Chthonic, the bridge-playing computer is back! This time he is attempting to teach humans a little about the game of bridge - not in order to turn them into competent players, because he knows that is impossible. But he thinks he may be able to get the reader to the point where his mobile phone won't laugh at him behind his back (it does, you know). Each chapter of this wickedly funny book highlights a different 'human bridge error', and points out why and how it should be avoided. Chthonic Chthonic, the irascible bridge-playing computer, modestly describes himself as the world's best bridge player. Danny Kleinman Danny Kleinman of Los Angeles is a prolific bridge writer, theorist, professional player, and teacher, who is a regular contributor to several bridge magazines. He is a Contributing Editor of The Bridge World, and is one of the moderators of 'The Master Solvers' Club' in that magazine. He also writes about backgammon, another game which he plays at an expert level. Nick Straguzzi Nick Straguzzi of Mullica Hill, NJ, is a software analyst specializing in artificial intelligence and knowledge management. Nick has researched ways in which computer game theory could be applied to bridge, but concluded that it would be far easier to write about a perfect bridge-playing computer than to actually build one.

The answer to your prayers - a simple, effective convention for competing over the opponents' 1NT opening bid! Originally self-published in 1996, the first edition sold out quickly, so that this much sought-after treatise has been unavailable for several years. The book describes how the convention works, and how to use it against various ranges of 1NT opening bids, as well as over strong 1 Club openings. Jerry Helms (Charlotte, NC) is both a top-level professional player, with numerous tournament successes to his credit, and one of America's leading bridge teachers.

In the November 2001 Venice Cup final, Germany trailed France by 47 IMPs starting the last set. In this book, world champion Sabine Auken tells the thrilling inside story of their comeback world title win, every bid and every card. She also uses each of the sixteen deals from that final session as a starting point for discussion, and distills from each of them general principles and advice that will help anyone looking to improve their own game. Among the topics covered here are the rationale for her own system agreements (the pros and cons of mini-notrump openings, multi-purpose two-bids, the merits of forcing club systems, etc.) and carding methods, as well as team chemistry, table presence and even dressing for success!

A comprehensive, 3-week, day-by-day bridge course for the absolute beginner. Assuming no prior knowledge, this book takes the reader through learning bidding and cardplay in an easy series of short steps so that by the end, they can feel comfortable joining a social game or even venturing out to a local bridge club. Truscott's unique 'asset' method of hand evaluation is simple, and as numerous bridge teachers have found, it works!

20 years ago, bridge writer Mike Lawrence published a series of short pamphlets for intermediate players with advice on various aspects of bidding and card play. Long unavailable, this material has now been revised, updated, and republished in three anthology volumes, each comprising about 10 of the original booklets. Mike Lawrence is acknowledged as one of the two or three best writers in the world for intermediate players, and there will be a ready audience for this series in its new format. The second volume in a three-volume series, 'Mike Lawrence Bridge Tips', based on bridge tips for intermediate players first published twenty years ago. All the material has been completely revised and updated.

Since mid-nineteenth century when Charles Goren popularized the point -count system of hand evaluation and bridge bidding, a system that became known widely as "Standard American," there have been significant advances in the art of bidding, advances that have been time-tested and proven effective. Unfortunately "Standard American" did not keep pace.
Early point-count standards undervalue many hands. Furthermore, many traditional bidding rules became obsolete and fell by the wayside as new ideas were created, time-tested and adopted by the most innovative players. Prominent among the new methods are five-card majors, limit raises, preemptive two-level openers, the Stayman convention, and a reconstruction of the entire notrump bidding scheme.
Standard American 21 presents an integrated, modern contract bridge bidding system. The entire system can be adopted quite readily by players of intermediate skills and beyond. Here for the first time bridge players have the tools to achieve real precision bidding from part-score through game and slam.

No trump openings, and the constructive auctions that follow them, are two of the most neglected areas in bridge literature. Following on from his popular articles in the ACBL Bulletin, Kleinman discusses the principles behind no trump bids and re-bids in a variety of situations, emphasising the ideas and concepts rather than attempting to teach a series of rigid rules. A must for any duplicate player.

A collection of hands that take the reader through a year at the author's (fictional) bridge club. The characters make all the common errors, so the author manages to instruct while he entertains. For fans of Stewart's enormously popular syndicated bridge column, in which these characters appear regularly.

Intended for intermediate players, these three books complete a twelve-book series that takes the reader through the most important aspects of card-play technique at bridge. Each book is short and full of practical examples, and end-of-chapter quizzes reinforce the concepts. The series will appeal to beginners who are anxious to improve in stages, and to more experienced players who want to improve their knowledge of a specific aspect of card play.

