[bid_em_up]

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?

[pclayton]

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.

[macaw]

"The Fun Way to Beginning Bridge".

Lots of cartoons which really explain things

[matmat]

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

[hrothgar]

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

[HeavyDluxe]

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...

[jdonn]

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.

[CSGibson]

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.

[Tola18]

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...

[bid_em_up]

Thanks all for your suggestions.

[barmar]

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.

[jikl]

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

[barmar]

jikl, on Dec 28 2007, 03:48 PM, said:

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.

[bid_em_up]

barmar, on Dec 28 2007, 04:53 PM, said:

jikl, on Dec 28 2007, 03:48 PM, said:

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.

[barmar]

Yes, go with spades. It has a little bidding, and it has a trump suit.

[pdmunro]

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?

[rdk]

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 copies
Ron Klinger
ron@ron-klinger.com.au

[han]

I also liked bridge when I was 10, without the cartoons.

[miguelm]

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.