a review by Sharon Kocher
I was recently given the opportunity to review The 2000 Daily Bridge Calendar. What a wealth of wisdom I’ve found! The greatest players of our time contribute playing and bidding problems to this tiny treasure. Guest contributors this year are Marty Bergen (DON’T, Bergen Raises, Points Schmoints) and Larry Cohen (The Law of Total Tricks), both of whom are featured with a week of hands. Among the regular contributors are Phillip Alder, Eddie Kantar, Ron Klinger, Mike Lawrence and Bobby Wolff.
The calendar offers a daily problem emphasizing IMP scoring – make your contract or defeat their contract at (almost) all costs. You have a chance to solve the problem and then flip the page for the solution and analysis.
In addition to 366 entertaining and informative lessons, the calendar includes bio’s of the contributors, tournament information and an Appendix that explains the conventions that appear in the calendar.
Here’s a sample by Eddie Kantar: Questions? Call 1-888-453-1976
Vul: Both Dlr: South
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You Be The Judge
The Bridge World, one of the most respected bridge publications in the world, runs an occasional feature called: "You Be the Judge". They show a disaster that two experts experienced, and you have to decide whose fault it is, or at least the percentage of blame. Let’s see what you think.
East took the © AK, West playing the © 9, South the © 3 and © 10. At trick three East continued a heart and the defense lost the club ace, declarer eventually pitching his blank § K on a spade. Who do you think blew the defense, or was it inevitable?
West blew it. West knows that South has the © Q from partner’s play of the © K. Therefore, West should play the © J at trick two, denying the queen. It’s that simple. Once East sees the © J, East knows that West cannot hold the © Q since West would have led the © Q when holding © QJx. East now has an easy club shift.
The Bottom Line: When either partner or declarer wins the second lead of a suit that has been led and the opening leader follows with an unnecessarily high card, she denies any higher card in the suit.