The Purple Guide to Learning Bridge in 10 Days

This is the first bridge book that didn't make me feel stupid. The first day alone — just getting cards in my hand and understanding what a trick actually is — was more useful than a week of YouTube videos. I appreciate that it didn't pretend I'd be a master by day ten. It just got me started. The checklist on day two was a nice wake-up call, too. I don't have much money to spend, but I found out I could just use a normal deck and the kitchen table. That was the big win for me.

I've been wanting to learn bridge for years but always got lost in the jargon. This guide read like a friend explaining it over coffee, and the paced ten-day structure meant I never felt rushed or lost. The first day, I actually played a trick with my partner and we both laughed when we got it right. By day ten I had played my first full hand, which felt like a genuine accomplishment. If you're completely new and scared off by the complexity, this is the best place to start that I've found.

It's okay for what it is, but I think the pacing was a little too slow for me. The first two days felt like a lot of preamble before I actually got to do anything that felt like 'real' bridge. Day four onwards was better, and the milestones table on day seven was pretty useful for gauging where I stood. If you need a very gentle hand-hold, you'll love it. If you're the kind of person who likes to jump in the pool first and learn to swim later, you might find yourself skipping ahead a bit.

I can't say I totally clicked with the writing style — it felt a little too hand-holdy at times, and the humor fell flat for me. But I did appreciate the concreteness. It's exactly what the title says: a purple guide to learning in ten days. It doesn't overpromise. I got through a few hands by day eight, which is more than I managed from a free website. I'd recommend it more to someone who appreciates a very structured, slow-paced approach.

The day-by-day format was great. I work long hours, so having a clear 'today you just sort your cards and count high-card points' was exactly the kind of small win I needed to keep going. The first day's session, just seeing how one trick works, genuinely demystified the game for me. I would have given five stars but the writing could be a bit dry in the middle chapters. Still, I'm playing real bridge now (badly), which is more than I could say two weeks ago.

I bought this for a long weekend away, and I have mixed feelings. The first day was inviting enough, and I liked that it didn't assume I had a partner standing by. But I did feel like some of the practice tasks needed a bit more hand-holding. The 'blow-by-blow' day eight was a highlight though, because it showed me exactly what a realistic session looks like, mistakes included. It's a decent primer, but I wouldn't say it replaces finding a local club in person.

As a complete novice, this got me to the table, which was my main goal. The comparison table on day three of different ways to play — from free apps to a real table — was a thoughtful touch. I admit I got stuck on day five with the trump concept, and the troubleshooting on day nine helped a little but not entirely. I wouldn't call it a perfect guide, but it's honest and gets you moving. Three stars feels right for what it is: a capable, unflashy starter.

What I appreciated most was the no-nonsense honesty. It says right in the blurb that you won't be a master in ten days, and it delivers on that promise by showing you what you can actually do. The first day's 'one small win' — actually taking a trick after following suit — was a real moment of clarity for me. The self-assessment checklist on day two was also a good way to prepare my space. I knocked off one star because I wish the day ten questions were longer, but otherwise a solid, practical book.