[mike777]

Hi all

I am starting to play a bit of bridge again after years.

I am struggling to visualize my partner's and declarers hands. That is a nice way to say my defense is poor. Given bridge is a timed event any pointers on improving under time pressure?

Thanks in advance..

[pescetom]

A (re)read of "How to read your opponent's cards" by Mike Lawrence?
The assumptions about bidding and carding and both outdated and undocumented, but it opens your eyes nevertheless.

Of course this goes the opposite road of handling time pressure. I think the most important thing there is being aware when a break in tempo would give partner problems, and in that case knowing to avoid it whatever - decide an initial default choice and just follow it if time runs out before you really decide. Do not panic about time or some unexpected thought or event and override the default.

[mikeh]

See whether you can find a copy of Kelsey’s two books on defence. Killing Defence and, irrc, More Killing Defence

On a higher level, and with the problems split between declarer play and defence are his three ‘team match’ quiz books, but I’d not do those until you’ve absorbed the defence books.


As is often the case, the bidding given is archaic and was, even in its day, based upon methods common in the UK, so would be strange to many non-UK readers, but, as the bard wrote, the play’s the thing.

I expect you can find them online, though I often get sticker shock these days….if people were actually getting the listed price, my own collection must be worth a (very) small fortune, lol.

I think that, in terms of books on play, Kelsey is in a class of his own.

[pescetom]

mikeh, on 2024-December-21, 14:35, said:

See whether you can find a copy of Kelsey’s two books on defence. Killing Defence and, irrc, More Killing Defence
....

I expect you can find them online, though I often get sticker shock these days….if people were actually getting the listed price, my own collection must be worth a (very) small fortune, lol.

I think that, in terms of books on play, Kelsey is in a class of his own.

I may have been lucky, but recently bought Killing Defence (fresh from print, not even second hand) from amazon for less than $20.
It's a great book, although hard to digest and not my first suggestion for the visualisation problem OP mentioned.

[mike777]

Thank you starting reading both Lawrence and Kelsey tonight.