Book Reviews

[Chamaco]

>He mainly explains system through examples.

 

Very true.

 

I spent HOURS going though his CD on 2/1 (twice!) and reading the book, taking notes, trying to come up with rules. I came up with 9-10 pages of system notes, plus a few extrapages of extra conventions he covers on his disk. I think it would have been nice to have a guideline like this provided, (I'd have paid extra).

 

However, the book still helped. And I very much like the fact that he presented both sides of many issues, rather than just telling you to do one thing. and not even mentioning alternatives

 

 

I very much liked The Uncontested Auction Bidding Quizzes

I agree with both Mike and Arclight (BTW, what's ur name ? :D )

 

I worte many time sthat ML style of wriing is asystematic, unstructured, hence it's hard to extract a structured system based on sequence.

 

However, In almost every book he wrote, he *tells a story*, and that's what I ike most.

At the first ML books I read, was really puzled, but then I started to like them more and more !

 

This (the fact I love ML books) is one more reason why I was disappointed with the latest Fought the Law book: my expectations for every ML book are always very high, but I acknowledge one cannot always wrirte at a high standard.

[Chamaco]

"Improve your bridge- fast!" by Sontag- Steinberg, 1982

 

Grade: A+ for intermediate -advanced

 

Experts won't need this, but it will be extremely useful to them for teaching purpose.

 

I found this book outstanding, despite the title, which sounds like a commercial trap (I usually avoid buying any books that promises you cheap miracles in a short time).

The book covers a gap uncovered (to my knowledge) by every other handbook on cardplay technique: the systematic study in isolation of typical endgames (4-6 cards) positions.

 

=======

 

The book is a collection of 75 typical endgames (4-6 cards left etc), shown double dummy, and presented as quizzes.

The reader is told how many tricks he must make in a given denomination (suit, NT).

On the back page, there is the analysis of the position, usually including the typical mistake to avoid.

 

Early deals are easy, when we see the 4 hands, then the difficulty progresses.

 

=========

 

The book sets the foundation for more advanced play, the building blocks for :

- finessing technique

- communication problems

- endplays and squeezes of any kind (simple, double, crisscross, strip, triple, etc etc)

 

=========

 

The book reminded me very much of the way chess are taught to improving players: you first explain the simpler basic positions (mating positions and endgame positions) with few pieces on the board, then they start little by little to forese these positions in real games , with many more pieces on the board.

 

Overall, a must-read, IMO.

[ArcLight]

Card PLay Made Easy Vol 1-4 by Ron Klinger.

 

These 4 books on declarer play are excellent. I rate them an A.

I found them clear, concise, and great value for the money.

 

They don't just teach, they give specific quizes targeted towards each section. At the end some have a long test with 40 problems.

These books offer far far far greater value for the money than the David Bird "Bridge Technique" series (which retail for $6 for the lesson book and $10 for the quiz book, for 12 topics, thats $192 in total). Not that Bird's books are bad, they are good, but there is little material as the problems are reprinted on the solution page in large space consuming text.

 

The Klinger books give 3 times the number of problems, while teaching clearly.

The problems are not simple ones, but they aren't level 5 Bridge Master either. They are "just right" for intermediates and above.

[42]

The Tao of Bridge: 200 Principles to Transform Your Game and Your Life

by Brent Manley

amazon:

"In the tradition of Adams Media's highly successful The Tao of Chess comes The Tao of Bridge, a work that shows how developing a "card sense" from the classic game of bridge can help one achieve balance and success in life. The author offers his time-tested advice and wisdom that can lead players to more victories at the card table, as well as in relationships, work and everyday interaction. Readers will be dazzled by principles such as: Fate rewards those with the most determination; Treat every new hand - and every new situation - as an adventure; Visualizing success can be key to attaining it; Opening bids - and first impressions - can affect everything to come; Being bold can be valuable; being bold at the right time is priceless; The authors brilliantly-conceived work is likely to become an instant classic, enjoyed by both beginner and long-time bridge players alike."

I am making TaiChi since some years and I love bridgetips books, so the title attracted me when I surfed through an internet bookstore. It was a nice reading! I don't know if it is a book for those who worked through "Adventures in Cardplay", but the beginner up to at least advanced can find common and useful tips for every aspect of bridge (and life as well).

