CONTRACT B ID E

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J. W. PEARSON CHAIRMAN, ENGLISH .BRIDGE UNION

BRIDGE UNION

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COMPLETE C O NTRACT BRIDGE. Bv HUBEJ{T PH I LLlPS. An epitome of biddin~ systems and the principles of play. EYRE & SPOTTISWOODE, Hs.

T H E ELEMENTS O F C O NTRACT. By HUBEHT PHILLIPS and TERENCE REESE. Revised edition of what, in the opinion of many authorities, is the clearest exposition of the basic principles of the game. EYRE & SPOTTIS\\'OODE, lOs. Gd.

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CONTRACT BRIDGE JOURNAL

OFFICIAL ORGAN OF T HE ENGL I S H I3IUDGE UNI ON

VOLU~Ill 5 NuvEMDEH, 1 ~>50 No. I

Editor- in-Chief: H . ST. ]OliN INGHAM

Editor of London ami Southern Region: ••• Guy R.\~tsEY

Editor of Midland a nd Northern Region

Competition Editor:

llAIWJ.D FRA!'IKLIN

J . C. J-1. M.\ RX

M anuscripts and all Britlge Correspondence to : EDITOH,

CONTIL\ CT Btu DGE j OURNAL,

3 LONDON LANE, BRO~I LEY, K ENT.

Publishers : CAMDRAY PUDLICATIUNS LTD . ,

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CONTENTS l 'age CONTENTS Page

EDITOHIAL G T H E l\I IDLANDS 25

PEnSONALITY OF THE l\!ONTH 7 NOHTH EASTERN NOTES 26

BEAT THE EXPERTS, Paul Masters H NORTH \VESTEHN NOTES 27

LONDON AND SOUTHEnN ::-\OTES

Guy UaHr sey ....

THE \Vo~JAN's ANGLE

ftlm·imr Tcumwf

PonTrwsn CoNGI!ESs

Harold Fr111rlili11

H .\NU oF nm 1\loNTH

CAN WE HELl' You

BERMUUA

E .B.U. Noms

I I

16

IH

20

2 1

22

5

EASTBOUHN" CoNGHESS, Loc/icr-011 '29

CORRESPONDENCE

To THE OnotN.\RY Pr. AYER

BooK REVIEW, Guy Uamsry

Jh; sur.T oF S"J>TE~ruER CoMPETITION

DuJ>LJCATr> FOH Evr>RYnouy

F. 0. Biugham

Tms 1\ l oNTH's CmtPETJTJON, } . C. If. Mar:r ....

3S

41

EDITORiAL

T HIS issue of the Contract Bridge Journal introduces

quite a number of new features. You will have noticed that the number of pages is increased from ~~2 to -!8, giving space for a wider range of articles.

First and foremost we welcome to the staff Paul l\fasters with his " Heat the Experts" each month. Actually the set hand is · of great interest to everyone and it is fairly certain that many cg,uples will reach a far more satisfactory contract than some of the experts.

Just a word to these experts­the G.B.]. is going right out to interest every bridge player in the country, and intends to cater for the teris of thousands of ordinary players and not exclusively for the select hundred. Every endeavour will be made to cover for these aristocrats of the Bridge World, but they must not expect every other hand published to be a Delayed Criss Cross Squeeze or similar terms so dear to the hearts of some players.

l\Ir. Guy Ramsey · and l\Ir. Harold Franklin will cover all the news in the South and North n.egions respectively, and many leading writers will contribute from lime to time.

Everyone will be ]Jleased to know that l\fr. Jack l\ larx is to continue as CompetitiOIJ Editor, his column gets more popular each month. The G.B.]. service to readers (see page 21) is likely to be much appreciated and it will be surprising if there is not a big response.

6

Bridge in this country is still in its infancy, especially as an organised game and when one hears of the tens of thousands of players who arc members of their Associations in Nonvay, Sweden, Denmark, etc., it is remarkable that this country, which is at the moment on the crest of the wave in the Bridge World, is so very much behindhand when it comes to National l\Iembership. Dupli­cate Bridge is undoubtedJy one of the most enjoyable games ever devised and .as so many are aware, an e\'ening's play ' ·can be of absorbing interest and excitement without a penny piece being at stake. If readers of these notes are not conversant with duplicate bridge, we would advise them to immediately get in touch with any county Association or write direct to this journal.

* * * * * From the 13th to the 18th

November, the World Ch<unpion­ships will be played in Bermuda. Full details have been co\·ered in another part of the journal, but it is a pleasant thought for Britishers that there is at least one game where we can hold our own. It is not going to be easy in Bermuda, far from it, but the players going out there have the very best wishes of all. Without asking for all the luck, may they get their share. They \\'On at Brighton chiefly because tlzev were 1/ze team least rattled durinitlwt lu·clie final session and undoubtedly they will be successful in Bermuda if they adopt the same tactics of not allowing themsel\'es to be upset whatever the reason. Now go to it boys-Cool, calm and collected.

PERSONALITY OF THE MoNTH J. Vv. PEARSON

E LECTED this year as Chair-man of the English Bridge

Union, it would be hard to find anyone more suitable for the position than John Westall Pearson. Experienced far beyond the average man as a Chairman, J.W. is what one would describe as made for the job.

To s\'e his alert upright figure it is difficult to belie\'e that he was born in Gainsboru' in 18n­yes 1872 not 1892. Educated at kepton, he was married in Glasgow in 1900 and last September 18th , Mr. and Mrs. J .\V. celebrated thP.ir Golden \Vedding and if it is not too late, here are all good wishes for many more happy years.

A successful Chairman has to have quite a number of qualifica­tions, tact, humour, ability to keep members to the point at issue and above ali, impartiality. One can gather how Pops Pearson fits into this picture when it is realised that he has occupied the following offices-Chairman and 1\Ianaging Director (for :~2 years) of the British Oil and Cake Mills Ltd., .Director of Lever Bros. and Unilever Ltd., Director of Mother­weB Bridge and Engineering Co. Ltd .• London and Rochester Trading · Co. Ltd., Founder and Chairman of the National Seed­crushers Association, Founder and President for 30 years of the International Association of Seed Crushers and just for make weight he has been Hon. Secretarv for :~6 years of the Tunbridge \Veils Golf Club. Trnly a mighty list.

As Founder and President of the K ent Contract Bridge Association, Pops has always been

7

to the front in promoting the best interests of Contract and his eldest daughter, 1\Irs. 1\Iaud Corbett, is now the Hon. Secretary of the Association and also Pro­prietor of the \Vest Kent Club at Tunbridge Wells.

Pops Pearson with a rather assumed air of resignation told me he was nut known fur anything else except as " the father of Dorothy Pearson." Behind the resignation, however, 1 obsen·ed a keen twinkle and it was easy~tu see how pleased he is to have this title, and lJUite rightly too. Dorothy Pearson ha.S attained fame in several spheres. She was English Ladies Golf Champion in 1933 and represented her country in the European Bridge Champion­ships in 19-lS and all who know her will understand·· Father's Pride."

In the Bridge \Vorlrl very little is heard of Mrs. Pearson, although she is often to he found as a non­combatant at South Coast Con­gresses. However, there is one field where she has achie\·ed much fame. Prior to the war she had the largest Bulldog Breeding Kennels in England, including many champions. The Hattie of Britain was fought over thei~heads and one can almost feel that some of their bulldog courage ascended to the boys overhead. Whether thev are Kentish Bulldogs or Bulldogs of Kent I would not know.

Pops tells me that as Chairman of the E.B.U., he has_onechiefaim and that is to make bridge in this country as popular as it is in America and most of the European countries. Here's to the success of his endeavours.

BEAT THE ExPERTS

WHAT asks J\lr. J. \\' .. Gerber of Gi ffnock, H.cnfrewshirc, is

the correct Acol bidding of the following hand :

Game All : Dealer South. + J IO -l '::} AQJ73 0 K 5 -+ Q 8~

+AKS<j '::} K 9 0 7 3 + Al\.9(j5

When :Mr. Gerber held the South hand the bidding had proceeded :

South I+ I+ -l N.T. No Bid

North 11::) :JI::) 51::)

Six Hearts of course, is an excellent contract, ancll\Ir. Gerber contends that his partner, having a Diamond control, should have bid six over four No-trumps, while his partner maintained that four Clubs would have been a better bid than four No-trumps.

We find it difficult to fully agree with either point of view, and we must put a large question mark . after North's rebid of Three Hearts - at Acol this is a bid which can quite easily be passed, and North certainly has game values. Yes­we know there is no really satis­factory bid for North, but more of this anon. And once North has elected to bid Three Hearts, we feel that South's best action is the classic bid of Five Hearts which clearly shrieks for ~ Diamond control for the slam.

by PAUL MASTERS

In spite of this we could not, in all conscience, suggest a good method of reachii1g Six Hearts (largely because of our inability to condone North's second bid of Three Hearts). The remedy was obvious -bring on the experts.

The ball was put in motion by Leslie Dodds and J. Pavlides, who were run to ground at the Hamilton Club. They play C.A.B. which, like Acol, is an approach system. Dodds bid a confident Club with the South hand and Pavlides produced One Heart. Dodds countered with a brisk One Spade, and then the tempo of the bidding faltered. Pavlides, tom between several lines of action, emerged with Three Clubs and now it was Dodds' tum to worry. Wearing a slightly hunted look, he hazarded a Four No-trump (Blackwood). Partner bid Five Diamonds and the look deepened. Dodds closed the auction with a bid of Six Clubs, observing at the time " I think I've trapped myself." When Pavlides showed him his hand he knew he had. Six Clubs fails on a Diamond lead if the Ace is wrong, or if the Clubs break four and one. Not a good slam, and particularly so when six is almost certain in Hearts.

Dodds decided that Four No­trumps was an ill-timed _bid. Three Hearts, he thought, wollid have filled the bill rather better, for then North would have been able to bid three No-trumps with a Diamond hold, or make any other constructive bid that his hand · might suggest. And, of

· course, if they finally went to

8

CONTRACT BRIDGE JOURNAL

slam, North could be the declarer at six No-trumps and be thus protected against an opening Diamond lead.

Still C.A.B., and this time the participants were .Mr. E. Rayne with the South hand and .Mrs. Gordon, North. This was their

South (Rayuc)

I+ I+ -l N:r. 6\/ No Hid

bidding; North

(Mrs. Gurdvu) 1\/ 3\/ 50 G N.T.

1\Irs. Gordon examined the two hands with obvious pleasure. Five Heart tricks, five Club tricks, if the suit broke and two top Spades, with a chance for four Spade tricks if the Club suit were unkind. And the bright idea of bidding Six No-trumps protected the Diamond position, since the lead would be round to the King.

And then she realised the horrible tmth. Rayne had bid the first No-tmmps and the King and another Diamond would be exposed in their ncar nakedness. An opening Diamond lead with the Ace wrong would hold out a very bleak prospect. The fact that they had " escaped " from the near-certain Six Heart con­tract did not improve the general outlook.

At this stage we introduce one of the few top-class husband and wife combinations- Ewart and Lynne Kempson. l\1 rs. Kempson modestly disclaiming expertness, stoutly maintains that Ewart has more than enough for two, and Ewart is far too courteous to disagree. Playing the Kempson system, a form of natural bidding, they produced this auction.

9

South (Mrs. 1\cmpsou)

North (Kcmpsou) ~\/ ~·

~· 5+ No Bid

Five Clubs was at least the safest contract so far reached by our experts, since it would fail only if two Diamonds were lost and the Clubs broke four and one.

l\lrs. Kempson was in no doubt about this one. She authoritative­ly stated that over Two Spades, the correct " Kempson " bid on the North hand was Three No­tmmps. This, she said, would have enabled her to bid Six No­trumps without a qualm, a most excellent contract with North as Declarer. The inventor o( the system had a slightly different

· view. Five Clubs, he thought, was the middle course, and he pre­ferred to play safe on questionable slam hands.

At this stage in our researches .Mr. Gerber and his partner appeared to be holding the premier place. Pained to see our experts so hum bled before our very eyes, we decided to call in the scientif1c school. " Baron " disciples Adam l\Iercdith (South), and Norman Squire (North) were the victims. And here again are the hands. + J 10 -l

\/ A Q] 7 ~i 0 KS + Q 82

+ A K SG \/ K 9 0 7 :i + AKHGS

One Club from l\leredith, One Heart from Squire and One Spade from l\lercdith were pure routine ; and the first long think was with Squire. He emerged

CONTHACT DlUDGE JOURNAL

with the classic " Baron " bid of the fourth suit-Two Diamonds. This is a temporising bid which cannot be passed and which saves North the annoyance of having to make a decision. It was not passed-but Meredith's next bid of Three No-trumps was. A humiliating contract, Three No­trumps, played by the South hand. Defeated on a Diamond lead if the Ace were over the King, and with such a variety of safe contracts available.

Squire had no strong views to offer-l\Ieredith had. North, he said, could · not afford the luxury of the Two Diamond bid, since his Diamond holding made it very important to have the No-trump lead round to him. Obviously, said l\leredith, North had no completely satisfactory bid over One Spade, but Three No-trumps was the least evil. North had game values, and this militated against Three Clubs, Three Hearts or Three Spades, all of which were strictly limit bids; and the waiting bid of Two Diamonds might, as in fact it did , result in the wrong hand playing the No­trumps. lt was difficult to tell what the eventual result of a Three No-trump bid by North would be (South was probably worth some further effort), but it would at least result in a plus score. ,

.:\col to the fore next , in the persons of N. Gardener <tncl L. Tarlo, a partnership which contri­buted strongly to Great Britain's Brighton victory. This was their sequence:

South (Garde11er)

I+ I. :1 N.T.

North (Tarlo) I~ 20 No Bid

Bid for bid, in step with Squire and 1\Ieredith-and so were the comments. The Gerber stock was soaring rapidly.

\Ve thought one more pair ought to have the opportunity to disgrace themselves and we elected two ladies who, like our last pair, had played with particular distinction at Brighton -l\Irs. Williams and· 1\T rs. Evans

One Club-One Heart- One Spade-came with machine-gun rapidity and we now waited for the two minute trance that we had come to expect. But l\Irs. Evans found the answer much more quickly than that and wonder of wonders, her answer was the elusive ·- Three No-trumps which had escaped all the other North players. The complete auction was:

South North (Mrs. ·Williams) (Mrs. Eva11s)

I+ 1~ I + 3 N.T.

