This is mandatory reading for any bridge teacher, and highly recommended for anyone who wants to understand not just Standard American, but how a bidding system in general should work. It might be a little too heavy to be a "first book" for someone wanting to learn, but it's an essential part of any bridge player's library. Here's one example: Truscott's explanation of when to open 2 clubs? When you're worried that if you open 1 of a suit, the auction will be passed out. Too many explanations look at total points without considering defensive strength, or the practicalities of modern bidding. As Truscott points out, if you have a hand like S --, H AKQxxx, D AKxx, C KQx, you can safely open 1 heart, because somebody's going to bid spades. But change the suits to AKQxxx/AKxx/--/KQx, and it's a different story. A 2 club opener is mandatory. Put simply, you open 2 clubs because you have to, not because you can. In 30 years as a player and student of the game, I've never seen a better explanation of the bid than that. This book is filled with that kind of concise, sharp insight.
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