Looking for material on deceptive cardplay

[Free]

I'm currently working on my declarer skills, and I'm interested in deceptive cardplay. It's always fun if you can make opponents believe that you don't hold a certain card. It's also useful in defense from time to time.

 

Are there any books or websites or whatever where I can find a lot of information on that?

[ArcLight]

- Championship Bridge - Jose Le Dentu - While the bidding sections are outdated there is a very nice 60 page section on deception. Not stupid stuff, but very common play that are available. Things like winning a trick in hand with an unnecesarily high card, playing on a weak suit to feign strength, and psychology. He gives quotes by masters liek Albaran and Garazzo, along the lines of "You must realize that the defenders dont know your hand".

 

- The Tricky Game - Hugh Kelsey

 

- False Cards - Mike Lawrence

 

I didn't care for Pottages book on Pyshic bidding. Just examples with little instruction. Victor Mollos "The Black Arts" was better, with lost of interesting examples.

[MickyB]

- False Cards - Mike Lawrence

An excellent book.

[hrothgar]

"Invitation to Annihilation" is decent...

[DenisO]

Barry Rigal has written two books in the Step by Step series :

 

(1) Deception in Defence

(2) Deceptive Declarer Play

 

they are available from baronbarclay but I seem to recall you can probably get them cheaper direct from Barry. He posts on rgb so you could get his email address from there.

 

Denis

[CarlRitner]

Falsecards and Invitation To Annihilation, I still have copies available, if you are interested.

 

ACBL Library Used Bridge Books & Magazines

 

I also have back-issue sets of the ACBL Bulletin, which covers all aspects of cardplay, beginner to advanced. Ask me and I'll help you find what you are looking for.

 

Cheers,

 

Carl Ritner

[hrothgar]

BTW, I figured that I might as well include an example hand from "Invitation to Annihilation". This hand (originally played by Zia) provides a decent (though basic) example of the type of hands that I2A focuses on.

 

[hv=d=s&v=b&n=sa54hk2da876ckt74&w=sk96hqjt74dj32c53&e=sqt72h9653dq4ca62&s=sj83ha8dkt95cqj98]399|300|Scoring: IMP[/hv]

 

The auction is quite straight forward.

 

P - (P) - 1♦ - (P)

2N - (P) - 3N - All pass

 

The opening lead was the Queen of Hearts. Zia won with the Ace and lead the Queen of Clubs. West won the trick with the Ace of Clubs and cleared the Heart suit. At this point in time, it looks as if South must lose 3 Hearts and a Diamond.

 

The author (Mike Lipkin) noted the following critical play by Zia. When Zia won the King of Hearts, he continued by leading the 10 of Clubs and overtaking with the Jack. By doing so, Zia unblocked the Club suit, giving him the option to lead the 4th round of clubs from either hand. Zia's goal was to force the hand with the doubleton club to make two discards before his partner was able to make any kind of signal.

 

After winning the Jack of Clubs, Zia lead the 9 of Clubs. West discarded a Spade and Zia threw the 7 of Clubs from dummy. (If West had followed suit, Zia would have won the King). East played his last Clubs, leading to the following position )Lead in the South)

 

[hv=d=s&v=b&n=sa54hk2da876ckt74&w=sk96hqjt74dj32c53&e=sqt72h9653dq4ca62&s=sj83ha8dkt95cqj98]399|300|Scoring: IMP[/hv]

 

When Zia lead the 8 of Clubs, West was forced to find a second discard. At the table, West chose to discard a Diamond rather than baring the Spade King. Zia then wrapped up the Diamond suit for 4 tricks and his game.

 

If Zia had crossed in Diamonds or Spades the opponents would have had an easier time signaling.

 

The majority of I2A consists of a series of similar example hands that try to illustrate methods to by which you can give the opponents an extra chance to go wrong. I think that I2A is a really good book (its certainly an interesting topic) I just wish that the editing were a bit better.

[Flame]

- False Cards - Mike Lawrence

An excellent book.

Yes !