No comments about Understanding Slam Bidding (Master Bridge Series).

2 comments about Standard American 21.

1. This book is the only comprehensive source of modern standard bidding for social and rubber bridge players. Everyone should have it. The chapter on slam bidding alone is worth more than the price of the book.



2. I found this book to be extremely well written and easy to understand. It has helped improve my bidding tremendously. I would recommend it to anyone who is a bridge enthusiast.

No comments about Victor Mollo's Bridge Club: How to Turn Masterful Plays into Monstrous Points.

2 comments about Eddie Kantar Teaches Advanced Bridge Defense.

1. It is a complete book on the subject. Chapters are well organised and basic principles are so licidly explained that any astute reader will be immense beneficial out of this book. The examples choosen are not only cute in a sense of its presentation but also make a most difficult thing understable so easily. It is not a book of the Intermediates rather experts could also refresh their knowledge before Championship. Quizes not only explain one particular point but also brought to the surface many other co-related issues. It is a must in every bridge players desk.



2. The emphasis on this book is on how to think when on defense. How to think about:
   - Clues from the bidding - shape and distribution of the two unseen hands.
   -Clues from the opening lead - why did pard lead a suit and not another. Ex. Pard bid Spades and you supported, but he lead Diamonds. Maybe he has the unsupported Ace.
   - Counting HCP
   - Counting Declarers tricks - if you can see that his finesses will win you may have to take a risky action, like leading K from Kx, its your only chance. (This wouldn't work well at MPs)
   
   Basics are covered such as:
   - How to choose an opening lead , especially when to lead trump
   - How declarer plans on making his contract i.e. how dummy will be used. For ruffs, for long suit establishment, etc.
   - When to defend actively vs. Passively
   
   Lets say Dummy has A Q 10 8 7 in a side suit and you lead another suit and pard wins and returns a trump. Why did he do that? Throwing away the tempo!!! Its probably becaus he has K J 9 x behind Dummy and knows declarer isn't making much in that suit and will need another source of tricks.
   
   - How to thwart declarers plan - eliminate entries to dummy, lead trumps to cut down on ruffs, etc.
   
   An all around great book, material clearly explained, with good examples and quizzes.
   
   
   
   Note: Carding concentions are presented IN DEPTH in the authors other book "Modern Bridge defense".

5 comments about Card Play Technique: The Art of Being Lucky.

1. If you buy only one bridge book in your entire life, this should be it. It is written with such skill and humor that it reads like a novel... not only will you learn a tremendous amount from this book, but you'll enjoy yourself in the process. The chapters alternate between Dummy Play and Defense, covering everything from promotion to grand coups. Players of all levels will benefit from reading (and rereading) this excellent book.



2. I have studied quite a few bridge books, and won a number of championships, but THIS one stands out over all the others on the play of the hand.

   I heartily recommend this to every intermediate or advanced player.




3. Not only is this a great book, its fun to read. It's not a dry technical book, its well written and enjoyable to read. The author "covers" many declarer topics from both sides (such as defense against squeezes or defense against endplays). The author has a knack for presenting a subject both clearly and succinctly. There are summaries at the end of each section and a short quiz.
   
   I found this book far superior to Watson's "Play of the Hand" (which seems to be geared towards beginners) but in content and style (its not boring, its fun).



4. First, my mother tongue is French, I'm sure you will excuse my style. This being said, unfortunately, I was very disappointed when I started reading Mollo's book. I wanted to find a book that was covering both the dummy play and the defense. Also, I wanted to revisit the very basics, to have a solid start, and then to go gradually into more complex techniques, covering virtually all aspects of the play, including the more advanced techniques. I was looking for the ultimate book: the Bridge Bible written by a brilliant teacher!
   
   Unfortunately, Mollo starts saying that he will not insult us covering the simple finesse, but will jump right away into the double finesse... The other chapters are similar. This book takes into account that we already have a sound basic technique and covers some variations and tricky situations. Each hand must be studied with actual cards to understand the supposedly "obvious" conclusions he draws.
   
   When I was not looking for a book anymore, I finally tried Watson's book. I hesitated at first, because his style is supposed to be dry and too detailed. EUREKA!!! This is the ultimate BIBLE! Not only it fulfilled all my above expectations, but he goes one step beyond, he is a genius, each chapter is a revelation. I did not learn techniques; I learned the principles underlying the techniques. I now understand why Watson's book is recommended by most schools around the world. This is probably the only book you will every need about the play of the hand.



5. You shoudl have at least a year of experience and read a few other books on technique, such as Bill Roots "How to Declare a Bridge Hand". This one will open your eyes to many other more advanced techniques. Its a great compact presentation. It's a starting point, not a comprehensive presentation of all aspects of advanced methods.
   
   1. Play for a year.
   2. Read some books on the way.
   3. Read this - your eyes will be opened.
   4. Play some more.
   5. Read some more.
   6. Work on counting.
   Repeat steps 3-6
   
   
   If you are a beginners this will be over your head. Some reviewers gave bad ratings. Thats a mistake. Its a great book, but only if you are ready for it.
   (giving this book a bad rating would be like me giving an audrey grant book a 1 becaus eits too simple for me)

5 comments about Understanding 1NT Forcing.

1. Be sure you and your partner agree on how to play this convention. This book offers lots of helpful examples. Many critical situations are discussed. A thorough partnership understanding will help you to attain better scores.



2. Lots of examples.
   Well suited for someone learning 2/1
   
   (Note: there is NO raeson to use a forcing NT in SAYC. You give up playing in 1NT with the benefit of the 2/1 being a game force)



3. this publication covers most 1nt situations. highly useful to agree with partner and avoiding arguments!



4. It is very easy to understand with good examples. If you want to larn the 2/1 bidding convention this is a great help.