10

-t+ .tO 4~ 5~ 6~ No Bid

A beautifully compact sequence, with every bid doing a real job. Over Three No-tf1.1mps l\Irs. Williams, who had so much in reserve, was clearly worth a try, and Four Diamonds was North's obvious waiting bid and showed­important, this-some Diamond control. Four Hearts clearly showed the King and encouraged l\frs. Evans to the slam try which Mrs. Williams with her excellent control, rightly accepted. Top of the class for the ladies.

We hoped that the experts would teach l\Ir. Gerber how to bid this hand. We now lind it difficult to decide who has learned from whom. Perhaps our readers will tell us.

LONDON & SOUTHERN REGIONAL NOTES

by GUY RAMSEY

T HE E.H.U. is \'Cry wisely encouraging the younger gen­

eration of players. In the Cam rose Trial for Londoners, two pairs of University notables, Alan Truscott and R d'Unienville just down from Oxford, Swinnerton-Dver and Smart who arc still · - at Cambridge, arc taking the Jlcld.

It is not only official encourage­ment that these young men reccin, it is good to note : both JJr. Sidney Lee and the brothers Tarlo ha,;e been indefatigable in both training and, which is even more Yaluable, playing in teams and partnership with, the hopefuls anrl the almost certainties of tomorrow.

1\1. Harrison-Gray and J. C. H. l\larx arc doing likewise with a group only a little older. For the Gray-~larx Gold Cup team this year has <!S its members Algernon lie Hor:>e~·. Rodney Smith and DPrri ck Hirsch ; an,ong the slrongc~t Crockf<;rd':-. periornlf~rs and, it may well be, the Jnt•~r­nationals of 195?.

Nothing but good can conw of tltc great players of the present ensuring by personal precept, example and training, that the mantles of our Elijahs shall fall upon the shoulders of adequate Elishas.

J\1eantinw the game goes on. At Crockford'~ six ot seven hrats of sixteen arc queueing up for the annual Club Individual that goes by the name of the Anderson Cup ; and the fortnightly Duplicates,

run unrlcr t!te gpn tic guidance and beaming smile of Percy Charters, just under way, have notched up a score fur Dr. O'Toole and 1\lrs. Phillips, Victor Berger ;md l\[rs. Doris Turner in the inaugural Session. ·

At the Gloucester, the monthly team-of-four Duplicate resulted in a victory for Dr. Solon, Dr. Wigg and 1\Ir. and 1\Irs. Trevor. Harris; while Harrison-Gray and Joel Tarlo arc heading the Club League.

Leclercrs famous and popular :i\lixed Pairs (first Tuesday in each month) saw l\lrs. Markus and :i\lr. Harold Lever, 1\I.P. winning one way, and 1\Ir. and Mrs. Rosenbaum the other in the strong Jleld attracted to the inaugural session.

11

The must active Duplicatcccntrc in London at the n1omcnt is what is currcnlly tcrmccl "Bridge H.Q." - i.e. the London Club. With two Pairs events weekly (on Wednes­days and Fridays- the latter clashing with the Gloucester, much to the weeping, wailing and teeth-gnashing of thr hitter) and either a team-of-four or an Imli­vidual on Sunt!avs, ~o. l<l Berkeley StrcP.t (and ·Major George Gray) arc up to their eyes.

The \\ inncrs' names, since the summer brPak, sho·.v the variety and the \'ariation of thr contest­ants. In the Individual , 1\lrs. Wellman, 1\1 rs. Shammon and Eric Har\'ey ha\'e all registered top scores ; and among the pairs,

CONTRACT DlUDGE JOURNAL

the Sharples twins together; Bob Alas for the well-laid plans of Sharples and Lauzcr Phillip~ . ; mice, men, master bridge players, l\lrs. Shammun and Fox ; l\11ss and l\Ir. Shapiro. On the Ace of Curry ancl Dr. Hobson, Harrison- Spades everyone duly followed . Gray and Dr. O'Toole; l\Irs. On the Ace of Hearts everyone Williams and Karel Stepanek ; duly followed. But the King of Hugh Collins (E.B.U. Secretary) Hearts was cruelly ruffed ahead and Dr. Solon ; 1\Irs. Titmas and of l\lr. Shapiro-by the now bare Dr. Doman; James and Banji; King! and Halph Evans and Rodney The hand was shown to a large Smith ha,·e all chalked up a win. numberoffincplayers. Jackl\Iarx

* * * * * and most others unhesitatingly i\lr. Boris Shapiro was seen not only endorsed the line of play

glooming the other day : cursing but found it independently at the gods for all the World like a sight. For this has many possi­Shakespearian villain or a victim bilities : if the Ace of Spades of Greek tragedy. He had received should catch the bare King and if what he claimed was the most the Hearts divide 3-3, Seven undeserved and coldest bottom could be made ; if not, the ever to be inflil'tccl upon a man chances of getting two Hearts who had played correctly. through are good.

On these two hands a contract Only 1\Ir. Konst<im, regarding of Four Spades was reacher! :- lite hand, said that (which I, for + AQ I Oxxxx ~ J x one, take leave to doubt) he was a 1-:J x x \:} A K 0 x x simple soul; he wins the Diamond, 0 .-\ x 0 x x x'" crosses to the Heart and finesses + x x + x x x the trumps. This line of play,

Most players passed the Eastern found by the only other player to hand and subsequently played in achic\'e -! + .makes an unbeatable Two or Three Spades. i\lrs. ele,·en tricks! Fleming ventured One Heart and The Konstam theory: " If J\lr. Shapiro forced at once : "I anyone else is in -! + . that is how always force un these hands" said they will play it; therefore that is he. The final contract, was now ' the way I will play it. In a team inevitable. of four, I should still play it that

1\lr. ShapiTo permitted himself wa~r . I am a simple soul." a preliminary chortle, !>ince it was, The simple finesse is an admitted at sight, ·long odds that few pairs 50-50 proposition ; ~ l r. hapiro would have "got tlwn.! ." On the claims that the odds on his scheme k:ad of a Diamond {unkind!), he arc 90 per cent. Mr. Konstam reviewed the position and e\·olved chortled. lhc following line of plav : Win * * * * Diamond, cash Ace of · Spades, 1\lrs. Lester, just back from cross lo Dnmmy with Heart and Dun Looghaire, is bubbling with play three rounds. . 1ow, if the praise at the whole-hearted wel­man with only two Hearts (the come accorded by the Irish; and odds say lhey \\'ill split -!<~) hac! with laughter at one comment originally either a singleton trump made to team _ mate Karel or Kx, the contract is made. Stepanek. The cards fell

1:!

CONTRACT BRIDGE JOUhNAL

+ A K 7 ~ + .1 10 H 4 the Hon. Secretary, for her past \? ,\ H :1 4 \? K 10 G :~ · services. 0 A Q J 0 K ;:; 4 ~~ * * * * * + A Q , + 7 Plans arc already in process of

The sequence found by i\1 rs. formulation for the big Inter­Lester (the cards she holds!) and Association event that was both !\Irs. (Philly-Willy) Williams was: popular and successful at its 2+ - 20- 2N.T.- 30- 3+ - 4+ - 6+ : premiere last season-when teams very excellent bidding too. On of twelve from the London the lead of the Knave of Hearts, Association, the Civil Service, the with the Spade finesse right, the United Banks, the Insurance contract came home-and was the Institute, NALGO and the Lon­only slam to be made ! Some pairs don Business Houses Leagues all lloundereu in <i N.T., but the Club competed in an eYent \\'On (as was, finesse was wrong and the perhaps, to br expected) by the Diamonds did nut permit of an group of top-rankers ticlcled by o\'ertakc. Although the Spade London. finesse was right, the player with Thisevent- towhich the Oxford the Queen held Qxxx, so that a and Cambridge University teams Spade could not be used as an have asked to be inYited-will be entry. repeated in the New Year.

J\lr. Stepanek was on the de- * * * * * fending end of the slam ; and at " Positively last . hand "-for hi~ table, the contract was 6 N.T. this month anyway. System The lead was a Diamond, won by (inevitably) Two Clubs and Black­Declarer, who crossed to Dummy's wood ; ·Strong No-tmmp, partner. Heart King and successfully ran Dealer (Vulnerable) 2\?. Secona the Knave of Spades, on which hand, No bid ; ProspectiYc 1\Ir. S. perforce dropped his single- Dummy holds :- _ ton Eight. A second lead finesse + x x \?Qx x OK.Qx x x x + x x was refused and the King played! What to bid? 2 N.T. with sub­When the Declarer's partn er sequent reluctant admission of wailed "Why, 0 why?" the Heart support? 2 N.T. \\ith reply came pat : "l\fr. Stepanek subsequent bid of Diamonds? is such a good player, I felt sure Immediate 30 ? Immediate 3\?? he was holding up the Queen ! " Quat homines, tot senlentiae. Actual

* * * * * holder bid 2 T.T. determined to be The Civil Service Association guided by light of nature and

inauguratecl on October 16th its subsequent bidding, just what he season with a " military bridge would do later. drive" at which 150 people Fourth-hand, unexpectedly, appeared ; a major undertaking butted in with:~+ to which Opener in view of the limited accommoda- replied even more unexpectedly , tion available. with -t+. This was (obviously)

" The bridge on this occasion corrected to a red suit-hut to will be," said 1\lr. A. E. Field, which? Actual holder thought " social rather than competitive." the Heart support was the right

At this meeting, a gold watch thing to sho\\'. was presented to l\liss l\1. Byrne, Butter-in now found (Coo!) S+

13

CONTKACT BRIDGE JOURNAL

anJ Opener, 51\7. Six Clubs says next man and now, at lonp: last, were the Diamonds shown. Opener corrected to Gy>, and the butter-in found, with no undue hesitation, 7+ . This was Doubled and went but t.wo down : excellent.

Opener held :-+ AKxx y>A KJlOxxx O Ax +­

J>nzzle : Whose chuck? Says Opener : " Yours-you

should han bid :iO immediately over~\/."

ViPv; endorsed by scicntis~ ~orman Slluirc who said lhe three cards H.espomler on the negative ~ N. T. could not have were the King-Queen of Diamonds a11d the Oueen to three Hearts. " You're 1'l'o1. ashamed of that hand opposite ;L Two-bid, are you? Especially when it is a Two Heart bid? "

Responder says : '' Yours-you had a 2.Y. bid-not a mere 21\7 opening."

Says Opener : " 1 had only 5tH not SL 1 had too many l~~ers for a 2+ bid." -

Says l{esponder : " With an almost solid seven-card suit ; with 5QT ; with a void; and with four controls, a 2+ bid is obligatory."

Passed to vou. Sorry. Not quite the last hand;

here . <tre . two more for your consideration. How to get to unbreakable Six and unbrea kable Seven on these two?

0 j>e11cr Nespo11dcr + :\ ~l 8 7 + K ~2 .J -t \/ K~7-l ~{2 <::; A.J 0 A G :{ 0 0 -t 2 + - + J lO 7 (j

and

+ A K~H7 \/ K 4 0 K 0 ;1

+ KQ3

+ \2 (i Y'-0 A 10 -t 2 + A 9 8 7 6 52

14

Lf you can solve them, you'n• a better man than half the experts ! In the first case, a Heart opening (doubtful on any but a " light opening" system such · as Acol or Kempson) will produce a Spade; even if Opener now bids :10-something of an overbid after opening-will receive probably :1 N.T. If Opener now bids 4+, can H.esponder do much else? A cue-bid in Hearts with wobbly Diamonds and no Club tops docs not seem too bright ; and Black­" ·ood is just asking for trouble.

On the second, a 2 N.T. opening may get you to 7+ ; but would any player bid 2 N.T. on a 20-count only with the five-card major not solid? Over I+ (the shape, despite the count, is unsuit­able for 2+ ), Responder cannot bid much more than 2+ ; and even if Opener Il_OW shows his power with a phony bid of 30, eliciting -l O, where does the Opener go then. He has no Culbertson 4 N.T. bid with but one Ace ; nor has Responder with no King. Blackwood cannot show a void. So what ?

* * * * Yet another sorry contro\'ersy

has been precipitated o\·er this poor old game of ours-one that cuts deeper than any battle of systems, wrangle of master-players or e\'en questions of selection. The present troubled waters break 011 the rock of racial prcjudict'.

'' Somewhere in Southern England " a County Association announced its A.G .l\f. The venue was fixed at a Club which follows a rule, either de jure or de facio, of No Jewish l\fcmber.

One' of the Jewish players in the area asked in the name of the Jewish community, for the venue

CUN 'rlc\CT 11HlDGE jOUHNAL

to be changed, since none of them wi~hed to enter a Club where they were not welcome. The request was refused.

A letter, drew from the Associa­tion's Honorary Secretary a reply attempting to shift the onus. Conceding the ntle, the Secretary pointed out that no Member of the Club was forbidden to intro­duce a Jewish guest (in the fashion that certain exclush·e Clubs in India barred e\·en from this pri,·ilege any 'native' how­en•r exalted his rank).

.:\t the proposed A.G.i\1., con­tinued the Secretary, no member of tbe Association, Jew or Gentile, woulrl be barrerl ; and if, therefore the Jewish clement still stayed away, 'it re<ould be tile ]cil'S 7dl0 barred tile Club ' : not the Club the Jews.

1 t would, concluded the Secretary, side-stepping the issue -which was an alteration of the n•nue-be an impertinence for the Association to attempt to interfere with the Club's internal policy.

It is probably tnte to say that the original decision-to hold the meeting in the proposed Club -was taken with no intention to

. embarrass the Jewish members of the Association.

It is tenal>lc that the final letter from the Jewish spokesman was ill-advised in style.

l tis uncierstanc\ahle enough that the Association, on receipt ·of this Jetter, with its final threat to report the matter to E.B. U. and B.B.L, could not bring itself to retract from its original position to admit an error is never easy and generosity often difficult.

To discriminate against any section of the community is

15

in diametric opposition to the traditions of the country ; and to discriminate-or attempt to specifically against the Jews in the world of cards is, like the recurrent efforts to bar them from the worlds of finance and arts, ostrich-like,- Canute-like and just plain silly.

* * * * This is obviously a matter for

the County Association and its parent body the E.B.U.

