In my hand is an old, battered, beat-up copy of Bridge Humanics, written in 1949 by Easley Blackwood. Yes, the same Blackwood who mailed his ideas about using 4NT in a new way to Ely Culbertson about 1933. Culbertson declined to print the article; he saw no value in it. He was wrong.
The title of this book may sound like a snoozer, but the subtitle tells a different tale: How to Play PEOPLE as Well as the Cards. Blackwood reveals his professional bridge secrets and stresses human strategy (how to play the others at the table) before mechanical tactics (how to play your cards).
“You Are Better Than You Think!” is the title of the first chapter. Blackwood says, “Without adding to your present technical knowledge of bidding and play, you can win more and lose less.” How? Learn to play the opponents … and your partner. “Be Kind To Your Partner” is the third chapter.
Blackwood’s asks: “Do you strive always to make the ‘correct’ bid? … Stop it!” (p. 9). “My advice is, let someone else make the rights bids. You make the winning bids!” (p. 55).
“Most of the principles outlined are simple and easy to learn. You may wonder why you haven’t thought of them and applied them before. Well, anyway you can start now.” (p. 13). Find me (Rod Bias) ambling around the tournament, smile, slip me a ten-spot and you will be the brand new owner of this very old book.
Rod Bias, I/N Coordinator, D17.