[mike777]

Competitive Bidding in the 21st Century, Marshall Miles, 2000, 254 pages, $16.95

Grade=A-

 

Reread this book after 5 years and excellent.

 

Great section on 4 card overcalls, well worth the price. Last half of book covers Doubles.

[ArcLight]

"Improve your bridge- fast!" by Sontag- Steinberg, 1982

 

On Chamacos suggestion I bought this book. I wonder if its the same book?

It has the same title, authors, and publication date.

 

Buts its geared entirely towards beginner players with 3 months experience or less. I mean its so basic that I'd say its about as tough as Bridge Master Level 1 problems.

 

Not only are all the "problems" double dummy, they only involve 4-6 cards (the other 7 to 9 have already been played). The "problems" consist of elementary finesses (sometimes repeated) or simple end plays (with 4 hands exposed).

 

I found the book to be a complete waste of time and money.

 

I will send my copy for free to anyone who wants it, for the cost of shipping by US Media mail (probably around $2).

 

Rating: F

[Chamaco]

I found the book to be  a complete waste of time and money. 

 

I am sorry you did not like it, and the waste of money.

 

I like it a lot, but probably it is a consequence of my chess background: in studing chess, often the key to the solution of difficult position is foreseeing simple basic position, throught the intricacy of a position.

 

That's what ches puzzles/quizzes and basic endgames are all about: you learn almost by heart, developing an instinct, a lot of simple positions.

 

Then when a more complicated position with many pieces on the board, arises, you can "x-ray" the position by foresseing the solution.

 

This is relatively easy in many positions, but even the more complicated ones are often the combination of many elementary themes.

 

The key to the success of the Soviet Scchool of chess, starting from the 30's - 40s , up to the 1990s, was exactly the systematic study of basic technique.

 

Michail Tal, one of the greatest geniuses, when asked about what chess books he read, often said that he used to read book for children.

 

=====================================

 

So, yes, I think that perhaps, in my enthusiasm for this book, I got carried away with my chess background , sorry for the wasted money, let's say I owe you couple of beers ? :(

 

Not only are all the "problems" double dummy, they only involve 4-6 cards (the other 7 to 9 have already been played).  The "problems" consist of elementary finesses (sometimes repeated) or simple end plays (with 4 hands exposed). 

 

Well, at least this was clear in my review, and that is exactly what I liked of it :(

If you think of it, the systematic classification of such kind of position (after all, that's what the book is all about, although in an unusual format) is much simpler and rational, if approached in terms of 6-cards endings, no ?

[luke warm]

I will send my copy for free to anyone who wants it, for the cost of shipping by US Media mail (probably around $2).

 

Rating: F

no way i can pass that deal up... i'll pm my address to you

[42]

"Improve your bridge- fast!" by Sontag-Steinberg, 1982

I agree completely on ArcLight's posting, I was really disappointed. Although I understand Mauro's arguments: it is perhaps a fine book for beginners.

Caren

[ArcLight]

>So, yes, I think that perhaps, in my enthusiasm for this book, I got carried away with my chess background , sorry for the wasted money, let's say I owe you couple of beers ?

 

Next time I'm in Italy I will gladly take you up on this! :)

(I went for my Honeymoon, for 2 weeks, had a great time, Florence was my favorite city, but the Tuscany countyside was beautiful too).

 

 

[my only thought on your review is next time, please emphasize that its a beginner book, and not for intermediates. Your sentence "Overall, a must-read, IMO. " made me buy it. Perhaps "A must read for beginner players" would have been better.]

 

 

>I like it a lot, but probably it is a consequence of my chess background: in studing chess, often the key to the solution of difficult position is foreseeing simple basic position, throught the intricacy of a position.

 

Somehow, it seems when I'm doing some difficult Kelsey problem, or a difficult hand from Reeses "Play these hands with me"/"Play Bridge with Reese" the solution isn't a simple endplay or finesse at the end. The hard part (99% of the challenge) is getting to that point and figuring out whats going on at the start. Using some reasoning and technique that is above my level.

