Weak two-bids are well ensconced in the bridge world and are now part of any beginning program of lessons. They are, however, in that class of "most abused" conventions. An understanding of all the important tools that are at your fingertips will serve you well in making these decisions at the table. This book will walk you through the solutions to the problems you meet every day in offensive and defensive situations, delving into the more intricate aspects of the weak two-bid.

An Honors Book from Master Point Press. Author Ken Rexford has developed an intriguing new approach to overcalling 1NT openings that may revolutionize this area of bridge. If you are unhappy with Cappelletti, DONT, Brozel, and the like, this book introduces you to a new approach for tackling the opponent's 1NT opening, with an entirely new way to handle one or two-suited hands. Can your current approach tell partner whether you have a strong or a weak overcall at the two-level? Can you tell partner which suit of your major-or-a-minor is longer? Can you identify the specific minor with your major, again at the two-level? All of these are possible using Ken Rexford's methods. Imagine describing more hands than the Woolsey defense handles, all with easy but novel methods that fit (unlike Woolsey) into the ACBL's General Convention Chart! You can also use these methods to improve your response structure to your own openings and in other auctions. Imagine hearing a Four Diamond overcall of partner's Two Clubs opening and being able to describe any one suit at game or any two-suited holding, all without giving up a cooperative double. Impossible? Not with this new technique. Can you show one or both minors and slam interest after a 2NT opening, and tell partner which specific minor you have, at the three-level? Yes, using Rexford's methods.

"Bridge Is a Conversation" is a guide to bridge fundamentals for players who already have an understanding of the basics of the game and the desire to improve their competitiveness at the bridge table. The goal is not to teach how bridge systems are built, nor to describe their content, but rather to clarify how to use them the way the best players in the world do and to offer an alternative to simply "playing by the book." You will find the game much more interesting, challenging, and enjoyable than you ever dreamed it could be. The principles in this book are valid regardless of the bidding system used. In sixty years of playing bridge, author Gerard Cohen has observed many games of bridge, and he brings that knowledge to this guide. His observations of how his partners, opponents, and others play that make them outstanding are key to the thoughts included here. He looked for patterns, drew conclusions and developed general concepts that those who haven't reached the top level yet can learn and apply for a chance at competing with the best. Take your bridge game to the next level with "Bridge Is a Conversation."

This book investigates the underlying logic of the game of Bridge, and how this logic dictates the bidding structure found during the game.

Ken Rexford's first book, Cuebidding at Bridge: A Modern Approach, took on the topic of Italian cuebidding, primarily in the context of a 2/1 Game Force system. However, he noticeably skipped the topic of cuebidding after a strong 2 opening. With this new book, we now know the reason, and his answer to the Big Problem. This book describes an exciting new approach, using TWO strong openings (2 and 2 ) to define PATTERN, in such a way that you can actually describe both opener's and responder's hands effectively, and even cuebid intelligently. In many ways, this approach is even better than Precision! Could you imagine agreeing spades at the two-level after a normal 2 opening? How about having no problems with 4-4-4-1 hands, or hands with both minors? Ken Rexford's method lets you do that and much more, allowing you to use cuebidding, relays and pattern bidding on strong hands as effectively as Precision players, but in the context of what is essentially a normal 2/1 GF or Standard system.

Take All Your Chances at Bridge was published in 2009 and has already been reprinted twice. It won the American Bridge Teachers 2010 Book of the Year Award for best intermediate-level book. In this sequel, Kantar presents another collection of play problems for advancing players. Again, the theme is not just finding a good line of play: the trick is to combine as many possible lines as possible to optimize your chances of making the contract. Full of Kantar's inimitable humor and extra tips, as well as lots of good bridge, this one is another sure winner. Eddie Kantar (Santa Monica, CA) is one of the most popular and prolific bridge writers in the world. A winner of two World Championships, and a member of the Bridge Hall of Fame, his many books include Modern Bridge Defense, Advanced Bridge Defense, the hilarious Kantar on Kontract, and of course, Roman Keycard Blackwood. His work appears regularly in many bridge magazines around the world.

Originally published in 1989, this book quickly became recognized as a 'must-read' for any would-be bridge expert, and has never been out of print. Now, more than 20 years later, the author has revised, updated and expanded it to take into account modern developments in the theory and practice of competitive bidding.

Duplicate Pairs is the most absorbing and demanding form of Bridge: a true mental combat sport. Starting with the mechanics of the scoring system, through the key philosophies for success, to detailed tactical advice, esteemed author Paul Mendelson takes the reader through all the steps needed to improve your scores, boost your enjoyment and become a successful Duplicate Pairs player at club level and beyond. In the second part of the book, sit at Paul's shoulder and play a Duplicate Pairs tournament with him, observing the inferences taken, myriad components considered, and decisions made. Paul Mendelson is the UK's best selling Bridge author and his books are sold worldwide, having been translated into numerous languages. He writes weekly for the Financial Times and contributes to numerous magazines. He has also written books and articles on Poker and casino gaming

To discover which opening lead is best from a given West hand against a particular auction, the authors use computer software to generate 5000 deals that match the North-South bidding. (The West hand remains the same and the other three hands are chosen randomly).