Why oh why must there be such Sf]Uabbles in the Bridge world. Surely we can enjoy a game of Bridge without intro­ducing trouble such as the above, whether it be about Catholics Jews, Hottentots, Eskimos o; what you like. Please cut it out all you good people, and let's get on with the next H.ubbcr.

lt ~annot be stated too definitely -this Journal will not join anv ciique-take sides with any set or race-will not advance the claims of any particular club to the detrime.nt of another and perhaps most important of 'all­will not seek to interferdnmatters which do not concern its readers in general.

EDITOH •

PLEASE PASS THIS THE

TO

COPY OF JO URNAL

A FRIEND.

THANK YOU !

W HEN one of England's fore­most women bridge players

decides to give a party in her own home, how does she go about it?

Tall, fair Ladv H.hocles, whose ;,oft , warJII Yoicc belies her ex­tremely able mimi (she's on the Com1itil tee of the London ,\ssociation !) provides the answer . . . . .

" lt may be unorthodox, but 1 like to start at 12, and have two or three rubbers before lunch ! Then cocktails, lunch-a proper mea I and nul snacks-and we go on until about -L I ;'i. Then we have a cup of tea-nothing else-and finish about 6."

Lady Wwcles always has four guests, to give a chance to cut out, and giyes her home bridge party only once in a month or three weeks because, of course, she usually plays clt_lb bridge.

She likes to plan a lunch that is light but satisfying, yet not so satisfying as to make her guests lethargic. A favourite Autumn menu is ..

Melon, Grouse, Ice Cren m, Parmesan \Vafers.

These wafers are one of Lad y Rhodes "specials." H ere is ho\v they <~r? made ..... take eq ual ~1uantJtJes of butler (or marg<lrine 1f you are hard pressed), and grated parmesan cheese, add pepper and salt, mix to a smooth paste, spread between two un-

sweetened wafers, and pop in the oven for about twenty minutes.

The ' ' Ri ght '' Food Of course, if you're going to give

a bridge lunch, and start playing an hour or so before lunch, you may find yourself in difficulties if you ha\'e no one to cope with the cooking. But for Londoners I know one excellent way out. It is called " Casseroles." These admir­able people will do all the work for you, and entirely unobtrusi\'ely, for they will not even · cross the threshold.

They will provide a first-rate lunch, ready cooked in a casserole, so that all you have to do is to heat it up. (lf you live in London around Ken s ington, where Casseroles arc headquartered, they will deliver lo your door, ami collect the next clay . If you're further out, they may ask you to do the ac tual fet c hing and carrying.)

They offer a choice of mouth­watering menus that are just light enough, just satisfying enough to fortify you for an afternoon ~f serious concentration. And therr prices are pleasingly modest. .

Spaghetti 1\Tilanaise, made w1th fresh mushrooms and tomatoes, is 1/Gd . a head. Sole Veronique,

· with fresh white grapes, or Sole 1\fornay, 3/Gd. A casserole of pigeon, cooked in red wine, also ~1/Gcl. And to finish, possibly a strawberry or lemon mousse, 1/-·

And if .you have ideas of your

16

CONTHACT BHIDGE JOURNAL

own, these enterprising people are PATIENCE yery co-operative and ready to talk things over.

The 11 Right"'' Clothes I've been talking to the male

element in the bridge world about women's clothes, and find strong Yiews. Indeed, it would be more accurate to sav the male element has been talking to me I

" Clothes that won't distract" il says pleadingly .... meaning muted colours, freedom from eye­catching clutter. " Sleeves that don't droop all o\·er the place and muss up the tricks when dummy is being played " it says with vehemence. "No jangly brace­lets" it adds hopefully.

In short, bridge-playing women, according to bridge-playing men, must be pleasantly subdued in all hul their minds which should be as bright as can be--on the game in hand. (They should award top marks to Lady Rhodes, who has a restrained elegance, and beauti­fully groomed hands.)

In answer to all this I hand­somely refrained from quoting the endearing superstition of the late S. J. Simon, who always wore his " lucky " shirt . . . . . which happened to be bright red, liable to confound his opponents (and sometimes his partners!)

By the way, many of the country's top bridge players have succumbed to Canasta. Mrs. }~en­shaw, who played in the Interna­tional at Brighton, now plays an equally formidable game of Canasta. So does Terence l~ecse.

Post-script . . . . . l\1 y own twelve-year-old son is such a Canasta enthusiast that he cleans all his young companions out of pocket-money I An omen for the future?

Sitting in the Club waiting for a four or at home waiting for visitors to arrive for the weelky game of Bridge can be very wearisome, and nothing helps to while away this time more than a game of Patience.

\7

The complete book of Patience by Albert H. :i\lorehcad and Geoffrey i\fott-Smith is ideal, covering no less than 150 games of Patience.

Published bv Faber and Faber, Ltd., at 12/6d., the book is well illustrated with layouts of the cards and easily understood.

* * * * A BOLTON WANDERER

Some of our leading players arc rather prone to be " clever " with their remarks when they do condescend to speak to " small fry" at Congresses. One got a very nice bit of repartee at a South Country Congress some time ago.

A lady from Lanchashire had played a contract of two Spades which had gone one off.

Mr. Clever turned to her and said" \\1here do you come from." "Bolton" was the reply. " Rather a long way to come from, to go one down in two Spades " ven­tured l\Ir. C. " Yes it is " said the the Bolton Lady " but then you sec, in Bolton we should have played it in three No Tmmps with your cards, which is un­beatable"

Sure enough she was right, although perhaps it was not biddable.

* * * *

THE N .I.B.U. CoNGREss W E were so impressed with the

Roval Portrush Golf course that we" were prepared to rise at eirrht ack emma to attack it. \Vc ,., funnel the company at the Congress hotel so stimulating all(] so agrce­abil• that at four o'clock in the morning we were contemplating­" one for the road." \Ve would probahly have enjoyeu our bed had we found the time to get to know it better. ~ince sleep could not be quite denied, the soothing hours bdween dinnP.r and mid­night were dedicated to tha t purpose : our long-suffering part­uer sti ll insists ti·,at the bridge table is ll1e wrong place for that ~· urt of thing.

Om readers will gather from the foregoing that life at the Northern Ireland Congrc:ss is a very crowded affair-crowded, one should add, only with the best of things. The organisers arc fortunate in having at their disposal a hotel so well sui ted to their purpose. The playing conditions arc excel!cnt and the midnight bathing in a well-appointed indoor pool " touches off" the party spirit in a distinctive manner.

The sucres:; of the congress is lounded on much more than a few fortunate circumstances. 1t has a most solid basis (considered from any angle) in the persons of \Valla r.c ~.racCallum and George Sloane. lite first named is the congress on;anisr.r- the volume of h.is eorresponc~cnce and the pllllC­tJhousness w1th which it was r:_a rried on horrifies us. George Slo:llle, whose mellifluous ton•:: and microphone technique lulls ~he mo;;t . wayward competitor mto obecltence is simply the

Tournament Dire ctor J)ar cxcellcllct!.

The main theme at Portrush , was the party one. .t\ gathering of

r <=:ople whose main pleasure was in each other's company, a prevailing spirit of amity and good-fellowship. There w<>.s a subsidiary motif of bridge-playing in the course of which severn! trophies were won nnd lost.

18

The Teams of Four ChamjJion­ship was won for the second succe~sive year by :Mr. H. Ford's Blad:pool-Leicester combination, an excellent performance. Mrs. Ford, Miss Hepworth and l\Ir. P. de R. Pearce comprised tht' team. In second place were l\Ir. H. Kershaw (Glasgow) with ~frs. C. Gallagher (Dublin), Mrs. G. Lee and D. Lan\bert (Belfast). and third were Mrs. Hopewell and 1\Iiss }\leuser of Nottingham with Mr. and Mrs. Robinson of Black pool.

K. Stepanek aml H. Franklin \\'O n the Pairs Championship with that well known Irish international pair 1\Iessrs. E. Goldblatt and B. Vard in second place. .

The Ladies Teams of Four was yet another Blackpool success, l\Irs. Ford, l\liss Hepworth, l\Irs. Lee and l\frs. Williams gaining a handsome victory after leading throughout. The consolation prizes went to a Leeds-Leicester­Birmingham - Belfast combine (H. Brostoff, T. Stanlev, Mrs. :\. Tollett, T. l\Ic ernon), an indica­tion of the way people get togeth~r at this Congress.

An even clearer indication came on the Sunda? evening in the match-pointed event for mixed pairs. The successful combina-

CONTHACT ilRlDGE JOUHNAL

tions were W.l\[acCallum (Belfast) dummv, failed to be infected. and l\Iiss Mahoney (Cork), P. de East l:nrouraged with the Se\·en J\. Pearce (Leiccstrr) and 1\[iss of Clubs and declan'r won the Hepworth (Biackpool), l\Irs.Lynne firsl trick. The Jack of Hearts (Dublin)andJ .Gallagher(Galway), was sucCI~ssfully finessed and the flirt;. l~osc Cohen (Cork) and closed hand entered with a L. Herbert (Belfast), l\Jr. ancll\lrs. Diamond. ,\ second Heart finesse H. Ford (Hlarkpool) and l\Jrs. followed by the Ace brought the Ba~lible (Dublin) and H. Franklin suit down. On the thirteenth (Leeds). H<.'art East discarded a Spade and

)io Congrc~s rl'port would be \\'Pst a Club. A second Diamond complete w1lhout a hand, and w;~s led on which East discarded a l1erc IS one from tlw Teams of further Spade. South won and Four e\'en t which pro\·ed a success exited wilh a low Club. East story for lhe ]\obinsons of took four Club tricks, hut had to Blackpool : finally lead up to the :\Q of Spades. + A <-J ~ :~ This was the full deal. Nurlh ~ I\ Q J -l North + A Q s :~

0.17~ ~AQ J-1 + SS (>J 7~ • 10 ~ + ~ 5

S,m/11 ~ 8 G :~ South + J 7 5 + K 9 6 ·l 0 A K 6 5 ·:{ ~ K 10 ~ ~ 9 7 5 + Q .T 4 0 Q 10 9 4 0

Korth dealt and hid a S11adc- + 9 6 :~ + • 10 3 bult-in by East of Two Clubs and

Two Diamonds by South. :=--rorth, ~ 8 G ~{ Two Hearts, Two No Trumps by 0 A K 6 S ~~ South and Foss (the female + Q .T 4

H.obinson), sitting Korth, rated to We ha\·e already booked our Three No Trumps, with infectious room for next year's cungrl'ss. Pnthusiasm. West led the Nine of Perhaps we shall be seeing you Clubs anrl Robbie, regarding- the there. H.F.

I LOOK OUT IN DECEMBER ISSUE FOR:-

INTERESTING NEW FEATURE b y Terence Reese -----

The Gloucestershire C.B. :\ssociation have issued a brochure of their very attrar.tivc <1ctivities for 1950/1 including the Chelten­ham County Bridge W~ekend at Thirlestaine Hall Hotel on November lOth, II th and I ~th. The committee for the Weekend at Cheltenham have made a flat entrance fee of 10/- only. This is a mo\·e in the right direction and is crrtain to resnlt in a large f'ntry.

19

All particulars from .Mr. S. E. Franklin, Belmont Avenue, Hucclecote, Gloucester.

The brochure gives details of a number of county competitions and every Gloucestershire Briclge player woulr\ do well to get full details from l\lr. S. E. Franklin as above. With ~[r. Gordon D. Johnstone as Pre~ident, a highly and well organised Competition weekend is ensured.

THE H AND OF THE MONTH . rectified it later handsomely, by

HOW would you. hke to. open showing Spade support and the with a genm~~ forcmg to Heart void. South's passing of

game bid-get a pos1h~·e respo?se seven Diamonds is explained by from partner-and . hnally ~m~ the fact that he visualised the your opponents playmg the. li<tn. possible breaking of a grand slam in a grand slam 1111d malnllg tt. with his four trumps and likely Such arc the pleasures? of the adverse distribution of the minor game. . . suits. North was under no illus-

Thc hand IS sent 111 by C. J\L ions however and made the sacri­Lawson of Bournemouth, and lice? of seven Spades. was played in a London Club. As soon as West made the first

+ J 10 -l ~ lead and dummy went down, \!) - South of course spread his hand 0 ] 10 7 ~{ for the thirteen tricks to the + 7 6 5 4 ~ surprise of West, the astonishment

+­\!)Q1085

+ _ of East and the amazement of

\!) A K J 9 4 Nolrtth.would be interesting to

O A9865~

• Q J 3 0 K Q4 + A K 10!:) 8 know how the bidding would have

gone if South had been dealer and had opened four Spades. + AKQ987G53

\!.}7632 0-+ -

East was dealer and playing Culbertson opened two hearts.

Here is the bidding in detail:-East South 1V esl N ort!t

~\!) ~{ · -t\!) S+ 50 S+ <i+ Dbl.

BO Dbl. 7<) 7\!) Obi. all pass.

Little fault can be found with East's opening bid. Agreed he is missing the top suit, always a disadvantage but the hand other­wise offers a good range to partner for game somewhere. South's three Spades is not to be com­mended. A bid of four Spades would usually be a better bid. North's pass over four Hearts is also bad he should have given a. raise in Spades at once. He

20

SE,ND IN ANY INTER­ESTING HAND TO THE

EDITOR

HALF A GUINEA WILL BE PAID EACH MONTH F OR THE BE S T

RECEIVED.

J\IARK ENVELOPE "BEST HAND II

stating where played and names of players.

-" Describe the Bridge of Sighs "

said a teacher to her class. Up jumped one small boy " when my father plays with my mother as partner."

CAN WE HELP You? Con tract Bridge J ou.nzal Service to readers

T HE C._B.J. has ii~aug~Iratcd a scrnce to assist m every

way the further advancement of Bridge. This service which is open to all, will cover many actiYities and it is hoped that subscribers will take every ad­Yantage and make the fullest use of the facilities offered. l\Iany groups of players and clubs arc unable to hold tournaments, dupli­cate partnerships etc., through lack of knowledge of proceedure or through not having anyone qualified or available for the Yarions duties. Whatever advice or help you require, please let us kno\~' , it will be a pleasure to be of SCf\'ICC.

Lectures. Perhaps you would like ail

experienced and well known player to give a lecture or talk on the game in general or on some particular phase of the game or to speak on one of the standard systems. The C.B.J. will provide such a Lecturer if you will advise as to time, date and place.

