Modern Bridge Conventions: The Impact of Shape

Modern Bridge Conventions, The Impact of Shape is designed to advance the experienced player beyond the foundation classes where point count is the sole factor in determining the best level for your contract. The importance of hand shape is covered from many perspectives including the popular conventions designed specifically to handle unbalanced hands.
We'll identify the factors besides point count that lead to winning tricks. You'll learn to recognize these factors and learn new bidding techniques to better convey the shape of your hand.

This material naturally leads to a detailed discussion of the many conventions specifically designed to tell your partner about the shape of your hand such as four-card support for a five-card major, a five-card suit in responder's hand, supporting hands with extreme shortness in a side suit, and hands with two five-card suits. The book reviews basic conventions (jump shift by opener, jump shift by responder, jump to NT by opener, jump to NT by responder, reverse by opener, reverse by responder) and moves on to cover balancing, negative double, Jacoby transfer, 1NT interference conventions, Texas transfer, new minor forcing, fourth suit forcing, unusual 2NT, Michael's cue bid, sandwich NT, control bidding, help-suit game try, Splinter bids, Jacoby 2NT, two over one, Roman key card Blackwood, and Minorwood.

While not for the beginner, this book is perfect for the player who wants to take their game to the next level.