This book is an unashamed rewrite of an earlier volume
entitled “Understanding Contract Bridge Bidding” ISBN 0-
9531372-0-1 (1997). Not only have I brought it up to date (the latter
was actually penned in the 1980s), it is written from a completely
different point of view. Each chapter puts the readers in the position
they may find themselves at the table, posing a selection of relevant
questions to which they should be seeking answers.
The answers themselves will depend much on partnership
agreements; dogmatic systems from books rare these days. Never
theless, unless a partnership, or player, has an answer to the ques
tions posed there will be problems. I have outlined a considerable
number of options in particular situations, from which I would
expect a partnership to select what it believes to be a consistent and
comprehensive whole system, suitably outlined on a convention
card. The proof of the pudding, as always, will be in the eating.
For the first time in print, I also outline a new style of bidding
when the opening bid occurs in third position after two passes. Not
surprisingly it is known as the “Third Hand Club”. I hope you find
it thought provoking, whether or not you decide to adopt any parts
of it.