Duplicate Matches. We have quite a number of the

most experienced tournament directors in the country attached to the C.B.J. and tliese ladies and gentlemen will be happy to assist you in the nnming of a teams of four event or a pairs competition. If necessary, dupli­cate boards, movement cards, scoring cards, etc., can be pro­vided. A well run competition is always so much more enjoyable than a " happy go lucky " affair.

21

Teams of Four. It may be that from time to

time, you or your club would like to play a match against a team of well known players. This can always be arranged the C.B.J. having a list of players who arc willing to participate in such a match.

Tuition. Here again the Journal can

arrange for a number of Ladies and Gentlemen to give lessons in Contract both for Intermediate and advanced players, the lessons can be given privately or in parties

These are a few of the ways the Journal is out to help and it is up to you to let us know your requirements. Don't be bashful in stating what you want-just write to the Editor.

International and County players who would like be on the C.B.J. list for Exhibition matches please send in name and address to :-

The Editor,

- I

3 London Lane, Bromley, Kent.

GOLF COMPF.TITION AT EASTBO URNE

Winners

Ladies : l\[HS. BHOOKS (Canterbury)

Gentlemen : l\1){. DUHHAN (London)

BERMUDA HERE WE COME OUR post-war record in inter­

national bridge has been a source of unqualified satisfaction. Our repr<'sentativcs have had a triumphant progress from Copenhagen to Paris and on to Hrightnn. This month they face their newest and stiffest test. · ln Bermuda, between No\'C~mber

l:Hh and Hlth, there will be a tltiTe-corncred contest for the till!' of World Champions, with the British Empire , l ~urope and .\mcrica as the ri\·als. The teant that won at Brighton for Great llri lain was im·i ted to reprcscn t the British l ~mpire. J. C. H. l\larx has been unable to accept the invitation and his place will now be taken by J. Tarlo, for many years one of our leading players. Experienced, skilful and most unlikely to be upset by the o::casion, he should pro,·e to be a wise choice.

i\1. Harrison-Gray (captain), L. Dodds, K. Konstam, L. Tarlo and H. Gardener arc the remaining members. The Dodds-Konstam, Tarlo-Gardcncr combines should ha vc pro(iled considerably from their Brighton experiences and may ha\·c dcYclopcd into even more closely-knit partnerships. Although Harrison-Gray and J. Tarlo have no record as an e ·tablishcd pair, they arc both sufficiently Line players to O\'cr­cnmc that di.fficulty. Brightest feature of all IS the team spirit­they arc all fighters, they will all pull together, and, as they showed at Hrighton, they will not accept defeat. • Europe will be r?p.rcsentcd by

I~ock, Werner, L1lhehook and Wohlin all of Sweden and Thorlinnson and Gudmund~on of

Iceland. The Swedish quartet have been runners-up in the last

· three · European Championships, losing twice on a divided tie. They are line card players, difficult opponents and may well prove a larger handful than the Americans. Britain will face them encouraged by the memory of the heavy defeat they inflicted on them at Brighton. On that occasion our teams gave their best displays against Sweden and Iceland, gaining comfortable ,·ictories on each occasion. Our team are familiar with the style of play and the personalities of this team and Gray canoe relied upon to see that his players arc closely and accurately briefed.

22

The American team will start as favourites for the championship, but they too arc no longer an unknown C)Uantity so far as our team is concerned. Three of them, S. R. Crawford, G. Rapce and S. Stayman were members of the team which last year played a series of matches in this country. They impressed considerably with their skill, but they were not unbeatable. Gray and Konstam were members of the Crockford's team which beat them in the match for the Crowninshield cup and L. Tarlo was a member of tli'c successful Lyndhurst team. Dodds and Gardener also played against them. Jot unbeatable and also not unp erturbablc- they made no secret of the fact that H.apee and Stayman found l\[crcdith a particularly difficult opponent. If our present team strikes top form quickly, they may well be upset again. The remain­ing members of the American team are H. Schenken-claimed by

cont. on page 25

ENGLISH BRIDGE UNION NOTES

A FE\V weeks ago it was known tha l all was not well in the

tlppt•r ranks of the London County ,\ ssociation. Happily there has been a clearing of the air and the difficulties have been solved with goodwill on all sides. They should not recur and they only began tltn ntglt 111 isappreheusion.

* * * * * i\lr. Geoffrey Butler, now Vice­

Chairman of the British Hridge League, wrote last month on some of the practical difficulties of selecting teams. Some of the experts who were harshest in criticism found on being consulted that it is not so simple as it looks : that in fact they were very much eli viclcd amongst themselves. The methorl of selection to be used for the 1951 Championship in Italy- probably in San Rcmo next September-will give a fair chance to any who have National aspirations and it remains to be seen whether Trials followed by · automatic caps based only on results will in fact produce the

.. best team- " best " being USt'd wiU1 all its various nuances of meaning. It has beeri tried already in some of the other member countries of the European League and still there is a division of opinion on the respective results of one or two Selectors with full powers, or an advisory panel, or a clear trial run for everyone and the winners of the trials to amalgamate themseh·es into a team.

* * * * * Certain important changes in

Competitions arc announced by

23

our parent body the British Bridge League. While the Women's Championship for the Lady i\lilne· Cup follows the lines inaugurated last year-a four-sided encounter between the four countries' rcspcc­ti,·e Champions- the Portland Cup, for the British Open Pairs Championship, will be much more closely organized than has been . the case in previous years. :\ ~8-pair f1nal in London is ,-isualised, qualilicrs coming from fi\'C or six selected centres in the British Isles, and the whole Competition will be compressed into a matter of weeks. Provision is made for the entry of Foreign or British Overseas Pairs who will be able to qualify and get into the Final Session in the following two days. In time, this arrangement is likely to bring strong players from abroad in the quest for the major Pairs Trophy of the World.

* * * * * The Gold Cup is zoned in the

early rounds but when the teams ' are down to eight, the quarter f1nals, semi-finals and f1nal rounds will all be completed m·er a long week-end in London. The six teams not reaching the final will be competing for the Sil\'cr Cup over the same period.

!\lay be, the time will come, when approved Foreign and British entries overseas will be given a clear passage into the last eight, or sixteen, and thus be eligible for the British Gold Cup.

This possibility is of course now brought within nearer reach through the extension of the

CONTHACi' IJRIDGE JOURNAL

constitution of the British Bridge League to allow membership of the Dominions and Colonies. First in the list of applications for membership is Jamaica.

* * * * * Last Autumn the then Chairman

of the E.B.U. exchanged views with his Swedish counterpart on the possibility of touring teams to show the flag in the two countries. As a result an E.H.U. selected team under Graham Mathieson toured Sweden late in August as guests of the Swedish League. The other members were Kenneth Konstam, Dr. S. Lee, S. Booker, E. B. Parker and Mrs. A. L. Fleming.

The main purpose behind the tour-apart from the strengthen­ing of the ties of friendship formed Lluring the post-war Championship contests in Copenhagen, Pttris and 13righton-was to give the ordinary Swedish Club player a chance of seeing our good players -but not necessarily our European Champion pia yers-in action. The team sent could \\'ell be called an 'A' team and worthy ambassadors they proved to be in every way. It was ne\·er in the minds of either country that the touring team should try to beat the Swedish champions and thus make a Test Tour out of it.

The team had a strenuous playing progmmme during their ten days and came hack laden with trophies. The events staged were generally multiple team contests or big scale pairs, and all paid tribute to the first-class organization.-·

Eight minutes for two boards. Then a gong and you have had it. A fine if you are not ready. Such speed, as l\1 r . . Konstam has

suggested in an article, would wake up many of our im·eterate slow- coaches and post- mortem experts.

The Swedish method of playing pairs events is to have large scale duplication, so that results can be given after every few hands. At several places during the tour a large chart, or Barometer, at the end of the room, moved after every period, showed the position of every pair and team. . Mr. Mathieson in his report to the E.B.U. ends by saying: "I think many more players would take part in tournaments in England were it not for the slowness of play, much of which is due to the same players every time. But such players arc allowed to ruin everyone's enjoyment more or less unchecked. If the barometer idea could be introduced into England, I'm sure it would also be a popular innovation."

The team brought away most glowing accounts of the hospitality extended to them (they were the guests of the Swedish players as a body) and they left behind, we are told, a warm feeling for British bridge and British players.

* * * * * The new Chairman of the

E.B.U.-1\lr. J. W. Pearson-has already appointed a Sub­Committee to arrange a corresponding tour for a visiting Swedi h team next Spring or Summer. l t is expected that matches will be arranged in the North East, Yorkshire, the North West, the Midlands, ending up with two or more in London. As the Swedes will be the guests of member of the E.B.U., consider­able local organisation will be necessary. It is expected that

CONTRACT BRIDGE JOURNAL

many players will come forward as hosts and hostesses so that our own hospitality next year will surpass what l\lr. Mathieson has described as an almost Royal welcome enjoyed by his team in Sweden.

* * * * * H is appropriate here to urge

County Secretaries to collect their subscriptions from those members who find it too much of a bother to send so small a sum as 5/- or 7/Gd., or whatever trifling sum it costs in theirparticular Association. Representation on the English Bridge Union is based upon the numbers in each Association by counting paid-up members as at December 31st in each year. The membership graph has risen steadily but is still below 5,000. It should be four times that figure, and more, to equal 1onvay, where the population is small compared with over here.

* * * * COil/. ji'OIII page 22

many to be the finest player they have-C. H. Goren whose reputa­tion as a writer and player is well-known in this country, and S. Silodor.

For si_x days the teams will play continuously in a triangular move­ment. The winners will be the team with thelargestnetaggregate score. The call on physical and mental resources will be a high one, and only players who arc " tournament-tough " could be expected to stand up to it. On all these accounts we know that, win or lose, our team will be a credit to us. They carry with them the hopes and best wishes of every British bridge player. Good luck, to o11r team.

25

THE MIDLANDS F EW associations have a prouder

record of post-war development t11an the \Vanvickshire C.B.A. Last year they were finalists in the Tollemache, a \Vanvickshire team won the \Vhitelaw cup, and two of their ladies represented Great Britain in· the European cham­pionship. Much of the credit for this must be due to the excellent programme of competitive bridge that the association offers its members.

A particularlyinterestingfeature is the Clubs Pairs Championship. Weekly tournaments are held at various centres (there are thirty­three such tournaments scheduled between October 5th and April 23rd) and points are allotted for places-one for first, two for second, and so on. At the end of the series, each players six best scores will be totalled and the thirty-two who come out on top play in a match-pointed final to determine the " Club Pairs Champions " for the next twelve months. A registration fee of a modest bob enables members to participate in this scheme.

The amount of interest that this competition creates is evidenced by the fact that the weekly tournaments produce an entry of about twenty tables. This type of rcg11lar tournament play is the greatest help in raising playing standards. The current holders, incidentally, are two well-known players, G. l\I. Braunton and E. Foster.

The Crantock Bowl Last month ten teams from

Notts, Derby, Leicester, Lincoln­shire and Wan,rickshire, competed

c6~THACT UR1DGE JOUHNAL

for the Crantock Bowl, annually ~. Lciccstershire-playcd at the Crantock Bridge S. Josephs (capt.), Dr. J. Mackay, Club, Nottingham. Nine eight- Col. Broad, F. Bayden ' board matches were played, with 32 points six victory points at stake in each :1 . . \Varwickshire-match. The issue \vas always' in F.O.Bingham(capt.),l-I.Wilkinson, doubt, and after a thrilling finish, G. H.. Dawes, F. W. l\Iarston the flnal placings were : 30 points

I. \Varwickshire- Nottinghamshire-E. Foster (capt.), Mrs. E. Precdy, N. H.. C. Frith (capt.), Mrs. D. l\Ir. and 1\Irs. E. F. Briscoe Hopewell, l\Iiss D. Kleuser, nlr.

8.f points and 1\frs. W. Hinton :m points

NORTH EASTERN NOTES L AST Sunday we strolled into

the Gosforth Assembly rooms to make our flrst observations on bridge in the North-East. For you should understand that since bridge was nationalised some four or five years ago, the North­Eastern Association, with its five hundred members spread over the furthest corners of Northumber- ' land,DurhamandNorth Yorkshire, has employed a snoop system and we happen to be the Chief Snoop. Our main functions are to see that the Programme is carried on t and to make a monthly report on the members of the Association, jot­ting down all their misdemeanours such as winning pairs' tourna­li1en ts, losing inter-area matches and, when all else fails, trapping them with problem hands. This is called a News letter and at the moment is only supported by people who win things. The law of averages is automatically increas­ing its popularity and we arc always pleased to put on our mailing list any E .B. U. member

·resident outside our area, but who may be rash enough to take an interest in our activities.

As we gazed around the room that Sunday we noticed Selby Wraith was partnered by a tall

menacing overcoat. Selby was evidently defending a difficult contract. As his tongue flickered from side to side, vainly trying to quench the flames which threat­ened to engulf him from the opposite side of the table, we remembered that Ewart Kempson was back in Newcastle and this was the occasion of a Selection Trial match. The object seemed

·to be to assist the North-East in deciding who was not good enough to journey to Sheffield in Decem­ber in search of the Tollemache Cup, and sundry other objectives. We crept back six hours later to discover such well-known players as Dr. 1\'Iacarthur, Messrs. Wood, Fraser a.ncl Hamblin, l\fr. and Mrs. Carpenter stumbling out of the building with blackened faces. They had survived the ordeal by flre better than Selby.

Monday evening we visited the Gosforth Conservative Club prem­ises where the Association was holding the first of a fortnightly series of pairs' tournaments. When the local organiser opened three No-trumps on A K Q J 10 9 7 in Clubs and a bust outside, and got away with it, we left.

Tuesday evening we looked in at the Liberal Club, Newcastle,

26

CONTRACT BldDC:E jOUtm.Al

where an Invitation Pairs tourna­men is held. The better players in the Association were busy proving that the rest of the assembly had no right to be there, and as the match-pointing of the results would go on late into the night, we did not stay.

On Wednesday, we took our better half to compete for the President' s Trophy at the Chronicle Hall, Newcastle. \Ve achieved our usual steady half-way position.

Thursday evening saw us down at Whitley Bay. Amidst a babel nf confusion and eighteen tables we caught the last train back, still wondering why suits break badly at Whitley much more often than anywhere else.

