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Is someone here familiar with this book? I have a friend who has a 2007 publication of this book but I see there is a 2008 publication. Are they basically the same? Amazon has the newer one easily available but I could find an older copy if it's worth it.
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The Play of the Hand in the 21st Century
#2
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Posted 2009-March-02, 13:59
It looks like an Audrey Grant book updated by an author I've never heard of before (Starzec). The table of contents on Barclay's catalog make it seem like an awfully basic book, maybe OK for the rawest of beginners but probably not worth it IMO.
My recommended progression is:
Bridge for Dummies, Eddie Kantar
How to Play a Bridge Hand, Bill Root.
It's really hard to improve on Root for beginner/int declarer play, if you can digest the concepts and apply them you will be quite advanced by the end.
Other possibilities are "Card Play Technique" by Mollo&Gardner, and "Winning Declarer play" by Dorothy Truscott.
My recommended progression is:
Bridge for Dummies, Eddie Kantar
How to Play a Bridge Hand, Bill Root.
It's really hard to improve on Root for beginner/int declarer play, if you can digest the concepts and apply them you will be quite advanced by the end.
Other possibilities are "Card Play Technique" by Mollo&Gardner, and "Winning Declarer play" by Dorothy Truscott.
#3
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Posted 2009-March-05, 09:06
Stephen Tu, on Mar 2 2009, 09:59 PM, said:
It looks like an Audrey Grant book updated by an author I've never heard of before (Starzec). The table of contents on Barclay's catalog make it seem like an awfully basic book, maybe OK for the rawest of beginners but probably not worth it IMO.
My recommended progression is:
Bridge for Dummies, Eddie Kantar
How to Play a Bridge Hand, Bill Root.
It's really hard to improve on Root for beginner/int declarer play, if you can digest the concepts and apply them you will be quite advanced by the end.
Other possibilities are "Card Play Technique" by Mollo&Gardner, and "Winning Declarer play" by Dorothy Truscott.
My recommended progression is:
Bridge for Dummies, Eddie Kantar
How to Play a Bridge Hand, Bill Root.
It's really hard to improve on Root for beginner/int declarer play, if you can digest the concepts and apply them you will be quite advanced by the end.
Other possibilities are "Card Play Technique" by Mollo&Gardner, and "Winning Declarer play" by Dorothy Truscott.
Don't forget:
1) Watson: "Play of the hand"
2) Berthe/Lebely "pas a pas" I-IV
♥♥♥ Play Bridge for fun and entertainment and to meet nice people. ♥♥♥
♠♥♠ BAD bidding may be succesful due to excellent play, but not vice versa. ♦♣♦
Teaching in the BIL TUE 8:00am CET.
Lessons available. For INFO look here: Play bridge with Al
♠♥♠ BAD bidding may be succesful due to excellent play, but not vice versa. ♦♣♦
Teaching in the BIL TUE 8:00am CET.
Lessons available. For INFO look here: Play bridge with Al
#4
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Posted 2009-March-05, 11:23
I'd forget Watson. It has good material, but it is not pleasant to read for most.
#5
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Posted 2009-March-05, 12:11
Stephen Tu, on Mar 5 2009, 10:23 AM, said:
I'd forget Watson. It has good material, but it is not pleasant to read for most.
Agree, Card Play Technique is a better and more entertaining book in my opinion. If you are into textbooks, then Watson might be your thing.
#6
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Posted 2009-March-05, 13:04
I think the second half of Watson is excellent. The first half is ok...the information is good, but the prose leaves quite a bit to be desired. That said, I know of no other single volume that covers the range from simple finesses through complicated squeezes in a single volume.
#7
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Posted 2009-March-05, 22:12
TylerE, on Mar 5 2009, 02:04 PM, said:
I think the second half of Watson is excellent. The first half is ok...the information is good, but the prose leaves quite a bit to be desired. That said, I know of no other single volume that covers the range from simple finesses through complicated squeezes in a single volume.
I never made it to the second half. I guess that would explain my bridge prowess... or lack thereof.
#8
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Posted 2009-March-06, 04:08
TylerE, on Mar 5 2009, 09:04 PM, said:
I think the second half of Watson is excellent. The first half is ok...the information is good, but the prose leaves quite a bit to be desired. That said, I know of no other single volume that covers the range from simple finesses through complicated squeezes in a single volume.
I wonder if it is the same book as I have.
For me this was one of the worst bridge books I have ever read.
When it describes the play of a hand it is listing trick by trick, which is very unusefull.
Maybe the first part is interesting for new players, but for me this was really a loose of time.
At the end of the second part there could be some interesting parts for intermediates. But e.g. the part about squeezes is so short that it really is not useful. It is rather some examples of different squeezes.
Maybe this book can be interesting if you are an absolute beginner who never read another book about playin the hand. But still you will not like the presentation.
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