Introduction 1

Part I: Beginning with Basic Notrump Play 7

Chapter 1: Going to Bridge Boot Camp 9

Chapter 2: Counting and Taking Sure Tricks 19

Chapter 3: Using Winning Trick Techniques at Notrump Play 27

Chapter 4: Outsmarting Your Opponents at Notrump Play 45

Part II: Playing the Hand in a Trump Contract 63

Chapter 5: Introducing Trump Suits 65

Chapter 6: Creating Extra Winners and Discarding Losers 81

Chapter 7: Setting Up the Dummy’s Long Suit 91

Chapter 8: Getting Rid of Losers by Using the Dummy’s Trump Cards 103

Part III: Bidding for Fun and Profit 111

Chapter 9: Starting with Bidding Basics 113

Chapter 10: Making a Successful Opening Bid 123

Chapter 11: Responding to an Opening Bid 147

Chapter 12: Rebidding by the Opener 179

Chapter 13: Rebidding by the Responder 205

Part IV: Forging Ahead with Advanced Bidding Techniques 227

Chapter 14: Creating Interference: Defensive Bidding 229

Chapter 15: Double Trouble: Doubling and Redoubling 247

Chapter 16: Hitting Hard: Slam Bidding 267

Part V: Playing a Strong Defense and Keeping Score 279

Chapter 17: Defending against Notrump Contracts 281

Chapter 18: Defending against Trump Contracts 299

Chapter 19: Playing Second Hand 317

Chapter 20: Wrapping Up with Scorekeeping 329

Part VI: Feeding Your Addiction to Bridge 345

Chapter 21: Joining Bridge Clubs and the Tournament World 347

Chapter 22: Playing Bridge on Your Computer and Online 357

Part VII: The Part of Tens 361

Chapter 23: Ten Ways to Be a Better Bridge Partner 363

Chapter 24: Ten Great Bridge Resources 367

Appendix: Acol Bidding System 373

Index 387