F riday evening we spent at home with the telephone ringing incessantly from such places as Sunderland , Durham, Darlington, .Barnard Castle, Stockton and l\liddlesb'rough to enquire why we had not visited their tournaments. How did we expect to win the :-.:orth-Eastern Gazette Cups or the Bishop Trophy or the Darbrough Trophy or the Metcalfe Trophy sitting around in the house. We explained carefully that there was no room on the mantelpiece for anything more and rang off.

We were spurred to return to

the Chronicle Hall on Saturday afternoon however, because we have taken a fancy to the Journal and North Mail Cups. In spite of landing a slam with two aces missing, because our system does not regard it as essential, ~ven as a matter of courtesy, to mform our opponents of this fact we discovered that such ebullient contracts have to be made, doubled and redoubled, to hold out any hope of success on such occasions.

Musing thus on the unfairness of the game, we returned to the Gosforth Assembly Rooms the next day to see another singularly unfair thing happen. It was Inter-Area Sundry and for several years previous, our Stockton mem­bers have had to strive for a place on the Middlesbrough team. This year they were fielding their own feam for the first time. The 11xturc list had given them last year's champion team, vVest Northumberland, for their 11rst game and Newcastle, last year's runners-up, for their second game. They had duly trounced West Northumberland two weeks pre­viously, and as we watched the match against Newcastle, they repeated the performance. Such is bridge.

G. l. RHODES

N.W.C.B.A. NOTES The Hull and H.oyal Hotel,

Preston on Sunday, 1st October Was the scene of the annual battle of the Roses, in which the white rose triumphed by 1700 points. Thirty-six boards were played between twelve pairs a side, and there were many swing hands.

For example, the writer was

27

South on the second board, and the bidding had been :

West North East 10 3+ No bid Three No Trumps was the

obvious bid with the following cards: + JlOxx <::)KIO OAQ83 + J106 and ten tricks were made on a

CONTi~ACT BldDGE JOURNAL

i-I eart lead. The remaininf! hands The match was played under were as follows: ~ the able direction of l\Ir. R G.

+ Q x Doig, and thcfollowingrepresented <:::! .J their counties : 0 x x Lancashire + A K 8 7 5 -t 3 2 B. H. Franks and S. Blaser + K x . + A x x x x J. Lazarus and I. l\L l\Iorris

<:::! Ax x x x <:::! Q x x x x B. Koffman and .J. Nunes 0 K] 10 x x x 0 x .E. L. Silverstone and C. Pearse + - + Q 9 J. L. Boardman and F. Farrington

At most other tables \Vest had T. Gee and A. V. Hahr elected to open one Heart, where- F. Kaufmann and l\Tiss J. l\Tossc upon the East-West partnerships A. C. Douglass and J. E . Gordon had no difficulty in arriving at C. M. Halli and l\Irs. Parkes final contracts of four and five l\Ir. ancl l\Irs. H. Ford Hearts. J. V.Dewhurstancll\ lrs. S. Kershaw

The quartet of G . . Nelson, C. E. Phillips and C. Q. H enriques S. Salinsky, H. H.adstoff and Yorkshire A. i\[orris achieved an excellen t G. Nelson and S. Salinsky .>core for Yorkshire. H. Franklin and R. l\Iercado

That grand old man of sport, l\fr. and l\ Irs. A. Kremer i\lr. George 'elson, earned a good l\Iajor G. Fell ancll\Irs . Corwen swing on the following hand : A. Morris and H. Brosto1f + K 7 x x A. 0. Craven and J. H. Taylor

<:::1 Q l\Ir. and l\Irs. H. Broowe O x x x R Vincent and l\Irs. Addison + A Q x x x J. Addison ancll\frs. Hadfield

+ A J x + 10 x x G. l\Ioore ancll\ lrs. Bailey <:::! .1 x x x x <:::1 A K 10 x x D. S. }~aynor and l\frs. Feather .0 A Q x x 0 x x x l\ lrs. Headley and l\Irs. Turner + x + x x One of our clubs, the Bolton + Q 9 8 Bridge Club, inaugurated the

<::I x x season with a week-end Congress 0 K J 10 for the benefit of its own members + K J 10 x x The programme included th~

At most tables East-West bid usual teams, pairs and consolation and made four Hearts vu lnerable events, and the most successful b~tt l\ lr. Nelson and Mr. Salinsk); innovation was a Swedish Tourna­btcl to four paclcs, not vulnerable, ment organised on the Saturday at~d su~:eede_cl i_n making eight afternoon. The hands had beei'1 tncks. I he btcldmg on their table selected so that there was alwavs had been : a point of interest in eith-er ll'cst North East South bicldin~ or play, and the analysis

N clson Salinsl,·v was gtven as the results were I <::I :!o No bid ~0 bid

2+ 2<:::1 2 N.T~ ?.eing )wo;kecl out progressi\·ely. No bid :!<:::! No bid I he l restdcnt, l\Ir. A. Glaister, :\+ -1 <:::1 -t + !1resented the prizes after a happy No bid No bid ,mel most successful week-encl.

F. FAHHINGTON

•

,. ..

E ASTBOURNE CONGRESS by "LOOKER-ON"

WHEN the Chairman of the English Bridge Union, Mr.

J. W. Pearson addressed a packed house for the prize giving at midnight on the last evening, he opened his remarks by saying that the Eastboume Congress just concluded was the most successful ever held by the E.B.U., he spoke tmly.

Eastbourne and the Grand Hotel have always been associated with Bridge Congresses and in fact it was there that such functions frrst saw the light in the South. GoldCup finals were played there regularly before the war.

The weather was kind and everyone voted it a happy week­end in every way. The attendance was far in excess of previous E.B.U. Congresses and this was very gratifying to all those who had done so much work to organise things. l\Ir. Pearson, after thank­ing the Mayor and Mayoress of Eastbourne for attending at such an unreasonable hour to distribute the prizes, said that there was probably no national game which depended so much on voluntary organisers as Contract Bridge. These had come fonvard from all parts of the country and had brought with them players from places as far apart as Blackpool and Durham in lhe North to Torquay in the South-West. He paid special tribute to the Hon. Secretary, Mrs. Trollope, l\lr. Harold Franklin (Tournament Director), Geoffrey Butler (Referee and Umpire),-who was not called upon to make one decision the whole weekend,-Percy Charters,

29

Major George Gray, Frank .Mase, and F. 0. Bingham. A special vote of appreciation was given to Mrs. Gray for her tireless efforts in the Congress Office.

The Chairman very aptly stated that several new stars had arisen but many important constella­tions had failed to shine. Never has an important Congress wit­nessed the success of so many comparatively unknown players and the almost total eclipse of so many iamous personalities. Is it a sign of the rising generation or just one of those occasions which do arise from time to time for Bridge players in particular-an unlucky streak ? Possibly too many took a" wrong view."

The programme was a well mixed bag and there was prac­tically no overlapping. Perhaps another year it would be possible to close an event at a given time to enable the organisers to make arrangements for a specific num­ber, rather than waiting until the last moment before being in a position to say how many tables, how many sections and how many boards to be played. This can cause a little delay and annoyance but it should not be difficult to eradicate.

Two outstanding performances were put up. Miss Curry's team of four from Worthing, consisting of Miss Curry, Mrs. Aliandary, 1\Irs. ]. Smith and Mr. Fulcher, won the inter-city cup for the second year in succession. The opposition was strong with the experienced Leeds team captained by Mrs. Corwen as favourites-they

CONTRACT BRIDGE JOURNAL

finished second with another greatly impressed by their steadi­Worthing team captained by 1\lr. ness and conlidence. E. C. Saul, third. Worthingites have e\·ery reason to l>e proud of their Bridge representatives.

Another fine exhibition was by Messrs. E. l\Iansfield and l. i\linhinnick who linished second, after very consistent play, in the Two Stars competition. They"

The " Two Stars " is really the chief e\·en t of the Congress and there was a tremendous entry for the qualifying round and the following succeeded in reaching the final which was played in two sessions on Sunday :

l\Irs. Fleming and Captain B. Parker, !\Irs. J. Harker and Dr. ]. A. Hobson, R Preston and R. Swimer, J. Albuquerque an~l 1~. Francis, R. and J. Sharples, i\Iiss \V. 1\lcl\:enna and C. 1\f. H.alh, l\Iiss Brewer and E. C. C. Saul, 1. n. Carter and A. D. Neale, J. F. L. \Voocl and G. H. Yarnell, Dr. andl\Trs.l\Iaclarlane, l\Trs. F. Gordon and Lady Rhodes, l\Irs. DaYy and 1\lrs. Lawson-Brook, 1\Jrs. Evans and l\I. Dale, J. T. R.eese andl\Irs. Tollett, A. ]. Smith and E. D. -~eague, Lieutenant-Conm1ander H. F. Read and Mrs. Turner, Dr. Leist and A. Rose, E. R. Varley and Dr. P. A. Browne, E. H. l\Iansfielcl and I. T.l\Iinhinnick, S. N. Dawkins ancll\1. Schieden, l\Irs. l\1. Davies and ]. Josephs, P. A. Swinnerton-Dyer and P. Lamb.

* * From the first board in the final

until the end, the eventual winners, the Sharples brothers, set a hot pace and they Jed practically throughout with l\Iansfield and l\'Iinhinnick usually close behind. The position at the interval was J. and R. Sharples 281, Mrs. Turner and LtjCommander Read 276,1\Iansfield and l\linhinnick 2.')0.

During the second half, after a rather shaky period, the leaders gradually forged ahead and finallv desen•edly won fairly comfortabl\, by 22 points from the second couple. \Veil done twins.

The ever popular Sunday morning event "Play with the Experts" was won by Tommy Ricardo and l\fr. K. A. Ross as E.-\V. and by l\fax Dale andl\liss Harris as N.-S. There is always a good crowd of spectators for this event as it is just too earlv for " opening time" when it is J)eing run. The hands lent themselves

30

* * to some speculative bidding. One of the best which caused much amusement at se\·eral tables was this beauty. South is dealer and N .- S. vulnerable.

+ AK8765432 y> K 8 2 0-+ S

• Q J 10 9 \?Q 0 K Q7 2 + AK Q9

+

• \? J I 0 9 5 -1 ~~ 0 1096-13 + · 62

y> A 7 6 0 A] 8 5 + .T 10 8 7 -1 :~

After an opening by West Se\·eral Norths said no bid on the first round, as on such a distribu­tion there was sure to be further bidding. Franklin secured the contract in Three Spades doubled which was casv with an o\·er-trick. Jngram after ·passing on the first round to One Club by West, One

CONTHACT BRIDGE jOlJRNAt

J. and R . Sharples, Two Star winners with Major George Gray (centre)

lleart by East, Two Clubs by South and Two No Trumps by West, bid Four Spades which West doubled· and Ingram in­judiciously redoubled as Mrs. Fleming si tting East pluckily bid Fi,·c Di;unoncls which was doubled and she got out for :~00. Very good.

Tom Ricardo and 1\Irs. l\Iarkus provided the fireworks on the hand. The bidding was very hectic as over West's opening bid of One Diamond, Mrs. Markus bid Two Diamon ds. This suited . Ricardo splendidly and he prompt­ly bid Two Spades on a void. His partner put him to Four which Mrs. Markus ,passed and Ricardo bid Five Diamonds, South now came to life 'with Six Clubs and Mrs. Markus finally secured the contract in .Six Spades, double.d and redoubled and the spectators

31

felt t~1ey had not wasted their mornmg.

The Burlington Cup was won by Dr. Leist's team (Dr Leist, Dr. H.ockfelt, A. Rose, Mrs. Gordon,) with 61 match points L. E llison's team second with 54 points and Lady Rhodes' was third with 28 points. The winners were fined three points for misboarding or would have had a ten point win. Ellison's team led at half t ime with 32 to 23 by Leist.

Punch Ball winners were the CivilService team ofMissl\I. Byrne, Mrs.- Grosfils , Miss !'f ye and Mr. J. R. Gibson. This was a splendid pedormal}ce, · as here again the entry was very strong and all the crack teams were eliminated.

The Cavalcade Cup was won by Mrs. Clarke and Col. Lecky with 1\lr. an<\ 1\lrs. Powell second.

CONTH:\C'l' iJRiDGE JOUHNAL

Sealed Handicap Winners, Mrs. impossible to get tl1e result out Furclh;un and Miss 1\Iiddleton, for lhe prize giving and the result :Mrs. Goddard and Miss Neecles, will be found in the Stop Press on 1\Irs. 1\feaking Smith and Mrs. Page -!2. Ohlson, 1\Ir. and Mrs. Robinson. Already the E.B.U. have fixed

1\Iixed Pairs Winners, Mrs. up next Autumn's Congress for Prcedy and Mr. E. Foster, second, Eastbourne and it can safely be 1\[rs. Tollett and 1\Ir. Dawkins. assumed that all who were there

All winners of Open Pairs this year will try to repeat next. EYents automatically qualified The Spring Congress by the way, to compete for the Riviera Pairs. is at Harrogate, on March -!th­As this was match pointed, it was 5th-6th- 7th. See you the;e?

: Open Pairs Winners, Miss Hobgen and Lt. Colonel Burne, Mrs. Palmer, and R. E. Clark, W. H. Weightman and P. Davenport, Dr. andl\Trs. Richard, l\[r. and 1\Irs. L. Tarlo, 1\Ir. and 1\frs. Farrington, Mrs. Flemich and l\lrs. Davy, E. H. Mansfield and E . D. Broadbent, 1\Irs. Brostoff and J. Abrahams, Mr. and l\Irs. Earl, F. I. Dixon and F. S. Thomas, A. J. Smith and E. D. Teague, l\Trs. Vaughan and ~Irs. Cocking, l\Iiss P. l\L Nye and J. R. Gibson, l\Irs. Cory and 1\lrs. Bush, l\Irs. Shaw and Mrs. Reid, l\lrs. Haslett and l\liss Darby, l\lrs. l\Iills and 1\frs. Humphreys, l\Trs. Goodall and 1\frs. EYins, J. A. Gould and G. D. Sharpe, Mrs. J. N. Davies and l\Irs. Preedy, S. Josephs and E. Foster, l\Irs. Duncan Clarke and 1\fiss Collins, 1\fiss l\1. \\Talters and Mrs. Spalding, J. Abrahams and L. \Volfcrs, \V. H. Forrester and Dr. Forrester, l\Trs. Evans and 1\lax Dale, l\!r. ancll\Irs. A. S. Knight, A. J. Smith and E . D. Teague, Mrs. Eastaway and 1\Irs. Godden, Mr. and Mrs. C. G. Ainger, l\!iss P. l\L Nye and J. R. Gibson, l\Irs. Evins and 1\frs. Goodall , A. l\L Smith and G. Shark, J. Tarlo and l\Irs. P. Carr, l\Irs. B. Tarlo and E. G. P. 1\fartin, l\[r and l\Trs. Barlow, l\Irs. V. Cooper and V. Gerrard.

r ........................................................ _,,_,,_, ....... ~ ............................... ._.. ........................ _, ................ , . l

A FULL REPORT OF THE \VORLD

CHAMPIONSHIP AT BERMUDA BY

OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

I I l

I WILL APPEAR IN THIS ~ JOURNAL. I

l l l.-.,_.,_,_,,_,_,,_,,_,._.,_,,_,._.,_,,_,_,,_,,_,,_,_,,_,,_,,_.,_.,_.j

:t!

