Watson's Classic Book on The Play of the Hand at Bridge (Paperback)

by Louis H. Watson (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

This book, by one of the first and foremost authorities on contract bridge, is regarded as the classic exposition of playing strategy. Practically all variations of play, both in attack and in defense, are explained and illustrated in it.

Product Details

• Paperback: 496 pages
• Publisher: Harper Paperbacks (January 1, 1971)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0064632091
• ISBN-13: 978-0064632096
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.2 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #9,867 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The classic book on play of the hand, May 1, 2003

By	Bob Simkins "Bob" (DOTHAN, AL USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Every accomplished bridge player has a copy of this book, but don't expect them to lend it to you. This is the oldest and most comprehensive guide to understanding the cards. There is a wealth of information on suit combinations, basic strategies, and other principles of declarer play. You won't be able to read it in a weekend, or even a month, so plan to take it slowly and study each chapter carefully. A bestseller for over 65 years. My mother gave me this book almost 40 years ago, and I still find valuable information in it.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The utimate bridge book, January 3, 2006

By	Paul-Emile Lamarche (Quebec, Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Watson's Classic Book on the Play of the Hand at Bridge (Paperback)

First, my mother tongue is French, I'm sure you will excuse my style. In the past, I read Mollo, Kantar, Grant... always on a quest to find a great and complete bridge book and never entirely satisfied... too simplistic, too advanced, hard to read, poor teaching skills...
I wanted to find a book that was covering both the dummy play and the defense. Also, I wanted to revisit the very basics, to have a solid start, and then to go gradually into more complex techniques, covering virtually all aspects of the play, including the more advanced techniques. I was looking for the ultimate book: the Bridge Bible written by a brilliant teacher!

When I was not really looking for a book anymore, I finally tried Watson's book. I hesitated at first, because I was told his style is a bit dry and too detailed. EUREKA!!! I regret not having started with this book the very first day I played bridge. This is the ultimate BIBLE! Not only it fulfilled all my above expectations, but it goes one step beyond, he is a genius, each chapter is a revelation. I did not learn techniques; I learned the principles underlying the techniques. It is like being thought secret knowledge by a wise guru, realizing how simple everything was in the first place. His style is clear, concise, and straight to the point, but he covers a lot of material. His summaries are ideal for fast and easy review. I don't have to mention how drastically my level of play changed.

My quest is now over, I found the Grail, I now understand why Watson's book is recommended by most schools around the world. This is probably the only book you will every need about the play of the hand.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A classic, but dry, October 6, 2002

By A Customer

The Play of the Hand remains one of the definitive books on declarer play and defense. It's a excellent reference and well worth reading if you want to improve your game.

Unfortunately wading through it is something of a chore... it's rather dry. Unless you're serious about "studying" bridge, this book probably isn't for you. Try "Card Play Technique" by Victor Mollo -- it's equally thorough, covers many of the same topics and is written in wonderfully engaging and humorous prose.