Wondering what to buy . . .?

Press, 8 December 1987, Page 14

Wondering what to buy . . .?

CONTRACT BRIDGE

J.R. Wignall

As usual at this time of year, I have checked the available bridge literature for books that can be recommended as Christmas presents. Prices quoted may vary a little. The new “Laws of Duplicate Bridge” has arrived, and costs $15.00 in paperback. It is a sturdy publication, and few people will need the hardback edition. A short summary is also available at $4.95, written by Richard Grenside and Richard Brightling and called “A Player’s Guide to the Duplicate Bridge Laws.” It is good value, concentrating on the changes. Both would be suitable for tournament players but It would pay to note that the Rubber Bridge Laws have not changed. At the other end of the scale is the fourth edition of The Official Encyclopedia of Bridge, published in 1984. The soaring Kiwi dollar brings some consolation to buyers of American books.

The price of $65.00 may appear high at first sight, but for this you get 922 pages crammed with information. There are articles on bidding, conventions, odds and percentages, card play, suit combinations, scoring tables, the laws plus a bibliography and biography and many international championship results. It covers every facet of the game, including its history.

Now that we have new Laws, there will be a new edition ef the Encyclopedia soon, and one can be sure it will be more expensive. If you are a real enthusiast, the 1984 edition is magnificent value. For someone who has just learned, or even who has a few years experience, “Card Play Technique," by Mollo and Gardener takes a lot of-beat-ing. In paperback it retails at about $18.95, and would be the best introduction to the play of the cards ever written, in my opinion. Starting at the very beginning it covers declarer play and defence up to quite a But more than this, it is highly ' 4 ''

readable, amusing and instructive at the same time. For a good player, “Falsecards,” by Mike Lawrence in paperback at $18.95, would be very acceptable. The author, a present world champion, is a most practical player who has assembled a collection of excellent deals to illustrate his theories on an area of the game few of us have studied. It would not be suitable for an average player because it is not too easy to follow, but it will appeal strongly to a budding expert. Another American champion, Eddie Kantar, has produced "A New Approach to Play and Defence,” and “A New Approach -to Play and Defence — Volume IL” Both are in paperback, retail at $18.95, and contain 50 deals in the quiz format. First the bidding Is shown together with the dummy and the declarer’s hands, and the reader is asked how he would play to make the contract he has reached. Then over the page, the full deal is presented with the author’s solution. Kantar, an experienced teacher, is a very humorous writer who can impart knowledge painlessly and practically. In the second part of the book, the same deals are presented again and this time the reader is a defender, challenged to defeat the contract. In effect there are 100 deals, nearly all of a good standard, making the book excellent value for an average to good player. It is not surprising that the first volume was voted Book of the Year in 1986, by the American Bridge Teachers Association. Here is a nice simple hand to show the flavour of the book. West is the dealer with only NorthSouth vulnerable:

When the hand first appears, you see only the North-South cards, and are asked to make three no-trumps after the following auction: W. N. E. „ S. No 14 No INT 24 24. No 34 No 3V No 3NT All Pass West’s opening lead is the six of clubs covered by the eight, two and your nine. With eight tricks on top, you have a choice of finessing either the queen of hearts or the queen of spades for the ninth. Over the page, where all hands are on view, Kantar says, “Psychologically, your best bet is to lead the jack of spades at once and watch West’s reaction. Many players cover an honour with an. honour as though it were a religious obligation. If West is one, you are in great shape. If he covers the jack of spades with the king you have nine tricks. If West plays low without a care in the world, you can rise with the ace of spades, return to the king of diamonds and take the heart finesse instead.” He adds, “Make your ’Big Plays’ early, before the defenders can count your tricks and/or settle down.” In the second part of the book you are asked to defend the same contract after the same opening lead and a declarer who leads the jack of spades at trick two. This time and, if you have remembered your lesson, you play low smoothly, giving South a guess. Then Kantar explains why this is the correct play.