DESCRIPTIONS OF BRIDGE BOOKS (Authors R - Z)
A Computer's Twist (Rajkumar + Rosenfeld, 2007, 172pp)
28 problem deals each with a hint, and expert post mortem. The computer's twist comes in
with Bridge Baron's play of the hand. In some cases BB makes the best play and in other cases
not. The authors, who are involved with the makers of BB, explain why the computer game chose
its plays, thereby giving a never before seen insight into BB's "thinking" processes.
The Play of the Cards
An advanced text on card play. Part one is on declarer play, part two is
on defence, and part three covers end plays and deceptive plays. For
intermediates.
The Expert Game
A classic explanation of expert strategy and imagination. For the
improving intermediate, this book covers The Principle of Restricted Choice,
timing and control, liaison and transport, and many other advanced topics
in declarer play. It is indexed to George Coffin's deal types in the out of
print book Bridge Play from A - Z. Written forty years ago, it has been
updated by Barry Rigal to ensure its continued relevance to yet another
generation of aspiring bridge players. (Has also been published as "Master
Play in Bridge")
Divine Intervention (Reese & Bird)
The fifth title in the celebrated series about the bridge-playing monks
of St. Titus. There's always a dash of humour, the characterisations are
consistent, and you'll meet people like them at your club. The hands and
analysis are always well thought out, and you will learn while enjoying a
good read.
Miracles of Card Play (Reese & Bird)
More ingeniously constructed hands, sharp wit and humour with the monks of St. Titus.
These books are a thoroughly enjoyable way to while away some free time, and you don't
have to get too heavily involved in bridge theory if you don't want to.
The Extra Edge in Play (Reese + Pottage)
Fifty declarer play problems of increasing difficulty, dealing with topics
such as maximising chances, making opponents lead a suit for you, counting,
avoidance plays, timing and deception.
Cuebidding at Bridge: A Modern Approach (Rexford, 2006, 200pp)
A very detailed treatment of this topic with many modern treatments. Includes Italian style cuebidding, cuebidding with and without jumps, cuebidding after unusual raises, coping with interference.
Deceptive Declarer Play (Barry Rigal)
Focuses on techniques that declarer can use to bamboozle the defenders. It is one
of the expert's bag of tricks. There are some situations when it is clear to false card,
and some situations where you can reverse the meaning of the defenders' signals.
Washington Standard (Steve Robinson)
This is a modern exposition of a Two Over One Game Forcing system, by a world champion player.
All the necessary conventions are covered, as are many situational bidding sequences.
There is a section on carding methods. Excellent book for the tournament player.
How to Defend a Bridge Hand (Bill Root, large size)
A complete book on defense, which is very clear and easy to follow. If
you already have a very basic book on defense, this could be your next
logical step. US Bridge Teachers Association award winner. For improvers
and up.
Things Your Bridge Teacher Won't Tell You (Dan Romm, 157pp, 2006)
The factors that will make you a winning player are judgement, adaptability, planning, psychology and technique.
How to Play a Bridge Hand (Root, 1990, 309pp, large size)
By the analysis of around 300 bridge hands, Bill Root explains many aspects of declarer
play for mid level players. Topics include suit combinations, communications, timing,
cross-ruffs and dummy reversals, counting and discovery, endplays, and matchpoint tactics.
Excellent.
Bridge, Zia and Me
One of the world's top bridge players chronicles his career to world championship level.
Rosenberg and the flamboyant Zia Mahmood are one of the world's best partnerships. There are
fascinating and funny anecdotes, fifteen all-time favourite hands, and many tips and ideas to
help you improve your own game. He also discusses many thorny ethical issues that plague
today's tournament bridge scene. The hands contain high level issues and analysis and the book is
best suited to the more advanced player.
Journalist Leads (Jeff Rubens)
Detailed coverage of this system of leads, including opening and later
leads. Intermediate and up.
Focus on Defence
Danny Roth has once again written a book for the thinking player. All
beginners need simple rules to enable them to function at the table in
reasonable time. "Third Hand high", "Second Hand Low", are learned by
rote and serve the learner well. Sooner or later, to break out of the
beginner ranks, one must start to think of each hand and situation as
different. This book does exactly that, and explains clearly through the
use of problem hands when the old rules should be tossed out.
Focus on Declarer Play
Aimed at the intermediate player, the book is designed to show you some of the most
common causes of errors on play. These are everyday situations, and your thinking
processes are bound to improve, as will your scores.
Focus on Bidding
The author explains where many average players throw away points during the auction.
Rather than discussing specific systems, this book concentrates on areas of
judgement and decision - areas that are vital whatever system you play.
Challenge Your Declarer Play (Danny Roth)
Danny Roth is a prolific author, and his latest effort is a book of play problems which will
challenge your skills. Any intermediate player can still learn plenty by solving problems and
working through the solutions.
Step by Step: Discarding (Danny Roth)
Save hundreds of matchpoints over the years by improved discarding. Good defence is
difficult and is therefore a great way to pick up extra matchpoints from lesser pairs.
The author discusses whether or not to ruff, maintaining parity, concealment, recognising
the unnecessary, discarding to unblock, and more. Guiding principles are highlighted and
each chapter has a quiz with well analysed answers. Good improver to intermediate.
Pathways to Better Bridge Defense (Danny Roth, 2003)
As usual, Roth provides practical advice and forces the reader to think about real
situations. The seven roll - calls should be learned by every improving player.
An excellent book for the more advanced improver to intermediate.
The Secrets of Winning Bridge (Jeff Rubens)
This book will show you how limited your knowledge of bridge may really be.
