Book Reviews

[CarlRitner]

Could someone describe the World Championship books in detail?

I'm not going to do it here, since I've already arranged for you to receive a copy for your review. Your thread here is highly beneficial for all of the members, and you would be the best one to capture just what the championship books are all about. So, it's on the way.

 

I have several years available, both listed on my website and unlisted (getting ready to do that soon :rolleyes:

 

Cheers,

 

Carl Ritner

ACBL Library Bridge Books & Magazines

[mike777]

The Complete Book on Hand Evaluation in Contract Bridge

Mike Lawrence. 9.95$ 1983. 194p.

Grade=B

 

Reread this book after more than two decades. It is full of many high level ideas. It is written in a textbook style and is a bit dry and lacks much of Mike's usual droll humor. Great reference book to read and reread but the casual player may get more out of a Tips style book.

 

Another solid book by Mike Lawrence. "One of the most important things in any endeavor is the accumulation of experience and the ability to learn from it" A. Sheinwold.

 

This book has something for players of all levels. Mike explains how the value of card combinations varies from sequence to sequence. Will have you thinking about boxes and shell points that add to one's bridge lingo.

 

Next up on my bridge book reading list is the book I know all you forum readers/bashers have been waiting for Picture Bidding by Al Roth ;).

[joshs]

My Favorite All Around Bridge Book:

Matchpoints- Kit Woolsey

 

Best Books for Advancing Players:

Watson- The Play of the Cards

Kelsey- Killing Defense

Lawrence-How to Read the Opponents Cards, Openings Leads

 

Also definitely worth reading:

Play Bridge with Mike Lawrence

Partnership Bidding - Robson/Segal

Partnership Defense - Woolsey

 

Expert Level Bridge Books:

For Experts Only- Granovetters

Bridge in the Managerie-Mollo ( Very entertaining)

Master Play in Contract Bridge-Reese

Squeeze Play-Reese

Bridge with the Blue Team

[MickyB]

Good choices Josh, Matchpoints is amazing. I think that Killing Defence is aimed at a higher level than your other "advancing" books.

[CarlRitner]

My Favorite All Around Bridge Book:

 

Partnership Bidding - Robson/Segal

Partnership Bidding is a fantastic book, and out of print. However, you can download this book in PDF format from my bridge book website for free.

 

Downloads available from CarlRitner.com

 

This is with the author's permission. There's also the free source code to Easy Bridge by Steve Han. I make both of these available to all as a courtesy. Thanks

 

Carl Ritner

ACBL Library Used Bridge Books & Magazines

[joshs]

Good choices Josh, Matchpoints is amazing. I think that Killing Defence is aimed at a higher level than your other "advancing" books.

Yeah it is. The empasis is on logic and not signals or rules, so that makes it hard.

[SteelWheel]

How about this book (now sadly out of print)?

 

"Enterprising Tales" by Marc Smith. Tells the story of Captain Quirk, Mr. Sprock, and a bunch of other characters, some "Star Trek"-inspired, some based on real-life bridge personalities, as they compete in some of the top-level bridge tournaments of the 23rd century.

 

Lots of fun, some very interesting high-level play. I re-read this one every now and again--I'm just a sucker for the Star Trek spoof thing, I guess. If you like Victor Mollo and that sort of thing, you'll like this one.

 

Anyone want to try to play "Vulcan Variable Pass" sometime? :lol:

[CarlRitner]

How about this book (now sadly out of print)?

 

"Enterprising Tales" by Marc Smith.

I have exactly one of these left. I am not familiar with the publisher, Damien Inc. out of Clifton, New Jersey, so the odds of this being re-released are pretty slim.

 

I have sold copies of this to Trekkies who don't know the first thing about bridge.

 

Cheers,

 

Carl Ritner

ACBL Library Used Bridge Books & Magazines

[mike777]

Picture Bidding by Al Roth, 1991, 24.95$ 317p.

Grade=A+

 

A great book and a fun read. Five card majors, forcing NT, weak two bids, unusual nt, negative doubles, all invented by Al Roth. Ok save the responses if you think someone else invented them :).

 

Picture jumps, mini splinters, mark-time bids, four clubs slam try over preempts and much much more.

 

Even if your style is the complete opposite of super sound opening bids and his constructive style of bidding this book should make your present style of bidding clearer to you.

