[helene_t]

hrothgar, on Oct 6 2006, 06:44 PM, said:

"Building a Bidding System" by Roy Hughes
[...]I think that the book is well written and does a good job with the subject matter that it chooses to address. However, I kept finding myself wishing that the author had written a different book.
[...] The themes that Hughes develops in “Building a Bidding System” are all going to be very familiar to anyone who has spent much time studying this topic. Hughes provides a nice survey, however, I suspect that most people who are interested enough in this topic to purchase the book probably don't need a survey.
[....] In an ideal world, I would have liked to see Hughes dive a bit deeper into the topic... For example, I would have been very interested in seeing Hughes provide a detailed description of a specific set of methods, illustrate the design philosophy that underlies the system, and then try to quantity how well the implementation matches the design goals.

This is very similar to my impression.

I expected a book with that title to go into depth with the issue of how to ensure the playability of a bidding system. I'm still wondering how to make a CABSD (Computer Aided Bidding System Design) tool.

[Flame]

Can anone review Washington Standard by Stever Robinson ?
If possible compare between this book and other 2/1 books.
Thanks

[ArcLight]

The Lebensohl Convention Complete by Ron Anderson


How to use it against interference over NT, Reverses, Preempts

Excellent. Full of great examples. This is a GREAT book!


Having all the examples and quizes really helps.
Don't rely on someones notes, buy this book if you want to use Lebensohl.

The best part of this book is its the ONLY material I've ever seen on handling artificial interference over an NT opener.

Classic Lebensohl is great over natural overcalls, but it needs to be adjusted against artificial interference (DONT, CAPPELLETTI, LANDY, BROZEL, etc.)

[bid_em_up]

ArcLight, on Oct 25 2006, 01:39 PM, said:

The Lebensohl Convention Complete by Ron Anderson


How to use it against interference over NT, Reverses, Preempts

Excellent. Full of great examples. This is a GREAT book!

I thought so too.

And, for the information it contains, the book is reasonably priced. I think I got it for around $7 new a few years ago.

[vang]

Martens books

Krzysztof Martens has recently authored five interesting books (in english):

Extra Length transfer bids - 107 pages
The Martens system - 232 pages
Hand evaluation - Bidding decisions - 146 pages
The World of transfers - 241 pages
Dynamic declarer play - Virtual European Championships part 1 - 230 pages

You may find a review at http://vangonbridge....tens-books.html

[mike777]

Matchpoint Defense, Jim Priebe, 18.95$, 199pp., 2006
Level=Intermediate/Advanced
Grade=B

A solid book on defensive play. I really enjoyed the first half of this book. Discussions on leads, signals and playing the field. Unfortunately the last half of the book is basically a quiz book and not a lesson book. I got very little out of the last half of this book.

[Flame]

mike777, on Oct 30 2006, 01:56 PM, said:

Matchpoint Defense, Jim Priebe, 18.95$, 199pp., 2006
Level=Intermediate/Advanced
Grade=B

A solid book on defensive play. I really enjoyed the first half of this book. Discussions on leads, signals and playing the field. Unfortunately the last half of the book is basically a quiz book and not a lesson book. I got very little out of the last half of this book.

You can read few pages of the book here
mp defence
Its great that somebody finaly wrote abook about this topic which might be the hardest field on the bridge game.
I remember reading it and thinking the analysis of the hands isnt complete, reading it again now it seems fine so i dont know my my previous problem was.
Hope more authors will write about mp defence.

[the hog]

Flame, on Oct 31 2006, 08:49 AM, said:

mike777, on Oct 30 2006, 01:56 PM, said:

Matchpoint Defense, Jim Priebe, 18.95$, 199pp., 2006
Level=Intermediate/Advanced
Grade=B

A solid book on defensive play. I really enjoyed the first half of this book. Discussions on leads, signals and playing the field.  Unfortunately the last half of the book is basically a quiz book and not a lesson book. I got very little out of the last half of this book.

You can read few pages of the book here
mp defence
Its great that somebody finaly wrote abook about this topic which might be the hardest field on the bridge game.
I remember reading it and thinking the analysis of the hands isnt complete, reading it again now it seems fine so i dont know my my previous problem was.
Hope more authors will write about mp defence.

Eh??!! Try Kelsey's "Killing Defence at Bridge". This covers MPs, Imps et al. Perhaps you know the book by the author:
Oswald Sitting, "Sitting on De Fence"

[Flame]

The_Hog, on Oct 30 2006, 11:41 PM, said:

Flame, on Oct 31 2006, 08:49 AM, said:

mike777, on Oct 30 2006, 01:56 PM, said:

Matchpoint Defense, Jim Priebe, 18.95$, 199pp., 2006
Level=Intermediate/Advanced
Grade=B

A solid book on defensive play. I really enjoyed the first half of this book. Discussions on leads, signals and playing the field.  Unfortunately the last half of the book is basically a quiz book and not a lesson book. I got very little out of the last half of this book.

