I Love This Game
by Sabine Auken

Master Point Press, £12.95 + p&p from The Bridge Shop Tel: 020 7486 8222

There is something about books by famous players that makes interesting reading. They have an intuition to which most of us can only aspire, and the chance to find out how they do it is like being let in on a secret. With a little help from Mark Horton, the book's editor, the author excels in describing the ups and downs at the top level of women's bridge. The final of the Venice Cup in Paris between Germany and the hosts provides the main theme of the action. Actually, it is just the last sixteen deals that take centre stage.

You may be relieved to hear, however, that a treatise on these deals does not fill the entire book. On the contrary, in a style reminiscent of Ronnie ('it's good night from me and it's good night from him') Corbett, the author adds in a juicy blend of cocktails and side dishes to make the experience particularly palatable. The style remains feminine, however, with the inclusion of some personal comments about how to dress to feel one's best.

One factor contributing to the author's success at the table stems from her table presence, and the confidence to follow her instincts even when doing so involves playing against the odds. The author touches on how a partnership can mesh and what sorts of understandings are useful to have. She also inclu- des some general tips, such as how to handle intervention over your side's strong club opening. This deal features her active bidding style and good partnership defence:

Dealer: East. E/W Vul.     A Q 10 7 3   8 7   8 3 2   9 3 2     8 5 2   10 9 5   K Q 6 5   A K 7   K 9 6   A Q 6   J 9 7 4   Q J 4     J 4   K J 4 3 2   A 10   10 8 6 5

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

WAs Auken freely admits, 2 doubled would have been no walk in the park. In practice, her Italian opponents were reluctant to accept a non-vulnerable penalty when a vulnerable game was in the offing.

The bidding made it easy for Daniela Von Arnim to know what to lead. She led her partner's suit - the J. Auken overtook with the queen and declarer, not wanting to lose four spades and the A, ducked. Auken switched to the 8. Declarer ducked again, hoping for the best, but von Arnim won with the jack and played a second spade. Sabine Auken won with the ace to put a second heart through. When the smoke cleared, 3NT was down 300.

Julian Pottage

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