The software then plays these deals automatically, seeing which of the 13 possible opening leads works best at both IMPs (rubber bridge/Chicago) and match-point pairs.

By analysing the results, the authors pass on to the reader the secrets of finding the best lead against notrump contracts on a wide range of different auctions.

This is not a book for beginners, and will not bore you with rehashing things you already know. Some of the topics are somewhat controversial, and as always Marshall Miles urges his own, often original, point of view. Some of the topics discussed include: Game invitations after a raise of opener's major Fast arrival and picture bids When the opponents double a transfer or Stayman Mini splinters Rubens advances of overcalls Playing in the opponents' suit The Kaplan Interchange, and many more. As he often does, Miles ends the book with an "It's Your Call" bidding quiz, with detailed discussion of options and the rationale for his own choices. Marshall Miles (California), though now in his eighties, is still regarded as one of the world's leading bidding theorists. His long and successful playing career includes a World Senior Teams Championship in 2004, and his book How To Win at Duplicate Bridge is considered among the all-time classics on the game.

If your answer is 'YES' to the following three questions, this is the PERFECT book for you: 1. Have you read A Bridge to Simple Squeezes? 2. Did you see merit in the structured approach introduced in that book for executing simple squeezes? 3. Do you feel that in spite of your great effort you are still not finding squeezes? In this book, Still Not Finding Squeezes?, the structured approach is applied to the 39 squeeze examples that David Bird and Tim Bourke created for their book, Test Your Bridge Technique: The Simple Squeeze. These examples will give you the experience you need to include squeezes in your arsenal.

Andrew Robson, world champion player, teacher and columnist, offers an insider's guide to the game of bridge for more experienced players. Broader in scope than The Times Bridge: Commons Mistakes and How to Avoid Them, Andrew has selected his best columns from The Times, which cover a wide range of themes. By explaining sample deals, aspects of the game are clarified and the reader's understanding of the game improves. Each deal begins with an engaging discourse before moving on to explain the technique. The book assumes a level of experience beyond that of beginner and targets those players as well as social players and club and tournament players. Chapters cover: Partnership: clarification, anticipation, communication. Andrew imparts the secrets of being a successful - and popular - partner. Double Trouble: when to double and when to keep quiet - that is the question. Opening Lead: how can you find the best lead, when you can't even see dummy? Some dramatic deals illustrate how to make the choice. Trick One: how to avoid making a fatal error on the all-important first trick. Finessing Fun: fascinating card-play tussles made simple. Guess Who? Which opponent has the crucial missing card - and why? Spot Cards: making use of all your assets is one secret of the winning player - ignore the lowly eights and sevens at your peril. Never say Never: when to break normal guidelines - and why. Mind of an Expert: Andrew gives away the secret workings of the world's best players. Experts Err: even the best make mistakes. Let's all learn from them. Freaks: we all love wild deals, and here are some of the wildest. Bridge around Britain: some say it's fading. Nonsense - as these deals will testify. Bridge around the world: New York, New Guinea or New South Wales - Andrew considers global bridge issues, and looks at some wonderful deals. Stars of the future: School Bridge, Youth Camp Bridge, World Junior Championships...we feature some of the best young players, and look ahead to a bright future for the game.

Many bridge books have been written over the years. The one judged to be the best of all time is 'Why You Lose at Bridge' by S.J. Simon.

Even Goren, himself, in his forward to the book says that, not only weaker players can benefit from ift but so can the more experienced.

Although bridge players don't always lose, they seldom win as often as they would like or even as often as they should. "Why You Seldom Win at Bridge' aims to put you in the winner's circle more often. Observe a good player in action for any length of time and you might not see many spectacular plays, but you'll also see very few mistakes. The better players make far fewer than we mortals. Consider tennis for a moment. The winner will almost always be the player who makes the fewest unforced errors. The same applies to bridge. Make fewer mistakes and win more often. It's the players who make the same blunders, time and time again who seldom win, and then bemoan their bad luck or blame the bridge gods. Covering those little things in the bidding, declarer play and defence that too may players mess up, is the thrust of this book.

The game of bridge has changed a great deal in recent years. This book will help you with those little things that you aren't doing well or aren't doing at all.

It's a win/win situation.

Former Canadian champion Paul Thurston writes a daily bridge column in the National Post, one of only two newspapers that is circulated throughout the whole of Canada. This anthology is a collection of some of his best and most interesting bridge articles - tips, oddities, and just plain interesting deals and stories. The perfect book for those long summer evenings at the holiday cottage!