CoRRESPONDENCE The G.B.]. recently sent out a

letter to subscribers requesting suggestions for impr?ving ~he journal and a most mterestmg collection has been received. Many will be carried out from time to time if at all practical and some have already been put into operation. Here are a few which seem to be in keeping with the views generally expressed.

T. C. Orpen of Parkstone writes amongst other things " A void the rather acrimonious discussions be­tween well known players of which there have been too many lately."

We are in hearty agreement and hope the said well-known players will duly note.

Col. G. 1\L 1\fcCleverty of Fleet, suggests that prominent players should write short articles giving their views for and against certain points, such as strong or weak No trumps-4/5 No trumps or Black­wood-the advantages and dbadvantages of the Two and Three Club bid take out of a No trump asking for four-card major. Col. McCleverty considers too much space is given to experts

and tournament players and not sufficient to the tens of thousands of ordinary players.

Here again we agree ·and we hope future issues will be to the complete satisfaction of our corres­pondent.

P. A. Bainbridge of Coltishall, Nonvich, sends a very long and interesting letter brimming over with suggestions. He also says by way of constructive criticism that the Journal in the past has forgotten the Average Player and pondered far too much to what the masters bid on specified hands at various Congresses. Endless hands are published showing phen­ominal bidding by the masters to arrive at the correct contract. " Their disasters are gracefully suppressed (and they are no means infrequent) "says 1\Ir. Bainbri_dge. Fie Sir, masters don't have disas­ters or make mistakes-they do occasionallv take a" wrong view" 1

Thank you gentlemen for y_our suggestions. The Contract Bndge journal will always be happy_ to hear from readers on any queshon for the good of the gan1e.

Title Wanted

33

Can you suggest a title for this sketch. " No, I won't play Blackwood," gives you the _idea.

Half a guinea will be patd to what the editor considers the best submitted. Address to :

" Title," Contract Bridge Journal, 3 London Lane, Bromley, Kent.

Not later than November 28th.

To THE ORDINARY PLAYER

As so much has been written on bidding and systems that

anything further would only be guilding the lily (or if you prefer it, blackening the pot), let us look at other sides of the game where many players fall clown. You may be able to bid perfectly but it will all be lost il you as declarer are unable to play the hand correctly or to the best advantage or if as defender you arc unable to appreciate certain situations which can aries every time you sit down to a rubber. If such is your case be sure you will always be a loser in the long run.

lt is an undoubted fact that many players simply do not profit by experience and when a similar situation arises, the same error is made. There is no excuse for this and e\·ery deal should contain a lesson in some form or other and if you wish to improve and get the fullest enjoyment out of the game you mu,;t concentrate and study the vanous possibilities. This does not mean it is advisable to make a problem of every hand but you should get into the habit of recognising a combination of cards as soon as you see the dummy and your own hand and although you will not always be successful when you play the hand in what is recognised as the correct way, you will know you have taken the best chance and in the long run it will pay handsomely as compared with playing it the incorrect way which might be successful.

Failure to observe ordinary safety plays is one of the chief mistak~s of the average player and m1 many occasions include the

experi,;11ced player. You will be only too well aware of how to play certain combinations but when the actual time comes along, likely as not you will omit to put into practice. Why is this? Usually through carelessness and lack of concentration.

Let us nm through a few of these recognised safety plays, which 1 trust, will again refresh your memory. Perhaps the most usual situation which arises is when you hold nine of a suit (divided -l /5) to Ace Queen in one hand and four small in the other and you can afford to lose one Irick in the suit. (Example A Q 7 6 -t and 8 53 2). Presuming that you have entries in either hand, your correct play is Ace Jirst and then a lead up to the Queen if Kitig had not fallen on first round. Y 011

know this is correct as " ·ell as I do, but do you always put it into practice ?- of course you don't­nor do I. Carelessly you Jinesse the Queen which you lose to the King, only to find that the King was a singleton and you must now lose a second trick in the suit. :By playing the Ace first you guard against this situation.

A second example which is forever cropping up is on such a holding as A 8 2 and K J 8 -t in the two hands and you require only three tricks. H.epeateclly e\·en experienced players lead the Ace and then finesse the Jack.

A seconds thought and you realise this is inconect, as,.if the player sitting over the I{ J 8 -t held Oueen and a small onlv to start ~\· ith, your Jack is goit1g to Jose to the Queen and you must

CONTRACT lJIUDGE jOURNAL

lose a second trick in the suit. Lead the King iirst, followed by the Ace and you have guarded against this position. Should the queen not faiJ on the second round, you lead up to the Jack.

A nry bad fault by many is iinessing a suit on the first round when the ilnesse can be taken later. So simple to put into practice­so easy to forget. With such combinations as A K J 10 in one hand and three or four in the other, and requiring four tricks in the suit, always assuming the latter has entry cards, it is essential for one of the top honours to be played first round, finessing on subsequent. vVhy is this you may ask? The answer is that it may not be necessary to

. ilnesse after the first round as the Queen can drop to the Ace and if this Queen was over the Jack a trick would have been lost un­necessarily. The same guard against a singleton Queen should be put into practice on say A K 52 and J 10 9 3-Play Ace first, enter the other hand and if Queen has not fallen now you finesse.

Here is a combination which will require a little more thought and is not so elementary as the above. You hold in the two hands as declarer a combination of trumps something approaching the following, and you can afford to lose one in the suit. How do you play? II' est A 9 5 3 East Q J 6 ..t 2 . Of course your only worry is 1f the remaining four cards are in one hand. Unless you are careful ~nd play the first round correctly Jt may be too late to rectify your error. For instance if you lead

35

the Queen for a iincsse and N?rth turns ~p with K 10 8 7, you W11llose two m the suit. This will also be the result if you lead the Ace first and South holds the other four. The only play which makes your four in the suit a certai~ty is a small to the Queen. Now 1t does not matter which opponent holds the remainder, all they can make is the King. Remember such hands as these it will repay you handsomely. It will be noted that the 9 is the key card as without this you are unable to trap the 10 if held by South and missing it the play is different - Ace first. In such circumstances if South holds K 10 9 8, however you play you must lose two.

Another situation which repeatedly arises, is on such hands as A K 9 and two small in one and four small in the other. Requiring all five tricks you naturally lead out A K hoping the remainder are divided 2/2. If they are not there is nothing you can do about it.

If however you only require four in the suit you are in a position to a void losing more than one if all remaining four are held by the player sitting under (that is on right) of the hand holding AK9xx. The play of a high card first round would leave the defender in a position to make two of his remainder i.e. QJlO. You should therefore always lead a small up to the A K 9 etc. and finesse the 9 if second in hand plays low.

You will now appreciate why these safety plays should always be put into practice and again let me say to readers-don't be careless and forget to do so.

BooK REVIEW by cuv l~AMsEv F OR a book to be written by

an author who is, by any stand­ards, an expert and to be aimed at the non-expert players is improbable ; for such a book to abstain from promulgating, or eyen plugging, some bidding systems is unheard of; but for such a book to be a good book is perilously ncar a reversal of nature.

Yet, that is what H. St. J. Ingram has achieved in " J-1 ow to 1Vi11 at Bridge" (Eyre and Spotlis­woodc: :~f6d. net), a 12(i-pagc discursive excursus on the game : a group of hints and tips that, in the aggregate, fill the lucunac left by too many text books and form virtually a corpus of good practise on their own.

A It hough !some form of Approach is recommended by implication, together with a directly recommended style No­trumps, Ingram has wisely mingled with the familiar " Keep the Bidding Low" theory, the in­junctions of Lederer, Simon and Buller : viz., to realise that Opponents arc also at the table ; and to regulate one's bidding in certain situations by the anxiety­or necessity- to cut their com­munications.

l take leave to join i sue with the author on one hand (What, only one?). He suggests that the bidding should go : I 0, I \?, No, No, 2+ + KQJ9x; \?Ax; OAKQxx; + x

The hand, being worth about nine playing tricks, should prob­ably be opened with a forcing­bid or at least (if a~+ system is in vogue) a two-bid; but if not, should it be opened with a Diamond instead of a Spade? If bidding continues, you can never gi\'e a

:.16

5-5 picture with the minor­suit opening; for, if you re-bid Spades (as you must), partner will mark you with live Spades and, in consequence six Diamonds.

The sole reason to open a Diamond on this is to permit Partner to bid 1 'V where, over an inaugural 1 + . he could not bid ~\/ and might be unwilling, on shape, to bid 1 NT : a theory l1rst adumbrated by Goren-but that was on a .J--t-+-1 (singleton Club) power-house, not a :i-5 distribution.

Tngram takes this sequence­One Something, overbid, Pass, Pass and a jump to a new suit­as strongly invitational only: not as forcing.

But a jump-bid in certain circumstances must be forcing : for example, where partner has marle some response, e\·en if the weakest possible, or there is just no possibility of playing any form of Approach. When partner has passed, however, it is a matter of previous partnership arrange­ment whether a j11mp is 100 per cent forcing.

The hand above, at Acol, resolves itself easily: 2+ -ZNT­:~o and you are through, what­ever Partner does or does not c!o.

An unusual method of signalling occurs on Page 87, where the recommendation is giYen to peter in defence on a suit held in length in Dummy with three vr more card : usuallv, the conventional discard is to ··peter with two or four (or more) playing low from three. The set-up given is this :

K Q J X X

9 7 2 A 10 :{ On a low lead from outh,

\Vest is recommended to play the

CONTRACT BRIDGE JOURNAL

Nine ; whereupon, East wins Rouqd 2 and no trick is ' stolen • by Dklarer South.

Most players in this situation would hold off until Trick 3 with the Ace when the Nine appeared, for either ·west would be marked with a singleton (in which case it would make no difference), a Doubleton, in which case the hold-up must be made until Trick 3 ; or four, in which case Declarer has a singleton, and the larcency of one trick is almost inevitable, except on a Yiew (or previous bidding).

It makes no difference, of course, which way you play : peter with i:v,ro or three ; but .the departure from almost standard practise is likely to lead to woeful mis­understandings with consequent weepings, wailings and the gnash­ing of teeth (or dentures).

These are but two points of detail-and they are, at worst, debateable-in a treatise which it were well that any player short of the skilled toumament performer should buy forthwith and cherish. And I cannot forbear to praise the author for stressing one point dear to my own heart: 1\Iake your bridge simple. He quotes an expert, partnered with a rabbit, picking up + AQxx, <y)KQ109x O- + AKJx

The bidding is opened to his left with a Diamond, raised to Two of the same to his right. Expert found the correct expert bid of 30, Doubled (!) and passed round to him (!!), where­upon, he bid 40 (1!1) and, when this was Doubled, Redoubled (!!!!) to awake the rabbit opposite. Alas, the dreary Pass followed.

Says Ingram, a bid of Spades followed by Hearts was infinitely

preferable in such company ; I could not agree with him more.

1_\ series. of a dozen knotty pomts, set m the form of a Quiz ; and 20 hands, each contributed by a ranking expert form the last chapter of a book no bridge library can afford to exclude.

* * * * RESULTS OF SEPTEMBER

COMPETITION

IVinuer : ]. E. GORDON,

Beech bank, Bromborough, Wirral, Cheshire 96

Run11ers-up : E. H. PoTTER (Hounslow) 92 C. E. PHILLIPS (Northwich) 91 G. D. SHARPE (Maldon) 90 W. H. EvA (Bolton) 88 E. H. LEWIS-DALE (London, N.W.2.)

C. E. DICKEL (Glasgow) R. D. DUPUIS (Dollar) ]. \V. GRANT (Glasgow)

Ladder Prize JVimrers :

86 82 82 so

CoL. G. 1\I. 1\lcCLEVERTY, o.s.o., M.c.

37

Doon House, Fleet, Hants. 661

J. C. 0XLAND, 23 Canynge Square, Bristol, 8 645

G. w. EVANS, 34 \Vellsford Avenue, Sheldon, Birmingham, 26 620

Leading Scorers : J. W. C:rant (~85), C. H. 1\l. Sturges (579), R. Swmglcr (~?1), A. E. Uc (561), S. R. Grace (~::~8), ]. T. Chapman (552), W. J. Tibbs (::~49), Lt. Col. G. H. F. Broad (530), F. P. E. Gardner (507), E. R. Grayson (491), F Kaufmann (476), G.l.Mcl\lillan (474). c· W Hewitt (472), J. Beswick (465). G·. R.' Liebert (464), C. E. Dickel (457). p A Bainbridgc(450),R.J\IcMahon{437), p: c: Shepherd (428),] . E. Gordon (425),

D UPLICATE FOR EVERYONE

EACH new Bridge seasqn sees the establishment of new

centres where Duplicate is played; Works Canteens, Golf Clubs and the like become the scenes of regular series of Tournaments. This is all for the good of the game and as reliable handbooks and guides to would-be Tournament Directors are still difficult to obtain, I welcomed the invitation of our new Editor to re-state in simple form the underlying princi­ples of the more popular types of contest.

This article, and any that may follow, is not then, dear reader, for you if you are fully capable of taking charge in the absence of that willing slave, your (usually) Honorary Tournament Director of the " weekly pairs" at your Club. You may safely pass on to the expert analyses of double squeezes and learn from the J\lasters at whose feel I would gl~tdly sit, if the urge to organise other peoples' Bridge had not got such a hold on me nearly twenty years ago, that I have never since had the necessary time.