You can read few pages of the book here
mp defence
Its great that somebody finaly wrote abook about this topic which might be the hardest field on the bridge game.
I remember reading it and thinking the analysis of the hands isnt complete, reading it again now it seems fine so i dont know my my previous problem was.
Hope more authors will write about mp defence.

Eh??!! Try Kelsey's "Killing Defence at Bridge". This covers MPs, Imps et al. Perhaps you know the book by the author:
Oswald Sitting, "Sitting on De Fence"

I think mp defence deserve alot more, i also think it doesnt get it because its too hard to write about.
declarering at mp isnt as hard, you can calculate the chances and play the best chance even if this isnt the safty line to make, however at defence you cant see the cards and need to calculate the precentage based on what partner might have, this is almost impossible.

[ArcLight]

>declarering at mp isnt as hard,

I'm not sure thats correct.
First you need to estimate what the par score is.
If its 2 Spades making and you are in 3 hearts vulnerable, you should play for 1 down, not to make your contract.

If you are in 2NT and it looks like the field is in 3NT you must play teh hand anti-percentage.

I think its harder to play MP because you must think what others will do, not just about your own hand.

Are you in a routine hand, go for the over trick.
Are you in a harder to find game/slam, then take the safety play.


Good books on match points

Kelsey - Match Point Bridge
Woolsey - Match Points
Jannersten - Winning Pairs Technique is ok

the Kambites book (Duplicate Pairs for You) had a good 30 pages, but most of the book wasn't applicable

Matchpoint Tricks (Axelsxn) is nothing special.
Klingers Card Play Made Easy #1 has one nice chapter on MP hands
Klingers 100 Winning Duplicate Tips has good overall advice
Tony Sowters Bridge: Improve Your Defence has a chapter on MP defense.

[Trumpace]

ArcLight, on Oct 31 2006, 09:03 AM, said:

>declarering at mp isnt as hard,

I'm not sure thats correct.

If you are in 2NT and it looks like the field is in 3NT you must play teh hand anti-percentage.

I think its harder to play MP because you must think what others will do, not just about your own hand.

Off Topic: I don't agree with your 2NT comment. If the rest of the field is in 3NT, just play to make 2NT and hope they go down. What would anti-percentage even mean here?


Back on Topic: Whether it is Matchpoints/ IMPS/ Rubber, I would recommend reading S.J Simon's "Why You Lose at Bridge" first, especially the chapters about ignoring odds and doubling. The book is mainly about rubber, but I believe reading this would immensely help even the MP/IMP players.

[hrothgar]

Trumpace, on Oct 31 2006, 09:18 PM, said:

ArcLight, on Oct 31 2006, 09:03 AM, said:

>declarering at mp isnt as hard,

I'm not sure thats correct.

If you are in 2NT and it looks like the field is in 3NT you must play teh hand anti-percentage.

I think its harder to play MP because you must think what others will do, not just about your own hand.

Off Topic: I don't agree with your 2NT comment. If the rest of the field is in 3NT, just play to make 2NT and hope they go down. What would anti-percentage even mean here?

Arclight didn't express himself as clearly as he might have, but his basic point is fairly well known.

Assume that you are playing 2NT.
Furthermore, you have reason to expect that the field is going to play 3NT
2NT +1 is going to be a bottom (Avg -- at beast)

If 3N makes, you're headed for a bad score. Therefore, you need to be loking for ways to protect your position. One obvious example is to take a safety play to guaruntees making 8 tricks even if it means sacrificing the chance at making 9 or even 10...

[ArcLight]

>Arclight didn't express himself as clearly as he might have, but his basic point is fairly well known.

I've been know to do that on more than one occasion...

Posting and emails are not as good as phone or in person discussion.
People demand/expect much more precision in posts email than is needed in voice discussions.

I'm rereading all Marty Bergs books- they are certainly fun.
What I like about Better Rebidding, Understanding 1NT Forcing, and Hand Evaluation is he gives lots of examples rather than just a lecture and 3 examples.

He never wrote "Is it Forcing" and I think that would be more useful to Intermediates/Beginners than anything else.
I've only seen that covered in more tahn 1 paragarph in Paul Marstons excellent and clear "The Language of Bidding" and Eddie Kantars OLD "Bridge Bidding Made Easy"

[ArcLight]

Winning Card Play by Hugh Kelsey

Similar in scope to Victor Mollos excellent "Card Play Technique".
It covers all the usual suspects -

Declarer Play - Squeezes, Trump Coup, Eleimination, End Play, Ducking etc.
Defense - defense to above techniques, forcing, hold ups, et.c
Deception
Carding

Very good general coverage of many aspects of card play. Sort of an Advanced version of Watsons Play of the Hand, but shorter and more fun to read.
(Kelsey DOES have a sense of humor!)

Its not a fast read as it has lots of examples. Recommended for Intermediates.


(I read this book based on Helene's recommendation. )

[ArcLight]

The Weak No Trump by Andy Stark

Decent all around coverage of teh 12-14 and 10-12 No trump. I was hoping for a lot more on how the weaker no trump affects your other bids. For example in ACOL a 1 Club bid might not be the 12 HCP 3 card crap it is in SAYC.
Half the book is spent on various (competing) response structures to 1NT, run out sequences, and defenses to weak NT.

