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That system is used by the majority of American tournament bridge players, and thus deserves our attention.Many of Hardy's specific treatments are at variance with popular treatments often used by players today. You can get around this by one simple expedient: After a major suit opening, if responder bids 2/1, and opener rebids his major at the 2-level, responder's rebid of 2NT is a game force,showing 3 trumps. Also, after a major suit limit raise, opener, with a choice, is left to guess. This is a small price to pay for keeping a good constructive system, since Jacoby 2NT is off over interference anyway. Nevertheless, Hardy's well-organized and thorough presentation allows readers to understand the various auctions and choose for themselves.I myself have chosen to not play 2/1 game force. The mandatory forcing 1NT response prohibits you from playing in 1NT, which is often the right contract. Max Hardy has written an excellent presentation of the 5-card major, 2/1 game-forcing system. There is no other way to bid that hand.
However, Hardy's book is a major reference work, and should be read by all serious tournament players. The downside is that you give up Jacoby 2NT, since you must use 1M-2NT as an invitational response. Atty. If the bidding goes 1S-2C; 2S, it would be convenient for responder to bid 3S, forcing. For example, he plays 1S-2C; 2H-3C as game forcing, whereas many players allow the repeat of the 2/1 suit to be passed. Ironically, Jacoby 2NT can and should be on after a takeout double, since the 2NT invitation would then be replaced by a redouble (at least 10 points,and maximum of 2 cards in opener's major).
For example, if the bidding goes 1S-3S (limit raise with 4 trumps), or 1S-1NT; 2x-3S (limit raise with 3 trumps), opener has no way of knowing if he fits responder's suit in a close case.The major problem case that led to 2/1 game force is this: responder hold 3 trumps and a slam-try hand. I do not think that this one situation is enough to destroy your major-suit constructive bidding system. In other words, after a takeout double, there is no need for the invitational 2NT response; hence, use Jacoby 2NT there.That is my choice. Mike Agranoff Ellington, CT
Easy to understand and well written for some one starting at square one. It also has practice exercises at the end of each chapter that are very helpful.
Hardy gives a very clear presentation of the basics of the Two-over-one system of modern bridge bidding. It's designed for the advancing or intermediate player that wants to move on from Standard American to a system that helps partnerships locate major suit games and slams more accurately. Building on basic Standard American, features are added such as game-force two-over-one bids, forcing 1NT, Jacoby 2NT, splinter bids, and keycard Blackwood. The material is well organized and well-written with good examples and quizzes to check your knowledge.
Mixed feelings. Seems to leave a bit too much to the reader's imagination. Nevertheless, an interesting, thought provoquing presentation of a system I have not previously used.
All of the sections were fantastic, and I really feel like I'm thinking about the game much better and getting a lot more out of auctions. In that sense it's not an utterly complete bidding strategy, but having a set bid for every little specific situation really important as a developing player.Hardy also has chapters on competitive bidding, slam bidding, etc, which don't really require you to have read all of the preceding chapters in detail to understand them.
After you've gotten the basics and have spent some time studying the game, I found this to be a great first 'serious' book to become more than just a light social player.I bought it after I'd read a couple of introductory books, put in some hours playing hands pretty socially, and begun to read up on more advanced concepts and conventions. This should not be your first bridge book.
I guess a drawback would be that because he devotes so much time to explanation and examples, occasionally there are specific cases which he forgets to address. I loved the game and wanted to get good (not just good enough to play casually with relatives), and it perfectly fit my purpose.What hardy does best is to teach you the thinking and the reasoning behind the bids/conventions that he presents.
You get a good idea of what exactly you're trying to accomplish at different points in the auction, and then the suggested bids make a lot more sense. This allows you to jump around a bit and keep the material fresh, as the chapters are pretty dense.
Nothing makes me happier than bidding games with 17 points or slams with 28 when I believe our hands line up correctly.
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