Play These Hands with Me
by Terence Reese

Chess & Bridge, £14.20 inc. p&p from Mr Bridge, Ryden Grange, Bisley GU21 2TH, UK

Authors who put superlative words in a title risk having them shot down. On this occasion, Kelsey took little risk as the book contains a superb collection of fifty-eight deals containing instructive points for declarer and the defenders. As Ron Klinger points out in the foreword, it is almost impossible not to learn something from the book. I am impressed by the accuracy of the analysis, all worked out with no aid from computer programs like Deep Finesse. It was also well researched, with Kelsey juxtaposing hands played well with those on which a chance went Some twenty-five years after its first publication, this book rightly remains a classic. Although he had long since stopped playing in international events, this book was written when Reese was in his heyday as a writer. His dry wit and uncanny ability to home in on the crux of any issue made him many people's favourite. The format takes an 'over the shoulder' style: you see Reese's hand, hear his views about the abilities of the protagonists, and face the same decisions as he did. He takes you through the auction and then you need to play the hand (you always wind up as declarer).

Nearly all the hands come from rubber bridge or domestic tournaments, making it fairly easy to imagine yourself sitting in his place. I must say a few words for the benefit of people unfamiliar with the London rubber bridge scene. You cut for partners and anyone can play on the top money table; you do not need to be an expert player - a well-filled wallet will suffice! This explains why at times Reese's partner or opponents bid in a way that borders between the eccentric and the outrageous. Fortunately, Reese always seems to know what is going on!

The book contains sixty main hands, but that is not all. During the post mortem the author often provides a similar, and usually more easily recognisable example, of the key play, thereby adding to the overall value. Along the way, he offers many useful pieces of advice, helping to make the book as instructive as it is entertaining. One thing I particularly liked was that Reese included a few hands on which his original line proved spectacularly unsuccessful; not everyone possesses such humility. With so much high quality material from which to choose, it is hard to single out any one deal. Perhaps you would like to cast your eyes over this one:

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

In a pairs event you, South, play in 6 because you have gone past 3NT and think that 5 making eleven or twelve tricks will leave you behind the field. West leads 3 and East plays the queen. Can you believe that Reese made all thirteen tricks?

He won the club with the ace and promptly returned a low one! Fearful of setting up a discard if East had started with K-Q-x, West ducked. After scoring 10, Reese took a round of trumps and led Q. West covered and, after topping this with dummy's ace, he cashed Q. He then led a spade towards his ten. Hoping for a club ruff (if West had 10 as an entry), East ducked and the ten won the trick. Reese was then able to ruff the third round of spades and make an overtrick.

I can strongly recommend this book.

Julian Pottage

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