Bridge: 25 Ways to Take More Tricks As Declarer

Rating:
Summary: Excellent approach to fine declarer play; thanks to Seagram!
Review: Here we have a recent (2003) entry in the growing and popular "25" series of fine bridge books. This time co-author David Bird joins the accomplished teacher Barbara Seagram to concentrate on declarer play. The 25 chapters are organized mostly by increasing difficulty, starting off with something as basic as Simple Finesses and progressing to more intermediate topics such as holdup plays and planning NT offenses, to subjects as sophisticated as dummy reversals and counting the opponent's shape/points.

The format of "25 Ways" follows the successful earlier entries in the series. Each topic is introduced, illustrative examples highlight the discussion, and each chapter features about three hands that test the student on his digestion of the preceding material. As usual, an explanatory answers page helps check one's rationale against the "proper" solution. The writing tone is conversational which helps make what is basically a textbook a little more fun to read. With material aimed at beginners through somewhat advanced intermediate players, there's probably something for most everyone in "25 Ways"; and it is a book we highly recommend during our "299-er" sessions at the bridge club!