[ArcLight]

1980 World Bridge Team Olypiab - edited by Henry Francis

 

I had never seen one of these books before, and got this as part of a recent book order. Very interesting book. Selected hands from each round are analyzed. With discussion of the bidding and play. I especially enjoyed the photographs of the various players. Funny how Bob Hamman looked younger 26 years ago. :P

I wouldn't mind having more of these books. They are specialized and a bit more expensive than most Bridge paperbacks, but they contain a great deal of hands and effort by the editors.

 

I got this from Carl Ritner (http://www.carlritner.com/) he sells books and magazines from the ACBL. I've bought quite a few older books from him, all for great prices.

[ArcLight]

Passed Hand Bidding by Mike Lawrence.

 

Great intermediate level book. Lots of examples with clear expnations on bidding and its purpose. Such as: The nature of 4th seat bids, 3rd seat bids and preempts, extensive coverage of Drury and many bidding sequences, strong Jump Shifts by the Passed hand (yes they can happen once in a while with: 4 card support, a stiff, and a good other 5 card suit), difference bewteen a Drury response and a Limit raise by the passed hand, passed hand splinters (at the 3 level). Also sections on judgment - look at the nature of your hand to decide how to respond, don't just count HCP.

 

(I don't have the book in front of me or I'd list some interesting sequences and hands.)

[mike777]

The Secrets of Winning Bridge. Jeff Rubens. 1969. 241pp.

7.68$ including shipping and handling. Price in 1969=1.95$

Grade=A+

For the average player.

 

Reread this book after more than 30 years.

 

While this terrific book is written for the average player experts will find interesting topics such as the safety play at MP.

 

The first half of the book is about hand evaluation. The small section on in-and-out evaluation is priceless. "It is better to have your secondary honors in partner's suit(s) and your primary values outside."

 

Last half of book is on play technique at various forms of the game, rubber, imp, mp and etc.

 

Must have book for your bridge library, a classic.

[ArcLight]

Advanced Bridge Defense by Eddie Kantar. What agreat book. It covers so much in a single book. The first volume (Modern Bridge Defense) covers carding and signaling. This covers things like:

* Clues from the bidding - counting shape and HCP

* Clues from the opening lead

* Clues from the play - You lead the K from KQJT Dummy has a stiff, declarere sins, and ruffs one rund. Then pulls trumps. He has no more losers in that suit, so you can discard.

* Clues from discards - signaling

* technique and deception - surround plays, mandatory false cards, leading low from AKx when you need 3 tricks

 

The reader is shown a large number of hands and taken through the thinking process on how to solve the hands, based on the clues available.

Some of the hands require making an assumption, like pard has AJx

 

Excellent Intermediate/Advanced book. I rate it an A.

 

This was the third Bridge book I ever read, and at the time I didnt think much of it. Now reading it 2 years later, with much more experience I can really appreciate it. If you are a beginner I suggest reading Roots How to Defend a Bridge Hand. Then after you feel comfortable, try Kantars 2 volume set.

 

 

The Secrets of Winning Bridge by Jeff Rubens is a great book. In addition to the Hand Evaluation it has good sections on bidding close games, and long vs short suit game tries. The only outdated part (from what I remember) is Rubens was mocking Blackwood and preferred Culbertsons ace asking system (4-5?).

[mike777]

Opening Leads. Mike Lawrence. 1996. 289pp. 19.95$

Grade=A+

 

Yet another terrific book by Mike. A must book in everyone's bridge library. Great read or use it as a reference book for those tough lead decisions. This book is intended to help you make good leads and cut down on bad ones.

[ArcLight]

How to Read Your Opponents Cards by Mike Lawrence.

 

I reread it after doing Mikes COUNTING AT BRIDGE 1 & 2 CDs.

Great book for Intermediate and beginner level players, though the CDs are better. One thing that strikes me is some of the inferences would be harder to draw today with lighter opening bids.

 

For instance, how would you bid this as South, Red on Red at Imps.

 

East deals and passes, you hold:

♠ A 7

♥ T 8 7 6 5 3 2

♦K 5

♣ K 2

 

Maybe I'm totally wrong but why not open 1♥?

 

If pard has: x you will probably lose 3 hearts, with xx 2 or 3. With anything more 2 or fewer hearts.

 

Unlike other books on Deductive Reasoning, this one includes a chapter on "tells". That is reading opponents hestiations, quick plays, and other non-tempo plays.

