📖 Overview
Bridge in the Fourth Dimension is a collection of bridge stories featuring the Hideous Hog, the Rueful Rabbit, and other memorable characters from Victor Mollo's bridge universe. The book consists of hands played at the Griffins Club, where personality quirks and psychological warfare combine with technical card play.
The narrative follows the exploits of these distinct personalities as they compete, clash, and attempt to outmaneuver each other at the bridge table. Through a series of games and deals, the characters demonstrate both brilliance and folly while pursuing victory.
The stories showcase intricate bridge problems and solutions while maintaining their entertainment value through the interactions between the recurring cast. Each chapter presents new challenges that test the players' skills and highlight their individual approaches to the game.
The book transcends pure bridge instruction by exploring the human elements of competition and the dynamics between different types of players. Its enduring appeal lies in its ability to blend technical bridge content with character-driven storytelling.
👀 Reviews
Readers describe this as an entertaining bridge book that teaches through humorous stories rather than technical instruction. The fictional characters and their personalities make the bridge concepts memorable.
Liked:
- Witty writing style and clever dialogue
- Clear explanations of advanced bridge concepts through storytelling
- Memorable characters help illustrate common player mistakes
- Balance of entertainment and education
Disliked:
- Some bridge hands are complex and hard to follow
- A few readers found the humor dated
- Not ideal for complete beginners
Ratings:
Goodreads: 4.3/5 (21 ratings)
Amazon: 4.5/5 (12 ratings)
BridgeBum.com: 4/5
From reviews:
"The characters' personalities match their playing styles perfectly" - Amazon reviewer
"Makes learning bridge psychology fun but requires existing knowledge" - Goodreads review
"Humor holds up decades later even if some references are dated" - Bridge forums comment
"More advanced than Mollo's other books" - BridgeBum review
📚 Similar books
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Stories follow the misadventures of bridge players at a London club through humorous situations and memorable characters.
The Rabbit's Defense by Paul Lukacs Bridge hands unfold through the perspective of anthropomorphized animals who make characteristic mistakes and strategic decisions at the table.
Right Through the Pack by Robert Darvas, Norman de V. Hart Each playing card tells its own story in this collection of bridge tales that blend technical instruction with narrative creativity.
Bridge in the Menagerie by Victor Mollo The first book in Mollo's series introduces the core cast of animal-themed characters who demonstrate bridge principles through their exploits at the club.
The Best of Eddie Kantar by Eddie Kantar Bridge hands and situations from tournament play illustrate common mistakes and winning strategies through narrative examples.
The Rabbit's Defense by Paul Lukacs Bridge hands unfold through the perspective of anthropomorphized animals who make characteristic mistakes and strategic decisions at the table.
Right Through the Pack by Robert Darvas, Norman de V. Hart Each playing card tells its own story in this collection of bridge tales that blend technical instruction with narrative creativity.
Bridge in the Menagerie by Victor Mollo The first book in Mollo's series introduces the core cast of animal-themed characters who demonstrate bridge principles through their exploits at the club.
The Best of Eddie Kantar by Eddie Kantar Bridge hands and situations from tournament play illustrate common mistakes and winning strategies through narrative examples.
🤔 Interesting facts
🌟 Victor Mollo created memorable fictional characters in this book, including the Hideous Hog and Papa the Greek, who became beloved figures in bridge literature and appeared in several of his other works.
🎲 The book blends sophisticated bridge strategy with humor and wit, using satirical stories to demonstrate complex card play concepts.
🏆 Published in 1974, it's considered one of the most entertaining bridge books ever written and has remained in print for decades due to its enduring popularity.
🎭 The characters in the book represent different playing styles and personalities commonly found at bridge tables, with the Hideous Hog embodying brilliant but arrogant play, and the Rueful Rabbit representing lucky but technically poor players.
📚 Victor Mollo wrote over 30 bridge books, but this particular volume is often cited as the one that best showcases his unique ability to combine technical bridge instruction with engaging storytelling.