November 2012 - 27

Book Reviews

If you play low on the ࡕQ, declarer will play another
spade to dummy's jack and will take three spade tricks,
enough to make his contract. If you cover, your partner's
ࡕ10 will be promoted to a trick and declarer will go
down.
The narrative in the book is more extensive than this,
covering the situation and the key point extremely well.
This is a fine book for learners.
Published by and available from Master Point Press
(masterpointpress.com) and bridge supply houses.

It's All in the Game:
The Fun Side of Winning
Bridge
By Bob Ewen and Jeff Rubens
$23.95 Softcover, 235 pages

Rating: A

Reviewed by Sue Munday

WEST
ࡕa
ࡖ few
ࡗ random
ࡔ deuces

Struck by Lightning

When you meet a vicious opponent, you may wish that he
would be struck by lightning. About the best you can hope for is
that he gets caught in a really disgusting ending. May I suggest
a squeeze among three singletons? This is undoubtedly the
most teeth-gritting, nerve-shattering sort of thing to get caught
in. Here is how you might work it:

W E
S

SOUTH
ࡕ-
ࡖA
ࡗK
ࡔK

EAST (Mr. V)
ࡕ-
ࡖK
ࡗA
ࡔA

At a notrump contract, dummy (North) has the lead, and you
need the rest. You lead the ace of spades from dummy and
smile gently at East, who is quite likely to commit suicide.
If your partner managed to bid notrump first, you will need to
retreat to a suit, but you can still manage the squeeze. This is an
even better ending, as the victim can hold three aces:

Fun and games

"Bridge is fun. It always has
been, and it always will be." It is
in that spirit that Bob Ewen and
Jeff Rubens unleash a cast of
delightful characters and delectable deals in It's All in the
Game: The Fun Side of Winning Bridge.
Here are 29 episodes, each of which was originally
published in The American Bridge Digest, The Bridge
Journal or The Bridge World in the Sixties or Seventies.
Because these are Bridge World guys, the deals tilt toward
the advanced, with a special fondness for unique endpositions: winkles, twinkles, trump jettison squeezes, pincer
plays and the like. "But these positions matter more for
their value as entertainment than for their use in winning,"
point out the authors.
The characters themselves transcend level of play.
Imagine that hell is playing losing bridge for all eternity,
then consider the plight of poor Sam Scientist in "Top or
Bottom," whose entry to Heaven depends on his opening
lead to a 6ࡕ contract. Meet Harry Heart, whose miserable
job as a syndicated lonely hearts columnist brightens considerably when correspondence from Mrs. X, pleading for
marital advice, contains a bridge diagram. Play 6ࡖ beside
an appreciative kibitzer who speaks in spoonerisms ("You
were in waingerous daughters. Very bash ridding!").
Take revenge, bridge-style:

NORTH
ࡕA
ࡖQJ
ࡗ-
ࡔ-

WEST
ࡕK
ࡖ2
ࡗ2
ࡔ-

NORTH
ࡕA
ࡖK
ࡗK
ࡔ-
N

W E
S

SOUTH
ࡕ32
ࡖ-
ࡗ-
ࡔK

EAST (Mr. V)
ࡕ-
ࡖA
ࡗA
ࡔA

At a spade contract, you need the last three tricks. Don't you
think it's about time you pulled that last outstanding trump?

If you find yourself mesmerized by impossible coups and
if-only-I-could-find-this end positions, It's All in the Game
- short-listed by IBPA for Book of the Year honors - is a
sensational joy ride.
Published by Bridge World Books (bridgeworld.com)
and available from bridge supply houses.

Surviving Duplicate Bridge
By Kathleen Vishner
$11.95 Softcover, 97 pages

Rating: B-

Reviewed by Brent Manley

Feet wet

This book, written by a Sectional
Master who lives in Arizona, should
be of comfort to players just start- ➤
November 2012 Bridge Bulletin

http://www.masterpointpress.com http://www.bridgeworld.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of November 2012