The Complete Book on Overcalls at Contract Bridge: A Mike Lawrence Bridge Classic [Paperback]

Mike Lawrence (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 15, 2009

Originally published in 1979, this book has never been out of print. Now, almost 30 years later, the author has revised, updated and expanded the book to take into account modern developments in the theory and practice of competitive bidding.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Reviewed by Paul Linxwiler

An updated classic

When Mike Lawrence published The Complete Book of Overcalls in 1979, it was critically acclaimed as the foundational text on the under-analyzed subject of overcalls. Three decades later, Lawrence has re-released Overcalls with some welcome revisions and updates to reflect the ways in which modern bidding methods have given players more tools in their struggles to actively compete and describe their hands.

The sheer range of the competitive sequences discussed is impressive. The examples are copious, the explanations are lucid, and the attention to detail (Lawrence frequently compares IMP and matchpoint strategies) is obvious.

There is no other way to say this: anyone who aspires to be a competent player must read this book. --The Bridge Bulletin, February 2010

About the Author

Mike Lawrence (TN) has Hall of Fame credentials both as a player and a writer. An original member of the Dallas Aces, he has won three world titles and eighteen national titles. Several of his books are widely regarded as classics of the game.

Mike Lawrence (TN) has Hall of Fame credentials both as a player and a writer. An original member of the Dallas Aces, he has won three world titles and eighteen national titles. Several of his books are widely regarded as classics of the game.

Product Details

• Paperback: 328 pages
• Publisher: Master Point Pr; 2 edition (November 15, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1897106459
• ISBN-13: 978-1897106457
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #408,635 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the five best bridge books to be shipwrecked with..., September 7, 2001

By 

Jay T. Segarra (Ocean Springs, MS United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Complete Book on Overcalls in Contract Bridge (Paperback)

This comprehensive work on overcalls actually transcends the subject and gets near to the inner essence of bridge, as few other books do (Kelsey and Ottlik's Adventures in Card Play is another). The principles of what makes a good overcall vs bad ones are laid out in clear and linear fashion, such that the information can be put to IMMEDIATE use by the reader. Your game cannot fail to improve. Best of all, the author does not gild his ideas with contrived example hands constructed only to validate them. He honestly presents each recommendation in its best and worst light. Please buy this book! (and read it twice).

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Deep and detailed, January 20, 2005

By 

B. Einhorn (New York City, NY United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Complete Book on Overcalls in Contract Bridge (Paperback)

First the downside: Its a bit of work going through this book. This is not some light read, with lots of jokes. Expect to spend a lot of time thinking aabout whats going on given a bidding sequence, and your hand. You want to improve? You have to work at it!

The upside: This will really help you to understand not just overcalls, but hand evaluation, bidding, opening leads, defense, and what in general is going on. Who holds what, etc.


Its a study of whats going on in all 4 players hands, given the information of a single bid, or one round of bidding. Why, with the exact same hand, you can overcall with one sequence, and pass with the other. I spent a few weeks reading this, going over the hundreds of sequences and hands. I'm now more aware of certain lurking dangers, and what to look out for.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Superb, detailed exposition of overcalls & responses thereto, June 8, 1999

By 

Edward J. Williams (Dearborn, Michigan USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Complete Book on Overcalls in Contract Bridge (Paperback)

This book presents a superb, complete, and clear explanation of principles of overcalling and responding to overcalls. Lawrence provides many tabulations of slightly different hands and shows how to distinguish them to partner. Thorough discussion of differences between match-point and IMP strategy is included. Responsive doubles are explained clearly, and examples clarify the inferences available from NOT making a negative double. Complete explanations of when, why, how, and how high to preempt are provided. This book is addressed to players already competent, and will help raise their competitive bidding to expert level. Buy 2 copies and give your partner one. DON'T LET YOUR OPPONENTS READ IT!