Marty Bergen Audio Visual Lessons

Longtime bridge teacher and author Marty Bergen is offering audio visual online bridge lessons.
Using your web browser, you will hear Marty's voice discussing the lesson
while simultaneouly viewing the bridge on your screen.

Marty's first voice lesson is To Finesse or Not To Finesse (details)
Click here to order.
You can also order the materials for all of Marty's previous online lessons.
Marty has written a series of booklets on Secrets to Winning Bridge
Ordering 1 or more lessons entitles you to a discount on Marty's booklets.

Marty has prepared a demonstration lesson for you to try.
It is a very interesting hand with many decisions in the bidding, play, and defense.
If you would like to view the lesson, fill out your name and email address below.
Then click Submit.

All technical issues are handled by computer expert Howard Schutzman.
Howard is also a prominent online bridge teacher.

If you have any questions or technical difficulties, click here to email Howard.
Click here if you would like to email Marty.

“A finesse is a tool; and you don’t use a tool without rhyme or reason,
just because it happens to be lying about.” Alfred Sheinwold

When it comes to finesses, a major philosophical difference
separates the masses from the most accomplished players.
Most players love to finesse. Finessing is usually simple,
and it provides immediate gratification (when it works).

However, experts don’t like to finesse; never have and never will.
Why? Finesses lose half the time.
Marty compares the expert’s mindset with that of a professional gambler.
He certainly doesn’t get rich on 50-50 propositions.
Of course, that does does not mean that you should never finesse.
Finessing will always be an important part of the game.

For each deal, Marty will explain exactly how and what
you should think to decide whether or not you should finesse.

Hide Solution

	North ♠ 10 9 8 3 ♥ 4 3 ♦ J 9 ♣ K 8 7 5 2
West ♠ 5 4 ♥ A Q 7 ♦ A K 10 8 4 3 ♣ 10 3		East ♠ 7 ♥ J 10 9 6 5 ♦ 7 6 5 2 ♣ Q J 9
	South ♠ A K Q J 6 2 ♥ K 8 2 ♦ Q ♣ A 6 4

Contract: 4♠ by South
Opening Lead: ♦A

As is often the case, you are in 4 of a major with 4 possible losers.
On a bad day, you'll lose 1 diamond, 1 club, and 2 hearts.
If East has the ♥A, then 4♠ is cold, so assume that West has it.

You’d like to establish dummy’s clubs and discard a heart or two.
But, if East gets in and leads a heart through your ♥K,
you will have no alternative to finessing.
In fact, because of your tenuous heart holding,
it is fair to say that East is a dangerous opponent.
On the other hand, if West has the lead, you are safe.
If he wants to lead a heart, that’s just fine with you.

Meanwhile, here you are at trick 2.
When West leads the ♦K, you have an opportunity
to lose a trick to the safe opponent, so DO NOT ruff.
Instead, discard your inevitable club loser.
Once you reduce your club holding to a ♣A6,
you'll be able to set up dummy’s clubs without any chance that East will get the lead.

West will probably exit with a trump.
No other lead would affect the outcome.
Once you no longer have a club loser, you're now happy to work on that suit.
You'll draw their trumps in two rounds.
Cash the ♣A and ♣K, and hope both opponents follow to 2 rounds.
As long as clubs split 3-2, you are all set.
Ruff the 3rd round, and lead a low trump to dummy.
Cash the two established club winners and discard your two small hearts.
Your only remaining loser is the ♥K.

If clubs were 4-1, you would lead to your ♥K and hope for the best.
If that lost, you'd be down one, but you'll have no regrets.
If clubs are 4-1 and West has the ♥A, E-W would be cold for 11 tricks,
so you will still be delighted with your result.

Click here for pricing.

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Please send me the the following audio lessons:

To Finesse or Not To Finesse

Please send me the transcript only for the following audio lessons:
(Because this option includes only the transcript and no voice or interactive features,
we recommend you choose the full audio lesson rather than this option.)

To Finesse or Not To Finesse

Please send me the materials for the following classes:

What to Do Over a Preempt
Declarer Play
Secrets of Better Hand Evaluation
Opening Leads
Competitive Bidding
Declaring Suit Contracts
What You Must Know about Balancing
How to Create Trump Tricks on Defense
What Should Opener Rebid?
Bergen on Bergen Raises
What You Must Know About Negative Doubles
Squeezes and Endplays
What You Must Know About 2/1 Game Forcing
What You Must Know About 1NT Forcing
Make Your Slams More Often
Improve Your Competitive Bidding with "The LAW"
How To Compete Over 1NT (Theirs and Yours)
How To Succeed in a Partscore
How To Compete Over 1NT - Part 2
Improve Your Slam Bidding With Control-Bids

Please send me the following booklets (you are welcome to order multiple copies of each):

If you have ordered any booklets, please select the shipping location:
Ship to United States
Ship to Canada
Ship to other location

Purchasing lessons or materials entitles you to discounts on Marty's booklets.

Audio Lesson and Transcript	$25.00
Audio Lesson Transcript Only	$20.00
Lesson materials	$20.00

Booklets ($9.95 retail)
1 Booklets	$9.00
2 Booklets	$17.00
Each additional booklet up to 7	$6.00
8 Booklets	$51.00
Each additional booklet after 8	$5.00

Shipping

United States

$2.25 for up to 4 booklets

$3.25 for 5 or more

Canada

$3.25 for up to 4 booklets

$4.50 for 5 or 6

$1.00 per 2 booklets thereafter

All other locations

$2.25 each up to 4 booklets

$10.00 for 5 or 6 booklets

$11.50 for 7 or 8 booklets

$13.50 for 9 or more booklets

Click here to purchase Marty's lesson materials and booklets.

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