Pua or mr Cams A Systematie Treatise the Technique of Play at Auction Contract-—By Prank England snd 3. Hope Reford, cate, nex De La Rue, London. 8/=
A new book on contract and auction bridge is always an event, Keen players_meet problems in It Which cannot be solved by precedent or earlier authorities, and expect from those who make it their. business to deal with such problems to the information they seek.
The chapter on leads in this new book goes into full detail. The authors ive "examples of "tricky. leads" which, when used by. experienced players, will be found on. occasion to be very successful. By no means should" these teads" be attempted by beginners; they should bbe guided always by convention.
The second chapter on finessing, which is so important a feature of the game, is very well worked out, and is specially "instructive for the less experienced players. "The. fne cess of the hand, as the authors very truthfully point out. mors" often. than not depends on finding a way of developing a second re-entry card in dummy which sometimes can only the done through a finesse. One or two examples show how simply this can be done if the player will just shroff his hand over before he starts the play. Unblocking is another important factor in the game of bridge, and also clearing the right suit. Both these are dealt with clearly and will be readily understood.
If the hands illustrated in chapters seven ind eight were laid out on card table and the play followed according to the book, a good many Players would learn a lot about the playing of a hand in such a way fo get the full value from thole cards.
Chapter nine, on defence play, which is. sometimes more than hair the battle, and is really more im= Portant from a playing standpoint, shows clearly how a poor defensive play can easily mean game and rubber to the opponents, while good sive can prove very tr The few ill this chapter "show what can be done with jetensive tactics.
'The last chapter, which is, entitled 'Advance Tactics in Play," really applies to those who have played bridge along while. The authors devote several pages to the three different "coups" also "squeeze play' which are interesting, though not entirely new to the old-timer, This. book Is recommended 10 experienced players as well as novices, who will find it" interesting and
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.