Product Description

52 hands presented as problems. Discusses the proper way to play each combination. Each hand concludes with further analysis.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #86807 in Books
• Published on: 2006-03-28
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 227 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9780910791632
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

Customer Reviews

Fascinating and instructive discussion of card combinations
This book presents excellent, thoroughly explained card combinations in context (for example, a variety of declarer-play problems in which dummy holds Qx of a suit and declarer holds Ax of the same suit, or vice versa). The reader "listens" to the author's train of thought as he plans the play of the hand. It is both fascinating and instructive to see the numerous correct ways to play the same suit combinations, depending on the hand in which they appear. This book is sure to improve anyone's declarer play (unless you're already Zia or Meckstroth), far beyond the how-to of the half-dozen or so suit combinations treated in a collection of about 50 hands. As in all of Lawrence's bridge books, the lessons average to expert players need to learn are clearly and cogently stated.

Humbling concept
On first reading Mike Lawrence's book on card combinations, I was disappointed. In fact, the book only deals with how to play seven particular suit combinations (one chapter on each). The obvious disappointment is that, even after having fully mastered the book, one will ostensibly only have mastered seven suit combinations!

Yet, on further consideration, any disappointment was mitigated by two realisations:
1) At least one will have mastered seven suit combinations; that is, be able to play them perfectly in any of a number of situations - no trumps contracts, suit contracts, contracts where entries to dummy are at issue etc.
2) One expects that the logical discussion employed to analyse these particular hands can be gradually applied to other suit combinations.

The title "humbling concept" applies here, as Mr. Lawrence's book makes it clear how difficult a task it is to become a master of bridge. Let us say there are 200 suit combinations which actually are of interest. Then one would need to read almost 30 books of this size (227 pages) to master the topic thoroughly.

In conclusion, I suspect that if it were possible to discuss all (or even most) suit combinations thoroughly in one book, Mr. Lawrence might have written such a book. Instead, one should respect his decision to concentrate on seven suit combinations, and we can perhaps hope for other books to follow.

Sort of a sequel to How to Read Your Opponents Cards
Start with Mike Lawrences "How to Read Your Opponents Cards". Get comfortable with the concepts he presents. Then try this. The book presents a set of chapters each featuring a common combination, such as KJx.

The reader will need to place cards based on the defenders bidding (or lack of it), and whats been played (and wahts not been played).

The book really is about deduction and counting, not how to play a suit to maximize the number of tricks. Don't let that stop you from buying and reading it, its well worth the time and money.