Contents

Introduction By Omar Sharif

Before You Read This Book .......................................................................................... . ........... 1

Think Before You Play .................................................................................................................. 1

Counting Tricks at Notrump Contracts ...................................................................................... 1

Counting Tricks at Trump Contracts .......................................................................................... 3

1. How to Play Suit Combinations .............................................................................................. 5

The Finesse .................................................................................................................................... 5

Lead Toward Honor Cards ........................................................................................................... 9

To Finesse, or to Play for the Drop ............................................................................................ 10

Restricted Choice .......................................................................................................................... 12

Safety Plays ................................................................................................................................... 14

When Entry Cards Are Limited .............. . ................................................................................. 17

When an Opponent Leads the Suit .......................................................................................... 18

Quiz ............................................................................................................................................... 22

Quiz Answers ...................................... . ..................................................................................... 24

2. Blocking the Opponents' Communication .......................................................................... 28

The Hold‑Up Play at Notrump Contraets .................................................................................. 28

Hold‑Up Plays at Trump Contracts ............................................................................................ 35

Second Hand High ........................................................................................................................ 38

The Danger Hand .......................................................................................................................... 39

Quiz .................................................................................................................................................. 45

Quiz Answers ................................................................................................................................. 47

3. Communication Problems ........................................................................................................ 51

Ducking................................................................................................................. ' .............. 51

Overtaking............................................................................................................ ................ 58

Saving and Creating Entries............................................................................... . .............. 61

Unblocking........................................................................................................... ................ 64

Jettison Plays........................................................................................................................ 68

Quiz............................................................................................... ......................................... 72

Quiz Answers............................. ......................................................................................... 74

4. Trump Entries; Timing; and Ruffing Losers in the Dummy ................................................. 78

Using the Trump Suit for Entries ..................................................................................................... 78

The Timing: First Things First ......................................................................................... . .............. 84

Ruffing Losers in the Durnrny .............................. 90

Quiz           ............... .......... 96

Quiz Answers .................................................................................... ................ 98

5. Trump Control Problems ...................................................................................................... 102

When to Draw the High Trump(s) ............................................................................................ 102

Keeping Trump Control .............................................................................................................. 104

Establishing a Side Suit .............................................................................................................. 110

Protecting Winners from Being Ruffed ............................ . .................................. . ............... 114

Preventing Overruffs and Trump Promotions ........................................................................ 120

Quiz ............................................................................................................................................... 125

Quiz Answers .............................................................................................................................. 127

6. Choosing the Master Hand; the Crossruff‑, and Rufring in the Long

Hand .............................................................................................................................................. 131

Making Dummy the Master Hand ............................................................................................ 131

Ihe Dummy Reversal ................................................................................................................... 135

The Crossruff ............................................................................................................................... 137

Ruffing in the Long Hand .......................................................................................................... . 140

Quiz ............................................................................................................................................... 149

Quiz Answers .............................................................................................................................. 151

7. Going with the Odds ............................................................................................................... 155

Choosing the Percentage Play .................................................................................................. . 155

Combining Your Chances .......................................................................................................... 162

The Percentage Table for Suit Distribution of Outstanding Cards ..................... 172

Quiz ............................................................................................................................... . 173

Quiz Answers .............................................................................................................. . 175

8. Clues from the Opening Lead and the Bidding ................................................................ 179

Clues from the Opening Lead (including the Rule of Eleven) .............................................. 179

Clues from the Bidding .............................................................................................................. 189

Quiz ............................................................................................................................................... 203

Quiz Answers .............................................................................................................................. 205

9. How to Count the Suits and the Squeeze Play .................................................................. 209

How to Count the Suits .............................................................................................................. 209

Counting One Suit ...................................................................................................................... 209

Counting Two Suits ................................................................................................................... 211

Counting All Four Suits ............................................................................................................. 212

Conceding a Trick to Obtain a Count ...................................................................................... 215

The Squeeze Play....... ............................................................................................................ 216

Rectifying the Count .................................................................................................. 219

The Pseudo Squeeze .................................................................................................. 222

Create a Threat Card ................................................................................................... 223

The Suicide Squeeze ................................................................................................... .226

Communication Problems .......................................................................................... 227

Ihe Double Squeeze .................................................................................................... 230

Quiz ............................................................................................................................... 232

Quiz Answers .............................................................................................................. 234

10. The Throw In Play .................................................................................................. ‑ .......... 238

Throw In Either Opponent ........................................................................................ 238

Throw In One Opponent ................................................................................................. .240

Forcing a Ruff and Discard ...................................................................................... . 245

Guarding Against a Bad Break. ........................................................................................ 247

Multiple Tenace Positions ....................................................................................... 249

Choosing Your Victim ............................................................................................... 250

Throw‑In for a Trump Lead ...................................................................................... 252

Throw‑In for an Entry ............................................................................................... 253

Throw‑In at Notrump ................................................................................................ 255

Quiz .............................................................................................................................. 258

Quiz Answers.............................................................................................................. 260

11. Deception and Psychology ................................................................................................ 264

False‑carding .............................................................................................................. 264

Winning with the Right Card ................................................................................... 268

Tempting a Defender to Cover an Honor ............................................................... 271

Tempting a Defender to Play Second Hand Low .................................................. 273

Tempting a Defender to Play Second Hand High ................................................. 275

Tempting a Defender Not to Ruff ............................................................................ . 276

Discouraging the Defenders from Leading a Suit ................................................. 277

Reading Defensive Carding...................................................................................... ...... 278

Quiz .............................................................................................................................. . 281

Quiz Answers ............................................................................................................. 283

12. Matchpoint Strategy ........................................................................................................... 287

Overtricks ...................................................................................................................... 287

Overtricks, versus Safety Plays ............................................................................... . 293

The Wrong Contract ................................................................................................. . 296

Whose Hand Is lt? ........................................................................................ . .......... . 299

Stealing a Trick ........................................................................................................... . 301

Shooting ..................................................................................................... . .............. . 302

Quiz ................................................................................................................. . ... . .... . 304

Quiz Answers. ............................................................................................................ . 306

Introduction

When my good friend Bill Root asked me to write this introduction to his new book, my first thought was: "Why another book on play?" Since the appearance of Watson on Play (1934), there's hardly a bridge writer who hasn't attempted to produce the ultimate book on the play of the cards.

Few, if any, have even come close. As far as 1 am concerned, only three books have stood the test of time: Goren on Play and Defense, Card Play Technique by Nico Gardener and Victor Mollo, and Defensive Play Complete by Eddie Kantar. All three have a common element: They are written by gifted writers, and those involved are both players of the highest caliber and outstanding teachers!

If it takes a combination of those factors to produce a classic on play, then this book is assured of that status. For Bill Root has not only represented the United States in World Championship competition many times, he has a proven track record as an author and is recognized as the world's premier teacher.

That piqued my curiosity. Although 1 am not given to reading bridge books, I decided to peruse the manuscript. It was all I expecied it to be. Clearly written, well organized and, above all, easily understandable no matter what the level of one's skill.

Over the years, Bill has been able to accumulate an excellent collection of teaching hands. He puts this material to good use here. Each facet of play is broken down to its elements, then the illustrative hands make the therne crystal clear to the reader. And at the end of each chapter there is a quiz to test one's progress as one goes along.

Had the game of bridge been playedc enturies ago, Omar the Tentmaker would have recommended taking a bridge book into the wilderness. And if he were to come back today and decide to take up the game we all love so, it is quite likely that this would be the book hewould choose. Certainly, Omar the Bridge Player enjoyed it.

0inar Shatif