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Bridge: 25 Steps to learning 2/1
Another title in the best-selling '25' series, using the same popular format. Over the last fifteen or so years, the 2/1 Game Forcing bidding method has gained substantial popularity, but for various reasons it is not taught in beginner classes. This book is therefore designed for players who are familiar with Standard bidding and are interested in switching to the 2/1 method. It covers basic concepts as well as the differences between 2/1 and Standard auctions, and includes a discussion of more advanced ideas and conventions that fit particularly well with 2/1 methods. Existing books on this topic (notably by Max Hardy and Mike Lawrence) are too advanced and/or too technical for this level of player.
192 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2002
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
March 26, 2025
Bridge is played, essentially, at three different levels. Most common is probably social bridge, the pick-up games in a college dorm or on a cruise ship or at your local senior center. In the 1960's my parents threw bridge parties inviting five other local couples over to rotate among three card tables and drink a lot of cocktails.
Serious bridge players refer to that sort of bridge as 'party bridge' and if that is what you want to play, then do not bother with this book. You are fine with the rudimentary conventions such as five-card majors, convenient minors, Stayman and Jacoby in response to 1NT, and Blackwood to ask for aces. Even if you are serious but still a beginner, you should start with a more basic, introductory book. This book presumes that you already know all the standard conventions.
The second level is your neighborhood ACBL duplicate club, where you will find a nerdy ensemble of mostly retired folks who take their bridge pretty seriously. At this level, even more than two decades after this book was published, the 2-over-1 set of conventions are still controversial. The better players take these conventions on, and a substantial number of club players proudly refuse to so complicate their bidding. These Luddites still get decent results if they stay focused on the basics. The real key to success is not knowing every possible convention, it is being rested and hydrated and in a supportive partnership, and still being in that fun phase of retirement where you have time off from work and kids but your brain still works well enough to remember how to count up to thirteen.
The third level is tournaments, where you will see a lot of the same friendly old faces from your local club, but at this level you will feel left out if you are not up on the newer conventions.
This book is a good choice for club players ready to intensify their game. 2-over-1 is simple enough in and of itself, but kind of worthless. Bidding a new suit at the two level by a responding bidder who did not previously pass forces game by promising opening values. To get the benefit of this change, there is a ripple effect on many other conventions. Like cue-bids to show shortness or specific aces exploring slam short of the game level, and using jump bids as devious preempts. Plus to make up for the loss of a non-forcing bid for hands short of opening value, we reluctantly play 1NT as a one-round force, if made by an unpassed hand with no interference.
The advantage of this book is that it teases out the twenty-odd different ways that your whole bidding system will change once you step up to 2-over-1. The only other book on the subject I have read (Larry Teaches 2 Over 1 Game Forcing) is shorter and easier, but not as comprehensive. The Larry book is also very helpful, and it seems like there are dozens of bridge experts who publish multiple books so you can spend the rest of your life reading bridge books, each of which will be a little different. I do not suggest doing that, but you will probably need to thumb through some more recent texts because even Thurston leaves out inverted minors and puppet Stayman, both of which use the same basic principles as animate the conventions in this book.
Serious bridge players refer to that sort of bridge as 'party bridge' and if that is what you want to play, then do not bother with this book. You are fine with the rudimentary conventions such as five-card majors, convenient minors, Stayman and Jacoby in response to 1NT, and Blackwood to ask for aces. Even if you are serious but still a beginner, you should start with a more basic, introductory book. This book presumes that you already know all the standard conventions.
The second level is your neighborhood ACBL duplicate club, where you will find a nerdy ensemble of mostly retired folks who take their bridge pretty seriously. At this level, even more than two decades after this book was published, the 2-over-1 set of conventions are still controversial. The better players take these conventions on, and a substantial number of club players proudly refuse to so complicate their bidding. These Luddites still get decent results if they stay focused on the basics. The real key to success is not knowing every possible convention, it is being rested and hydrated and in a supportive partnership, and still being in that fun phase of retirement where you have time off from work and kids but your brain still works well enough to remember how to count up to thirteen.
The third level is tournaments, where you will see a lot of the same friendly old faces from your local club, but at this level you will feel left out if you are not up on the newer conventions.
This book is a good choice for club players ready to intensify their game. 2-over-1 is simple enough in and of itself, but kind of worthless. Bidding a new suit at the two level by a responding bidder who did not previously pass forces game by promising opening values. To get the benefit of this change, there is a ripple effect on many other conventions. Like cue-bids to show shortness or specific aces exploring slam short of the game level, and using jump bids as devious preempts. Plus to make up for the loss of a non-forcing bid for hands short of opening value, we reluctantly play 1NT as a one-round force, if made by an unpassed hand with no interference.
The advantage of this book is that it teases out the twenty-odd different ways that your whole bidding system will change once you step up to 2-over-1. The only other book on the subject I have read (Larry Teaches 2 Over 1 Game Forcing) is shorter and easier, but not as comprehensive. The Larry book is also very helpful, and it seems like there are dozens of bridge experts who publish multiple books so you can spend the rest of your life reading bridge books, each of which will be a little different. I do not suggest doing that, but you will probably need to thumb through some more recent texts because even Thurston leaves out inverted minors and puppet Stayman, both of which use the same basic principles as animate the conventions in this book.
April 27, 2014
good bridge reference book
September 26, 2011
excellent for serious bridge players
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews