The New York Times Bridge Book: An Anecdotal History of the Development, Personalities, and Strategies of the World's Most Popular Card Game

by Alan Truscott, Dorothy Truscott

Overview

Finally, a book for every bridge fan — never before has there been a comprehensive history of the game, filled with anecdotes about famous players, key tournaments, strategies, scandals, and a little instruction for good measure. Evolving at some point in the 18th century from a card game known as "whist," bridge has undergone countless variations, and acquired a massive following of clubs and organizations in the ensuing centuries. The New York Times Bridge Book is aimed not only at the bridge-playing community but also an armchair audience fascinated by the role of cardgames in world history.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780312331078
Publisher:	St. Martin's Publishing Group
Publication date:	08/01/2004
Edition description:	First Edition
Pages:	288
Sales rank:	220,959
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.61(d)

About the Author

Alan F. Truscott is the bridge columnist for The New York Times. He is also the author, co-author, or illustrator of numerous books such as Common Sense Bidding, Basic Bridge in Three Weeks, The Bidding Dictionary, Bridge Basics, and numerous others.

Dorothy H. Truscott is the author of Bid Better, Play Better, Winning Declarer Play, and a former world champion player.

Table of Contents

1	How It All Began: Aristocracy, Waving Flags and Competing	1
	Bridge Theory: Signaling	8
2	Everyone Bids and Doubles; Another Signal; and a Ship	14
	Bridge Theory: The Takeout Double	18
3	A Yachtsman Goes on a Cruise	22
	Bridge Theory: Counting	31
	Bridge Theory: Restricted Choice	34
4	The Great Entrepreneur; and a Murder	36
	Bridge Theory: The Culbertson System	41
5	The First Feud	43
	Bridge Theory: Differences Between the Culbertson and Official Systems	50
6	Slams	52
	Bridge Theory: The Blackwood Convention	58
	Bridge Theory: Asking Bids	60
	Bridge Theory: Five Notrump Grand Slam Force	60
	Bridge Theory: Cue-Bidding	61
7	International Play and Another Feud	62
	Bridge Theory: The Two-Way Finesse	75
8	A Formidable Foursome	77
	Bridge Theory: The Acol System	82
9	Mr. Bridge	87
	Bridge Theory: Squeeze Play	95
	Bridge Theory: Valuation	97
10	War	100
	Bridge Theory: Sandwich Play	111
	Bridge Theory: Stripping	112
	Bridge Theory: Redoubling	113
11	New Ideas in America	115
	Bridge Theory: Stayman	128
	Bridge Theory: Transfer Bids	129
	Bridge Theory: The Roth-Stone System	130
	Bridge Theory: The Kaplan-Sheinwold System	132
	Bridge Theory: The Precision System	133
	Bridge Theory: Strong Opening Bids	134
	Bridge Theory: Weak Two-Bids and Preemptive Bids	135
12	Ethics and Cheating	137
13	Curing the Problem	154
	Bridge Theory: The Marmic System	170
	Bridge Theory: The Neapolitan and Blue Team Club System	171
	Bridge Theory: The Roman System	172
	Bridge Theory: The Little Roman System	173
14	Aces, Kings and One Queen	174
	Bridge Theory: Opening Leads	192
	Bridge Theory: Conventions	193
15	Some Strange Situations	196
16	Alan's Bridge Memories	200
	Bridge Theory: Relays	218
17	Dorothy's Bridge Memories	219
	Bridge Theory: The Splinter Bid	239
18	The Future of Bridge Life	241
	Glossary	249
	Index	257