The novice's introduction to Duplicate usually takes the form of playing in an Aggregate Scoring Pairs event run on a MITCHELL 1\IOVE.l\rENT and a brief descrip­tion thereof is as good a starting place as any. In passing it may be of interest to record the informa­tion given by the late Alec Hasler in 'his classic, " Dupl,icate Bridge Simplified " that this type of contest owes its name to an American, one J. T . .1\litchell, who designed it as far back as I H9~,

38

by F. 0. BINGJlHI

when, presumably, it was used for Whist contests.

l\Iitchell Movements are easy to run and they provide a reasonable measure o[ " Circulation," every pair meeting one-half of the competitors. The procedure is as follows :

Tables are numbered from one upwards ; the N.-S.-E. and W. positions should be clearly indi­cated. The approximate number of pairs will usually be known in advance and it is verydesirahlethat competitors should be officially allocated to starting positions. This can be done by preparing beforehand either the actual score cards or slips of paper indicating starting position-( e.g. N.-S. -t; E.- W. 6) and either getting one tnember of each pair to " draw " or arbitrarily opening the cards in numerical order to players as they arrive. II players are allowed tu select their own· seats it will 'usually be found that some have lu be persuaded to exchange a N .-S. position for one E.-W. Exactly why the majority even of com­pletely able-bodied players should wish to avoid moving periodically from table to table has ne,·er been quite clear to me, but such is the case and argument and per uasion should be unnecessary when it is clear that the allocation is the result of some form of draw.

Each pair lakes as its number for the Contest the 1111111bcr c~f the table at r 'hich 1/wv start. Once the number of tables is known definite­ly, the real question for decisio~ is " How many Boards to play." This must be a multiple of the

CONTRACT BRIDGE JOURNAL

numb~r of tables. an~ the time tables are in play. When the factor IS often of pnme Importance. Boards are originally distributed Assuming that a " session " lasts this " relay " table is furnished four hours and the average rate of with a "set" and the highest play is eight board~ per hour, a numbered table receives none. reasonable ~arget. IS 26 or 28 The Boards supplied to table one Boards, wh1ch w1H allow for a are shared with this top-table. A break for refreshments. little care is necessary to see that

A contest of 25 tables playing North at the table above the one board each round will probably " relay " understands that he take at least half-an-hour longer should place Boards played at his than a five-table event playing the table into the relay and that North same number of hands. at the table below, takes into use

Cards should not be previously the boards that have been out of dealt unless it is essential that the play on the "relay" table; . same hands should be played in also that North at table one shares more than one Section ; this will his set of Boards with t he top only arise when the number of table intelligently and does not prizes-or qualifiers to a later allow the situation to arise that round of the Competition-is both tables are due to play the limited. A simple method of same board simultaneously. On indicating to players that cards completion of each round, the have to be dealt is for one card to " shared" set of Boards is, of be " faced " in each board . l(e- course, moved to the table next dealing of " thrown-in " hands below the top and those coming to should never be allowed, even in table one from two are again the most " free~and-easy " events. shared.

· This " Relay" can be avoided Method of Pro g ression. by introducing a" skip"; when

North-South players remain seated half the Boards have been played throughout. With an odd nun1ber East-West players move two of tables, at the end of each tables instead of one (on this "round," the East-\Vest pairs occasion only). This means that move to the next higher numbered they miss playing against one table and the played Boards are North-South pair and play the passed to the next lower numbered last round against their original table. With an even number of opponents. I!' a small conte~t---Qt . tables, this method of progression four, six or eight tables-this one will not work, as half-way through objection can be . got over. by thc~ontest, the E.-W. pairs would playing the contest m two sessions, ~gam meet the Boards they played distributing originally only one-111 the first round. half of the desired number of

Except in the case where each Boards. East-West pairs "skip" round consists of one Board only a at the appropriate stage in the " relay " table or stand should be first half and commence the second provided at the half-way position, half at the table they missed. e.g. between tables four and five They will then miss in the second in an eight-table event and be- half the pair against whom they tween tables five and six if ten played twice befor.e the break.

39

CONTRACT lJHIDG~ JO U RNAL

Scorin(!. nlitchell Movcmrnt Conte5ts can, of course, be match­pointed if desired, but in my opinion this should only he done if it is essential that one winning pair shoulu be identified as distinct from one North-South and one East-West pair as in the case when Aggregate Scoring is used.

Suitable Score-Cards, preferably of a folding pattern, shoulcl be pro,·ided and for convenience, of different colours for North-Sout·h and East-West pairs.

_The lay-out of Score-Cards in use throughout the country ,·aries to an .astonishing clegree but the following simple pattern is ;;elf­explanatory even to beginners, once they understand the necessity to enter each result on the line corresponding to the number of the Board concerned.

It is as well, again with a view to helping the tyro, to have a statement as to the method of scoring printed on Score-Cards, in some such form as this : Game, bid and made in one hand : Tri c k Score plus 300 (non­

vulnerable) ; :500 (vulnerable) Successful .part-score Contract :

Trick Score plus ;)() Slam bonuses as in RubbP.r Hridge Honours Count

Li mi tation oi P enalties a nd

Versus Final

B onuses . The laft word has certainly not yet been said on this point and there is a strong body of opinion in favour of the abolition of all limitations. 1\f y vie\\·, howcvt~r. is that the recent decision of the E .B.U . Tournament Com­mittee t0 recom•nendstanclardisrd limitations was well-founded, as some protection is pro\'idrd to " the field " by forbidding a pair to benefit by an astronomical penally provided as a gift by a pair of novices whom they were fortunate enongh to mee t on an " awk·ward" hand. The recom­mender! scale is : 1. SLAM CONTRACTS l\IADE

OR DEFEATED: No Limit. 2. J3EL0\\7 SLA:\1 LE\'l~I .. (a) DEFEATED CONTRACTS:

Declarer Loses Full Score. Defender Limit"cd to GOO not Vulnerahle, ~00 Vulnerable.

(b) MADE CONTH.ACTS : Dc(cnd.:r Loses Full Score. Declarer 1-imited to ROO not Vulnerable, 1000 Vulnerable. Any Excess Penalty or Bonus

not rcckonable ac; part of the normal Score should be entered in the right hand column of the Score-Carrl. Anv tie or .:\et Score shoulcl be broken in favour of the pair having the greater Exr.ess Sl"ore.

Board Pair No. Contract 1o. of I

BY Tricks + Excess

Honours etc.

') I ---- -----

made ---l-----·- __ 1

I ·:_ I I 1- 1- 1 ,-, .. ___ _ -10

•

I I

The CON TRACT BRIDGE JOUR,'AL otTers a prize of T\\"0 l;UI~E.\S for the hest set of solutions to the folloll'in!,: problems. In the event uf two or more sets nf solutions being of equal merit, the monthly prize will he divided .

. \nswer to J. C. 11. ~1.\ 10>, Esq., Cmnpl'tit ion Editor, Cautmcf Bridge f Qllllllll, 63 Bedford Gardens, London, \v.:\ not l01ter than Nov. 28th, 1950. Solu'ti un~ will appear in the next issue, ami name, of prize-winners will be published in the January issue.

Ever\' l·ntry must have contestants name ai1d 01ddress (1:-> DLOCK LETTERS), 01nd the competition voucher on page 4 must be attached. Failure to observe these rules makes the entry void.

This competition continues the Lad­der Contest, announced last Xovember·

Prizes of lOs. 6d. will be awarded every month henceforth to those competitors who reach the top of the ladder. They will then automatically fall to the bottom, starting with a score of zero.

Problem o. 1 (IU points) .\ t th score Love All, \\'est deals

and bids One Club. Xorth passes, East bids One Heart, South Two Di01mond . \\"c t's hand is : + K Q 6 5 \/K 6 OCJ 10 4 + A CJ 10 8

\\"hat should be bid next?

P roblem No.2 (18 points) South' hand is:

+ .\] 6 \/A K J OK J 4 + K J 9 :J \Vhat should he bid, at the score

~ orth-South Game, following an opening bid of One Heart (a) by East as dcal<"r, (h) hy \\'e~t as dealer, and passes hy ~orth and East ?

P~~blc~ N.o. 3 (10 points) I he lnc..lclrug, in whid1 .:-;urth and

South took no part, ha!! been : l£ast (tlrcllcr) II' c~l ~!ne Uiamond Two .:-;u tniiiiJl" ~hrel' ~lubs Three No lnliiiJIH hmr Clubs F1ve Cluh!l No Bid South's hancl i!!:

+ Q 10 6 5 \/A 7 4 (>A H 5 '' +r l :1 What ~hould he lead ? - ,.

Every contestant \\;11 therefore i11

limr, win a prize; but the succ~ful scorer, by reaching the top with greater speed, ,,;u win more prizes­and greater distinction.

·I I

Problem No.4 (10 points) At the score Game All, \\"~st lkals

and bids One Heart, holdin~o: : + J IO\/KJ8532(>AK1076 + -

Norlh-South clu not bid. East bids One Spade West Two Diamonds, East Two Spad~s. W hat should West bid next?

Problem No.5 (Ill points) At the score North-South Game,

Norlh deals and bids Onu Club. Ea!lt bids Onu Ditunuml. South'~

h:111c I is : •.• + A 8 5 :1 2 CJ<j (>K:.! +·\ Ill 7 ll •'

Whnl Hhuuhl hu hid 1

l'ruhlulll 11 . (t ( I ll pulnls) At tho HWI'll l.ovu ,\ II, l\11~\ th•al~ ntlll

hid" Uno No·Tru111p. Suulh'n luuul IM : , .l. j :.l

+ A J 10 1:;}1\ 1\ 1..) ll II II 4 0~ :,-Whnl. nhouhl hn hill "'"''" htl~l·

W••Ht arn ••n1 tluylun (n) 11 " ""''''k :: 1111- ll'lllll(l (l:t•/1\ pullll!i), (h) II" !111,11\jt

IICI·ll"lllll(l (ltl·lllpulnl~) I <.'l•lilllllltol 111 t1 I ttl}

CONTHACT imiDGE juUHN,\L

THI S l\ lONTHS COl\IPETITION (cmztinued)

Problem N o . 7 (10 points)

,\t the score Love All, North deals and bids One Sp<Hie. East passes.

South holds : + 5 <y'Q s 7 5 OQ J H 8 7 + Q 10 3

\\'hat should he bid ?

Problem N o. 8 (IG pojnts)

The hands of West and East are : + 1\: <.] ~l 4 + A J G 5 :1 2 <y' ,\ J H <y' ~J 5 <)- <) KJH7 + A K 7 G 5 ·l + H East is declarer at a contract of

Se\'en Spades, the opponents having taken no part in the auction beyond a bid of One Heart by North following \\'est's opening One Club.

South leads Heart Ten, covered by \\'est's Ace. How should 11ast pla n the play, with particular reference to the seCOJlll, third and fourth tricks ?

STOP

PAC llABO CU P R ES ULT LE!CESTEI!SIIIHE I

\\'ARW:CKSIIIHE 2

LONDON CAMROSE TRIALS WINNERS SwtNNEHTON DYEH and S~JAHT

OCTOBER

COMPETITION

Owing to the late

publication of the Octo­ber issue the results of the October Competition

will be published with November solutions in

the December issue, out

December 1st.

PRESS

CAMROSE T ROPHY ENGLAND V. E11m

Nov. 18- 19 in Dublin.

English Team

l;cofTrev Fell (Captain) ami H. Fn{nklin Dr. S. Lee and S. Rooker. P .. \. Swinnerton Dyer and J. Smart.

R ES ULT AT EASTBO UR NE

HIVII!Ib\ l'Ail!S

N /S I J. Tarlo & l\lrs . Carr 5(i.j

2 l\lr, & l\lrs. F . Farrinulon (Bolton) .JtUi

E fW I l\lr . & i\lrs. L. Tarlo, SOH

2 l.lr. & l\lrs . Richard (\\'elwyn Garden City) .j(i.J

English Bridge Union (C/zaimuw : J. \ V. PEARSON, EsQ.)

SEASON 1950- 1951

J!ou . Sccrelwy autl Treasurer H. CoLLINS, EsQ., A.C.A., cfo ~lessrs. Leaver, Cole & Co., 30 Budge Row, Cannon Street, London, E.C.4. (Phone: City 4887).

Hou. Tmtnllllllelll Sec1•e/ary l\lAJOR GEOFFREY FELL, Craven Lead \Yorks, Skipton, Yorkshire. (Phone: Skipton 32).

Ho11. Registrars 1\IEssns. LEAVER, CoLE & Co. The Council o[ the English Bridge Union is made up o[ Delegates from

County and Area Associations, whose Secretaries arc as follows :-

DERBYSHIRE .... S. C. Bate, Esq., 83 Willowcroft R oad, Spondon, Derby.

DEVONSHIRE .... G. Graham Wilson, Esq ., Kincora, 2 Higher \Yarberry Road, Torquay.

E SSEX F. l\I. Fletcher, Esq., 22 Fontaync Avenue, Chigwcll.

GLOUCESTERSHIRE S. E. Franklin, Esq., Red ~ layes, Belmont Avenue, Hucclecotc.

H ERTFORDSHIRE W. H. Wc.igh tman, Esq., Four W i n ds, St. Andrews Avenue, Harpenden.

KENT .... l\lrs. R. H . Corbett, West Kent Club, Boyne Park, Tunbridge \ Veils.

LEICESTE RSHIRE L. G. Cayless, Esq., Farm Edge, Leicester Road, Thurcaston.

LINCOLN ~Irs. A. Brumpton, 29 Seacroft R oad, Cleethorpes.

L ONDON

.MIDDLES EX

NOR FOLK

NOR T H EASTE RN

NOR T H WE S T ERN

NOTTI NGHAMSHIRE ... .

OXFORDSHIRE

Mrs. B. Tarle, 97 Cholmley Gardens, N.W.6.

1\Irs. I. Freeman, The ·Nook, Lyndhurst Terrace, N.\V.3.

H.. 1\Iallinson, Esq., Shibden, Lower Hellesdon, rorwich.

G. I. Rhodes, Esq., 5 Woodbine Avenue, Newcastlc-on-Tync, 3.

F. Farrington , Esq., Moor Edge, Chapcltown Road, Turton, Nr. Bolton.

D. G. F . Bland, Esq., 57 Friar Lane, Nottingham.

Mrs. R. G. Beck, I Blenheim Drive, Oxford.