 

 

I just read "Sharpen Your Bridge Technique" by Hugh Kelsey. I found the section on asking yourself "Why did my opponent present me with a gift/make that mistake?" of greatest interest. But most of the hands were too hard for me, and I'd never solve them at the table.

 

I think a beginner would be better off with a book teaching decalrer play technique.

Such as the 12 volume "Bridge Technique" series by David Bird/Marc Smith. And Bird also has a companion 12 volume "Test your Bridge Technique" series.

But that would cost a lot ($6 * 12 = $72, $10 * 12 = $120, total $192!!!)

 

Dorothy Haydens "Winning Declarer Play" is a great book for beginners, as are the Knlinger Card Play Made easy books (4 of them)

[42]

"25 More Bridge Conventions You Should Know" by Barbara Seagram & David Bird (2003, Master Point Press, ISBN 1-894154-65-7), recommended for the intermediate player, but the advanced will perhaps find some interesting thoughts or completions, too.

Whenever I heard about a convention which I didn't know, my only dwell (if so) for knowledge was the Bridge-Encyclopedia. Or, when agreeing to play a new convention, I played what my partner explained in short form (sometimes hoping that it will not come up :) ). In this book one can look up the pros and contras for the described convention and its consequences as well as how to use it with examples and a short quiz at the end of the chapter. You find conventions like Bergen Raises, Gambling 3NT, Namyats, Ingberman, Snapdragon Doubles, Inverted Minors, Leaping Michael's, Exclusion Blackwood and -let me count....- 17 others in it. I also like the layout.

I did not yet read the first book "25 Bridge Conventions You Should Know", but I am sure it will be fine as well.

[Chamaco]

>So, yes, I think that perhaps, in my enthusiasm for this book, I got carried away with my chess background , sorry for the wasted money, let's say I owe you couple of beers ?

 

Next time I'm in Italy I will gladly take you up on this!  :)

(I went for my Honeymoon, for 2 weeks, had a great time, Florence was my favorite city, but the Tuscany countyside was beautiful too).

 

Alright, I am saving the money for the drinks then :lol:

 

[my only thought on your review is next time, please emphasize that its a beginner book, and not for intermediates.  Your sentence "Overall, a must-read, IMO. " made me buy it.  Perhaps "A must read for beginner players" would have been better.]

 

Indeed, I meant what I wrote.

I still believe this book is the best introduction to enplays, throw ins and various squeezes.

 

As such, I do think it is better geared towatds intermediate-advanced.

As you wrote in other posts, there are better bridge books oriented to beginners 8e.g. Klinger/Kambites, etc etc).

 

Perhaps my original post raised the expectations too high.

But, let's make another beer bet :D :

try rereading the book (especially the second half) in a few months, when the disappointment has evaporated, and - perhaps - you are rereading some book on squeezes, coups, and endplays.

 

I nbet another beer that you might enjoy it more than you think now B)

[luke warm]

too late mauro, he's sending it to me ;)

[GeeGee]

Indeed, I meant what I wrote.

I still believe this book is the best introduction to enplays, throw ins and various squeezes.

 

As such, I do think it is better geared towatds intermediate-advanced.

I'm with Chamaco on this one.

 

I discovered the book a few months after I started learning bridge, and found quite a lot of it a struggle. A couple of years later it all became a lot more comprehensible and helpful, and now I use examples from it on my intermediates' declarer play training course.

 

  The hard part (99% of the challenge) is getting to that point and figuring out whats going on at the start. 

 

Very true. :)

[Flame]

I didnt read the book, but i agree with those who claim that learning in depth the simple matters is a great learning technic which will in time get better results then going fast. Its not easy to do since we all want to run rather then walk.

[ArcLight]

>I discovered the book a few months after I started learning bridge, and found quite a lot of it a struggle. A couple of years later it all became a lot more comprehensible and helpful, and now I use examples from it on my intermediates' declarer play training course.

 

 

OK, for someone just learning Bridge its ok. But a review should clearly say that. I don't want to buy "great" beginner books.

 

For me, an intermediate it was a complete waste of time. I prefer reading books like Play Safe and Win by Eric Jannersten or Play Bridge with Reese or Card Play Technique by Victor Mollo.