5. This is great book on 1nt forcing. Each chapter deals with different types of bid and how to rebid them. I got 2 of these books and share it with friends who are trying to learn 1nt forcing.Must have!! Of course I am a huge fan of Bergen and got all his books!

No comments about Bergen's Best Bridge Tips.

5 comments about Complete Book on Hand Evaluation.

1. This book is superb; the author's thoughts flow through my mind during every auction, competitive or not. He discusses in detail, for example, when a holding of xxx in a suit opened by opponents is terrible, neutral, or mildly positive. The studious reader will understand why a hand which opened 1 Spade with xxxxxx in spades improves vastly more than a hand which opened 1 Spade with KQJTx when partner raises Spades vigorously (in Lawrence's words, "Beware the short stubby suit.") Attention to the principles carefully explained and extensively illustrated (sometimes the same hand is given with half a dozen different auctions to explain evaluation niceties) by Lawrence will vastly reduce your phantom sacrifices, -800s when dummy hit with "all the wrong cards," and +1370s which delight your teammates, who were -630 defending 3NT at the other table when their opponents never looked for a minor-suit slam.



2. This book is superb; the author's thoughts flow through my mind during every auction, competitive or not. He discusses in detail, for example, when a holding of xxx in a suit opened by opponents is terrible, neutral, or mildly positive. The studious reader will understand why a hand which opened 1 Spade with xxxxxx in spades improves vastly more than a hand which opened 1 Spade with KQJTx when partner raises Spades vigorously (in Lawrence's words, "Beware the short stubby suit.") Attention to the principles carefully explained and extensively illustrated (sometimes the same hand is geven with half a dozen different auctions to explain evaluation niceties) by Lawrence will vastly reduce your phantom sacrifices, -800s when dummy hit with "all the wrong cards," and +1370s which delight your teammates, who were -630 defending 3NT at the other table when their opponents never looked for a minor-suit slam.



3. A must for any serious player. Good advice on every aspect of reevaluating your hand as the bidding proceeds by one of the most readable of all bridge authors.



4. Someone once charitably described me as an "average player." So, take my review for what it is worth.
   
   I believe that this is an excellent book for its target audience. But, most novices are probably not ready to make much use of it.
   
   The introduction says that it is for "experienced bridge players." I would interpret that as meaning those who have completed a series of beginning classes (perhaps based on the Audrey Grant - ACBL - series) and have played at least a year.
   
   The book is well written. (An enhanced discussion of what Lawrence terms "shell points" would have been helpful to me.)
   It helped me to understand in a more profound way how both "shape" and competitive auctions affect hand evaluation.
   
   I think that this is a very insightful book, which I will read and re-read several times.



5. You hold AQTx in a suit. 6 HCP. The suit is overcalled on your right. Its likely RHO holds the K and J. Your hand is worth maybe 2 extra tricks (finesse the T and Q). Lets say LHO overcalls the suit instead. Oh, oh! Bad news, they probably have the K and J, your hand is probably good for 1 trick, though its still got stoppers for NT.
   
   The books has many bidding sequences where your hand fluctuates in value.
   A singleton in your partners first bid suit is not necessarily an asset as their suit is hard to set up and secondary honors are worthless.
   
   Axx gives you control as to when to take the ace - 1st 2nd or 3rd round. COmpared to a stiff ace.
   
   You need some practical experience to get something out of the book. Read some books, play for a year, THEN read this. This is beyond counting HCP
   
   No ZAR points or silver bullets, just how to dynamically value your hand.

3 comments about Defense, Second Edition: The Heart Series (ACBL Bridge).

1. Audry Grant continues the excellence of her writing on bridge with this book. In bridge books, there is so much emphasis on bidding that defending against a bid seems to take a back seat. No more with this excellent book. It is extremely readable and understandable and even a relative beginner will quickly grasp the fundamentals of defense. A great addition to any bridge library.



2. I bought a copy for my beginner's and they found it difficult but their defense has really improved. There are many books on defense but this is the best one I've seen for novice's. If you are already good at defense this book is too elementary.



3. If you are new to bridge I highly recommend purchasing all four of Audrey Grant books in the ACBL Series... CLUB, DIAMOND, HEART AND SPADE. She is unquestionably the best bridge teacher for a novice. In layman's terms she is able to explain and unravel the mysteries of bridge. If you begin with the club book and progress through the series as they increase in difficulty... club, diamond, heart and spade you will be able to teach yourself how to become proficient in bridge painlessly. Her books are written in lesson formats... and they are used by many people who instruct bridge classes i.e. adult ed. Buy one... I'm sure you'll add the other three to your library. I also highly recommend her "Bridge at A Glance" pocket guide which is a quick synopsis of bidding and the appropriate respones thereof. I bought many bridge books before I stumbled upon Audrey Grant and wish I had found her books first! Good luck!

1 comments about Better Bridge with a Better Memory: How Mnemonics Will Improve Your Game (Master Bridge Series).

1. This book is loaded with useful information for the slightly above average player but probably has to much jargon for the beginner.
   You may not care for all the mnemonics i.e the momory "keys" but quite a few are very useful. Mnemonics are not always used by the author, sometimes only a catchy phase provides the memory aid.
   In structuree - the situation is introduced in the heading. Usually a very condensed "condition" is presented. Next comes a tool and/or a memory aid to handle it. Each situation is quickly dealt with. Quite a few pages present more than one idea.
   Obviously the problem or tool is not always fully explained, you may have to go to other sources for that. However, the tools just keep coming and coming. It's also a nice introduction to a few advanced concepts.
   The best investment in a bride book that I ever made. A geat learning tool. It even has a table of contents and an index (far above many bridge books).