Short and full of practical examples, each book in the 'Bridge Technique Series' takes the reader through the most important aspects of card-play technique at bridge. Where appropriate, play is examined from the point of view both of declarer and defenders. Full of quizzes and chapter reviews, these award-winning books will also reinforce the bridge concepts you learn. At this price, what bridge player could stand not to have all twelve? Critics' Viewpoint "Good quality material and good value." - BRIDGE PLUS magazine "Inexpensive, attractive and well-organized" - The Toronto Star "A host of valuable tips." - The Toronto Star "The series will not disappoint." - Bridge Plus "Highly readable, and students will not find reading assignments burdensome." - ABTA Quarterly

A compendium of advice for the improving player from one of North America's best-known bridge teachers and writers. Each tip is bite-sized - 3-4 pages in length - so the reader can dip in briefly and still take away an important idea. As well as the usual sections on bidding, play and defense, the author includes much advice on the psychological aspects of the game, including how to be a good partner. Frank Stewart is one of the most distinguished bridge writers and journalists in North America, with over twenty books to his credit. A major contributor to the Official Encyclopedia of Bridge and a regular writer for the ACBL Bulletin, he is perhaps best-known today as the author of the nationally-syndicated 'Daily Bridge Club' daily newspaper column. He lives in Fayette, Alabama.

Using the same format as The Pocket Guide to Bridge, this book provides a handy pocket summary of about two dozen basic concepts in declarer play. In a concise but readable manner, it summarizes most of the material presented in 25 Ways to Take More Tricks as Declarer by the same author team (Master Point Press; 2004; ISBN 978 189415 447 5).

Eddie Kantar is not only one of today's best bridge writers, he's also one of the funniest. His two previous collections, Bridge Humor and The Best of Eddie Kantar, have been out of print for some years, and are still much sought after. For Classic Kantar, Eddie has selected the very best stories from the two previous books, and has added many new ones. As always, he pokes fun at the top experts, and chronicles some of the bids and plays they hoped would never come to light (typically, though, there are more of his disasters in here than anyone else's). His misadventures as a 'world traveler' are legendary. And appearing here for the first time in book form are all the stories from Eddie's notorious and hilarious Home Game.

This remarkable book is based on the close observation of the solutions by the Italian Champions to bidding problems. Acute judgements produced astonishing results, which Wladyslaw Izdebski and a leading bridge coach, Wlodzimierz Krysztofczyk, have analysed to create an exhilarating text. No competent bridge player will want to miss the opportunity of following this exciting work.

BRIDGE WORLD said of the first edition: 'is as good a quiz book as has ever appeared...Instead of examples of well-known ideas, the author presents truly practical situations...the questions emphasise those aspects of bridge play that are truly important at the table. Our quibbles with the analysis are minor, and we recommend the book as outstanding of its kind.'

The card-play exploits of the monks at St Titus have a special place in bridge literature and their fame has now spread round the world. This collection of highly entertaining and absorbing stories from the monastery includes a further hilarious interlude with the missionary monks and the celebrated bridge-playing parrot in the Bozwambi jungle.

Competition brings many benefits - or so all the politicians say. Bridge players certainly subscribe to the theory. These days somewhere between two-thirds and three-quarters of all auctions see both sides entering the fray. Having a basic knowledge of how to get into or stay in the bidding is therefore a key attribute for success at the bridge table. You will often hear rules quoted such as 'do not double them into the game' or 'leave the five level to the enemy'. This book covers all the rules likely to help you and, as usual in this series, you will find plenty of examples both for and against each one.

The Fun Way To Serious Bridge is for anyone who wants to learn and understand the fundamentals of the mind-stimulating and challenging game of bridge -- and enjoy every minute of it! Harry Lampert combines his skills as a bridge player and teacher with his artistic talents to bring you a totally new FUN way to learn the game. The magic of his superb cartoons and simple, informative language will help you to absorb the principles of serious contract bridge -- and remember them. You'll laugh and learn every step of the way from opening bids to strip and end plays. Whether novice or seasoned social player, this unique book will make good bridge a simple "trick." You'll learn all about:

* Opening bids, suit bids, response and no trump bids, and how to force bids
* Competition and the reasons and ways behind it
* Big hand bidding such as Blackwood Convention, grand slam force and Gerber Convention
* Patterns of play including how tricks are won, the finesse, establishing a long suit, when to pull and delay trumps and entries.
* Defensive and advanced play -- plus much more!