[SoTired]

I have a friend who has played bridge for many, many years. He plays Standard American. He is not too good at memorizing bidding sequences unless he understands the theory behind it. He is retiring soon and will have more time to devote to bridge. He wants to switch to 2/1.

I told him I would recommend a book. So I ask all of you which book should I recommend.

• 2/1 Unconditional Game Force (except for maybe 1D 2C)
  
• Heavy on theory, understanding, and thinking
  
• Not too dry, needs some humor

[fifee]

Hi SoTired, welcome to the forum

My first 2/1 book was Max Hardy's "Two Over One Game Force." It was dry and hard to read and I don't recommend it for an introductory course.
The book that I much preferred was "Mike Lawrence's Workbook on the Two Over One System." It is available from his site at http://www.michaelsl...cts/twover.html. $11.95

Mike also has a CD ROM called "The Two Over One System" available on the Bridge Base site in the Shop Bridge! section. Fred Gitelman wrote the program that walks you through the basic principles of 2/1 from the opener's and responder's point of view. You are quizzed to see if you have mastered the theory and sent back for review if you have not. Moves quickly and is very informative. If you buy it from Shop Bridge! you are supporting the BBO site. $34.95.

Certain that your friend will feel comfortable with 2/1 after assimilating this info

[Deanrover]

He should buy " The Two Over One System" by Mike Lawrence and Bridge Base. It is the equivalent of a 1000 page book, very detailed and has lots of excellent quizzes - the only choice in my opinion.

[SoTired]

Is the system the same between the CD and the book? Might be best to buy both. CD programs are nice, but not too convenient in a married man's reading room.

[luke warm]

if a friend wanted my advice on a book (complete 2/1 system actually), i'd strongly recommend bergen's 2 volume (small volumes heheh) 'better bidding with bergen' ... there's nothing in either that would cause problems for any intermediate + player, imo

[Double !]

luke warm, on Jun 24 2005, 06:07 PM, said:

if a friend wanted my advice on a book (complete 2/1 system actually), i'd strongly recommend bergen's 2 volume (small volumes heheh) 'better bidding with bergen' ... there's nothing in either that would cause problems for any intermediate + player, imo

I double this bid.
Just understand that neither book is technically about 2/1 and, in a number of circumstances, presents topics that apply regardless of whether or not playing 2/1.
And, where else can you learn about Bergen minor suit raises (not one of his better ideas).

[luke warm]

i actually like his minor suit structure... the point is, a practiced partnership can add or subtract things from any system they employ.. these books show the basic (i said basic) structure used by bergen/cohen, and they had a pretty good run

as far as the books being 2/1, they certainly don't have to be although 1nt is forcing and 2 over 1 is game forcing... so if it isn't, it mimics 2/1 pretty good... it's actually 'eastern scientific' i believe

[Chamaco]

Robinson's "Washington standard" is a fairly complete book, and relatively modern.

However, it totally lacks the soul of Mike Lawrence's 2/1 workbook (and of the 2/1 CD).

Mike Lawrence is telling us a story when he writes a book on bidding, and he is educating our bidding judgment.
Much, much better.
The same cannot be said of Robinson's book (which is good enough for people who only want a system book).

FYI, Lawrence's 2/1 is not 100% GF: suit rebid by responder may show invitational hand with great suit.