Play These Hands With Me

Play These Hands With Me is a bridge instruction book by Terence Reese that presents hands from tournament play in an interactive format. The reader analyzes each hand alongside the author, who reveals the correct plays and principles step by step. The book contains 75 bridge hands selected from actual competitions, with Reese providing commentary on bidding, play techniques, and defensive strategies. Each hand focuses on a specific aspect of bridge play, from basic concepts to advanced maneuvers. Reese's writing employs a distinctive teaching method where he pauses at critical moments to ask readers what they would do next. The hands progress in difficulty throughout the book, building on previously introduced concepts. The book demonstrates how bridge combines technical skill with psychological insight, revealing the game's depth through real-world examples rather than theoretical discussions.

Bridge players describe this as an instructive book that puts readers in Reese's seat during actual tournament hands. Many readers found value in the interactive format where Reese presents each hand as a problem and asks readers to make decisions before revealing the solution. Readers highlighted: - Clear explanations of card combinations and techniques - Focus on practical play situations over theory - Learning from both successes and mistakes Common criticisms: - Dated writing style and references - Some hands too advanced for intermediate players - A few readers found Reese's tone condescending Ratings: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (12 ratings) Amazon: 4.5/5 (8 ratings) BridgeBum.com: "A classic that teaches through real hands" Bridge Magazine: "Shows Reese's technical excellence but could be more accessible to newer players" Limited review data exists since the book is out of print and from 1960.

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🃏 Terence Reese was considered one of the world's finest bridge writers, producing over 90 books on the game throughout his career. ♠️ Published in 1960, "Play These Hands With Me" pioneered a unique format where readers experience hands from the author's perspective, seeing only his cards as each deal unfolds. ♥️ The book's innovative "over-the-shoulder" approach influenced bridge literature for decades and has been widely imitated by later authors. ♦️ During the period when this book was written, Reese was at the height of his playing career, having won multiple European Championships and the Bermuda Bowl. ♣️ Each hand in the book is presented as a problem to solve, with Reese revealing his thought process and analysis in a conversational style that made complex concepts accessible to average players.