Bridges Books

Yet, again...another great piece of work by Chambee. It is amazing how this author can compile three great short stories into one offering. I would love for Chambee to make each short story into a full blown novel. This talented writer truly holds a wonderful gift for writing. These are three short stories that touches the lives and hearts of readers across the globe. Everyone has experience the death of a love one. However, capturing a story with such feelings about the loss of an only child in "The Reunion" would be hard if you haven't experienced such a loss, of course, unless you're Chambee. In "My Brother's Keeper" the bond is so realistic it is hard to believe that these two young boys are not brothers, better yet, twins. What a wonderful appreciation for such a gifted writer, especially as the friendship turns to violent. Lastly, all street gang members and former gang members should take a minute to read "Clemency" with the understanding that it is never to late to turn your life around. Chambee, in her story is able to capture the essence of this character and the effects of great changes from his former life. Chambee is an excellent storyteller.

As Bergerac, BBC's tough and fearless policeman, John Nettles has made the island of Jersey familiar to millions of viewers. In 'Bergerac's Jersey, ' he offers a personal view of the island he has now made his home. The book provides a fascinating tour of the hidden Jersey, away from the tourist beat, and offers Bergerac enthusiasts the opportunity of exploring those places so tantalizingly glimpsed on the screen.

This is an extremely engaging book which clearly presents the diverse styles and interests of the students of Berkeley High and the essays that have helped get them into colleges.

I have all six volumes of this series and they are the cookbooks I always seem to turn to. It has a wonderful format and ingredients you most likely have on hand. Directions are simple yet everything tastes like you spent a lot of time preparing. Everyone will always ask for the recipe!

The hands in this book are fresh, entertaining and, best of all, educational for anyone who wants to improve.

This is a great cookbook, different recipes and yet practical. Well worth the money.

During a recent game of bridge on Yahoo, my partner stammered that he had a Yarborough (p 56). Ah, I thought: he has no card higher than a nine and he is well-read! He has read Kilpatrick's Bestiary of Bridge. I scurried to dig through my summer stash of reading material to find this wonderful and amusing commentary on the nature of beasts and the best of bridge. I find bridge players to be introspective and certainly those of us who love the game will find our personality somewhere within the forty short descriptions of beastie bridgers. I am wavering between the Yakkity Yak (p88, not yet married to the Yakkity Yak, as suggested by Kilpatrick) and the Little Old Lady (p39) who's aura of vulnerability is fleeting and whose game is kin to a deadly lion kill. Readers of this short and amusing essay will leave the games early to find themselves and their favorite conventions addressed. Bridgers..welcome to Kilpatrick's "animal kingdom" analogy of your games and of those with whom you partner!

I came across thsi sleeper at the Library. I had never seen it recommended by any Bridge players or book lists. I figured it would be some outdated crap and I'd skim it and return it the next day.

Fortunately I was greatly mistaken.

1. The book has 90 generally very good to excelelnt problems.

2. The problems test various aspects of deductive reasoning such as:
a - placing cards based on missing HCP
b - drawing inferences about the hand shapes based on the bidding
c - counting out the hand
d - drawing inferences from discards

3. the problems also test your declarer play technique. How to play a suit, safety plays, how to protect against a bad lie of the cards, timing, trump control.

4. Table presence / putting yourself into your opponents shoes. Asking yourself "What do the opponents know about my hand" or "why did they do that"

Its a great unknown book, highly recommended.

I came across thsi sleeper at the Library. I had never seen it recommended by any Bridge players or book lists. I figured it would be some outdated crap and I'd skim it and return it the next day.

Fortunately I was greatly mistaken.

1. The book has 90 generally very good to excelelnt problems.

2. The problems test various aspects of deductive reasoning such as:
a - placing cards based on missing HCP
b - drawing inferences about the hand shapes based on the bidding
c - counting out the hand
d - drawing inferences from discards

3. the problems also test your declarer play technique. How to play a suit, safety plays, how to protect against a bad lie of the cards, timing, trump control.

4. Table presence / putting yourself into your opponents shoes. Asking yourself "What do the opponents know about my hand" or "why did they do that"

Its a great unknown book, highly recommended.

This book is loaded with useful information for the slightly above average player but probably has to much jargon for the beginner.
You may not care for all the mnemonics i.e the momory "keys" but quite a few are very useful. Mnemonics are not always used by the author, sometimes only a catchy phase provides the memory aid.
In structuree - the situation is introduced in the heading. Usually a very condensed "condition" is presented. Next comes a tool and/or a memory aid to handle it. Each situation is quickly dealt with. Quite a few pages present more than one idea.
Obviously the problem or tool is not always fully explained, you may have to go to other sources for that. However, the tools just keep coming and coming. It's also a nice introduction to a few advanced concepts.
The best investment in a bride book that I ever made. A geat learning tool. It even has a table of contents and an index (far above many bridge books).