[blackshoe]

Lots of good reviews/suggestions here. Let me add mine: B)

 

Bidding On Target, George Rosenkranz and Alan Truscott

 

Intermediate to Advanced, B+

 

Some chapter headings: "Problems of Second Hand", "Problems of Third Hand", "Constructive Bidding", "Slam Bidding".

 

This is a "theory" book - but with many example hands. Great discussions of Notrump bidding and preemptive bidding, lots of good stuff on tightening up partnership understandings.

 

Bid to Win, Play for Pleasure, George Rosenkranz

Godfrey's Bridge Challenge, George Rosenkranz and Philip Alder

Godfrey's Stairway to the Stars, George Rosenkranz and Philip Alder

Godfrey's Angel's, George Rosenkranz and Philip Alder

 

These four books describe the modern Romex system. The first is a pretty large book, with an awful lot of stuff in it. The last three are written in a conversational style, and take the reader through Godfrey's teaching his wife Meche and her regular partner Mayté the basics of the Romex system. Very good reading, and I think Romex deserves wider recognition than it's had.

 

Intermediate to Advanced, B+

[CarlRitner]

Thanks for the great reviews. There was a fourth book in the Godfrey series, this one was the first, actually: Our Man Godfrey: Tales From The Bridge Table

 

George published this after Bid to Win, Play for Pleasure and it was another theory book, but on general systems, not Romex. It was written in the conversational style and is quite a good read. It does not carry Phillip Alder as a co-author but as contributor, and that small injustice was corrected for the rest of the series.

 

Quite a few Rosenkranz books are available on my website.

 

Cheers,

 

Carl

ACBL Library Used Bridge Books

[ArcLight]

365 Winning Bridge Tips by Danny Kleinman

 

 

The book is really an assortment of various bidding problems/tips, declarer play, and defense problems. Its geared towards Match Points though many of the problems/ideas are also applicable to IMPs.

 

Some of the bidding problems involve hand (re)evaluation, hand patterns (what the other players have), and rebid problems. The author discusses why not to open a hand NT, why certain conventions are bad, and shows some of his own. I don't necessarily agree with all of this, but its interesting reading.

 

The defense problems involve counting, and some are a lot harder and involve asking yourself what the meaning of the spots played are and their implication for that suit.

 

The declarer play problems are a variety of match point decisions and bad contracts.

 

Overall I though the book was worthwhile reading, though its not organized in any specific way. Its probably Intermediate plus level.

[mike777]

100 Bridge Problems. Using Poker Tactics in Contract Bridge. Mike Cappelletti. 14.95$. 2004. 224pp.

Grade=B

 

I really enjoyed the first half of this book and would grade it A-. The second half drops off in quality and there are a few editing errors where the analysis does not seem to match the hands.

 

The first half discusses aggressiveness at bridge and what a difference a level makes. The last half discusses cuebidding and bluffing.

[ArcLight]

Dynamic Defense by Mike Lawrence 1985

 

I tried reading this when I had been playing Bridge for 5 months and it was way over my head. So now with a couple of years of additional experience I tried it again. What a world of difference experience and study makes when reading a book on defense. B)

 

The problems are generally not difficult ones. They involve counting and deduction. Also listening to the auction.

- what are pards and declarers shapes?

- what are pards and declarers HCP?

- why did/n't pard make such and such a lead?

- why is declarer playing in this fashion?

- what do I need to set this?

- what opening lead should I make?

 

What helps this time around (compared to when I just started playing) was based on the carding (Count signals, low from touching honors, Suit preference) it was reasonable to come up with the solution.

 

A very good book for Intermediate (plus) level players.

[mike777]

I Love This Game. Sabine Auken. 2006. 207pp. 19.95$

Grade=B

General Interest, all Levels.

 

The book details the thrilling comback by Germany over France in the 2001 Venice Cup Final. I found the hands almost incidental as I enjoyed the general interest stories and sidebars into such issues as are women better players than men and the state of dress or undress at the top levels of bridge.

 

Sabine Auken is a forceful advocate for her MiniNT and aggressive preemptive bidding style. A book that players at all levels can enjoy. Ms. Auken displays a keen sense of humor with a dash of style that truly shows how she loves this game. I hope to see more of these general interest bridge books that tell us what is going on behind the scenes at bridge as well as at the table.

