No comments about Countdown to Better Bridge.

No comments about Deceptive Play (Test Your Bridge Technique).

1 comments about I Shot My Bridge Partner.

1. This is a great Bridge Game Mystery!!It's highly recommended!!!

No comments about Famous Leads and Defences (Master Bridge Series).

3 comments about Basic Bridge in Three Weeks.

1. This well diagrammed, well organized, yet extremely condensed book really can bring the beginner up to the level of basic play; but note that basic is a relatiave term and that the book is written by a master. The book assumes the beginner is a bridge player at heart, which is to say, focused and dedicated. I don't think there is any book on bridge that can teach the game to a beginner alone, even to those who are players at heart, but Truscott's book comes close and is an excellent companion and guide both to the beginner and enthusiastic teacher. It is also a valuable reference and review for the so-called basic player.



2. I have read several books aimed at novice and intermediate bridge players, but this is the most comprehensive and readable book on the subject I have seen. Play of the hand is associated with the bidding in each chapter. This is unlike "Contract Bridge Complete" by Charles Goren, and other similar books, where the reader spends the first half of the book counting cards and memorizing bids. This juxtaposition of bidding and play makes learning or reviewing the basics of Bridge dynamic and exciting!



3. This is an excellent book. It is well organized, lucid, coherent. The format is ideal for a busy person like me: the chapters or short, to the point and can be read and absorbed in a period of 1/2-1 hour per session. Each chapter gives points about bidding followed by hand play so you always get to apply in practice what you learned in theory. I would have liked a "master chart" to which I could easly refer to review bidding responses instead of leafing back through the chapters, but this is a minor flaw. The book fulfills it's mission: after reading it one can play on a strong intermediate level. Alan J. Stein, MD

No comments about Bridge (Play the Game).

2 comments about Leading Questions in Bridge.

1. I still think Mike Lawrences Opening Leads is the authoritative book on the subject. But this covers some areas it doesnt.
   
   For example, you are on lead against this auction
   1H - p - 1NT - p
   
   You have 4 spades so you think that declarer doesn't have 4, else they would respond 1 Spade and not 1 heart. The author asks - what if they are using Flannery, where 2D shows a 4=5 hand with 11-15 points. Responded knows opener doesnt have 4 spades and 11-15 so there is no reason for them to bid 1 Spade, and they can instead bid 1NT. Opener can later Reverse to show 4 spades, but that didnt happen.
   
   The point of the hand was that opponents agreements can give you information and you can't always use the same set of leads / assumptions.
   
   Chapters like - when to lead trump are especially valuable. The author says early on she was taught to be wary about leading trumps. So she sets out to give clear situations when its a good idea to do so.
   
   Not only is the material clear and well presented, it provides a set of inferences for pard and declarer. If you study this book, and LHO makes an unusual lead, ask "why might they do that? Teh auction does not indicate a trump lead". Hmmm, I wonder if its because LHO knows the suits are not splitting well, or the honors are poorly placed, and wants to cut down on dummy ruffs.
   
   I'm not sure I agree with the author on all her examples of when to lead unsupported aces. But its still an excellent book. For all levels.



2. The opening bid is one of the most important plays in bridge - and here to narrow the focus on this play is Leading Questions in Bridge, from a top player who addresses specifics such as whether to be an active or passive player, and how to lead trumps. Chapters are directed to intermediate players and discuss issues such as shortages, tricks, and more: perfect for any collection catering to serious bridge players.

1 comments about Master Play in Contract Bridge.

1. While all of Reese's books are must-reads for serious bridge players, none matches up to the brilliance of "Master Play." In terms of its importance, I have never met an aspiring player who hasn't read the book. In fact, most motivated players read it many times. For the intermediate player, Reese's well laid out hands cover the important core skills such as the deep finesse, hold-ups, end plays, and simple squeezes. For those interested in studying triple squeezes, dummy reversals, and other esoteric and uncommon topics, look elsewhere. This book covers the basics - with a thoroughness and intelligence unmatched in other books of its kind. For advanced players, read a little more deeply and Reese will illustrate the value of negative inference. You'll learn to think how to think.

3 comments about Plan Before You Play.

1. This short book has 50 hands that show you how to plan the play of the hand. It is an intermediate level book aimed at people who have finished beginners courses. It is clearly written and easy to follow.
   
   After reading this book, you may want to read Watson's classic, "Play of the Hand" and "Goren On Play and Defense" in that order.



2. As an intermediate player, I found this book an excellent guide to play of the hand at bridge. It was well-organized and well-written, with a good series of questions repeated and answered on each hand (How many losers? Does it make sense to pull trumps? What is the threat?). Showing only the declarer and dummy hands plus the opening lead made it a very realistic approach to play, and for complex hands the full layout was shown on the next page. The author's tone was straightforward and encouraging, with a bit of humor, and the topics were well chosen -- transportation, pulling trumps, holdup plays, using opponents' bidding, counting, etc. On the whole, a great little book!



3. In a clear, simple and methodical way, this book teaches you what to think about and how to think so you can make your contract successfully. This is a "must" book for beginner and intermediate players, and a very good reminder and re-enforcer for more advanced players. Excellent book for anyone that wants to improve his/her game.

No comments about Bridge Saga (The Story of the World's Greatest Players with the Hands that Made Them Immortals).