The ABCs of Bridge Clear, Up-to-Date Instruction on Standard Bidding, Play and Defense for Beginners and Those Who Want to Take a Fresh Look at the World's Most Popular Ca

by ROOT, WILLIAM S.

• ISBN13: 9780609801628
• ISBN10: 0609801627
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1998-11-10
• Publisher: Crown

Summary

William S. Root, winner of many national bridge championships, premier bridge teacher, author of classic bridge books, and recently elected to the Bridge Hall of Fame, is one of America's foremost bridge personalities. As a player, Bill Root has won all three of the most important American trophies (the Vanderbilt, the Spingold, and the Reisinger) a total of thirteen times. He has represented the United States in the Bridge Olympiad; in the Bermuda Bowl; and on exhibition tours to South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand. He is rated a World Master by the World Bridge Federation. As a bridge teacher, Bill is considered to be one of the best of all time and has helped tens of thousands to enjoy the world's most popular card game. He has been the director for the National Intercollegiate Bridge Tournament and has served as Card Games Authority for the Association of American Playing Card Manufacturers, making him the modern-day Hoyle for the 120 million card players in America. His many best-selling bridge books include Commonsense Bidding, How to Play a Bridge Hand, and How to Defend a Bridge Hand (all of which won the Book of the Year title awarded by the American Bridge Teachers' Association.) He also coauthored the popular Modern Bridge Conventions with Richard Pavlicek.

Author Biography

William S. Root (1923–2002) was an American professional bridge player who was also a noted teacher and writer about the game. He was inducted into the American Contract Bridge League Hall of Fame in 1997, and was author of several acclaimed books on bridge, including Commonsense Bidding: The Most Complete Guide to Modern Methods of Standard Bidding and How to Play a Bridge Hand: 12 Easy Chapters to Winning Bridge by America's Premier Teacher.

Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION	xiii
HOW THE GAME IS PLAYED	1	(14)
The Bidding	3	(4)
The Bidding Ladder	6	(1)
Rank of Cards	7	(1)
Rank of Suits	7	(1)
The Play	7	(1)
How Tricks Are Won	8	(2)
Practice Deal	10	(1)
Doubles and Redoubles	11	(1)
What Happens Now	11	(4)
PART ONE--THE BIDDING	15	(142)
1. HOW TO VALUE YOUR HAND	15	(8)
The Point-Count System	15	(3)
Point-Count Requirements For Games And Slams	18	(1)
Quick Tricks	19	(1)
When You Have a Close Decision	20	(1)
Practice Deal	21	(2)
2. OPENING BIDS	23	(8)
Opening Notrump Bids	23	(2)
Opening Suit Bids of One	25	(1)
Biddable Suits	26	(1)
Which Suit to Bid First	27	(1)
In Review	28	(1)
Practice Deal	29	(2)
3. RESPONSES AND REBIDS AFTER NOTRUMP OPENINGS	31	(13)
Responses to an Opening 1NT Bid	31	(2)
The Stayman Convention	33	(1)
Rebids by The Opening 1NT Bidder	34	(2)
Rebids by The Stayman 2XXX Bidder	36	(1)
How to Bid When You Have a Real Club Suit	37	(2)
Responses to an Opening 2NT	39	(1)
In Review	40	(2)
Practice Deal	42	(2)
4. RESPONSES TO OPENING SUIT BIDS OF ONE	44	(15)
When to Pass	44	(1)
Planning Ahead	44	(1)
Weak Non-Jump Responses	45	(1)
The One-Over-One Response	45	(2)
The Two-Over-One Response	47	(1)
Which Suit to Bid First	47	(1)
Strong Responses	48	(3)
Eleven- and Twelve-Point Hands	51	(1)
Weak Jump Responses (Preemptive Bids)	52	(1)
Passed-Hand Bidding	53	(2)
In Review	55	(2)
Practice Deal	57	(2)
5. REBIDS BY THE OPENER	59	(16)
Quiz	59	(1)
Planning Ahead	60	(1)
After a One-Over-One Response	61	(4)
After a 1NT Response	65	(1)
After a Two-Over-One Response	66	(1)
After Your Major Suit Has Been Raised to the Two-Level	67	(1)
After Your Minor Suit Has Been Raised to the Two-Level	67	(1)
After Your Suit Has Been Jump-Raised to the Three-Level	68	(1)
After a 2NT Response	69	(1)
After a Jump-Shift Response	70	(1)
In Review	70	(3)
Practice Deal	73	(2)
6. REBIDS BY THE RESPONDER	75	(12)
Quiz	75	(1)
Planning Ahead	76	(1)
After Opener Has Raised Your Suit to the Two-Level	76	(1)
After Opener Has Rebid 1NT	77	(2)
After Opener Has Rebid His Suit at the Two-Level	79	(1)
After Opener Has Shown an Invitational-Range Opening Bid	79	(1)
After Opener Has Rebid a New Suit	80	(1)
After Opener Has Jumped the Bidding in a New Suit	81	(1)
After Opener Has Made a Reverse Bid	81	(1)
After a Two-Over-One Response	82	(1)
In Review	83	(2)
Practice Deal	85	(2)
7. OPENING SUIT BIDS AT THE TWO-LEVEL AND HIGHER	87	(20)
Preemptive Opening Bids	87	(8)
The Three "Stages" of Vulnerability	88	(2)
Responses to Preemptive Opening Bids	90	(4)
Rebids After a Preemptive Opening Bid	94	(1)
Weak Two-Bids	95	(5)
Responses to Weak Two-Bids	96	(3)
Rebids by the Weak Two-Bidder	99	(1)
The Strong, Artificial 2XXX Opening Bid	100	(3)
Responses to Opening 2XXX Bids	100	(1)
Rebids by the Opening 2XXX Bidder	101	(2)
In Review	103	(2)
Practice Deal	105	(2)
8. SLAM BIDDING	107	(12)
The Requirements to Bid Slams	107	(1)
Slam Bidding Procedures	107	(1)
Bid a Slam Directly	108	(1)
Keep the Bidding Low	108	(1)
The Blackwood Convention	109	(2)
The Quantitative Raise	111	(1)
The Gerber Convention	111	(1)
Control-Showing Bids (Cue-Bids)	112	(4)
In Review	116	(1)
Practice Deal	117	(2)
9. OVERCALLS AND TAKEOUT DOUBLES	119	(21)
Overcalls in a Suit	119	(3)
Responses to Overcalls	122	(2)
Weak Jump Overcalls	124	(1)
Notrump Overcalls	125	(3)
Takeout Doubles	128	(1)
Responses to Takeout Doubles	129	(2)
Rebids by the Doubler	131	(2)
The Direct Cue-Bid	133	(1)
Doubles: Takeout or Penalty?	133	(2)
In Review	135	(3)
Practice Deal	138	(2)
10. COMPETITIVE BIDDING	140	(17)
Responses After an Opponent Overcalls	140	(5)
Responses After an Opponent Makes a Takeout Double	145	(1)
Penalty Doubles of Games And Slams	146	(2)
Lead-Directing Doubles of Artificial Bids	148	(1)
Sacrifice Bids	149	(2)
In Review	151	(2)
Practice Deal	153	(4)
PART TWO--THE PLAY	157	(46)
11. SUIT COMBINATIONS	157	(8)
12. NOTRUMP CONTRACTS	165	(15)
13. TRUMP CONTRACTS	180	(18)
14. SUIT COMBINATIONS WHEN AN OPPONENT LEADS THE SUIT	198	(5)
In Review	199	(4)
PART THREE--THE DEFENSE	203	(47)
15. OPENING LEADS, AND SUBSEQUENT LEADS	203	(11)
Which Card to Lead	203	(2)
Which Suit to Lead	205	(1)
Leads After Trick One	206	(8)
16. PASSIVE AND AGGRESSIVE DEFENSE	214	(6)
Passive Defense	214	(1)
Aggressive Defense	215	(5)
17. THIRD-HAND PLAY	220	(10)
18. SECOND-HAND PLAY	230	(6)
19. ATTITUDE SIGNALS	236	(7)
20. DISCARDING	243	(7)
In Review	246	(4)
21. APPENDIX	250	(15)
Chicago Bridge	250	(4)
How Chicago Bridge Is Scored	254	(1)
Rubber Bridge	255	(1)
Duplicate Bridge	255	(1)
The Proprieties	256	(2)
The Laws of Contract Bridge	258	(7)
GLOSSARY	265