[ArcLight]

Partnership Defense by Kit Woolsey

 

The book covers the basic signals (Attitude, Count, Suit Preference), discusses lead (Rusinow, Low from Odd) and carding conventions, gives many examples, and presents the reader with problem sets.

 

What I found interesting was the creative use of Suit Preference signals. There are some nice examples of discard signals to help pard in a [seudo squeeze situation. The author gives some examples that might not occur to everyone. There was also an interesting section on Match Point defense. One partner KNOWS there is no set, and must "trick" pard into cashing out, so they miscard so as to fool pard.

 

Some of the problems were a tad obscure, but its a highly worthwhile book.

It's a bit advanced so I'd suggest first reading Eddie Kantars MODERN BRIDGE DEFENSE and ADVANCED BRIDGE DEFENSE.

 

 

There is also a version on CD which has additional material, including a section on reading hands based on leads. The CD has some interactive hands which are harder to present clearly in a book. The downside is the CD costs $40

 

http://www.bridgebase.com/cgi-bin/store/co...id=197249.25090

 

compared with around $4 for a used copy.

http://www.campusi.com/bookFind/asp/bookFi...odId=0910791686

[ArcLight]

Dormer on Deduction by Al Dormer.

 

This builds on the foundation Mike Lawrence built in How to Read Your Opponents Cards (HTRYOC). It goes beyond the fundamentals like counting HCP and seeing where the unseen honors are. It covers more advanced topics such as:

 

- empathize with pard - why did pard make such and such a play? Is it becaus ehe didn't have enough information? Can you help him out? There is an example hand against an enemy contract where you get in. You have a stiff, and the Ax of trumps. If you lead the stiff, pard may duck, thinking its a doubleton and taht you have a trump entry. What can you do to clarify the situation?

Cash the Ace of trumps, then lead the stiff. This shows pard that there is no point in not winning the ace and continueing the suit. Of course both partners must be on the same wave length! Thus both should read the book!

 

- look at the enemy discards. usually you want to keep parity with dummy, especially if dummy has a suit like AQJ7. If a defender discards in that suit, the chances are that its safe for them to do so, meaning they had more than 4 cards.

 

- just like HTRYOC there are chapters on clues form the bidding and opening lead

 

- clues from how a suit is played. Why is declarer not playing on Spades with KQJ96 in dummy in a 3NT contract? Because he has the ace, and needs to establish one more outside trick.

 

- beware of gifts - why did the opponent give you an optio? Such as allowing you to reach dummy to take an otherwise impossible to take finesse? OR not force you to ruff with Dummy when Dummy holds Ax in trumps

 

The negatives - some of the bidding is obsolete. He has one glaring error on one hand, where his suggested play is wrong. Some of the signals he uses are not used in the USA (which is the center of the universe, hence the book is wrong :P

Some of the inferences are a bit thin, and I would hesitate to draw conclusions, especially against non-experts who might not card correctly anyway.

 

I consider this an intermediate+ level book.

All in all , a great book, I rate it an A.

[ArcLight]

Private Sessions by August Boehm

 

Well presented low Intermediate level book on visualization.

 

Much of the book is spent on visualizing the unseen hands based on the bidding.

Conventions are mostly ignored, and Hand Evaluation is emphasized.

What are some hands pard might have for his bid? What might the opp be holding? How well do the hands mesh? Given that pard bid and I hold all the honors in 2 suits, what can pard have for his raise?

Pard passed initially, and then jump raised me, why?

 

There are also sections on:

 

-the value of a singleton honor.

-play of the hand.

-thinking at the table

-memory

 

Recommended for low intermediates. Beginners will also benefit as it introduces many fundamental concepts. A fun book to read.

[mike777]

Card by Card Adventures at the Bridge Table. Roy Hughes. 2006. 18.95$ 240p.

Advanced

Grade=C-

 

58 deals presented in the over the shoulder method. There is a bit of bidding discussion on each hand but for the most part this is a play book. Many of these hands have been published elsewhere and the deals are attributed.

 

While the book is advertised as advanced I found the hands to be very difficult and at an expert or higher level. I found it difficult to follow the play and often was unsure what cards had been played and which ones were left. As a result I would lose interest in the deal and move on. If you enjoy puzzle books you may enjoy this book more than I did.

 

As a side note:

 

Is Master Point Press publishers in the business of vaporware? They often advertise new books as just published but then they are not available for months?