 

Imagine if someone posted about Adventures in Cardplay "A great way to learn the game" a must read. And this causes beginners to buy the book. Guess what, you wasted your money (for now) because that book is so far above you as to be useless.

 

 

Golden Rule for reviews:

Please post the level the book is geared to.

Especially if its focused on just one group (Experts, beginners, etc)

 

 

 

>I didnt read the book, but i agree with those who claim that learning in depth the simple matters is a great learning technic which will in time get better results then going fast. Its not easy to do since we all want to run rather then walk.

 

Thats not the issue. The issue is that the review said its a MUST BUY. Its not a MUST BUY for anyone above beginners.

 

If someone posts reviews that are misleading they will lose credibility. Plus it will damage the forum/folder as people consider the posts unreliable. (Not that anything should be accepted as 100% fact anyway :P

[Chamaco]

Golden Rule for reviews:

Please post the level the book is geared to.

Especially if its focused on just one group (Experts, beginners, etc)

I agree with you :P

 

I just think that the ambiguity arose about what constitutes an intermediate/advanced.

 

I do consider this book a must for anyone who is undertaking a serious study of squeeze, coups, and endplays and such, because basically it's a systematic classification of typical endings.

 

I consider this skill level to correspond to intermediate/advanced (IMO lower level players won't be studying endplays, coups and squeezes), but everything is relative, one might have a different perception of the skill, and I won't argue about that.

 

However, I do think that this book would not be practical for a real beginner: there are even more basic stuff to learn before these ending positions, IMO :-)

 

But, I hope your post is a disclaimer for other readers that might find it too elementary, so I won't owe beers to more readers (and lose credibility :P ) ! :P

[ArcLight]

Play Safe and Win by Eric Jannersen

 

Good intermediate level book. Covers a range of declarer techniques on how to play a contract properly, for extra safety. Not just simple things like end plays, but card combinations, maintaining trump control, and in general non obvious (to intermediates) ways to play a hand.

 

The material is nothing you wont find in other good books, like Card Play Technique by Mollo. But I liked the selection of hands (no double dummy hands, you only see your hand and dummy). The problems were not very hard, but I got quite a number wrong, and its likely at the table I'd have gotten even more wrong.

 

Worth reading.

[Chamaco]

Spotlight on Card Play

by Robert Darvas, Paul Lukacs

Reprinted in 1982

 

The book is advertised as being the first one to adopt the "over the shoulder" approach used later by Reese, Lawrence, and others.

Indeed, the style resembles the series of card play books by Berthe and Lebely.

 

As the title suggests, it's a book on card play, both as declarer and as defender.

 

The reader is asked at steps to form a plan and what would be the corect choice, and if he decides to read on, he'll read the thoughts going through the writers' mind in trying to solve the problem.

 

The difficulties progresses through the 69 deals, ranging from the early ones which deal with intermediate quizzes to the latest deals, that cover more advanced techniques (various squeezes, coups, deception, etc).

 

The clarity vy which the hands are dealt with remind me very much of the Bridgemaster deals, as well as the simpler Deals of the Weeks commented by Fred.

 

All in all, I think it's an excellent book for intermediate-advanced (A).

IMO the early deals are useful also for beginners, but after a while the difficulty progresses, and perhaps other more basic books will be advisable for beginners.

Definitely not a book for experts unless for teaching purposes.

[mike777]

Reread both these books after many years.

 

Master Play in Contract Bridge. Terence Reese, 1960, 143 pages, 5$

Grade=B

 

Very advanced Play topics. Type is very small and written in a difficult to follow style. Still worth a reread for those interested in top flight plays.

 

Play These Hands With Me. Terence Reese, 2001, 202 pages, 15.95$

Grade=B+

 

Written in Reese's famous over the shoulder style. Interesting and fancy plays but not sure how useful for the average player. Some of the play is difficult to follow and many of the hands rely on less than perfect defense.

[Double !]

Reread both these books after many years.

 

Master Play in Contract Bridge. Terence Reese, 1960, 143 pages, 5$

Grade=B

 

Very advanced Play topics. Type is very small and written in a difficult to follow style. Still worth a reread for those interested in top flight plays.