Robert Tischman is just looking for a game of bridge, but when a mysterious woman persuades him to partner her in a two-session event at the Engima Club, he gets much more than that. This is a book that can be enjoyed on several levels: 1) as a fun read with lots of great bridge deals. 2) as a glimpse of what the game might be like if technology were applied to it with more imagination. 3) as an exposition of the author's ideas on encrypted bidding and encrypted signals - bids and plays where, in full compliance with the Laws of Bridge, partners can exchange information that cannot be deciphered by their opponents. Consumer warning: these methods, though fascinating and ingenious, are illegal in many bridge jurisdictions.

THIS 146 PAGE ARTICLE WAS EXTRACTED FROM THE BOOK: Auction Tactics, by Bryant McCampbell. To purchase the entire book, please order ISBN 1417905360.

Want to learn to play bridge? Let Mary Ann Dufresne and Marion Ellingsen get you started. You won't find a clearer, simpler presentation of the basic guidelines. Plus, the authors tell you all about their winning bridge strategy: bid a major whenever you can! Unlike many beginner books, We Love the Majors doesn't oversimplify the game for ease of consumption. This is an honest presentation of the modern game-complexities and all-but expressed in terms everyone can understand and apply. Want to teach beginning bridge? You couldn't ask for a better student text. Students and teachers will find hundreds of examples, homework to test student knowledge and practice deals to play. The book includes an introduction to Stayman, transfers, and modern guidelines for competitive bidding. When looking for the right bid, We Love the Majors!

In this book, Ken Rexford introduces the strong club relay system with canap bidding that he played successfully for years. His approach is novel, but it is also one that is easy to learn and play. Most importantly, the entire system fits within the ACBL General Convention Chart. As with his first book, Cuebidding At Bridge, Ken Rexford spends much time explaining the theory and thinking behind canap sequences, so that the reader will understand the approach rather than simply memorizing a list of conventions. The author also includes a basic scheme for converting your system from Precision to Canap, or even from Standard all the way to Canap, all in easy steps. For those who are intrigued but intimidated by Canap, this extra material should help to ease the transition.

You thought bridge was going to be eternally glorious, didn't you? Suddenly, out of the blue, you're going crazy! Confusion reigns supreme. Every partner is an expert with a barrage of new conventions. You are beset on every side with questions you fear to ask. Secrets Your Bridge Friends Never Tell You explores the bumpy, and exciting, journey a bridge player takes on the road from beginner, to intermediate, to the unlimited glory that awaits somewhere down the line. Undoubtedly, you will recognize part of your own journey. You will discover you were never alone as you suffered the constant ups and downs that proliferate in pursuit of this great game. With a humorous slant that delights, Secrets offers insights into such questions as: How do you find a partner? How do you keep a partner? Should you play with your spouse? Should you hire a pro? What happens when you get bridge burn-out? Find the answers here. Critics' Viewpoint Cathy combines humor and insight as she shines light on a part of our bridge world that is seldom talked about. Secrets is informative and fun. -- Marty Bergen, ten-time National Champion, author of Points Schmoints!

Rules are made to be broken, and the world of bridge is no exception. This is the first of a planned four-book series on cardplay. It deals with situations where the player who is on lead - defender or declarer, at the start of the deal or in the middle - needs to do something that involves ostensibly 'breaking the rules'. Not, obviously, the rules of bridge itself, but the well-tried adages that every player needs to be taught - the rules of thumbA" that work in a lot of cases. Knowing when to break those rules is one of the marks of an expert player.

You began by learning to count points, but that only got you so far. Then, someone introduced you to a new idea, Losing Trick Count. Better in theory, sure. But how do you use it? A response shows at least 6 high-card points, but how many losers? How many of these mysterious 'cover cards'? What's the range? Plus, something just seems wrong with the whole thing! How can A 3 2 be just as good as Q 3 2? That cannot be right! Counting Goren high-card points is much easier, and is a very reasonable gauge for bidding square hands. When things start to get distributional, however, you know that you need a better way to evaluate your hand. The concept of winners, losers, and cover cards really seems to be the right path, allowing you to escape from counting points into the world of counting TRICKS! In Winners, Losers and Cover Cards, Ken Eichenbaum reveals not only the secrets an expert would use to better evaluate the real power (or weakness) of your hand, but also how to use this knowledge to your advantage in a myriad number of ways. The author explains a fresh take on popular conventions and treatments, within the context of real auctions facing you at the table, and introduces novel methods, allowing you to maximize the benefit of your new understanding.

Patrick Jourdain's Problem Corner has been a popular regular feature of Bridge Magazine in the UK for many years.

This collection of challenging declarer-play problems has been selected from the best of the material that has appeared in the magazine, and will be welcomed by advanced players.

This book was first published in 1959 and quickly became one of the classic textbooks for the playing of bridge. The original version has been out of print for some time and the book is now being republished in its first revision in 50 years. In its new modernised form, bridge players will find the ideas much more accessible, while handy end-of-chapter quizzes reinforce the concepts.