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The Backwash Squeeze and Other Improbable Feats: A Newcomer's Journey Into the World of Bridge

by Edward McPherson

A newcomer’s route into bridge’s competitive culture

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Paperback New English

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AlbakiReads Editorial

A newcomer’s route into bridge’s competitive culture

Edward McPherson combines a personal attempt to learn competitive bridge with an account of the game’s colorful history and enduring community. Setting himself the challenge of reaching the North American Bridge Championships despite starting with little card-playing confidence, he uses his outsider position to examine bridge’s terminology, mysteries, and social world. The book frames bridge not only as a strategic card game but as a longstanding cultural pastime with a dedicated competitive scene.

Good fit for readers who enjoy

  • Bridge beginners curious about the game’s culture and competitive side
  • Card-game enthusiasts interested in bridge history
  • Readers who enjoy personal journeys into specialized hobbies

Themes

BridgeLearning a new skillCompetitive gamesGame historyCommunity and belonging

Based on publisher information and book metadata.

Book overview

At one time the game was even bigger than baseball. Today bridge is played by more than twenty-five million people in the United States alone, with Bill Gates, a sitting Supreme Court justice, and the guys from Radiohead among its devotees. In this spirited homage, Edward McPherson recounts the colorful history of the game and his attempts to master its mysteries in time to compete at the North American Bridge Championships--despite being barely able to shuffle cards, let alone play competitively. Insightful, funny, and steeped in respect, The Backwash Squeeze is an affectionate view of a grand game by an outsider trying to make his way into the inner circle.

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