How to Read Your Opponents Cards: The Bridge Experts' Way to Locate Missing High Cards by Mike Lawrence [rare books]

Book Summary:

How to Read Your Opponents’ Cards is a classic instructional book by Mike Lawrence, one of bridge’s most respected players and teachers. Aimed at intermediate to advanced players, the book focuses on one of the most essential—but often underdeveloped—skills in bridge: deductive reasoning based on opponents' actions.

Rather than relying on guesswork, Lawrence shows how expert players use information revealed throughout the auction and play of the hand to infer where the missing high cards are likely to be. The book covers practical strategies for making better decisions by:

• Interpreting bidding sequences (or lack thereof)

• Drawing conclusions from opening leads and carding

• Noticing tempo and table behavior

• Evaluating distributional clues and counting the hand

Lawrence provides detailed examples and full hands to illustrate how careful observation and logical thinking can help you reconstruct the opponents' hands—almost as if you can "see through the cards."

The tone is educational but accessible, with a step-by-step teaching style that breaks down complex thought processes used by experts. While it assumes some prior knowledge of the game, it is an invaluable resource for serious bridge players looking to elevate their card-reading and defensive play.

About the Author: 

Mike Lawrence (born 1940) is a world-renowned American bridge player, author, and teacher. With decades of competitive experience, Lawrence is widely respected both for his achievements at the bridge table and for his clear, analytical teaching style in writing.

He has won:

• Multiple World Championships

• Over 20 North American Bridge Championships

• A Bermuda Bowl (the World Team Championship)

Lawrence was a member of the famed “Dallas Aces,” the first full-time professional bridge team, created in the late 1960s to compete with the dominant Italian Blue Team.

As an author, he has written more than 20 books on bridge, many of which are considered essential reading for serious players. His work is known for breaking down expert-level concepts into understandable, practical guidance. Titles such as The Complete Book on Balancing in Contract Bridge, Dynamic Defense, and Judgment at Bridge are staples in bridge literature.

Mike Lawrence is also a member of the American Contract Bridge League (ACBL) Hall of Fame, and his contributions to bridge education have had a lasting impact on generations of players.