Without doubt, competitive bidding is the most complex part of bridge, and even experienced partnerships can quickly find themselves in situations they have never discussed, and where the exact meaning of a bid or call is far from clear. Today's tournament players bid more aggressively than ever before, and it is critical to be able to bid accurately and constructively despite enemy auctions. In the modern game, dozens of possible meanings are assigned to doubles, redoubles and cuebids, while a smorgasbord of sophisticated relays and transfers offers further options to the advancing player.

In this book, one of the world's leading experts on bidding theory discusses current thinking, and recommends a coherent competitive bidding structure which will continue to be playable as the game enters its second century.

Marshall Miles has his own ideas on bidding, ideas that do not always coincide with prevailing expert opinion; in the past, however, he has often proven simply to be ahead of his time.