Adam, you’re absolutely right about the trouble with problem books like Kelsey. They give you the tools to solve defensive problems - but it’s tough to recognize the problems quickly among all the “normal” hands. Suppose there was a software program that could download, say, 20 hands at a time, 12 of which contained a variety of defensive problems. Another issue is that your goal is always to beat the contract. That’s fine if you’re playing IMPs - but what about match points?
discusses books (including itself) that attempt to work around the "What do you think the trick to solving this problem at the end of the chapter on dummy reversals is...?" issue.
I think both of the app will be helpful for young bridge players to work on the exercises. The one about 1NT is a little hard to figure out then I finally figured it out to use the app. Good stuff
Adam, you’re absolutely right about the trouble with problem books like Kelsey. They give you the tools to solve defensive problems - but it’s tough to recognize the problems quickly among all the “normal” hands. Suppose there was a software program that could download, say, 20 hands at a time, 12 of which contained a variety of defensive problems. Another issue is that your goal is always to beat the contract. That’s fine if you’re playing IMPs - but what about match points?
In my book on defense I tried to pose a problem at every decision point, big or small. But it can be too much. I wish there were a good solution...
As you point out in the following paragraph, if you read an entire chapter of Kelsey over tea you are not working hard enough.
The intro to Julian Laderman's book
https://bridgewinners.com/store/ebook/a-bridge-to-inspired-declarer-play/
( Intro readable at
https://masterpointpress.com/uploads/files/products/samples/220/SAMPLE_BridgeToInspiredDeclarerPlay.pdf )
discusses books (including itself) that attempt to work around the "What do you think the trick to solving this problem at the end of the chapter on dummy reversals is...?" issue.
E.g. Bridge Play Unravelled by Freddie North
I think both of the app will be helpful for young bridge players to work on the exercises. The one about 1NT is a little hard to figure out then I finally figured it out to use the app. Good stuff
I have tried to save and put on my desk top but cannot do. So will get a friend to help me