New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-03-25

that Lord Brougham should show them this
wonderful game. which he at once proceeded to
40 ana from that day onward bridge was
established fact at the Portland Club. From
the Portland 1t very soon travelled to the Turf
CIup. where 1t met with still warmer welcome
IMAM at the Portland: after this 1t spread to
other clubs, and wherever it once intro
duced 1t was welcomed with open arms de-
hghful change from the stereotyped methods
ana precise formula of scientific whist. 1t was
some years before bridge became popular In
country houses and before ladies discovered
that 1t was game eminently suited to their
capa biilties. but when once the discovery was
made 1t spread like wildhre until at the pres
ent day 1T Is played in all societies and by all
classes and 1t Is quite the exception nowadays
TO find any one who is not bridge player Of
some sort. The great charm of the game lies III
It's Infinite variety and the many opportunities
that it affords for individual enterprise and for
the exercise of the qualities OF intuition and
perception NO two games are ever alike, and 1t
IS possible to play very forward game and
back your luck, as 1t is called, to play
rul game and risk little or nothing, according to
the taste and fancy of the individual player.
The standard of play has improved enormously
IN Ehe last three or four years, and first class
players are to be met with now in almost every
class Of society.
One is sometimes asked who is the best
bridge player one knows. and it is difficult
question to answer. Bridge is, after ALL game
OF considerable limitations. 1t is impossible to
DO more than make the most Of the cards dealt
10 you, and there many players who can be
trusted to do that. The best bridge player who
ever lived cannot conjure with the cards. and
turn threes and tours into aces and kings; he
can only do the utmost possible with the goods
provided There a considerable number of
players who would play better game, and find
that they were more successful, If they did not
try to play so well-that is to say, If they did
not look out SO much for opportunities to play
coups, but would play plain. straightforward
game and simply make the most Of their cards
according to the lights they possess. The OPP
portunities for playing coups are very rare, and
the players who have the necessary quickness
and ability to avail themselves of these oppor-
tunities are rarer still. The most dangerous
partner
play with is the man or woman who is always
trying to get one trick more out of the hand
than the cards justly warrant, either by holding
up winning cards refusing win a trick or
by playing false cards. adopting any such
crooked measures. 1t is a golden rule, and
the most essential one for every beginner to
lay to heart, that the more plain and straight
forward he can make his game, the better it will
be for the joint interests of his partner and
himself. The first element of success in every
partnership concern Is that the partners should
be on good terms with one another and
should work for common object. This applies
strongly to bridge, and every player on sitting
down to play a rubber. should try to make of
his temporary partnership joint pleasant and
successful concern. instead of disjointed
nection Of two interests at variance with each
other.