[markyears]

Could anybody suggest a book for "competitive bidding" for SAYC ? I feel it is very confusing. I want to specify my need as clear as I can. By "competitive bidding" I don't mean by "defensive bidding", like how to make overcall or take-out double. It is also very nice if someone recommend a book on defensive bidding though.

But by "competitive bidding", I really mean is how to handle the interference like "overcall" when we open the bidding. I found some tutorials only give a vague meaning of bids in a competitive bidding sequence, not as precise as constructive bidding. Most of these tutorials focus on conventions, like Unusual NT or negative double. But the part I'm most interested in is the exact meaning of the natural bids, i.e. the lower and upper limits and the shape promised by a bid, such as I learned for only constructive bid.

[babalu1997]

markyears, on 2011-December-11, 12:17, said:

Could anybody suggest a book for "competitive bidding" for SAYC ? I feel it is very confusing. I want to specify my need as clear as I can. By "competitive bidding" I don't mean by "defensive bidding", like how to make overcall or take-out double. It is also very nice if someone recommend a book on defensive bidding though.

But by "competitive bidding", I really mean is how to handle the interference like "overcall" when we open the bidding. I found some tutorials only give a vague meaning of bids in a competitive bidding sequence, not as precise as constructive bidding. Most of these tutorials focus on conventions, like Unusual NT or negative double. But the part I'm most interested in is the exact meaning of the natural bids, i.e. the lower and upper limits and the shape promised by a bid, such as I learned for only constructive bid.

Mike Lawrence has several books like complete book of balancing, overcalls, doubles competitive bidding. he needs no introduction.

But, competitive bidding and defensive bidding are not precise, the hand valuation shifts and you have to evaluate trick taking ability.
there are also calls that are not possible in constructive bidding, dbl, redouble and even pass, all these with multiple meanings depending on what transpired in the auction.

So you have to learn the fuzzy stuff.
The best way is to study the logic presented by authors and then try to apply it.

[daveharty]

Partnership Bidding at Bridge: The Contested Auction by Andrew Robson and Oliver Segal. The .pdf version is freely available on the internet. It's not SAYC but the methods the authors advocate are largely natural, and it's the most comprehensive treatment of the subject that I've come across.

[markyears]

Thanks! I took a look at it, pretty comprehensive! What is the basic system this book is based on? 2/1 or a general natural?

daveharty, on 2011-December-11, 15:28, said:

Partnership Bidding at Bridge: The Contested Auction by Andrew Robson and Oliver Segal. The .pdf version is freely available on the internet. It's not SAYC but the methods the authors advocate are largely natural, and it's the most comprehensive treatment of the subject that I've come across.

[blackshoe]

If you read it closely, in an early chapter they talk about three different approaches (5 card majors, 4 card majors weak NT, 4 card majors strong NT) and how the different systems affect certain competitive bids.

[markyears]

Thank you very much! Everybody!

[helene_t]

to bid or not to bid, by larry cohen

[jillybean]

Regardless of which book you choose, give a copy to your partner(s) too.

[markyears]

Finding a pd is much harder than finding a book you know...

jillybean, on 2011-December-12, 10:07, said:

Regardless of which book you choose, give a copy to your partner(s) too.

[jillybean]

markyears, on 2011-December-12, 10:29, said:

Finding a pd is much harder than finding a book you know...

I know! I have lots of books...

[phil_20686]

I suspect, given your posts, that larry cohen is a bit advanced. Robson segal is definitely aimed at expert players. There is a time for reading this book but I do not think you are there yet (admittedly based on an incomplete survey of your postings.) I will recommend paul mendelson and his book control the bidding. This is an excellent first step available for about $8 on amazon.

[EricK]

phil_20686, on 2011-December-12, 20:36, said:

I suspect, given your posts, that larry cohen is a bit advanced. Robson segal is definitely aimed at expert players. There is a time for reading this book but I do not think you are there yet (admittedly based on an incomplete survey of your postings.) I will recommend paul mendelson and his book control the bidding. This is an excellent first step available for about $8 on amazon.

Seconded. This is a great basic book on competitive bidding which will make any beginner/intermediate partnership more difficult to face.