BRIDGE

One of the more entertaining bridge books of all time is Bob Hamman’s “At the Table -My Life and Times,” written with Brent Manley. In the autobiography, Hamman, winner of a host of national and world titles, recounts his career from the late ’50s to the mid-’90s.

The book is sprinkled with dozens of anecdotes involving the world’s greatest players and Hamman’s observations on bridge in general, plus numerous insights into the way Hamman feels the game should be played. Of particular interest is the closing chapter, in which Hamman offers his views on what it takes to be a winner.

Many of the hands in the book are culled from world and national championships in which Hamman participated. Today’s deal, from the 1970 world championship final against Taiwan, is described by Hamman (South) as follows:

“This deal put the last nail in the coffin for the Chinese. West led the spade king and I ducked. He continued with a spade and I won perforce. Next came the key play -- the club seven. I passed this to East’s 10, and the defense was helpless.

“The defenders had neither the time nor the communications to set up a diamond trick. I could ruff a spade continuation in hand, play two rounds of trumps, leaving the ace in dummy as an entry even if trumps split 3-1, and play another club. If West rose with the ace I would have the vital tenth trick in the club eight. If West ducked, I would go up with the king and play a third round with the same result.

“Desperately, East switched to a low diamond, hoping his partner had the ace or that I would chicken out and not play low, but I ducked it around to the queen. Plus 620 was good for a 10-IMP pickup since North-South were in three hearts (making only three) at the other table.”