First published in 1988, this book has been out of print for several years. It's a mystery and a bridge textbook all in one, and accomplishes both exceptionally well. Based on the author's own experiences, and set in and around a Manhattan bridge club, the story includes many real-life characters whose names will be familiar to readers. First in a set that includes I Shot my Bridge Partner.

These wonderful agreements and gadgets turn your everyday bidding system into something personal, something that fits the exact style that you and your partner want to play. And now you can choose from some seventy expert-level ideas to add to your bidding arsenal, quickly and painlessly. In this book you will find: 'Basic Conventions' -- the Rest of the Story: find out how top-level players have turbo-charged such standard conventions as Stayman, Jacoby and Texas Transfers, Drury, Weak Jump Shifts, and more. 'Bread and Butter Conventions': some conventions that are standard with most experts but may not be for you, such as Smolen, Slow Arrival, Italian Cuebids, the best defences to Multi and Bergen Raises, Retransfers, Clarifying Cuebids, and others; 'Defensive and Cardplay Conventions': learn more about Trump Suit Preference, Obvious Shift carding, the Slam Spade Double, the Lead-directing Pass, and many more. 'Fine Arts Conventions': not for the faint of heart, some of these ideas will really make you sit up and take notice. Would you enjoy playing Last Train to Clarkesville, Yellow Rose of Texas, Vacant Doubletons, Double Keycard Blackwood, Trent Weak Two-bids, or the XYZ Convention, for example? Read this book and find out!

Bridge Today Digest recently celebrated its first anniversary (and 100th issue) as an Internet-based "bridge-zine." It is renowned for its practical advice, its wonderful bridge stories, and the wry humor and personal touch of its editors. For this collection, they have selected the very best pieces from their first year, and have come up with a compendium that every bridge player can read, enjoy, and learn from. It includes short pieces from world-renowned writers, questions and comments from readers (and the editors' responses to them!), and a wealth of deals, anecdotes and advice from the editors. A great holiday gift.