Washington Standard by Steve Robinson

In this book, the two-time world champion describes the Eastern Scientific version of the 2-over-1 game-forcing system as played by the leading players in the Washington, DC area. As you'd expect, there are several, mostly minor, differences from the Western (or Walsh) version played by most West Coast experts and described in Max Hardy's infamous "yellow book." Neither book would win any literary prizes, but this one at least is well-organized, with every important sequence described succinctly, illustrated with example hands, and easy to find.

Many bidding sequences are designed to distinguish between 8- and 9-card major suit fits in order to take maximum advantage of the Law of Total Tricks. Thus when partner's major suit opening is doubled, 2C shows a 3-card raise with 7-9 HCP, while 2D shows a 4-card raise with 7-9 HCP. Single and double raises show 0-6 HCP with 3-card and 4-card support respectively. Strong raises with 3-card support start with a redouble. Jumps to 3C and 3D are non-forcing with invitational strength and a 6+card suit, and higher new-suit jumps are splinters.

Robinson's defense against a 1NT opening was new to the reviewer and seems quite effective. 2C shows both majors; 2D shows a major 1-suiter; 2H or 2S shows a 5-card major with an unspecified 4+card minor; 2NT shows both minors; and double shows either a 4-card major with a 5+card minor (usually) or an unspecified minor 1-suiter, or any big hand with 19+ HCP. After the double, partner bids 2C to play in doubler's minor or 2D to play in his major; other bids are pass or correct.

Another innovation is the "Last Train" cue-bid. If only one cue-bid is available before the sign-off bid in a slam-decision auction, then that cue-bid is a general purpose slam try and does not show a specific control in that suit. Thus after 1S/P/4D/P, 4H is Last Train and does not show or deny a heart control. This is similar in principle to the maximal overcall double as a game try when there is no room to use a new-suit game try.

Robinson makes a strong case for using the Smith Echo on defense. After the first trick has been completed, a high card when following to a suit played by declarer shows enthusiasm for the suit of the opening lead, while a low card is discouraging.

This book would make a more useful reference than the Hardy opus for a pair seeking to build a new 2-over-1 partnership. Even established 2-over-1 partnerships would find enough new ideas here to justify the purchase, but it would not be a good choice for most Flight C players.