Design for Bidding is a book by the Russian-born English bridge player S. J. "Skid" Simon, published posthumously in 1949.[1] It is about the theory of bidding in contract bridge, particularly in the context of the Acol system of which Simon was one of the co-developers. It was the first, and as of 2015[update], remains one of the few, studies of the thought processes involved in designing a bidding system, rather than simply setting out the author's conclusions.
Author | S. J. Simon |
---|---|
Language | English |
Subject | Contract bridge |
Published | 1949 |
Publisher | Nicholson & Watson |
Pages | 268 |
OCLC | 13491181 |
Design for Bidding is described as "the best thing he [Simon] has done on bridge",[2] lofty praise considering the recognition given Simon's earlier book Why You Lose at Bridge, itself "widely perceived to be the best book ever written on Bridge."[3]
Design For Bidding "remains wonderful reading, because Simon argues persuasively for the Acol state of mind style of bidding."[3]
The book is divided into three parts: I, The Inexactitude of Bidding; II, Enquiry into Bidding; and III, Design for Bidding.
Part I is a long general introduction, in seven chapters. In it, Simon sets out what he calls the "deciding factors" to be assessed before adopting a specialised meaning for a bid:[1]: 48–49
Part I concludes with Simon's description of Acol as "not so much a system as an attitude of mind".[1]: 50
In Part II, Simon discusses in turn various aspects of bidding: notably, the choice of forcing opening bid; the meaning of opening two-bids; the strength of an opening bid of 1NT; whether or not a double raise should be forcing; the forcing take-out; 4NT and 5NT and asking bids as slam tries;[Note 2] whether or not a change of suit should be forcing; and informatory doubles and intervening bids.
In Part III, Simon attempts to merge his conclusions from Part II into a unified whole.