https://esther-bridge.com/learn.html
LAST Updated: 01/28/26 07:00

Drawing of Esther YOUR HOST: Esther Klinktoast-Houstonhousen, a hypothetical Quintuple Emerald Gold Life Master (20+ million ACBL Masterpoints), who vacillates between insisting on being called "Ms. Klinktoast-Houstonhousen," and "Esther, because I am so warm and caring," and who in her downloadable lesson dialogs torments (usually, but not always) her earnest bridge student, Bruce.

Return to the "Esther Bridge Lessons" website.
Go to the "Esther Bridge 'Pop' Quizzes" website.
Go to the "Bridge Bruce's Way ('BBW') Introductory (but Sophisticated) Lessons" website.

Drawing of Esther "Best On-Line Bridge Learning Free Websites and Best Bridge Books"
Bruce Thompson

As advertised in the December, 2023 ACBL Bridge Bulletin.
Also see the article about Esther in the Winter, 2024 issue of the
the American Bridge Teachers' Association (ABTA) Journal, or the
article about Esther in the Summer, 2024 issue of the ABTA Journal.

The "Esther Klinktoast-Houstonhousen" Guarantee
          I, Esther, say, guarantee, and warrant that: "I have been all over Web. I represent, guarantee, and warrant that few, if any, other bridge web sites have a better, more comprehensive listing of books and free web and resources for bridge learners/players. And I say, PLEASE tell all your Bridge Friends."

U.S. Solar Eclipse 2024 Photo
"Solar Eclipse 2024 Photo"
(c) Copyright, Jennifer Thompson, 2024.
          Esther says, "Don't stay in the dark!!! Step up and and read some web postings and/or books! It will improve your bridge game! Many of the resources listed below are indeed quite excellent!!!"

If You Are An Absolute Beginner...
          Esther very, very much likes the New Zealand Bridge Teaching Materials for Beginners". These are 10 lessons (videos, PowerPoint slides, quizzes, Hands, and "student notes") that assume you know absolutely nothing about bridge. Not even the "rank" of the Suits, or the "bidding ladder" that shows what bids are "sufficient" as Overcall or Response bids. The videos are crystal clear and exceptionally well-done!
          If you like web-based lessons as againt books, Esther also recommends the "Bridge Doctor" bridge website currated by New Zealanders Lee Asher-Simpson and Dennis Asher. Their free 22 SAYC Beginner lessons are highly structured and absolutely clear, and are especially well suited for absolute beginning novice bridge players!
          And Esther also likes her own Bridge website, "Bridge Bruce's Way ('BBW') Introductory (But Sophisticated) Beginner Bridge Lessons". These are 6 lessons covering the basics principles of bridge bidding and play, and include a few example Boards and Hands.

...and Some Additional Bridge Learning Resources
          Esther very, very much likes Gwen and Jim Baker's Bridge Lessons, most with numerous Web-based Practice Hands. Bridge concepts are explained, and then you bid or play related Boards step, by step, by step. Great stuff indeed!
          Jeff Tang's excellent BridgeBum website has been around since 1999 and is still actively curated. His website includes lots and lots of diverse materials, including posts on Bidding, Declarer Play, and Defense. Examples include conventions applicable when Opener bids 1NT, Responder bids Stayman 2C, and Opener denies a 4-card Major by bidding 2D, and Responder wants to continue the conversation, such as the "Smolen Convention" and "Garbage Stayman".
          Esther is a super, giant, big fan of British tutor Maggie Hadley's instructional bridge videos on her "Oasis Bridge Tuition" website.
For example, check out the video "Trumping Losers in the Long Trump Hand".
          Esther also very much likes the 100+ videos about bridge on English bridge teacher Bridget Rampton's YouTube channel.
          And Esther recommends the numerous very good "Austin Bridge Center" "Unit 207 Bridge Lectures".
          And Esther also likes Karen's Walker's "Recommended Bridge Books". Her recommended book list is comprehensive and highly structured (e.g., latest, classics, beginners, experienced players). Included are books she identifies as her "Top Picks"! Karen currently serves as the Book Awards Committee Chair of the American Bridge Teachers' Association (ABTA).
          Also, Esther endorses the hundreds of free short articles on (1) bidding, (2) conventions, and (3) play both as Declarer and on defense, all on the Larry Cohen' website "Bridge with Larry Cohen", "Learning Center", "Bridge Learning Articles": larryco.com/bridge-articles. Cohen is widely known for his various bridge books, including his 1992 book, To Bid or Not to Bid: The LAW of Total Tricks, which was the best-selling bridge book of the 1990s, and sold more than 90,000 copies in six languages. Cohen also has won 25 North American Bridge Championships!
          If you enjoy reading Bridge Blogs whenever you have a few spare minutes, Esther recommends Bobby Wolff's "Aces on Bridge Blog", where his numerous daily blogs are cumulated. Wolff has won numerous world championships, and is a Past President of both ACBL and the World Bridge Federation!
          Esther insists, "Even in an internet age, bridge books remain a hugely important learning resource for the new and advancing bridge player! To see my personally preferred lists, CLICK my personally curated list of 6 of the most important bridge books of **all** time, and the list of the 2021-2025 Best and Runner-Up Bridge Books identified by my personal friends at the American Bridge Teachers' Association (ABTA)." ["BestBooks.pdf"]
          The Wikipedia entry, "List of Contract Bridge Books", is quite comprehensive, and in fact includes a large number of authoritative bridge book lists, including lists for which panels of bridge experts rank-ordered "best book" recommendations, although of course bridge instructional websites are not included in any of these lists.

          One good way to improve your play is to work with Partner to do postmortems of your bidding in competitions. This can be informed by using "Double Dummy Analyses" software to analyze the Boards you played to tell you every "makeable" contract for every player at the Table on a given Board. There are both free computer aps and online websites that are available to perform Double Dummy Analyses of an input bridge Board that will output every possible contract that can be "made" by N, S, E and W, such as the online site Bridge Solver. Printed "Double Dummy" analyses are routinely distributed after competitions at major bridge tournaments. These "DD Analyses" can help you improve when you later review how you and Partner bid a given Board.

          Finally, at both the top and the bottom of the "Bridge Bruce's Way" ("BBW") website, Esther recommends additional Learning Resources, including books, that are especially suitable for Beginning Bridge Players! And Beginning Bridge Players may also want to check out 4 FREE Bridge Bidding / Play Practice Websites: (1) Solitaire Minibridge, (2) Just Play Bridge, (3) Just Declare, or (4) BBO Bridge Master. The BBO Bridge Master website is the best of these sites because that site (1) allows you to select your Skill Level, and (2) then allows you to play, and finally (3) then shows you step-by-step the best way to have played your Hand. The "Solutions" are presented Trick-by-Trick, and the explanations are both visually presented and spoken. Good stuff!