Weeeeeeelllll,
What DO you have?

I don't even know any more. In fact, most of the books I "have", I don't have with me because they've either been lent out to someone or they're living in storage on the other side of the country. But just assume (because it's true) that I had just about every intermediate-through-expert book that was around during my more active days, through maybe 2005 or so.

I realize that isn't much help.

I recommended it in this thread a while ago and it is certainly topical now - "Fair Play Or Foul" by Cathy Chua

hardy any hands and has a few flat spots - really just Chua rambling on in some essays about the evolution of theory, and a 4 handed view of the world - not what you would expect in a bridge book - I loved it and it certainly helped my bridge

"Play Cards With Tim Seres" by Michael Courtney - obviously because I am from Oz where Seres lived but its a great read about one of the best players of his time with some fantastic hands - Courtney doesn't write much but I liked his style - not a book to read if you are fixated with getting better via reading

neither of those are big books and would be cheap to buy

I haven't read it, but The Rodwell Files?

I'll think about those two, stripsq.

I already have the Rodwell files. Somewhere.

So how many jimmies are going to be rustled when Poland Qs. My jimmies are already rustling in anticipation.

Maybe a book on 'system building? I can name a few that looked interesting, but haven't had a chance to read/purchase yet.

Minor theory question as to what's standard and also what's better:

After an opposing auction such as (1NT)-P-(2H*transfer), or P-P-(1H)-P-(2C* Drury), we have the option of:

X - lead directing/suit showing; bid their suit - takeout, or
X - takeout; bid their suit - Michaels(ish).

What's better?

i like takeout and michaels

you should

Do you feel strongly about it (i.e. if partner wanted the other combo how hard would you try to push for your way)?

Hand I invented for a friend. Interested in how you do. Answers in spoilers please.

IMP pairs, NS Vul, Dealer West.

(1H)-p-p-3c
p-5c-p-p-
p

South's bid shows a strong hand with 6 diamonds and 4 clubs but his partner misinterpreted since I just made that convention up. EW are good players.

S: A7543
H: 642
D: 97
C: JT9







S: 6
H: T7
D: AKQ843
C: AK87

West leads the Td.

pretty strongly over the NT auction. much of justin's post about 2C majors over 1NT applies here as well. When I bid michaels the goal is to play the hand and get to game if it's right. The ability to make that bid alone makes it better than the alternative.

i feel less strongly about the drury auction, since the goal is only rarely to get to game and much, much more often just to compete correctly, which both double and cuebid for takeout accomplish reasonably well, though both michaels and takeout options available make competing more accurate.

in general i'm less favorable to lead-directing stuff than most people, i think. if low-level lead indicators didn't exist i wouldn't miss them.

Hmm. The auction + lead makes no sense, what with LHO not leading from an honor sequence they're known to have and partner marked with no ace (if LHO doesn't have an honor sequence, then RHO has Qxxx Kx Jxxx xxxx and would have bid over 1H).

But for ****s and giggles I'll try D9 from dummy (might be important later to have that unblocked), win in hand, spade to ace, run CJ, CT if the jack holds, then the D7 to the D8. I'm essentially playing RHO for Qxx xx Jxxx Qxxx, and for LHO to have not thought about competing over 3C with KJxx AKQJxx T xx. Neither seems likely but what the hell right?

The alternative I guess is to bang AK clubs to play lho for Qx, draw three trump, D7 to D8, draw last trump, claim. Probably better than my first line since it gives RHO some room for a heart honor instead?

Yup West must have CQ since East must have HK or HA. Maybe I should give declarer the stiff Js to dampen grumbles about West's diamond lead. And the contract can't make if you play the 7d from dummy at trick one.

Probably need to give him the stiff SQ... otherwise West would have sKQ and not lead it, and hAK and not lead it... but that gives East SQ, HK, and DJ with which he responds. The jack isn't quite enough.

USA1 versus Japan coming up here in a second might be the match of the qualifying swiss. Nickell (USA1) is 8th and Japan is 9th. I thought everything was lining up for Nickell to assert their alltime GOATness, but they need to win this round bad.

some bloomberg reporters are aggressively trying to get a photoshoot with bob for an article that will appear soon. it's sort of amazing how little respect they have for the fact that he's 76 years old and abroad in india.

But, but, Dustin Hoffman is portraying him in a movie coming up...

i wont be seeing that movie

the program, in case anyone didnt know

Hello atakdog: May I suggest The Art of Declarer Play by Bourke. Next to Adventures in Card Play (which is way over my head) perhaps the most challenging book on declarer play. The level of this book is expert so it should be just right for you!

Everything of Victor Mollo
Right through the pack
Bridge Squeezes Complete by Clyde E. Love is a classic
At the Table, by Hamman

Also you cannot go wrong with any bermuda bowl tournament book

Any suggestions? Probably something I should be looking at as/when I get a regular partner

As an aside, thoughts on how best to get someone who's never played before up to a competent level? Noob resources, start with bidding or play, etc etc