These are all books I've personally read and can genuinely recommend. From hand evaluation techniques to advanced strategies, each has contributed to my understanding and improvement at the bridge table.
This is the book that changed how I think about bridge hands. Patrick's system isn't just theoretical - it actually works at the table. I was curious about the method from the start, and it made sense right from the beginning. The method has a bit of a learning curve initially, but using it soon becomes second nature - you get to practice it with every hand you play, after all. And if you're ever unsure about a calculation, you can always check any hand on this site.
Polish Club is my favorite system - it's fun to play, efficient, and frequently allows you to describe both length and strength of your hand. I still use this book for competitive auctions, even though I've moved on to WJ2025. The system goes really well together with Optimal Hand Evaluation. Jassem's treatment of contested bidding is excellent and has been invaluable for handling interference. One caveat: some bids are only briefly mentioned, so it's good to have some knowledge of Polish Club before embarking on this book. I recommend checking out older versions like WJ2000 and WJ2005 that are available online for free before buying 2020 Expert.
This book is excellent for building a solid foundation in defensive play. Eddie covers how to think about opening leads, when to unblock and overtake, how to signal and when to signal what. The book provides solid tactics and technique for second and third hand play. Like all Eddie Kantar books, it's humorous and easy to read, yet very instructive. If you want to strengthen your defensive fundamentals, this is a great place to start.
This advanced book is all about more advanced strategies, tactics, and counting. The material merits rereading - I always pick up or am reminded of things when I go back to it. This is definitely a step up from the modern defense book, focusing on sophisticated defensive concepts that require deeper thinking. If you've mastered the fundamentals, this book will take your defensive game to the next level.
This book is not about fancy squeezes and endplays that you rarely encounter. Instead, it focuses on techniques, tactics, and thinking processes you can apply in most bread and butter contracts. Eddie's practical approach teaches you the skills you'll actually use at the table, making it an excellent resource for improving your everyday declarer play.