TESTIMONALS & BUY BOOK LINKS


Jerry Howarth: retired Toronto Blue Jay baseball announcer remarked:
(The Book) is so good and so good for beginners.The things you need to learn are right there. It makes the transition (to Duplicate Bridge) so much easier. Now it is right here for everyone to read. Way to go. This is excellent. So proud of you for taking your love of the game of bridge and how well you play it to others who are just starting.
ORDER YOUR COPY NOW!!
Non Fiction 124 pages Coloured 8.5 x 11
9781525543692 9781525543708 9781525543715
HIGHLIGHT your PREFERRED Channel!!
Your copy of “A NEWCOMER’S GUIDE” is awaiting.
BULK order discounts to all promoting the love of the game.
bridgebeginnermentor@rogers.com
http://bridgebeginnermentor.ca
POEM OF PRAISE for A NEWCOMER’S GUIDE
You persevered, your book is now done. Wasn’t the process so much fun?!
Learning to edit, to design pages through; thank goodness you found the key for “undo”!!
Endless revisions, with sweat and some tears, but you stuck to it for over two years.
Hoping your book makes many exclaim, “In this great read, I found the love of the game!’-J5
A NEWCOMER'S GUIDE
STRESS FREE INTRODUCTION
TO DUPLICATE BRIDGE
Book review by Paul Linxwiler, ACBL Bridge Bulletin May 2021 edition
A Picture Book For Beginners
This is not a book that I’d show to someone who’s never tried duplicate before; they might well find it overwhelming. But this is the perfect book for those who have tasted the fun of duplicate bridge and are clearly hungry for more. You can always tell the newbie addicts: They have a million questions. Gray’s book does a great job at answering almost all of them.
Experienced players can easily forget the steep learning curve our game has. Boards, guide cards, bidding boxes, scoring machines or travelers (not to mention how to keep score), and convention cards: The decor of the bridge table is ornate.
The Laws and the role of the director can be intimidating to new players, too. It’s bad enough remembering how Stayman and transfers work. Keeping up with the arcane rules of our game is an additional layer of potential frustration, but Gray expertly handles all of these topics with friendly explanations and lots of pictures.
Published by Friesen Press Available at amazon.com and other online book suppliers.
Book review by Sharon Carter, ABTA The Quarterly Magazine Summer edition 2021

As bridge teachers, we work very hard to get people to duplicate play. Once they have come and played, and gotten hooked, there is still a lot they need to know about the mechanics of the game.
Most of us teach with bid boxes and boards and give them an explanation of how a normal Howell Movement works, but with everything that needs to be covered, we cannot get much further than that. Brian Gray has produced a book that will solve the problem.
He covers the waterfront from etiquette to how to use the BridgeMate. For explaining the equipment used in a duplicate game, Mr. Gray has labeled Chapter 2 “Meet Your New Friends” and then used human names for each item. For example, Tommy (Table) and has photos of a table set with bid boxes and a guide card. Here he explains how the table is managed by North.
He has cute sayings for his anthropomorphic items such as Tommy saying, “Please don’t tap your fingers on me, a table is ticklish and some players find it annoying”.
Next are May & Mattie Mitchell (guide cards). The photos are clear and all the information on the guide card is explained.
This type of photo and explanation combination is continued for boards, how-to procedures, convention cards and so forth.
In Chapter 3, “Is There a Director in the House?”, Mr. Gray explains how the Director starts the game, moves the game along and handles director calls.
Chapter 4 is Player Awards and Rank Requirements. Chapter 5 includes supplementary articles including Marty Bergen’s 21 rules of being a good partner.
I would highly recommend this well thought-out and laid- out book for any player who is new to duplicate. It is an easy read and provides answers to questions almost all “newbies” would have.
What are Beginners and Intermediate players saying? They all are in agreement. The verdict is unanimous. They just love ‘A Newcomer’s Guide’.
Your Guide is informative, humourous, fantastic and totally awesome. You have the uncanny knack of helping all players of all levels to lighten up about Bridge and not be nervous when learning the game; all in a concise book. – Crystal I.
The visual support is engaging, humourous and exactly what I appreciate to help make the rules and regulations of such an intrinsic game ‘stick’. A GRAND SLAM 7NT!! – Kathy L.
