Master Deceptive Play

by Terence Reese

Published 1 September 1989


Guide to Better Card Play

by Ron Klinger

Published September 1990
The aim of this book is to do for the play of cards what Ron Klinger's "Guide to Better Acol Bridge" did for bidding - to turn an average or indifferent card player into a respected or even feared opponent. It covers declarer play and defensive technique for players who are beyond the basics, with two sections on declarer play and two on defence. The aspects included are opening leads, signalling, discarding and other defensive manoeuvres, as well as declarer's card combinations, inferences, card-reading, deceptive strategies and many others. The guide not only provides rules and guidelines, but illustrates the logic of when to depart from the rules. It emphasizes the need to distinguish between bad play and bad luck, and that a recognition that the occasional failure is due to the lie of the cards and not to mismanagement can increase a player's confidence and faith in his own ability. 160 complete deals which can be set up and replayed with reference to the text are provided for practice, together with over 500 exercises, quizzes, play hands and revision exercises

This is the sixth title in a series about the bridge-playing monks of St Titus.

Heavenly Contracts

by David Bird

Published 16 August 2007
In HEAVENLY CONTRACTS we meet again the pompous and self-important Abbot who is hosting the annual St Francis of Assisi Swiss teams for monastic establishments. Hilarious encounters ensue against a team of monks from Southern Germany and some equally incomprehensible friars from Scotland. The show-down comes in a final match against their old rivals, the nuns of St Hilda's. Regular followers of David Bird's work will know what to expect - a first-rate mixture of excellent bridge, entertaining characters and sparkling dialogue.

Famous Play Decisions

by David Bird and Terence Reese

Published 3 July 1997
In this volume in the "Master Bridge Series", the authors present the bidding and show the first trick or two, and then it's up to the reader to find the best line of play.

Five Card Majors

by Ron Klinger

Published 23 April 1992
This "Fast Fact Finder" is designed for reference and for quick checks at the bridge table. Five-Card Majors is a particularly accurate system of bidding which leads to a greater understanding between partners - this is why it is used by so many top players at the highest competitive levels.

Beaten by the Masters

by David Bird

Published 12 June 2001
David Bird, known world-wide for his tales of the bridge-crazy monks of St Titus, moves to a hilarious new setting. Bridge is a compulsory subject at Cholmeley school and a host of vibrant characters participate in the action. Madame Baguette, the Senior French mistress, chases any master whose hair is still where it should be. They, meanwhile, turn a roving eye towards Yvonne Guitton, the nubile Junior French mistress. And woe betide any unhappy boy (or member of staff) who finds himself partnering the irascible headmaster. As with all David Bird's books, it is not just a matter of the readers being convulsed with laughter. The bridge is as brilliant as ever, and by the time the final episode is reached, much sound bridge instruction has been painlessly absorbed. Which is more than can be said for those poor unfortunates caught playing a torch-lit rubber after lights-out.

For more than three decades, David Bird's tales of the bridge-crazy monks of St Titus have appeared in magazines around the world. In this eleventh collection in book form, the pompous and self-important Abbot travels to the Upper Bhumpopo mission in Africa. He plays against the Witchdoctor, the Parrot, Mrs Okuku and Miss Nabooba, Mhozi and Mjubu - characters that are familiar from earlier books in the series.

Regular followers of David Bird's work will know what to expect - a first-rate mixture of excellent bridge, entertaining characters and sparkling dialogue.


All Hands On Deck!

by David Bird

Published 4 May 2000

Bridge cruises are all the rage and David Bird, the world number one humorous bridge writer, provides here a feast of hilariously funny stories in exotic settings and, of course, some excellent bridge.

David Bird, creator of the famous Abbot series, is acknowledged as the world's best when it comes to humorous bridge fiction. Here he strikes out in an intriguing new direction, with humorous tales of a mixed group of players on a world bridge cruise. Nor is the action confined to the ship's card-room. The players disembark at various ports of call, encountering bridge adventures in Morocco, Italy, Israel, the Yemen and India. Will the less-than-expert bridge host, Rupert Knight, get his hands on the lovely Debbie or Sandra? Read on to find out!


If you are a middling player and are keen to advance, this book will show you the way forward. David Bird has taken ten key areas in bidding and play and has applied his considerable skills as a player and critic to prove how results can be gained. The topics covered range from bidding the opponents' suit and battling for the part-score to support doubles and redoubles, and splinter bids and fit jumps. The essential points to remember are summarised at the end of each chapter and there are problems to solve which will show how much you have taken on board.

Why wait any longer? Your opportunity to become a better player is here!


Celestial Cardplay

by David Bird

Published 20 August 2009

Readers of David Bird's humorous bridge stories will give a delighted welcome to this new addition to the celebrated series. As ever, the irascible Abbot makes his acerbic presence felt and the long-suffering fraternity diverts itself with much entertaining and excitingly interesting bridge.

For more than 30 years, David Bird's tales of the bridge-crazy monks of St Titus have appeared in magazines around the world. In this tenth collection in book form, the pompous and self-important Abbot hosts a tricky visit from Monsignor Vecchio, a representative of the Vatican authorities. Everything must be done to ensure that the visitor, a very moderate bridge player, finishes well in the monastery duplicate. In another story, the Abbot visits the Convent of St Hilda's and is not overjoyed to be put in partnership with the 80-year-old Mother of Discipline.

Regular followers of David Bird's work will know what to expect - a first-rate mixture of excellent bridge, entertaining characters and sparkling dialogue.