Dubious Logic

Book Reviews

Bridge players are a difficult lot – well, you probably don't need me to tell you that. But at least a good book goes some way to gaining their approval. Master Point Press have taken over the mantle of 'Bridge Publishing House' and have recruited many of the game's top names, both competitors and teachers, as authors.

First up has to be the International Bridge Press Association's book of the year: The Rodwell Files, Eric Rodwell and Mark Horton, £17.95. This is a book on play but not another run-of-the-mill treatment. Eric Rodwell is a multiple world champion and famous for his bidding developments with partner Jeff Meckstroth but clearly no shallow thinker on card-play. Indeed, that may deter the faint-hearted; there is a wealth of nomenclature to carry the concepts Rodwell examines. But these principles occur on every deal; a modicum of effort and any reader, of any experience, will show profit on their investment.

It's easier to say that Hands on Weak Two-Bids, Joan Anderson, £7.95, is aimed at those learning the game. I think I'm on safe ground saying that even on these Isles, where the strong-two once reigned, the weak-two is now more common at club-level. Does that mean the club-player has a sound grasp of its use? Less firm ground I think. This book was also a winner; the American Bridge Teacher's Association book of the year 2008 and now published by MPP. I asked a student on a second-year bridge course for his opinion: "… first impression was how readable it is. I particularly liked the logical structure, starting with a bit of history, going on to bidding, then responding and finally how the opponents should deal with such [an] impertinent intrusion". He was pleased with the examples and exercises and reckons his appreciation and use have improved, both employing the weak-two and combating those of opponents.

Bridge at the Edge, Boye Brogeland and David Bird, £13.95 is a more of a life and times. In common with sporting memoirs elsewhere its subject is comparatively young – at least in bridge terms. But Brogeland has played a lot of bridge and has three World Championship medals to his name culminating in Norway's 2007 Bermuda Bowl win. There is an 'aces and places' flavour to much the content but many great deals and one or two interludes into bidding developments. This is a good read; the author's dare-devil style and enthusiasm for the game lifts it.

David Bird and Taf Anthias have serialised quite a few situations from their Winning Notrump Leads, £10.95, but they haven't diminished its impact. They experimented with dealing thousands of cases consistent with a given auction and 13 cards set as an opening lead problem. They then analysed each card; did it beat the contract? How many tricks resulted? The long-run outcomes are surprising.

An example; right-hand deals and opens 1NT, you pass, left-hand raises to 3NT, they haven't looked for a major fit (no Stayman, no transfer), what do you lead?

• 43
• 54
• 9642
• KQ832

I can sense everyone reaching without question for the club three. Teachers will frown on the club king ("three honours to lead a top card against no-trumps") and trying a major is surely just odd…

At IMPs or rubber bridge you are interested in the percentages (none good) but in pairs play (like an ordinary club duplicate) it's just the tricks that count, the authors explain.

"A triple tie at IMPs, with the minuscule major-suit doubletons the equal of the 5-card club holding. At match-points you should lead one of the major-suit doubletons. The difference of 0.1 in the Average Tricks column (between a spade and the K) is more of an advantage than you might think. An extra trick can be worth as much as half a top (if, for example, all the scores on the sheet are either 630 or 600). So, an extra trick on every tenth board would certainly carry you to a better finishing position."

Some will regard this as a dry fare but the results are genuinely surprising. I believe we're at the start of how computers will inform bridge (it's already happening) and there are many ramifications (on signalling for example, if we start to lead top cards more often) but we certainly haven't seen the last of this type of analysis.

Published Saturday 10.Dec.2011