Not only is it an easier way to learn, but she could probably teach those games to her friends, so she'll get more practice playing cards than just the time she spends with you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jikl Posted December 28, 2007 Report Share Posted December 28, 2007 I would advocate teaching her a 4 card major system instead of anything which may get her to bid a 3 card suit before a 4 card suit. It is more logical and far easier to adjust to 5 card later. Sean Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barmar Posted December 28, 2007 Report Share Posted December 28, 2007 I would advocate teaching her a 4 card major system instead of anything which may get her to bid a 3 card suit before a 4 card suit. It is more logical and far easier to adjust to 5 card later. Sean Unless you have enough people in your family playing this system, you're better off teaching her a more common system, so she can find other partners. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bid_em_up Posted December 28, 2007 Author Report Share Posted December 28, 2007 I would advocate teaching her a 4 card major system instead of anything which may get her to bid a 3 card suit before a 4 card suit. It is more logical and far easier to adjust to 5 card later. Sean Unless you have enough people in your family playing this system, you're better off teaching her a more common system, so she can find other partners. Its just me & her (and BBO). No offense to anyone, but I would never teach her a 4 card major system or a system such as ACOL anyway. Strictly 2/1. Why? Because it is what I know best, and it is practically the US standard. The idea of teaching her spades first appeals greatly to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barmar Posted December 28, 2007 Report Share Posted December 28, 2007 Yes, go with spades. It has a little bidding, and it has a trump suit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pdmunro Posted December 31, 2007 Report Share Posted December 31, 2007 What about trying GIB on BBO? It shows you what the bids mean. Also there is http://bridgeonline.co.nz/It might be worth a go. Has anyone tried it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rdk Posted January 3, 2008 Report Share Posted January 3, 2008 Hi,Bridge For Children includes a number of trick-taking games leading to bridge with a very basic bidding system. These are the methods with which we taught our children from age 7 onwards and on which mini-bridge was based.Available from The Bridge World and perhaps Barclays. Else we have copiesRon Klingerron@ron-klinger.com.au Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
han Posted January 3, 2008 Report Share Posted January 3, 2008 I also liked bridge when I was 10, without the cartoons. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miguelm Posted January 4, 2008 Report Share Posted January 4, 2008 When I first started to learn this game, I found (later) very important that initially I had to learn about how to handle thecards, both declaring and defending. There is a nice and easy exercise to practice this and it has also the benefit of "touching" the auction process. It only takes you and (against) your daughter. Just deal the cards as if you were 4 at the table. Now display the cards in front of you and your daughter as dummies and go like - I can make X tricks with Hearts as trumps... and then she goes I can make Y with Spades as trumps...The one that offers more tricks plays the hand, the other defends it.Quite simple and (as I recall it) very enjoyable for a 10 years old to start. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onoway Posted January 8, 2008 Report Share Posted January 8, 2008 just a suggestion to go into the mix..I know there are at least a couple of players in BIL which are of similar age. They generally appear playing at first with a parent, and have their age on their profile. BIL members tend to be very supportive so this might be a place for you (might have to explain the situation to Maureen) to take her when ready to tackle playing with other people. Good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pdmunro Posted January 9, 2008 Report Share Posted January 9, 2008 for fun, i like the card game "oh hell", also known as "hitting the moon"http://www.pagat.com/exact/ohhell.html this site has card games and their rules:http://www.usplayingcard.com/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Foxx Posted January 11, 2008 Report Share Posted January 11, 2008 The idea of teaching her spades first appeals greatly to me. Yes. I first took up bridge as a college freshman, and I had been playing Hearts for about 4 years before then. (My Mom is a deceptively good Hearts player and still whoops our butts when we play.) During that time, I did get good enough in Hearts to beat the standard computer opponents in Windoze on a semi-regular basis. I tried Spades recently for a lark, when I happened to be tromping around in ESPN's online gaming room. My immediate impression of the game was that it was like "bridge for third-graders". Just go here and select a medium difficulty and your 10-year-old will get sharp in no time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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