Master Bridge
32 total works
This is the third book in the series featuring the bridge-playing monks of St. Titus, whose exploits delight readers the world over. The style and humor of the narrative enhance the bridge deals, which are of considerable technical interest. Bridge enthusiasts who have not yet encountered the Abbot and his monastic team should make their acquaintance without delay.
The Mistakes You Make At Bridge
by Terence Reese, Roger Trezel, and Ron Klinger
How good are your opening leads? And how effective are your tactics in defence?
On each deal David Bird sets the scene and you must then choose which card to play. Turn the page and you can compare your efforts with those of the great champion who originally held the cards.
By the time you have reached the end of this book you will be infinitely more confident of your defensive play.
'The monks are back. That's all you need to know if you have already been exposed to the wonderful series by Terence Reese and David Bird, featuring high-level bridge deals and high-level laughter, about the fanatical bridge-playing denizens of St Titus. Divine Intervention follows one of the earlier books by including an African interlude, but the high-spot in this book comes when a director tries to give a ruling in an unprecedented situation involving the silent Brother Anthony.' The Bridge World
'Ensure that you start reading this book at a weekend, in the morning, because - like me - you may not be able to put it down until you have finished. The deals are interesting, the instruction is painless, the stories are amusing, and the characters are fascinating stereotypes, familiar personalities to every club player.' Bridge Plus
This book gives a full account of modern Acol and of the whole range of defensive and competitive bidding. It is suitable for players up to a high standard but will readily be understood by less experienced players as each topic starts with the fundamentals.
The play of the cards is covered in all important aspects, with an emphasis on mental approach and on principles of wide application. Deals are presented in a way that allows the reader to develop his thoughts and arrive at solutions. There are many hints of practical value that will stay in the mind.
Bridge is played around the world - and often regarded as the best of all card games.
'Many games provide fun, but Bridge grips you. It exercises your mind. Your mind can rust, you know, but Bridge prevents the rust from forming' Omar Sharif
In this book David Bird builds on TEN WAYS TO IMPROVE YOUR BRIDGE and presents ten further ways to increase success at the bridge table. In the area of bidding, the Jacoby 2NT convention is described - the most popular way nowadays of showing a strong major-suit raise and investigating slam possibilities. When bidding slams, it is critical to identify the presence or otherwise of the six key cards (the four aces and the king-queen of trumps) Roman Key-card Blackwood allows you to do this.
Two important variations (Kickback Blackwood and Exclusion Blackwood) are explained. The Lebensohl convention is covered also, both when partner's INT has been overcalled and when you are responding to a double of a weak-two bid. On defence, the important topic of disrupting declarer's communications is explained. The book will also show how you can become an 'awkward defender', the sort of player that no declarer likes to face.
Finally, five important areas of declarer play are addressed: holding up in a suit contract, using the entries provided by the trump suit, how to block the defenders' suit at no-trumps, the various ways to avoid an adverse ruff or overruff and how to overcome a 4-1 trump break.
If you ever sit by the elbow of a famous player, you will be surprised by many of the plays. What is going on in the great player's mind? In this exciting new book by Britain's top bridge writer, David Bird, and the world-renowned professional player, Martin Hoffman, you will find out!
Twelve important areas of cardplay have been chosen, involving both declarer play and defence. For those not in the know, the various plays appear to be inspired. They are in fact the result of cold hard logic. Learn the correct thought processes yourself and - whatever you aspirations may be - your cardplay will improve significantly.
David Bird is acknowledged as the world's best when it comes to humorous bridge fiction. As the bridge cruise traverses the Far East, the bridge organiser, Richard Knight, visits Pat Pong - the notorious red-light district of Bangkok - and is enticed by three attractive Thai girls into a bridge game. Other hilarious adventures take place in a drug den in Hong Kong, in backpacker land in Bali, in a Shinto monastery in Kyoto, and in the Double Bay Club in Sydney.
A mixture of top-class bridge, exhilarating narrative and a host of true-to-life characters.