It gives more expert advice on bridge judgement than you ever thought
possible. Highly recommended for anyone who wants to improve.
The Bridge World's Test Your Play (Jeff Rubens, 2002)
100 tough declarer play problems from the magazine. For intermediate and higher.
25 Bridge Conventions You Should Know (Seagram and Bird)
Written for the beginning and improving player, the book clearly explains
the most commonly used and popular conventions. The presentation is fairly relaxed,
so don't be afraid this will be too heavy going. Within a year or two of starting
to play duplicate bridge, you'll probably want to play every one of these conventions.
25 More Bridge Conventions You Should Know (Seagram and Bird, 210pp, 2003)
Follows up on the earlier popular book in a similar style, but the conventions in this one are less well known and are more likely to suit intermediate to advanced players.
25 Ways to Compete in the Bidding
Another excellent book for the beginning and improving player. The style is very easy
to read and understand, and the material is very important in the modern duplicate game.
Competing for the part scores wins a lot of matchpoints. Overcalls, doubles, bidding over
preempts and balancing are some of the topics covered.
25 Ways to be a Better Defender(Seagram & Bird, 216pp, 2006)
This is mainly aimed at the beginning to improving player but there are some intermediate techniques. Covers leads, signals and discards, Rule of Eleven, second and third hand play, etc.
25 Ways to Take More Tricks as Declarer(Seagram & Bird, 2003)
For the beginning and improving player, it includes quizzes, chapter summaries,
and a glossary of terms. The presentation makes learning easy. All basic declarer
concepts are covered.
Omar Sharif Talks Bridge (Omar Sharif and David Bird, 160pp, 2004)
In his interesting style, Omar Sharif tells stories spanning his international bridge career from 1964 to his retirement in 2000. The deals and analysis are instructive and include Sharif's triumphs and disasters.
Play More Bridge (Omar Sharif)
322 pages on various topics. Some interesting anecdotes from the author's
(bridge) career. Great picture on the cover for the ladies. Something in
this for everyone.
Why You Lose at Bridge (Skid Simon)
Reprint of the world's No 1 all-time best seller. A wealth of common sense, philosophy,
and how to get the best result possible, rather than the best possible result. Meet the
unforgettable characters, including The Unlucky Expert, and Futile Willie. For improvers up,
or just read for pleasure.
Cut for Partners (Skid Simon)
More tales of the Unlucky Expert and Simon's other immortal characters. This book is based
on rubber bridge, but even duplicate players will find it enjoyable and instructive, as bridge in
all its forms is still a psychological game.
The Bridge Bum (Alan Sontag, reprint 2003)
A reprint of the 1977 classic. It is a fantastic read, and has been updated with
material from Sontag's more recent career.
Opening Leads in Bridge (Tony Sowter, 1998)
An English expert discusses the thought processes involved in selecting the opening lead.
Leading style is covered, that is, the correct lead from certain types of holding. Differences
between leading vs notrump and vs suit contracts are covered. Special topics of lead directing
doubles and leading against matchpoint contracts are included. Improver to intermediate.
The Weak Notrump (Andy Stark, 196pp, 2006)
Discusses the pros and cons of playing 12 - 14 or even weaker notrump openings. The book also focuses on how to defend against these openings.
Improve Your Bridge - Fast
Steinberg is a journalist / teacher and Sontag is regarded as one of the
best bridge players in the world. The book contains 75 entertaining and
challenging play and defense problems reflecting real life situations that
arise at the table.
Complete Guide to Defensive Play (Frank Stewart, 1988)
Twenty-five chapters incorporate a brief theoretical discussion on a defensive topic
followed by a quiz to test the reader. It is a very practical book and Frank Stewart has
many sound ideas to impart.
Sherlock Holmes - Bridge Detective
The newest book out by a leading US bridge teacher. An entertaining and
instructive presentation of 44 classroom tested bridge hands. A "fun" book
designed to instruct the reader in spotting clues at the table and drawing
reasonable conclusions from them.
Twenty-five Steps to Learning Two Over One (Paul Thurston, 2002)
The author is the bridge columnist for Canada's Ntional Post and a former
international player. The 2/1 system is starting to catch on, and here is a very
good book for the average player who wants to learn that system. The opening bids
and responses are thoroughly covered in theory, and each chapter also has a key
point summary and a quiz. "By the way" asides are used either to emphasise points
or to provide light relief. This will suit the good improver to intermediate.
Ace of Spies
One of the Jake Winkman series of novels. Bridge pro. Jake contends with
rival players and ambitious partners, plus the FBI, CIA, and foreign
operatives, and Dave Dee,Dozy Beaky Mick and Tich. Good fun with some pro.
bridge thinking thrown in.
Practical Bridge Endings (Chien-Hwa Wang, 1997)
This covers the whole range of endgame techniques available to declarer - eliminations,
simple squeezes, trump coups, double and triple squeezes, Devil's coup, smother plays, etc.
Sixty deals are used to illustrate the various types. Intermediate to advanced.
The Wei to Good Bridge (Kathy Wei-sender & Martin Hoffman, 2003)
Fifty - nine bridge play and defence problems, with a cast of characters including
Mr. Know - all, Doting Dottie, and others. These characters play it their way, but then
the experts Martin and Kathy give their comments which give a clue to the best line.
Modern Defensive Signalling in Contract Bridge
Nice little booklet covering all sorts of defensive signals including
upside-down, odd-even, Lavinthal, and good old standard signals.
Bridge Matchpoints
The best advanced book on matchpoint tactics, theory and strategy. Keen
duplicate players will get lots of new ideas out of this one.