Gifts for bridge players

Looking for the perfect gift for a bridge-playing friend or relative? Here are some ideas that should please players from beginners through experts.

Software

Bid-and-play bridge games:

Bridge Baron -- One of the most skilled programs on the market. It features multiple play levels, customizable hand-evaluation and bidding methods, flow-chart bidding tutorials and a comprehensive set of systems and conventions. Built-in extras include a deal generator, par-contract and double-dummy solvers, ACBL tournament deals and challenge hands. Winner of five World Computer Bridge Championships. Available for Windows and Mac.

Jack 6.0 -- A highly skilled bid-and-play program that has won multiple World Computer Bridge Championships. It offers 80+ conventions, multiple systems, tournament deals and scoring, a double-dummy problem solver and built-in coaching.

Shark Bridge -- A complete bridge game for iPad, iPhone, Mac and Windows computers. It also offers an advanced interface for online teaching.

Bridge utilities:

Deep Finesse (Intermediate to expert) -- Free double-dummy player and analyzer. Put in your own deal -- or let it pick a deal at random -- and Deep Finesse solves all positions correctly within seconds. It identifies each card at each turn as a winning or losing play, so you can interactively explore any line to see why it works or doesn't.

Dealmaster Pro -- A do-it-all program for bridge clubs, teachers and serious players who want a tool for bidding practice and hand analyses. It includes a powerful deal generator and simulator and a built-in Deep Finesse double-dummy analyzer. The program creates HTML files for posting hand records, designs and prints traveling scoreslips, and prints hand records with information on makeable contracts.

Bridge Composer -- A comprehensive software package for players, teachers, directors and bridge publishers. Includes a dealer, hand editor, double-dummy solver, hand-record generator and file convertor, plus a wide range of formatting and publishing tools.

Instructional software:

Learn to Play Bridge I & II (Beginner) are two self-teaching programs that make great stocking stuffers for anyone who wants to learn the basics. Best of all, both are totally free from ACBL. Both setup program fit onto one CD, so you can give copies to everyone on your list.

Planning the Play of a Bridge Hand (Beginner to intermediate) by Barbara Seagram. Interactive software based on the book that won the 2010 ABTA Book of the Year award. It covers the basic techniques and planning strategies for declaring and includes some material on more advanced concepts.

Points, Schmoints (Beginner to intermediate) by Marty Bergen. An interactive CD that teaches hand-evaluation skills and how they can be used to improve your bidding decisions. It offers a light-hearted approach and valuable practice with the concepts presented in the author's award-winning book.

Modern Bridge Defense       

Advanced Bridge Defense       

Topics in Declarer Play 

(Beginner to advanced). By Eddie Kantar. These CD-ROM programs cover a wide range of play and defense strategies, from beginner principles to expert techniques. Each volume includes interactive quizzes and excellent summaries of the principles.

Countdown to Winning Bridge (Intermediate) by Tim Bourke and Marc Smith. A CD based on the authors' book of the same title, this interactive program teaches the essential skills involved in counting bridge hands.

Counting at Bridge - Volume 1 and Volume 2 (Intermediate) each include more than 100 hands and special bidding quizzes, all with instruction on how to develop counting skills.

Mike's Advice (Intermediate) presents 333 common bidding problems and considers all possible solutions. The analysis emphasizes judgment, hand evaluation and partnership agreements. The tips here teach important concepts to new and aspiring players and provide an excellent review for experienced players.

Private Bridge Lessons Volume 1 and Volume 2  (Intermediate to advanced). Play along with Lawrence as he presents quizzes and explains his thinking process at each step of the bidding and play. Techniques covered in Volume 1 include endplays, managing entries, simple squeezes, counting, safety plays and percentage plays. Volume 2 covers dummy reversals, crossruffs, loser-on-loser plays, trump coups and more advanced material on counting and squeezes.

Play Bridge with Larry Cohen (Intermediate to advanced) offers four downloadable programs -- Life Master Pairs (Day 1, 2 and 3) and My Favorite 52 -- with instructional deals and quizzes.

Baron-Barclay Bridge Supplies -- A big selection of teaching software for all skill levels.

Great Bridge Links -- News, updates and links to bridge apps and software packages.

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Bridge gifts & specialty items

Gift certificates:  Amazon.com gift cards available in printable, boxed and emailed formats. Denominations from $1 to $2000.

Bridge games: 

aBRIDGEd game (Beginner) --  A boxed game that's as close as you can get to "real" bridge, without the complexities of bidding. The set includes special, color-coded cards and simple rules that can be learned in 20 minutes. It's a great introduction to bridge-style card play and bidding principles for children and adults.

Bridge in a Box (Beginner) -- Attractively packaged "learning kit" designed for self-teaching by small groups. It includes online access to guided tutorials and a phone app for individual play. 

Bridge magazines and newsletters:

The Bridge Bulletin (ACBL) (Beginner through expert) -- 12 monthly issues and one-year ACBL membership, $49. Free guest memberships for 120 days for new members.

The Bridge World (Intermediate through expert) -- 12 monthly issues, $99.

Playing cards and specialty gifts:

Playing cards -- A big selection of bridge-size decks, including gift-boxed sets, low-vision designs, EZC Cards (white on red and black, with bar markings for suits),  Hoyle's super-jumbo decks (twin pack with 1" symbols and numbers), Kem cards and Braille decks.

Card holders -- Wood and plastic trays, fan-shaped holders and other hands-free devices for those who have trouble holding a bridge hand. Helpful for children with small hands and adults with disabilities or low strength.

Card shufflers -- A sturdy plastic shuffler that operates on one 9V battery.

Bridge gifts for the home:

Card-themed housewares -- Linens, glassware, bakeware, clocks, wall prints, totes, Christmas decorations and many other items.

Card tables -- Folding wood, metal and granite tables and complete sets with chairs. 

Bridge apparel & jewelry: 

Bridge-themed apparel -- Sweatshirts, t-shirts, hats, accessories and hundreds of other items for men, women and children are offered by Amazon. 

Whimsical bridge watch -- A wearable work of art with hand-painted miniatures under the crystal and an Italian leather wrist band.

Card-themed jewelry -- Necklaces, pendants, bracelets, charms, rings, cuff links, cell-phone charms and body jewelry.  

Club and game supplies:

 A set of duplicate boards or bidding boxes is a great gift for club and tournament players who host home games.

Online stores with bridge specialty items:

Baron-Barclay -- Books, cards, bridge jewelry, party supplies, pens, clothing and other gift items.

Great Bridge Links -- A full directory of specialty products and online shopping sites for bridge players. You'll find links to unusual and hard-to-find gifts here, along with some special discounts.

Etsy.com -- Card-themed crafts, clothing. face masks, housewares, party and club supplies, vintage boxed games.

SevenNotrump.com -- Cards, jewelry, greeting cards, trophies, apparel and bridge novelty items.

Prospero Art -- Double-deck playing cards in Alice in Wonderland, Rat Pack and Shakespeare themes.

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