S OUTH ERN COUNTIES 1\<Irs. W. J. Davy, Flat 4, 35 \Vimboume Road, Boumemouth.

STAFFORDSHIRE \V. R. Cato, Esq., 204 Thornhill Road, Streetly, Sutton Coldfield, Warwiclcshire.

SURREY H.. F. R. Phillips, Esq., 11 0 Banstead Road South, Sutton.

SUSSEX G. F. Spashctt, Esq., 31 St. George's Road, Worthing.

WARWICKSHIRE F. 0. Bingham, Esq., 64a Greenhill Road, Birmingham 13.

WORCESTERSHIRE H..D.Ailen,Esq., 28Britannia Square, Worcester .

. YORKSHIRE R. H. Chopc, Esq., 26 Riverdale Road, Sheffield, 10.

TO CLUB SECRETARIES Spread the news of your activities. Write and tell us of your special events. Items of ~eneralinterest are always welcome.

43

CO NTHACT BRIDGE jOU RNAL

Calendar of Events

I ~)50 Nov . 4- 5

10- 12 l :l- 18 18- 19 17- W 25- 26

G.C. I3 .A . (C HELTEN HAM WEEK- E N D) \VO!( LIJ CH A~!l'IO NS llll' E . IJ . U . v . C. B . A . I. (CA~l!WSE T!Wl'IIY )

N .\\' .C. B .A . Co NGR ESS

D ec. 2-~ T o LLE M.\ CHE No tc rJI EIW SEcT ION T oLLE M.\ CII E S ouTH E RN SEcT ioN

~)- Ill IH- 17 CA~IIWSE TROPHY T!UALS

23- 24

1951 j an.

30- 31

G- 7 13- 14 20- 2 1 27- 28

Feb. 2- .J 10- 11

i\IIDLANDS CoNG RESS . .. . ToLLE~IACHE CuP (FI NAL) E . B . U . v. S. B .U . (CAMROS E TROPHY )

\ \'ADDINGTON CU P FOR :\lAST E R P AII\5

Cheltenham Bermuda Dublin Blackpool

SheHiclll Stratfo rd -on-:\ von

l\ lanchcslcr

Droilwich

Newcastle

(T .B .A .) .. .. L o nt.l o n

17- 18 24- 25

l\far. 2- 5 10- 11 17- IS 24- 25

3 1- Apl. I

April 7- S

14- 15 21 - 22 20- 22 2S- 2!:J

i\lay 5- G 11- 12

C AMROSE T ROP HY T RIA!.

E.B .U. SPRI NG CONGRESS

E . I3 .U. v. W . B .U . (CA ~IIWSE TROPHY) EASTER

NORTH OF E NG LAND PA IRS CHA~IPI ONSHIP i\ltDLA!'ID C ouNTIES P Am s CnA~IJ>IO NS iltl' LONDO N AR EA (NAT I ON AL P A IR S)

CHA~I PI ON SHI P S ouTH oF E NGLAND P AI RS CH A ~IPJONS IJII'

E . 13.U. v. N . I.B. U . (CMIIWS E T!W I'llY) .. .. Y o RK SHIR E C . I3 .A . CoNG REss C tWC KFO tm's Cu P FI NA L

NATIONAL P AlllS FI NA L \ \'HITS ON

L o ndon

Harrogate

L o ndo n

Lcl·ds -Lcicc~tlir.:.:-..:: -_:-~-.:.

L o ndoi1 .. _ .....

L o ndo n

Away Scarboro ugh L o ndo n

N o ttingham '

The da te a nd venue of the North t•crSIIs South match l~1is not yet been fixed.

London Con~ress pos tponed from February 2- 4 until later in year.

-1-1

~ Q1

EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP I NCO.i\IE

EXPENDITURE £ s. d.

Prizes ... . .... ..: . . ... 148 8 6 L ess Contributed by European

Bridge League .... 148 8 6

Costs of Appeal .... Playing Cards Stationery and Printing Stands, Tables and

· Scoreboards .... Tournament Direction

Expenses Special Entertainment

Allowances : Tournament Director Tournament Secretary

52 10 0 52 10 0

Banquet (274) .... . ... 630 12 6 Less Sale of Tickets (59) 123 18 0

Sundry Expenses

AND E XPENDITURE ACCOUNT

£ s. d .

120 18 8 137 10 0 336 15 9

439 13 6

227 14 1

105 0 0

506 14 6 180 15 1

£2055 1 7

I N COME £

By Appeal Subscriptions .... E ntries .... Entrance Tickets :

(Spectators) L ess Ta."\:

Deficit ....

264 39

s. d. £ s. d. 1520 4 ~

240 0 0·

0 0 3 10

224 16 2: 70 1 3

£2055 7

I have examined the records and vouchers connected with the European Bridge Championship staged at Brighton in July 1950, and having received such information and explanations as I required I have prepared the above Income and Expenditure Account therefrom and certify that it is in accordance therewith.

HUGH COLLINS, Chartered .Accotmtaut.

• hrid9" nerves Constant bridge: playin~; entailing as it docs intense concentration and suppressed excitement crea-tes a severe strain on the nervous system which almost inYariahly results in nervous and digestive disorders .

These disorders, besides being unpleasant, arc destructive of vital NERVOUS ENERGY which must be restored. The quickest, safest and most effec­tive method is the regular usc of rcvitalising gland and ><itamin

·· extracts.

" ' e recommend for NERVES

IMP AIRED VITALITY INSOMNIA

DEPRESSION FATIGUE, Etc.

TESTRONES (Male Sex) OVER ONES (Female Sex)

12/6d. per bottle

N.B. FOR REJUVENATING THE SKIN

HOH.1\I ONE CRE.Al\1 is a scientific preparation which con­tains the vital extracts which medical research has proved arc essential for a smooth, youthful complexion .

BRITISH GLANDULAR PRODUCTS LTD.,

(Dept. c.n .. J. 449) 37 Chcshum Plucc, London ,

S.W.l.

.Jil

THE . EUROPEAN BRIDGE REVIEW

• Annual Subscription H.atc:

30/-post free

• European Bridge Review

I\. Iintcn, Sweden

.·lgwl i11 Gr.:al Britai11 : l\IH. G. C. H. Fox

G:l Eton Avenue, London N.\V.:i.

Single copies :~j- from Newsagents

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CONTRACT BRIDGE JOURNAL

SUBSCRIPTION RATES

A£1/18/0 Belgium Frs. 218 Italy

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Lire 2624.25

Kr. 31 $4.60

Rs. 20

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Finland

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l\Iks. 970 Switzerland Frs. 19

Frs. 1520 Turkey T£12

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i\Ialaya Rs. 14 Iran Rials 135

ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION 30/- POST FREE

All correspondence relating to direct subscriptions, trade circulation and as to advertising rates for the Classified Section should be addressed to :

THE CO:Ml\IERCIAL MANAGER,

CoNTRACT BRIDGE J ouRNAL,

3 CAl\lBRAY,

CHELTENHAM •

• CONDIT IONS OF SALE AND SUPPLY. This periodical is sold subject to the following conditions, namely, that it shall not, without the written consent of the publishers first given, be lent, resold, hired out, or othenvise disposed of by way of Trade excep~ at the retail price of 2/Gd. ; ami that it shall not be lent, resold, l11Ied out or otltenvisc disposed of in a mutilated condition or in any un­authorised cover by way of Trade; or affixed to or as part of any publication or advertising literary or pictorial matter whatsoever.

47

HOW TO WIN AT BRIDGE

H. St. JOHN INGRAM

" The author has set himself the task of trying to help the thousands of players who have learned the elements of the game, but do not know how or when to apply certain recognised bids, play and defence. He has done it well." THE TIMES

" Filled with excellent advice in non-technical language." " Sound and instructive." Paper Covers

DAILY TELEGRAPH

TERENCE REESE (Observer)

3 /6 net

* Thorne's COMPLETE CONTRACT BRIDGE New ed ition , completely rewritten by

HUBERT . PHILLIPS Cloth Boards

THE ELEMENTS OF CONTRACT

9/- net

HUBERT PHILLIPS AND TERENCE REESE Cloth Boards 10/6 net

Eyre & Spottiswoode

BRIDGE INDEX CLASSIFIED LIST OF HOTELS AND CLUBS

GLOUCESTER G1.ouct:STJ:R BRIOGC Cu:n-Head·quarters:

Dell Hotel, Gloucester. Duplicate, Pairs and other activities twice weekly. Visitors welcomed. For full details apply Hon. Secretary, C. V. Dancey, Dlcak House, Station Hoad, Gloucester. Tel. ~~931.

CUILDFORD

WANnonouGn MANOn CoUNTRY CLun-1\r. Guildford. Always a happy atmosphere. Excellent Cuisine. Dancing every Saturday. Bridge. 'Phone PUTTENHA)I 351 Manager: Neeman Collard.

nARROW HARR0\1' BntnGE CLUn-16 1\orthwick

Po.rk Road, Harrow, Middx. Tel. Harrow 3908. Geed otandard Bridge in enjoyable atmosphere. ~ts:ior:.s twice daily. Partnerships and Duplicate.

LOJ.I.-::>0:'11 .

CJ~OCKFORo's-16 Carlton House Terrace, London, S.W.l. Tel. Whitehall 1131. 5/· Partnership, Tuesday evenings. '2/· Partner ship Wednesday and Frida{ e\•enings. Duplicate Pairs, under direction a Mr. P. R. G. Charters, alternate Thursday evenings at 8.15 p.m. R. Pro\'ost, ~lanaging Director. A. ] . Horsnell, Secretary.

GLOUCESTER CLuu-President: M. Harrison· Gray, 37 Gloucester Walk, W.8. Tel. Western 5821. Stakes 6d. Partnerships : Evenings, Tuesday, TI1ursday, Saturday ; Afternoons, Thursday, Sunday. Duplicate every Friday at S p.m. sharp.

DoRsn CLUD-3·5 Glentworth Street, Baker Street, N.W.I. Tel. Welbeck 1039. Regular Partnership and Duplicate. Stakes 1/·, 2/6 and 10/·.

n------·- .. ·--, WINCHESTER LADIES' COUNTY CLUB

St. Thomas' Street, Winchester (Bridg~ J nd Social). Flat to let, in january. nfumished, two Sitting-rooms, two edrooms, Kitchen, Bath. Overlooking

j ~~\f;dral Must be Club Members

i.__,:ice~0scd,0 M~: D:ldy~P:rl:tre~'

LYsunuasT CLuo-36 Finchley Roa~ · London, N.W.B. Tel PRI 3435 and 5858. ~takes 1/·, 2/6, 10/·. Two sessions daily. Fully ltcensed. Excellent restaurant. Facilities fat" matches. For further details write the Secretary.

MAYFAIR BRIDGE STUDio-(G. C. H. Fox.· and 1\lrs. D. Shammon)-Private lessons and · classes. Duplicate coaching for teams.. Corres· pondence courses. For full particulars write · 16 Bryanston Street, Portman Square, London, : W.l.

STuoto BRIDGE CLUD-18a Queensway. ' London, \\'.2. Daily 2.30 p.m. to 12 midnight, Partnerships Monday and Wednesday nights, 1/· and 6d. Members licence. Inquiries, Mrs.. Pearce. Tel. Dayswater ~749.

NOTT INGHAM

CRA!<TOCK BRIDGE CLua--180 Marufield Road,_ Nottingham. Tel. Nottingham 65921. Proprietress : Mrs. D. M. HOPEWELL Hon.. Secretary: N. R. C. FRITH,. Visitors wel::Omed.. Excellent venue for matches in Midlands.

T UNBRIDGE WELLS, KENT

WEST KENT CLun-12 Boyne Park,. Tunbridge Wells. Residential Bridge Qub. Fully licensed. Stakes 3d. and 6d. Regular Partnership and Duplicate. For further details apply toR. H. Corbett, Secretary. Tel Tunbridge· Wells 21133.

WORTHING MIRAD&LLE RESIDENTIAL BRIDGE CLUB­

Sea Front, Heene Terrace, Worthing. Daily­sessions, 2.30 p.m. and 8 p.m. Moderate Stakes. Fortnightly Duplicate. Licensed restaurant. Visitors welcomed. Tel. 6431/2. Particulars from Secretary.

~---D;-_p_~_IC-~ .... ;E .... -;_;-_1_~;_~_·; .... ~-;_;~-IE-·S_ ... Jl:·. All kinds of Bridge equipment. Price List on application to

Mrs. B. M. King, , (Authprised Agent E.B.U.)

' 21 Hale Grove Garden;o1 London, N.W.7. 'Phone MILL HILL !!007

" H. W. WHITE'S POINT COUNT BRIDGE " is a New Departure based upon Mathematical and Empirical investigations. Accuracy 85 per cent. or nearly 100 per cent. using "reasoned card s~nse." No conventions or artificialities needed but these could be assocmted. Hands and Deals can be analysed readily. A true Partner for "British If_ridge." Free by post 1 copy 1/4 ; 4 copies 5/- from H . W • . WHITE,

Fiona, " Cuthbert Street, Albany, \Vest A.ustraUn. English Postal Orders accepted .

E.

D B.

0 U.

E. • •

All who desire to further tbe

development of Contract Bridge :as a game should be · members

of, and support

THE ENGLISH BRIDGE UNION the governing body for England.

• Membershjp of tlie Union may be obtained -through membership of the appropriate :affiliated County Association

(See list of Secretaries inside)

or

in Counties where no County Association exists, by direct a~plication to

. i •

LEAVER COLE & CO. 30 Budge Row. London, E.C.4.

(Registrars to the E.B.U.)

• Membership of the E.B.U. entitles you to:

(a) All Literature

(b) Entry to all National Competitions

(c) A voice in the management of tbe game

E. B. U.

E.

0 B.

D u.

Printed In Great Britain by ALBERT E. Swnn (PRINTERS) LTD. , Longsmlth Street, Gloucester for "\he Proprleton, CAWDRAY PuuLICATIONS LTD. , 3 Cambray, Cheltenham, 115 the o!Iicial o"an cl the English Bridge Union. On sale at lending bookstall>, or direct from the Publishers Regtstered for -transmission by Maga:ine Post lo Canada and Newfoundland. '