Standard Methods of Contract Bridge Complete

The book “Standard Methods of Contract Bridge Complete” comprises of a methodical study and critical analysis of bidding, play, defence and other strategic instruments of contract bridge. In order to clarify all the norms and techniques, more than 200 deals have been illustrated thoroughly. It compiles a logical solution of all sorts of theories, norms and techniques of modern systems of contract bridge. Such a unique and comprehensive compilation is expected to provide extensive support to the new generation of bridge players to develop and improve their skill and strategic maturity for much better performances even upto the national level. The experienced players may also prefer this book for consultation from time to time. The book is a unique consolidation of three major segments of contract bridge – bidding in general, the declarer’s play and the defence. There are a few more segments wherein explanations have been provided specially for the tournament players. These include the basics of tournament play, the events generally played in tournaments and the scoring methods, specialities of each type of event, human approach required for a tournament etc. The chapters on “Bidding in general” consist of detailed explanation on the basic systems of bidding with special stress on Precision Club System including precision asking bids, and Standard American System including “Two over one game force”. The standard American System, which is played most popularly in the world, has been adopted in this book to explain when to open the bidding as a dealer or at second, third or fourth position, and which suit to open indicating varieties of rules and conventional bids involved therein. Responses to the opening bid of one of a suit, without or after intervention by the next opponent, have been discussed separately. All connected norms and artificial conventional bids, popularly played now-a-days, have also been explained categorically including a detailed discussion on Negative doubles. The subsequent chapters on bidding are dealt with - Opening with balanced hands and responses thereof - Application of Stayman convention, transfer bids and some other conventional bids. - Defensive bids against opening bid of one NT. - Application of Aspro, Astro, Brozel, DONT, Landy, Labensohl etc. - Preemptive bids at two or higher levels including the bid of gambling 3 NT and responses thereof. - Defensive bids against high level preemptions - rebids by the opener and the responder under different situations. - Application of trial bids, reverse bidding, forcing pass, fourth suit forcing etc. - Overcall and responses to an overcall. - Application of trap pass, Michael cuebid, unusual notrump, take out doubles and responses thereof, Herbert negative, penalty double, when not to double for a penalty etc. - When to try for a slam. - Investigation for a probable slam showing the details of various conventional asking bids. - Varieties of bidding examples. Major part of the chapters on “Declarer’s Play” involves explanation of various techniques of play, such as – safety play, management of the trumps, finesse and simple counting, intrafinesse, ducking and hold up play, bath conp, when not to hold up, inferences from the opening lead, throw in (end play), loser on loser, deceptive play, simple squeeze, double squeeze, progressive squeeze, suicide squeeze, dummy reversal, gambit, trump coup, grand coup, scissors coup, cross ruff, utilization of losing trumps, assumptions, and miscellaneous other techniques of play such as Morton’s fork coup, Devil’s coup, smother coup etc. for each of the techniques a number of examples have been critically and logically analysed. The chapters on “The Defence” ascertains the norms and techniques of defence to be adopted under different situations. A number of examples for each of the norms and techniques have been illustrated. The chapters indicate. - Opening leads against a notrump contract showing some of the examples of normal leads. - Leads when the partner doubled on artificial bid. - Leads against a doubled contract of 3 NT. - Lead of the 4th highest card, rule of eleven, journalist lead. - Opening lead against a suit contract. - The lead of MUD, a singleton, a trump - The lead against a preemptive bid - Attacking lead. - Lead against a slam contract, doubled slam contract, lightner double. - Strategies of defence after the opening lead. - Informative and attacking strategies. - Carding, discarding, signals for suit preference, ruffing, uppercut, to avoid overruff, unblocking, ducking, second-third-fourth hand defence, Killing discards, false carding, defence against a probable end-play and against a probable squeeze, assumptions, Das Chappelle’s coup, crocodile coup etc. Whether it is bidding, play or defence, the most vital art is to utilize the skill and maturity to take the correct decision at the correct time for the correct norm, option, strategy or technique to be adopted for a successful and profitable result. This book has the speciality, that can ampower a bridge player with thorough explanation of each of the techniques separately, for taking the crucial and appropriate decision at the appropriate time.