Congratulations, the terminology and description of the tools (equipment) is very interesting and informative, an insightful Guide for Players considering the more structured environment of Duplicate Bridge. – Debbie D.
Any serious Beginner or Intermediate Player would find your book a handy Guide to better understand Duplicate Bridge. Your comments add a little humour and make reading at times a compilation of your Bridge experiences. – Wayne G.
The introduction lays out what the book covers and delivers on the promised fun activity. – Dave D.
Your introduction is so friendly, it really sets the mood for your Newcomer friendly book. – Nancy O.
Congrats, Brian on sticking with a difficult subject and turning it into a learning and growth opportunity for those who love the game – Mike W.
I can’t tell you how much I appreciated the opportunity to read your book. It was for me, very informative and written in a style that makes the reading journey a pleasure- Cathy M.
CLUB MANAGERS, TEACHERS and ADVANCED players Heartedly AGREE!
NEW REVIEW APRIL 25, 2020
Many aspiring new bridge players eventually, with trepidation, venture out to their local bridge club to give it a try. For new players the world of duplicate can be a daunting and humbling experience.
For such players, Brian Gray’s ” A Newcomer’s Guide Stress-Free Introduction To Duplicate Bridge” is a wonderful reference to help them better prepare for the experience of club play.
With detail and humour, Brian gently guides the reader through every aspect of what to expect as you get ready for your debut at the duplicate table.
In addition to the fine explanations and advice, this book ‘s presentation, the quality of the type-style, pages, graphics and illustrations is terrific. Colour abounds throughout, bringing the pages alive.
Brian’s book should be a “must read” for every newer player and for more experienced players as well.
Brian, you have done bridge players a great service with your guide.
Congratulations-well done indeed!- John Rayner Renowned Teacher, Canadian Pairs Champion and member the Canadian Bridge Hall of Fame.
Brian has written a great book, much needed for the Newcomers to the world of Duplicate. It will serve as a great resource for novices everywhere. Duplicate is The way to improve one’s game. This book will make all the hurdles dissipate.
Barbara Seagram, co-winner with David Bird of the 2018 American Bridge Teachers’ Association, Book the Year Award, Beginner Category, “Planning the Play-The Next Level“.
I think this is helpful for players coming into Duplicate for the first time. Potentially, you really may be appealing to a larger audience. Most (players) have no clue about how scoring works or what are the basic rules of etiquette or any understanding of the ‘Laws of Duplicate’. All these areas you address. I don’t think there is anything out there quite like it.
Nice job. Jeff Bayone , Managing Partner, Honors Bridge Club (NYC).,Winner 2018 ABTA Book of the Year Award, Beginner Category for “A Taste of Bridge“.
It is really meaningful when an author can put so many personal and interesting thoughts and facts into a book which will be of such help to those who are moving forward into the game of Duplicate bridge. There is so much to absorb along the journey that I have no doubt that ‘A Newcomer’s Guide will be read and reread by those lucky enough to have their own copy.
Selwyn Hossuth Bronze LM. Novelist of bridge-theme books, “Weak Two” and “Deep Finesse“.
Well done, very informative, an enjoyable read, love the images -Anne Sixsmith, Ruby LM, Owner/Director, Washago bridge club.
A great job. The book will be very helpful to new players -Margo Davidson, LM, Director, Echo Hills bridge club.
New Review May 18, 2020.
A Newcomer’s Guide (an introduction to duplicate bridge by Brian Gray) published by FriesenPress. This book of 124 pages presents the basic information for the beginner to start playing duplicate bridge. The material provided is indeed comprehensive covering the use of the bidding bowes, how to fill in a convention card, the format, bridge etiquette, bridgemates and matchpoint scoring to name but a few topics.
The book is reader friendly and filled with the author’s friendly presentation in addition to his often witty, insightful and humorous comments.
The information supplied would certainly ensure that you have the confidence to begin playing duplicate at the club or perhaps online at this time (all clubs in Canada are presently closed because of the pandemic).
This effort is highly recommended.
Dave Willis Bridge Columnist, Ottawa Herald and Toronto Star.