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25 Steps to Learning
2/1 Master Point Press, US$15.95, ISBN No. 1 894154 456 0 New ideas in bidding theory are being expounded all the
time, but a concept which is fast gaining popularity across the Atlantic,
and to a lesser extent here, is the two-over-one game force. What is meant
by that is that a non-jump response at the two level by a non-passed hand
should be forcing to game, so that for example the sequence starting 1 I should explain that this system only really hangs together
if you are playing a strong no-trump and, more importantly, five-card
majors. This is because with the fierce limits imposed upon a two-over-one
response there must be ways of dealing with hands which fall below those
requirements. Playing five-card majors you are always in a position to
raise partner with only three-card support without any of the angst experienced
by Acolites. Put simply, a raise of 1M - 3M can be done on 0-7 points
with four or five trumps, while if you have a better hand you can raise
either via 3 There is tons of new stuff to learn and Thurston breaks all this down neatly into bite-size chunks with hundreds of examples. He has a free-wheeling and chatty style, which never makes you feel you are being talked down to. The ideas are refreshing and well worth the effort put into reading them. Not recommended for beginners, of course, but for anyone else with the pioneering spirit this book is a 'must'. I can't wait for Volume 2! Dave Huggett
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© Bridge Plus 1999-2006
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- 2
cannot end before game
is reached. A leading Canadian player and bridge columnist, Paul Thurston,
has been advocating this approach for many years now, until he has finally
put pen to paper and explained much of the system in this highly entertaining
book. I say much of the system because this book is a precursor to Volume
2 which deals with opening bids of 1NT and all higher-level bids, something
outside the scope of this first volume. 
- showing 7-10 points, again with four trumps. Life in the fast lane,
eh! Remember that 2
is game forcing, so there is no need to leap and bound. Hands not strong
enough to force to game on, and which do not warrant any sort of raise,
are dealt with by responding 1NT, forcing, a gambit familiar to many players
over here who adhere to a strong club approach. 
