Masterpieces of Declarer Play

By Julian Pottage

Every page of Masterpieces of Declarer Play offers a piece of wisdom on how to play as a declarer. Together with the companion book on defence, this book captures the essence of the author's extensive knowledge about and instinct for the game. It additionally features a refreshing and exciting collection of hands which will be appreciated by any bridge player. The advice is certain to improve your game while the classic hands will keep you turning the pages.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 030435791X
• ISBN13: 9780304357918
• Release Date: September 2001
• Publisher: Peter Crawley
• Length: 128 Pages
• Weight: 0.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.0" x 7.5"

Customer Reviews

For Advanced players only

72 problems, broken into 3 groups. NT (simplest but not simple), Suit contracts, and Bonus. These problems are not easy, and go beyond the usual card reading, duck a trump to retin control, or Trump Coup. They involve something extra, such as testing the suit layouts and switching plans mid course from a ruff to a partial elimination - end play. A couple of the hands required teh reader to make inferences about teh palcement of high cards based on the bidding that I think are not backed up by the facts. Not everyone would open a had containing Ace, King, King (10 HCP) with 4432 shape in 1st or 2nd seat. Thus teh inference that that player couldn't have a certain card really not valid. Same for a preempt (weak 2) nun-vulnerable against vulnerable. MANY players will bid a weak 2 with AJxxxx. They don't need anotehr outside king, white on red. Some complex squeezes (I smelled them but couldn't figure out what to do), some hands where you try and scruch up an extra chance or two it increase the odds from 50% to 52% (I didnt think those hands were really taht important), but also some clever hands where you needed to figure out the shape and visualize certain possibilities. Overall the book is a B-. Could be better, but still had some good hands. If you are not Advanced you might not get so much out of it, though its still worth reading.