Five dollars for Masterplay?

 

Talk about inflation: my version (1966) was only One dollar (probably equivalent to $15-20 in today's economy)

 

I still think it's one of the best books out there. In particular, I like the small section on "upside-down inferences".

 

DHL

[ArcLight]

The Extra Edge in Play by Terence Reese and Julian Pottage

 

 

I'm a big fan of most of Reeses non bididng books (his bidding books tend to be very out dated in general, like How to Bid a Bridge Hand). This is probably the worst Reese book I've read. I wonder how many of the hands were selected by him, and how many by Pottage? I've read a few of Pottages books and don't care for them at all. I wonder if Pottage wrote this book, and got Reese to affix his name, for a fee.

 

The book has 50 non-double dummy declarer problems. Perhas a third of them are good problems. Many require some obscure inference, or slightly higher percentage play. This is an advanced book in the sense that I think few players would solve these problems. They aren't hard problems like some of Kelseys, most don't require very advanced technique, instaed they require playing for some specific lie of the cards or finesse based on small inference. I just don't think the problems are anywhere near as good as in other books.

 

I rate it a C-

 

[contrast this with Reeses "The Most Puzzling Situations in Bridge Play" which I rate an A]

 

 

[Note: don't confuse this with Reeses book "Those Extra Chances in Bridge" which is a good book]

 

Here is a typical problem

 

[hv=d=s&v=n&n=s9764h8dajt6cak83&s=sakjt8haj5d92c654]133|200|

6 Spades.

Opponents silent,

King of ♦ lead

[/hv]

 

 

How do you play the hand?

 

Solution below (Hidden)

 

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[hv=d=s&v=n&n=s9764h8dajt6cak83&w=sq3hk962dkq873cj9&e=s52hqt743d54cqt72&s=sakjt8haj5d92c654]399|300|[/hv]

 

The author first says that West is slightly more likely to have longer diamonds you might play him for spade shortness. Then the author suggests winning the Diamond K, and continuing the suit. If East ruffs, you over ruff and have a count of the trumps after playing the Ace. If not, percentage dictates playing East for the Qxx in trumps.

 

 

My thought is:

What if diamonds are 4-3 or 3-4? Didn't the author create a somewhat less likely hand to prove his point?

 

The author says a 3-1 break is more likely than 2-2. But A then K is the theorectically correct way to play the suit (holding 9 cards, missing the Q), unless you have additional information. If East shows out, then East is more likely to have the Q, because of the 3 vacant places, but in the example West has it, and if East doesnt ruff, then the authors initial advice is wrong. I think they could have used a discovery play along with a somewhat different lie of the cards, to make for a better problem. Another reason I don't like the problem is we are quibbling about 1-2%, and it takes away from the good point about the discovery play.

 

I just don't think this is all that good a problem. Its typical of the 50 problems.

 

 

[Guest Jlall]

if diamonds are 4-3 it is now percentage to play for 2-2 spades. If they are 5-2 you get that info on this line (so that now it is percentage to play for Qxx), and if they are 5-2 with 2-2 spades you also get the added advantage that east might ruff the third round (increasing the chances he has Qxx if he doesnt).

 

So basically, this is a discovery play that gains quite a bit of useful info, allows the opps to make an error, and pays off only to west having KQ tight of diamonds and a doubleton spade.

[ArcLight]

Justin,

I don't disagree with what you said.

I do like the idea of the discovery play, as it doesnt cost anything. That part is good.

 

But the book said that the K♦ lead implied length in ♦, and therefore to play for 3-1 and finesse.

I don't think the initial premise they presented, playing for a 3-1 split because of the assumed diamond length in West was all that great for a problem. I think that there isn't enough information to make that assumption.

 

Again, the discovery play was a good idea, and if that was all they wrote it would be fine. I actually think your analysis is better that that provided in the book!

[han]

It seems to me that this is a very good hand, I don't understand the critique. Everything that you have quoted from the book seems correct. I also don't understand why a book gets a low rating because it is for advanced players. I think that there are many more good books for beginners and intermediate players than for advanced players.