Bridge for Bright Beginners

Common terms, fundamentals of offensive and defensive bidding and play made clear. 130 bidding hands, 18 sample games. Summary of bidding. Terence Reese, "the world's best bridge player and best bridge writer" (The New York Times), turns his attention in this book to you, the bright beginner. He gives a complete guide to the game with sample bidding and sample game play and coverage of everything the beginner needs, from point count bidding to finesses, to make bridge the exciting, competitive game it is. Mr. Reese isn't content with presenting rules the beginner will later abandon. Instead he builds up the game in simple steps with chapters on opening bids of one, responses, defensive overcalls, opening bids of more than one, play and defense in no trump, play and defense in suit, scoring, and so on, until the game is taught as you can expect to play it against strong competition. In the course of the book you will learn the common terms used in bridge, the fundamentals of offensive and defensive bidding and play, the reasons why bridge strategies work, and how to use such popular conventions as the Blackwood and the Stayman. Altogether you will have had experience evaluating 130 normal bidding hands and playing through 18 sample games. An index and summary of bidding at the end also make the book useful as an instant reference for later use. Both the bright beginner and the player who has had some experience will want to use this book to learn the fundamentals of bridge and increase his ability to establish best possible bid and play. For a further competitive advantage and even more bridge fun, you will also want to read Reese's other bridge books, Bidding a Bridge Hand and Play Bridge with Reese.

Table of Contents:
1. ABOUT CARDS AND TRICKS How the cards and suits rank You play a complete hand 2. WAYS OF WINNING TRICKS Forcing out high cards Winning with low cards The meaning of trump suit 3. PRELIMINARIES AND THE BIDDING The cut and deal The meaning of a contract The bidding Double and redouble The opening lead Declarer and dummy Game and rubber Small and grand slams A throw-in 4. WHEN TO OPEN THE BIDDING Point count Opening One of a suit Opening 1NT 5. RESPONSES TO AN OPENING BID OF ONE When to respond 1NT Responding to a partner's suit A double raise in partner's suit Response of 2NT A new suit at the level of One Responding at the level of Two Responses at game level Jump bids in a new suit Responses to 1NT Stayman convention Responding after a pass Summary of Responses 6. THE PLAY AT NO TRUMP Hold-up play The finesse Unblocking Ducking 7. THE PLAY IN A SUIT CONTRACT Drawing trumps Establishing a side suit Trumping in dummy A cross-ruff 8. THE OPENER'S FIRST REBID Rebids after a strong response After a limited response After a response at the level of One After a response at the level of Two 9. STRONG OPENING BIDS OF MORE THAN ONE Opening 2NT Opening 3Nt The forcing Two Responses to Two bids 10. PRE-EMPTIVE OPENINGS OF THREE AND FOUR Responding to bids of Three and Four 11. HOW TO SCORE Scores below the line when the contract is made Scores above the line A specimen rubber 12. DEFENSIVE OVERCALLS Simple overcalls Jump overcalls Overcall of 1NT Forcing overcalls 13. TAKEOUT DOUBLES Responding to a double Action by an opener's partner Doubling when two suits have been bid Two doubles on the same hand Doubling after a pass Double by the player who has opened Overcalls in fourth position Defense against an opening 1NT Defense to Three bids 14. PENALTY DOUBLES Doubling a low contract Doubling a high contract Penalty vs. game 15. BIDDING FROM A PART SCORE Opening with a part score Responses with a part score When opponents have a part score 16. THE WAY TO SLAM When to try for a slam Blackwood convention 17. DEFENDING AGAINST NO TRUMP CONTRACTS Opening leads Leading from a short suit The lead when partner has bid Ducking in defense Hold-up in defense "The "echo" at No Trump" Unblocking in defense 18. DEFENDING AGAINST SUIT CONTRACTS Leading for safety Short suit leads Attacking leads Playing a forcing game When to lead trumps 19. TRICKS IN A SINGLE SUIT "Where a "finesse" is wrong play" Leading low for a finesse Finessing against two cards Finesse or drop? Safety plays "How many tricks do I need?" Finessing for safety 20. FINISHING THE RUBBER Trump control Stayman convention for a part score A sacrifice to save game A neat conclusion SUMMARY OF BIDDING INDEX SCORING TABLE