Better Balanced Bidding: Volume 1: Opening 1NT

By Mike Wenble

This book is the first volume in a set of three books that presents a coherent and comprehensive response structure after the opening bidder has announced a balanced hand. This series is a completely re-written and expanded update of the author's earlier "No-Trump Bidding" (co-authored with Ladies World Champion Sally Brock). It incorporates many new theoretical ideas and improvements on existing standard methods. Volume 1 of the trilogy focuses solely on the opening bid of 1NT and its continuations. Each of the chapters in the first part of the book concludes with a quiz, enabling the reader to test their understanding of the concepts presented. Since being able to handle interference by the opponents is a critical element of accurate bidding, the second part of the book deals with contested auctions. The bidding methods proposed are mainstream and suitable for adoption by any partnership of intermediate or higher standard. Volume 2 considers in detail no-trump rebids, and the opening bid of 2NT and its continuations. Volume 3 contains some more sophisticated response methods, and is aimed at the serious partnership that is prepared to put more effort into the construction of their system. It also offers some effective slam-bidding ideas after a 1NT or 2NT opening. The 2022 edition underwent the most extensive revision since the books were first published in 2018. The material was reorganised to improve the reader's understanding, and many additional example deals were included, including several from the 2022 World Championships. This new (2024) edition has continued that process, with more new material and examples from recent top-level tournaments. The author has been contributing theoretical articles to various bridge magazines, including "The Bridge World" (USA), and "Bridge Magazine" (UK) for many years. He learnt to play bridge as a teenager and showed sufficient aptitude for the game to win the England Schools championship some eighteen months later. A mere half-century later, he has participated in trials to represent England Seniors in the home internationals.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1980505942
• ISBN13: 9781980505945
• Release Date: March 2018
• Publisher: Independently published
• Length: 119 Pages
• Weight: 0.51 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.0" x 0.3" x 6.0"