I would have prefered that th author not emphasize and elaborate on his favorite response structure in such detail, unless that response structure is commonly used by experts. If Meckwell and Auken- van Arnim use 2 way stayman with the 10-12 NT then I'd be more willing to accept it.

The author admits that he could have written more on constructive bidding with unbalanced hands. :-( I wish he had.

I like his writing style, and sense of humor. I just wish there was more on the all around impact of the weak NT, and less on the conventions.

Good book, worth reading if the subject interests you.


There is another book
How I became a Life Master by playing the weak NT by Eric Luft that I really disliked. It was mainly his home grown system containing his favorite set of conventions, and had little to do with the weak NT.



Win the Big Match by Julian Pottage.
Eh, I didn't like it.
It's advanced, but I just didn't find it that interesting or useful. Some of the hands were interesting and I enjoyed them, but many required playing for specific layouts plus squeezes. Maybe experts would like it more. I found the Kelsey Test Your XXX series far more interesting, and those were non trivial problems. Eric Jannerstens "The Only Chance" was also more interesting.

[mike777]

Bridge Lessons at a Glance. Pamela and Matthew Granovetter. $10.95 104pp
Level=Int.
Grade=B

This is a tiny booklet that Pam and Matt have self published. I found it a short easy read and worth the bucks. Very short one or 2 page lessons for the newer player.

[mike777]

Defend These Hands With Me. Julian Pottage 200pp.$17.95 2006
Level=Intermediate/Advanced
Grade=C-

A collection of short 2-4 page defensive problems. I found that most of the problems were very difficult to follow. I was never sure what cards had been played and what cards where left in my hand and dummy. As a result most of the time I had no idea what was going on.

The few problems I followed were excellent and very tough.

For most intermediate folks or lower I would recommend checking out other defensive books listed in the postings.

[ArcLight]

How to Play (and Misplay) Slam Contracts by Fred Karpin

Good solid Intermediate level book on play of the hand. The contracts are all slams, but the techniques are applicable to other hands. Players from the 30's and 40's alos posessed good technical skill, and card reading judgment. The bidding may be a bit outdated, but the hands were good. A few squeezes, but mostly timing/communications/counting/card reading.

My main gripe with Fred Karpin's books is the hands are almost always presented Double Dummy, and you have to cover up the appropriate hands.

------------------------------------------
I also just reread
Step by Step Card Play in No Trumps
by Robert Berthe & Norbert Lébely

Great intermediate level book on NT play technique. Not just obvious hold ups, but blocking plays, timing, communications, and planning at trick one.
Clear, well done. The best book on NT play I have read (I'm looking forward to Augie Boehms Three Notrump in Depth )


----------------------------------------------
Bridge Lessons at a Glance. Pamela and Matthew Granovetter. $10.95 104pp

Intermediate level tny booklet.
Given the small size (3 inches by 3 inches?) its probably the equivilent of a 20 page book. For $11 I consider that quite pricey!

The material is good (whats there).

[mike777]

More Declarer Play the Bergen Way, Marty Bergen. 2006. 215 pp. $18.95 list price.
Level= Intermediate
Grade=B+

Another excellent book from Marty. I found the hands easy to follow, difficult but not impossible to make. He covers more of the basics with hand examples that are helpful and understandable. Another book from Marty worth your time and money if you are an intermediate level player.

[ArcLight]

Psychological Strategy In Contract Bridge ~ The Techniques Of Deception And Harassment by Fred Karpin 1960


There are 3 parts to the book.

The first part shows various psyche bids through the ages, breaking them up by era. I found some of the psyche bids from the early days not worth consideration, such as opening 1NT with 0 HCP. Some of the "later day" (ie 1950's) lead inhibiting psyches (like Zia uses) are worth studying.

I would have liked a long chaper(s) on when to use each type of psyche. The only useful book on psyching I've read is Zia Mahmoods "Bridge My Way". I got nothing out of Pottages or Mollows books.

There were some chapters on weak 2s (relatively new back then) and weak jump overcalls. All this material has been seen else where, but its still valid.

The 2nd part is on Declarer False Cards.
- disrupting the defenders signaling
- playing a card so as to cause one of the defenders to think the other has a card
(you have KQx and cover LHOs opening lead to RHOs Jack with the K, making LHO think RHO has QJx)
- playing the "wrong" (too high) card to fool the defenders
plus lots of others

The 3rd part is on Defender false cards
- against NT, LHO has all the assets. Lead 2 from A Q T 6 2, making declarer think you only have a 4 card suit, and its safe to finesse into your hand
- ducking plays
- playing a hard thats higher than needed, to cause declarer to think the suit is split badly
plus lots of others


The 2nd and 3rd parts are found in other modern books on deception. They are still valid and well presented. The first part was of some interest (the part on modern day psyches like fake cue bids).

Overall its a pretty good intermediate level book.
Worth reading.

One of the things you don't see is how often psyches work out badly, or frequency of bid. If you have a reputation as a psycher, you may derive some benefit if it causes the opponents to bid unsoundly.