📖 Overview
Modern Bridge Defense is an instructional text by Eddie Kantar that covers defensive play techniques in contract bridge. The book focuses on both basic defensive concepts and advanced strategies for intermediate to expert players.
The content is structured around specific defensive scenarios and includes practice hands, quizzes, and detailed explanations of correct defensive plays. Kantar presents chapters on opening leads, third hand play, second hand play, and defensive signaling between partners.
The book incorporates real game examples from tournament play to demonstrate key concepts and common defensive errors. Multiple chapters address specialized topics like counting declarer's hand and interpreting partner's signals.
This text stands as a comprehensive resource for players seeking to improve their defensive skills, with an emphasis on practical application rather than pure theory. The clear organization and focus on fundamentals make it relevant for serious bridge students at various skill levels.
👀 Reviews
Readers describe this as a thorough defensive bridge guide with clear explanations and helpful example hands. Bridge players note it works both as a comprehensive reference and a book to read straight through.
Likes:
- Step-by-step breakdown of defensive concepts
- Practice hands reinforce the lessons
- Humor makes complex topics more digestible
- Strong focus on counting and card reading
- Useful tips for both intermediate and advanced players
Dislikes:
- Some find the organization confusing
- A few readers say certain sections are too basic for experts
- Practice hands can be overwhelming for beginners
- Index could be more detailed
Ratings:
Amazon: 4.6/5 (47 reviews)
Goodreads: 4.3/5 (12 reviews)
Bridge Winners Forum: Multiple positive mentions in "recommended books" threads
"This book improved my defense more than any other resource" - Amazon reviewer
"Good content but could use better organization" - Goodreads review
📚 Similar books
Defense at Bridge One by Jim Priebe
Bridge players seeking defense mastery will find systematic hand analysis and planning techniques based on real game scenarios.
Bridge Defense in Depth by David Bird and Taf Anthias Computer analysis of thousands of bridge hands reveals optimal defensive strategies and counter-plays for complex situations.
Card Reading at Bridge by Marshall Miles Expert-level instruction focuses on inferring opponent hand patterns through bidding sequences and early plays.
Improve Your Bridge Memory by Ron Klinger A structured approach to remembering crucial card combinations and position patterns enhances defensive play capabilities.
Defensive Bridge Play Complete by Edwin Kantar This comprehensive guide builds on Modern Bridge Defense with additional scenarios and advanced defensive concepts for tournament play.
Bridge Defense in Depth by David Bird and Taf Anthias Computer analysis of thousands of bridge hands reveals optimal defensive strategies and counter-plays for complex situations.
Card Reading at Bridge by Marshall Miles Expert-level instruction focuses on inferring opponent hand patterns through bidding sequences and early plays.
Improve Your Bridge Memory by Ron Klinger A structured approach to remembering crucial card combinations and position patterns enhances defensive play capabilities.
Defensive Bridge Play Complete by Edwin Kantar This comprehensive guide builds on Modern Bridge Defense with additional scenarios and advanced defensive concepts for tournament play.
🤔 Interesting facts
🌟 Eddie Kantar has authored over 35 bridge books and is considered one of the game's greatest teachers
♠️ The book emphasizes the importance of communication between partners through defensive signals, a concept that revolutionized competitive bridge play
♣️ Modern Bridge Defense was first published in 1986 and remains a cornerstone text for intermediate and advanced bridge players worldwide
♦️ The techniques presented in this book are used by champion players and have influenced how defense is taught in bridge clubs across the globe
♥️ Author Eddie Kantar represented the United States twice in the World Bridge Olympiad and is a member of the Bridge Hall of Fame