Kantar on Kontracts
by Eddie Kantar

Master Point Press (www.masterpointpress.com), US$16.95, ISBN 1 894154 681

This book is a collection of bridge columns written by Eddie Kantar. They are not linked together in any way nor divided into themed chapters. Normally I would think this was rather an effort-free way of creating a bridge book but here the silkiness of Kantar's writing and quality of his material easily override any such objection. The deals are excellent and the writing is laced with self-deprecating humour. As you read the book, you can imagine that you are sitting with Eddie in some New York bar, enjoying him tell you story after story.

Kantar describes this deal from an inter-city match:

K 4   A Q 7 3   A K Q 5 4 3   2     Q J 8 7 6 3   K 2   J 10 7   J 10   A 5   9 8 4   9 8 2   A Q 9 8 3     10 9 2   J 10 6 5   6   K 7 6 5 4

West	North	East	South
2sx	Dbl	Pass	3
Pass	4	End

West led the Q against South's game in hearts. Declarer saw that if he covered with the K, East would win with the ace and return a spade to his partner's jack. West would then lead a third round of the suit, ensuring that the defenders scored a trump trick for one down.

When declarer played low from dummy on the first trick, West's queen won and he played a second spade to the ace. East defended strongly by cashing the A and returning a diamond. If West and South had held two diamonds each, declarer might have been locked in dummy, unable to return to his hand to take a trump finesse. No, South had a singleton diamond. He won East's switch in the dummy and ruffed a diamond to reach his hand. He was then able to pick up the trumps and make the game.

At the other table North once again made a take-out bid over West's 2. He was about to raise his partner's 3 response to 4 when East re-arranged his hand and accidentally flashed the A. Changing his mind, North bid 3NT! When East led the 8, North rose fearlessly with the K, which won. He finessed successfully in hearts and then found that the diamonds were 3-3. That was eleven tricks and a 1-IMP gain.

I must end by complimenting the publishers, Toronto's Master Point Press, on their very attractive presentation of the book. The glossy front cover is great, the printing and font selection are excellent, and the use of white space is optimal. They also repeat, in small print, any diagram that is discussed overleaf. Master Point is currently setting a very high standard for other bridge publishers to follow.

David Bird

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