Clues from the Bidding
by Julian Pottage

Master Point Press, ISBN 1-894154-97-5, US$16.95 from www.masterpointpress.com

Although almost invariably defenders base their strategy on declarer's bidding, declarer often ignores, or doesn't recognise, clues provided by the opposition's efforts to enter the auction - or lack of them. The theme of this book, therefore, is to present problems which, it is hoped, can be solved by an astute declarer interpreting correctly the opponents' actions during the auction. Maybe there will be a bad break, or maybe a key finesse is doomed to failure, or maybe East just cannot have the A because he passed initially and has turned up already with 9 points.

Julian Pottage presents seventy-six problems in the same style used in his collaboration with Terence Reese in the book The Extra Edge in Play (review), with the bidding presented and discussed in an analytical way, and then providing some ideas to get you started. You make your plan, check to see if it really holds water and then turn over the page.

I really like problems that can drive you mad until you see the solution when it is obvious, like the following:

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

West	North	East	South
	1	2	2NT
Pass	3NT	End

You have been a little bullish in the bidding and now have to justify it. It looks easy at first: hold up the hearts to exhaust West in that suit, and then take a diamond finesse into the 'safe' hand. Of course there is a problem with that. If East has the Q and covers the J, then the suit is blocked and you can only enjoy three diamond tricks. And of course you can't afford to let East win the trick. Can you see the answer?

It's really neat, for all you have to do is duck the first two hearts, win the third but discard a club from dummy. You cash the two remaining clubs and follow with ace and another diamond, intending to finesse. East will cover to block the suit as before but you win and discard the last diamond from dummy on your master club. Great stuff.

The only real criticism I would have of this book is the same as The Extra Edge in Play, namely that some of the problems are unreal in that they would never be solved at the table in a gazillion years - of that I am sure. But there are not too many of those, and most are stimulating and can be worked out with a little diligence. All in all, a classy little book to slip into your significant other's bag of birthday presents.

Dave Huggett

© Bridge Plus 1999-2006