THE LOGICAL SYSTEM OF CONTRACT BIDDING

by Victor W.Porter 'l6. The Logical Pub. Cos., Boston. p. 64. $2.00.

This little book of 64 pages boasts of being the last word in bidding and does seemingly have a bid—and a response—for every conceivable holding "accurate within aJora Q or one or two points" (A—4, K—3, etc.). While it would seem to call for letterperfect knowledge of a lot of bids and one is enabled thereby to convey very concise and accurate information it creates a surprising feeling of simplicity. For example, the author lists "exactly" seven responses to an opening bid from 2 1/2 quick tricks in 3 suits or 3 quick tricks in 2 suits, "plus his Q, J and 10," totalling some 14-16 points. Peculiarly, a 1 NT response is used to assure support in the opener's suit; a simple takeout denies it.

The bidding is grouped about the giving of information about quick tricks but point values are an integral part. Then, for the range up to game in a major suit, the author has devised—and patentedthree distributional quick tricks to be used after a trump fit is assured. Two of thema void and a singleton—are counted and bid as quick tricks while a doubleton is weighted a half a quick trick and called a stretch value—to be used in emergency to stretch to game or slam.

There are chapters on higher opening bids, preemptive bids, etc., and even on the new five suit game. The book is very well written and printed but very concise —so concise that occasionally the reader must read between the lines to supply the verb or other word, or read on and then go back but these occasions are rare and the reader will not mind them.