Best book to learn how to play the cards

[the hog]

"I tried reading Terrence Reeses books, they are highly recommended by many players (including Mike Lawrence).

But I was put off by his attitude. This may be silly, but I didn't like "Reese the person" as he came across in his books and it turned me off to what he was trying to teach."

 

Interesting, I regard him, (Reese), as the greatest Bridge writer of all time. His prose is elegant and concise. On the other hand I find many US writers, (not Lawrence I might add, but certainly Tobias Stone for example), overblown and verbose. I guess it depends what you are brought up with.

[xx1943]

Hi

 

I reread this post today by chance and found it exactly so instructive and informative as 2 years ago.

 

Maybe it can be pinned anywhere for newcomers?

 

Ty all who shared their knowledge.

 

Regards

 

Al

[1eyedjack]

Almost certainly out of print, but if you can get hold of it I swear by the book "Victor Mollo's Winning Double" (by the named author, of course).

 

Aimed at the BIL player, it is a book of card play problems covering common situations, presented in the classical format: Problem stated on one page, solution overleaf. The book is divided into two equal halves (hence the title). The author claims that there is no difference in the difficulty of either half compared with the other. The reader is invited to tackle the halves in either order, with a guarantee that he will do better in whichever half he tackles second.

 

There are a lot of good card play books out there for beginners, but none in my opinion does such a great job of bolstering the confidence of the student. Visibly measuring your improved skill as you progress through the book is a great motivator.

[chicken]

its out of print but there are still a lot of copies availiable @ amazon and ebay . how about "behandle die farben" by roland rohowski.

[pdmunro]

I have read lots of beginners books. The two that stick in my head are Paul Marston "The Principles of Card Play" and Mike Lawrence "How to Read your Opponents' Cards"

 

Paul Marston's is the simplest book on card play that I have read. One of the few where I read every page. Here is a sample from page 15.

 

PLAY THE HONOURS FROM THE SHORTER HAND FIRST

 

In these five examples, which card would you play on the first lead so that you can take all the tricks?

 

Example 1:3  Cashing certain tricks

 

      1. You        Dummy

        ♥ K 8          ♥ A Q 6

 

      2. You        Dummy

        ♦ A Q J 4      ♦ K 8

 

      3. You         Dummy

        ♥Q J 3 2      ♥ A K 7

 

      4. You        Dummy

        ♣ A K 8        ♣ Q J 7 5

 

      5. You         Dummy

        ♣ K Q J 7       ♣ A 4

 

Do you agree that the set out is simple enough that the beginner is not intimidated? Plus the repetition helps to reinforce the ideas. Such simplicity and clear setout is a treasure to find.

 

But a warning. Perhaps it is only me, but I find certain standard techniques intimidate me. E.g., I wiggle and squirm before I take a finesse.

 

So it is one thing to read it in a book, it is another to take the plunge at the table. It is only after many years playing, now that I can usually work out who has what cards, that I take my finesses fearlessly. See I'm still a chicken, I'm only fearless when I know it's going to work!

 

The reason that Mike Lawrence's book sticks in my mind is because it encapsualtes the key idea of bridge: one has to imagine scenarios. This key skill comes from playing lots of hands. It especially comes from losing. The hands I stuff up are the ones I go back over. For me, the memory of the embarrassment lasts longest. Certainly longer than anything I have read in a book.

 

Mike's book gave me the key: imagine where the cards need to be for you to make your contract. That is not always possible. But the beauty of BBO is that you can look later and find the answer. Thank you, thank you, BBO.

 

There is one other book that everyone recommends: Mollo and Gardiner "Card Play Technique".

 

It is a book I have never been able to finish. I have perhaps started it 4 times. I typically get 3/4 of the way through. The major benefit of this book for me is that it tells me that I am improving. Each time I read it, I find I get more examples correct, more easily.

 

But I honestly cannot remember anything from the book, except for two small ideas. 1) Lead up to your high cards. For example, lead from dummy towards the K in your hand. You may find RHO puts up his A, sparing your any procrastination. 2) You might have Kxxx opposite Qxxx. You lead towards the K and it wins. Consider playing a small card from both hands and watch the doubleton A capture nothing but an x. And the rest of the suit is yours! Oh, and there was a third idea. 3) If your partner's opening lead is a middle card, say the 8, consider ducking even though you hold the A. When you do get in, play the A and give him a ruff. He lead a doubleton, not a singleton. And 4). With Axx of trumps, consider leading a trump x at trick one. And win with the A when trumps are played again, then play your third trump to deny declarer ruffs in dummy.

 

Of these 4 points, point 1) I use every hand; point 2) I use once a year; point 3) twice in 20 years; and point 4) I saw a chinese expert use to great effect 3 years ago. And the question I have is: Did he learn it from Mollo and Gardiner?

 

I guess this is the general problem with bridge. So many ideas. Some used on every hand, so that they become instinctive. Some rarely used.

 

Congratulations to Al (aka xx1943). I think you are really getting your instructional material together with Lesson Hands. Click "Lesons on play the cards", then click Lesson 7 "Movie improved by Mihailo". Great format. Well done.

[ohioply]

"The play of the hand" by Louis (Lewis?) Watson