Standard Bidding with Sayc [Paperback]

Ned Downey (Author), Ellen Pomer (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 2005

What is 'Standard' Bidding? This is an increasingly hard question to answer, but the proliferation of bridge on the Internet in pickup partnerships makes it imperative that someone does so. Perhaps the most popular natural system for the hundreds of thousands of online players worldwide is the Standard American Yellow Card, or SAYC. In this book, for the first time, SAYC is fully described and explained. This will be an invaluable to aid to anyone wanting to learn and understand SAYC, or anyone who simply knows the basics and is eager to fill in the missing pieces in their repertoire. Ned Downey and Ellen Pomer, the authors, are experienced bridge teachers and partners in the 'Bridge Forum' web site. Ned also teaches bridge via the Swan Games online playing site. Ellen is well-known on the Internet under her handle 'Caitlin', and regularly writes for various magazines on Internet bridge. This title gives basic introduction to the standard bidding conventions used on bridge websites.

Product Details

• Paperback: 175 pages
• Publisher: Master Point Press (November 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1897106033
• ISBN-13: 978-1897106037
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #44,265 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #23 in Books > Humor & Entertainment > Puzzles & Games > Bridge

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars EASY TO READ, EASY TO UNDERSTAND, November 16, 2005

By 

CAJUNKATHY (MAUI, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Standard Bidding with Sayc (Paperback)

There is a lot to like about this book.

I like the fact that the authors have chosen a topic that needed a book, and have stuck to that topic. I like the care that they have taken to make this book the best it can be. I like the sample hands, in quantity and relevance. I like the occasional historical perspective. I like the tone of the book, which is as light, flowing and entertaining as one could possibly expect given the subject matter. I like the fact that I haven't yet found a hand with 14 cards, or a missing comma. I like the fact that the authors have included sections on Cappelletti (Hamilton in the West) and RKC not technically a "part" of SAYC but used in conjunction with it by so many that they might as well be. And I like the fact that the authors weren't afraid to suggest a couple of areas where SAYC could be improved.

If you are looking to improve your bidding without taking the plunge into "2 over 1" or one of the other (more demanding) systems, then this is the book for you

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent SAYC book where none exists, November 15, 2005

By 

Michael Moss - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Standard Bidding with Sayc (Paperback)

As a bridge teacher I have seen that there is a huge void in books regarding the SAYC bidding convention. This book helps clarify the "real" SAYC system. In doing so, it also gives options for partnerships to explore within SAYC and in addition to it.There are lots of examples without going overboad. Anyone playing SAYC will find this book to be an excellent tool to refine their understanding of the system.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great title for taking bidding to the next level, September 7, 2007

By 

K. Hartman (Lake Mary, FL) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Standard Bidding with Sayc (Paperback)

I have been playing bridge for about 3 months and found myself getting into trouble during bidding. My partner would make a cue bid, or a reverse and I wouldn't quite get what was going on. The books I had learned basic bridge from didn't cover these intermediate bridge topics. I knew I needed to improve my bidding in order to improve beyond beginner.

This is a great book for that purpose. You won't find a lot of fluff and puff. The chapters are short and to the point. There are dozens of hands throughout to show different examples of how to bid, how to overbid and how to respond. Unlike other books, wherein the authors hold themselves out as the ultimate experts, this book brings forth opinions from the great bridge masters. It presents these often conflicting opinions objectively and makes recommendations, but in the end letting the reader adapt these opinions to his or her playing style.

This book will benefit beginner and intermediate players who play on the internet or at a duplicate bridge club. I highly recommend this title to anyone learning bridge or as a gift to your regular partner!