Series:

Master Bridge

21 total works

Cover of Clues from the Bidding

Clues from the Bidding

by Julian Pottage

Published 1 March 1990
Defenders in bridge invariably base their strategy on declarer's bidding. Yet declarers often fail to return the compliment. They play without a thought of what the defenders have or have not done. Just one bid from an opponent may tip off declarer to the winning play - perhaps warning of a bad break or that a finesse is doomed. When the defenders have made several bids the declarer may be able to make spectacular double-dummy plays. The problems in this book contain situations where an astute declarer can listen to the bidding, or lack of it, and derive information critical to the success of his contract. This book was originally published in 1985, and in this new edition it is substantially revised and expanded. Julian Pottage is a British bridge expert who is well-known for his problem books. His previous titles include "Play or Defend?" and "Bridge Problems for a New Millennium".

Cover of The Mistakes You Make At Bridge
If you want to win more often at bridge you will need to deepen your understanding of the game and to learn where not to follow conventions slavishly in bidding, defence and dummy play. Both Terence Reese and Roger Trezel were brilliant players and Reese possessed a legendary skill in imparting a great knowledge of bridge with supreme lucidity. As every keen bridge player knows, Ron Klinger is no slouch in playing and writing about bridge and is renowned as one of the world's leading bridge teachers. His achievement in incorporating the changes over the past two or more decades, particularly in bidding, into this treasury of bridge wisdom is on a par with the status of this great book.

Cover of The New Complete Book of Bridge

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.

Cover of The Golden Rules of Constructive Bidding

Here you can learn how to avoid bidding contracts that prove to be impossible to make.
Bidding depends to some extent on the agreed system, but underpinning those methods are standards that are common around the globe: the Golden Rules.

The authors combine experience from both sides of the Atlantic and whether you play Acol, Standard American or a Strong Club System, this book offers plenty for you. THE GOLDEN RULES OF CONSTRUCTIVE BIDDING follows the pattern of previous books in this series giving examples of when to use the rule and when not to do so.

Cover of Miracles of Card Play

Miracles of Card Play

by Terence Reese and David Bird

Published 1 June 1982
Details the fictitious exploits of the bridge-playing monks of St Titus, who are involved in the Gold Cup, the Hubert Phillips Bowl, the National inter-monastery championship and a mission to Africa to convert the Bozwambi tribe to the Acol system.

Cover of Bridge

Bridge

by Terence Reese

Published 26 February 1970
The last two decades have brought a great advance in the standard of card-play, both at club and tournament level. Although many players feel confident in their ability to deal with the routine problems they may encounter at the bridge table, there are still certain areas that can be classified as "blind spots" - areas in which only the expert can be expected to make the right move at the right time. In addressing these particular areas, the authors of "Miracles of Card Play" and "Unholy Tricks" pass on their experience of professional competitive play. The text includes useful information and tips on strategy which aims to show the average player how to play declarer and defensive hands the expert way.

Cover of The Extra Edge in Play

The Extra Edge in Play

by Terence Reese and Julian Pottage

Published 17 February 1994
Terence Reese and Julian Pottage follow their previous books by offering a further weapon for the bridge-player's armoury. Through a series of problems, they show readers how to blunt opponents' attacks while increasing their own chances of success.

Cover of Positive Defence

Positive Defence

by Terence Reese and Julian Pottage

Published 1 March 1985

Cover of Do You Really Want to Win at Bridge?

Cover of Positive Declarer's Play

Cover of Guide to Better Card Play

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

Cover of The Abbot and the Sensational Squeeze
This is the sixth title in a series about the bridge-playing monks of St Titus.

Cover of Heavenly Contracts

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.

Cover of Famous Bridge Disasters

Famous Bridge Disasters

by David Bird

Published 23 September 1999

In this hugely entertaining book David Bird describes the most spectacular and amusing disasters suffered by the world's top players. There are two reasons for studying such disasters - you can learn from them and (yes!) you can enjoy them.

In common with the previous books in this mini-series, you will be directly involved in the action at various stages, invited to make your own choice of bid, lead or play. This is excitement in itself, for the hands are all taken from top-class matches.

Cover of Five Card Majors

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.

Cover of The Golden Rules of Declarer Play
Who needs rules on how to play as a declarer? The truth is that the instincts people have come to depend upon are often honed from a few basic guidelines. This book provides all those guidelines as well as the reasoning behind them and also explains when you should not follow the rules. By assuming only a minimum of knowledge, the authors have brought the subject within the reach of many players and introduce the beginner gradually by placing the slightly trickier topics towards the end of the book.

Cover of The Golden Rules for Rubber Bridge Players

Rubber bridge is the world's most widely played social game with a huge following of people of all ages and interests. This book aims to show how bidding and play in rubber bridge differs from duplicate, in a series of clearly expressed rules.

Whether you want to win more often, to find playing even more enjoyable or simply to impress your friends, you can be sure that The Golden Rules for Rubber Bridge Players has something to offer you.

Cover of Masterpieces Of Declarer Play

Masterpieces Of Declarer Play

by Julian Pottage

Published 13 September 2001
Every page of Masterpieces of Declarer Play offers a piece of wisdom on how to play as a declarer. Together with the companion book on defence, this book captures the essence of the author's extensive knowledge about and instinct for the game. It additionally features a refreshing and exciting collection of hands which will be appreciated by any bridge player. The advice is certain to improve your game while the classic hands will keep you turning the pages.

Cover of The Golden Rules of Opening Leads
The Golden Rules of Opening Leads is an excellent book covering a vital but often neglected part of bridge. Some of the oldest golden rules about the game, such as 'fourth highest of your longest and strongest' and 'top of a sequence' govern opening leads. Here you can find all of the rules, with examples relevant to bridge today. If you study this book carefully, you will find that the way to pick killing leads derives from what you hear in the auction and in relating that to what you see in your hand. All bridge players will benefit greatly from reading this book, whether they play rubber bridge or duplicate.

Cover of Masterpieces of Defence

Masterpieces of Defence

by Julian Pottage

Published 12 September 2002

Defence: the mere sound of the word can cause bridge players to step back a pace. Yet the fact remains that you will defend roughly twice as many hands as you declare. A truly solid grasp of what it takes to break a contract is thus a key element of winning on a regular basis.

Happily Julian Pottage unravel some of the mysteries surrounding defensive play. He shows how players at all levels can exploit their talents by following a few simple pieces of advice.