Bridge books reviewed - 44

There are plenty of bridge books for serious players, and also numbers of books for raw beginners. However, very little has been published for the player who has completed the basic course and is now ready to add a few 'bells and whistles' to his or her game. "Bridge With Bells and Whistles" by Mary Ann Dufresne and Marion Ellingsen conducts a thorough review of all the bidding ideas and concepts that are encountered in a beginner's course on bridge, and takes the reader beyond them, gently but firmly, to the second stage. The reader's ideas on bidding will be refined, and a number of useful conventions suitable for this level of player are described and recommended. The material has been written by two very experienced bridge teachers, and includes features such as end-of-chapter reviews and quizzes to help reinforce the concepts.

"Wait-A-Minute Bridge", subtitled "A Complete System for Bridge Beginners and Advancing Players". This book by David Stevens teaches the basics and more advanced techniques of the play of the hand, bidding, and defense. Stevens uses the device of stopping the action from time to time by having an imaginary reader say, "Wait a minute!" He then discusses a point in more detail so the reader can understand the reasoning behind the rule. Leavened with a healthy dose of humor, Wait-A-Minute Bridge is the perfect book for bridge beginners and intermediate players. Have fun; play bridge!

Would you like to beat some unbeatable contracts? Would you like to make some unmakable contracts? Would you like to become a bridge magician? "Deceptive Declarer Play: The Art of Bamboozling at Bridge" by Barry Rigal will show you the way to improve your game, amaze your partner, and befuddle your opponents. Deception is a bomb which can be used to explode the defense. But, be careful! To avoid being hoist on your own petard, listen to Barry Rigal, the munitions expert who can steer you right.

Would you like to beat some unbeatable contracts? Would you like to make some unmakable contracts? Would you like to become a bridge magician? "Deceptive Defense: The Art of Bamboozling at Bridge" by Barry Regal will show you the way to improve your game, amaze your partner, and befuddle your opponents. Deception in the hands of a defender is a two edged sword. While trying to slice up the declarer, you may wound your partner. Listen to Barry Rigal, the bridge doctor who can prescribe the right treatment.

Ken Rexford's first book, "Cuebidding at Bridge: A Modern Approach" (reviewed on page 12) , took on the topic of Italian cuebidding, primarily in the context of a 2/1 Game Force system. However, he noticeably skipped the topic of cuebidding after a strong 2♣ opening. With this new book, "New Frontiers for Strong Forcing Openings" we now know the reason, and his answer to the Big Problem. This book describes an exciting new approach, using TWO strong openings (2♣ and 2♦) to define PATTERN, in such a way that you can actually describe both opener's and responder's hands effectively, and even cuebid intelligently. In many ways, this approach is even better than Precision! Could you imagine agreeing spades at the two-level after a normal 2♣ opening? How about having no problems with 4-4-4-1 hands, or hands with both minors? Ken Rexford's method lets you do that and much more, allowing you to use cuebidding, relays and pattern bidding on strong hands as effectively as Precision players, but in the context of what is essentially a normal 2/1 GF or Standard system.

In "Modified Italian Canapé System", Ken Rexford introduces the strong club relay system with canapé bidding that he played successfully for years. His approach is novel, but it is also one that is easy to learn and play. Most importantly, the entire system fits within the ACBL General Convention Chart. As with his first book, Cuebidding at Bridge: A Modern Approach, Ken Rexford spends much time explaining the theory and thinking behind canapé sequences, so that the reader will understand the approach rather than simply memorizing a list of conventions.

You began by learning to count points, but that only got you so far. Then, someone introduced you to a new idea, Losing Trick Count. Better in theory, sure. But how do you use it? A response shows at least 6 high-card points, but how many losers? How many of these mysterious 'cover cards'? What's the range? Plus, something just seems wrong with the whole thing! How can A32 be just as good as Q32, both being two losers? That cannot be right!
In "Winners, Losers and Cover Cards", Ken Eichenbaum reveals not only the secrets an expert would use to better evaluate the real power (or weakness) of your hand, but also how to use this knowledge to your advantage in a myriad number of ways. The author explains a fresh take on popular conventions and treatments, within the context of real auctions facing you at the table, and introduces novel methods, allowing you to maximize the benefit of your new understanding.

The 1977 Bridge book "You ought to bid an average hand" by John Kierein. features the Kamikaze Notrump and the BASH (Bid Average Starting Hands) system. The BASH system combines some of these ideas with a version of the Polish Club to produce this pressure system. Or buy from Amazon.co.uk.